Guyana chronicle e paper 01 31 2018

Guyana signs three MoUs with India 20 PAGE

ICJ TO DECIDE No. 105171

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

…UN sends border controversy to World Court – President says Guyana confident in correctness of case

Jagdeo-era killings…

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CoI into Lindo Creek massacre first up

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Guyana moves up 22 rule-of-law ranking PAGE

Region Four tackles topical issues

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– as Children’s Mash Dramatic Poetry, Calypso competition enters Day 2

President David Granger exchanged a handshake with the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres during their meeting back in September 2017 at UN Headquarters, New York. (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Criminal charges for Coen …DPP recommends criminal charges against Bishops’ teacher

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Region Four tackles serious topical issues – as Children’s Mash Dramatic Poetry, Calypso competition enters Day Two

By Lisa Hamilton THE Children’s Mashramani Dramatic Poetry and Calypso competition for Region Four(Demerara- Mahaica)continued on Monday at the National Cultural Centre, with students from secondary schools tackling many current issues in their performances.

Schools from across the region came out in their decorative and demonstrative costumes, creatively

Jagdeo-era killings…

A COMMISSION of Inquiry into the June 2008 slaying of eight miners at Lindo Creek in the Upper Berbice River will kick-start probes into the ‘decade of troubles,’ the Ministry of the Presidency announced on Tuesday.

Owner of the mining camp, Leonard Arokium, had accused the joint services of killing the miners. He had said

addressing several issues such as suicide, homelessness, crime and violence, domestic abuse, self-esteem and unity.

Centered around the theme, ‘Let’s cooperate and celebrate Republic 48’, the event got off to a rollicking start as cheers filled the auditorium as students and teachers supported representatives in the dramatic poetry segment, brought to life with various props and impersonations.

Copping first place in the

11-13 Category was Christ Church Secondary, represented by Donalee DaSilva, who took the audience back in time with her piece, ‘We is 48 now’.

Other noteworthy performances came from New Campbellville Secondary and Charlestown Secondary, which placed second and third respectively.

Meanwhile, in the 14-17 Category, Niasha Beckles of St. John’s College won the crowd over with her piece on homelessness and its causes

entitled, ‘Scorn: You don’t live on my street’.

Coming close behind were Allyah Moore of North Ruimveldt Secondary with ‘Long time Mash in Guyana’, and Wayne Henry of St. Joseph’s High.

In the next segment, the children filled the auditorium with the sweet, afro-Caribbean beat of calypso as both the performers and their back-up singers danced and sang for the judges.

Dressed in bandages and sporting an array of bruis-

es, Triston Welcome from the St. Barnabas School snatched the first place prize in the 11-13 Category with his performance, ‘Violence on the Rise’.

Other enactments came from South Ruimveldt and Charlestown Secondary, which placed second and third, respectively.

Meanwhile, Kishon Noel of South Ruimveldt Secondary, the final performer for the afternoon, proved that the last can indeed become the first after he won in the

14-17 Category with the piece, ‘Own this Mash’.

Coming in second were ‘Unit for the Blind and Visually Impaired’ which encouraged the audience to treat persons equally despite their disabilities, and third, a piece on The effects of Suicide’ from Lodge Secondary School.

The Children’s Dramatic Poetry and Calypso competition is an annual event organised by the Department of Education.

The finals of the competition when schools country-wide will compete, is set for February 16, 2018.

CoI into Lindo Creek massacre first up that the servicemen at the time might have mistaken the men for members of the Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins gang.

Meanwhile, it is unclear who the commissioners are for this inquiry, but according to a Ministry of the Presidency advisory, members of the body will be sworn in this morning in the Kairuni Room. The eight men who were killed

are: Dax Arokium, Cedric Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Monday said the first of a series of inquiries into the extra-judicial killings that occurred during 2002-2009, will commence on Febuary 1. Speaking with the Guyana

Chronicle on Monday on the sideline of the swearing-in-ceremony of land surveyors, Minister Harmon said the inquiry will focus on a particular incident or period within the period of the crime wave. “We cannot of course do one inquiry to cover all of them at the same time, so we might very well be dealing with individual issues as we go along. So

during the course of this week, [or] by the end of this week, we will launch an inquiry into one period of the killings and you can rest assured that by the 1st of February that work will commence on this inquiry,” Minister Harmon explained.

He emphasised that it is important that there be closure.

Last week, President David Granger had reassured the nation that full investigations will be done into the deaths of the hundreds of Guyanese, including the former Minister of Agriculture, Satyadeow Sawh.

Under the presidency of Bharrat Jagdeo (August 11, 1999 to December 3, 2011) there were three massacres: Lusignan-- where 11 people were killed; Bartica -- where another 12 were killed; and Lindo Creek -- where eight miners were slaughtered. Besides, there were countless extra-judicial killings, with some activists estimating that around 400 Afro-Guyanese males were gunned down.

Barrington Braithwaite, who had designed the Buxton

Monument that carries the names of over 450 murdered Guyanese, had long championed the cause for justice to be served.

On Monday, he told the Guyana Chronicle that he is pleased that the government will be addressing the crimes committed against humanity, positing that the period of investigation should be from 2000-2009 and beyond. “That was the period that criminalised this country,” Braithwaite stated, while noting that for too long persons have been of the opinion that those who ought to be held accountable are walking free. “I am happy about it and so do [sic] the families of Ronald Waddell and Satyadeow Sawh,” Braithwaite said. Jagdeo, now leader of the opposition, said he welcomes the President’s announcement as he offers the full support of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Back in 2003-2006, convicted drug-trafficker Shaheed Roger Khan, had set up a criminal network here, including active policemen and a number of former ranks, ostensibly to go after criminals, but at the same time protecting his narco-trafficking interests. He was nabbed in neighbouring Suriname in 2006 while fleeing local police, and was later handed over to U.S. authorities. Although the PPP government had sought to distance itself from Khan, the drug-trafficker had stated publicly in an advertisement in local newspapers that he was fighting crime on behalf of the Jagdeo-led government. Khan had also implicated Dr. Leslie Ramsammy in his escapades, and documents bearing the then minister’s signature authorising the purchase of a sophisticated wire-tapping device were produced in U.S. courts during Khan’s trial.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy referred to ICJ – Guyana welcomes decision of UN Secretary-General

By Alva Solomon GUYANA has welcomed the decision by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres to refer the Guyana/Venezuela controversy to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and President David Granger looks forward to the re-confirmation of the 1899 Arbitral Award regarding Guyana’s western border.

In a special address to the nation Tuesday evening, President Granger said Guyana remains confident in the correctness of its case.

The controversy arose out of Venezuela’s contention that the Arbitral Award was null and void Earlier on Tuesday, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general stated that Mr Gutteres has fulfilled the responsibility that has fallen to him within the framework set by his predecessor, Mr Ban Ki-moon in December 2016, and has chosen the ICJ as the means to be used for the solution of the controversy.

He said in reaching this decision, the secretary-general has also reached the conclusion that Guyana and Venezuela could benefit from the continued good offices of the United Nations through a complementary process established on the basis of the powers of the secretary-general under the Charter of the United Nations.

President Granger in his address to the nation gave a reminder that Guyana’s position has always been that the basis of the controversy is a legal question, which should be resolved peacefully and

conclusively through a legal process.

“Guyana will take all the necessary steps to ensure that its national patrimony will be protected for all time.

Guyana remains committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international agreements and treaties and to maintaining friendly relations with its neighbours,” the head of state said.

“Guyana will pursue the path ahead in furtherance of the preservation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity with quiet confidence and with the assurance in ever-improving relations with its neighbours, Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela,” the President said.

PEACEFUL RELATIONS The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed the decision. The ministry in a statement said Guyana will not allow factors extraneous to the controversy to influence its referral to the court, rather, it will continue the advancement of peaceful relations with Venezuela whose people are the brothers and sisters of Guyanese. It said that Guyana acknowledges the secretary-general’s suggestions for the immediate future.

In addition, the ministry stated that Guyana has stood firmly against Venezuela’s attempt to re-open a territorial boundary settled and recognised for half a century before its independence, and done so despite the manifest unequal strengths between the two countries, is to her national credit.

“Guyana, as one of the world’s small developing

President David Granger during his address to the nation on Tuesday

countries, is pleased that its reliance on the rule of law internationally has been the underpinning of its national sovereignty,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

The ICJ will make a final ruling in keeping with the tenets of the 1966 Geneva Agreement.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Mr. Guterres, in keeping with the 1966 agreement, agreed to refer the Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy to the ICJ if significant progress was not made in arriving at a full agreement for the settlement of the controversy at the level of the Good Offices process.

Venezuela is claiming that the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which had given more than 90 per cent of an area to then British Guiana (now Guyana), is null and void.

FIRM VIEW Approximately 118 years after that award was

issued, the Guyana Government holds strongly to the view that a juridical course of action is the only means through which this matter can be permanently resolved. For more than two years, the government has been seeking to reach a peaceful resolution to the border controversy.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge told the Guyana Chronicle recently that the ministry was enhancing its legal standing in the lead-up to the decision.

He said for the purpose of “enhanced mediation” at the level of the United Nations, Guyana has retained the services of a U.S.-based law firm – Foley Hoag LLP. Foley Hoag was the same law firm that successfully spearheaded the case for the Government of Guyana in the maritime boundary matter with Suriname.

“The advantage of that is that they know the history and they are familiar with the issues,” Minister Greenidge posited, while noting that through the firm, lawyers have been providing Guyana with advice on “negotiations and pitfalls”.

He had stated that once the matter is referred to the ICJ, the legal team will be expanded.

“It is expected that once the process at the ICJ starts, we will have to retain additional skills both for the formal presentation and also in terms of the preparation,” the foreign affairs minister explained.

The government has set aside US$15M for legal fees in this regard.

Criminal charges for Coen Jackson

…DPP recommends criminal charges against Bishops’ teacher

By Lisa Hamilton THE chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions has recommended that charges be laid against Bishops’ High School teacher, Coen Jackson, accused of sexually grooming students.

This is according to an official of the DPP who confirmed this new development during a phone call on Tuesday morning. “The file was returned to the GPF with legal

Coen Jackson

advice for them to institute charges against the accused,”

the DDP official stated.

The GPF was last reported as seeking legal advice on how to move forward with the matter. When the Guyana Chronicle contacted Assistant Commissioner “A” Division, Marlon Chapman, he said that as a result of the channels the document comes through, it hasn’t yet been picked up by the Crime Chief.

However, he added that in the event that the file is received, the public can be assured that the GPF will act

on the given advice. Chapman also updated that earlier last week the document was in the possession of the GPF but was subsequently sent back to the DPP due to changes which were needed to be made. “The file came for some points to be cleared up and it was sent back,” Chapman noted.

Jackson, a former Bishops’ Business and Economics teacher has been accused of alleged predatory behaviour.

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Timelines of Guyana/Venezuela Border controversy THE Guyana/Venezuela Border controversy started during the second half of the 19th century between Venezuela and Great Britain over the location of the border between its colony of British Guiana and the Spanish-speaking country.

This continued until an Arbitral Tribunal was empanelled in 1897 to determine the borders and issued an Arbitral Award on October 3, 1899.

Following this, a joint commission with representatives from both countries delineated the borders in 1905. For half a century Venezuela honoured this agreement in word and deed.

In 1931, a boundary commission made up of representatives from Great Britain, Venezuela and Brazil agreed on the specific point on Mount Roraima where the boundaries of British Guiana, Venezuela and Brazil meet. A concrete marker was erected soon after. The matter was permanently settled.

Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Esteban Gil Borges in 1941 agreed that the frontier with British Guiana was well defined and was a closed issue.

However, in 1962, Venezuela unilaterally and without any basis or evidence announced that it regarded the Award of 1899 as null and void.

By November 1965 a meeting in London between Venezuelan and British representatives and a representative from British Guiana was held. A joint Communique stating that both sides should work to “find satisfactory solutions for a practical settlement of the controversy which has arisen as a result of the Venezuelan contention” was issued.

In February of 1966, the governments of British Guiana, Great Britain and Venezuela, in Geneva, Switzerland, signed an agreement by which a bilateral commission was appointed to seek “satisfactory solutions for the practical settlement of the controversy between Venezuela and the United Kingdom, which has arisen as the result of the Venezuelan contention that the arbitral award of 1899 about the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela is null and void.”

A mixed commission was established out of the Geneva Agreement. However, from the beginning, Venezuela ignored the main role of the agreement under which the commission was established to deal with Venezuela’s contention of nullity in the 1899 award.

That mixed commission was unable to fulfil its mandate largely because Venezuela declined to deal with the question of its contention of the nullity of the 1899 Award.

The Geneva Agreement does not state or imply that there is a territorial controversy between the countries or that there is a matter where the border between the two countries is unsettled.

What it recognises and seeks to resolve is the Venezuelan contention that the Award of 1899 is null and void.

Venezuela, however, has worked feverishly over the years at turning the controversy about its contention of invalidity of the Arbitral Award into a dispute about territory.

Both Guyana and Venezuela in 1982 requested the United Nations Secretary- General to decide on a method of solution to the controversy.

The secretary-general chose the Good Offices process in 1990.

However, in 2012, after careful consideration, the Government of Guyana had taken the decision to review its options within and consistent with the Geneva Agreement as it did not appear that Venezuela was willing to meet its obligations under the process.

By 2014 the UN Good Offices process was declared exhausted

by Guyana.

Venezuela has consistently embarked on a pattern of subversion, threats and intimidation.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in May 2015 issued a decree, No. 1787 laying an illegal claim to almost all of Guyana’s maritime zone.

In September 2015, there was an escalation of Venezuelan military activity in eastern Venezuela near the border with Guyana.

The Government of Guyana strongly denounced this decree, calling it a flagrant violation of international law and inconsistent with the principle that all states should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states. Guyana further rejected the illegality of the decree which sought to undermine Guyana’s efforts at development through the exploitation of offshore natural resources.

In July 2015, Venezuela issued a second decree, 1859 reiterating its claim. By September Venezuelan gunboats and troops were deployed along Guyana’s borders.

On December 15, 2016, the former UN Secretary-General, His Excellency Ban Ki moon, informed the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela, of his decision under Article IV (2) of the 1966 Geneva Agreement as to the means of settlement of the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

Secretary-General Ban informed the parties that the Good Offices process will continue for one final year, until December 31, 2017, with a strengthened mandate of mediation.

