Guyana Chronicle E-paper 02-06-2019

WEDNESDAY 6th February, 2019

Gov't files appeals in confidence vote case 05

No.105540

The Noble Tom Madden drillship was contracted by ExxonMobil Guyana to undertake exploration activities in the 6.6 million acres Stabtoek Block

Exxon in major discoveries at Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 wells

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Who's next? 04 PAGE

…PPP member Jennifer Webster loses residency status in Canada

No decision on elections date 16 PAGE

DOUBLE OIL STRIKE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

DOUBLE OIL STRIKE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Exxon in major discoveries at Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 wells

UNITED States oil giant ExxonMobil has reportedly discovered oil in two of its recently drilled wells, a top source at the company told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday.

The source based in the U.S. said that the official announcement of the finds would be made later this week. The official would not go into details about the discoveries, but related that substantial commercial quantities were found at the Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 wells.

The Guyana Chronicle was unable to confirm the find with Director of Energy Dr Mark Bynoe as calls to his phone went unanswered.

Several senior government officials also declined to comment and referred this newspaper to the Department of Energy.

Exxon’s local subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) late December had announced the beginning of a three-month drilling operation on January 5, 2019 at the Tilapia-1 well site within the Stabroek Block.

Tilapia-1 is located 3.4 miles (5.5 kilometres) west of the Longtail-1 well. Eleven vessels will be involved in this operation: Noble Tom Madden, M/V Cat Island, M/V El and, M/V Oryx, Clarence Triche, Liam J Mc Call, Paradise Island, Sanibel Island, Horn Island, Robert Adams and Jack Edwards.

The drill site the company had said then was approximately 111.4 nautical miles from the coast of Guyana and covers an area of one square kilometre.

Additionally, on January 2, 2019, EEPGL began a three-month operation at the Haimara-1 well site. The Stena Carron drillship was deployed for this operation and was supported by the same vessels being used for the Tilapia-1 well. Back in December 3, 2018 Exxon had announced its 10th discovery offshore Guyana and increased its estimate of the discovered recoverable resource for the Stabroek Block to more than five bil-

The Stena Carron drillship lion oil-equivalent barrels.

The resource estimate, up from the previous estimate of more than 4 billion oil-equivalent barrels, is a result of further evaluation of previous discoveries and includes a new discovery at the Pluma-1 well, the company said in a statement. “The discovery of a resource base of more than 5 billion oil-equivalent barrels in less than four years is a testament of our technical expertise and rigorous evaluation and pursuit of high-potential, highrisk opportunities in this frontier area,” said Neil Chapman, ExxonMobil senior vice-president. “We will continue to apply what we’ve learned to identify additional exploration prospects and potential future discoveries that will deliver significant value to the Guyanese people, our partners and shareholders.”

The Pluma-1 well encountered approximately 121 feet (37 metres) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone reservoir. Pluma-1 reached a depth of 16,447 feet (5,013

metres) in 3,340 feet (1,018 metres) of water. The Noble Tom Madden drillship began drilling on Nov. 1. The well is located approximately 17 miles (27 kilometres) south of the Turbot-1 well.

The Noble Tom Madden will next drill the Tilapia-1 prospect located 3.4 miles (5.5 kilometres) west of the Longtail-1 well. “Together with the Government and people of Guyana, we are continuing to grow the value of the Stabroek Block for Guyana, our partners and ExxonMobil with successful exploration investments,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company. “Our ongoing work will evaluate development options in the south-eastern portion of the block, potentially combining Pluma with prior Turbot and Longtail discoveries into a major new development area.”

The Liza Phase 1 development is expected to begin producing up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day by early 2020, utilising the Liza Destiny floating storage, production and offloading vessel (FPSO).

As previously announced, Liza Phase 2 is expected to start up by mid-2022.

Pending government and regulatory approvals, Liza Phase 2 project sanction is expected in early 2019 and will use a second FPSO designed to produce up to 220,000 barrels per day.

Sanctioning of a third development, Payara, is also expected in 2019 with start up as early as 2023.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). ExxonMobil’s affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, is the operator and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 per cent.

Director of the Department of Energy Dr. Mark Bynoe , at the time had said: “This is great news for Guyana…the country is on the cusp of transformational development for current and future generations, and the news of ExxonMobil’s 10th discovery offshore Guyana is expected to facilitate the

country’s realisation of substantial social and economic improvements.”

In his recent budget presentation, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had said that the discovery of very significant oil reserves has put Guyana at a critical point in its history, “providing us with the opportunity to shift our development path, modernise our economy and transform the lives of our

citizens. We are poised for rapid economic expansion, and our government is committed to pursuing economic and social policies conducive to equitable, sustainable and environmentally friendly growth.”

