Guyana Chronicle E-paper 02-05-2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 5, 2019

TUESDAY

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5th February, 2019

No.105539

Key meeting of GECOM today 03 PAGE

…commission remains split on new registration

Man killed, woman injured as car slams into truck PAGE

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Over 120,000 dead persons names on Voters’ List PAGE

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’No violation

of constitution’

…Gov't maintains amid statements from foreign states

PAGE

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Finance Minister Winston Jordan in discussion with Tandy’s Manufacturing Director, Burt Denny during a tour of the East Bank Demerara business on Monday (Delano Williams photo) See story on page 10.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 5, 2019

‘No violation of constitution’

…Gov’t maintains amid statements from foreign states AMID calls from foreign states for the Constitution to be upheld, the government has maintained that it is not in breach and has insisted that it is a legal, legitimate administration, and that nothing they have done so far is outside of the law.

Both President David Granger and Minister of State Joseph Harmon have stated that the government has not violated the Constitution.

“We are a legal, legitimate government and nothing we have done so far is outside of the law, and as long as I am the President, nothing we will do will be outside of the law,” President Granger said on Sunday.

While dubbing statements by the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mikiko Tanaka, as premature, Minister Harmon said there is no evidence to suggest that the government has breached the Constitution.

According to him, Tanaka’s statement was unnecessary. “I would say that it is a statement that I believe has no basis right now, because as a government we have always respected the constitution. We have always respected the law, so there was no need for a warning at this point in time as far as I am concerned,” Minister Harmon said.

Harmon explained that the actions of the government are aligned with the constitution.

According to Article 106 (7) of the Constitution of Guyana, the government, notwithstanding its defeat, shall remain in

office until a new president is sworn-in. He maintained that to date, the government has not erred but has rather upheld the Constitution.

He said in keeping with the Constitution, the government will continue to function effectively and without any hindrance. “There is no restriction on the work of the government. There is no interim government, there is no caretaker government, the Constitution speaks about a government and therefore the government shall function as it normally should,” Minister Harmon told reporters.

Meanwhile, on Monday the European Union delegation said it is closely following the developments that have stemmed from the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly on 21, December 2018.

The EU delegation called on all stakeholders to uphold the Constitution, respect the democratic procedures and the rule of law. It said that procedures should be managed efficiently, with openness and transparency. The European Union also said it “welcomes the expeditious handling of the related court cases so far, and hopes that the further legal process can be expedited, for the benefit of Guyana, its people and its development, in view of pending Foreign Direct Investments [FDI's].”

Last Thursday, the Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire handed down several decisions in three constitutional cases that sought

President David Granger

to determine the validity of the No-Confidence Motion passed against the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government. The chief justice J completed the cases in under a month. With Justice George-Wiltshire’s ruling that the motion was validly carried, the government has signalled its intention to appeal the High Court’s decision, in an attempt to safeguard its five-year term in office.

However, in the interim, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been assessing its readiness to hold elections within the coming months. The Constitution stipulates that General and Regional Elections be held within 90 days following the defeat of a government or by a time agreed upon by no less than two-thirds majority of the National Assembly.

The European Union Delegation said it “looks forward

to free and fair elections being held, as appropriate, and in line with all constitutional provisions.”

For her part, Tanaka called for the government to demonstrate its integrity and respect the Constitution, while addressing an inter-faith ceremony at the National Cultural Centre last Thursday. “Recent political developments triggered by the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, are a test for Guyana’s strength and integrity with regards to the effectiveness of the rule of law and governance,” Tanaka said.

On Monday, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) endorsed the positions of both the UN Representative and the European Union Declaration, and took umbrage with statements made by the government that “until the matter is concluded at the highest court of appeal, the status quo remains and the business of government continues as usual”.

“The statement issued by the government’s Department of Public Information (DPI) is clear and, it appears, with deliberate intent, flies in the face of the decision of the chief justice. The “status quo”, meaning that nothing has changed, simply does not remain and the business of government does not continue “as usual,” the PSC said.

President Granger on Sunday declared that he will not demit office until a new President is sworn in. “There is no such thing as an interim

government, there is no such thing as a caretaker government. I remain President until the next President is sworn in,” the Head of State said.

At the time, he was addressing a gathering at Stelling Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD), to witness the consecration of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Region Three Congress House.

In his first public speech, since the court ruling, President Granger said his action and that of his government are in keeping with the Constitution of Guyana. While Article 106 (6) provides for the resignation of Cabinet, Article 106 (7) clearly states that notwithstanding its defeat, the government shall remain in office, until the next President is sworn in. It means that the President remains the President, and the government remains the government until elections are held, and a new President is elected to office.

“We are a legal, legitimate government and nothing we have done so far is outside of the law, and as long as I am the President, nothing we will do will be outside of the law,” he told supporters drawn from across the country.

He also said the government stands ready to challenge the High Court’s decision.

“Whatever happens in the court we will follow due process. We are going to go to the next stage, and to the next stage, until we have exhausted satisfactorily, I hope, every element and aspect of the law,” he assured the people.

The government, this

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week, is expected to challenge the decision of the chief justice at the level of the Court of Appeal; however, it said that it is prepared to go as far as the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) for a final ruling, on the issue of national importance. The government is challenging the decision on the ground that the Opposition needed 34 votes to successfully pass the no-confidence motion, and not 33 as was the case on December 21.

Last month, the President met with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, and it was agreed that there is work to be done at the National Assembly. “So I have not dissolved Parliament, and I have not resigned, and according to the Constitution, I remain President until the next President is sworn in,” he said.

President Granger said it must be recalled that on May 11, 2015, 207,200 people voted the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition into office. Pointing out that it took over 6,000 persons to secure a single seat in the National Assembly, the President said that it would only be reasonable for a MP (Member of Parliament) to consult with the people, before taking any action that goes against their 2011 line of voting. Charrandass Persaud had used his seat in Parliament to join with the opposition to bring down his own government. He was an AFC MP before he was expelled from the party, and recalled from the National Assembly

Key meeting of GECOM today

…commission remains split on house-to-house registration

By Lisa Hamilton WHEN the seven-member Guyana Elections Commission meets today, it will deliberate on a work plan presented to it by a technical committee, which will determine the amount of time the body needs to prepare for general and regional elections.

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield is reported

by Demerarawaves as telling reporters on Monday that he presented copies of the workplans to members of the Operations Sub-Committee.

The online news outlet reported that when asked if the current voters’ list was good to run off a general election now, Lowenfield said “The list is clean; it has a life until the 30th of April” and “depending if the Commission so decides”.

But at least two commissioners-- Vincent Alexander and Desmond Trotman--

have been adamant that the voters’ list must be cleansed before any elections. However, even before the meeting, the Commissioners were once again at odds as the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-nominated Commissioners are bent on approving a March, 2019 elections timeline.

Benn said the documents presented by GECOM give one timeline of July 2019 and another for about six months after house-to-house registration. “The documents that have been presented are fabricating a situation to go beyond the constitutionally determined timeline,” Robeson Benn told the Guyana Chronicle. “The only acceptable timeline is the constitutionally determined timeline which is March 19 and that is still possible for elections to be held within that timeframe. That’s my view.”

The work plan, presented to the Sub-Committee on

Monday, was prepared by the GECOM Secretariat and handed over to co-chairs Commissioners Sase Gunraj and Charles Corbin, and members Desmond Trotman and Benn. Gunraj had also confirmed to the newspaper that he received same around noon that day. The Commissioners had agreed last week to recommence progressive deliberations

following previous stalemate on the matter.

The coalition parties believe that the current voters’ list is “compromised” and would be a grave injustice to Guyanese should the country move forward with it to elections. The parties said the list consists of thousands of dead persons and does not include many now eligible to vote. “I believe that the list is com-

promised. This is not only a list that we have to take off dead people or people who are removed from the community, this is a list where the PPP used their returning officers, in the villages where people are pro-PPP, to move people from one area to the next during local government elections and, therefore, we consider the list compromised,” People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) General Secretary, Amna Ally, told the Guyana Chronicle last week Wednesday.

These are issues, she added, that the coalition parties have noticed in past and even the most recent elections.

Ally said in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), persons were moved by certain political affiliates from the neighbouring town of Bonfim in Brazil to Lethem with the aim of having them vote as residents. She noted that this is only one example and similar illegalities have occurred in places such as Coomacka; Hosororo; Wainaina and Mabaruma.

COURT RULING On January 31, 2019, acting Chief Justice (CJ) Roxane George-Wiltshire had ruled that the passage of the no-confidence motion was successful and, therefore, elections are to be held within the 90-day timeframe.

However, several ministers of government and members of society do not believe that GECOM can be ready for elections in the remaining days.

Many are calling for the $3B budgeted houseto-house registration to take place as this would clear the current list of dead persons and enable now- eligible persons to vote. In addition, the fact that Article 106(7) of the constitution provides for an extension of the 90-day period required by “not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly [to] determine,…” is now the reason for much debate.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

President Granger returns to Cuba for medical evaluation

His Excellency, Brigadier David Granger is expected to return to the Republic of Cuba today for another

round of medical evaluation, a release from Guyana’s Embassy in Cuba stated.

Thus far, the Cuban Medical Team assigned to President Granger has said that the President’s progress has exceeded their expectations.

During his recent visits to Cuba, President Granger has met with Cuban Foreign Minister, Mr. Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla; First Vice-President, Mr. Salvador Valdes Mesa; and His Excellency, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, President of the

Republic of Cuba.

The two countries have been examining ways and means of deepening the already satisfactory bilateral relations to include cooperation in their sugar industry, professional training in the English language, expanding Guyana’s exports to Cuba, and collaboration between the University of Guyana and the University of Havana.

President David Granger

Man killed, woman injured as car slams into truck

The truck which Butters slammed into

TREVON Butters, 35, died on the spot early Monday morning after the car he was driving slammed into a parked truck on Princes Street, Georgetown.

The injured woman, 25-year-old Natasha Sobers, up to late last evening, was in an unconscious state at a city hospital. She was a passenger in the car at the time of the accident. The Guyana Chronicle was told that the two had just left a club and were heading west along

Saturday 2, February, 2019

07 08 11 20 22 23 09

K

16, 23, 24, 10, 12

8, 2, 5

6, 6, 8

Princes Street, when Butters lost control of the vehicle - PNN 8969, and slammed into the parked truck, GFF 9744.

According to reports, before slamming into the truck, the car hit a few stumps on the southern side of the said road before careening all the way over to the northern side, where the final impact occurred. The impact caused Sobers to be to be flung from the vehicle and reportedly suffered a broken leg, while

Butters was pinned in the vehicle and subsequently died.

Persons who live in the area said that they were alerted to the crash by the sound of the impact, but one woman said that she heard the young lady [Sobers] screaming before the impact. The emergency medical teams had to be summoned and Sobers was placed into an ambulance, while the fire and police officers reportedly also arrived on the scene.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Use Mash activities to develop skills, talent

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- Minister Norton

Minister of Social Cohesion, with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr George Norton in Bartica on Saturday ahead of the Junior Soca and Calypso competition

MINISTER of Social Cohesion, with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr George Norton, has urged all persons to use the avenues provided through the Mashramani

competitions throughout the country, to develop their skills and talents.