It was stated that if, by the end of 2017, Secretary- General António Guterres concludes that significant progress has not been made toward arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he will refer the matter to the International Court of Justice for juridical settlement.

In February, 2017, United Nations Secretary-General Guterres named Norwegian lawyer and diplomat, Dag Nylander as Good Officer to Georgetown and Caracas.

President David Granger met with the UN Good Officer in April 2017.

On Jan 30 2018, UN Secretary-General Guterres referred the matter to the International Court of Justice for a juridical settlement.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

President’s address on UN decision THE Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana has welcomed the decision of the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Mr. Antonio Gutteres, to refer the controversy arising out of the claim by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Guyana’s territory, to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In a special address to the nation Tuesday evening, President David Granger said that “Guyana remains confident in the correctness of its case. Guyana looks forward to the reaffirmation of the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award before the International Court of Justice.”

The Head of State reminded the nation that Guyana’s position has always been that the basis of the controversy is

a legal question, which should be resolved peacefully and conclusively through a legal process. The controversy arose out of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award was null and void. “Guyana will take all the necessary steps to ensure that its national patrimony will be protected for all time. Guyana remains committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international agreements and treaties and to maintaining friendly relations with its neighbours,” President Granger said.

Moreover, he informed that, “Guyana will pursue the path ahead in furtherance of the preservation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity with quiet confidence and with the assurance in ever-improving relations with its neighbours, Brazil,

Statement by UN on the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela

THE long-standing border controversy between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela arose as a result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela is null and void.

In the Geneva Agreement of 1966, Guyana and Venezuela conferred upon the secretary-general the power and responsibility to choose a means of peaceful settlement from amongst those contemplated in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations. The Geneva Agreement also provides that if the means so chosen does not lead to a solution of the controversy, the secretary-general is to choose another means of settlement.

Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon communicated to the parties on 15 December, 2016, a frame-

work for the resolution of the border controversy based on his conclusions on what would constitute the most appropriate next steps. Notably, he concluded that the

significant progress had not been made towards arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he would choose the International Court of Justice as the

UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Good Offices Process, which had been conducted since 1990, would continue for one final year, until the end of 2017, with a strengthened mandate of mediation.

He also reached the conclusion that if, by the end of 2017, his successor Secretary-General António Guterres, concluded that

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next means of settlement, unless the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly requested that he refrain from doing so.

In early 2017, Secretary-General Guterres appointed a Personal Representative, Mr. Dag Halvor Nylander, who engaged in intensive high-level efforts to seek a negotiated settlement to the controversy.

The secretary-general has carefully analysed developments in 2017 in the Good Offices process and has

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concluded that significant progress has not been made towards arriving at a full agreement for resolution of the controversy. Accordingly, the secretary-general has fulfilled the responsibility that has fallen to him within the framework set by his predecessor in December 2016, and has chosen the International Court of Justice as the means to be used for resolution of the controversy.

In reaching this decision, the secretary-general has also reached the conclusion that Guyana and Venezuela could benefit from the continued good offices of the United Nations through a complementary process established on the basis of the powers of the secretary-general under the Charter of the United Nations. The secretary-general, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations, remains committed to accompany both States as they seek to overcome their differences regarding this border controversy.

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Suriname and Venezuela.”

Earlier today, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Stéphane Dujarric, in a statement said that owing to the fact that no significant progress was made towards the full agreement for the solution of the controversy in 2017, the final year of the Good Offices process, which commenced since 1990, the ICJ will be the next stop of settlement, unless the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly requested that the secretary-general refrain from doing so. Early last year, Secretary-General Guterres appointed a Personal Representative, Mr. Dag Halvor Nylander, who led a high-level effort to seek a negotiated settlement to the controversy.

Region Two puts on a colourful display

--for Dramatic Poetry and Calypso competition

By Indrawattie Natram The children were dressed in brightly-coHUNDREDS of children loured clothing depicting and teachers from Region various Mashramani mesTwo (Pomeroon-Supe- sages. naam)flocked the Anna Participating in the Regina Community Cen- Dramatic competition this tre Ground on Monday year in the 5-7 Categoto witness the spectacular ry were Tapakuma Lake display of the Children’s Primary, Huist T’Dieren Dramatic Poetry and Ca- Primary, Mainstay Lake lypso competition.

Primary, Suddie Primary The event held under and Taymouth Manor. the theme,“Let us Co-operThe 8-10 Category ate and Celebrate Republic saw participation from 12 48”, was organised by the primary schools, namely Region’s Department of Suddie, Mainstay Lake, Education in observance of Tapakuma, Good Hope, the country’s 48th anniver- Huist T’Dieren, Hampton sary as a Republic.

Court, Taymouth Manor, The programme com- C.V.Nunes, Riverstown, menced with brief opening Capoey, Charity and Sparremarks from Regional ta.

Executive Officer (REO), In the 11-13 Category, Rupert Hopkinson, who eight schools participated, commended the efforts namely Aurora Secondary, of the department for the Tapakuma Lake Primary, hosting of the activity.

Mainstay Lake Primary, The REO said it is al- Aurora Primary, Charity ways his pleasure to be Primary, Johanna Cecelia among children, whether Secondary, Abrams Zuil through academic, social or Secondary and Taymouth cultural activities, and that Manor Primary. while it is a competition, In the 14-17 Category, they should all see them- only six Secondary Schools selves as winners. participated: Anna Regina “Although there are Secondary, 8th of May, Aujudges here, no one is a rora, Cotton Field, Abrams loser; you are all winners,” Zuil and Charity SecondHopkinson said. ary.

Using poetry to express Meanwhile, in the Cathemselves, the children lypso 5-7 Category, three called for persons to live in schools took part in the acunity and togetherness and tivities, namely Tapakuma stop the disputes.

Lake Primary, Charity PriIn the various calyp- mary and Mainstay Lake soes, the message was pri- Primary. marily for drivers using In the Calypso 8-10 the public roadway to stop Category, Tapakuma Lake speeding, since it is causing Primary, Huist T’Dieren too many lives to be lost.

Primary, Akawini Primary Other schools sang and C.V. Nunes Primary about the ‘greening’ of the took part. economy, and called on The chief judge for the persons to become conver- competition was seasoned sant about the environment calypsonian, Learie McKand stop the deforestation. enzie.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Serious crimes decrease in ‘G’ Division

By Indrawattie Natram

SERIOUS crimes in Region Two and on the Essequibo Islands of Wakenaam and Leguan have decreased significantly due to teamwork and preventive policing from ranks in ‘G’ Division.

This is according to Divisional Commander Khali Pareshram, who reported a 42 per cent drop in serious crimes last year and pointed out that for the comparative period January 1 to 31, there was no increase.

He said success in crime-fighting in the division is due to ‘team policing’ and advanced training. This strategy, the commander said, has boosted morale of his men and won the confidence of communities.

Mobility of the police in the division was enhanced in 2017 with the introduction of bicycle patrols, which enabled cops to visit communities, thereby strengthening relations with residents.

Officers who will be patrolling communities on bicy-

‘G’ Division Commander Khalid Pareshram

cles will soon be uniformed.

Within the division, there are two major ports of entries, namely, Supenaam and Charity and countless ‘Stop-andsearch’ exercises are conducted at these locations, resulting in the unearthing of narcotics and illegal weapons.

Commander Pareshram said by March 2018, two stations will be equipped with

modern ID parade rooms and rooms for domestic violence cases. Children will also be accommodated in a different room in domestic violence cases.

However, while crime in the division has been under control, also due to better relations with the public and business community, a major challenge remains: persons

The Aurora Police Station under construction

are often reluctant to give statements whenever called upon as witnesses.

The commander is hoping that 2018 is a better year for the region and called for the cooperation of residents in the fight against illegal activities.

He also called on youths from various communities to enrol in the police youth groups.

The division thus far has 11 youth groups, all of which keep youths actively involved.

A modern solar-powered, two-storey police station is currently under construction at Aurora village, Region Two. The station, being built to the tune of $39 million, will be equipped with additional rooms to handle domestic violence cases.

The project is being funded under a remodelled Inter-American Development Bank Loan (IDB) loan and was awarded to Rajubir and Sons Contracting Service.

Pareshram said the project is expected to be completed within a seven-month period and will be equipped with an identification parade room using a one-way mirror, a waiting area for victims, living quarters for female and male ranks, a case-management room, a CID area, traffic department and rooms for female prisoners.

The ID parade room will have a one-way mirror, the first of its kind for ‘G’ division.

This will ensure comfort and security for victims seeking justice, since the suspect would not see the victim or have any contact, allowing CID ranks to effectively conduct their investigations in a more comfortable manner.

In the meantime, officers from the Aurora Police Station are currently utilising the Aurora Health Centre to handle reports. The Suddie

Police Station is also being used to house female prisoners. Recently, the station also acquired a new 4x4 vehicle under a Chinese grant to assist in crime-fighting.

Several police stations are currently being upgraded, including the Suddie and Leguan police stations.

Last year, the Anna Regina Police Station was renovated and despite some disruption caused by construction work, ranks remain on high alert, Commander Pareshram.

City constable to be charged with rape

THE Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended the charge of rape to be instituted against City Constable Clifton Pellew.

Pellew is alleged to have raped a 16-year-old boy.

On August 15, 2017, the lance corporal attached to the City Constabulary was allegedly caught having sex with the boy who was detained for loitering.

Another corporal, Quacy Baveghens, who allegedly saw the act, later reported the incident to his supervisor, the City Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green and Town Clerk, Royston King.

Corporal Baveghens was dismissed along with the suspect but they were both subsequently reinstated following the intervention by the Ministry of Communities.

Activists had picketed City Hall on several occasions demanding that Pellew be charged.

Editorial

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Youth activism

WISDOM can come from the strangest places, even a stray line in a television show.

The famous quote “It’s not how much power you have, but what you do with it,” is often heard in contexts totally unrelated to youth political action and it just seemed the perfect quote.

Most of us are probably familiar with national statistics that put the vast majority of Guyanese voters under the age of 35, but it seems that numerical fact only surges to the fore of the national dialogue when there are elections.

The power that comes from numbers, however, can be exercised in so many more ways, to the benefit of the broader society.

In Guyana, we don’t often see young people on street corners advocating for the issues they care most about, and certainly not protesting very often in public spaces.

Washington D.C. is very much the opposite, as the American capital always seems to be swarming with enthusiastic young activists.

During the summer, especially, interns at various non-profit or advocacy groups swell the young population, and as they are likely to care about social issues, this feeds into a healthy culture of activism. Some are even required by their jobs to spend time helping in such public spaces, increasing the visibility of the non-profit organisations they represent.

Add to that the vast number

of young administrative staff assisting representatives on Capitol Hill and this makes for an excellent youth activism culture.

The requisite internship culture isn’t present locally, because young people generally need to be paid and, Guyanese haven’t yet organised a robust approach to awarding activism when university admission or job applications are reviewed.

As a result, the rewards that come from standing on that street corner handing out fliers are considerably dimmed. But activism to promote ideas and policies in the public and political spheres is rewarding in a somewhat different way here. There is a real chance that the good ideas young

people put forward, if they become popular, can turn into policy. This is because Guyana is so small it is in its own way a more democratic society, where the voices of a few can influence national discourse.

So contrary to the sedative that young people should feel disenchanted with politics, they need to recognise they stand to gain much from getting involved.

Some may worry about a backlash, but it is critical to differentiate between advocacy and direct political action. There’s no need to sign up with a party or even espouse support for one if your cause is just and your message is based on an honest appraisal of an issue, irrespective of its political

The mayor and town clerk disgrace the Council Dear Editor, WITH reference to correspondence dated January 22, 2018, from the Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan to Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Green and copied to councillors, regarding “Green Spaces”, I find the minister’s views apposite, regarding the Bel Air Play Field and by extension the Farnum Play Ground.

I fully support the minister’s position.

The mayor and Town Clerk Royston King have led us councillors into another faux pas with the citizens of Georgetown and have shown a total disregard for the Municipal and Districts Councils Act 28:01, which in adumbrating the role of the Council,

sets it as the supreme decision-making body at the municipal level for the city of Georgetown, our national capital city.

The mayor and town clerk continue to arrogate to themselves powers and roles which are not prescribed by 28:01. Their actions are deliberate, calculated and continue to damage the image of the Council irreparably.

The issues of the Bel Air Playfield and the Farnum Playground were never brought before the Council. Additionally, I wish to draw the public’s attention to the “Minutes” of the Social Development Committee meeting, dated January 23, 2018. The “Minutes” in this form is merely a request from the town clerk’s office for the committee to consider a

matter. In this instance, for the first time, the committee is being asked to consider both matters.

In the first instance, the “Minutes” read: “Minute from the town clerk forwarding correspondence from Ms. Mayfield Rodrigues to assist with upgrading and utilising Farnum Play Ground”. In the second instance, it reads, “Minute from the town clerk requesting the committee to address the Bel Air Play Field”.

If the committee is yet to consider these issues and the full council is yet to accept or reject the committee’s recommendations, why did work on these grounds begin?

I also note with concern the public’s response of the mayor to Minister Bulkan’s correspondence.

I have thought that some particular parts of his missive, for instance, “I inform you further, that the undertaking by the council to convert green spaces in residential areas into housing and other commercial ventures does not find favour with central government”, would be enough to allow the mayor to recalibrate her ill-advised position. On the contrary Her Worship seems more emboldened.

Both mayor and town clerk should RESIGN as they continue to disgrace the council. In the March 15 election for mayor,the people of Georgetown through their councillors cannot, must not re-elect this mayor.

Regards SHEROD AVERY DUNCAN

history. The simple act of convincing someone on the street of a solution is something we have not really grasped, and as a result, we don’t make use of the most potent of grassroots tools -the petition.

Young people should keep things simple, and just get people to sign onto their ideas. Let politics be politics. Instead, our society could use young people coming up with and advo-

cating for fresh ideas. With petitions adding weight to those ideas, who knows how far they can go. Advocacy isn’t about seizing power, it’s about influencing the world around you for better. Young people in Guyana can have all the power of numbers, but if they never find other positive ways to exercise it, elections really will end up being the only time they have a voice.

