Guyana Chronicle E-paper 01-25-2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

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FRIDAY 25th JANUARY, 2019

No.105528

Charrandass’ vote was invalid …SC Boston argues he was duty-bound to vote for list from which his name was extracted

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No agreement on GECOM’s readiness

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President David Granger reviews a Guard of Honour Thursday morning at the opening of the Guyana Defence Force's Annual Officers' Conference, held at the Baridi Benab, State House

‘Remain vigilant’

…President calls on soldiers to secure the State …warns against cross-border trafficking PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Remain vigilant …President calls on soldiers to secure the State …warns against cross-border trafficking …urges more jungle patrols in frontier communities

President David Granger [centre]; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo [fourth right, seated] and other ministers of government take a photo with members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at the Annual Officers’ Conference on Thursday at State House. (Delano Williams photo)

Army Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Patrick West (Delano Williams photo)

By Lisa Hamilton AMIDST the political fallout in Venezuela; its un-relinquished claim to Guyana’s territory and the influx of more than 3,000 migrants, President David Granger has called on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to remain vigilant to protect the country from present and future dangers.

He made the call at the GDF’s Annual Officers’ Conference on Thursday, January 24, 2019, at the Baridi Benab at State House, where he reminded those present that Guyana subscribes to peaceful settlement of disputes and will never do anything to

President David Granger inspects the Guard of Honour (Delano Williams photo)

endanger international peace.

In the last few days, Venezuela plunged further into political crisis as its President, Nicolas Maduro, broke off diplomatic ties with the United States while several countries are now divided on their support of the socialist leader. Guyana, although concerned with Venezuela’s persistent territorial claim, continues to assist Spanish-speaking migrants who have been fleeing the economic hardship (in Vene-

zuela).

“Guyana has been victim, always, to claims on its territory despite international recognition of its land mass, its territorial borders, its territorial sea and its exclusive economic zone. Our territory is populated by Guyanese citizens and its resources are for them; they form part of our national patrimony. The Defence Force has been, and must always remain, ready to deter aggression, defend national sovereignty and en-

sure the development of our country as a safe, secure and strong state,” the President affirmed.

In December 2018, Guyana’s territorial integrity was violated when a Venezuelan Navy corvette – the Karina PC-14 – made a hostile incursion into Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The incursion took place at approximately 144 kilometers (km) from the boundary which separates Guyana from Venezuela and saw attempts

by the Navy corvette to land a helicopter on the unarmed oil survey ship.

In a firm statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Venezuela’s aggression as a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and general international law.

President Granger noted, too, that, in 2013, a petroleum exploration vessel – RV Teknik Perdana –conducting a survey in the Roraima block offshore, was intercepted by a Venezuelan Navy frigate and ordered to cease its activities.

Meanwhile, in 2000, the Navy of Guyana’s Dutch-speaking neighbour, Suriname, expelled a petroleum CGX- licensed exploration vessel and drill ship, the C. E. Thornton, from Guyana’s waters.

ILLEGAL ARMS “Incursions have occurred not only in our maritime space but also on land.

Illegal mining, illegal logging, illegal arms, narcotics, people and wildlife trafficking and the smuggling of precious minerals have continued. They have to stop,” the President insisted. “Citizens have been killed. Communities, particularly those in our frontier villages, must be made safe from transnational

crime…the force therefore is obligated to secure the state and safeguard the entire territory from invasion, incursion and insurrection. Incursions must be deterred. Insurrections must be suppressed.

The State must remain secure,” Granger, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, said.

JUNGLE PATROLS To the attending officers, the President urged that ground forces continue to conduct “long-range jungle patrols” to the farthest corners of the country. “The GDF was never intended to be a ‘coastal’ force; it is, and will remain, a comprehensive national force. It must reach every corner of the country and must be competent in conducting long-range patrols, in any weather or terrain, by day and night and for long periods. Officers and soldiers who cannot go on long-range patrols, in any weather or terrain by day or by night, for long periods, have no place in the defence force,” he said firmly.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Charrandass’ vote was invalid …SC Boston argues he was duty-bound to vote for list from which his name was extracted

By Svetlana Marshall BY his own actions, Charrandass Persaud’s vote was invalidated in the National Assembly and as such, the No-Confidence Motion could not have been validly carried, Senior Counsel Neil Boston told the court when he appeared before Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire on Thursday.

He said not only did Persaud breached the Constitution of Guyana by sitting in the National Assembly while being a citizen of Canada, but ceased to be a member of that august body the moment he crossed the floor and voted to bring down his own government.

based on evidence already supplied to the High Court, Persaud, who sat on the governing side of the House before he was recalled, be-

now, renewed his Canadian passport thrice as well as his Guyanese passport.

On April 2, 2015, Persaud, Boston pointed out, swore

Senior Counsel Neil Boston

A CANADIAN CITIZEN Boston, who appeared in association with Senior Counsel Rex McKay and Attorneys-at-Law Stanley Moore and Robert Corbin, is representing the interest

of the applicant in the case Compton Reid v The Speaker of the National Assembly, Charrandass Persaud and the Attorney General.

In his almost two hours presentation, Boston said

Chief Justice (ag), Roxanne George-Wiltshire being escorted into her court room

came a citizen of Canada in 1998, and since then to

that he was aware of the provisions of Article 53 and

155 of the Constitution with respect to the qualifications and disqualifications for election as a member of the National Assembly when he signed a ‘statutory declaration form.’

With Article 155 (1) (a) of the Constitution stating that “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who–(a) is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state,” Boston argued that undoubtedly Persaud breached the Constitution.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Charrandass’ vote... is on this basis that Persaud was disqualified for election to the National Assembly, and as such, his vote in the House could not have been legitimate on the night of December 21, 2018, when the Opposition-sponsored No-Confidence Motion was put to a vote.

Boston put to the Court that the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, acted in contravention of the Constitution when he accepted the vote cast by Persaud. But the Chief Justice interjected, and said according to the very arguments put by Boston, it was not public knowledge that Persaud had dual citizenship, and as such, the Speaker could not have known.

In restructuring his statement, the Senior Counsel put to the Court that the “acceptance of the vote amounted to a breach of the Constitution.”

Questioned by the Chief Justice whether the validity of the votes cast by Persaud over his more than three years in the National Assembly should be nullified, Boston, in response, said that the issue at hand is the No-Confidence Motion. He maintained his position, although the question was repeatedly put to him.

CROSSING THE FLOOR To further compound the situation, Boston contended that Persaud also breached the Constitution when he crossed the floor without following the required procedures contained in Article 156 (3) of the Constitution.

According to that article, a Member of Parliament shall cease to be a member if he or she declares in writing to the Speaker or the Representative of the List from which his or her name was extracted, in this case, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) List of Candidates. Such was not done

by Persaud. While Persaud has since indicated that his vote was one of conscience, Boston argued that there is no such thing as ‘conscience vote’ when voting on a ‘confidence motion.’

“You are duty bound to vote for the list from which your name was extracted,” Boston told the Court.

The Senior Counsel put to the Court that by cross-

ing the floor, Persaud was supporting a list from which he was not extracted. “It couldn’t be, the framers of this constitution, that you don’t face the electorate, your name is placed on a party list, and that party extracts your name, and you surreptitiously vote for a list from which your name was not extracted,” he said.

Once Persaud voted “yes” to topple his government, his seat automatically became vacant, and he ceased to be a member of the National Assembly, Boston further submitted to the Court. He said the vote cast by Persaud was therefore invalid and should not have been counted.

VALIDLY ELECTED But Attorney Sanjeev Datadin, who is representing the interest of Persaud, argued that, contrary to the arguments put by Boston, his client was validly elected to the Parliament of Guyana in May 2015. “He was validly elected. He remained validly elected a Member of the National Assembly until the 3rd January 2019,” Datadin said. Persaud was recalled from the National Assembly on January 3.

The Attorney said to argue the contrary would bring into question the validity of the previous votes cast by Persaud to aid in the passage of bills and budgets put before the House.

Datadin submitted to the Court that if a Member of Parliament fails to adhere to the laws of the country, the constitution provides a remedy, which is laid out in Article 58 (1).

That Article states: “Any person who sits or votes in the National Assembly, knowing or having reasonable ground for knowing that he or she is not entitled to do so, shall be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars for each day upon which he or she so sits and votes.”

He said beyond the remedy provided in Article 58 (1), the Constitution provides no other remedy. “All you can do is fine him $50 dollars a day. The Attorney General needs to bring those proceedings if he so wishes,” Datadin told the Court.

In arguing that the vote cast

by Persaud should not be invalidated, Datadin turned the court’s attention to Article 165 (2) of the Constitution, which states that the

presence or participation of any person not entitled to participate in the proceedings of the Assembly shall not be invalidated.

In regards to the issue of crossing the floor, the attorney put to the Court that his client never declared any allegiance to another list. He said declaration, according to the Constitution, requires one in writing. Datadin was backed by Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall, who appeared on behalf of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

Weighing in on the matter, Mayo Robertson, who is representing Attorney General Basil Williams, in association with Maxwell

Edwards, told the Court that Article 58 (1) does not create a case of “exclusivity.”

He said the institution of penalty does not mean that there are no other consequences.

“Just because Article 58 (1) says you pay a 50-dollar daily fine, it doesn’t mean there are no other consequences. The framers could not have possibly intended that somebody could sneak into Parliament with no legal basis and just keep on voting, keep on voting, keep on voting, and at the end of 365 days, pay a sum of $1,800. No,” Robertson reasoned.

While the Constitution

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states that a written declaration should be submitted to the Speaker and the Leader of the List by a Member of Parliament, Robertson said what could be clearer than a MP voting against his own government.

Attorney Roysdale Forde, who appeared on behalf of General Secretary of the APNU, Joseph Harmon, who was added to a party in the matter, argued too that Persaud’s vote was illegitimate and must be rejected.

“That vote made what could otherwise be a failed motion under the constitution into a successful motion,” he said while noting that such was achieved by a person who

was not authorised to be in the National Assembly.

Reid, through his attorneys, is asking the court to set aside the order of the Speaker that the No-Confidence Motion, Resolution No. 101 was passed, and staying the enforcement of Resolution No. 101 declared by the Clerk of the National Assembly. He also wants the court to declare that Persaud was not qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly by virtue of his own act, and that his vote in favour of the vote of No-Confidence was null, void and of no legal effect.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Energy security, finally

FOR too long Guyana’s development has been hindered by the lack of a reliable electrical power supply. Residents of the heavily populated coast, including the capital city, have had to endure too frequent blackouts, while many hinterland communities have resigned themselves to a substandard existence without any electricity at all. Twenty-three years of PPP rule have brought from PPP officials nothing but unfulfilled assurances, empty promises, temporary, band-aid fixes, and repeated disappointments.

The lack of any comprehensive plan to move Guyana into the modern age has earned the country nothing but disrespect on the international stage. The fact that many of our neighbours believed that our country was hopelessly ‘backward’ is not disputed. All of that changed with the election of the APNU+AFC coalition in May 2015.

With the election of President David Granger came renewed hope.

The president had articulated a detailed and workable plan that would put an end to the decades of stagnation and backwardness. The president unveiled a radical and innovative programme of conversion from our country’s dependence on fossil fuels, to one of the efficient use of renewable energy sources. Such a far-reaching departure

from the failed system of the past had never before been proposed, let alone implemented. President Granger’s goal is to progressively move towards 100 per cent renewable power supply by 2025. That objective is consistent with, and part of, the overarching vision of a ‘green’ trajectory of national development.

The president noted that we simply cannot and need not continue to spend some 24 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on the purchase of power-generating petroleum products. After all, Guyana is blessed with an abundance of sources of renewable energy. The president expressed that all that was needed to solve the problem was political will, of which there is no shortage in the coalition administration.

Arizona State Sustainable Development Professor Gary Dirks agrees. At a Lecture organised by the Guyana Press Association (GPA) in collaboration with Conservation International, the expert said, “Your energy system at this point relies on hydrocarbons. You have the real opportunity going forward to look at that system and say, ‘How can I use renewables more effectively?’”

Considering Guyana’s oil-producing prospects, the petroleum executive responsible for the Asia-Pacific area pointed out that, “There is

absolutely no reason why you can’t have a green growth agenda pursued aggressively and be an oil-producing nation at the same time.” His informed views, of course, make sense.

When the coalition took office, implementation of the renewable-energy plan was immediately initiated. To date, in stark contrast to the PPP’s never-to-be-realised promises, there is much tangible progress. In fact, advancement has been real, obvious, and remarkably rapid.

Last November, government announced that the construction of a $254 million solar farm at Mabaruma is complete and will be connected to the town’s power grid.

Currently, residents of Mabaruma receive their electricity from generators that use fossil fuels. However, when the solar farm becomes fully functional, the town will have a hybrid system. Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson explained that “During the day when the sun is up, the whole town will be powered by the solar farm.” He elaborated that because sunlight is intermittent and variable in intensity, the generating sets will fill any shortfall in demand. For example, on cloudy days the solar farm may generate 80 per cent of the town’s electricity, while the generators will supply the remaining 20 per cent required by residents. Switching

between solar power and fossil fuel power will be smoothly automatic.

Consistent with the clean, renewable, reliable energy policy, government has announced that solar farms will soon be constructed in the capital towns of Lethem in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region, Mahdia in the Potaro-Siparuni region, and Bartica in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region. Those farms will be used to reliably supply electricity to entire communities. In areas where residential dwellings are farther apart, a tailored approach is being used. For example, some 6,000 residents of about 25 hinterland communities are receiving solar home systems under the Sustainable Business Models for Rural electrification and Energy Access Project.