Minister Norton spoke to the Guyana Chronicle while he was at Bartica on Saturday for the Junior Calypso and

Soca Monarch finals.

“We launched a campaign where we take Mash to the communities,” Dr Norton said. This campaign, according to him, involves central government facilitating na-

tional events – like the Calypso and Soca competitions – in each administrative region.

Further, he explained that it is government’s intention to facilitate avenues for expression, so that the local persons can hone their skills and talents. Taking it into the regions allows focus to be spread across the country, instead of being concentrated in Georgetown.

Added to that, he mentioned that the government will provide additional support, such as financial assistance, to the local crop of talent in an effort to encourage participation in the Mashramani events.

In fact, for the Junior Soca and Calypso competitions, the Ministry of Social Cohesion had assisted the artistes with recording and producing their music in pro-

fessional studios. This would have otherwise been very costly to the artistes.

“The government can only do so much, but we expect you to be working with your trade [or] product all year round so that you can let other people know about yourself,” he however stressed.

The minister also noted that there are avenues outside of Guyana that would require a well-developed crop of local talent. He gave the example of Carifesta XIV, which will be held in August of this year in Trinidad and Tobago.

This festival is seen as “...a launching pad for the Caribbean to take centre-stage; bringing rich, vibrant, thought-provoking and exhilarating expressions of talent and skill to the world,” according to Ministry of

Community Development, Culture and The Arts of Trinidad and Tobago.

“Carifesta is not a Georgetown thing or a Region Four thing, it has got to be all over the country and that’s where it starts from – the youths,” Minister Norton said.

Further he highlighted: “We are hoping that we can encourage the same teams that performed so well [at the regional Mashramani competitions] to continue and reach a level where they could now represent the country at an international level.”

And even if persons are able to participate in Carifesta, either this time or the next, the minister highlighted that there are a myriad of cultural activities that local artistes can showcase their talent.

Locked gate is to stop parents loitering …MoE clarifies issue at Mon Repos Primary

THE locked gate at Mon Repos Primary School was intended to dissuade parents from loitering within the environs of the school during instructional time, the Ministry of Education explained.

Last Tuesday, the Department of Education, Region Four, received a report that

a group of parents had gathered outside of the school’s gate.

“This behaviour pattern by parents has led to several issues at the school, including learners being distracted during instructional time,” the Education Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

It said because of the

issues created, parents were encouraged to leave after the morning and afternoon sessions started. This discussion was done at a general P.T.A. meeting on Monday, January 28, 2019.

However, on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, a few parents were not willing to leave the school compound after

the bell rang in the morning.

The head teacher, senior teachers and an education officer have agreed that while parents will be allowed to drop their children to school and uplift them, there will be no loitering at the school.

“The parents must be allowed to bring their children into the school as per normal.

When the bell rings, those parents who are still within the confines of the school awaiting dismissal time should be encouraged to go home and return at dismissal time for the children,” the Education Ministry said. An emergency Parent Teachers Association meeting would be convened to address the

issue.

The Ministry of Education said while normalcy has been restored to the school, it will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that all stakeholders are onboard, and that efforts are made to strengthen the school-community relationship.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Triumph through Cohesion

GUYANESE are aware that, as has happened many times in our history, the resilience and resolve of our people is being challenged yet again.

The unnecessary and artificially-created “problem” which was engineered by the current controllers of Freedom House, is nothing more than another test of our people’s determination. This test will be overcome and passed in the same way that similar hindrances to national progress have been defeated.

The success of our people, though, depends on steadfastness of purpose, unrelenting perseverance, and oneness of action. In other words, triumph can be achieved only in an atmosphere of social cohesion.

This publication has repeatedly emphasised the importance of the ideal of inclusionary democracy. That noble goal is not an intan-

gible abstraction, instead, it is the achievable, concrete, attainable objective prescribed by Article 13 of the Constitution. President David Granger has repeatedly emphasised his administration’s determination to the full realisation of that ideal.

Further, the APNU+AFC coalition believes that true inclusionary democracy may only be achieved through cohesion.

The concept of a cohesive society was not invented by President Granger; it is a well-defined, internationally recognised model of national unity that is a necessary precondition to progress.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) defines a cohesive society as, “[one that] works towards the well-being of all its members, fights exclusion and marginalisation, creates a sense of belonging, promotes

trust, and offers its members the opportunity of upward mobility.” The national society is made up of communities. And a cohesive community is defined as, “[one in which] the diversity of people’s different backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and positively valued, those from different backgrounds have similar life opportunities, and strong and positive relationships are being developed between people from different backgrounds and circumstances in the workplace, in schools and within neighbourhoods.”

President Granger subscribes to those definitions and ideas, and will work towards their actualisation, as a step along the path to inclusionary democracy.

President Granger, in recognising the need for social cohesion has identified obstructions to its realisation in Guyana. According to His

Excellency, “. . . differences between various social groups continue to threaten mutual trust.” Such differences, says the President, include economic, ethnic, political, religious, and class differences. The President has stated that, “We have to repair that damage.”

When one studies the intricacies and implications of President Granger’s internationally accepted and affirmed arguments and conclusions, a few facts become obvious: (1) The constitutional prescription of inclusionary democracy is attainable.

(2) The road to inclusionary democracy is ‘social cohesion.’

(3) Social cohesion is necessary for progress.

(4) Division, instability, and distrust are enemies of progress.

It follows that if any anti-national, anti-patriotic

force wants to impede progress, such a destructive force can succeed only if society is fragmented or divided.

Therefore, anti-progressive forces would evidently seek to separate us one from another, and sow the poisonous seeds of distrust and hostility among our people. We cannot surrender our intelligence and common sense, and allow negative forces to prevail. We must resist any attempt to instill discord among our people. We must foster harmony, agreement, unity, and oneness of purpose. We must remain steadfast in our determination to move forward; putting aside minor differences in the quest to achieve the greater good.

Guyanese are well aware of our history. We are one people, although we come from various backgrounds.

The Guyanese nation was born from the roots of enslaved Africans; our country

was enriched by the culture of indentured labourers from India, other parts of Asia, and from Europe, all of whom settled on this soil which Indigenous Peoples had occupied for some 12,000 years.

From such strong origins Guyana was conceived. All of our ancestors have endured far greater challenges than our generations have encountered, or can imagine. And, through unity and agreement, our foreparents have triumphed to create the strong people that we are today. And, just as they had done in the past, we too can and will overcome adversity, by resisting the backwards forces of division and selfishness, and instead, supporting President Granger’s vision of unity, cohesion and inclusion.

We will move forward as one people as we labour in pursuit of a better life for all.

Another Jagdeo contradiction Dear Editor EXACTLY what is the leader of the political opposition trying to achieve by his continued predilection for misleading information, and half- truths? Giving the impression to his constituents, particularly, that he is Guyana’s baddest politician, big and bad?

Absolutely, he is not!

What he has in fact done, is to lay bare his persona, as a politician seeking to effect a certain environment of national stress and tension, designed to incite, thus causing a situation that speaks of socio-economic paralysis and of a government not in con-

trol or in charge of matters of the state. He has also been seeking to elicit a certain kind of response from the coalition, especially its largest component, the Peoples National Congress (PNC).

The expected response has not come, and will not come; since the government has continued its legitimate business of governance, while ensuring the security of its borders and citizens within.

For Jagdeo to spew the misleading statement that he will no longer be engaging the President, for what he has described as “PR exercises”, is to resort to the usual slew of lies, mixed with the usual

bravado. This is playing to the gallery and his constituents, mainly, for a particular effect. But there are many among this category who are disdainful of this kind of politics, that has no positive contribution to what is occurring in our country at this time.

We are all reminded that in the immediate aftermath of the no-confidence motion vote, that it was Jagdeo who sought a meeting with President David Granger for, as he said at the time: “On the way forward”. It is now a matter of historical fact that the expected meeting, of a high-level nature, took place, with both sides, issuing a joint communique

afterwards. It is instructive to note that, despite the joint communique, Jagdeo sought to repudiate some aspects of what had been concluded at the discussions. It was another of his well-known deceptions, reminiscent of his many deliberate contradictions on matters of the state, when he held discussions with the late former President Desmond Hoyte, in the closing years of the 1990s.

It was no “PR exercise”, as he now egregiously seeks to convey. It was a discussion that had been inevitable, since it was as important to Jagdeo and his party, as it had also been to the government.

It was about both sides eluci-

dating their positions, with a view of a consensus ad idem.

Simply put, this is another of the numerous reckless statements from Jagdeo, who continues to mislead even his constituents. At the most, it is hollow for what it is intended to achieve, and asinine for the sheer stupidity which may have influenced its pronouncement.

We have now a truly democratic state, where politicians are free to represent whatever issue/cause that they wish, without the incumbent executive resorting in a manner of spite and vindictiveness. The latter brand was well-known of the Jagdeo administration,

where perceived opponents, even when well-meaning/ constructive in their criticisms were brutally vilified, and made to suffer. It is ironic that Stabroek News that had been a victim of this well-known PPP/C traditional political behaviour, now accommodates its former crucifiers in its pages, allowing fake news, lies, and views of a misleading nature. Talking about political concubinage, this partnership, perverse in every way, exemplifies this vested interest of a debauched vested interest.

Regards, Keon Garraway

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Allow SOCU to do its work

Dear Editor,

GUYANESE at home and in the diaspora are paying closer attention to developments in Guyana, and are asking policy-makers to begin connecting the dots in light of recent developments in the fight against financial crimes and corruption.

To begin, it is now public knowledge that Sam Sittlington, who up until his recent firing from SOCU, had set up and incorporated a local branch of his UK company, to undertake the same functions of SOCU. Sittlington’s actions represented a clear conflict of interest and his subsequent dismissal was fully justified.

A few days before Sittllington’s dismissal, Guyanese learnt that the leading investigator at SOCU, Ms Sherronie James, had resigned. News of Ms James’ surprise resignation was followed by a vicious attempt at besmirching her name by recognised political trolls on social media. It was as though they felt a sense of relief and wanted

to besmirch her character in vengeance. Cue - take note that Leader of the Opposition Mr Bharrat Jagdeo welcomed her resignation.

I do not know Ms James personally, but I have sat in the courts, and on at least one occasion, I witnessed her presenting evidence of her academic qualifications to the court. Nevertheless, in light of her resignation, I have consulted widely with stakeholders about her and the feedback I have had is that she is a person of the highest integrity,professionalism,high intelligence and by far the most accomplished investigator to ever walk through the doors of SOCU. The record number of the matters she has before the courts presents a measure of her output.

No organisation, especially one engaged in the fight against corruption and financial crimes gets rid of, or allows its leading resource to leave. Successful organisations do everything in their power to retain and keep their most valuable resources.

Pre-departure interviews are

hastily arranged to identify motivation for leaving, and to offer solutions in order to retain those resources. They do not passively sit by and allow their valuable people to depart. It’s simply unheard of.