The sugar industry’s massive drain on the treasury Dear Editor, A LETTER appearing in Stabroek News, January 6, calls for the dismissal of senior members of government due to the delayed sugar workers’ severance payments. The writer relates that over 5 billion dollars is likely to be delayed and proceeds to berate the government about this figure. But let’s take a moment to reflect on that 5 billion-dollar figure. Do Guyanese really understand the massive drain on the treasury the sugar industry is turning out to be?

Since the coalition took office, Guyanese have already spent 32 billion dollars supporting the industry, which is roughly $2,400 a month out of the pockets of hard-working taxpayers every single month. An additional five billion dollars is no small sum, and the writer simply ignores that

the government is doing everything in its power to help sugar workers who were let down by the mismanagement of the industry under the PPP/C. The administration has committed to paying severance as quickly as possible, but given the sheer scale of what GuySuCo is asking for, time after time, we can understand there will be periodic delays. I wonder if the writer paused to consider this additional severance package will cost each and every taxpayer close to $12,000, and we can only imagine the corporation eventually requesting more funds.

This is a burden we all share, and it does little good to place blame. Guyanese must pull together and ride out this storm, not pull each other down when times are tough.

Regards MALCOLM MARSHALL

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

GAWU committed to representing workers at all possible levels Dear Editor,

THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has noted that several sections of the media have reported on comments the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo made during his press conference on January 27, 2018, with respect to our union and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) meeting with a ministerial delegation on January 19, 2018 at the Ministry of the Presidency.

From the January 28, 2018 Guyana Times report on the press conference, we recognised that the opposition leader was quoted to have said: “…I’ve always supported their [GAWU] struggle”. The GAWU appreciates Mr. Jagdeo’s support, especially at this time when tens of thousands of Guyanese are facing severe difficulties and challenges arising from the callous plans to miniaturise the sugar industry. But the opposition leader, according to the press, disagreed, seemingly and unfortunately, with our union and the NAACIE’s decision to engage the government.

The press reported that Mr. Jagdeo quoted from sections of the government’s Department of Public Information (DPI) statement that was issued after the meeting of January 19, and took issue with the comments made by our union’s president at the conclusion of the meeting.

Those sentiments, we should add, were shared by our union’s delegation. While the GAWU recognises and respects Mr. Jagdeo’s right to an opinion, it was disappointing that he, from all appearances, wasn’t armed with or did not pay serious attention to the press release the GAWU issued after the

meeting. Had Mr. Jagdeo been so armed, possibly, he may have reached a different conclusion. Nevertheless, the opposition leader is entitled to his views as the GAWU is too.

The opposition leader questioned what “common ground” the sugar unions and the government reached.

It seems maybe Mr. Jagdeo misunderstood the conclusion of the meeting, as both GAWU and NAACIE undertook to work with the government in reaching “common ground”. We did not advise that “common ground” was reached. In fact, the GAWU statement pointedly said: “[o]ur unions [GAWU and NAACIE] recognised the importance of working along with the administration in finding an acceptable solution to the crisis, which has now beset scores of communities and thousands of Guyanese”. It is in this context that our union expressed our cooperation.

Moreover, the opposition leader who was President for over a decade should know better than most that issues of this nature and magnitude cannot be resolved in a fully comprehensive way at a single meeting, though one would wish that could happen.

Mr.Jagdeo goes on according to the Guyana Times article saying “What’s the future engagement? Hiring back the 7000 workers? Paying them their severance?

Getting subsidies and land for them? Getting them more training, loans for them?”

We are indeed surprised by the opposition leader’s statements as these are exactly some of the points and more that our union raised with the government. In our presentation, we reiterated our strongly held position that the decision to shutter estates was incorrect and that there were several workable ideas

to secure the sugar industry and urged the administration to re-look and re-think its decision. In addition, we told the government that we disagreed with privatisation, but said that if this is the administration’s intention, we called for those arrangements to be transparent. We went on and urged that maximum value be secured for the assets and, therefore, in keeping with such a stance, the estates should be re-opened, the workers re-employed and they be made into going concerns before any sale takes place. Additionally, we insisted that the government ensures that certain critical working conditions and rights are respected if there will be new owners.

With respect to land for the displaced workers, our union advised the government that we believe that one (1) acre touted for each worker would be insufficient.

But more than that, on this issue, we told the government team that several essential matters needed to be considered and fully addressed. Those issues we raised included financing, marketing, income challenges, infrastructural development, location of lands, among other things. On the issue of severance, when this was raised from the government’s side, both GAWU and NAACIE took a non-negotiable position that severance entitlements, in keeping with the provisions of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA) as well as the practice, ought to be paid at one time and not in staggered payments, as was suggested by the government. These matters were explained in more detail in our press statement, but it is unfortunate that Mr. Jagdeo maybe didn’t have an opportunity to examine the copy that was sent to him electronically. Certainly, had the

opposition leader required more information he could have requested a copy of our presentation, which would have better edified him on the matters we raised, and provided him an opportunity for any further clarification.

Regarding the opposition leader’s view that the engagement is merely public theatrics by the government, this perception is not lost on us. We have had a long history of engagement with GuySuCo and different governments with results which were both positive and negative.

It is incumbent on the union to engage the administration in all possible avenues in order to further the workers’ interests and rights.

Our union’s view is that in the difficult conditions workers are now confronting, we should not close our minds, ears and eyes to any sort of engagement, for doing otherwise, in this instance, would certainly not be pleasing to the beleaguered, jobless, workers. Our union recognis-

es that inasmuch as we will continue to press in the public arena the workers plight, at the same time experience teaches us that, at the end of the day, decision-makers will unavoidably be a central player in addressing the crucial issues and win gains in our continuing, many-sided struggles.

Moreover, if it is that the government is insincere, as Mr. Jagdeo seemingly charges, then our union cannot be criticised for not trying. It is dismaying that our union is singled out for this sort of criticism, recognising that several organisations are engaging the State on matters of concern. Why is a different yardstick being applied to GAWU? A question to ponder.

The opposition leader, from what we read in the Times article, recognised that the GAWU has “good, strong, young, bright leaders”. It is heartening that Mr. Jagdeo recognises the depth of our leadership who are involved, together

with our more experienced comrades to consider collectively our union’s approach and tactics. At this time, the GAWU believes that it should use every arena and leave no stone unturned to further the struggle of the sugar workers, and engagement with the government is one such plank. In fact, the GAWU is no stranger to engaging government on workers’ matters. In our years of association with the sugar industry, the GAWU has engaged every Head of State, from the late President L.F.S. Burnham. Our union approaches our discussions with the administration in good faith and is hopeful that the workers’ causes will be advanced, especially given the terrible times that are facing so many ordinary Guyanese in the sugar belt.

Regards Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

UG may soon access oil-and-gas training – through arrangement with Exxon affiliate

By Lisa Hamilton STUDENTS and faculty of the University of Guyana (UG) may soon receive training on the basics of the oil-and-gas sector as the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD) considers collaboration with the institution.

This was learnt on Mon-

day during a seminar hosted by the CLDB, titled ‘Opportunities in the Oil-and-Gas sector...’ at the university’s Turkeyen campus.

The announcement, though tentative, came from CLBD Project Director Patrick Henry, while responding to requests from faculty members to consider making a segment of the oil-and-gas

seminar available to interested students and staff.

Said he: “We can organise something…If you want to do them with some of your faculty, we can start there and then try to work out a plan going forward.”

Established here in July 2017, the CLBD serves to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to ele-

vate their standards to that of the oil-and-gas industry, becoming more competitive and contributing to inclusive economic growth.

It operates in collaboration with the Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) Global and Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd (EEPGL), an affiliate of ExxonMobil.

Monday’s seminar is not the first time members of the university have been involved with the CLBD, as it has, since its establishment, partnered with BrainStreet, an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services firm, through which graduates of UG were able to develop a Supplier Registration Portal, now the face of the company’s website.

To date, Henry said, over 550 Guyanese firms have been registered by means of this portal, which allows members to be alerted to upcoming business opportunities with ExxonMobil and its sub-contractors.

EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS “I think we’ve had really great participation at the centre from Guyanese businesses, and it has exceeded our initial expectations when we first started,” Henry said, adding: “We hoped after three years to get 500 businesses in the portals, and we have 500 in the first 10 months. So I think it’s a great start, and, hopefully, businesses keep signing up and coming.”

Additionally, as a result of its success, the DAI has taken BrainStreet into its local supply chain, and the small company has since developed a portal for an oil-and-gas client in Asia, and is set to build another for clients here and in Africa.

“The idea is, once you get into the global supply chain as a Guyanese business, you cannot only work for ExxonMobil here in Guy-

At the CLBD-led seminar on Monday at UG. Seated from left are: Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, Fitzgerald Yaw; CLBD Project Director, Patrick Henry; and CLBD Senior Business Specialist, Natasha Gaskin-Peters

ana, but you can work for, globally, the oil-and-gas corporation or other corporations,” Henry said.

Presently, the centre runs three courses, namely: Introduction to the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry; Procurement for Local Suppliers; and Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE).

There, businesses learn and develop an overview of the industry, common terms and jargon, as well as the oiland-gas tendering process, which differs from what many Guyanese are used to.

“Most of the persons that come to us don’t have any prior knowledge of the oiland-gas industry,” explained CLBD Senior Business Specialist, Natasha Gaskin-Peters.

“So it has been successful, in the sense that we’ve educated participants with this material, so they are now equipped to talk about terminologies within the oiland-gas sector.”

LOCAL PARTNERS Apart from BrainStreet, the centre works along with a group of local partners such as EMPRETEC and the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) to aid with training in third-party-certified courses, which meet international standards.

Through IPED, the CLBD provides general

business training in supply-chain management, financial management and human resource management, and mentors firms to meet the guidelines of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 compliance.

Asked whether the CLBD intends to assist sectors outside of oil and gas, Henry said: “We will, and it’s during the course of this year that we will start that process of looking at other sectors and talking to associations in those sectors and figuring out the needs.”

Gaskin-Peters chimed in, saying that in some ways, the centre has already begun the process.

“In a way,” she said, “we have already started…

When we’re doing courses in Financial Management, for example, it’s broader business development; it’s not only for oil and gas, but it’s to support businesses as a whole.”

In its effort to assist firms to capitalise on opportunities in the oil-and-gas sector, the CLBD has conducted several out-of-town outreaches in Linden and New Amsterdam.

Plans are now in place for the centre to conduct similar outreaches on the Essequibo Coast, in Region One (Barima-Waini) and Lethem in February.

Suspect in 2016 killing apprehended A 30-YEAR-OLD miner is in police custody assisting with investigations into the murder of Orville Williams at Perseverance Backdam, North West District that occurred on September 8, 2016.

Police apprehended the suspect on Monday after a party of policemen went to

Big Creek Backdam, North West District, and arrested him.

He was escorted to the Port Kaituma Police Station where he is assisting with the investigations.

Enquiries revealed that the men were at a camp at Perseverance when Williams choked a nine-year-

old girl. Her parents had intervened after it was brought to their attention.

However, the suspect and Adrian John, who was previously charged and is on remand for the same murder, carried Williams to a camp where he was severely beaten and hanged at the camp site.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

‘Grey Boy’ must stand trial for Crum-Ewing’s murder COME February 12, Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman will have to comply with the directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and commit Regan Rodrigues, called ‘Grey Boy’, to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing.

This decision came after the magistrate lost an appeal for a stay of execution (a delay in carrying out a court order) and was directed by Appeal Judge Dawn Gregory to comply with the directions of the DPP. However, with the matter still ongoing in the Appeal

Court, Rodrigues’ committal will not affect the appeal by the Magistrate.

On Monday, Special Prosecutor, Nigel Hughes appeared before Magistrate Latchman. However, Rodrigues was not in custody thus causing a summons to be issued for his arrest. The matter is adjourned until February 12.

In 2017, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had instructed Magistrate Judy Latchman, via a letter, to commit Rodrigues to stand trial in the High Court.

Magistrate Latchman had maintained that a prima facie case was not made out against Rodrigues, in rela-

Criminal charges...

An official complaint was made to Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, by Cultural Policy Advisor, Ruel Johnson against the teacher on November 20.

The Ministry of Education subsequently pursued and completed investigations on the matter which was then handed over to the police on November 24. On December 2, Jackson was arrested at the Brickdam Police Station in Georgetown and released on $100,000 bail. Despite several persons reportedly making statements indicating that they are victims of Jackson’s sexual grooming, the accused has denied these claims admitting only to being in relationships with two former students of the school, now in their early

From page 3

20s.

Nonetheless, during the unraveling, members of the public had petitioned that Jackson face the full brunt of the law, should he be found guilty. Back in December last year an anonymous reporting system was set up by the Bishops’ High School Old Students’ Association (BHSOSA) in light of the sexual allegations levelled against Jackson.

One of Jackson’s alleged victims had publicly commented on the matter.

The young woman said she never considered herself a victim of anyone or anything until same was pointed out to her. She noted that as a teenager, she had suffered from depression, which made her an easy target “for

Regan Rodrigues called ‘Grey Boy’

tion to the murder, causing the DPP to issue a letter to someone I’ve now come to recognise as a sexual predator.” “From the time I was 15, I spent the rest of the years of my life up until now normalising indignity after indignity, so much that when it finally ended, I felt barely human to myself. I couldn’t tell anyone everything that happened to me because the most relatable thing I could say was that I was betrayed; I was also forbidden to speak about it by the offender. Betrayal is easy to swallow and take pity on,” she detailed.

The young woman said one year after her relationship with Jackson ended she suffered from anxiety attacks and felt ashamed to tell anyone what had happened to her. But it was in September when she met her current partner that she opened up about her experience.

the magistrate instructing her to commit the matter to the High Court for trial.

“In accordance with section 72 (2) (ii) (a) of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, Chapter 10:01, I hereby remit to your Worship the above-mentioned matter and direct you to comply with Sections 65 and 66 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, Chapter 10:01 with a view of committing the accused,” the letter stated.

When Rodrigues heard the contents of the letter he broke down in tears and dropped to his knees while in the prisoners’ dock.

“They want see me convicted for this murder na?”

Rodrigues said to the Magistrate. “I can’t take this thing no more… how much time I must be freed from this charge to prove to them that I’m innocent…Is best I kill myself and let these people feel nice.”

Despite the objection raised by the DPP, Rodrigues had the murder charge discharged against him again.

“There is absolutely no evidence,” the Magistrate noted, as she dismissed the charge again and told Rodrigues that he was free to go.