Jordan noted that the government has embarked on a number of initiatives to ensure that “we do not squander these resources.”

He said that in order to capture the full benefit of our new-found wealth, “we must chart a course of development that is diversified, inclusive and sustainable. This is why we have embarked on the development of the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), a comprehensive document of strategic actions, policies, projects and programmes to guide our development trajectory over the next 20 years. The objective is broader than Guyana‘s past development strategies and captures a more holistic view of social, economic and environmental well-being, which is in line with the United Nation‘s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In particular, the strategy aims to foster sustained economic growth that is low-carbon and climate-resilient, as well as promote social cohesion, good governance and careful management of our finite natural resources.”

Miner dies after pit collapses POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Timothy Hunter, 54, a pitman of Jawalla Village, Upper Mazaruni River at about 16:30hrs, on Monday, at a mining pit located at Ominaik Village, Upper Mazaruni River.

An initial investigation revealed that Hunter and other workers were working (“jetting”) inside a pit when a wall collapsed and covered him. When the man was removed he was found to be unresponsive.

The body is presently at the Imbaimadai Health Post awaiting a post-mortem examination to be conducted on Thursday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Who’s next ? … PPP member Jennifer Webster loses residency status in Canada DAYS after it was learnt that its presidential candidate Irfaan Ali cannot travel to Canada, another PPP member, former Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, lost her Canadian residency status after failing to comply with that country’s residency obligation.

In handing down its ruling, the Immigration Refugee Board of Canada Immigration Appeal Division explained that the former Guyana government minister failed to comply with the residency obligation of section 28 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. According to the records, Webster had not resided in Canada for at least 730 days in the five-year period immediately before November 2014.

“The appellant did not challenge the legal validity of the determination. She conceded that she was not physically present in Canada for 730 days in the five-year period between December 2009 and December 2014,” the Immigration Appeal Division explained, while noting that Webster asked that discretion be exercised. She pleaded for the division to allow the appeal on the basis of humanitarian and compassionate considerations.

According to the records of the Immigration Refugee Board of Canada, the former government minister became a permanent resident of Canada in October 2009 with her daughter when she migrated to Canada as a skilled worker. However, she spent only 148 days in Canada.

In justifying her reason for failing to spend the required amount of days in Canada, Webster said she was unable to establish herself here because she was minister of finance in Guyana and had taken a constitutional oath to serve her country.

“She was elected in 2006 and appointed minister of finance shortly after; she held this office until 2015. As a result, she did not comply with her residency obligation. This is her appeal,” the division record states.

Webster told the Canadian authorities that she accepted the appointment as Minister of Societal Services in 2011 because the portfolio would have enabled her to advance the cause of women and girls and take initiatives to end violence towards women on high-profile committees with the United Nations.

After the defeat of the PPP/C government in May 2015, she re-migrated to Canada with

her mother and daughter.

“She explained [that] she remained in Guyana because she was moved by the opportunity Guyana had to have a seat at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

The appellant advanced the cause of women and girls at an international level and this is impressive work.,” the record stated. However, the division felt that Webster had no compelling reason to remain outside Canada for most of the first six years after obtaining her permanent resident status.

“I also note the appellant did not return to Canada at the earliest opportunity. Instead of returning after her first mandate she chose to seek re-election. There is no evidence the appellant even attempted to find work in Canada between 2009 and 2015. She chose to maintain her position as a minister for two mandates. I do not find the reasons given for the appellant’s absence mitigate her absence.

This is a negative factor,” Roxane Vachon said. Vachon formed the tribunal panel and handed down the decision.

Informing the Immigration Appeal Division that she had paid for a condo, Webster confessed to selling all of her properties.

“She invested most of the funds from the sale of her Guyana properties in the purchase of an expensive home. Unfortunately, the builder of the home received the funds and did not complete the building. The matter is now being litigated,” Vachon said.

According to the former minister, she has her personal belongings in Canada, and has no assets in Guyana. But despite her pleas, the division informed Webster that the breach of the residency obligation is very important.

“The appellant obtained her permanent resident status in 2009 and has been present for some 148 days in the relevant period. She must establish a high degree of humanitarian and compassionate factors. Her decision to depart and remain outside Canada was not beyond her control; and although it may have been for a good cause, her reasons are not compelling,” Vachon explained. But despite her pleas, the Immigration Appeal Division said there was insufficient humanitarian and compassionate considerations to warrant special relief in light of all the circumstances of the case.

The appeal was dismissed. The decision was made on July 9, 2018.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Gov’t files appeal in confidence-vote case – tells court chief justice erred in law and fact

– says decision was unreasonable

By Svetlana Marshall ATTORNEY General Basil Williams has filed two appeals challenging Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire’s decision to uphold Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland’s ruling that the no-confidence motion against the government was validly passed.