As a result, questions must be asked about the intentions behind this seemingly calculated and manipulative move to let loose the special superintendent from SOCU. Everyone I have spoken to has lamented the significant impact Ms James’ departure will have on the work of SOCU and the very real risk now that evidence gathered will no longer lead to charges, and ongoing matters of critical public interest in the courts will now collapse.

What is especially of interest to Guyanese, is that the opposition leader has all along been challenging the government and SOCU to present the evidence of corruption and financial crimes, and questions are now being asked if it is not by strange coincidence that at this point, just before a landmark elections and when SOCU is on the verge of presenting

evidence (which is of significant public interest) of the massive looting of the country’s resources, there has been a political move to let go of unarguably SOCU’s most successful investigator.

I believe, it is by no means just a simple coincidence that just as SOCU has started receiving significant cooperation from international countries on investigations into financial crimes -- a significant accomplishment for SOCU, that its leading investigator has found reason to tender her resignation and the resignation is accepted.

Speculation and questions abound about the reason and strategy behind Sittlington not just registering, but incorporating a local entity which from all indications has been designed to replicate the work that SOCU presently undertakes. Is it

possible that Sittlington was positioning his company to pick up investigative work should there be a change of government, given that the Leader of the Opposition Mr Jagdeo has already said that it would be the PPP’s intention if they regain power at the next elections,to scrap SOCU and hire an international company to do the work that SOCU presently performs?

Did Sittlington have a hand in Ms James’ decision to resign?

Reading between the lines of the press release Ms James issued to clarify the air about her reasons for resigning, there is much to be inferred. I believe it is clear that her departure from SOCU has more to do with a sinister plot to frustrate those matters before the courts, and suffocate the emergence of hard evidence of financial fraud and corruption. The word on

the street is that SOCU has been infiltrated by staunch political PPP sympathisers, who are intent on frustrating the work of professionals like Ms James at SOCU. The Ministry of Public Security cannot sit by and allow the departure of Ms James from SOCU at this time. The work she has been doing at SOCU is too valuable to be lost to sinister political self-preservation.

Ms James should be provided with all the support and security necessary at this time, and be allowed to continue the invaluable work she has started at SOCU. Guyanese are closely watching and should not be taken for granted. History is being recorded.

Regards, Peter Narine Toronto, Canada

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Cuban envoy criticises tightening of US embargo IN hampering Cuba’s economic, commercial and financial relations, the Donald Trump-led administration is weighing what could become the most serious tightening of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba in more than two decades.

According to Ambassador of Cuba to Guyana, Narciso Reinaldo Armador Socorro, on January 16, 2019, the United States State Department announced the decision to suspend for only 45 days, the application of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act.

President Donald Trump, he said, is threatening to take a new step that would dangerously reinforce the blockade against Cuba, flagrantly violating international law, and directly attacking the sovereignty and interests of countries.

“Cuba rejects this threat in the most energetic, firm and categorical way. It regards it as a hostile act of extreme arrogance and irresponsibility, while condemning the disrespectful and slanderous language of the State Department’s public

message,” the Cuban envoy noted.

Adding that the Helms-Burton Act came into force in 1996, the Cuban envoy explained that it was devised to codify and tighten the economic, commercial and financial blockade pol-

icy, officially imposed in 1962, with the aim of subverting and overthrowing the Cuban government, and imposing a regime to the liking of the United States government.

TURN TO PAGE 10

A slap in the face of moral rectitude and personal decency Dear Editor, THE Canadian government’s action of declaring that Irfaan Ali, the

presidential nominee of the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), is not welcome in its dominion because of the extant 19

charges that he currently faces in the local court, is an example of a state that underlines its respect for the Rule of Law; and the

understanding that all are/ must be held accountable for their actions, irrespective of social standing.

Canada, especially, is known for its non-compromising position of `no entry’ to such a category as Ali, as well as any who may record any type of criminal conviction. One is certain that the Freedom House collective, based on their well-known predilection for believing that they are entitled to offend, and not be brought before the courts, also believed that Ali, because of his current political status would have been given a free pass

to Canada.

But they have been mistaken; for Canada is not Guyana, particularly during the lawless years of the PPP/C years of governance, during which not a single senior administrator, whether of PPP/C affiliation, or otherwise, had ever been charged and brought before the courts, for corruption-related matters. And, this was despite the mounting evidence, particularly from pointers in numerous auditor general reports that pointed to massive illegalities being perpetrated.

It should be added, too,

that the Canadian authorities would have done their homework on Ali, inclusive of his undefended fraudulent academic certification.

In continuing to have Ali as its presidential candidate, Jagdeo and the Robb Street cabal, has continued to display an unsurprising disregard for matters of propriety. It is a slap in the face of moral rectitude, and personal decency; and a cold insult for those of its constituents who have objected to the Ali slate.

Regards, Aditya Panday

House to house registration is needed Dear Editor, I OFTEN wonder if public figures in Guyana do not fear being exposed for their duplicity. It is really funny how some people change their tune depending on which side of the fence they find themselves. Reports in the press, attributed to the former chairman of GECOM Dr. Steve Surujbally as now saying, that house to house registration is not life and death at this time - fair enough. But Mr. Surujbally more than most, should be aware that the current list of electors is quite inflated, he should also know, that given our young population, we need to include as many youth as possible in one of the foundations of democratic processes i.e. voting for representatives of their choosing.

HOUSE TO HOUSE REGISTRATION WOULD

ENHANCE AND ENCOURAGE THIS PROCESS. Editor, I remember that ahead of the 2006 General Elections, and after the then opposition commissioner Haslyn Parris had resigned from GECOM, in protest due to the unwillingness of the PPP to have the voters list verified, and with the then opposition having only two commissioners - Robert Williams and Lloyd Joseph, Mr. Surujbally seemed to be comfortable with the then government having its way, and went into those elections with the then opposition (now government) only having two commissioners.

Editor, back in 2006, the sanctity of the list was in question and now it is also. The PPP wants to use a list that seems favourable to them given the recent local government elections (LGEs). In both of these occasions we see Mr. Suru-

jbally favouring the PPP position. Serious questions must be asked about Mr. Surujbally’s tenure at the helm of GECOM. The media must play its role. The public must demand the minutes of the GECOM meetings leading up to the 2006 elections, so that the duplicity of some public figures is laid bare for the nation to see. There is a need for the minutes of the GECOM meetings before the announcement of the 2006 results to be made public. I support the call

by Mr. Vincent Alexander for a new house to house registration exercise. This has been budgeted for, and GECOM should begin immediately in order to lay the foundation for elections that are not only free and fair, but enjoy the confidence of the public at large.

Regards, George Williams

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 5, 2019

Agro-processors’

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development on the rise –– in an enabling environment supported by the GMC

By Margaret Burke THE Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) has heeded the task of driving the development of the non-traditional agricultural products industry here in Guyana. This is being done through the Agri-Business Development Unit (ABDU).

The GMC has reported that the corporation has, over the years, been seeing a continued increase in the number of persons seeking assistance in the conceptualisation and development of new products and the further development of existing ones.

"It is not only about assisting agro-processors, but it is also about developing the value-chain to ensure sustainability of both the agro-processors’ investment and the farm investment," said Ms Johan David, Agri-business Development Officer at the Guyana Marketing Corporation. She added that for the year 2018, the corporation assisted over 27 agro-processors.

According to the GMC, in 2018, support was provided for the product development of over 60 products. These included areas such as packaging, raw materials sourcing, and labelling, as well as scientific assessments, with the aim of improving the shelf life, taste and quality of products. The ABDU also offered assistance in the process of business registration, as well as assisting with the process of acquiring food manufacturers' license.

COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS The GMC stated that, for some agro-processors, the process of acquiring business registration and obtaining their food manufacturers’ licenses are sometimes confusing and frustrating.

As such, the ABDU works hand-in-hand with the Deed's Registry and the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) to ensure that the entire process is executed within a reasonable time frame.

"We believe that both fledgling and large companies require guidance and assistance, and product development is a small part of the work we do," Ms David explained. "For the purpose of legality and formality, we are aware that all businesses

must have a business registration facilitated through the

reason the products that emanate from agro-processors,

Ms Johan David, Agri-business development Officer, at the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC)

Some of the new seasoning products added to the Guyana Shop last year

like UMAMI, continue to make waves on the local and regional market.

One of the new local sauces available in the Guyana Shop

One of the local coconut oils available in the Guyana Shop

Commercial Registry," she further stated.

The office of the Agri-business Development Officer has seen a plethora of products over the years, but the most consistent products have been seasonings and pepper sauce. The reason for this, Ms David explained is: "Guyana, like many other Caribbean countries, continues to favour well-seasoned and spicy food; to this end, many new and current agro-processors have been battling to create the perfect seasoning and the perfect pepper sauce. It is for this

NEW BRANDS Ms David stated that most of the new brands that emerged in 2018, have been as a result of the tutelage of the GMC, through the ABDU. Some of these brands are Sun Crest Rainforest Honey, Indigenous Coconut Oil and Diekah's Spices.

"We are currently working with a number of agro-processors who will be launching great products in 2019," Ms David revealed.

Another important element is financial guidance for agro-processors. One of the first training sessions conducted by the ABDU, in collaboration with the Market Extension Department, in 2018, was Cost of Production (COP). The COP training was conducted in six of the 10 Administrative Regions, namely:- Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and ten.

LIMITATIONS Ms David noted, “Like any other sector, the agro-processing sector is not without its challenges. Some of the major challenges include sourcing of packaging materials, understanding financial management, understanding contractual agreement and record keeping.”

She reiterated that the GMC, through the ABDU, is working to alleviate some of these challenges, especially as they relate to the availability of suitable packaging materials. The corporation, she said, continues to advocate for packaging materials to be available so that agro-processors can have easier access to same. As such, partnerships and linkages have been created with suppliers who are now part of the corporation’s extended database.

PLASTIC BOTTLES AND TUBS Ms David, along with the General Manager, Ms Ida Sealey-Adams, facilitated a meeting on January 14, 2019, with the owners of Full Works, a bottling company, to discuss ways in which the issue of inconsistent availability of plastic bottles and tubs can be resolved.

According to Ms Sealey-Adams, the focus of the discussion was to examine the prospects of extending the range of plastic bottles that are currently being utilised by agro-processors.

She explained that it is envisaged that with the corporation's continued guidance, improved quality of plastic bottles and tubs will be available to agro-processors.

TRAINING AND SENSITISATION Ms David stated that while the staff at the GMC continue to work assiduously to aid in the development of local agro-processors, it is important that agro-processors understand their constraints are easily surmountable, if the guidance is adhered to. She explained

that it can sometimes be challenging when agro-processors are unwilling to absorb and implement the advice provided, especially when it relates to prudent financial management.

She added that, in this regard, the Agri-business Development Unit will be focusing on a number of specific training and sensitisation exercises in 2019.

These will include agri-business management, essential knowledge of local tax regulations, business plans development, marketing strategy development, and essential knowledge of contract law.

Further, According to David, the GMC continues to work with agro-processors and farmers to ensure the development of value chains, where they would work together to deliver to consumers, locally and abroad, products that are wholesome and nutritious, and which reach international manufacturing and packaging standards.