In September 2018, Regional Education Officer of Region 10 (Ag), Ms. Keane Adams, said that starting in 2019, the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Department of Education will be focussing on the green initiative and bringing schools on board to rely on renewable energy. She said that solar panels will be installed in more schools in the new year. Another transition the department will be making is to transform traditional chalk and board classrooms into smart classrooms which will revolutionise learning to meet the standards of a technological educational sector.

Meanwhile, on the coast, solar panels are being installed on government buildings, thereby making those buildings less dependent on power from fossil fuels. About 100 buildings have been outfitted to date. Those panels alone will generate about 2,000 watts of power.

Of course, solar power is not the only source of clean energy.

Government has, so far, identified about 100 locations across Guyana where hydroelectric power systems may be feasible. And work on this power source is underway. Specific studies of our hydro-electric potential are due to begin shortly at Moco Muco and Kumo.

Most recently, government has announced that feasibility studies and pilot projects are underway with regard to the use of wind power, both on the coast and in interior locations.

Evidently, President Granger, by pursuing a ‘green’ path of development, has fundamentally transformed Guyana’s energy policy initiatives. Considering the fact that in fewer than four years so much tangible progress has been made, one can only imagine the pace of development which is possible if the president is allowed, by the people, to continue his work of transformative innovation.

Irfaan Ali: an absolute disaster

Dear Editor,

IT is an absolute disaster what has happened to the rich political legacy of Cheddi and the PPP. To the disgust of the majority of the Party’s supporters, the worst presidential candidate in the history of politics in Guyana has been elected – sorry, selected to lead the PPP/C. He is incapable and dishonest with a reputation that stinks to “High Heavens”.

The writing is on the wall and the end of the PPP regime is illuminated on the horizon.

Without a doubt, Anil would have led the party to a landslide victory. Alas! that is

not to be – thanks to B.J and his surrogates.

He (Anil) should now salvage his pride and dignity, garner his immense talent and walk straight into the open arms of Ralph and ANUG. B.J. and his tribal gang can take full credit for the crucifixion of the PPP and, similar to the cries of anguish by Jesus’s disciples after:“It is finished was his cry” resonated from the cross, the thousands of dutiful PPP supporters are similarly traumatized while APNU is rejoicing at their good fortune.

The “crowning” of Donald over Ralph resulted in the PPP being where they are today. History is now being repeated with

Anil denigrated as the sacrificial lamb, being beheaded on the altar of connivance. Donald’s calamitous reign only served as a lesson in futility and the chances of a PPP victory at the next elections have now been nullified and virtually hopeless. The vocal chants of voter’s abstentions reverberating deafeningly from supporters of the PPP which inadvertently would be a full-throttle support for APNU and the death knell of the PPP. Moses and Khemraj, who have both been justifiably relegated and condemned as “opportunistic traitors” can now breathe a minimal sigh of relief and feel exonerated to some extent for their contribution to the

demise of the PPP. As the political landscape in Guyana deteriorates, Cheddi and the many ardent stalwarts of yesteryear must be turning in their respective graves.

I cannot help but fully support Oscar Ramjeet’s conclusion in Sunday’s Stabroek (January 20, 2019). “APNU has no need to rig now. GOOD BYE PPP”.

Regards Indira Bissoon

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

A firestorm of internal dissent

Dear Editor,

LEADER of the parliamentary opposition, Bharat Jagdeo, believes that he is the political whizz kid of Guyana. But this is and has been a false self-perception that he has cunningly built around his persona by the

construction of a false narrative that he continues to unload, propelled by and filled with deceptions and pure, unadulterated lies.

By his own mouth, some years ago, he said that adversarial politics is about making the other person look bad.

But although the traditional

PPP/C’s Democratic Centralism Dear Editor THE post-nomination reactions of some PPP/C key players, those who were unsuccessful in their nomination bid, particularly their statements, were a mix of great disappointment, disenchantment, and pain at the end result of their party’s charade that presented Jagdeo’s desired choice of Irfaan Ali for party nomination.

Dr. Frank Anthony’s immediate departure in the company of Central Committee member Indra Chandrapal, signalled all three of the human emotions mentioned above. Add this to the absence of the above two, in addition to another former hopeful Dr. Vindhya Persaud, at Ally’s public meeting at Leonora, and one will have an understanding of muted protests from party high fliers.

The same can be applied to another front runner, Anil Nandlall, absent also who, based on his numerous public statements for and on behalf of the party, and his many legal representations for the party, and as well as for private citizens, presented a case where he believed that he had more than done enough for the nod from El Patron. His subsequent statement which included the word “disappointment”, said it all.

Such reactions are quite human and normal from the ‘losers’, particularly given the archaic and undemocratic system of Democratic Centralism that guided the process, and which usually subserve all dissenting voices to the line of party unity which the latter ideology enforces on its members in such circumstance.

It was Chandarpal who

reflected this conundrum mostly, when, as a central committee member, she supported Anthony’s candidacy in the contest, and expressed the sentiment “You are the epitome of decency, integrity and commitment… never change those values, it is who you are”, she also said that he was a “great human being” and was happy to have supported him.

Such are accolades that sought not only to highlight the kind of qualities that she, and I suspect, other party members believe an ideal candidate ought to have, but also clearly pointing a finger that such are deficiencies in the person of Ali. However, when asked whether she supported the latter as the nominee, she answered in the affirmative, thus adhering to the process of Democratic Centralism.

It is a great contradiction for a political party that has sought to accuse the coalition government, especially its largest component, the PNCR of being undemocratic; of course, aided by a particular private media that continues to conduct its affairs in what can be described as totally unrepresentative of the wishes of its supporters.

But in a party that has built a known reputation for being markedly vindictive towards those who dissent its collective decision, the enforced silence towards criticizing the party’s eventual choice, and their unmistakable communist style chant of unswerving support for Ali, has caused supposedly party grandees to be reduced to mere children. What a tragedy!

What a shame!

Regards Dillon Goring

interpretation and practice of this well-known strategy is to exploit and highlight the contradictions of political opponents, it should never be predicated on the resort to blatant falsehoods in all its dishonest forms, as has become the daily behavioural norm of the Leader of the Opposition. I have always contended, this is a standard line that he has continued to carry, exploiting the ethnic divide which exists and also assisted shamefully by sections of the private media.

His continuous dishonesty is again seen in the just concluded process of the selection of his party’s presidential nominee.

Remember his numerous statements about the equal opportunity and chances that each of his party would-be presidential hopefuls would have in its selection process?

But this was always going to be – the Jagdeo process.

These were his forkedtongue responses to the spotlight question as to who he supported for the prized spot.

Although one can agree that in such prior circumstances that a diplomatic line is often taken, in Jagdeo’s case it was printed deception since the democratic process that he sought to describe was nothing but a sham; a big sham, designed to hide his foregone choice as party’s choice. Of course, his pitiful, spineless willing accessories on the Central Committee to such an insult to transparency were well in tuned with what “the boss wants”.

Thus, Jagdeo making

public that he had always supported his “friend” Irfaan Ali for the nomination, gives support to his penchant for grand deception, and articulation for misleading. In disclosing another bout of such deviousness, he has unleashed a fire storm of internal dissent within his party.

Regards Earl Hamilton

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

No agreement on GECOM’s readiness …commissioners want political heads to decide

By Lisa Hamilton AFTER hours of deliberations going into the night, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was unable to come to a consensus on how much time it needs to prepare for General and Regional Elections.

The commission instead has decided that the chief whips of both government and opposition will meet today at 13:00hrs to listen to the sides of the debate and have their principal heads decide on the way forward.

On Thursday at 09:00hrs, the full commission convened at GECOM’s head

office; broke for lunch around midday; reconvened at 16:30hrs and did not conclude until around 19:30hrs.

However, the longs hours proved to be futile as, coming out of the meeting, the commissioners told the media that there were stark differences of opinions and proposals shared.

Commissioner Vincent Alexander, speaking with the media, said that the PPP-nominated commissioners seem to have forgotten that the very constitution which stipulates the 90-day period makes provision for necessary adjustments.

Asked to speak based on

his experience in the work on the average time such could take he said: “GECOM itself in the past has discussed and enunciated on the question of a timeframe for unscheduled elections and that, which is in our records, was 180 days.”

However, Commissioner Robeson Benn also put forward other rationale, for early elections stating: “Based on the documentation that appears from the get go, there is an effort to say that training in itself takes 90 days. That knocks out completely the holding of elections. When I looked at it first, I had 29 days to do the training and then I got

32 days because the training effort would be on people who were just trained for the Local Government Elections.

These people are already trained; they’re not stupid; they are aware of the process and all they need to do is tweak the training material and to change the training and instead of waiting on weekends to do the training, do it during the week.”

Alexander said that GECOM’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield had objected and warned against such rapid preparation methods.

“The CEO clearly said that the time is insufficient if you

(PPP)-nominated commissioners [from left] Sase Gunraj; Bibi Shadick and Robeson Benn (Adrian Narine photo)

want to hold the elections in March, which is what they are calling for now. He’s saying that you really want to create a situation to prove the incompetence of GECOM by mandating us to do something that is undoable…to train people to be prepared for an election in March,” he said.

The commissioners also disagree on whether a claims and objections period should be held before the list is verified as fit for an election. “Act No. 15 of 2000 mandates that claims and objections period ought to be held to refresh or give life to the list. Never, in 2001, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2018 when we contemplated the holding of elections was there an active list that we have now. I say all of that to say to you that there’s not a legal requirement for any sort of refreshing of the list in terms of house-tohouse registration; in terms of claims and objections; in terms of continuous registration. We have an active list,” Sae Gunraj, another PPP-nominated commissioner said.

However, Alexander maintains that while houseto-house registration is still a viable option, at minimum, the other commissioners are pushing for there to be a claims and objections period for the cleansing of the list.

“If one looks to the petition of the PPP to which Commissioner Bibi Shadick was a participant, they said that people have impersonated voters who were on the list.

This says that we have accepted that the list is flawed but now they are unprepared to go to an election with a claims and objections –at minimum – which allows for some cleansing of the list,” Alexander said.

The PPP-nominated commissioners are staunch on the position that elections can be held within the 90-day period. They based

their reasoning on the recent Local Government Elections (LGE) voters’ list which they pointed out is valid until April 30, 2019. The commissioners also believe that the training of workers; procurement of materials and other processes needed to facilitate an election can be hurried up with Shadick even putting forward her own suggested timeline which she says would take only 50 days. “I have produced to the elections commission a timeline that will allow that to happen, taking into consideration all the tasks that the CEO says he has to do...I gave them a timeline that is achievable in 50 days,” Shadick said. These suggestions, however, did not sit well with the other commissioners.

SHADICK MISSPOKE There was also some fall out at the meeting where Shadick referred to the CEO as “thoroughly confused”, which Alexander said is a contradiction to reservations they had about the CEO prior to the engagement. Coming out of the meeting, Gunraj described the commission as “frustrated”, while Benn stated that between the back and forth deliberations “we have lost our way”. “The decision was that we will say to the emissaries of the President and the leader of the opposition what we said to each other, so in some regards the ball would be in their court,” Alexander explained, adding: “For time being it seems as if there will have to be a political solution.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Sophia man remanded for murder

FIFTY-one-year-old Colin Blaire, who stabbed his neighbour to death on Sunday night after the man intervened in a domestic dispute between him and his reputed wife, was on Thursday remanded to prison when he appeared in court to answer to the charge of murder.

He was remanded until March 12 by Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool when he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning.

The victim has been identified as Godfrey Phillips and is now deceased as a result of the crime allegedly committed by Blaire. According to reports, Phillips was attempting to make peace between the couple when Blaire questioned the authority of Phillips in trying to be peacemaker. It was at that point Blaire allegedly whipped out a knife and stabbed Phillips to the abdomen.

However, as relatives of the deceased were leaving the court room, the magistrate observed that she was familiar with one of the persons leaving the room.

She subsequently called the woman and asked her about her relation to the accused or deceased and the woman responded saying that she was the eldest sister of the dead man.

The magistrate told the court that she will have to recuse herself from the case as she was familiar with the woman as they attend the same church. As such the court was adjourned and the magistrate consulted with her colleague in Court Two, and then returned to inform the accused that he will no longer be appearing before her in Court One but rather Court Two before another magistrate.

The deceased, Godfrey Phillips, is to be laid to rest today, Friday.

Remain ... physical infrastructure, the President said that the government will continue to lend its assistance. Budgetary allocations to the GDF have increased by over 75 per cent from $8.0B in 2014 to G$14.02B in 2019. These funds will result in improvements to the force’s physical infrastructure; the acquisition of drones for border surveillance and additional in-shore patrol vessels, engineering and transport equipment.

Meanwhile, the President highlighted that in 2018, the Air Corps’ fleet was improved with the acquisition of light reconnaissance aircraft, while light transport aircraft are to be procured this year. In addition, the force’s technical corps is being improved; the Intelligence Corps and the Signal Corps have been reformed and the Engineer Corps has received equipment to enhance the Force’s agility.

INCREASED PATROLS For his part, Army Chiefof-Staff, Brigadier Patrick West, announced that 2019 will see an increase in the number of patrols on land and at sea and better management of budgetary allocations and resources. “As we grow this year, the force will continue on its journey of transformation and it will do so cognisant of the threats that will seek to impede this process such as climate change, transnational crime, domestic terrorism, crime and other innovative security challenges and our traditional threats,” West said.