Latchman dismissed the case on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence against him. In her

ruling, the magistrate said that while she was satisfied that the gun, which was used to shoot Crum-Ewing, was found at the home of the accused, the evidence offered by the prosecution did not implicate Rodrigues in the actual murder.

In relation to the 14 oral statements made by Rodrigues, which were admitted into evidence, the magistrate said they did not implicate him in the murder and there was no evidence that Rodrigues used the gun, pulled the trigger and shot Crum-Ewing.

Special Prosecutor Hughes during that time had said that in one of Rodrigues’ oral statements, there was sufficient evidence that he has knowledge of the murder.

According to Hughes, when Rodrigues was first arrested by the police at his home in River View, Ruimveldt, he had said to the ranks: “Officer, yuh can’t arrest me with this gun, this gun used to do nuff thing.”

As such, Hughes emphasised that based on this statement by Rodrigues, it shows that the accused had knowledge of the crime and what the gun was used to do. Additionally, Hughes, who is a prominent attorney, told this newspaper that the fact that the murder weapon was found in the home of the

accused showed that there was sufficient evidence for the matter to be committed to the High Court.

In September 2016, Rodrigues was freed of the murder charge by Magistrate Latchman, due to the lack of evidence. The office of the DPP decided to re-open the case for further evidence from police witnesses and, for the magistrate to rule on the oral statements made by Rodrigues.

The bullet-riddled body of Crum-Ewing was found at Third Avenue, Diamond New Scheme, EBD, on March 10, 2015. The 40-year-old was shot twice to the temple, once to the back of the head and twice to the stomach.

The police in a statement had stated that the political activist was accosted by four men in a car, one of whom discharged several rounds, hitting him about the body.

It was reported that the killer (s) used a .32 pistol to execute Crum-Ewing.

The political activist was well-known for his one-man protest outside the office of former Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall. Minutes before he was gunned down, he was reportedly heard via a bullhorn urging residents of the neighbourhood to vote against the then ruling PPP/C party.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

City Council should not expect constant bailouts from government – Minister Bulkan COMMUNITIES Minister Ronald Bulkan has said that it is only due to the “special status” of Georgetown as the capital city and the deplorable conditions which existed in it recently, that the central government decided to step in and grant a bailout to the City Council.

The municipality must

not, however, take it as a “given” that it can continue to bank up millions of dollars in debt and then expect to be bailed out by the government, the minister told the Guyana Chronicle.

The government last December provided a bailout to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to the tune of more than $400M to cover debts to the municipality’s two main garbage contractors, Puran Brothers

Disposal Services and Cevons Waste Management Inc. “The Minister of Finance has said in no uncertain terms that councils should not see this as a given, and should not seek to become reliant on central government to fund their activities.

“It is only because of the special status of Georgetown as the capital city and the conditions existing that

the central government was forced to intervene.“So I have communicated that sentiment of Cabinet that Council should not turn to the central government to keep bailing them out, but that they should be able to manage their affairs in a more professional and responsible manner. It will ultimately ensure their independence,” Bulkan stated.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen had said that the City was in a garbage crisis.

“The garbage is killing me.

I going to government to beg for this bailout to bring this City back in order,” she had told councillors. Her ‘begging’ comment came in response to Town Clerk Royston King’s statement at the meeting, when he said depending on a government bailout dilutes the authority and autonomy of the City Council.

Councillor James Samuels had pointed out that the municipality ought to be run as a business.

“Let’s get down and do business,” he urged.

Child allegedly raped by step-uncle POLICE have arrested a man in his late 20s who has allegedly confessed to raping a five-year-old girl.

According to the child’s mother, on Friday last, she left home at around 19:30 hrs to run an errand a short distance away and when she returned, she found her daughter sitting quietly “clumped up” on a chair.

The 27-year-old mother said she found the child’s behaviour strange, and on enquiring from her what happened, the child reportedly said that she was raped by her step-uncle. Not far away from where the child was sitting a used condom was found.

The accused, according to reports, resides in the lower-flat of the building where the victim and her mother and step-father live.

The child was taken to the police and a report was made. The suspect was subsequently arrested and remains in police custody as investigations continue.

Venezuelan fined for illegal entry A 39-year-old Venezuelan was on Tuesday fined $30,000 for entering Guyana illegally.

Dnesimo Quiyada appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan charged for entering Guyana on January 13, at Eteringbang, Cuyuni River, without presenting himself to an immigration officer.

He pleaded guilty to the charge with the aid of an interpreter.

According to reports, Quiyada was arrested by police from the Criminal Investigation Department

Dnesimo Quiyada

(CID) on January 25, at Port Kaituma during an ongoing murder investigation.

Should the Venezuelan fail to pay the fine he will have to spend eight weeks in jail, the court ordered.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

PM backs GAWU leader …says PPP efforts to topple Chand is about Jagdeo third-term ambitions PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has defended President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), Komal Chand’s move to work with the government to find a way forward for the workers made redundant by the cash-strapped Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Chand has been facing stiff criticisms from General-Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Bharrat Jagdeo, for hailing the meeting as a major success. Addressing former workers and other stakeholders at a ministerial outreach at the Skeldon Community Centre last week, Nagamootoo said the effort of the opposition to vilify Chand is because of their narrow political agenda.

“Retrenchment was not in our will, we inherited that from the past government, they had already written that in for you, that you would be severed, that you would be done. All they wanted you for was to become a voting machine and today they want to get rid of Komal Chand,

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is flanked by GAWU, President Komal Chand and Lochan Nagassar

because the issue of a third term for the president comes up and they realise that the largest block of votes, that will vote in the Congress of the PPP, would come from the GAWU people.

So, they want to remove Komal Chand,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said.

He added that the opposition leader’s campaign to topple Komal Chand as leader of the GAWU has nothing to do with

the workers’ interests, but rather Jagdeo’s third-term ambitions. “…and so, ambitions are floating, and while ambitions are floating we have no working solution from the opposition. If they care for sugar workers they will come to meetings. But they were annoyed with GAWU, they were annoyed with NAACIE (National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees) for com-

ing to talk to us, for us to find solutions to the problems,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo added.

Following GAWU’s and NAACIE’s acceptance of government’s proposal to pay redundant workers severance in two parts, the leader of the opposition orchestrated a campaign to have Chand removed as head of the GAWU. Chand is one of the few long-standing

supporters in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) following the forced removal of stalwarts such as Ralph Ramkarran, Khemraj Ramjattan, and Moses Nagamootoo.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, Chand declared that there was no need to consult with the opposition party, despite him being a senior member of that organisation and a Member of Parliament representing that body. He also said that a “smear campaign” has been launched against him for what seems to be his support for government as they feverishly search for a sum of $4B to pay the retrenched workers. Chand explained that despite being a long-standing member of the PPP and a MP, GAWU is independent and separate from the party. “We are GAWU, we have our organisation. There was no need to consult with them [opposition]. We do not have to meet with the opposition about this issue or that issue. Our union has members who belong to the APNU and

AFC, all the parties. So we have to be careful, we have mass members, we can’t represent the PPP, AFC or APNU positions.” The trade unionist continued that prior to meeting the government team two weeks ago, GAWU spoke with representatives of the thousands of workers within GuySuCo and a collective stance was taken. “… you could not physically reach all the persons, but we consulted with the representing body, the executive committee. So we had a collective position…,” Chand stated.

However, the position to not report to his political party may have cost Chand some points, since a call for his removal as head of GAWU is coming from his own colleagues at Freedom House, some observers say. It is believed that Chand’s failure to discuss the union’s plans with his party may have upset the organisation’s primary leader(s) since again, observers believe, any sense of stability or partnership between government and the union would spell negatively towards the PPP/opposition’s agenda.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Guard against professional dishonesty – Min. Harmon urges new land surveyors MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon on Monday admonished land surveyors to be impartial in the execution of their function as he delivered the feature address during their swearing-in-ceremony held at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission headquarters.

“Guard against professional dishonesty,” he urged those present at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, noting that deceitfulness often times result in land disputes and prolong judicial cases.

Emphasising that Land Surveyors ought to be honest, impartial and fair, Minister Harmon urged that they execute their tasks with integrity while adhering to the highest standard of professional ethics. Such, he said, would aid

in the prevention of discord and land disputes.

“Provide accurate description of surveyed lands for the preparation of legal documents such as transports, leases and grants, strive at all times to serve the public’s interest, (and) at all times you must avoid being in situations of conflict of interest,” he further urged.

Underscoring the important roles of Land Surveyors, the State Minister said as Guyana undergoes major infrastructural changes in the coming years, there will be need for even more surveyors.

“Mr. Chair, the Government is about to invest heavily in catalytic physical infrastructural projects in agriculture diversification in renewable energy, in agro-industrial processing, as well as

in massive drives to provide affordable housing for our citizens. These activities will take place in all regions of Guyana, on the coastland, in the hinterland and will entail making available large tracks of lands in an orderly fashion and in ways that will facilitate those investments,” he posited while pointing to the need for more Land Surveyors within the system.

Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Commissioner Trevor Benn, in his remarks, said 2018 marks the start of a new era for Land Surveyors, as he signalled the Commission’s intention to further enact the Land Surveyors (Profession) Act. Though the Land Surveyors Bill was assented to in May 2014, it

The newly sworn-in land surveyors standing in the presence of Minister Joseph Harmon and officials of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. Seated from L-R are: Magistrate Dylon Best; Minister Joseph Harmon; GLSC CEO and Commissioner, Trevor Benn, and GLSC Secretariat Manager, Durwin Humphrey (Photo by Delano Williams)

has not been enforced in full, and as such, the Commission will be taking steps to ensure further enforcement.

“This Act provides for, among other things, the Registration of Land Surveyors, the Regulation of Practice, and administering penalties in accordance with the Act. Surveyors will now only be able to conduct surveys legally if she or he has a certificate of registration,” Commissioner Benn stated. It was explained that certificates will reflect if the Surveyor is a Government or Private Surveyor.

Additionally, from 2019, in keeping with the Land Surveyors (Profession) Act, the Board of Land Surveyors has agreed to have all potential surveyors to complete internship. “Starting in 2019, all qualified persons must complete a period of internship with an assigned Senior Surveyor before that individual becomes eligible for swearing in as a SLS. This means that this is the last ceremony where one can be sworn in without participating in an internship,” he explained.

This announcement was welcomed by the Minister of State, who emphasized the importance of having firsthand experience before becoming a fullfledged pro-

fessional.

In 2017, Benn had noted that Mathematics and Astronomy had recorded high failure rates – today the situation remains the same.

However, in keeping with a recommendation made by Minister Harmon, the Commission last year facilitated extra Mathematic classes for the students – a move which resulted in a slight improvement on the past rate. “We have moved from five to eight passes from a similar number of candidates sitting the Sworn Land Surveyors Exam. The Math course will be offered again in 2018 and onward until such time that we can have confidence that our students no longer need same,” Commissioner Benn noted.

Additionally, the Lands and Surveys Commission will soon be signing Memorandums of Understanding with the Government Technical Institute (GTI) and the University of Guyana (UG).

The Commission will be looking to strengthen GTI’s surveyors programme and while over at UG, they are looking to commence a Diploma Programme in Land Administration for its staff.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Dylon Best, who also sits on the Land Surveyors Board

and is an examiner, dispelled the notion that examiners are bias in their selection of surveyors. .

“I can tell you as a matter of fact that the examiners are bound by the provisions in the Land Surveyors Profession Act. The second schedule sets out the process by which examiners must mark the students who are presenting themselves as candidates, and it also outlines the procedure that they must follow. On my watch I am pleased to say that we do not condone favoritism, we follow the law,” Magistrate Best stated.

He also used the opportunity to applaud GTI, noting that the institution plays a critical role in the Land Surveyors Programme. Like Commissioner Benn, he committed the Commission to assisting GTI in enhancing its Land Surveyors Programme.

The newly sworn-in Land Surveyors are: Katfai Sue, Orvil Parris, Romario Denhart, Kevon Williams, Moyica Dodson, Mahendra Sahadeo, Bhagestwar Murli and Brentnol Bart.

They were all sworn in by Commissioner Benn and presented with their certificates. Katfai Sue, a Civil Engineer University of Guyana Graduate, was declared the Valedictorian.

Suspect in 2016 killing apprehended A 30-YEAR-OLD miner is in police custody assisting with investigations into the murder of Orville Williams at Perseverance Backdam, North West District that occurred on September 8, 2016.

Police apprehended the suspect on Monday after a party of policemen went to

Big Creek Backdam, North West District, and arrested him.

He was escorted to the Port Kaituma Police Station where he is assisting with the investigations.

Enquiries revealed that the men were at a camp at Perseverance when Williams choked a nine-year-

old girl. Her parents had intervened after it was brought to their attention.

However, the suspect and Adrian John, who was previously charged and is on remand for the same murder, carried Williams to a camp where he was severely beaten and hanged at the camp site.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Palms elevators to be installed on Feb. 9 THE three elevators at the Palms Geriatric Home which were scheduled to be installed last December will now be completed by February 9, Administrator Samantha Douglas told the Guyana Chronicle recently.

Due to some minor setbacks, the project could not be completed on time, Douglas said, adding that

the contractor last week checked the power supply and did some corrective works on the base of the three lifts.

The elevators are expected to significantly ease the burden of the 220 residents of the facility in climbing up and down the stairs. The elevators are being funded by the Government of Guyana at a cost

of approximately $13M. Douglas addressed concerns of whether or not the building is capable of taking on the elevators. “We had experts involved to advise us, so we are not worried about how old the building is. As much as the building is old, it is made of good greenheart wood; quality materials, some of which are no longer available on

Palms Administrator Samantha Douglas

the market today. So as much as it has aged, it is still sturdy,” said Douglas.

The administrator had previously told the Chronicle: “We always look for initiatives to help improve the lives of the residents and since it is very difficult for them, the lifts would be very helpful.”

The Palms has 74 caregivers and one registered

nurse, Ms. Malena Elias Cox DeSouza. “We have about 220 residents, but we have the capacity to facilitate 240,” the administrator said, adding, “We need registered nurses and ward sisters who would be able to supervise and help the caregivers, so that a better service can be given. Supervision is very important.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

M&CC appeals Justice Persaud’s ruling – on Bel Air Park Playground THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has filed an appeal against Justice Gino Persaud’s recent ruling on the controversial Bel Air Park Playground.