The ABDU will also be focusing on conducting training in the making of products such as soaps, juices, and dehydrated and candied fruits.

"We believe that there is still an issue with wastage within the agriculture sector and our solution lies in our ability to do sustainable and efficient value addition.

Research has been conducted on the cost efficiency of numerous industries and it is through the guidance provided by these studies that we intend to channel our resources," Ms David emphasised.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Local manufacturing a gov’t priority …Min. Jordan tells EBD businesses

AS development and economic advancements continue to unfold in Guyana, the coalition government remains committed to small businesses and local manufacturing, and the economic prospects they bring.

According to Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, who toured two East Bank Demerara manufacturing companies on Monday, the government is dedicated to pushing local manufacturing and broadening the scope for producers. His visits to

the companies today were to encourage the manufacturers and offer support.

The first stop was at the Demerara Bakery, located at Block G1, Land of Canaan.

The company commenced operation back in 2014 with two bakers. Today, it has a staff of some 90 persons, from within and around the community.

During a discourse with owner, Peter Abai, Minister Jordan reiterated the administration’s support for small businesses. “We have done

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan with company owner Peter Abai [left] and other employees of Demerara Bakery

our part to improve the environment for investment, and it is investments like these…

I always emphasise the small and medium businesses because for me, it is easier to establish, you employ more people, and they will stay

around longer,” Minister Jordan said.

With the aim of becoming the premier bakery in Guyana, Demerara Bakery bakes between four and five thousand pieces of 26 different items, which are supplied to close to 700 customers across Guyana. These items include tennis rolls, coconut buns, plait and sliced breads,

export items such as those produced, plans are in the pipeline to “set up shop” in other countries.

The finance minister’s second visit was to Tandy’s Manufacturing at Eccles Industrial Site. The company, which has become a household name in Guyana, was established in 1989 and has seen an expansion over the

sauce among other things.

Minister Jordan said it would be good to see more exports from the company.

So far, Tandy’s exports small amounts of its products to Canada and the United States of America.

“I’d like to see more exports; I’d like to see your business grow. Tandy’s has become a household name

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan; Tandy’s Director, Burt Denny and an employee examining a bottle of Tandy’s Peanut Butter

salara, and pastry products.

The company is currently building a new factory behind the current business location.

Abai said he is grateful for the support from the government and was particularly appreciative of the 25 per cent tax incentives offered to small businesses. He said while it may be difficult to

years. Outside of the few challenges experienced, the company has been doing exceptionally well. Director Burt Denny said the company first started as a manufacturer of peanut butter; however, it later diversified.

Along with peanut butter, the company now produces jams, mixed fruits for cakes, bottled seasonings and Chinese

in Guyana; we would like to see it become a household name in the Caribbean,” the minister said. He added that while it is still a little challenging to export to some countries within the Caribbean, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been vigorous in its move to break the barriers in this regard. (DPI) FROM PAGE 8

Cuban envoy criticises...

Further, Ambassador Armador Socorro said it has been almost unanimously rejected by the international community in the United Nations.

Under the provisions of the Helms-Burton Act itself, the envoy said all U.S. Presidents since 1996, including Trump in 2017 and 2018, have made consecutive use of executive power to suspend the application of Title III every six months.

“They recognised that it consists of the grossest and most unacceptable aspect of this law, contrary to international law and the sovereignty of other States.

Also understanding that its application would pose insurmountable obstacles for any prospect of settling claims and compensation for legitimate U.S. owners,” he explained.

Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM), Halim Khan, said the decision that the United States Government threatens to adopt would be contrary to what is established in international law and the practice of international relations.

He explained that foreign individuals and entities with legitimate businesses in Cuba may face the threat of

unfounded and illegitimate claims before courts of the United States.

“The politically-motivated and venal behaviour of certain courts in Florida, frequently used as a weapon against Cuba, is well known,” he noted. “If they take this decision they will be moving from a policy of limiting U.S. engagement with Cuba to a policy of very actively trying to disrupt the Cuban economy,” Khan said.

Khan said that the majority of the United States public consistently opposes the economic blockade, as recognised by the most respected surveys.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 5, 2019

Seven murder accused found not-guilty

The lone female accused, Casindra Singh-Dorsette speaking to reporters outside of the court after she was found not-guilty

SCREAMS and tears of joy flooded the High Court yesterday (Monday, February 4, 2019) when a 12member jury returned with seven not-guilty verdicts, for the seven accused in the Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara murder/ robbery.

After six years of incarceration, Allan Dorsett called “Baird”, “Fatman”, “Allen” or “Dada”; Delwayne Croft; Esan Lawrence called “Muscle”; Jermaine Williams called “Yankee”; Andrew Chandler called “Sonic” or “Sowie”; Samuel Bacchus called “Kirk”; and Casindra Dorsett called “Cassandra Singh-Dorsett”, walked free into the arms of their relatives and friends who were present at the trial.

According to the indictment, the seven allegedly murdered Zulfiker Namdar called “Vickey” in the course or furtherance of a robbery on September 10, 2013, at his home in Meten-Meer-Zorg.

During the trial, the State called 24 witnesses to the stand, including Nick Skeete, who was the star witness.

Skeete is the cousin of the number one accused, Allan Dorsette, and lived next door to the deceased for several years. In his testimony, Skeete said that, on September 3, 2013, the men bought ‘some weed’ from him and they smoked next to a tree in his backyard. It was then that he allegedly heard them planning to rob his neighbours.

Skeete added that on the night of September 10, 2013,

Relatives of the accused crowding the corridor of the High Court, hugging the accused after they were freed

he saw the men flaunting weapons. He pointed out that Croft, who at that time had dreadlocks, had a long firearm and the others were armed with smaller guns.

The lone female accused, he said, provided head ties for the men to cover their faces.

About five minutes after they left, he heard gunshots and later learnt of Namdar’s demise.

However, strongly challenging the testimony of Skeete, defense attorneys Nigel Hughes, Adrian Thompson and George Thomas cross- examined the witness, suggesting that he had fabricated that story to clear himself, since he (Skeete) was also a suspect in the crime.

The defense attorneys alluded to several discrepancies in Skeete’s story, and Hughes suggested that it was Skeete who had planned the attack, highlighting instances where he changed his story.

The star witness also admitted, under cross- examination, that he had, sometime previously, asked one of the Namdar’s workers if his boss man stored money in the house.

The mother and father of the deceased said that he (the deceased) was their only child, and he was only 20 years old when he was shot and killed. Though they both were present in the house at the time of the robbery/ murder, they told the court that they cannot identify the men who invaded their home, since the men’s faces were covered.

After nearly four hours in deliberation, the jury returned with the seven notguilty verdicts, causing joyous emotions to fill the air.

When Justice Singh called their names individually and announced that they were free to go, the female accused burst into tears and the relatives and friends that crowded the court room ran through the doors chanting ‘thank you Jesus’.

Speaking with some of the accused outside of the court, they expressed how happy they were to have been freed. Casindra Singh-Dorsette, who is said to be the wife of the number one accused, Allan Dorsette, said that she was both happy and sad.

“Being in prison for six years for something I didn’t do was really hard, but I’m glad there’s a God,” the weeping woman said.

The State was represented

by Tuanna Hardy, in association with Teriq Mohammed and Abigail Gibbs, while attorneys Nigel Hughes and Ashley Henry represented the Number One accused, Allan Dorsett.

Attorney Adrian Thompson represented the Number Two, Three, and Seven accused, Delwayne Croft, Esan Lawrence and Casindra Singh-Dorsett respectively. Meanwhile the Number Four, Five and Six accused-Jermaine Williams, Andrew Chandler and Samuel Bacchus were represented by George Thomas.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 5, 2019

Over 120,000 dead persons names on Voters’ List THERE is high possibility that the current voters’ list is bloated with as many as 120,000 dead or non-existent persons, making it vulnerable to fraud, corruption and overall sinister agendas.

This is according to former People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Executive, James McAllister, who recently examined the figures of Guyana’s most recent census; voters’ list and voters’ turnout.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, he broke down these figures explaining that there must be some ulteri-

or motive afoot that would cause any political party to be against the holding of fresh house-to-house registration.

“There must be some sinister agenda by those clamoring for elections without house-to-house registration,” he began.

“The 2012 Census recorded a population of 746,955.

Of this, 39 per cent was less than 18. Using census figures from 1980, 1991, 2001, and 2012, I forecasted that the population in 2015 was approximately 745,600.

Assuming that 39 per cent is below 18, then approximately 454,816 were over

18 and eligible to vote in 2015. Yet we had a votes list with 583,444 names.

That is a whopping 128,600 plus dead or nonexistent persons.”

McAllister noted that this represents and overstating of the voting population on the recently used list by over 28 per cent. He added: “And this is assuming a 100 per cent registration of all eligible electors. If 90 per cent registration is assumed then the list was bloated by over 42 per cent. A list as flawed as this provided great opportunity for fraud and corruption.”

GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander

General Secretary of the PNCR, Amna Ally

Former MP, James McAllister

Presenting additional information to support the position, McAllister highlighted that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had declared a 71.26 per cent voter turnout for the 2015 elections.

However, he noted that looking at the current census figures and assuming a 90 per cent registration rate, the actually voter turnout was 102 per cent which represents more voters than people.

He added that even if one were to assume a 100 per cent registration rate which his highly improbable, the voter turnout in 2015 would then be 91 per cent, still a highly improbable turnout.

Another example he gave was that a large number of polling places where the Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) received the majority votes, the turnout is computed at more than 120 per cent.

“Even if we assume a 100 per cent, this scenario points to a high incidence of substitute voting. This is when someone impersonates an elector and votes in his or her place. It's quite possible that the present voters list is bloated by as much as 35 per cent. Anyone suggesting going to elections with such a list has a sinister agenda.

The PPP claim that such a list could be cleansed is just a plain joke. There must be house-to-house registration before elections in 2020,” McAllister concluded.

In the 2019 budget, the government had allocated $3B towards fresh house-tohouse registration to be conducted by GECOM. However, prior to the allocation and even now, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has opposed new registrations, contending that the Guyana Register Office (GRO) can provide this function.

These are not the sentiments of GECOM Chair, retired Justice James Pat-

terson, who back in March 2018 asserted that the only way to ensure that cries of malpractices by parties become a thing of the past, is to nip it in the bud. “Looking at the past, see what has gone wrong in the past and remedy it and to see what we can anticipate in the future and block that,” he told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

“The human brain can always fabricate some scheme to hit at the proper running of the voting process. We have to anticipate that and block it.”

However, McAllister is not the first or only individual to have found inconsistencies with the voters list, as the same was highlighted

by GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander, and other Ministers of Government.

“I am an advocate for house-to-house registration.

I am not only an advocate, but one who is aware of the institutional decision taken years ago that we should have registration every seven years; and that we haven’t means that we do not have what is considered to be the ‘best list’,” Alexander told media operatives earlier in the year.

GECOM is currently deliberating the best possible timeline for the hosting of new elections which meets all the criteria for a free and fair democratic process. He added: “We have a population of 740,000 I’m told. [Meanwhile] we have a list in the vicinity of 500,000, which is clear that the list is in excess of the resident voters.