As the unrest in Venezuela continues, the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on January 23, 2019, called on Venezuelan political leaders and citizens to maintain national peace until a return to normalcy. “The Government of Guyana is gravely concerned at the deepening

of the political crisis in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and supports calls made at both the regional and international levels for immediate dialogue involving all political and social actors, with a view to the preservation of the democratic process and a return to normalcy.”

“Guyana calls on all parties to desist from actions that might lead to further violence and loss of lives. The Government of Guyana remains firmly supportive of efforts to resolve the crisis through peaceful means and with full respect for human rights and the rule of law,” a release said. The govern-

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The Guyana Defence Force Band Corps

ment now awaits the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Ven-

ezuela border controversy and is confident that the ruling will bring an end to

the decades-old obstruction to Guyana’s economic development.

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Guyana, US discuss Venezuela, elections

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge on Wednesday met with John J. Sullivan, Deputy Secretary of State of the United States of America, in Washington D.C, during which they discussed Venezuela’s recent interception of an ExxonMobil vessel and preparation for national elections here.

In a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both Greenidge and the Deputy Secretary of State committed to further strengthening the US-Guyana bilateral relationship and to exploring areas for deeper cooperation, with particular regard to the energy, security and development sectors.

The Deputy Secretary of State reaffirmed US support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including sovereign rights in

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge

its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in light of Venezuela’s recent interception of an ExxonMobil contracted vessel conducting seismic surveys in Guyana’s maritime space.

The Foreign Minister and the Deputy Secretary also discussed preparations for upcoming national elections in Guyana, the release ended.

Meanwhile, in another

John J. Sullivan, Deputy Secretary of State of the United States of America

release, the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called on Venezuelan political leaders and citizens to maintain national peace until a return to normalcy. “The Government of Guyana is gravely concerned at the deepening of the political crisis in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and

supports calls made at both the regional and international levels for immediate dialogue involving all political and social actors, with a view to the preservation of the democratic process and a return to normalcy,” the ministry stated.

“Guyana calls on all parties to desist from actions that might lead to further violence and loss of lives.

The Government of Guyana remains firmly supportive of efforts to resolve the crisis through peaceful means and with full respect for human rights and the rule of law,” the release said. The government now awaits the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Venezuela border controversy and is confident that the ruling will bring an end to the decades-old obstruction to Guyana’s economic development.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Police officer remanded for allegedly raping 13-year-old A serving member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Thursday found himself on the wrong side of the law when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Seecharran Singh, aged 31, of Plantation Providence, East Bank Demerara, made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the indictable charge which was read in-camera.

Particulars of the charge alleged that, during the month of June 2018, at Plantation Providence, EBD, he engaged in sexual activity with the under-aged child Singh's attorney, Bernard DaSilva, made an application for bail which was not objected to by Police Prosecutor Adduni Inniss.

The Acting Chief Magistrate, however, remanded Singh to prison, citing

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Seecharran Singh

the safety of the child. The matter will be recalled on February 5, 2019, The Guyana Chronicle had reported that the 13-year-old girl was left in the care of Singh during the month of June 2018.

It is alleged that Singh made advances to the young girl while her mother was out with another friend and raped her vaginally.

Upon the return of the child’s mother and the friend, the incident was reported and the police were informed.

Hit-and-run cop arrested …denies being rider of motorcycle in fatal Sisters Village crash A POLICE constable attached to the ‘C’ Division is presently under close arrest and is expected to appear before a magistrate in the new week, charged for a number of offences ranging from dangerous driving, to causing death and fleeing from an accident scene.

Orin Parris turned himself over to the police on Thursday afternoon, after reports surfaced that he was the rider of a motorcycle which was involved in a fatal accident at Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara on Wednesday.

The rider of the bike had reportedly lost control while navigating a turn and skidded under the wheel of a moving truck, which resulted in 19-year-old pillion rider, John Walcott’s head being crushed. He died on the spot.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that police have evidence which indicates that the constable was the rider of the bike at the time of the accident. The constable has since denied those claims. Further, the truck driver did, from the inception, note that there were two persons on the motorcy-

Police Constable, Orrin Parris

cle at the time of the crash and that when the motorcycle crashed, the now dead man was not the one riding.

Persons close to the embattled constable explained that he told them that while he rides the very motorcycle, he was not riding at the time of the accident. He said that he and his friend were doing some amount of riding and that they were taking turns in riding the motorcycle.

On Wednesday, persons indicated that the motorcycle was said to be moving at a fast rate of speed when the rider ended up in the path of the truck.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Third cancer patient dies at GPHC …doctor calls for specialised childcare professionals for cancer treatment

“HEAVEN has a new angel.” That was all Azeena Bakraj said after the passing of her six-year-old niece, Sherezer Mendonca,

who was in a critical condition for some time at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Mendonca was diagnosed

Mae’s student committed suicide A Mae’s School student died on Thursday afternoon on her way to a city hospital after she reportedly ingested a poisonous substance in the classroom.

The student, Danica Shouts, who is said to be in the upper levels of the school, committed suicide according to persons who are close to the school and the student. The student had earlier posted on social media platform her intentions to take her life.

According to reports, the young lady was among a group of students who were being investigated at the school concerning the alleged smuggling of ecstasy into the school compound.

It was further stated that the school’s administration related that the now deceased girl and others who were

the subject of the investigation were told that they will need to bring their parents into the school so that the matter can be addressed and the parents can be apprised of same.

At a press conference, the school denied that there was any issue of ecstasy being found at the school. It should be noted, however, that this publication was told about the ecstasy probe by a teacher of the school. It was that decision by the school that prompted the teen to speak of her intentions to end her own life. When the Guyana Chronicle visited the school, the operations appeared to be normal.

Police visited the school just after lunch on Thursday after they received information about the incident.

Kitty woman in court for fraud A 31-year-old woman was, on Thursday, taken before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

She was charged for making a false declaration in order to obtain a Guyana passport.

Unique Angelica Hope of Thomas Street, Kitty, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that, on January 17, 2018, at the Central Immigration and Passport Office, Georgetown, for the purpose of procuring a new passport, she signed a written document stating that she was Coretta Hope.

Police Prosecutor Annalisa Brummell told the court that Hope was given her first passport and went to Barbados. However, the defendant overstayed and was deported back to Guyana.

When the defendant returned to Guyana, she obtained another passport under the name of ‘Onika Ann Benjamin’ and went back to Barbados. Again, the defendant overstayed her time and was deported.

On January 17, 2018, the defendant, along with her mother, went to the Central Immigration and Passport Office and applied for a passport with the name of ‘Coretta Hope’, who is her disabled sister.

Brummell noted that the defendant's mother falsely declared that Unique was Coretta, knowing that she (the defendant) was not.

The prosecutor told the court that more charges were expected to be laid against the defendant as her mother was being sought by the police.

The defendant was released on $100,000 bail with the condition that she lodged all of her passports at the court.

The woman, however, told the court that her last two passports were taken by immigration officers in Barbados but the prosecutor told the court that that was a lie. The matter was adjourned until February 6, 2019.

with Leukemia-- a cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. The young girl passed away on Thursday morning at the GPHC, after being in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for some time.

She is the third of three children who have died after receiving the treatment for Leukemia at the Hospital.

Seven-year-old Corwin Edwards succumbed on January 14 and Roshini Seegobin, three, died on January 18.

The trio succumbed after an alleged adverse reaction to medication which was administered to them as part of the treatment for Leukemia.

The GPHC has since confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the deaths. During the investigation, all medical persons who were directly involved will be interviewed and the medication which was administered will be assessed.

“Further, usage of that medication has been discontinued while the investigation continues… we advise members of the public to resist the urge to speculate on what is a sensitive matter and to await the findings of the investigation,” the GPHC said.

The hospital confirmed that it will continue to work closely with all stakeholders, including the Ministry of

Public Health, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other agencies in an effort to improve services provided to patients.

One medical professional, who wished to remain anonymous, has said that greater diligence needs to be taken when treating children, particularly children with cancer. This professional was approached by the Guyana Chronicle for help with understanding the medical aspect of the investigation.

The professional could not provide any assistance in this regard since the investigation into the death of the children has not been completed and he did not wish to speculate on the matter.

However, he highlighted: “The system needs to be corrected. Cancer is not a general field, it is a specialised field that needs trained doctors in every aspect.”

He explained that all across the world cancer patients are treated with great diligence and for children, in particular, there needs to be specialised professionals to deal with their treatment. He was not undermining the capabilities of local medical professionals but stressed that children ought to be given that specialised care. “If you don’t have a properly trained, licensed professional [to treat children], then children are always going to be vulnerable,” the medical professional said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Ruling on missing diamonds early next month

JUSTICE Fidela Corbin-Lincoln will give her ruling on the missing diamonds case brought against the State in the first week of February, 2019.

The trial, which had been ongoing for seven years, came to a close last October, with Justice Corbin-Lincoln fixing a date in January for the ruling.

However, counsel of the applicant, Nigel Hughes, filed notice of absence for the date set since he was representing in another matter on the set date.

The judge will fix a new

date for ruling in the first week of next month.

This case was brought to the High Court by the said owner of the diamonds, Ronald Khan, who contends that $54 million worth in diamonds were in police custody as evidence in a criminal trial, and he was never given back the merchandise after the trial and investigations were finished.

The elderly man, who had testified in the last hearing of the matter, told the court that he had a mining operation in the Ewang River, Potaro-Siparuni.

In 1994, there was an incident that occurred at his site where two persons were killed, his brother and another miner. He was also robbed of what he said was 430 carats of diamonds, worth $54 million. Khan explained that he had several scales which he used to weigh his diamonds to derive at an accurate measurement.

The day after the incident, he was taken from the hospital to the Mahdia Police Station to identify the men who robbed him and murdered the two men. Khan said

the diamonds were retrieved from the criminals and he witnessed the police officers weighing the diamonds and verified the amount and its worth.

According to Khan, Constable Fraser told him that the police would have to lodge the diamonds as evidence in the trial of the two men he would have identified.

After this was done, he said that the officers then transported the items from Mahdia, to the ‘E’ and ‘F’ Divisions of the Guyana Police Force.

To date, he has never

again seen his diamonds that were retrieved and lodged.

The State had argued on several submissions, the main one being that the minerals retrieved may not have been diamonds and there is no actual evidence confirming whether or not they were, and the true value.

Another point they had argued was the issue of limitations. In their submissions, the State pointed out that the action filed by Khan is statute-barred as it contravenes provisions of the Limitation Act. “Every action and suit for any movable property, or upon any contract, bargain, or agreement relating to movable property, or to recover money lent without

written acknowledgment or upon any account or book debt, or to recover any salary or the value of any goods sold and delivered, shall be brought within three years next after the cause of action or suit has arisen,” Section Six of the Act states.

Since the robbery of Khan’s mining camp occurred in 1994, the State advanced that he should have commenced civil proceedings to recover his property anytime within the three years therefrom.

In a matter of days, the decision of the court will be heard.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

TCL Guyana/CEMEX commissions concrete plant

-company cites ongoing ‘positive’ development in new investment AS Guyana’s construction industry continues to expand, one of the country’s major suppliers of cement has upgraded its services to providing concrete, utilising innovative technology.

On Thursday afternoon , Mexico’s global firm CEMEX and its subsidiary, Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) Guyana Incorporated commissioned its new concrete plant, which the company noted is a “major investment” in response to the building needs of Guyana – described by officials of the entity as one of its key markets within the region.

the firm is “well –outfitted to embrace the ongoing positive transformation of this gem that is Guyana.”

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan commended the initiative. He said the move bodes well for Guyana and he noted that government welcomes all investments made here. He noted that cement remains an important aspect of the infrastructure and he noted that cement is likely to play an important role in Guyana’s evolving oil and gas industry. He said Guyana remains open to business and he noted that the possibility of manufacturing cement

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, Mexican ambassador to Guyana, Ivan Medel and Yago Castro Izaguirre, General Manager of Arawak Cement Company Limited / TCL Guyana Incorporated share a light moment after the commissioning of the plant (Adrian Narine photo)

Roder Ramdwar , Business Manager of TCL Guyana Inc., told a gathering, which included Minister of Finance , Winston Jordan and Mexican Ambassador to Guyana , Ivan Medel at the brief ceremony at the company’s base on Water Street, that the company is here to stay and will offer the products on which it has built its reputation.

“As a company comprising Guyanese nationals and given our strong commitment of enhancing contribution towards the growth of Guyana, we felt strongly that the time is now for us to expand our offerings and birth a concrete division,” he said.

Ramdwar said the plant is one which took significant investments, and which provides a wide range of cutting-edge solutions. He said the plant is ideally equipped with onsite laboratory facilities that are further backed by state-of- the-art international research and development in Switzerland. He said the plant will be manned by a vibrant, “research driven” and well trained all–Guyanese team.

Ramdwar said the company is confident that with its new robust offerings of cement and now concrete,

here should not be ruled out.

Shyam Nokta , President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GM&SA), said the effort by Cemex/TCL Guyana Inc. to expand its operations here is one that demonstrates “confidence in Guyana and what the future holds.”

He said the opportunities, which can emerge from the initiative, include expansion of the country’s infrastructure. He said Guyana has embraced a “green pathway” and that also realises looking at alternative type of materials. He reminded that concrete is the foundation of what many things are built on and will remain so in the future. He said it provides an opportunity to provide international best practices in areas such as health, safety and the environment, good governance and innovation and technology transfer.