The ruling at reference has blocked the municipality from selling or leasing the reserved community lands to a private developer.

Furthermore, all 30 City

Councillors were served with a ‘Cease and desist’ court order, threatening fines and imprisonment if they refuse to desist from using the playground for anything other than for community purposes.

“The Orders granted sought to affect the Council’s ability to deal with the land whilst simultaneously imposing a burden on the Council to maintain the land for the benefit of the applicant (Devindra Kissoon) and others,” the M&CC says in its appeal against the ruling.

According to the document, “The Council has been advised by its Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Yearwood,

and verily believes that the application made and the orders granted infringe the Council’s right under Article 142 (1) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to protection from deprivation of property.”

The application was filed

by Bel Air Park resident and founding partner of London House Chambers, Devindra Kissoon, and the High Court has since restrained City

Councillors from “using, leasing, transferring, assigning, conveying, licensing, selling, encumbering, dealing or permitting the use of the property for the purpose of building residential homes or otherwise, other than for community purposes.”

As Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran had told the Chronicle following the issuance of the order: “We’re Turn to page 15 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

M&CC appeals Justice... all going to jail if we do not desist. “I’m not going to jail for the Council or for the Town Clerk.

“While I’m committed to serving the citizens of Georgetown, I have to draw the line at the thought of

imprisonment.

I like being the Deputy Mayor, but I’m too old to do time for things I know nothing about.”

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen has since noted that nothing the M&CC did re-

From page 14

lating to the playground was ever shrouded in secrecy.

She reminded councillors that it was the Investment and Development Committee that had brought this matter to the Council.

The Council, she re-

called, subsequently granted its approval, subject to greenlight from the Central Housing and Planning Authority, among other agencies.

Town Clerk Royston King had similarly commented that the Council had agreed in principle that the Bel Air Park land be

reviewed and repossessed.

Councillor Alfred Mentore had said that as the constituency representative, he should have been informed about the works that the City Council is currently undertaking. He said that in this way, he could have been in a position to “appease” all those residents

who have been contacting him, thinking that the works were being done by a private developer.

Mentore reasoned that even though King may have had good intentions, the manner in which he went about it can backfire and do the City Council more harm than good.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Chinese business couple beaten, robbed

SIX armed bandits robbed a business couple at their home at Garden of Eden,

East Bank Demerara on Monday night.

The bandits escaped with

the couple’s Toyota vehicle BSS 5412, jewellery and valuables. Reports indicate that the

robbers also stole a quantity of undisclosed sum of cash, fish glue, and a quantity of gold and silver.

Enquiries reveal that the six armed bandits entered the two-storey concrete home at the southern access door on the lower flat. The men

barged in and held the couple at gunpoint demanding cash and jewellery. The bandits then began to beat the couple in their heads while ransacking the home. After the men grabbed all the valuables, they seized the couple’s vehicle which they used to flee the

scene. No shots were fired.

The victims were escorted to the East Demerara Regional Hospital for medical attention where they were treated and sent away. The robbery was reported to the Police Station as investigations continue.

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King leaves City Hall in the dark ...clears construction of two-storey structure at Stabroek Bazaar

The Markets and Public Health Committee is unaware of the construction work ongoing in the Stabroek Market Bazaar

WHILE Town Clerk Royston King has granted permission for a vendor to construct a two-storey building in the Stabroek Market Bazaar, the Markets and Public Health Committee has said it knows nothing about the project.

Clerk of Markets, Sherlock Lovell told Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that he was not authorised to give any information, and directed this newspaper to the Public Relations Officer, Debra Lewis.

Lewis confirmed that the vendor was granted permission by the Town Clerk and the Clerk of Markets, but noted that there was nothing illegal about the building work. The vendor, she said, requested permission through the Clerk of Markets to do the construction.

According to Lewis, Lovell was acting in harmony with his functions as the Clerk of Markets and hence the matter did not need to go before the full council. “He carried out his administrative function,” she said.

As for those other vendors who also shared the location that is currently under construction, Lewis said that Lovell will have to work out where they will be placed.

Chairman of the Markets Committee and Deputy Mayor, Lionel Jaikarran said he was “appalled” at hearing about the construction. He declined to offer any comments because he said he did not have a chance to visit the location.

Councillor Bishram Kuppen, who is a member of the Markets Committee, told the Chronicle that this construction project never went to the committee for approval. “This is a case where the Town Clerk is again doing his own thing,”

Kuppen offered, adding that had the committee members been aware, they would have visited the site to conduct inspections.

Kuppen said that although the City Council had spoken about extending the market while it was exploring several options, nothing final was ever decided.

Former Councillor Ian Andrews, who is now President of the Guyana Market Vendors’ Union, told the Chronicle that he was concerned that the construction will affect the Stabroek Market negatively. “It destroys the aesthetics of the market and it will definitely obliterate any lighting that normally gets into the market.

“I am certain, and I say this without any fear of contradiction, that neither the Markets Committee; neither the Deputy Mayor knows anything about this. I am certain that this Town Clerk is again doing his own thing,” said Andrews.

He added: “You can see there’s casting at the bottom; the steel that’s there indicates there are concrete poles going up. And look at the height of that thing; that’s a two-storey concrete structure. And they are working round the clock since last Saturday, night and day to get this thing done. It is a very large concrete structure that is going to be built there and it’s by a private person. I am concerned that many things are happening outside of the committees that govern these things. I am sure that this did not go to full council.”

The vendor is reportedly doing the construction at his own expense. “We couldn’t move a stone without permission. We went through the process and permission was granted by the City Council,” one man on site told this newspaper.

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Guyana signs three MoUs with India THREE Memoranda of Understanding were signed between the Governments of Guyana and India in the area of renewable energy, for a cultural exchange programme and a Framework Agreement on International Solar Alliance (ISA).

The Guyanese delegation led by Second Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge also presented the Instrument of Ratification of the International Solar Alliance.

The group, which also includes Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Audrey Jardine-Waddell, is presently in New Delhi, India for the Guyana/India Joint Commission and Inter-Ministerial Consultation.

During Minister Greenidge’s meeting with the External Affairs Minister of India, discussions were centred on the further strengthening of bilateral re-

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Carl Greenidge and External Affairs Minister of India Hon. Sushma Swaraj

lations through cooperation in capacity-building, promotion of business and trade, enhancement of people to people contact, and cooperation on pharmaceuticals.

The sharing of India’s experience in Information Technology with the set-

ting up of IT Centres of Excellence in Georgetown were highlighted as well.

Views were also exchanged on regional and multilateral issues such as climate change, solar alliance and United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms.

The delegation is also expected to have discussions with the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas for further strengthening of trade between the two countries. Meetings will be concluded on February 2, 2018. (DPI)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Countrywide valuation of properties after two decades – government engages Canadian institution THE Ministry of Finance is providing technical assistance and expertise to the country’s valuation office to effect a mass valuation of properties countrywide, before the end of this year’s first quarter.

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, made the disclosure to the Guyana Chronicle during an interview at his Kingston office recently. The purpose is to essentially assist the municipalities to garner more finances so as to allow a ‘weaning’ of them off the government support. “Not only have I been pursuing a very vigorous agenda to ensure that the legislative authority and autonomy is respected, but very critically, that their (municipalities) financial independence is addressed,” Bulkan said.

This is the reason efforts have been made to seek Cabinet’s approval for the reform of the valuation system, “which would re-value properties to be able to provide realistic values which have not been done for over two decades; which will `wean’ them off of central

government’s subventions and allow them to exercise greater autonomy,” the minister added.

“This must not be seen as an exercise in taxation but merely to provide accurate property values to councils countrywide, for the use and determination of individual councils as to what rates they would want to effect. That will be a determination that will be made individually and independently by the respective councils,” Bulkan informed.

The valuation exercise will require at least 12 to 18 months and the government is seeking to engage a Canadian institution, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), which does property evaluations for the state of Ontario and other jurisdictions in Canada and internationally.

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has often said that the re-evaluation of properties in Georgetown will significantly aid the cashstrapped municipality in providing key services to the city.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

The rise of Generation Gaza: The ‘Vybz Kartelerisation’ of impressionable minds

By Ronald Austin Jr ON a cool day in Jamaica on December 8th, 2009, important men of state with fancy suits, shiny suits, bodyguards and all other attributes that go along with the pomp of state, stringently walked into Jamaica House.

The setting could have easily made the impression of a high-level heads of government meeting with much consequence, but it was hardly close to that kind of engagement. The Jamaican Minister with Responsibility for Information, Daryl Vaz, then Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, Security Minister Dwight Nelson and representatives from the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport converged at Jamaica House for a Peace Conference between Adija Palmer, popular known as Vybz Kartel and David Brooks, alias, Movado.

This meeting was a matter of national security, following the rise of violence from the Gaza-Gully musical war which spawned numerous

youth gangs made up of fans from these two dancehall artistes. In the midst of this discussion and pleas for peace, it dawned upon all and sundry that Adidja Azim Palmer was clearly the more influential of these two Caribbean singers.

This tattooed, former student of Calabar High and father of little Vybz and little Addi, by virtue of his talent, galvanised the cultural sphere and captured the hopes, despair, ambitions and anti-establishment sentiments of the downtrodden youth, producing an entire generation that embraces the concept of ‘Gaza’. This column will seek to briefly discuss the cultural influence of Vzby Kartel and the rise of Generation Gaza.

Born the 7th of January, 1976, in Kingston, Jamaica, Adidja Palmer attended Calabar High, he was expelled at the age of 16. After his expulsion, he enrolled in the Tutorial Technical School where it has been documented that he performed admirably in subjects such as Mathematics, Geography, Literature and English. Always obsessed with

music, “De Teacha” started writing music at the impressionable age of 11 and his first single, ‘Love fat woman’ was released at age 17. A relatively ostracised genre during the early 1990s, dancehall had no clue at that time that it was about to welcome its most prolific artiste. The name Vbyz Kartel originated with a group that was made up of Adidja and two other friends, at that time, they were known as ‘Vibes Cartel’. This name was rooted in the idea of a musical cartel that controls the genre.

This group was eventually separated and Adidja Palmer kept the name and the rest is dancehall history. A series of hits followed a colourful and controversial career: ‘Gun Like Mine’ ‘Bad man’ ‘most high’, ‘War organiser’, ‘Romping Shop’ and ‘Clarks again’. The consolidation of the cultural dominance of Kartel began when he made known the concept of ‘Gaza’ in his hit single, ‘Gaza Commandments’ in 2009, during the apogee of the Gaza-Gully war: ‘Pon de Gaza, me seh life

over death Gaza, Ganja, no Coke we nuh tek’-Gaza Commandments A cursory glance at Vybz Kartel or a casual eavesdrop of his music is almost certain to evoke disdain from the middle class or religious-oriented. Some songs represent a cacophonic tutorial on how to commit violence and exact revenge on enemies. Macabre and gory lyrics promote misogyny, licentious posturings, lewd behaviour, violent conduct, anti-establishment sentiments and wanton disregard for rules. It appears to be a complete descent into madness to those who are disinclined to this genre. However, some academic attention would reveal that there is some method to the madness. The Gaza Strip or Gaza is the small self-governing territory of the Palestinians considered by some to be under the occupation of Israel, thousands of miles away from the Caribbean in the Middle East. Life in Gaza can be short and violent. Adidja Palmer decided to use the Gaza moniker as a metaphor to highlight the

plight of depressed communities and their occupants.

A sense of nihilism, lack of regard for authority, suffering, violence, robust chauvinism and justification for criminal behaviour are all captured in the concept of ‘Gaza’. The use of this metaphor to drive his music resulted in an immediate gravitation to the concept by those who are so culturally inclined. ‘Gaza’ can be seen written on anywhere possible in depressed communities in the Caribbean. ‘Gaza’ has infected the culture and people, especially, youths from these communities who feel a sense of belonging to the ‘Gaza’ generation. It has given some a sense of identity and has practically moored their existence. ‘Gaza’ is almost akin to a nation within a nation, where adherents view themselves as owing allegiance not to flag or country but to the ‘Gaza boss’, Vybz Kartel. Insofar as music shapes culture and guides the value system of a generation, Vybz Kartel with the concept of ‘Gaza’ has achieved this.

On the fringes of society and marginalised, the ‘Gaza Generation’ led by the ‘Gaza boss’ wakes up every morning with a sense of identity of belonging to a virtual community carried in the music of Vybz Kartel. This virtual value system glorifies violence, marijuana usage, resents authority, objectifies women as instruments for sexual pleasures and justifies criminal behaviour on the basis that society has been unjust to them and in Robin Hoodesque fashion, robbing is their only recourse to exact revenge. This is not an anti-Kartel column, do not reduce this brief discourse to that.

Vybz Kartel has produced

many positive songs, but his general thrust remains the values or lack thereof highlighted above. Further, Adidja Palmer is not the first to be the musical leader of rebellious behavior; many past and present have been exemplars of this; Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Elvis Castello, Fela Kuti, Sinead O’Conor, Kurt Cobain, Public Enemy, Marilyn Manson, Madonna, Tupac Shakur. It can also be argued that culture guides music cognition and people tune in to music based on their preferences and emotional recognition. Hence, Vybz Kartel is essentially the vehicle which carries the wishes of certain marginalised communities. Every generation produces a musician that impacts culture and guides the general ethos of their followers. It is nothing new. The place of Vbyz Kartel in Caribbean culture cannot be ignored and is worthy of much ink for the sake of analysis. His mastery of organisation, the creation of ‘Portmore Empire’ and his sheer on-stage bravado and talent best exemplified in his performance at Sting 2008, certainly signalled that his influence would be accentuated.

In April 2014, five years after the ‘Gaza-Gully Peace Conference’, Mr. Adidja Palmer was sentenced to life in prison for the 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. This did not stop his influence. After three years in prison, he still remains the main focal point of dancehall music. The ‘Gaza’ generation is still hopeful that one day their saviour will return and this has now become a real possibility with an appeal set to begin on February 19th, 2018.

Gov’t appeals court rulings on Seafield lands THE Office of the Attorney-General and the Management of the MMA/ADA have filed appeals against two recent rulings of Chief Justice Roxane George in relation to lands aback No 40 and Seafield Villages, on the West Coast Berbice.