In my view, that allows for the elections to be corrupted in the sense that political people can use the excess to manipulate voting and have a result that is not reflective of the resident Guyanese; and so we need to deal with that.”

Government Chief Whip, Amna Ally, told the Guyana

Chronicle recently that she believes that the current voters’ list is “compromised” and one which has already been used by the opposition to solicit illegal votes.

Her contention is also that many persons who have now attained the eligible age to vote would be disqualified if the old list is used.

Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, had also cautioned the same while A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) General-Secretary, Joseph Harmon, had assured that house-tohouse registration would achieve more than GRO could.

“There’s a whole process that leads to the production of a list of electors for an election and that process requires registration; it requires claims and objections and all of these issues are dealt with in this process. GECOM has to make the authoritative statement on the matter. GECOM is the custodian of the list and GECOM is the entity that will be responsible for ensuring that we have a clean list,” he said.

The High Court’s ruling on Thursday favored the 90-day stipulation for new elections in Guyana following the vote of no-confidence against the government. As it stands, there are now only 45 days remaining in this timeframe for the holding of elections or for an agreed upon extension by government and opposition by a two-thirds vote in National Assembly as provided in the Constitution.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

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Banks DIH Calypso rehearsals give seawall patrons a taste of things to come THE Banks Calypso Rehearsal got on the way on Sunday evening at the Georgetown Seawalls Bandstand. The annual event attracted many singers who are vying to win the competition this year.

Mighty Hunter, Queen Akeba, Lady Devotee and Young Bill Rogers belted out renditions relating to several events that unfolded in our country recently. These included the recent “Third term denial” by the Caribbean Court of Justice to Opposition

Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, the emergent Oil Sector and domestic violence issues.

The semi-finals competition is scheduled for Number 53 Village Berbice come Friday, February 8, while the finals will be on February 15 in the National Park.

Twenty-one artistes will be competing in the event sponsored by Banks DIH Ltd. in collaboration with the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 5, 2019

No bail for sexagenarian on alleged rape charge A SIXTY-ONE-YEAROLD man was on Monday, February 04, 2019, remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, for engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl with a disability.

Octus Williams, a fruit vendor, made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which was read ‘in camera’.

Particulars of the charge alleged, that Williams on January 31, 2019, at Barbie Dam, North Ruimveldt, engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Gordon Mansfield, opposed the granting of pre-trial liberty to Williams, on the ground that the defendant was charged, three years ago, for a similar offence.

Octus Williams

The chief magistrate ruled in the prosecutor’s favour and remanded Williams to prison. He is due back in

court, tomorrow, February 6, 2019 According to report, Williams is known to the victim, since she would regularly see him in the North Ruimveldt community.

On January 31, 2019, the young girl was at her Barbie Dam home when she heard a strange noise, and upon checking she saw Williams.

It is reported that Williams then forced the disabled teen into a room, pulled down his pants and rubbed his ‘private part’ on the victim’s private area. He then placed his `private part’ in the teen’s mouth.

However, as Williams was attempting to pull up his pants, the victim’s father caught him in the act.

He was apprehended and handed over to the police.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 5, 2019

Early detection, healthy choices can reduce risk of cancer THE Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has noted that a significant number of cancer deaths can largely be reduced and prevented through many strategies, including primary prevention, early detection, management, and treatment of patients with cancer.

World Cancer Day was observed on Monday, February 4, under the theme: “I Am and I Will”. The observance called to focus the individual attention needed to combat the ailment.

Breast and cervical cancer are the leading causes of cancer deaths in women, while among Caribbean men, prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths, with lung cancer being second, according to the CARPHA. A release from the organisation noted that cancer is the second leading cause of death, in the Caribbean. But Epidemiologist and Senior Technical Officer, Non-Communicable Diseases at CARPHA, Dr. Glennis Andall-Brereton said:

“Nearly one-half of cancers are preventable or treatable if detected early.”

Dr. Brereton further noted that cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers among women in the Caribbean, remains a significant public health problem.

“The number of deaths from cervical cancer is very concerning because this is the only cancer, which is preventable through screening, early detection, treatment and vaccination against the human papilloma virus (HPV),” the release noted.

Cervical cancer accounted for 4.5 per cent to 18.2 per cent of cancer deaths in the English-and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, according to research done by the CARPHA. Further, research also shows that cervical cancer deaths are two to nine times higher in the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, compared to the USA. Further research done by a team of medical professionals, including Dr. Brereton, highlighted the suitability and need for accelerated implementation of the 9-valent

HPV vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer in the Caribbean.

“Vaccination and screening programmes are effective interventions to reduce the burden of specific types of cancer,” the release affirmed.

Common prevention measures include avoiding the use of tobacco, limiting alcohol use, keeping a healthy weight, being physically active, and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

“Participation in screening programmes is strongly encouraged for the prevention of cervical cancer and early detection of breast, colon and rectum cancer; and being vaccinated against and Hepatitis B and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV),” the CARPHA said.

However, according to the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), access to services remains a major challenge for many women and men in Guyana. In an attempt to remedy this, the GRPA has

been offering free and lowcost services to all Guyanese men and women.

In fact, on World Cancer Day, the association offered free breast and testicular exams and offered discounts on all other cancer screening services provided.

Cognisant that breast and cervical cancer are leading causes of deaths among women in the Caribbean, Programmes Officer at the GRPA, Jairo Rodrigues explained that much focus has been placed on de-stigmatising testing for these.

“Unfortunately, women often come when it's too late,” Rodrigues said.

“Everyone can help reduce the burden of cancer if we each take responsibility for our health. A person’s risk of developing cancer can be substantially reduced through the adoption of healthy lifestyles and the practice of appropriate health-seeking behaviours,” the CARPHA said.

GCCI and City Hall to draft MoU, set up joint committee THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) yesterday (Monday, February 4, 2019) met with officials of the Mayor and City Council (MCC), to discuss the issue of parking meters and other matters affecting the city. However, it was decided that the first issue to be tackled would be the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and the setting up of a bilateral committee between the two entities.

The two bodies are expected to meet again on Friday, February 8, 2019 to begin setting up the committee, while a three-week timeline was given for the drafting of the MoU. Aside from addressing the issue of the parking meters and the establishing of an institutional working relationship between the MCC and the GCCI, the meeting had originally also been scheduled to discuss the issue of garbage receptacles around the city of Georgetown, and the levying of local authority taxes.

On the issue of the parking meter, Deodat Indar, President of GCCI, affirmed that the GCCI’s position had not changed from its original call for the revocation of the controversial parking meter contract between the M&CC and Smart City Solutions.

The meeting opened with the discussion on the parking meters. However, Mayor Narine expressed the view that the establishment of an institutional working relationship between the GCCI and the MCC took

precedence over the other issues, as it would provide guidance on all other future engagements between the two bodies.

However, the GCCI was somewhat skeptical to put all the focus on the formation of a committee. Indar pointed out that an initiative in the past to establish a committee with the private sector and the MCC had fallen by the wayside.

In 2016, President David Granger had recommended the formation of a tripartite committee involving the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the MCC and central government. However, the PSC complained that, at that time, the MCC continued to miss the meetings and the initiative never took off.

“One time they met and they never met again. This was a committee established by the President and it was an abrupt failure. We wrote to the President to say this is something you mandated and it’s not working,” Deodat said.

Indar, however, said the GCCI was not altogether unwilling to trust in a committee establishment but needed to see concrete efforts on the part of the MCC to feel reassured going forward. Indar said the GCCI executive needed concrete evidence that they could take back and report on to its over 200 members, to show that progress was being made.

“I believe that if you put somebody who has the time, will show up TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 5, 2019

RUSAL complacency heightened after US sanction lifted – workers claim -call for government, union to intervene

WORKERS employed by the Russian bauxite company, RUSAL, are calling on the government to intervene and to carefully consider their plight, which seems to be of growing concern following the lifting of the US sanction, which had the company on its knees over the last few months.

Following the lift, workers have expressed the concern that the company might be returning to its old ways of not putting the interest of the workers first. Representing the 250 workers employed by the Russia-owned company, some workers, under anonymity, spoke with this publication. They related that the situation is currently as though they are choosing the lesser of the two evils, either to stay without employment or earn under hazardous conditions.

For 2018, the workers said that the company only allocated a two per cent increase to their wages, which they deemed as insignificant.

This has been the case, they claim, for the last six years or so. In addition, they said the company refuses to honour the labour laws which stipulate that workers must be paid double their rates on holidays.

The working conditions

have not only been described as deplorable, but also life-threatening and there is no remuneration package in place for workers, in the eventuality of an industrial accident. One welder employed at RUSAL related that they are required to work at heights over 80 feet, and they are not adequately compensated when completing these jobs, which he deemed as life threatening. He said a bonus, which he described as mediocre is given, but at the company’s discretion.

“It is a very risky job, most of us get wife and kids, when you going up these heights, if anything happens, you can fall and die or get cripple and they are not compensating us for it,” he said. He is also calling on the Department of Labour to visit the workers and inform them on the labour laws as it relates to heights and compensation, since they are not educated on what are the legal stipulations in this regard.

The workers believe that the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GBGW) is not recognised or respected by the company as past proposals are never honoured. General Secretary of the union, Lincoln Lewis, affirmed the position of the workers and revealed that FROM PAGE

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GCCI and City Hall ...

to the meeting, we will reciprocate and put a high-level person on the committee and whatever comes out of that meeting should be given a timeline,” he noted.

Attorney-at-Law, James Bond, who attended the meeting in an advisory capacity to Narine, assured the GCCI that the mayor was not giving merely empty promises.

Towards that end, Bond pointed out that the parties could meet again, as soon as Friday, to set up the committee and the MoU should not take more than three weeks to be drafted. Following this the parties would have the proper foundation to proceed forward in the discussion of issues affecting the City.

At Friday’s meeting both the MCC and the GCCI are expected to put forth their nominees to be on the bilateral committee. The GCCI is expected to draft the MoU and present it to the council.

“I think what is a good suggestion is to use the MoU as a guide to how the committee operates. What the mayor is trying to say is this

is a different council, a different mayor, a different era, and this time there is not only political will but youth with a clear vision,” Bond noted.

“The MoU will contain the scope and parameters of that committee and how the committee should operate.

The GCCI can draft those terms, have them presented and council would have a look at them and make changes if it so sees fit. Even before this meeting is over, you can nominate persons from your side to meet with the council’s nominees to deal with suggestions,” explained Bond.

Narine took over the Mayorship beginning January, 2019, when a new Council at the MCC began its reign.

Aside from the mayor, also attending the meeting on behalf of the MCC were Town Clerk (ag) Sharon Harry-Munroe, Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore, other councilors and staff of the municipality.

several attempts were made to meet with the managers of RUSAL, but to no avail. He said that several correspondences were sent, copied to junior Minister of Social Protection Keith Scott, but the response was that the union has to deal with the issues relating to the workers.

“That is how they (RUSAL) behave, the company says nothing about it, they don’t

recognise us,” he said.