Nokta also urged the company to explore the idea of manufacturing cement here in Guyana. Ambassador Ivan Medel deemed the move a transformative one.

He said it is the starting point of the transitioning process and he noted that CEMEX, the parent company of TCL, is confirming a long-term “bet” on the

future of Guyana. He said Guyana and Mexico have been enjoying economic relations in many areas, including in the area of rice export. He described the move by CEMEX/TCL as a good business case in Guyana’s development.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

‘No need for elections petition’

…lawyers argue dual citizenship well placed before the courts

By Svetlana Marshall THE application filed by Compton Reid challenging the validity of the vote cast

by Charrandass Persaud in the National Assembly on December 21, 2018, could not have been brought by way of an election petition because it was only recently discovered that Persaud holds dual citizenship, Senior Counsel Neil Boston argued on Thursday.

He was at the time de-

fending the application by Reid, a farmer from Berbice, who has asked the High Court to issue seven declarations and two orders, setting aside the order of the Speaker that the No-Confidence Motion, Resolution No. 101 was passed, and staying the enforcement of Resolution No. 101 declared by the Clerk of the National Assembly. But Persaud’s Attorney, Sanjeev Datadin, and Anil Nandlall, the attorney representing the Leader of the Opposition, are

Attorney General Basil Williams

arguing that the High Court does not have jurisdiction to hear the case.

Attorney Anil Nandlall

On Thursday when the case was heard by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire, Boston,

who appeared in association with Attorneys-at-Law Rex McKay S.C, Stanley Moore and Robert Corbin, argued that Reid’s application was well placed. He alluded to Article 163 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana, which states “Subject to the provisions of this article, the High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine any question – (a) regarding the qualification of any person to be elected as a member of the National Assembly.”

Boston submitted to the court that the question of qualification is what was put to the Court. Reid, through his attorneys, is arguing that Persaud was not qualified to be a Member of Parliament because he holds dual citizenship which is a contravention to Article 155 (1). While that article bars Members of Parliament from having dual citizenship, Persaud sat in the National Assembly for more than three years while being a citizen of both Guyana and Canada.

PROVISIONS Submitting that the court has jurisdiction to hear the case, the Senior Counsel drew to the attention of the Chief Justice Article 163 (4) of the Constitution which states that “Parliament may make provision with respect (a) the circumstances and manner in which and the conditions upon which proceedings for the determination of any question under this article may be instituted in the High Court and appeal may be brought to the Court of Appeal in respect thereof.”

He noted that while the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act and the National Assembly (Validity) of Elections Rules provide for an election petition to be brought before the High Court within 28 days after the results of the elections were declared, Parliament did not stipulate how the Court should be approached after the expiration of the 28 days when a fault was discovered.

Boston told the court that it was after Persaud voted in favour of the Opposition-sponsored No-Confidence Motion, that it was discovered that he held dual citizenship. “Some three years and eight months after elections was certified, it was discovered that Charrandass was not electable…three years,” he told the Court.

The Senior Counsel said while Persaud’s attorney would wish to confine the applicant to a period of 28 days, to adopt such an argument would be flawed.

“To adopt the argument of those parties who oppose the Fixed Date Application is inviting this Court to attribute to the legislature an intention to produce a capricious or

unjust results,” he submitted, while adding “could it be the intention of Parliament that an election petition is the only mode of challenging a particular conduct, the only mode of coming to complain of an act which occurred three years after.”

He maintained that Parliament did not make provision for the situation currently facing the court.

STRUCK OUT But Datadin told the court that the proceedings should be struck out. “The questioning of an election, and the election of a Member of Parliament is a specific and special jurisdiction afforded to the court,” Datadin said while arguing that pursuant of Article 165, Parliament regulates its own conduct and procedures. He said it is the Speaker who adjudicates on matters within the Parliament and not the Court.

Citing the Case of the Attorney General of Guyana v Raphael Trotman and others, Datadin, in quoting Justice Ian Chang, said the court has no power to enquire into what occurs within the walls of the National Assembly except on the grounds of unconstitutional matters.

He maintained that there is no provision for the declarations being sought by Reid to be made as it relates to what is “perceived to be a constitutional breach.”

He also argued that there was no live issue before the court on the basis that Persaud was removed from the National Assembly.

Datadin’s arguments were supported by Anil Nandlall, representing Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo who emphasised that the time to challenge an election of a Member of Parliament to the National Assembly has elapsed.

In rebutting the arguments put by Datadin and Nandlall, Attorney General Basil Williams told the Court there was no need for the applicant to file an election petition because it is not an election case.

He put to the Court that Article 163 contemplated the creation of an election court in election season to treat with matters relative to a just concluded election, hence the 28 days provision. He said the court, in treating with such constitutional matter, cannot fail to act when the election season has ended.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Romania sympathetic to CARICOM’s blacklisting concerns are saved on reconstruction costs,” the secretary-general stated.

“Financing resilience to combat disasters and other effects of climate change is

His Excellency Ambassador Stefan Mera (L) presented his credentials on Thursday to CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque (R) at the headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat, in Georgetown, Guyana

THE Government of Romania is sympathetic to the concerns of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) with respect to the blacklisting of some of its Member States by the European Union (EU).

The sentiment was conveyed by His Excellency, Ambassador Stefan Mera, as he presented his credentials on Thursday to CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, as his country’s first Ambassador to the Caribbean Community.

In a release the CARICOM Secretariat said some CARICOM Member States have been blacklisted by the EU despite having fulfilled the criteria set out by the relevant global regulatory authorities for financial services. Secretary-General LaRocque, in a statement during the ceremony at the CARICOM Secretariat’s Georgetown, Guyana Headquarters, said the depth of the friendly relationship between the Region and the EU “should have allowed for dialogue prior to the institution of such harmful measures which negatively affect our Community.”

He called on Romania in its capacity as the current President of the Council of the European Union, to influence the initiation of a dialogue on this issue.

He pointed out that blacklisted jurisdictions faced

major reputational damage and disruptive controls on their financial transactions.

“Blacklisting influences the strategies of international banks resulting in de-risking and their withdrawal of crucial correspondent banking relationships,’ he added.

CARICOM and Romania are working on a draft memorandum of understanding to implement and execute specific technical and scientific programmes and projects. Romania has offered 46 scholarships to Community nationals in various areas beneficial to Member States. The Secretary-General urged Romania to support the Community’s advocacy for international actions that allowed for a balanced approach to accessing concessional development financing. He said a fundamental reconsideration was required of the current criteria that governed access to such funding, which gave inordinate weight to GDP per capita. “Revised criteria must take into account, vulnerability, and not rely solely on per capita income which has resulted in many of our countries being graduated out of access to such funding,” Ambassador LaRocque said. “As we seek to build our resilience, concessional development financing is needed to assist us,” he added. “Studies have shown that for every dollar spent on building resilience prior to disasters, four dollars

Remains of boat captain found COMMANDER of ‘F’ Division, Senior Superintendent Kevin Adonis on Thursday said that the police have retrieved the remains of boat captain Junior Benjamin and that a post-mortem would have to be conducted to determine his cause of death.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the body of the man was discovered on Monday and it was suspected that he might have drowned but the police were still mandated to get involved as they have to determine if there was any foul play associated with his death. The com-

mander, however, made it clear that based on checks carried out on the body by police detectives who travelled to the area, no marks of violence were found.

Police detectives moved into the area on Tuesday afternoon after they received word of the discovery of the body. The deceased, who is said to be from Fair View, Kurupakari, met his demise sometime on Monday, January 21. The area where the incident took place is a far distance from where the police are based, according to our sources.

a good investment,” Ambassador LaRocque said.

The Romanian diplomat said his country had established diplomatic relations with all Caribbean coun-

tries and had signed MoUs with Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Guyana and Jamaica. Ambassador Mera, based in Brazil, invited the secretary-general to

attend an International Conference on Resilience to Disasters, in Bucharest on March 12, 2019. CARICOM Foreign Ministers have also been invited.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Friday, Jaunary 25, 2019 –– 5:00hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Key positions filled for Juvenile Justice Department

Deputy Director (administration) Ms. Joan Ann Edghill-Stuart

MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has appointed William Orrin Boston as Director of Juvenile Justice, who will now head the Juvenile Justice Department at the ministry.

This appointment was made on January 2, 2019 in accordance with provisions made under Section 76 (1) of the Juvenile Justice Act 2018.

The commencement order bringing the act into operation was gazetted on October 10, 2018.

In a release, the ministry said the Act confers on the director among other things, the responsibility of organising and supervising custody, education and rehabilitation of juveniles. The director is also expected to advise the minister on policies and procedures related to the operation of the Juvenile Justice System.

The Juvenile Justice Act 2018 spells out new rights and protections for juvenile offenders. This new Act has now decriminalised truancy, vagrancy and wandering offences. The newly-appointed director is assisted by two deputy directors, both of whom will help in fulfilling the mandate outlined in the Juvenile Justice Act 2018.

They are: Attorney-at-law Ms. Joan Ann Edghill-Stuart and Child Activist Mr. André Massiah-Gonsalves.

Boston, has served over fourteen years in senior management positions at both local and multi-national institutions, including the Rights of the Child Commission

Director of Juvenile Justice, Williams Orrin Boston

Deputy Director, (policy) André Massiah-Gonsalves

(RCC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the National Insurance Scheme.

Ms. Edghill-Stuart is an attorney-at-law who is grounded in civil law. She has served as State Counsel at the Ministry of Legal Affairs, and Legal Counsel & Child Advocate to the Child Care & Protection Agency.

Massiah-Gonsalves has over a decade of experience in human rights, child protection and juvenile justice. He is a policy analyst who has served at the Ethnic Relations Commission and the Rights of the Child Commission. The Juvenile Justice Department will be fostering skills development, rehabilitation, addressing treatment needs, and the successful reintegration of juveniles into the community. These are all critical elements for the maintenance of public safety in society.

Young mother allegedly dumps new born in pit latrine POLICE in the West Demerara division are investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged dumping of a new born baby boy in a pit latrine at Goed Fortune, West Bank Demerara on Wednesday afternoon.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the mother of child gave birth after she began experiencing labour pains at her Lot 57 Goed Fortune home. According to relatives and neighbours, when the young mother gave birth to the child, she severed the umbilical cord and placed the baby into a ‘teny’, passed her five-year-old daughter through

the house window and then gave the child the ‘teny’ with the baby to discard in the pit latrine which is located behind the house.

One woman said that she was asleep when she got a call from neighbours to view a baby in the latrine.

The woman said that she immediately told them to take the baby out of the pit and they rushed him to the hospital. The baby was reportedly still alive at the time the discovery was made. Guyana Chronicle was told that the baby was discovered in the pit by a relative who had gone to use the outhouse.

Student expelled after threatening to ‘shoot up’ ‘Nations’ A SCHOOL of the Nations student of Caucasian decent, who returned to Guyana after years in the US, was on Thursday expelled forthwith after he threatened to ‘shoot up’ the New Market Street, Georgetown school today.

The student, who reportedly has no grievances with teachers or students at the school, in a youtube video, claimed the threat he made in a facebook post was just a “joke”.

Following the post parents who have children attending the top private school became very concerned, with many saying that they would not send their children to school today.

Nations Chief Executive Officer,

Dr Dexter Phillips, said given the serious nature of the threat by the student and the level of concern it has raised among parents, the school made a decision to expel the secondary school student without hesitation.

“Our first duty is to protect our school community. We take such threats, jokingly or not, seriously.

Parents are calling to say they are not sending their kids to school tomorrow. He said he was joking. I have to take those kinds of posts serious,” said Dr Phillips in an invited The facebook post made by the student who was expelled on Thursday comment to Guyana Chronicle.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Oil sector could be breeding ground for corruption, money laundering ––AG stresses need for laws to prosecute, investigate for money laundering

IN the absence of accountability and transparency, the oil and gas sector could become a breeding ground for corruption and money laundering, said Attorney General (AG), Basil Williams, adding that now more than ever, laws need to be used effectively to investigate and prosecute money laundering.

Money laundering poses a serious problem for emerging markets such as Guyana, which is transitioning to an oil economy.

“As such, we must take combatting money laundering seriously so that all Guyanese can benefit from this emerging sector… the impending oil and gas sector will significantly boost our economy and this must be used to contribute substantially to the sustained social and economic development,” said Williams during his remarks at a two-day training programme, which was organised by the National Centre for State Courts (NCSC) for prosecutors and law enforcement agencies, at the Marriot Hotel on Thursday.

Management of the sector

tors, prosecutors and other relevant persons, so that they can enhance their capacity to investigate and prosecute money laundering.

The areas of money laundering and asset recovery are critically important to the Government of Guyana because if the issue is not addressed, the results lead to the erosion of

Task Force (CFATF) Plenary.

This report will state how Guyana measures up against the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 40 recommendations and 11 immediate outcomes.

He said, not only will Guyana be required to have the requisite legislation and policy

Attorney General, Basil Williams SC and Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack in conversation at the opening of the course

will ensure that revenue earned goes toward supporting areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic diversification.

In order to ensure that there is success in the sector, the AG said asset recovery would be an important tool because it deters people and companies from engaging in money laundering activities by reducing money/assets, which criminals can receive from criminal activity.

He believes that it disrupts criminal networks and markets by removing the capital needed for future criminality; it improves crime detection by

providing a deeper understanding of criminal markets; and generates significant revenue for the country.