In the High Court last Thursday, the chief justice ruled that 33 constituted an absolute majority in the 65-member National Assembly, and as such, the motion was validly carried on the night of December 21, 2018.

In the case Attorney General v the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Leader of the Opposition, Williams, in his application to the Court of Appeal, said he is dissatisfied with the “whole” decision.

“The Honourable Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire erred and misdirected herself in law when she ruled that the motion of no-confidence upon a division vote of 33:32 members of the National Assembly was validly passed as the requisite majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly, pursu-

ant to article 106 (6) of the constitution,” the Attorney General contended.

According to him, the chief justice erred in law and in fact. He is of the strong opinion that her decision was unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to the evidence. Williams informed the court that further grounds of appeal will be filed when the judgment of the chief justice becomes available.

In handing down her decision, the Chief Justice George-Wiltshire explained that in acquiring a majority, one side must acquire one more than the other side.

An absolute majority, she said, as specified by the constitution, is a majority of all Members of Parliament present regardless if they are present or not. The chief justice concluded that an absolute majority is 33.

“At least 33 votes must always be obtained to meet that requirement. If 55 members are present, a majority of all elected members of the National Assembly would still be 33. If only 45 are present, a majority of all elected members of the National Assembly would still be 33, and even if only 33 members are present, a ma-

jority of all elected members of the National Assembly would still be 33,” Chief Justice George-Wiltshire explained. The attorney general is hoping to have the Court of Appeal overturn the chief justice’s ruling.

The attorney general is also challenging the decision of the chief justice in the case Christopher Ram v The Attorney General and the Leader of the Opposition.

That ruling was similar to the majority case; however, in the case of Ram, Chief Justice George-Wiltshire said that Cabinet should have resigned on the night of December 21, 2018, when the motion was declared carried by the speaker.

Williams, in filing his appeal, told the Appellate Court that he is dissatisfied with the decision of the High Court.

“The Honourable Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire erred and misdirected herself in law when she ruled that on 21st December, 2018, the National Assembly of Guyana properly, validly and lawfully passed a motion on a vote of confidence provided for by Article 106 (6) of the constitution in which the government was defeated,” the attorney general stated.

He is contending too that the chief justice erred and misdirected herself in law when she ruled that Cabinet should have resigned with immediate effect upon defeat of the government in accordance with Article 106 (6) of the constitution.

Williams is arguing that the decision was unreasonable and cannot be supported, having regard to the evidence. He wants the court to set aside her decision.

The chief justice ruled that Cabinet, which is a subset of government, should have resigned with immediate effect upon passage of the no-confidence motion while the government remains in office until the President takes the oath of office following an election. That

Attorney General Basil Williams, SC election, according to Article 106 (7), shall be held within 90 days of the defeat of a government or such longer period as the National Assembly by resolution, supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all elected members.

Contrary to the arguments put by the attorney general, that to have a government without a Cabinet would be a recipe for chaos, the chief justice, said there

would be no resulting chaos.

It must be noted that while the Cabinet, including the President, is required to resign, the President remains the President of Guyana and the ministers remain ministers of government and will continue to function in those capacities.

According to the constitution, they are required to resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Unity equals development

MOST Guyanese would agree that even with our vast and diverse resources, Guyana is disproportionately underdeveloped.

Many may also agree that a major factor in the failure to optimally use our assets is – in large part – the result of our society’s divisions based on “race;” divisions which coincide with, and are reinforced by political fault-lines. It is interesting too, that those “divisions” become obvious only during election seasons; could it be that some politicians deliberately try to divide us for their own benefit?

The socio-political results of this division are the elevation of persons with flawed characters, selfish motivations, and questionable qualifications to positions of power. This happens because political leaders often successfully convince citizens to vote for them based on their race instead of on their merit.

And the economic consequence is stratification, inequality, and stagnation.

Guyanese should realise that if this continues, no amount of oil revenues would save us if we do not put away that senseless behaviour.

One would notice that the word “race” is in quotation marks; this is to emphasise that “race” is a man-made construct. In other words, the concept of race has absolutely no basis in fact, and no objective existence outside of the minds of persons imprisoned

by racism. And the prison of racism imposes an artificial, self-created limitation on one’s ability to make informed choices.

Let us examine the issue scientifically.

Racism or racial prejudice is defined as, ‘the [irrational] belief that each race possesses specific characteristics, abilities, or qualities that distinguish it as inferior or superior to another one (Encyclopaedia Britannica).’ And antagonism or action based on that belief is racial discrimination.

The concept of race (in the English Language) was first concretised in the mid-19th century with the objective of dehumanising Africans, Indians, Indigenous peoples and other persons, in order to rationalise and legitimise the practice of slavery, indentureship, colonisation, and exploitation by European masters.