In the face of legal challenges, the CJ had upheld the legality of leases given by President Donald Ramotar in 2014 and 2015 to several farmers in West Coast Berbice. The CJ had done so after the Mahaica/Mahaicony/ Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ ADA) had cancelled these

State land leases of 2014.

Then when in 2016, President David Granger revoked these leases, she subsequently ruled that the President’s revocation of these leases had been unlawful.

In her ruling, the CJ had stated that those farmers’ leases granted by President Donald Ramotar constituted property under Article 142 of the Constitution, and that President Granger’s revocation of those leases amounted to depriving the applicants of property without compensating them, as noted in Article 142 of the Constitution.

The CJ had then grant-

ed the 2014 leaseholders a conservatory order which prohibited the MMM-ADA, its officers, or any other State official from entering upon, remaining, occupying or interfering with the Applicant’s quiet and peaceful possession, occupation and enjoyment of lease of State land for agriculture purpose as issued under the relevant laws.

The appeals by the AG and the MMA/ADA against these two rulings state that the relief sought from the Court of Appeal is that the CJ’s decisions in both cases be wholly set aside, reversed

and/or discharged, and that the Appellants be awarded costs “in this court and the Court below”.

Meanwhile, officials of the Seafield Co-operative Land Society and No. 40 Farmers Co-operative Society who are supporting the appeals are hoping for a speedy and successful hearing, since they feel that an injustice was done them by President Donald Ramotar when, in 2014 and 2015, he gave out leases to their lands to persons who were not members of the Societies.

Mr Patrick Hamilton, of the No. 40 Farmers Co-op-

erative Society, said that the lands handed out by President Ramotar in the 2014 leases had been occupied by the two registered Co-operative Societies for over three decades.

These Co-operative Societies remained registered and developed, and maintained and paid for these lands through the decades up to the time in 2014 when they were arbitrarily seized from them by the Ramotar Administration and given out to other individuals in the form of 50-year leases.

“The 2014 actions of Mr Ramotar’s administration,”

Hamilton said, “have resulted in deep social acrimony amongst villagers, numerous police interventions, enormous legal costs and a legacy of discord in our villages.”

He is of the view that President Granger’s revocation of the leases which were unfairly granted by the PPP/C Administration was justified, and that that Administration could have easily given his fellow villagers other lands without causing the conflicts that are ongoing as a result of the arbitrary seizure and reallocation of the Co-op lands.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Guyana moves up rule-of-law ranking GUYANA has moved up three places in ranking on the Rule of Law Index to 73 of 113 countries.

This is according to a release from the World Justice Project (WJP) which this week released the 20172018 WJP Rule of Law Index which measures rule of law adherence in 113 countries worldwide based on more than 110,000 household and 3,000 expert surveys.

Guyana climbed three positions for overall rule of law performance, from 76 in the 2016 to number 73 out of 113 countries for the 20172018 edition of the index.

Featuring primary data, the WJP Rule of Law Index measures countries’ rule of law performance across eight factors. These include constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice.

Guyana ranks at number 20 out of 30 countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region, and came

in at 25 out of 36 among upper-middle income countries.

“Significant trends included an improvement in criminal justice,” the WJP noted.

The top three overall performers in the 20172018 WJP Rule of Law Index were Denmark, followed

by Norway and Finland.

Those nations which ranked at the bottom of the rating were Afghanistan (111), Cambodia (112), and Venezuela (113).

Globally, a majority of countries saw their scores decline since the publication of the last index in October 2016 in several areas, including human rights, checks on government powers, and civil and criminal justice.

Regionally, Latin America and the Caribbean’s top performer in the Index is Uruguay, ranked 22 out of 113 countries, followed by Costa Rica and Chile.

The WJP said Suriname showed the biggest fall in rankings, moving down 10 places to 69 of the global index. Three countries in the region experienced negative

Neukom, WJP founder and CEO. “No country has achieved a perfect realisation of the rule of law.

The WJP Rule of Law Index is intended to be a

first step in setting benchmarks, informing reforms, stimulating programs, and deepening appreciation and understanding for the foundational importance of the rule of law,” he said.

Taxi hijacked, driver beaten in Zeelugt

factor trends in constraints on government powers, while three countries showed positive factor trends in open government. Significantly, the WJP said Venezuela once again had the lowest overall rule-of-law score among all 113 indexed countries.

The WJP Rule of Law Index is the world’s leading source for original data on the rule of law.

The Index relies on more than 110,000 household and 3,000 expert surveys to mea-

sure how the rule of law is experienced and perceived in practical, everyday situations by the general public worldwide.

Performance is measured using 44 indicators across eight primary, rules of law factors, each of which is scored and ranked globally and against regional and income peers.

“Effective rule of law is the foundation for communities of equity, opportunity, and peace,” said William H.

THE car of a 48-year-old taxi driver was hijacked on Monday night by two robbers, one armed with a handgun, at Zeelugt New Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

The driver, who is also from Zeelugt, operates his Toyota Premio PSS 9929 as a taxi and is attached to a taxi service in the said community. He was reportedly approached by the two individuals who hired him to take them further into the same village.

Reports indicate that while heading into the Zeelugt New Scheme, one of the passengers in the rear seat placed a gun to the

back of the taxi driver’s head and ordered that he stop and exit the car.

The driver who exited the vehicle with his keys was then ordered to hand them over. He complied after the gunman pointed the weapon in his direction.

The gunman then jumped into the driver’s seat and with his accomplice they sped off making good their escape.

Relatives said that the taxi driver was beaten senselessly by the bandits before he handed over the car keys. A report was made to the Police Station and an investigation is ongoing.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 - 05:00 hrs Thursday, February 1, 2018 - 05:00 hrs Friday, February 1, 2018 - 05:00 hrs

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American Racing Tips

11:10 hrs Knocknamona

Gulfstream Park

11:45 hrs Hills Of Dubai

Race 1 Mahvelous Kitten

12:20 hrs Sao Maxence

Race 2 Nayset Beach Race 3 Gemstone Linda

Chemsford City

Race 4 Army Mule

09:25 hrs My Amigo

Race 5 Brag Dude

09:55 hrs Unit Of Assessment

Race 6 Mr Kisses Race 7 Fallen Leaf Race 8 Buni Sun

10:25 hrs Harvest Day 11:00 hrs Nurse Nightingale 11:35 hrs Danzan

English Racing Tips

12:10 hrs Jorvik Prince

Ayr 09:35 hrs Ardean Lass

Newcastle

10:05 hrs Uncle Alastair

12:05 hrs Desert Ruler

10:35 hrs Cockley Beck

12:40 hrs Vale Of Kent 13:15 hrs Furni Factors 13:45 hrs Hard Graft 14:15 hrs Fast Act 14:45 hrs Poppy In The Wind

Irish Racing Tips Down Royal 09:05 hrs Goose Man 09:40 hrs Benarty Hill 10:10 hrs Mister First 10:45 hrs Celtic Rising 11:20 hrs Guided By You 11:50 hrs Our Valentina 12:25 hrs Harrie

South Africa Racing Tips Scottsville 08:20 hrs Hondo 08:55 hrs Dunzie 09:30 hrs Sapphire Petunia 10:05 hrs Ataturk 10:40 hrs Royal Agree

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ICC Under-19 World Cup

Gill’s ton helps India wallop Pakistan to set up final with Australia CHRISTCHURCH: India reaffirmed their supremacy in age-group cricket as they walloped arch-rivals Pakistan by an incredible 203 runs to make it to their sixth ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup final in Christchurch yesterday.

This is India’s biggest win against Pakistan at the age group level as the gulf in standard was way too visible.

India have won the tournament in 2000 (under Mohammed Kaif), 2008 (Virat Kohli), 2012 (Unmukt Chand) while losing two finals in 2006 (Cheteshwar Pujara) and 2016 (Ishan Kishan).

The immensely talented Shubman Gill hit a classy unbeaten 102 off 94 balls to guide India to 272 for 9 after winning the toss and then seamer Ishan Porel (4-17 in 6 overs) scythed through the Pakistan top-order with a terrific opening spell to help bowl them out for a mere 69 in 29.3 overs.

“It was an outstanding performance from the bowlers as well as the batsmen. I am very satisfied with the performance. I am expecting an exciting contest against Australia in the final. I would also like to thank the crowd for their support,” skipper Prithvi Shaw said after the match.

The concerns whether

multi crore IPL deals will be a distraction proved to be unfounded as ‘Boys in Blue’ followed their guru Rahul Dravid’s instructions to the ‘T’ -- that (being in) World Cup semifinals is a once-ina-lifetime opportunity while auctions happen every year.

Shubman Gill en route to a classy ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup century against Pakistan, at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch yesterday, (AFP)

Dravid’s boys will now take on Australia in the summit clash on February 3 in what will be a repeat of the 2012 edition which India won in Australia.

Under Rahul Dravid, India have now reached backto-back U-19 World Cup finals. India outclassed their bitter rivals as it turned out to be a no-contest in the end.

Batting first, openers Prithvi Shaw (41 from 42

Berbice selectors name Under-15 team for GCB Inter-County tourney THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has announced that after three weeks of intense training and assessment, a formidable squad has been selected to represent the county at the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board’s Inter-County Under-15 competition set to bowl off on February 6, 2018.

The team will comprise mainly of newcomers to the Inter-County scene, but who are capable of making their mark in this their maiden tournament.

The selectors have, over the past three weeks, been identifying the talent of the players, and from an initial group of 32 players, a shortlist of 24 was made. The players were then engaged in three trial matches, after which the final selection was done.

The Berbice Under-14 team reads: Vetto-

balls) and Manjot Kalra (47 from 70 balls) again laid the foundation with 89-run opening stand during which the skipper was the aggressor and Kalra the anchor.

But both were out in quick succession after which Gill took over to flay the Pa-

ri Latchman, Rampertab Ramnauth, Mahendra Gopilall, Tomani Caesar, Zeynol Ramsammy, Antoine Alexander, Jonathon Rampersaud, Darius Joseph, Jeremy Sandia, Isaiah Thorne, Latchman Dhanna, Matthew Pottaya, Pavanand Ganesh and Boodram Lakeraj.

The standbys are: Hemendra Goordial, Vikash Singh, Tameshwar Mahadeo, Saffie Shazad, Shreedat Roopnarine and Rudra Goberdhan.

Chairman of Selectors, Mr Leslie Solomon, has announced that the players have been showing a tremendous amount of commitment and progress during their sessions. He is optimistic that with such talent and determination the lads will once again win the title.

kistani bowling attack with stylish strokeplay.

With the pitch on the slower side, Shubman Gill got enough time to play the pull shot both in front and square of the wicket off pacers Arshad Iqbal, Shaheen Afridi and Musa Khan. There were flowing on-drives, the cheeky ramp shot as he worked on the extra bounce. He also played a slog sweep off left-arm

spinner Mohammed Taha.

GILL’s SPECIAL KNOCK “I rate this innings very highly as it was against Pakistan. The pitch was on the slower side and it was not easy for strokeplay. I am happy to have got the Manof-the-Match award,” Gill said after the match.

Having bagged a Rs 1.8 crore deal from Kolkata Knight Riders, Gill was asked about his preferred format.

“I would like to play all three formats as adaptability is the key,” said the player from Firozpur in Punjab.

While defending the total, it was a walk in the park for the Indians as the Pakistanis once again found Shivam Mavi (4-3-6-0) and Kamlesh Nagarkoti’s (5-17-0) pace too hot to handle.

The pressure created by them enabled Porel to get four quick wickets with skipper Shaw taking a couple of brilliant catches at gully.

Once Pakistan were 28 for 4, the Indian slow bowlers came into the act with left-arm spinner Shiva Singh (2/20 in 8 overs) and off-break bowler Riyan Das (2/6 in 4 overs) blowing away the opposition lower order to win the match in no time. (Press Trust of India)

Albert wins Prabhudial Memorial Golf tourney ROOKIE golf player Rohan Albert showed that the lessons he got from his father, former Guyana Open champion Mike Mangal, paid off, as he defeated a field of 40 golfers in the Vish Trading-sponsored Prabhudial Memorial tournament which was held at the Lusignan Golf Course (LGC) on Saturday.

Playing on an upgraded course, Albert returned a gross 68 with a net 28, beating David Harry (70/15), Aasrad Shaw (70/18), Fazil Haniff (71/14) and Aleem Hussain (71/15) into second, third, fourth and fifth spots respectively.

According to reports, the tournament saw some keen competition, as both second and third places had to be decided on a back nine count and the fourth place had to be decided on a three-time count back (last nine holes

tied, last six holes tied, last three holes different) in order to determine the fourth place finisher.

The Longest Drive (280 yards) was won by Satrohan Tiwari; Pope Haniff won the Best Gross (79) and William Walker won the Nearest to the Pin. The Most Honest Player award went to Mario Acuna.

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the tournament sponsor was the club’s immediate past vice-president Brian Hackett, who expressed Vish Trading’s commitment to the Lusignan Golf Club. In fact, Vish Trading which is located at Area `D’ Le Resovenir, East Coast Demerara, has donated four golf carts to the club as part of their contribution.

General Manager of Vish Trading, Vishau Ramdial, was on hand to assist with the presentation of prizes to the respective winners.

Fruta Conquerors sign ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson GREGORY ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson was yesterday announced as Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League club Fruta Conquerors’ latest signing, as the Tucville-based club continues to beef-up its squad for the second half of the season.

Conquerors finished behind champions Guyana Defence Force (GDF) last season, and had vowed to make the necessary changes needed to not only compete with the ‘Army’, but to stake their claim as the best club in Guyana.

Richardson, touted as one of the most talented players of his generation, had taken the Elite League by storm in its inaugural season while playing for his foundation club, Pele FC. Bailout However, after Pele, along with Alpha United, Slingerz FC and the Georgetown Football Club (GFC), had pulled out of the Elite League in protest of the GFF’s expansion from eight to ten teams, calling the move “unconstitutional”, the

club (Pele) found itself back at the ‘association’ level, playing under the Georgetown Football Association (GFA).

F r u t a C o n q u e ro r s , headed by Guyanese-born Canadian football star Alex Bunbury, had made several notable signings this season, also adding National player Anthony Benfield, and Golden Jaguars National keeper Akel Clarke to their line-up.

Richardson, 35, is the first Guyanese-born player to be signed and featured in the USA’s Major League Soccer (MLS), following his move to the Colorado Rapids in 2009.