“Money laundering has a devastating effect on the economy, security and social development of any country,” said Williams, noting that failure to properly investigate and prosecute money laundering will result in the risk of losing vital correspondent banking relationships, which are especially important for small countries with small financial systems like Guyana.

The training sessions were recognised as an opportunity to bring together investiga-

Participants of the training programme

the integrity of our financial institutions, developmental policies and moral fabric of society.

According to Williams, in 2022 the Mutual Evaluation Report of Guyana will be presented at the Caribbean Action

in place, but also demonstrate that the country can effectively combat money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing.

“It is quite clear that we face challenges in detecting, investigating and prosecuting money laundering and confiscating the proceeds of crime.

Some of these challenges relate to expertise and resource issues; interpretation and effective use of our laws by the relevant agencies and effective sharing of information,” said the attorney general, noting that it is important that those challenges be addressed and that Guyana is equipped to fight against money laundering.

Failure to effectively combat money laundering means that drug dealers, terrorists, illegal arms dealers, corrupt public officials and others, will continue to expand their criminal enterprises.

Money laundering is a transnational crime which also affects international security.

It is for these reasons that the government has increased its efforts to combat money laundering and at the same time, implement measures to tackle corruption.

“Targeting corruption is important as it complements money laundering. Not only is corruption a predicate offence to money laundering, it is also an impediment to the implementation of counter measures against money laundering,” he said.

In light of this, Williams

believes that law enforcement should make it a policy objective to use asset recovery as a means to combat money laundering and corruption.

Through the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, government is able to freeze and confiscate assets both criminally and civilly.

MUCH MORE “However much more needs to be done. Successful asset recovery requires effective investigations and prosecutions and therefore we need to continue building capacity…we have to be more proactive by seeking international cooperation through mutual legal assistance and partnering with agencies such as INTERPOL, ARIN-CARIB and other FIUS to assist in investigating and prosecuting money laundering and related predicate offences,” said Williams.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar AliHack echoed similar sentiments, noting that investigating some money laundering cases are complex but sensitisation would improve the abilities of the prosecutors and investigators.

The training programme for prosecutors and law enforcement agencies was designed to promote best practices in the successful investigation and prosecution of money laundering cases.

Attendees will gain invaluable insights into criminal enterprises that cloak illegal proceeds through financial transactions, and purchase of assets to convey legitimacy.

The programme will also focus on best approaches to asset forfeiture, including managing and disposing of assets through criminal and or civil proceedings.

The workshop faculty is comprised of highly experienced prosecutors, investigators and legal analysts.

The team of experts from the US and Eastern Caribbean will also demonstrate the need for collaboration among law enforcement agencies, prosecution offices and financial institutions, while providing a comprehensive overview of the legal frameworks utilised in unraveling webs of criminal activities that are national and transnational in nature.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

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Six sounds, $1M up for grabs

at ‘Armageddon’ on Saturday

By Gabriella Chapman

A

fter three successful years, the Armageddon Clash is here again on Guyana’s soil with an even bigger package for the champion Disc Jockey (DJ).

Earning the title of the biggest sound clash in Guyana, Empire Media Inc. is set to host the event on Saturday, January 26 on the National Park tarmac.

Speaking with one of the organizers, Eusi Davis, he told The Buzz that the sound clash industry has seen a resurgence of talent from sounds in Guyana, and fans have given tremendous support to the events over the last three years.

Given the aforementioned, they have upped the bar this year and fans can expect an explosion of musical war between six sound systems, including one from Antigua, battling for one million dollars, one trophy and one year bragging rights.

In addition, Davis said, the Guyanese winner will represent Guyana in St Kitts at the Caribbean Sound Clash Competition “Caribbean Kung Fu” on August 24th 2019.

These DJ’s, Deon Dunning aka ‘Stingaz’ from Kanabis Sound out of Antigua, DJ Magnum from Notorious International, Keston Tyrell from Sling-

Selector Face from African Vybz

Deon Dunning aka Stingaz, and other team players from Kanabis Sound out of Antigua

erz Family, Antz Man from Exodus Nuclear, DJ Platinum from Trinity Sound and Selector Face from African Vybz, are pumped and ready to prove themselves in the battle on Saturday.

In an interview with The Buzz, the Antiguan DJ said that sound clashes are practically normal for him, since he would have been a DJ for 20 years. He said that on Saturday he and a team of 11 will be coming to Guyana to give the people a different taste to what they are accustomed to.

“Even though we are outnumbered, we will be bringing to Guyana, something they would not ever see again. Sometimes you are so accustomed to one thing until you get a dose of something stronger, you feel different. So Kanabis Sound is that stronger dose. Guyana have great DJs, but our style is different and sometimes different can be good or bad, but our different never failed us,” Stingaz said.

He also shared that he is a fulltime DJ, clashing and participating in such events help him to be more skilled and experienced.

DJ Keston from Slingerz family said that this is his second year competing and he believes that with the experience he walked away with the last time, will help him emerge as winner this year, adding “I’ve reached the finals last year & experience teaches wisdom.”

The 30-year-old said that he has been into music for 11 years but his professional DJ career started in 2016. Sound clashes he said, always open avenues for participants.

“Sound clashing is a global dancehall sport.

These clashes as simple as they may seem open avenues that people may not even believe to be possible due to the exposure it creates. Promoters of other such events from various countries become aware of the talent Guyanese DJs possess as a result of this clash. So I would say basically that for me Armageddon is a stepping stone for greater things to

come,” he said.

Selector Face, who is another seasoned DJ, said that even though he has been in these such competitions for years, there is always some level of fear and doubts as it relates to the end result.

However, being prepared is key to resolving those issues of doubt and he is prepped and ready.

“This year will see a different strategy being laid out come January 26th. I can’t say everything but just know that I’m in it to win it. Clashes are beneficial in that it keeps that competitive edge in you alive and for some selectors, it keeps them relevant in the entertainment arena,” Selector Face said.

DJ Platinum from said that this is not his first time clashing so he is confident that he will do well on Saturday. From clashes he said, he gains more respect, bookings and this clash will give him the chance to travel to represent Guyana in the Caribbean Sound Clash in St. Kitts.

Meanwhile the defending champion DJ, Magnum from Notorious International is confident Defending Armageddon Champion, DJ Magnum that he will emerge as champion again.

“I have no fear or doubts. Reason being, my career was built on clash, while most DJs in this clash is just going for the money and hype. True champions never get caught up in the hype. Every clash I enter it feels like my first clash, I feel as if I never held a trophy before, and I’m hungry to have one... This year the competition have matured. It’s all about the growth of the clash culture more dub plates and less 45, and this clash always help me to prove a point that I am the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Times) in the clash fraternity in Guyana,” Magnum said.

There will be five rounds in competition, and the Armageddon Sound Clash will be judged by the fans while the rules will be enforced by the host.

Early juggling will be provided by Evolution Fraternity, One Voice Family, Determine Immortal Sound, and Sel Shaq Sound.

Tickets for the event are $1000 and are available at Grill Kings (Mandela Avenue) and West Siderz Music Center.

For more information you can check the Facebook page “Empire Media Inc” or call telephone number 680-6720 or whatsapp 862-233-0494.

Keston Tyrell (left) and selector Matic, from Slingerz Family

DJ Platinum

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

First-time calypsonian aiming to make her village proud

By Vanessa Braithwaite

W

ITH the upsurge in child abuse that is often times reported in the media, 20-year-old Denisha Washington of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, is hoping to walk away with the ‘Junior Calypso Monarch’ crown, with her hit “Children of Today”, even though she is a first timer.

The song, which was written by popular producer Bonny Alves, highlights the plethora of social issues affecting children in our society, such as neglect and abuse.

Washington said that she is more than honoured to sing the song, since it raises awareness on how detrimental child abuse can be, and what role each of us have to play in ensuring that our children are protected, loved and cared for.

“We want to get society to treat them better and to look into them a little more, so the song is basically speaking out for children, by children,” she said. “They have a voice, they have needs, potential and

a future and we should look into that and be careful with what we do to them, and say to them.”

While Washington has a background in singing at her school, church and community events, this is the first time that she has entered a national competition, and is getting a first-hand feel of the local music industry.

Her video for the song has already been released, and looking back on how professionally she shot it, her optimism level has spiralled and, she is hoping to emerge as the winner, more-so, she is appearing with a little experience.

“This is my first time in the competition and I am coming just as everyone else, I am very confident, but not over-confident. I have overwhelming support from my family members and producers and I am just remaining humble,” she said.

Though there can only be one winner, Washington says that her main goal will be fulfilled at the end of the competition and that is to raise awareness on child abuse and neglect.

Denisha Washington

‘Lil Red’ unveils his ‘Fruitylicious GY’ fruit bowls

By Michel Outridge

L

OCAL singer and song writer, Jonathan ‘Lil Red’ King, has launched his

small business of mixed fresh fruits entrées, as a way of promoting a healthy lifestyle and to become financially viable in his musical career.

The name of his business

Jonathan King and his mixed fruits entrée.

is “Fruitylicious GY”, and according to ‘Lil Red’ it is the preferably healthy choice for all, be it for a meal or a snack.

The 25-year-old told ‘The Buzz’ that it’s his part-time business with his mother, Michelle ‘Big Red’ King as his only helper, and a small time operation right out of their home.

He said local fruits are purchased from farmers and depending what fruits are in season his bowl has seven different fruits at a reasonable price of $500 and $1000 based on the bowl size.

King related that he started his business in December 2018, despite a few challenges and he makes about 50 fruit bowls per day, with free delivery around Georgetown.

“My business will grow in time, since I have some plans to expand, in which I want to have fruit stalls around the

busy intersections in Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo, where I will employ youths to manage the operations of those fruit stalls,” King said.

His vision is, to have a salad bar where customers can customise their own salads and smoothies, to create an app (Fruitylicious GY) for smartphones in which salads can be customised, and too, stage live viewing, from preparation to delivery, in any country he chooses to start a business.

King envisages his business becoming a multi-million dollar operation. It’s his hope also, that based on the revenue from his business, he will participate in next year’s Soca Monarch competition, becoming financially viable to do so without sponsors.

He also plans to introduce to the Guyanese public a new track titled ‘Conscious Soca’; which is a combination of Gospel and Soca.

King is seeking support to enhance his music career as a local artiste, and can be reached on telephone number 630-4056.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

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National Hip Hop N Poetry Slam brings the vybz - again

By Vishani Ragobeer

F

Winners of the 2019 edition of Franale's National Hip Hop and Poetry Slam [L-R: Mark Luke Edwards, LaToni Beaton, Renata Beaton and Rondel Holder]

or the third year now, Franale’s National Hip Hop and Poetry Slam has brought the vybz to the local entertainment arena by allowing local persons involved in the arts to have a platform to showcase their craft.

“I felt that the competition is getting tougher as more and more talents find their way to me,” competition organiser, Franale Holder told the Buzz.

This year there were 55 entries. From this pool, 36 were selected to compete in the first round and then 12 participants were chosen to move forward to the finals.

The final round was held at the ‘The Duke’ on Friday last.

But if anything, the sombre ambience of the restaurant was a stark contrast to the fiery hot battles of wits and words.

After an intensive three rounds of competition (two preliminary rounds and then the finals), Latoni Beaton walked away in first place while Mark Luke-Edwards took second and Renata Burnett placed third. Rondel ‘’Disi’ Holder was adjudged the best Hip Hop Performance Latoni Beaton- that name might sound familiar to you if you were an ardent follow of the once popular GT&T Jingle and Song competition. Though that competition has long faded away, Beaton came to Franale’s ‘slam’ ready to ‘dunk’.

She entered with her original piece, entitled “I am Black” that she wrote a few years ago and dedicated it to Trayvon Martin who was shot and killed in the U.S. That piece afforded her a spot in the Finals of the competition.

“However, I knew if I wanted to win, I needed to write a new piece that is appealing,” Beaton told the Buzz.

This was a struggle since she related that she was battling morning sickness and other health ailments as she was preparing for the finals. In fact, she did not finish that piece until the night before and was only able to edit it the morning of the competition, while getting familiar with it.

Though she felt that she had mostly mastered this piece,

Beaton said she completely blanked out when she arrived at the Duke. As such, she recited another piece that she was more comfortable in. That was her ‘Woman in the Mirror’.

“The crowd’s response was overwhelming. I am still in awe and I am elated about the win,” she highlighted, but hastened to add “I certainly won't accept the label ‘Best Poet’ because there are other powerful writers and poets, who have different styles and riveting pieces.”

She mentioned a number of her competitors, including Edwards and Burnette who managed to gain her admiration.

“We are all gifted differently. But in competitions, there is only one first place, and I happened to cop that. I'm just thankful for Favor and Franale Holder whose drive facilitated such a competition. God be praised for this accomplishment,” she said.

Franale highlighted too that the support the participants and the competition itself received this year was truly “phenomenal.”

“This is my third year doing the competition and it attracts competitors from every part of Guyana including Lethem, Linden, the East Coast of Demerara, Bartica, Georgetown, Essequibo and Berbice,” she said.

“The aim is to introduce Guyanese hip hop and poetry to the world and to showcase national talent which we have in abundance- might I add,” Franale said. “Culture and the arts could be a million times bigger and better in Guyana, but in order to do that I'm advocating to get our people to pay attention to what's right under their noses,” she added.

Franale, an artiste herself, said that while there is a host of talent in Guyana, the winners of this competition were just the ones who would practice harder and work more diligently on crafting their pieces.

And commenting on the winning talent, she said: “They want to be seen, heard, appreciated and recognized as artists who can measure up to international talent.