The workers are calling on the government to play a greater role in fighting for their rights. “We need them to intervene and reach with the company and let them abide with the labour laws, we need that to happen as early as possible,” one worker said. In April, 2018, a high level ministerial team visited RUSAL and met with workers to discuss issues relating to the US sanction.

A task force was established

with the Ministers of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and Simona Broomes, Members of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira and Audwin Rutherford, and GBGWU’s Lewis, etc.

The workers are however questioning the validity of the task force, since there is no continuous flow of communication. When this publication contacted Minister Broomes, she said that she will not be able to comment on the strides

made by the task force as she was not involved subsequently after its establishment. MP Rutherford said that he is very much aware of the conditions that the workers are working under, since several of them have made complaints to him. He had forwarded those complaints to the requisite minister. He also related that the task force met about four months ago, while Lewis described it as totally ‘dead’.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 5, 2019

Small contractors'bidding woes addressed

Finance Minister Winston Jordan (third left) and National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) Berkley Wickham (second left) meet with members of the General Contractors Association of Guyana (GCAG) on Monday.

Members of the Association from the left are: Secretary Jonette April; GCAG President Neil Cort-Rogers; Committee Member Shefetah Tzedeq; Past GCAG President Aubrey Jones and Member Elroy Adams (Adrian Narine photo)

MINISTER of Finance, Winston Jordan, is working along with the General Contractors Association of Guyana (GCAG) to address recurring issues affecting the development of new and small contractors.

On Monday, the minister along with Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, (NPTAB) Berkley Wickham, met with the association at the ministry’s boardroom.

The main issues coming out were the limited access of small contractors to financial resources and equipment.

Delving right into the matter, Past GCAG President Aubrey Jones explained, that small contractors were often unable to meet the financial security requirements such as bid bonds, mobilisation and performance bonds to qualify for contracts.

In addition, the small contractors’ inability to provide information such as their annual average turnover, technical qualifications, financial capabilities and equipment capabilities sees them being eliminated, during the evaluation period.

Explaining further the limitations regarding equipment, Committee Member Elroy Adams noted, that while small contractors might be the lowest bidders for a contract, they often missed out on opportunities because other, larger contractors were able to meet the specific equipment criteria stipulated.

The association therefore called on the government and their agencies to look into lessening the number of stringent requirements, considering the challenges faced in acquiring equipment.

Shedding greater light on the issues, Wickham reminded the association that contracts are bound by the Procurement Act, which outlines specific criteria that contractors participating must meet.

Nonetheless, he also pointed to the amendments to the Small Business Act (2004) which, when passed in the National Assembly, would see 20 per cent of public procurement being set aside for small businesses.

Wickham expounded that a small business was defined as a business having not more than 25 employees; not more than $60M gross annual revenue and not more than $20M busi-

ness assets.

“I’m sure that under that small business programme - and we’ve made recommendations already in that regard-that some of these requirements; these stringent requirements, would not be there,” Wickham said. “The programme was designed to build capacity and the only way we can build capacity is by nurturing [businesses].”

Meanwhile, Minister Jordan said that while willing away bid bonds, bid security and mobilisation is a “tall order’, the GCAG contractors could have greater access to equipment by pooling their resources and merging when necessary.

“I think that we have to find creative ways, within your own contactors association, of perhaps having a pool of equipment. I don’t see many ways around that, seeing that individually you don’t have the financial capability to buy expensive equipment,” he began. “[You] can start small by trying to procure reasonably good shape, second hand equipment which will perhaps cost less, and there’s no age limitation to equipment in terms of importation. Then, a pool is available to the contractors association to get around the whole issue of equipment availability. The same could be said also of skills and expertise availability.”

Jordan also encouraged the small and new contractors to seek out mentorship opportunities with larger companies, which can provide them with best practices to get ahead in their businesses.

Also coming out of the meeting was the issue of contractors having to wait long periods of time to collect payments.

Minister Jordan pledged that his ministry will do its part to ensure that payments are processed within the minimum time. He promised that he would continue to advocate for similar action from other government agencies.

Reaching out further, the minister also invited the GCAG to participate in a seminar for contractors which the ministry could set up, to ensure that more contractors understood the technical aspect and requirements for an effective tender.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday February 5, 2019

Miner who attempted to murder sibling remanded

Young Williams

A MINER from the Village of Waramandong, Upper Mazaruni, was on Monday, February 04, 2019, remanded to prison for attempting to kill his brother by shooting him in the chest with an arrow.

Young Williams, 25, made his appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that, on January 26, 2019, at Waramandong, Young wounded his brother, Jamal Williams, with intent to commit murder.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Gordon Mansfield, told the court that on the day in question, Young and Jamal were at their mother’s home

at Waramandong Village consuming alcohol. Young it is alleged threw his glass with alcohol in his mother's face, thus causing a confrontation with his brother.

Young reportedly left, but later returned with an arrow and bow and shot his brother in his chest with the ‘weapon’.

The prosecutor in his objection to granting bail, told the court that the victim is still hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), and is in a critical state.

The chief magistrate, after considering the prosecutor's objection, remanded Williams to prison. He will make his next court appearance at the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court on March 19, next.

Boy charged for wounding pregnant teenage girlfriend A SEVENTEEN-year-old boy was, on Monday, February 04, 2019, charged for wounding his 16-year-old girlfriend who is currently six months pregnant.

The boy appeared before Children’s Court Magistrate, Annette Singh, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the allegation.

Particulars of the charge alleged that on January 30, 2019, at East Ruimveldt, the boy wounded his 16-year-old girlfriend.

Magistrate Singh released the 17-year-old on self-bail and adjourned the matter until February 22, 2019.

According to reports, on the day in question, the teens were involved in an argument. It is alleged that the boy armed himself with a sharp object and stabbed his pregnant girlfriend in her head. The pregnant teen was rushed to the hospital and was treated.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, the victim’s father expressed that he was not satisfied with the manner in which his daughter’s case was being handled.

The father stressed that he wished for the matter to be heard in another court.

‘Queenie’, mother of two, withdraws appeal Tramangra Williams, called ‘Queenie’, who had appealed her 18- year sentence for the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend, withdrew her appeal yesterday (Monday, February 4, 2019) at the Appellate Court.

Williams, a mother of two, was handed the sentence five years ago by Justice Navindra Singh, after a 12-member jury found her guilty of manslaughter.

According to the reports, the woman was in an abusive relationship, and the stab-

bing was the end result of a confrontation with the now deceased, Tyrone McDonald Best.

During her trial in 2014, Williams said that on the night of December 27th, 2008, she and Best left to visit her cousin’s father for money and some marijuana. After they had left the cousin’s father’s house, Best started accusing her of having an affair with the man because of how he observed the man was looking at her.

An argument ensued and Williams said that Best started

slapping her head and then proceeded to hit her about the body. The knife, she said, was being used to keep him off, and he ran into the knife. After spending several days in the hospital receiving treatment for the stab wound to his chest, Best died.

On the grounds of acting in self-defence, and showing great remorse for what transpired, Williams was ready to challenge the decision of the learned trial judge who passed an 18-year sentence for the crime committed.

However, when the matter was called on Monday, the unrepresented Williams stood before the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices of Appeal Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory, and said she would no longer like to appeal her case. She did not provide a reason.

Her request was granted, and the court was adjourned.

This newspaper however, was reliably informed that Williams has been out on parole since June 2018.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Tuesday, February 5, 2019 05:00hrs.-06:30hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

FROM BACK PAGE

Champs Bent Street open up against Melanie –Sparta Boss, Gold is Money also in action

AFTER an impressive start to this year’s Magnum Mash Cup Futsal competition, the organisers of this year’s competition are looking for another night of big support when action resumes this evening at the National Gymnasium.

Headlining tonight’s action will be defending

champions, Bent Street, who open up their defence with a clash against Melanie in the final fixture of the evening.

Also returning to the court will be Sparta Boss, who faces Gaza Squad in the penultimate game, while another tournament favourite, West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’, commence their

quest for top honours with an engagement against Stabroek Ballers.

Making an appearance as well is Tiger Bay, who go up against Rhythm Ballers, while Linden’s Silver Bullets will aim to make a positive start when they face Sophia in what is anticipated to be a tough matchup.

FROM BACK PAGE

England hold crisis meeting after another thrashing by Windies

(REUTERS) - England have held a crisis meeting after a second humiliation by the West Indies in as many tests left the team worried by their poor form in a year they host the World Cup and the Ashes series against Australia, coach Trevor Bayliss said.

Following a 381-run defeat by the hosts in the first test in Barbados last month, England suffered a 10-wicket thrashing in Antigua on Saturday to lose the three-match series 2-0 after only seven days of cricket.

“We want to get to the root of why we haven’t played as well as we’d like. We posed some questions to them last night in the changing room and gave them 24 hours to think about it,” Bayliss told reporters.

“Any defeat is not good. It’s how you come back. Obviously we didn’t come back too well in this game. It’s a big year ahead...

I’d have to say it’s a concern.”

Skipper Joe Root said after their latest loss that England’s batting was to blame after managing 187 and 132 in two innings.

“We haven’t seemed to have the will to fight. There have been some loose shots and other guys have been tentative,” Bayliss added.

“We have a lot of guys averaging in the low thirties. In years gone by, that wouldn’t have been good enough to stay in the team.”

England host the 50-overs World Cup starting in May before welcoming arch-rivals Australia in August and September.

Bayliss said some batsmen in the team were more confident in the one-day game than the longest format, suggesting that they needed to strike a balance.

“Some are more suited to the one-day style and still trying to come to terms with what is the best rhythm of playing their test cricket,” he added.

“We’ve got to find a way to score. If that means batting time, or picking guys (who play) more in that vein, then so be it. Sometimes I feel the message between one-day cricket and test cricket gets muddled.”

FROM BACK PAGE

Jaguars still retain top spot in Four-Day championship …Volcanoes move up to second place

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Windward Islands Volcanoes have moved up to second place in the Regional Four-Day Championship standings, following their clinical eight-wicket win over Barbados Pride in the sixth round of matches which concluded last weekend.

Volcanoes started the round in fourth but their trouncing of the hosts at Kensington Oval on Sunday saw them climb to 69 points, behind leaders Guyana Jaguars on 92 points.

The visitors, behind

a superb 199 from veteran opener Devon Smith, produced a strong batting display to pile up 470 for eight declared in their first innings before turning over Barbados twice for modest total, to be left with a simple target to chase on Sunday’s final day.

The win was Volcanoes’ third of the season but they have also recorded three defeats.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes remained in third spot despite their one-wicket defeat to Jamaica Scorpions at Warner Park in Basseterre.

They moved to 64.4 to be narrowly behind Volcanoes, heading into the seventh round this coming weekend.

Pride, third at the start of the round, slipped to fourth after suffering their third loss of the season.

Scorpions, meanwhile, have moved off the bottom of the standings to be fifth on 51.2 points while Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, who stunned Jaguars by 93 runs in Port of Spain to notch their second win of the campaign, are bottom on 50.2.

BV-B will no doubt want to make life difficult for Good Life in their encounter, while Kingston and Avocado Ballers go head to head to see who will secure the maximum three points.

California Square then tackles Capital Strikers, before BV-B returns to take on Back Circle.