The forward, who sits behind Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington (18) as the country’s second highest goalscorer on the international stage, (15) is well known for his ability to get goals and at Fruta Conquerors it will be expected of him to live up to his billing, even though he’s one step off the player he used to be.

English clubs the big spenders in record transfer year - FIFA report

MADRID (Reuters) - Football clubs across the world splashed out a record $6.37 billion on players during 2017 with English teams again the biggest spenders, FIFA’s Global Transfer Market Report said.

The total paid out was about 33 percent more than in 2016 as English clubs led the way with a net spend of $988 million on squad improvement.

Deals such as Romelu Lukaku’s 75 million-pound move from Everton to Manchester United and Alvaro Morata’s 60 million-pound switch from Real Madrid to Chelsea put English teams at the top of the list.

But those individual deals were eclipsed by Brazilian forward Neymar’s move from Barcelona to Paris St Germain in a world-record transfer worth 222 million euros (£195.4 million).

The fee was over double the previous record which took France midfielder Paul Pogba to Manchester United from Juventus for $126 million (£89.5 million). “ S p e n d i n g g ro w t h is driven by a relatively small group of clubs,” the

report said, with over twothirds of the total amount spent by 50 clubs in 13 different countries.

The average transfer fee for a player in the top 50 most-expensive moves was $48.4 million, up from $35.2 million in 2016. The report shows that only 15.8 percent of transfers involved fees being paid from one club to another.

Fees paid to agents also increased significantly.

English clubs forked out a reported $125.7 million on intermediary payments and $447 million was handed over worldwide – up from $387 million in 2016.

Brazil was the country most involved in international transfers with 1,755 of their players switching teams in 2017.

Two hundred and fifty four Brazilian clubs conducted international transfer deals with Germany (143), England (132), Argentina (111) and Spain (98) making up the top five.

Spanish clubs received the most money in transfer fees ($840.4 million), but Portuguese ones posted the highest net receipts of $707.5 million.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Melbourne to host World T20 finals MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host the final of both the men’s and women’s World Twenty20 when the tournaments come to Australia in 2020, organisers announced yesterday.

The women’s tournament, made up of 10 teams, will be held from February 21 to March 8 before 16 men’s teams play from October 18 to November 15. It will mark the first time the tournaments are held as standalone events in the same year in the same country.

The women’s final will coincide with International Women’s Day, with the world governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), hoping for a record attendance at a women’s sporting event.

The largest crowd to attend a women’s sporting event was 90 185 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the 1999 Women’s World Cup soccer final between the United States and China.

“It’s very exciting to think about ... to potentially play in front of over 90 000 people,” Australia Women captain Meg Lanning told

reporters.

“I think it just shows where the women’s game is at. It’s always evolving and it’s exciting to see where it is in 2020.”

semi-finals will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Hobart and Geelong will host six pool stage matches in the men’s tournament before the country’s six main

Australia’s men have made just one previous final, in 2010 in the West Indies, but were knocked out in the second round of the last two tournaments.

Iconic MCG to host World T20 finals.

The ICC and Cricket Australia unveiled the venues for both tournaments yesterday, with women’s pool matches to be played at several smaller venues in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra.

Both of the women’s

cricket venues, including the new Perth Stadium, host matches.

The men’s semi-finals will be in Sydney and Adelaide before the final in Melbourne, where Steve Smith’s side will be looking to end a poor run in global tournaments for the shortest form of the game.

“When T20 cricket started, it was just a smashand-grab sort of game.”

Smith said. ”The game has changed so much and the strategy behind the game is really important.

“Hopefully we can get that trophy that’s eluded us for so long.”

RHT&SC congratulates quartet on Berbice Under-15 selection THE Management and members of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) MS with great pride would like to congratulate our four members who were selected on the Berbice Under-15 team for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-county Under-15 Championship.

velopment programme and massive investment into the development of each one of our members.

Since our formation in 1990, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club has produced a total of 105 cricketers for Berbice at all levels. We produced our first Berbice Cricketers in 1995 when Neil

Campbelle, Shawn Pereira, Eon Hooper and Kevlon Anderson have made us very proud and we are totally confident that Jonathon Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Jeremy Sandian and Matthew Pottaya would continue this rich tradition of success.

There has been no magic

The four RHTY&SC players - Jeremy Sandian, Matthew Pottaya, Mahendra Gopilall and Jonathon Rampersaud

The RHTY&SC are delighted that the hard work of Jonathon Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Jeremy Sandian and Matthew Pottaya have been rewarded.

The four players are the products of our Cricket De-

Williams and Ingram Dey played for Berbice Under-19 Team.

Over the years, players like Assad and Abdel Fudadin, Royston and Esuan Crandon, Shawn Grant, Clinton Pestano, Shemaine

trick to our success but each one of our members is taught that success is only achieved through sheer hard work, dedication, faith in the God you believe in, personal discipline and a desire to be the best.

“We would like to en-

courage them to perform to the best of their ability, so that they can be considered for selection to the Guyana Under-15 Team. Special wishes to the management and other members of the Berbice team and it is our hope that you would return home with the Championship.

The Management of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would like to also express gratitude to the official sponsor of our Under-15 Team Farfan & Mendes Ltd for the major role they have played in nurturing the four players.

The company’s investment has allowed all our Under-15 to play the game of cricket without worrying about the expenses. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would like to acknowledge the contribution of the four cricketers’ parents who attend matches on a regular basis to support their sons and the tireless efforts of our cricket manager Ravindranauth Kissoonlall.

The management of the club would like to reassure all of our members that we would continue to work beyond the call of duty to make sure that they fulfil their full potential on and off the cricket field.

National volleyball coach Levi Nedd re-elected president of BVA FORMER national volleyball captain and current national coach of the Guyana Volleyball Federation, Levi Nedd, was on Sunday re-elected president of the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) when that body held its Annual General Meeting (AGM), at the Port Mourant Training Centre, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice.

Levi Nedd will head the BVA again.

Nedd, who served as president of the association during the years 2016 and 2017, was unanimously re-elected to the post.

During his tenure as president, Nedd raised the standard of volleyball to new heights. Female and Juniors from the Ancient County participated at several overseas tournaments.

The association’s affiliates voted in a new vice-president in Albert Budhoo.

Errol Chase was elected Organising Secretary, while Amanda Mohan is the Recording Secretary.

Rashaad Razak was returned as Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer and Samuel Whyte is the Public Relations Officer.

Five Committee Officers were also elected and they are: Richard Samaroo, Jared Jhingoree, Govind Singh, Candacy Mentore and Telissa Williams.

Former BVA president, Gregory Rambarran was the Returning Officer.

Immediately following the AGM, the executive committee met and formalised the association’s 2018 plans which will see the association placing emphasis on Youth and Female development.

Smith expects pace barrage in South Africa Tests

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Australia captain Steve Smith expects his touring batsmen to be given a thorough test of their credentials when they face South Africa’s formidable attack on pace-friendly pitches in a four-Test series beginning in March.

The Proteas flexed their pace muscles to beat world number one India 2-1 on lively home tracks this month, including a spiteful Johannesburg pitch, where several batsmen sustained nasty blows. The match came close to being called off.

“I’ve seen little bits and pieces (of the series against India),” Smith told reporters yesterday. ”I think it’s going to be a really exciting series. Two good pace attacks going at it. Batting’s going to be hard work.

“They’ve got some good bowlers and we’re going to have to show some good fight and good resilience out in the middle against their quicks, and (Keshav) Maharaj as well, who’s come a long way as a spinner.”

Spearhead Dale Steyn is nursing a heel injury and racing against time to be fit for the Durban opener, but the last two India Tests proved South Africa have a potent quartet in Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada and rookie

Lungi Ngidi.

Australia’s pace attack was equally impressive in the 4-0 Ashes triumph against England, also completed earlier this month, and Smith had no doubt that Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins would prove potent in South Africa.

Dale Steyn

“They could go a couple of different ways with their wickets,” he said. “For us, it’s just about adapting to whatever they throw at us. ”I guess the thing with Australia and South Africa is the conditions are probably the two most similar around the world.

“The wickets are generally pretty similar and the pace and bounce. From that aspect it’s (easier to adjust).”

After the first Test starting on March 1, the series moves on to further matches in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Archer signs new two-year deal with Hobart Hurricanes HOBART, Australia (CMC) – In-demand Barbadian all-rounder Jofra Archer has signed a new two-year deal with Hobart Hurricanes just days after landing a million-dollar Indian Premier League contract.

The 22-year-old has made a massive impact with the Hurricanes on and off the field in his first Big Bash League season, and Hobart wasted little time in tying him down to an extended deal, fending off interest from Perth Scorchers.

He has been one of the leading bowlers with 15 wickets and has also quickly become a huge fan favourite with his easy-going personality and brilliant out-fielding.

game against the Adelaide Strikers at Blundstone Arena that the Hurricanes came to my management and said they wanted to resign me,” Archer revealed.

Though he represented West Indies Under-19s, Archer never played for the Barbados senior side, and it was at English County Sussex where he made his name last season in his first full firstclass campaign.

And despite ending as the county’s leading bowler with 84 wickets and 764 runs across all three competitions, Archer said it was at Hobart where he had really discovered fan mania.

“It (recognition) means a lot. It’s a bit different from England – they support you

Barbadian fast bowler Jofra Archer

Archer, a late replacement for England fast bowler Tom Curran who was called up for the Ashes, said he was thrilled to be remaining in Hobart for the next two seasons.

“I’m very excited to be staying. I’ve grown to love Hobart – it’s a really nice place,” said Archer, who is yet to play international cricket.

“The home supporters really make you feel welcome and they back you, in especially that last over against the (Adelaide) Strikers. It was one of the best atmospheres I’ve bowled in.

“The Big Bash is a really great competition to play in and to learn.”

Though Archer impressed from the outset, it was his role in Hobart’s win over Strikers earlier this month which convinced the franchise to retain his services.

With Hobart defending 183, Archer produced a brilliant spell of three for 15 from his four overs. He also sent down a nerveless final over, picking up two wickets and conceding only five runs, with Strikers needing 13 for the win.

“I think it was after the

on the field but you don’t get recognised much off the field,” he said.

“Whereas here whenever you go down the street, everyone is saying ‘well bowled’ or ‘nice catch’, which is heart-warming really.”

Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins said there had been little hesitation over re-signing the budding Twenty20 star.

“About a month after we signed Tom, George (Bailey) (Hobart captain) messaged me and said we should have signed Jofra,” Cummins explained.

“Anyone you talk to in the UK was raving about Jofra.”

Archer, this week named in the Big Bash team-ofthe-tournament, will line up tomorrow with Hobart in their semi-final against Perth Scorchers.

Following the Big Bash, Archer will have a stint for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League starting February 22, as a replacement for West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite.

He will then turn out for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL which bowls off April 7.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

probe into Nassar Ramdin still available Olympic scandal to start soon for Windies selection BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Discarded West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin says he is still available for selection to the international side but has no plans on burdening himself with the pressure of a recall.

The 32-year-old has played 74 Tests and 139 One-Day Internationals but has not represented West Indies in 15 months, since he was axed from the one-day side.

However, Ramdin returned to first class cricket in the just concluded season, plundering 799 runs at an average of 61, including three hundreds and four half-centuries.

His form once again sparked debate over a possible recall but the Trinidadian said while he was always keen on playing for West Indies, he was happy to let his form speak for him.

“At the moment I’m enjoying life which is very important.

My thing is to go out there and enjoy my cricket and I think I’m doing that at the moment,” Ramdin said here Monday.

“I’m putting runs on the board and whatever happens

after that happens. I’m doing my part and hopefully whatever happens, (happens). If I do get a recall, if I don’t – so be it. I’m still enjoying life.”

He added: “If the opportunity comes I’ll take it, I’ll play.

If it doesn’t, whatever cricket is left I’ll play. I’ll keep enjoying it.”

region’s best gloveman, with 216 Test dismissals and 188 in one-dayers.

However, he was surprisingly dropped following on from a decent tour of Australia in 2015/16 where he stroked two half-centuries in his last four innings.

And even though recent

Former Test captain Denesh Ramdin is relaxed about the future.

Ramdin, a former Test skipper, boasts an underwhelming record with the bat in the longest format, with just 2 898 runs at an average of 25. He is still considered by many as the

selection policy has focussed on youth, Ramdin believes there is still a role for experienced players.

“If you look at other teams around the world, guys

that are 32 make their debut and they do well,” he pointed out.

“I think they gather that experience over the years of first class cricket. Between 30 to 35, those are some of the best years of some players’ career. Some people see it differently.

“At the end of the day as an individual, you want to go out there and perform.

Whichever team you are playing for and you’re performing well and you’re satisfied with your performances, the rest should take care of itself.”

Ramdin, who has skippered Red Force during the first class season and will lead them again in the Regional Super50 which bowled off Tuesday, said he would continue to focus on developing the inexperienced side.

“We have a young team and in the four-day we didn’t do too well but I’m glad we have some talent, and I can share (my) experience with the younger players and hopefully in five, six years to come they can change around things and do well for themselves and West Indies cricket.”

Drayton leading in Senior Chess Qualifier after three rounds THREE rounds of the National Senior Chess Qualifier were held at the weekend with reigning national champion Anthony Drayton leading the pack with an unblemished record.

Competing in the auditorium of the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, Drayton won all three of his matches to finish with a clean slate.

Drayton defeated David Khan in the opening round then got past Loris Nathoo and winner of the National Junior Qualifier a week ago, Joshua Gopaul, in the ensuing rounds.

Drayton, the highest FIDE-rated player in the tournament with 1 945 points in the Qualifier, sits on three points, heading into next weekend’s games.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday January 31, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & the City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Jack Burnham-420 runs (ENG) (2) Fritz Coetzee-15 wickets (NAM) Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the highest individual score in ICC Under

19 World Cup 2016?

(2) What were the best bowling figures?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

Candidate Master (CM) Anthony Drayton

Four players - former national champions Kristal Persaud and Taffin Khan and Roberto Neto and Glenford Corlette are locked in second spot on two and a half points, garnered from two wins and a draw each.

Seven players also have two points apiece, namely Gopaul, Aslam Hussain, Ronuel Greenidge, Maria Varona-Thomas, Davion

Mars, Nathoo and Rashad Hussain.