[And] in my opinion some of them are ready to soar to new heights.”

‘Shea Butter’ fundraiser set for Saturday night

By Vishani Ragobeer

T

HE Roraima Duke Lodge will be engulfed in local talent on Saturday, January 26, as Renata Burnette debuts her ‘Shea Butter’ event, focusing on the music and the arts.

Burnette is expected to perform her own spoken word piece-‘Hand me downs’, along with performances by a host of local talent, including: Kushtharapper, Mark Edwards, Latoni Beaton Calvin Burnette and Selector Sparta. And, the performances will feature poetry, song, dance and even steelpan renditions.

Burnette told the Buzz that “It’s basically a fundraiser event, in terms

of my tuition.”

The young poet is a third year student at the University of Guyana (UG), pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies. However, she was forced to take a leave of absence during the past semester, as she could not afford the tuition.

Burnette explained that the proceeds from this event will be going towards her tuition fees.

Even though it is a fundraising activity, the young woman said that it will be focused on promoting young, local talent as well.

All of the persons who are performing at the event will be doing so pro bono, according to Renata. As

such, she believes that this speaks to their character and willingness to contribute to creating a positive impact in Guyana.

And, as the popular saying goes: ‘Out of the clutter, find simplicity’, Burnette is taking this challenge that she is faced with, to create an opportunity for herself and other young people.

“I’m looking to do [the event] annually, hopefully, to sponsor UG students like myself,” she shared.

The proceeds garnered would go

towards funding young students who are unable to pursue studies at the university because of financial restraints, whether in part or fully.

It is her hope that corporate Guyana would take note of the venture, and work along with her to provide funding for these students.

This year, access to the event requires a $1500 contribution.

Renata said that persons could contribute more if they wish. Shea Butter starts at 19:00 hours (7PM) sharp!

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019 Today Banks “Pon De Avenue” continues on Main Street as part of the Mashramani celebrations! Enjoy Live Entertainment, 2019 Calypso Performances, Banks Beer Promotions and much more.

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

On a $1000 budget?

Tower Suites $1000 Poolside Happy Hour continues from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, with $1000 specials. Enjoy a Burger and Beer, any margarita, or beer specials for only $1000 at the Tower Poolside The Vintage Wine Bar, Restaurant and Lounge presents “Latin Night”. Get two

Desperados Tequila Beers for $1000.

Saturday Aura Sky Lounge presents Seductive Saturdays! Doors open at 8pm!

Guyana Carnival hits Linden! Lindeners can finally get their chance to see the Guyana Carnival Costumes up close and personal at the Georgetown Bus Park in Mackenzie from 8pm. Music

by Akelo, DJ Energy, Selector Diamond, Ryan and Gully Ras and others. Everyone FREE. Sound clash returns with ‘Armageddon’ at the National Park! With $1M up for grabs, six sounds, one all the way from Antigua, will line up to see who will not only walk away with the prize, but also bragging rights.

Sunday Guyana Carnival hits Berbice, it’s the “Guyana Carnival Berbice Launch.

Berbicians can finally get their chance to see the Guyana Carnival Costumes up close and personal at the New Amsterdam Stelling Road from 8 pm. Music by Akelo, DJ Energy, Selector Diamond, Ryan and Gully Ras. Everyone FREE. Winedays presents “Winedays Monthly Wine Tasting Generation Wine” inside Java Coffee Bar 80 Duncan St 4-6pm sharp. Taste 4 wines with fun yard games and light fare. Cost: $4000 (single) and $7000 (pair) Bravo Arts and Giftland Mall presents Family Sip and Paint: Fun Canvas

painting for kids and adults” from 12pm – 9pm at Giftland Mall. Family Sip and paint is intended to bring families together in a creative atmosphere as they spend quality time painting canvases. Cost: $2000 (Cost inclusive of canvas, paints and juice for the kids or non-alcoholic wine for adults) The Vintage Wine Bar, Restaurant and Lounge presents “Dinner with 70s and 80s music. Sundays were meant for 70’s & 80’s!

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

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

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England fold for 77

on dramatic 18-wicket second day at Kensington BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Seamer Kemar Roach’s ninth career five-wicket haul sent a shellshocked England reeling for a record low at Kensington Oval, as 18 wickets tumbled on a dramatic second day of the opening Test here yesterday.

In a sensational session after lunch, England lost their last nine wickets for 47 runs to crash from 30 for one to 77 all out, 15 minutes before the scheduled tea interval, with the 30-year-old Roach claiming five for 17 in a brilliant spell.

Captain Jason Holder (215) and fellow seamer Alzarri Joseph (2-20) also grabbed wickets to support Roach.

England’s total was their fourth lowest against West Indies, handing the hosts a

healthy lead of 212 runs.

Opting not to enforce the follow-on, West Indies lost precious wickets to end the day on 127 for six, still a crucial lead of 339 runs heading into today’s pivotal third day.

They were well-placed at 52 without loss but lost five quick wickets for nine runs in the space of 28 deliveries, before Shimron Hetmyer (31) and Shane Dowrich (27 not out) added an invaluable 59 for the sixth wicket to frustrate England.

The left-handed Hetmyer had earlier top-scored with 81 as West Indies were dismissed for 289 just shy of the hour mark in the first session.

Resuming on 56 with the Windies on 264 for eight, the 22-year-old was last out after edging a heave at seamer Ben Stokes (4-59) to be caught by wicketkeeper Ben Foakes jumping high to his left.

He faced 109 balls in just over 2-½ hours, striking nine fours and two sixes.

Hetmyer had earlier extended his ninth-wicket stand with Alzarri Joseph to 25 before the two were separated, 50 minutes into the day’s play when Joseph edged fast bowler James Anderson (5-46) to Jos Buttler at third slip.

Faced with just under an hour to navigate before lunch, England lost left-

hander Keaton Jennings for 17, nine minutes before the interval, when he sliced seamer Jason Holder to Shai Hope at gully.

The visitors reached the break at 30 for one but there was still no sign of the carnage to come, even when opener Rory Burns played on to the fourth ball after lunch from Roach without adding to his two.

However, Roach then scythed through the middle order in a period of sheer horror for the visitors, as they lost five wickets for five runs in the space of 45 balls.

In his next over, Roach got Jonny Bairstow (12) to play on in the third over after lunch with the score on 44 and captain Joe Root (4) followed without addition to the total, hit in front by Holder.

With the score on 48, Roach removed Stokes and Moeen Ali both without scoring, off successive deliveries.

Stokes was forced back and trapped lbw while Moeen topedged a pull next ball and was brilliantly taken on the long leg ropes by Joseph.

Roach then got his fifth when he had Jos Buttler (4) in his next over caught at the wicket, and Joseph claimed two of the last three wickets to fall, while speedster Shannon Gabriel got the other in a sec-

ond spell, as England folded spectacularly.

For the second time in the match, debutant John Campbell and Kraigg Brathwaite set West Indies on their way with a half-century opening stand, which again kept England without any early success after tea.

The left-handed Campbell top-scored with 33 off 64 balls with one four and a six while Brathwaite added 24 before playing back and falling lbw to Moeen’s (3-41) off-spin, nearing the first hour.

Campbell wasted a good start when he toe-ended a slap at a long hop from Stokes (2-31) and was caught at short cover by Jennings in the first over after the drinks break at 60 for two.

Three wickets then fell with the score on 61 as Darren Bravo (1) and Roston Chase (0) perished to catches at slip

by Stokes off Moeen, before Hope was taken at short leg off Stokes.

As he did in the first innings, Hetmyer came to the Windies rescue, hitting a couple of fours and audacious sixes as he repaired the damage with Dowrich.

Disappointingly, however, he fell in the day’s final over, tapping a gentle drive to Buttler at point off left-armer Sam Curran.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES 1st innings (overnight 264 for eight) K. Brathwaite c Root b Stokes 40 J. Campbell lbw b Moeen Ali 44 S. Hope c wkp. Foakes b Anderson 57 D. Bravo lbw b Stokes 2 R. Chase c Root b Anderson 54 S. Hetmyer c wkp. Foakes b Anderson 81 S. Dowrich c Buttler b Anderson 0 J. Holder c & b Anderson 5 K. Roach c Root b Stokes 0 A. Joseph c Buttler b Anderson 0 S. Gabriel not out 0 Extras: (lb-5, nb-1) 6 Total: (all out, 101.3 overs) 289 Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-126, 3-128, 4-174, 5-240, 6-250, 7-261, 8-264, 9-289.

Bowling: Anderson 30-13-46-5, Curran 12-3-54-0, Stokes 25.32-59-4, Moeen Ali 12-1-59-1, Rashid 17-1-56-0, Root 5-0-10-0.

ENGLAND 1st innings R. Burns b Roach 2 K. Jennings c Hope b Holder 17 J. Bairstow b Roach 12 J. Root lbw b Holder 4 B. Stokes lbw b Roach 0 J. Buttler c wkp. Dowrich b Roach 4 Moeen Ali c Joseph b Roach 0 B. Foakes c wkp. Dowrich b Joseph 2 S. Curran c Hope b Gabriel 14 A. Rashid c Holder b Joseph 12 J. Anderson not out 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-6) 10 Total: (all out, 30.2 overs) 77 Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-35, 3-44, 4-44, 5-48, 6-48, 7-49, 8-61, 9-73.

Bowling: Roach 11-7-17-5, Gabriel 7-2-15-1, Holder 8-3-15-2, Joseph 4.2-1-20-2.

WEST INDIES 2nd innings K. Brathwaite lbw b Moeen Ali 24 J. Campbell c Jennings b Stokes 33 S. Hope c Jennings b Stokes 3 D. Bravo c Stokes b Moeen Ali 1 R. Chase c Stokes b Moeen Ali 0 S. Hetmyer c Buttler b Curran 31 S. Dowrich not out 27 J. Holder not out 27 Extras: (b-1) 1 Total: (6 wkts, 36 overs) 127 Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-60, 3-61, 4-61, 5-61, 6-120.

Bowling: Anderson 4-1-9-0, Curran 7-0-28-1, Moeen Ali 12-241-3, Stokes 11-2-31-2, Rashid 2-0-17-0.

Position: West Indies lead by 339 runs.

GFF shortlists 35 local-based players ahead of historic Belize clash

AN extended Guyana-based national squad will this weekend commence the Guyana Football Federation’s two-month preparations for the final CONCACAF Gold Cup and Nations League home qualifier against Belize on Saturday, March 23.

The squad of 35 players was chosen following a GFF talent identification (ID) process and selection meeting, involving GFF technical officials and top local coaches.

Guyana’s male team is in a strong position to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in its history, with the top regional competition fixed for June and July this year.

The Golden Jaguars are

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8th in the qualification table going into the final round of matches, with the top ten teams joining Mexico, USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama and Honduras at the Gold Cup. “We are excited by the large, diverse pool of local talent that we have identified with the help of some top local coaches and GFF technical experts,” said GFF technical director Ian Greenwood. “Each of these players now has the golden opportunity to work hard and prove his worth over the next two months as head coach Michael Johnson assesses local and overseas talent for the final squad.”

The GFF Talent ID Panel

consisted of: Charles Pollard, National U-20 head coach Wayne Dover, GFF coach mentor and Fruta Conquerors head coach Sampson Gilbert, Den Amstel head coach Oneal Heywood, GFF TDO Eon DeViera, Western Tigers head coach Calvin Allen, GFF YDO and Milerock head coach Bryan Joseph, GFF Coach Education Director Wilson Toledo, GFF Head of Recruitment Faizal Khan, and GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood.

The local squad will be put through their paces in a series of fitness tests tomorrow and Sunday at the GFF National Technical Centre at Providence. The squad will then train three times a week to compete for

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places in the final squad for the Belize clash.

Goalkeepers: Jermaine Cumberbatch (Den Amstel FC), Sese Norville (Milerock FC), Akel Clarke (Fruta Conquerors) and Ryan Hunte (Den Amstel FC).

Defenders: Trevon Lythcott (Western Tigers), Sherwin Skeete (Victoria Kings), Rondel Hutson (Den Amstel FC), Kevin Dundas (Den Amstel FC), Kevin Layne (NA United FC), Quincy Adams (Fruta Conquerors FC), Colin Nelson (Western Tigers), King Solomon Austin (Fruta Conquerors FC), William Europe (Ann’s Grove FC) and Deshawn Joseph (Netrockers).

Midfielders: Delwin Fraser (GDF FC), Eusi Phillips

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(GDF FC), Daniel Wilson (Western Tigers), Kester Jacobs (Den Amstel), Anthony Benfield (Fruta Conquerors), Vurlon Mills (Fruta Conquerors), Andre Hector (Den Amstel), Ryan Hackett (Fruta Conquerors) and Leoorin Lovell (Den Amstel).

Forwards: Jamal Haynes (Botofago FC), Jamal Perreira (Den Amstel FC), Pernel Schultz (Western Tigers), Jamal Harvey (Den Amstel FC), Trayon Bobb (Uitvlugt FC), Eon Alleyne (Fruta Conquerors), Kelsey Benjamin (Western Tigers), Gregory Richardson (Fruta Conquerors), Dellon Lanferman (Den Amstel FC), Delroy Fraser (GDF FC) and Domini Garnett (Fruta Conquerors).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

Cummins, Richardson help Australia control opening day

By Keiran Williams

BRISBANE, Australia (Reuters) - Australia bundled out Sri Lanka for 144 in just over two sessions before their new-look batting order reached 72 for two to put the hosts in a commanding position on day one of the series opening day-night Test at the Gabba yesterday.