Meanwhile, the organisers are asking all teams to co-operate with them to ensure that the tournament continues to run in accordance with the rules and regulations set out by the Guyana Football Federation and the Guyana Police Force.

They are also asking for players to be on time since

those coming late will have to forfeit their games.

All teams are asked to be properly uniformed or will face disqualification by the referees, and also all teams must submit and maintain players list before games and be ready for games promptly to accommodate the smooth flow of the programme.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Starc takes 10 to lead Australia to 2-0 series win

By Sudipto Ganguly

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Fast bowler Mitchell Starc picked up his second five-wicket haul in the match to lead Australia to a comprehensive 366-run victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka and a

2-0 series win at Manuka Oval on Monday.

Chasing an improbable 516 for victory, the tourists were shot out for 149

by Australia, who won the opening Test in Brisbane by an innings and 40 runs.

The series win against Sri Lanka was the first for

Australia since they thrashed England 4-0 in the Ashes early last year.

“It’s nice to get some reward. I’ve said all summer this group has been working really hard,” Australia captain Tim Paine said after the win.

I think we’re starting to

Mitchell Starc’s 10-wicket haul in the second Test helped Australia clean sweep the series © (AFP)

build towards something so it’s great to get some reward for the work we’ve been putting in.

“It doesn’t matter what the wicket is like or who you are playing against.”

Left-arm quick Starc bowled with the same aggression and pace that earned him a five-wicket haul in the first innings to finish with 5-46 and only his second match haul of 10 wickets.

Starc’s only other 10-wicket haul in a match was also against Sri Lanka when he took 11-94 in a 2016 Test in Galle.

Man –of- the- match Starc began the day adding the wickets of opener Dimuth Karunaratne and Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal to his tally.

The paceman got a fast delivery to cut back into Karunaratne, who failed to add to his overnight score of eight, and breached his defence clipping the leg bail.

Chandimal was out for four when he guided Starc straight into the hands of Marnus Labuschagne at slip which ended a dismal tour for the right-hander, who aggregated 24 runs from four innings.

“We were outplayed as a team in all three departments,” a dejected Chandimal, who said he was disappointed with his own performance, told reporters.

“Credit goes to Australia, they have played some outstanding cricket throughout the series.

“We need to work harder... specially as a batting unit we have to step up.

That’s the one are we are concerned about.”

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA 1st innngs 534-5 dec’l Sri Lanka 1st innings 215 Australia 2nd innings 196-3 dc’l SRI LANKA 2nd innings Dimuth Karunaratne b Mitchell Starc 8 Lahiru Thirimanne c&b Pat Cummins 30 Dinesh Chandimal c Marnus Labuschagne b Mitchell Starc 4 Niroshan Dickwella b Mitchell Starc 27 Kusal Mendis c Kurtis Patterson b Marnus Labuschagne 42 Kusal Perera c Tim Paine b Mitchell Starc 0 Dhananjaya de Silva c Travis Head b Jhye Richardson 6 Chamika Karunaratne c Tim Paine b Pat Cummins 22 Dilruwan Perera c Tim Paine b Pat Cummins 4 Kasun Rajitha Not Out 2 Vishwa Fernando b Mitchell Starc 0 Extras: 1b 1lb 0nb 0pen 2w 4 Total:(51.0 overs) 149 all out Fall of Wickets: 1-18 Karunaratne, 2-28 Chandimal, 3-58 Thirimanne, 4-83 Dickwella, 5-83 Perera, 6-97 de Silva, 7-143 Mendis, 8-143 Karunaratne, 9-148 Perera, 10-149 Fernando Bowling: Mitchell Starc 18- 2-46-5 (1w), Jhye Richardson 9-1-29-1 (1w) Nathan Lyon 13-1-51-0, Pat Cummins 8-2-15-3, Marnus Labuschagne 3-1-6-1.

Sri Lanka promoted Niroshan Dickwella, who had made an attacking 64 in Brisbane, and he and opener Lahiru Thirimanne added 30 for the third wicket.

A sharply climbing delivery from Pat Cummins ended Thirimanne’s knock of 30 when the fast bowler sprinted forward to take a diving return catch inches off the ground.

Starc returned for his second spell to dismiss Dickwella (27) and Kusal Perera, who was cleared to bat on Monday after being hit on the helmet by a bouncer on the third morning, in successive deliveries to take his match haul to nine.

Dhananjaya de Silva kept out the hat-trick delivery but fell right after the lunch interval to Jhye Richardson, spooning a catch to

the mid-on fielder.

Kusal Mendis and Chamika Karunaratne stalled Australia’s victory march with a seventh-wicket stand of 46 before the former found the fielder at cover with an uppish drive against leg-spinner Labuschagne.

Mendis fell for 42 while Chamika edged Cummins to be out for 22 as Australia inched closer to victory.

Fans in Atlanta argue over who will win Super Bowl LIII Paine brought Starc back to give him a chance to complete his 10-wicket haul and the quick bowled out Vishwa Fernando to complete the mark.

Cummins finished with 3-15 and was adjudged player of the series for his haul of 14 wickets from the two Tests.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Patriots beat Rams to win sixth Super Bowl title

By Steve Keating

ATLANTA (Reuters) The New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 on Sunday in the lowest scoring Super Bowl played to capture the National Football League championship for a record-tying sixth time.

The victory, which moves the Patriots into a share of the all-time mark with the Pittsburgh Steelers, was also a record sixth Super Bowl triumph for Tom Brady, who at 41 became the oldest quarterback to win the championship game.

Brady was joined in the record books by 66-year-old Bill Belichick who becomes the oldest coach to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy.

“It’s sweet,” said Belichick. “Everybody counted us out from the beginning of the season, the mid-season but we’re still here.”

Brady again orchestrated the victory finally cracking open a tight 3-3 defensive battle late in the fourth quarter when he hit Rob Gronkowski with a 29-yard pass to set up a two-yard touchdown run by Sony Michel.

The Rams looked likely to hit right back when Jared Goff marched Los Angeles into New England territory only to be intercepted on the four-yard line with four minutes to play.

Brady moved in for the kill with another drive to set up kicker Stephen Gostkowski who nailed a 41-yarder with 72 seconds remaining to clinch New England’s third Super Bowl since 2015.

Until the final few minutes the most spectacular moment of an uninspiring contest came when the $1.6 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s ocular eight-pedal retractable roof opened to a massive roar.

That moment aside fans of attacking football had little to cheer with Gostkowski’s 42-yard field goal accounting for all the first half scoring.

The Rams high-powered offence, which averaged nearly 33 points a game during the regular season, failed to fire and managed just 57 total yards and two first downs in the first half and 260 for the game.

Brady, however, had the New England offence on the

New England Patriots’ Tom Brady and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft celebrate winning the Super Bowl LIII. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

move ringing up 407 yards of offence but were their own worst enemy committing uncharacteristic errors.

“We had a lot of resolve the last couple of weeks,” said Brady, who completed 21 of 35 pass attempts for 262 yards. “I wish we had played a little bit better on offense but we won.

“I can’t believe it, we are Super Bowl champs.”

INTERCEPTED FIRST PASS For a team that rarely beats themselves the Patriots did a pretty good job of it in the opening quarter when Brady had his first pass intercepted to snuff out a

promising scoring drive and then on their next possession Gostkowski missed a 46-yard field goal to squander another opportunity.

It was the first missed field goal inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium this season.

Fans in Atlanta argue over who will win Super

Bowl LIII Despite the costly miscues, New England continued to move the ball and Brady dove them to the Los Angeles 24 with the help of a 25-yard pass to Julian Edelman where Gostkowksi atoned for is earlier miss to send the Rams into the break up 3-0.

Edelman pulled in 10 catches for 141 yards to be named the Super Bowl’s most valuable player.

“I wasn’t focused on that (having an MVP performance),” said Edelman.

“I was just trying to have a good week or practice and do my job and sometimes the cookie crumbles that way.”

The Rams sputtering offence finally began to get in gear late in the third quarter as Goff engineered a modest 10-play drive that ended with Greg Zuerlein connecting on a 53-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3.

But points were still hard to come by as two teams reached the final quarter without a touchdown for the first time in a Super Bowl, the six points the fewest ever after three quarters.

Taylor rejoins Windies Guyanese footballer collapses and women, Matthews still out dies during match in Barbados

THE Windies Women are back in Dubai after a 2-1 T20 International series win over Pakistan Women in Karachi over the weekend.

In Dubai they will play three One- Day Internationals against the same team, as part of the ICC Women’s Championship which counts toward qualification for the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2021 in Australia and New Zealand.

The Windies Women will play a 50-over practice match today at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium against a local team, ahead of the first One Day International on February 7 at the Dubai Stadium, then two more on February 9 and 11 at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai. Joining the team in Dubai is Captain Stafanie Taylor who did not participate in the T20 Internationals in Karachi Pakistan.

The Windies Women will have a full strength squad with

West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor

the exception of all-rounder Hayley Matthews who has not fully recovered from an injury sustained last year during the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia.

Head coach of the Windies Women, Henderson Springer said, “ I thought the T20 series

was a tremendous opportunity to give some of the ladies on the Windies team who don’t always play consistently, an opportunity to play and perform, and having won it, I think we’ve built momentum to help us deal with the ODI series.

I think it can go for both teams, because I think that credit must go to the Pakistan team because they’ve worked hard and both teams have done a lot for women’s cricket. I think both teams will be focused and know that they are capable of winning the series.”

Springer welcomed the return of captain Stafanie Taylor saying “ Stafanie Taylor is always a welcomed addition, both as captain and as one of our leading batters. It means that we will get more runs on the board to put the bowlers in a position to comfortably defend whatever we score… It is always a welcomed addition to have Stafanie on the team.”

(Sportsmax).

(Barbados Nation) THE CARIBBEAN UNITED masters football team has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of player Nigel Nurse.

The 38-year-old Guyanese national complained of feeling ill during his side’s match against Weymouth Wales at the Barbados Lumber Company’s Waterford, St Michael ground on Saturday night, in the Claytons Barbados Masters League before collapsing in the fifth minute of play.

According to reports, there were a number of attempts by emergency personnel to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by the time ambulance

Nigel Nurse

officials arrived, but they were unsuccessful. It is understood that Nurse passed away en route to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and was pronounced dead on arrival.

The match was abandoned as well as all games scheduled for last night. When contacted yesterday, manager of

the team, Rafeek Jhalu, recounted the untimely passing.

“It was so tragic, especially because we were actually playing a game at the time. He told the player that was marking him that he was feeling bad and he fell,” he told the NATION. (Extracted from the Nation).

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Warne leads chorus of international criticism over ICC’s decision to ban Holder BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Test legend Shane Warne has led a chorus of international criticism over the International Cricket Council’s decision to impose a onematch ban on West Indies captain Jason Holder for a slow over-rate in the just concluded second Test in Antigua.

The ICC announced Monday that West Indies had been two overs short of their required quota during the contest at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground which West Indies won emphatically by 10 wickets with two days to spare.

Holder, as captain, was fined 40 per cent of his match fee – double that of his players – and slapped with the ban as the breach was the second for the Windies in the

last 12 months. He will now miss the final Test starting next weekend in St Lucia.