Nine other players have one point each and they are Saeed Anwar Ali, David Khan, Shazeeda Rahim, Calvin Giddings, Kadeem Scott, Frankie Farley, Errol Tiwari, Nyasha Ziswa and Uddhav Bagwandeen.

Clayton Naicker and Chino Chung languish at the bottom of the table, yet to score a point.

Larry Nassar, a former team USA Gymnastics doctor, returns from a break to listen to victim’s testimony in the courtroom during his sentencing hearing in Lansing, Michigan, U.S., (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File photo)

NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - U.S. Olympic officials said yesterday an independent investigation would soon begin into how USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee failed to stop former doctor Larry Nassar from abusing scores of young female athletes.

The scandal surrounding Nassar’s abuse, which began decades ago, has already forced major changes at the institutions where he worked as a team doctor.

The entire board of USA Gymnastics (USAG), the national governing body for the sport, resigned last week after the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) threatened to decertify it.

The president and athletic director at Michigan State University, where Nassar was also employed, stepped down as well.

USOC officials have come under fire from a number of Nassar’s victims, such as Olympic gold medallist Aly Raisman, for not adequately investigating repeated complaints about his abuse.

In a statement, the USOC said it had started interviewing candidates to lead the probe and expected to make a choice “in the coming days”.

“The investigation ... will include a complete and unencumbered review of USA Gymnastics, the USOC, and all individuals associated

with the organisations,” Susanne Lyons, an independent USOC board member overseeing the selection of the investigator, said in a statement. “The results of the independent investigation will be made public.”

The U.S. Congress said it would hold hearings on the case, sending letters of inquiry to USAG, the USOC and Michigan State, as well as USA Swimming a n d U S A Ta e k w o n d o , which have been accused of allegedly failing to address accusations of sexual misconduct against coaches and officials.

Nassar, 54, on Wednesday was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison, following a weeklong court hearing that saw more than 150 of his victims, including some of the sport’s biggest names, publicly describe his assaults.

On Friday, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, whose office prosecuted Nassar, named a special prosecutor to lead an ongoing investigation into Michigan State’s handling of the scandal.

The former doctor faces another sentencing on Wednesday in Michigan for a second set of abuse charges - part of a deal with prosecutors in which he pleaded guilty to crimes in two different counties.

He is already serving a 60year federal prison term for child pornography convictions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, January 31, 2018

CCC Marooners crush Volcanoes in SCOREBOARD Regional Super50 opener

CAVE HILL, Barbados (CMC) – Kjorn Ottley’s half-century and veteran Ryan Hinds’ three-wicket haul proved enough for Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners to start the Regional Super50 with a 115-run thrashing off Windward Islands Volcanoes here yesterday.

Sent in at 3Ws Oval in the curtain-raiser of the tournament, Marooners were dismissed for 228 in the penultimate over, with Ottley top-scoring with 60, opener Kyle Corbin getting 44 and Hinds chipping in with 27.

West Indies limited overs specialist Kesrick Williams claimed four for 70 with his right-arm seam while left-arm spinner Larry Edward picked up two for 35.

In reply, Volcanoes were turned over for a paltry 113 off 29.3 overs, with tail-ender Delorn Johnson leading with

28, Kyle Mayers 27 and Andre Fletcher 25.

Hinds led the Marooners’ attack with three for 22 to claim Man-of-the-Match honours while Yannick Ottley finished with two for six, with his left-arm spin.

Man-of-the-Match Ryan Hinds claimed three wickets to hurt the Volcanoes innings.

Marooners were handed a solid start when Kjorn Ottley and Corbin put on 94 for the first wicket.

The left-handed Ottley

faced 89 balls and struck four fours and two sixes while the right-handed Corbin produced a brisk 55-ball knock, which included two fours and three sixes.

When Corbin fell in the 18th over, Ottley combined with young brother Yannick (19), to keep the innings flowing.

However, both brothers fell in the space of three balls in successive overs with the score on 130, leaving Hinds and Vikash Mahon (20) to rally the innings in a 42-run, fourth-wicket stand.

The left-handed Hinds was busy in his 31-ball innings, striking four boundaries.

Left with a relatively straightforward run chase, Volcanoes lost West Indies batsman Johnson Charles to the second ball of the innings without a run on the board, and never recovered.

Hinds trapped him lbw

CWI put players in ridiculous situation - Pollard

WINDIES all-rounder Kieron Pollard has accused Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the selection panel of putting the players in a bad light following mixed, missed and overall poor communication.

Pollard was one of four players to opt out of representing the region in the World Cup qualifiers in March, the others being Sunil Narine, Darren Bravo and Andre Russell.

According to a release issued by CWI the players claimed the tournament clashed with their participation in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Pollard, however, insists the issue was more complex, as he was plagued by uncertainty surrounding his future listed as a major concern.

“Despite performing well in the 2016 tri-series, when I was handed a recall, where the team got to the final, for the next series in Dubai Denesh Ramdin and I were dropped, with selectors saying I showed no ‘commitment to batting’,” Pollard told Cricbuzz.”Now, after only playing two of the 11 West Indies ODI series since 2015 World Cup, suddenly after months of either zero or limited communication about my ODI future, you (selectors) want me to drop everything and

play qualifiers,” he added.

“These are the ridiculous situations they consistently put players in, then they go to media with the clear attempt to paint us as money-hungry mercenaries and (say that we are) not committed to West Indies cricket.”

West Indies duty.

“All I said was I can’t play Super50. This clearly ruled me out of being chosen for the qualifiers. But, two weeks later (there were) big headlines questioning our commitment,” added Pollard.

“He (Browne) didn’t say

and fast bowler Jermaine Levy also accounted for Devon Smith, also lbw without scoring in the following over, as Volcanoes limped to 14 for two.

Fletcher threatened briefly in a 18-ball knock which included five fours before he was bowled by Hinds, and three wickets then fell for one run in the space of 12 deliveries, leaving Volcanoes in turmoil at 58 for seven in the 17th over.

Barbadian Mayers and Johnson combined in the best stand of the innings, as they put on 34 for the eighth wicket.

The left-handed Mayers faced 46 balls and counted four fours while Johnson belted a couple of fours and a six in a lively 31-ball knock.

Once the stand was broken, the resistance ended as the innings folded quickly.

CCC MAROONERS innings K. Corbin c Edwards b Edward 44 K. Ottley c wkp. Fletcher b Shillingford 60 Y. Ottley stp. Fletcher b Edward 19 V. Mohan c Williams b Johnson 20 R. Hinds c wkp. Fletcher b Williams 27 J. Stuart lbw b Hodge 6 K. Pennyfeather c wkp. Fletcher b Williams 6 C. Maynard lbw b Williams 12 K. Cottoy b Williams 7 A. Daley c Shillingford b Mayers 9 J. Levy not out 1 Extras: (b-4, lb-1, w-12) 17 Total: (all out, 48.2 overs) 228 Fall of wickets: 1-94, 2-130, 3-130, 4-172, 5-187, 6-191, 7-197, 8-208, 9-225.

Bowling: Johnson 7-0-41-1, Williams 9.2-0-70-4, Mayers 6-1-38-1, Shillingford 10-2-17-1, Edward 10-0-35-2, Hodge 6-0-22-1.

VOLCANOES innings J. Charles lbw b Hinds 0 D. Smith lbw b Levy 0 A. Fletcher b Hinds 25 K. Edwards b Y. Ottley 10 T. Theophile run-out 9 K. Hodge c wkp. Maynard b Y Ottley 1 K. Mayers c Mohan b Daley 27 S. Shillingford c wkp. Maynard b Cottoy 9 D. Johnson run-out 28 K. Williams c Cottoy b Hinds 2 L. Edward not out 0 Extras: (lb-1, w-1) 2 Total: (all out, 29.3 overs) 113 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-14, 3-30, 4-44, 5-44, 6-45, 7-58, 8-92, 9-112.

Bowling: Hinds 8-0-22-3, Levy 3-0-27-1, Y Ottley 5-2-6-2, Cottoy 5-029-1, Mohan 6.3-1-12-0, Daley 2-0-16-1.

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’

Several teams under pressure to stay in contention

(Flashback) - Action in the West Dem/East Bank Dem Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ competition.

Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard

Pollard was also taken aback by what he claims was the board’s tardiness in contacting players to participate in the qualifiers which he insists was done in January and well after his PSL contract was secured.

The all-rounder claims he originally planned to play the Super50 but later withdrew after hearing of a stipulation that Super50 players can only be replaced for the season if they are in squads if they are being called up for

‘you can’t play full Super50, fine, let’s talk about maybe playing a few games. You are making a dollar there, (but) we need you for qualifiers here. Make a suggestion,” he added.

“But no, these guys want to use the cricketers, pick and drop us when they want. My choice to get all these (T20 Leagues) contracts was a meticulous process for the last six months in response to the board’s communication or lack thereof.” (Cricbuzz)

WHEN play in the 4th Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ West Demerara/East Bank Demerara Zone resumes this evening at the Pouderoyen tarmac, teams such as Agricola, ESPN, Front Line Ballers and Ballers Empire will be under pressure to stay in contention to advance to the knockout stage.

These four teams lost their opening encounters when the tournament kicked off last Friday and with only the top two teams qualifying to the next round, they will need to win their respective engagements tonight to stand a chance of making it to the business end.

A number of teams will be appearing in their first fixture and will be aiming to commence their quest for top

honours on a positive note.

Among those teams are Police ‘A’, Harmony Warriors, Gold Getters, Parfaite Hard Ball, Cayenne Massive, Gas Team, Hustlers and Brothers United.

Upon the conclusion of the group round, the top two finishers will advance to the knockout round.

Winners of the tournament will take away $400 000 and the championship trophy, while the runners-up will be given $200 000 and a trophy.

The third- and fourthplaced finishers will receive $150 000 and $100 000 respectively along with trophies.

Meanwhile, the other playing dates are February 2, 7, 9, 13 and 17.

The complete fixtures are

seen below: > Harmony Warriors versus Police ‘A’ > Gold Getters vs Parfaite Hard Ball > Cayenne Massive vs Gas Team > Hustlers vs Brothers United > Boom Bang vs West Side Ballers > Young Ballers vs Jetty Ballers > Mocha vs Ballers Empire > Asylum Youths vs Agricola > Terror Squad vs Torture Squad > Up Like Seven vs Nismes Ballers > ESPN vs Front Line Ballers > Police ‘B’ vs Dream Team

CCC Marooners crush Volcanoes in Regional Super50 opener

See page 39

Local FIFA referees off to officiate at Caribbean Club Championship … Eight Guyanese retrained as FIFA-accredited match officials

TWO locally-based FIFA referees have been appointed match officials for the Caribbean Club Championship being held in Trinidad and Tobago from January 31 to February 4.

Gladwyn Johnson and Kevin Stephens are among 12 match officials appointed

by CONCACAF to serve at the event.

In an invited comment, Johnson said he was happy for his first appointment of 2018, stating, “I really appreciate this appointment. It’s always a pleasure to officiate, doing what I love doing. I’m looking forward to having a wonderful tournament officiating as I strive for excellence as I go along in my refereeing career.”

Stephens, for his part, considers this appointment as a step to achieve his goal of officiating at the FIFA World Cup: “I will continue to strive for excellence and to develop an attitude and habit to that of a professional referee since my goal is to officiate at the FIFA World Cup. “With this, I’m hoping to pave the way for other young

Kevin Stephens (L) and Gladwyn Johnson aspiring referees to follow in my footsteps and bring more glory to our beautiful Guyana.”

Among the other match officials are those from Jamaica, Mexico, St Kitts and Nevis, Cuba, Panama, Trinidad

Fruta Conquerors sign ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson See page 35

and Tobago, United States of America, Cayman Islands, Curaçao and El Salvador.

Meanwhile, Johnson and Stephens are among eight local-based FIFA-accredited match officials retained for 2018 – three male, one female

referee and four Assistant Referees.

The lone female official, Maurees Skeete, is listed as a CONCACAF Tier 2 referee. Johnson maintained his status in the CONCACAF Targeted Advanced Referee

Programme (TARP) while Stephens regained his status as a CONCACAF Tier 2 Assistant Referee and Mr Sherwin Moore maintained his status as a CONCACAF Tier 3 referee.

According to Stanley Lan-

Guyanese opens track season with impressive run ahead of UK Olympian

By Ravin Singh in Jamaica

Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson

GUYANESE track and field star Emanuel Archibald opened his track season last Saturday with an impressive time of 6.74 in the 60m dash – ahead of Olympian Delano Williams of Great Britain.

The Queens Grace Jackson track meet which was held at the Jamaica National Stadium saw the likes of world renowned sprinters including Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake and Elaine Thompson.

Archibald, who is on scholarship at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Jamaica, competed in the shortest event of the day with Powell – one of Jamaica’s most decorated sprinters.

Powell edged past Ar-

Emanuel Archibald

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caster, Head of GFF’s Refereeing Department, the list of referees re-nominated to the FIFA 2018 panel is encouraging. However, he was disappointed that it also signals a reduction to the number of locally based FIFA-accredited match officials.

“The team of re-nominated referees have been consistent in their performance over the past year and signal the confidence the governing body has in the locally based match officials.

Unfortunately, two have not been re-nominated for 2018 – Lenval Peart and Odessa Caleb – but we hope the re-nominated team will inspire other referees to work and commit even harder to the process,” said Lancaster.

The re-nominated referees are: Male Referees: Sherwin Moore, Gladwyn Johnson and Sherwin Johnson Male Assistant Referees: Venton Mars, Kevin Stephens, Trevor Porter and Kleon Lindey Female Referee: Maurees Skeete. chibald with a time of 6.73, while UK’s Delano Williams failed to outrun the young Guyanese.

Archibald, whose pet event is the long jump, shared that he was elated to have opened the track season on a high, but that there is much more to be accomplished.

The second-year Sociology major said that while training has been difficult, there have been fun and encouraging moments.

For this year, the athlete said he is working towards recording new personal bests in the 100m and 200m which are 10.37 and 20.98 respectively, and to reset Guyana’s long jump record.

That record is 8.07m and has been held by Mark Mason since 1993. Archibald’s personal best in that event is 7.88m.

“I’m training hard to accomplish what I’ve set my mind to. It doesn’t come easy. You have to put in the work and that is what I’ve been doing. So I hope to achieve those goals this year and make my country proud,” the athlete shared.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018