Mitchell Starc also claimed his 200th Test wicket to add to a satisfying day for the Australians who came into the twomatch series on the back of a 2-1 series loss to India.

Marcus Harris was 40 not out at close with nightwatchman Nathan Lyon yet to score and Australia trailing by only 72 runs at a venue where they have not lost a Test in 30 years.

Pat Cummins was the pick of the Australian bowlers claiming 4-39 while Jhye Richardson (3-26) made an impressive debut as Australia rolled Sri Lanka in 56.4 overs after touring captain Dinesh Chandimal won the toss and elected to bat.

“The way the guys performed as a collective today, credit to them,” Richardson said.

“Credit to Patty (Cummins), credit to Starcy (Starc)

who bowled really aggressively, you can’t fault anything they’ve done. They were a big help for me.

(five) in the first hour before Lyon claimed Dimuth Karunaratne (24) to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 56-3 at tea.

Mitchell Starc and Jhye Richardson took five wickets between them. Starc in the process claimed his 200th Test wicket. (Getty Images)

“Only Niroshan Dickwella offered stubborn resistance for Sri Lanka scoring an enterprising 64 with six boundaries and a six.

Cummins and Richardson set the early tone, striking in successive overs to remove Lahiru Thirimanne (12) and Chandimal

After the break, Richardson produced a near unplayable delivery to bowl Kusal Mendis for 14 and then had Dhananjaya de Silva caught behind for five to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 66-5.

“To see the ball swing that’s a big key for me,” Richardson, 22, said.

“If the ball is swinging I’m instantly more confident in what I’m doing and to get that first wicket it releases a lot of emotion.”

Roshen Silva (nine) lasted 56 deliveries before he edged Cummins to wicketkeeper Tim Paine.

In Cummins’ next over, Dilruwan Perera received a nasty blow to his right thumb from a rising ball and was forced off the field.

Sri Lanka eventually reached 100 in the 46th over, before Suranga Lakmal was caught by Marnus Labuschagne at slip giving Starc his landmark 200th Test wicket.

Starc is the 17th Australian to achieve the feat.

Perera (one) returned to the field but survived only minutes before becoming Starc’s (2-41) second victim, offering another catch to Labuschagne.

Cummins dismissed Dickwella and Chameera in the same over shortly after the dinner break, leaving Australia’s new opening pair of Joe Burns and Harris with 25 overs to bat in tricky conditions under lights.

Burns made 15 in his return to the Test team before edging to slip off Lakmal

(1-27) and Usman Khawaja (11) fell just minutes before close when he played on to his stumps from Perera to give Sri Lanka a much-needed boost ahead of day two.

“We need to dry up the

runs,” said Karunaratne.

“Otherwise if they score freely it’s really tough for us. If we can get a couple of early wickets and if Dilruwan (Perera) can bowl really well, I think we’re in the game.”

SCOREBOARD

SRI LANKA 1st innings Dimuth Karunaratne c Tim Paine b Nathan Lyon

24 Lahiru Thirimanne c Marnus Labuschagne b Pat Cummins 12 Dinesh Chandimal c Joe Burns b Jhye Richardson

5 Kusal Mendis b Jhye Richardson

14 Roshen Silva c Tim Paine b Pat Cummins 9 Dhananjaya de Silva c Tim Paine b Jhye Richardson 5 Niroshan Dickwella c Kurtis Patterson b Pat Cummins 64 Dilruwan Perera c Marnus Labuschagne b Mitchell Starc 1 Suranga Lakmal c Marnus Labuschagne b Mitchell Starc 7 Dushmantha Chameera c Kurtis Patterson b Pat Cummins 0 Extras: (nb-2, w-1)

3 Total: (all out, 56.4 overs) 144 Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-31, 3-54, 4-58, 5-66, 6-91, 7-102, 8-106, 9-144.

Bowling: Mitchell Starc 12-2-41-2 (nb-2), Jhye Richardson 145-26-3 (w-1), Pat Cummins 14.4-3-39-4, Nathan Lyon 16-3-38-1.

AUSTRALIA 1st innings Marcus Harris not out

40 Joe Burns c Kusal Mendis b Suranga Lakmal 15 Usman Khawaja b Dilruwan Perera 11 Nathan Lyon not out

0 Extras: (lb-3, nb-2, w-1)

6 Total: (two wkts, 25.0 overs)

72 Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-72.

Bowling: Suranga Lakmal 9-3-27-1 (nb)-1, Lahiru Kumara 6-024-0 (w-1), Dushmantha Chameera 7-1-14-0 (nb-1), Dilruwan Perera 3-2-4-1.

Nadal storms into Melbourne final with Tsitsipas blitz BCCI lifts bans on Pandya and Rahul

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE. Australia (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal ended Stefanos Tsitsipas’s trailblazing run at the Australian Open yesterday, serving up a semi-final masterclass to blitz the 20-year-old Greek 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 and reach his fifth final at Melbourne Park.

Staging a clinic under the lights at Rod Laver Arena, the Spanish second seed tamed the Tsitsipas serve and racked up 28 sparkling winners against the man who knocked out double defending champion Roger Federer in the fourth round.

After roaring to a 5-0 lead in the final set, Nadal closed out the match with a huge serve in one hour 46 minutes leaving Tsitsipas to beat a quick exit from the stadium.

Nadal, the 2009 champion, will face either top seed Novak Djokovic or 28th-seeded Frenchman Lucas Pouille in the final as he bids for a second Melbourne title and an 18th Grand Slam crown.

Having withdrawn from the Brisbane International lead-up tournament with a thigh strain, Nadal was thrilled with his tennis and fitness at Melbourne Park, where last year he retired hurt in the quarter-finals.

“It has been a great match, a great tournament, I think I’ve played very well every day,” the 32-year-old said

in his courtside interview after a pumped-up celebration.

“After a lot of months without playing, probably this court, this crowd gives me unbelievable energy. At that moment (in Brisbane), it was very difficult to imagine I would be here.”

It was also difficult to imagine his opponent would have been Tsitsipas, who had shocked some of the Tour’s most seasoned campaigners to become his country’s first Grand Slam semi-finalist.

down the hammer, claiming the Greek’s serve for a second time to lead 5-2, with a delicate backhand pass down the line that left Tsitsipas stumbling.

The set was over in a dizzying 31 minutes as Nadal moved in to the net to fire a volley past his opponent.

Given no time to settle, the Greek threw caution to the wind in the second set and began swinging hard in a series of breathtaking rallies.

Revelling in the

Rafael Nadal

Melbourne’s huge Greek community was out in force, with hundreds chanting his name in the grounds outside the stadium.

Nadal simply let his racquet do the talking, and he pounded a forehand deep into the corner to break the shaggy-haired tyro in the third game.

The left-hander threw

full-blooded contest, Nadal returned fire and earned three break points with a searing backhand passing shot that clipped the net and bounced in.

The Greek saved them all with a sparkling serve-volley assault before thrashing an ace into the corner to hold.

Nadal pushed again at 4-4, lunging to return a huge serve

down the ‘T’ that a net-bound Tsitsipas could only half-volley into the net.

A ball-kid got caught in the crossfire as Tsitsipas walked to the net between points. He hit a ball in frustration and accidentally clipped the scampering girl with his racquet.

In a trice, he was three set points in arrears, and Nadal bashed a fierce, fizzing serve wide to storm into the final stanza.

There was simply no stopping the hard-charging Spaniard, whose backhand was firing like a double-handed bazooka.

He struck a ferocious crosscourt winner to break Tsitsipas in the opening game and took the shell-shocked Greek’s serve again with an overhead smash.

Against the run of play, he grabbed a break point at 5-0 down but Nadal quickly cut off the threat to reach his first Melbourne final since losing to Federer in a classic 2017 decider.

Tsitsipas came into this post-match media conference rubbing his eyes as if he had woken up from a nightmare.

“Honestly, I have no idea what I can take from that match,” he mumbled. “I feel happy with my performance in this tournament but at the same time I feel disappointed.”

(REUTERS) - Indian cricketers KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya, who were suspended earlier this month for making controversial comments about women, have had their bans lifted with immediate effect, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said yesterday.

Batsman Rahul and all-rounder Pandya were sent home from India’s tour of Australia two weeks ago and subsequently banned after making remarks that were widely condemned as sexist and inappropriate in a TV show interview.

A Committee of Administrators (CoA) that is running Indian cricket lifted the ban on the players pending the appointment of the board’s ombudsman, making the duo available for selection to the national team in the interim.

“The suspension orders dated 11.01.2019 is immediately lifted pending appointment and adjudication of the allegations by the BCCI Ombudsman,” the CoA said in a statement.

Local media reported that Pandya was likely to join up with India’s squad for the ongoing limited-overs series in New Zealand.

The two cricketers had been in limbo since their suspension on January 11 due to a split in the two-member CoA over the next course of action, according to local media reports.

CoA chairman Vinod Rai was in favour handing them a two-match suspension and allowing them to return to action pending an inquiry by an ad-hoc ombudsman, the reports said.

Diana Edulji, the CoA’s second member, wanted an inquiry into the matter carried out either by the BCCI’s office-bearers and the CoA itself or by an ombudsman.

The BCCI, however, has been without an ombudsman since 2016, and the CoA last week approached India’s Supreme Court asking it to appoint one to investigate the case.

The involvement of the court stems from a 2017 decision to fire officials of BCCI for failing to reform one of the game’s richest bodies after a spate of corruption scandals and to set up the CoA that reports to it.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

33

Osaka digs deep against Pliskova to set up Kvitova final

By Sudipto Ganguly MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka staved off a fightback from Karolina Pliskova to reach her maiden Australian Open final with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win yesterday setting up a title clash with double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

Osaka burnished her reputation as one of the cleanest hitters of the ball in women’s tennis by smacking winners almost at will from both her forehand and backhand under the roof of the Rod Laver Arena which was closed due to extreme heat.

“I like the heat so I was kind of sad about that .... No, but like, they have the roof open and I was like, ‘oh, it’s my time to shine’,” Osaka said in an on-court interview.

She scorched the court further with 56 winners, often going down on one knee to generate immense power to leave former world number one Pliskova stranded.

The Czech could muster only 20, half of which came in the second set when she hung in to level the match despite the barrage of winners from her opponent.

“I mean I kind of expected (the comeback) a little .... I was expecting a really

hard battle,” said the Japanese, who had won once in their three previous meetings before yesterday.

“I just told myself to regroup in the third set and try as hard as I can.”

win the crucial points.

“I believe she played unbelievable match. To be honest, maybe her best in the life.

I don’t think she can repeat match like this,” Pliskova told reporters.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka celebrates after winning the match against Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova.

(REUTERS/Edgar Su)

Osaka has now won 59 straight matches when winning the first set and also trumped Pliskova on the service front.

Coming into the match as one of the biggest servers in the women’s game, Pliskova managed three aces in the match while the Japanese reeled off 15, often coming up with unreturned serves to

“Amount of winners what she had, she just had very little mistakes. I don’t think I did actually something wrong.”

Osaka broke Pliskova’s service games twice while facing not a single breakpoint to canter through the first set.

Pliskova, who had stunned Serena Williams in the quarter-finals, showed lot of pluck

to level the match with a second break at 5-4 after the players had an early trade of breaks.

Osaka converted her only breakpoint opportunity in the decider while her opponent wasted four and the 21-year-old made it to her second straight Grand Slam final with her 15th ace to seal the match in an hour and 53 minutes.

She was, however, made to wait before she could celebrate her victory. Osaka waited with folded hands after challenging the line call and then erupted in joy once the Hawkeye technology confirmed the ace.

“I don’t necessarily think I played the best I’ve ever played,” Osaka told reporters.

“I mean, for me, what I take away from this is that I never gave up, and that’s something that I’m really proud of myself for.

“There are moments in the match where I thought, like, this is getting really close. I just thought I wouldn’t forgive myself if I had, like, a little dip or a moment of accepting defeat.”

Osaka will meet another Czech in Kvitova, who will compete in her first Grand Slam final in five years after defeating unseeded American Danielle Collins 7-6(2), 6-0 in the first semi-final.

UK rescuers end search for missing plane carrying football player Sala LONDON, England (Reuters) - Rescuers ended their search yesterday for the plane carrying Premier League football player Emiliano Sala, which disappeared over the English Channel three days ago, after saying there was little chance anyone aboard the plane had survived.

Sala, Cardiff City’s new signing, and the plane’s pilot, David Ibbotson, have been missing since Monday night. Rescuers have scoured about 1 700 square miles but have found no trace of the aircraft or those on board.

“We reviewed all the information available to us, as well as knowing what emergency equipment was on board, and have taken the difficult decision to end the search,” Guernsey Harbour Master Captain David Barker said in a statement.

“Next of kin have been informed of this development, and my thoughts go out to the family of the pilot and passenger at this most difficult of times.”

After the plane disappeared, a recording emerged of a fearful voice message Sala apparently sent in which he expressed concern about the single-engine Piper Malibu aircraft he was flying in.

The 28-year-old Argentina-born forward was en route from Nantes in western France to make his debut for Welsh team Cardiff City.

Barker said the search had involved 80 hours combined flying time by three planes and five helicopters, with two lifeboats and other ships in the area also helping.

“Although we are no longer actively searching, the incident remains open and we will be broadcasting to all vessels and aircraft in the area to keep a look out for any trace of the aircraft. This will continue indefinitely,” he said.