“The test didn’t go 3 days – can you please appeal this @JaseHolder98!” tweeted Warne, the all-time wicket-taker in Tests with 708 victims from 145 matches.

“What a ridiculous decision – where’s the common sense here ? Ps Congrats on a wonderful series win too.

International cricket needs a strong Windies team & hopefully this is just the start.”

He added: “The fans at the ground saw some awesome cricket from you & your team. No one at the ground would have felt short changed whatsoever. What a ridiculous decision & I hope this will be overturned!”

Former England captain Michael Vaughn, also

West Indies captain Jason Holder

slammed the ICC’s decision as “bonkers”, arguing the fact the match lasted less than three days made the over-rate breach irrelevant.

“For a game that finished inside 3 days I find this absolutely bonkers …,” said Vaughn, who scored over 5700 runs from 82 Tests.

“246 over Test Match ..

that amounts to 2.6 days of Cricket .. A team hammers the opposition & plays great Test cricket yet the Captain gets a ban for Slow over rate .. @Jaseholder98 can find himself very very unlucky on this occasion .. !! The game really doesn’t help itself …”

Prominent commentator,

Ramdhani shines at Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Badminton tournament

NARAYAN Ramdhani continued his high performance in Canada, this time reaching the Finals and placing second at the 2018-19 ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference) Inter College/University Badminton Tournament #3, played at the Olds College in Alberta.

This is the third finals in a row after winning his first in November 2019 and the second in early January.

The circuit will continue and concludes with the

Narayan Ramdhani with Kings Eagles Head Coach Naeem Haque

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday February 5, 2019) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & Cummings Electrical Company Ltd. 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to Tuesday’s quiz: (1) John Campbell (WI) & Joe Denly (ENG) (2) 25 wickets Today’s Quiz: (1) What is Alvin Kallicharran's highest Test score in England?

(2) How many times Gary Sobers and Rohan Kanhai played together in Tests?

Answer in tomorrow's issue

ACAC Championships on February 17 at the Concordia University.

The King’s UniversityEAGLES, Olds CollegeBRONCOS, Concordia University of EdmontonTHUNDER and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) –OOKS are the teams that participated.

Ramdhani, who was seeded number one, represented The King’s Eagles and defeated Jeffery Ko (21-10, 21-17) in the quarter-finals, and then took care of Ronuelle Mendina (21-15, 21-10) in the semifinals.

In the Finals, Ramdhani went down to Ronuelle

Mendina 21-11 and 21-10.

In the Men’s doubles, Ramdhani teamed up with Aakash Panchal but the pair lost in the Quarter-Finals to Braxton Wong and Raphael Wong in straight sets 21-18 and 21-17.

Ramdhani and Panchal then finished fifth by defeating Alex Boulier and Rylan Head 21-16, 21-13 and then Colton Grier-Olds and Luther Jurke 21-15 and 2116.

The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is the governing body for collegiate sports in Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1964 as the Western Inter-College Conference, the ACAC is represented by seventeen schools, including one in Saskatchewan that competes in ten sports.

The ACAC is a member of the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association, and provincial champions compete for national collegiate titles.

In a release, the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) stated that they’re “extremely happy with the consistent performance and development of this player.”

Mike Haysman, meanwhile called for a review of the controversial ICC rule.

“So this situation is totally wrong. The ICC needs to seriously look at this deal,” he tweeted. “It makes no sense to suspend leaders who excel inside the stipulated 5 days. Just makes no sense to rob the team of a captain like this. Review please now.”

Another former England captain, Mike Atherton, who is covering the three-Test series as a pundit for Sky Sports, called the ban “ridiculous”.

“It seems ridiculous to me that the game England can’t extend beyond the third day, you have a captain banned for slow over-rates,” Atherton said.

Holder has been the seminal figure in the series, not only with his superb han-

dling of the side but with excellent performances on the field.

He hit a monumental unbeaten double hundred in the opening Test in Bridgetown, to lay the foundation for the Windies’ crushing 381-run victory inside four days.

And he was superb with the ball in the second Test, especially in the second innings, when he broke the backbone of the England batting with an excellent spell after lunch to finish with five wickets in the game.

The ICC said Holder did not contest the charge and as a result, no formal hearing was needed.

West Indies face England in the final Test starting Saturday, having already won the series and reclaimed the coveted Wisden Trophy.

Body found in wreckage of plane carrying soccer player Sala, investigators say LONDON (Reuters) - Air accident investigators said on Monday they had found the wreckage of the missing aircraft carrying Premier League soccer player Emiliano Sala on the seabed near Guernsey and that a body was visible inside.

The 28-year-old Argentina-born forward had been en route from Nantes in western France with pilot David Ibbotson to make his debut for Welsh team Cardiff City when the plane is believed to have crashed into the sea on Jan. 21 “The object is wreckage from the missing Piper Malibu aircraft,” Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch said in a statement.

“Tragically, in video footage from the ROV, one occupant is visible amidst the wreckage. The AAIB is now considering the next steps, in consultation with the families of the pilot and passenger, and the police.”

The wreckage was found on Sunday following a privately-funded underwater search which began after

Premier League soccer player Emiliano Sala

two seat cushions were discovered on the French coast that likely belonged to the aircraft.

The AAIB said it had now concluded it was the missing Piper Malibu aircraft, issuing an underwater image of the crashed plane with part of its registration number - N264DB - clearly visible.

“The image shows the rear left side of the fuselage including part of the aircraft registration,” the AAIB said. “We intend to publish an interim report within one month of the accident occurring.”

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Caribbean Junior Karting Academy Championship…

Rayden Persaud moves to seventh

By Stephan Sookram (compliments of KFC, ENetworks, Secure Innovations and Concepts and AMS GUYANA’s highest placed competitor at the inaugural Caribbean Junior Karting Academy Championships, Rayden Persaud, has hopped one place to seventh after rounds three and four last weekend.

Rayden, who had positive results with two fifth place and one seventh place finishes on Saturday, returned on Sunday and placed10th, 8th, 7th and 6th respectively to complete the weekend. He currently sits on 125 points, three ahead of Barbados’ Kayleigh Catwell who has 122.

Barbadian Adam Mallalieu leads the charge

with 295 points, ahead of his countryman Calem Maloney with 292 and Jamaican Ryan Chisholm (209).

The Jamaican duo of Zander Williams and Tommi Gore are fourth and fifth respectively with 186 and 182 points with Adam Marshall (132 points) just ahead of Rayden.

Nathan Rahaman is the second highest placed Guyanese at 8th with 91 points after the weekend, surpassing Jeremy Ten-Pow who is now 9th.

Nathan’s weekend included some enterprising drives with a sixth, a tenth, a ninth and an eight place finish on Sunday, coupled with an eighth, ninth, DNF and tenth place finishes.

Ten-Pow, on the other

Rayden Persaud (G26) fends off a challenge from countryman Zachary Persaud (G79).

Barbados’ Kayleigh Catwell is in the background. (Stephan Sookram photo)

hand, had a torrid weekend, getting a best result of seventh place finish on Satur-

day. Sunday did not yield the results he was hoping for with his highest being

8th.

Zachary Persaud also had an improved perfor-

mance, moving up to 10th after some consistent driving as he continues in his 125cc path.

Paige Mendonca also had some impressive drives as she sits 11th in the standings. The other Guyanese competitor Elan Rahaman opted out of rounds 3 and 4 and will not be competing in the final two rounds billed for March 2 and 3.

There was a lot to cheer for in the Guyanese camp, however, when Justin TenPow thrilled those in attendance with his battles with that country’s Logan Stollmyer.

Stollmyer picked up two first place and one second place finish while Justin picked up a first, a second and one fifth place finish.

King, Gaffor cop Best Lifter titles at GAPLF Novices/Juniors

Oudit, Indarjit, Goukaran and Mohamed set new records A female powerlifter during her deadlift routine. (Samuel Maughn photo)

By Michelangelo Jacobus ONCE again, the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) Novices/Juniors Championships were a success with new stars shining, the likes of Shelly Ann Gomes, Fawaz Rampertab, Jermy Indarjit, Akram Gaffor and Tremel King, all winning their respective categories while records also tumbled at the hands of Indarjit, guest lifter Lisa Oudit, Ramzan Mohamed and Akshay Goukaran.

Competing in the Female Open Classic 72Kg category, Gomes (Buddy’s Gym athlete)

copped the Best Lifter Novice Award with a best squat of 100kg, a bench press of 50kg and a deadlift of 137.5kg (total weight 287.5kg), her Wilks points was 287.960.

Meanwhile, Nela Gomes (Female Equipped 63Kg) of Total Fitness Gym, turned in a good performance, squatting 97.5kg, bench pressing 40kg and deadlifting 110kg (total weight 247.5kg).

Fawaz Rampertab was adjudged the overall Best Junior Lifter Equipped. Competing in the Male Junior 74kg category, he squatted 225 kg, bench pressed 122.5kg and deadlifted

England hold crisis meeting after another thrashing by Windies

Akram Gaffor powered his way to the Best Lifter (Equipped) in the Novices open category, competing in the 59 Kg Equipped class.

237.5kg, with a total weight of 585kg and 433.08 Wilks points to claim that accolade.

Jermy Indarjit of Goodlife Fitness competed in the Male Sub Junior Classic 66Kg category and lifted his way to the best Sub Junior Lifter title. Indarjit squatted 162.5kg, bench pressed 80kg and deadlifted 205kg with a total weight of 447.5kg lifted.

Akram Gaffor powered his way to the Best Lifter (Equipped) in the Novices open category, competing in the 59Kg Equipped class. His best squat of 135kg, bench press of 85kg and deadlift of 160 kg (total weight 380kg) and wilks points total of 391.172

was enough to land him the title.

Meanwhile, Space Gym’s Tremel King landed the Best Lifter (Classic/Unequipped) trophy.

Lifting in the 93kg Unequipped category, King squatted 230kg, bench pressed 150kg and deadlifted 257.5kg, his total weight lifted was 637.5kg while his Wilks points total was 400.796.

Overall, the event, dubbed the birthplace of powerlifting future, was a success with a full house in attendance and over 30 athletes competing at this year’s Novices/Juniors Championship, making it the GAPLF’s most well attended competition in recent years.

The records broken were: Ramzam Mohamed 120kg Junior Classic --Squat 230kg --Bench 135kg --Deadlift 225kg Total 590kg Askhay Goukaran 93kg Sub Junior Classic --Squat 142.5kg --Bench 85kg --Deadlift 195kg Total 422.5kg Jermy Indarjit 66kg Sub Junior Classic --Squat 162.5kg --Bench 80kg --Deadlift 205kg Total 447.5kg Lisa Oudit 84kg Open Classic --Squat 135kg --Bench 65.5kg --Deadlift 152.5kg --Total 353kg

Champs Bent Street open up against Melanie

See Page 27

–Sparta Boss, Gold is Money also in action

See Page 27

England captain Joe Root

FLASHBACK! Bent Street following their title win last year

Jaguars still retain top spot in Four-Day championship Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

See Page 27

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019