Premier League football player Emiliano Sala

Thirteen umpires named on ICC Americas panel

Bermuda Cricket Board president Lloyd Smith

HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) – Five Bermuda-based umpires, including two Barbadians, are among 13 umpires appointed to the ICC Americas Regional panel, the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) has announced.

Bermudans Roger Dill, Steven Douglas and Oscar Andrade as well as Barbadians Emmerson Carrington and Melvin Best are now eligible to officiate at matches in the region.

Andrade and Best are on the panel for the first time, with the 13 umpires also including representatives from the United States, Canada, Belize and the Cayman Islands.

Dwight Gabb represents Belize, while the Caymans’ representative is Courtney Young.

Representing the US are Sameer Bandekar and Vijay Mallela, while Harry Grewal, Brijal Patel, Vishal Sudhalkar and Arnold Maddela are the team from Canada.

“On behalf of the officers and members of the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association, I would like to congratulate those who are selected to serve on the panel,” said Douglas.

“These selections are a testament to the hard work done by training officer Roger Dill. Special congratulations to Oscar Andrade and Melvin Best as this is their first time on an umpire panel.

“I trust that we will represent Bermuda well and will be sure to use this experience to give back to the aspiring umpires looking to develop their career further.”

BCB president Lloyd Smith added: “It is with great pleasure to note that five out of the 13 umpires chosen to be on the new panel are from Bermuda.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our umpires to gain valuable international experience and use this new pathway created by ICC Americas to assist them to be selected to the ICC International Umpire panel.

“On behalf of the board, I congratulate the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association and all five of the umpires on these appointments and hope others will aspire to follow in their footsteps.”

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday, January 25, 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: Ernest Tyldesley-122 (Lord’s, 1928) Clifford Roach-122 (Barbados, 1930)

(1)

(2)

Today’s Quiz: Who is the first Englishman to take a five-wicket haul against the WI in Tests?

Who is the first WI to claim a five-wicket haul against England in Tests?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

26th edition of Ricks and Sari Cycling Meet set for tomorrow THE 26th edition of the Ricks and Sari 11-race cycling programme will pedal off tomorrow at the inner circuit of the National Park.

This will signal the start of the 2019 cycling season.

Organised by long-standing stalwart and national cycling coach, Hassan Mohamed, the meet will see the return of the crème de la crème of the country’s cyclists who will all be eager to start the year on a high note.

Last year’s winner of the feature Schoolboys and Invitational 35-lap event was Trojan PSL’s Curtis Dey who topped an experienced field to take the top podium spot in one hour 12 minutes 51.31

seconds. He won ahead of Romello Crawford, Orville Hinds, Junior Niles, Kemuel Moses and Andre Green.

Meanwhile, the top Junior cyclist was Briton John with Junior Niles winning the U-50 Veterans’ event, Jonathan Ramsuchit was the victor in the Boys and Girls 12-14 BMX event while Shane Bond copped the Mountain Bike race.

Flashback! Curtis Dey celebrates upon winning the 2018 edition of the Ricks & Sari cycling programme.

Taylor out of Karachi T20s, Aguilleira returns to lead ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor has opted out of the KarachI leg of the upcoming Pakistan series over security concerns, with former captain Merissa Aguilleira chosen to lead the side in her absence.

It means Taylor will miss the opening Twenty20 International phase of the tour but will return for the three-match OneDay International series being hosted in Dubai.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief executive Johnny Grave said while Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had given assurances over the security risks, players were free to make their own decisions on the tour.

“The security plan arranged by the PCB is exactly the same level that the Windies men’s team had last year and Independent security adviser, Eastern Star International (ESI), has confirmed to both CWI and WIPA that they are satisfied that the risk is manageable and can be mitigated to an acceptable level,” Grave said.

“We made it very clear to the players and support staff that should any of them have any personal reservations about this Tour, that we fully understand and accept their position.”

A weakened West Indies men side toured Pakistan last April for three T20Is, marking the first time a major cricket nation had played a full series in the volatile south Asian country in nine years, following the deadly attack on a Sri Lanka team bus.

Grave said the women’s t o u r, w h i c h runs from January 31 to February 11, was another sign of CWI’s commitment to revival of international cricket in Pakistan.

“This tour is a West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor is out further major step of Pakistan leg of the series.

for our friends at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to bring their cricket back home, and we are pleased that our players and support staff have recognised this and agreed to play the T20Is in Pakistan,” he said.

Windies Women will also miss the services of leading opener Hayley Matthews who picked up a knee injury during the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia and is yet to fully recover.

She has been replaced by 24-year-old uncapped slow medium bowler Karishma Ramharack from Trinidad and Tobago.

Uncapped 21-year-old Jamaican batsman Rashada Williams has also gained the selectors’ favour.

“After a decent and competitive ICC World T20, the Windies Women will be expected to build on that momentum going into the away tour against Pakistan,” said chief selector Courtney Browne.

“The team needs to improve its showing in ODI cricket especially and the panel is expecting to see marked improvements during the ODI series.

“The team have been based at our high-performance Centre in Antigua over the last year and we have seen improvements, as reflected in the World T20, particularly in their fielding.”

He added that Williams had “impressed the selectors with her solid technique and her ability to play spin” while Ramharack had been “rewarded for her consistency in regional cricket.”

The Dubai ODIs, which forms part of the ICC Women’s Championship, bowl off February 7.

SQUAD – Stafanie Taylor (captain), Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight, Natasha McClean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Shakera Selman, Rashada Williams.

Full results from last year’s Ricks & Sari meet (1st-3rd): BMX 6-9: Alpha Harrison, Jarad Barrington, Jessica Mohabir BMX 9-12: Jaheme Henry, Mark Lewis, John Niles Jr.

BMX 12-14: Taharan Garbaran, Marvin Knights, Shaquel Daw Boys and Girls 12-14: Johnathan Ramsuchit, Brian De Nobrega, Steve Bimsen Veterans Under-50: Junior Niles, Wilbert Benjamin, Jaikaran Sookhai Veterans Over-50: Kennard Lovell, Harry Benjamin, Linden Blackman Mountain Bikes: Shane Bourne, Ozia Macullay, Juveniles 10: Briton John, Adealie Hodge, Ralph Seenarine School Boys & Invitational 35 laps: Curtis Dey, Romello Crawford, Orville Hinds, Junior Niles, Kemuel Moses, Andre Greene.

P&P Insurance on board fourth annual Practical Pistol Match

Andrew Phang

THE fourth Annual Practical Pistol Match is being exclusively sponsored by P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited and hosted by the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation.

Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Andrew Phang, noted that this will be the first competition for the GSSF’s calendar year.

Competitors in the upcoming match will be separated into two divisions based on their firearm setup: Production Division (for out of the factory firearms) and Limited Division (where some add-ons and higher end aftermarket parts are allowed).

Phang noted that with sponsorship from P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants Limited, prizes for the Top Three Overall Shooters in each division will be up for grabs.

He expressed gratitude to P&P for their continued support of the GSSF and this event. He further opined that it is corporate support, such as the one P&P gives, that ensures that the sport continues locally.

Practical Shooting Chairman, David Dharry revealed that the match will be open to all experienced Practical Pistol Shooters of Guyana and advised competitors to pre-register.

Interested, sanctioned, and practical shooters wanting to come out to have some safe shooting fun, can contact any committee member of the GSSF, visit www.guyanasportshooting.com for further details or simply send an email to info@guyanasportshooting. com indicating their interest to participate.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, January 25, 2019

35

GUYOIL hands over prizes to winners in the Tradewind Tankers schools football tournament

THE promise of continued league support for schools football was met with rousing applause at the prize-giving ceremony for the recently concluded GUYOIL/Tradewind Tankers tournament.

The remarks came from Marketing and Sales Manager Jacqueline James as she addressed the winners and others present at the company’s Public Road Kitty outlet.

“We at the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) will be committed to this tournament in 2019,” she said, adding that the company is interested in seeing “bigger and better things”.

She contended that the company is committed to the development of the winning schools.

Annandale has opted to redo its field with the $400 000 prize won in the tournament while the other schools, Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary School ($200 000), Lodge Secondary ($100 000) and Vergenoegen ($50 000) did not disclose their project.

From left, Petra’s Jacquline Boodie watches as GUYOIL Marketing and Sales Manager Jacqueline James hands over the winners’ cheque and trophies to Annandale Secondary School for their win in the inaugural GUYOIL/Tradewind Tankers Schools Football League. (Stephan Sookram photo)

South American World Cup qualifiers to start in March 2020

By Andrew Downie RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - South America’s World Cup qualifiers will begin in March 2020, later than envisaged due to the date of Qatar 2022 tournament, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said on Thursday.

Eight games will take place over four double-header dates in March, September, October and November 2020, and the remaining 10 matches will be played in 2021.

The South American qualifiers are played in a round-robin format with the top teams qualifying after 18 rounds of home and away fixtures.

In recent years the qualifiers started in October, almost three years prior to the finals and ended in the November before the World Cup began.

Organisers, however, decided to start this qualifying competition later because the 2022 tournament will be played in November and December to avoid the heat of the Arab summer.

CONMEBOL also scheduled the final South American Super Cup between River Plate and Athletico Paranaense for May 2019.

Libertadores champions River Plate will play the first leg in Curitiba against Copa Sudamericana holders Athletico Paranaense on May 22 before the return match in Buenos Aires on May 29.

The tournament was co-ordinated by the Petra Organisation and co-director Troy Mendonca stated that they have now opened up an avenue for companies to invest in schools.

“We would have created the foundation in terms of school football. No one can say, ‘I want to give assistance to schools football and I don’t know where to go.”

He added, “We have problems from the Pee Wee level all the way to U-18 and that in itself is development moving forward.”

“To have players and officials and media and executive week in, week out, coming out there is really a commitment from each and every one,” Mendonca added.

Makayah Smith of the Bishops’ High School was the best goalkeeper, while Tyrice Lewis of Christianburg/Wismar Secondary was the highest goalscorer with18 goals.

Omari Glasgow of Annandale Secondary was the Most Valuable Player.

Guyana’s cricket structure allows greater youth development, says West

By Rajiv Bisnauth CRICKET West Indies (CWI) Under-19 coach Graeme West believes that Guyana’s cricket model will allow greater youth development which will ultimately prepare them for the professional arena.

West made the statement yesterday during an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport at the conclusion of the three-day assessment camp

with the Guyanese players who were selected to the Windies Under-19 training camp.

“Certainly from the senior team dominating firstclass cricket, the setup is very good; the opportunities for the young players to come into the system are really crucial ... bringing them through, testing them, challenging them and preparing them for the professional arena; so the model is very good. It has proved to be successful and it’s definitely

producing more and more talented young players,” West stated..

Berbicians, Kevlon Anderson and Kelvin Umroa, along with Demerara Cricket Club’s, Ashmead Nedd and Sachin Singh, were the players involved in the three-day programme.

West said he was very much impressed with the four youngsters over the last three days.

“They all impressed me

CWI Under-19 coach Graeme West makes a point to Sachin Singh while other selectees, Kevlon Anderson, Kelvin Umroa and Ashmead Nedd, look on. (Rajiv Bisnauth photo)

in the regional tournament in different ways, but watching them work here for the last three days, they definitely understand what they need to do to improve, and that’s crucial but we are looking at long-term.

The World Cup is in South Africa so the conditions there will be very much different from most of the Caribbean; so the ability to play the bouncing delivery is going to be important. Back foot skills for the batsmen will be important also so there is a whole lot of stuff we need to look at,” West pointed out.

West has been head coach for the last two ICC Under-19 World Cups, and was the man at the helm when the Windies won the title in Bangladesh two years ago. He further noted that with the Regional Under-19 tournament scheduled to play in July-August 2019 in Guyana, there could be changes to the 20-man squad once there are individual performances.

First contested in 1988 as the Youth World Cup, it was not staged again until 1998.

Since then, the World Cup has been held as a biennial event, organised by the ICC. India, the current champions, have won the World Cup four times which is the highest amongst all teams, while Australia have won three times, Pakistan twice and England, South Africa and the West Indies once each.

day 2 - First Windies, England Test at Kensington Oval

England fold for 77

Page

31

on dramatic 18-wicket second day at Kensington … Kemar Roach flattens tourists with five wickets, four runs, 27 balls

Kemar Roach bagged 5 wickets in an 8-over spell to trigger England’s batting collapse

List of lowest Test scores at Kensington Oval in Barbados (REUTERS) - List of the lowest scores in a single innings in Test matches at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados: ■ 77 - England, v West Indies, 2019 ■ 81 - India, v West Indies, 1997 ■ 81 - Pakistan, v West Indies, 2017 ■ 93 - West Indies, v Sri Lanka, 2018 ■ 94 - New Zealand, v West Indies, 1985 ■ 94 - West Indies, v England, 2004 ■ 97 - Australia, v West Indies, 1984

Shimron Hetmyer single-handedly pushed Windies to 289 on Day 2 with a top score of 81.

GFF shortlists 35 local-based players ahead of historic Belize clash Page

31

Lowest England scores in Tests against West Indies (REUTERS) - List of England’s lowest scores in a single innings in Test matches against West Indies:

» 46 - Port of Spain, Trinidad, 1994 » 51 - Kingston, Jamaica, 2009 » 71 - Manchester, England, 1976 » 77 - Bridgetown, Barbados, 2019

Technical Director Ian Greenwood leads meeting with national team coaches to select Guyana-based squad.

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Friday, january 25, 2019