As it relates to Guyana – both historically and perhaps currently – Guyana’s Indigenous peoples, East Indians, Africans, Chinese and other populations were all considered inferior to Europeans during that hellish, dark era. All our ancestors were all victims of racism. Is it not terribly ironic, and hypocritically illogical, for us now to commit the same sin by discriminating against each other, thereby hindering the unity that we need for our own progress and development? And make no mistake, without national unity we will be too weak and divided to hold our elected representatives

accountable.

Fortunately, the truth was revealed. By the early 20th century, intellectuals and scientists such as anthropologist Franz Boas concluded – based on studies of human blood types among others – that such a thing as race does not exist; it has no basis in biology. Instead, it is a fictional form of identity, a fabrication, a made-up thing that some politicians invented in an evil attempt to justify their own selfish, greedy, self-serving interests. Simply put, race is not real; devious politicians made it up.

Scientists now know this to be absolutely true, based on recent studies of the human genome.

Basically, the evil fiction of different races was invented by people as a cover for the exploitation of other human beings. And we must never forget that, that evil lie has resulted in inequality, wars, unimaginable suffering, and even genocide.

In summary, the hard fact is, when we choose leaders based on the false idea of race, we are practising racial discrimination. Those choices are necessarily flawed because they are based on a lie. In other words, persons who are self-imprisoned by racial prejudice cannot choose leaders who will work in the people’s interest. Unfortunately, racial-prisoners cannot see beyond the colour of a candidate’s skin or the texture of an office-seeker’s hair. Racial-prisoners cannot hear the message because of the irrational dislike or fear of the

messenger. Prisoners of prejudice will ignore evidence of a candidate’s corrupt dealings, history of domestic abuse, tendency to commit violent acts, lack of basic communication skills, record of greed, or propensity to lie and steal, just because the candidate has a certain type of hair. Therefore, racial-prisoners should recognise the problem and work to free their own minds.

In conclusion, we know that development is dependent on citizens making decisions based on facts, logic, and rational thought. It is proven that unity is a prerequisite to progress.

It therefore follows that unless citizens choose to abandon the practice of racially influenced decision-making, and free themselves from the prison of prejudice, no amount of pristine forests, beautiful flora and fauna, majestic waterfalls, bauxite, gold, silver, manganese, rice, sugar, or oil can save us from impoverishment, underdevelopment and international contempt. And no amount of money will be sufficient to save us from our own foolishness.

As citizens, we owe it to ourselves and to our children to immediately reject any politician or political party from the moment that they mention or allude to race. Our personal development depends on unity, inclusion, and cohesion; therefore, our only hope lies in embracing a leader who wants to unite all Guyanese and work towards a better life for all.

MoPI handed over all relevant documents for audit into D’Urban Park Dear Editor THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure wishes to respond to an article appearing in the Stabroek News of Sunday, February 3, 2019, under the headline, “Audit Office still awaiting response from Infrastructure Ministry on D’Urban Park’s spending” The Ministry of Public Infrastructure was very surprised by the contents of the article for a number of reasons as shown below:i) On Friday, December 7, 2018, the ministry’s permanent secretary received a

Draft Audit Report from the Audit Office concerning a special Audit into funds utilised for construction of the Durban Park Development Project, to which the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was asked to respond within 30 days. ii) Subsequently, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure requested an extension owing to the involvement of staff in preparation for the ministry’s budget presentation in the National Assembly last December, and such an extension was granted by the auditor general.

iii) The report from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was hand-delivered to the Audit Office on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 and was signed for by one D. James. A copy of the acknowledgement is attached for ease of reference.

It is with deep regret that the Audit Office did not consult with the permanent secretary and other relevant personnel within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

It should be noted that the Audit Office of Guyana had signed for and collected eighty-three (83) vouchers relating to D’urban Park

project in January and February 2017, but to date none has been returned.

The above-mentioned documents appear to be the main source of information in the conduct of the audit and the eventual submission of the report more than two years after the documents were initially collected. This indicated that the audit took almost two (2) years to complete, but the ministry was never meaningfully engaged to offer explanations. The responsibility for expenditure under the purview of Homestretch Development Inc. (HDI), as well as funds paid

through the “Lotto Fund” was ascribed to the ministry.

Due diligence checks would have clearly outlined the distinction between the two entities and the responsible agency for the Lotto Fund payments. The ministry had NO responsibility for expenditure relating to the D’urban Park project prior to April 9, 2016.

It was on April 9, 2016, that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was given the directive to complete the project after it was observed that the works were behind schedule. Please be advised that the ministry was not

responsible for ANY expenditure prior to that date, which originated from the Lotto Fund and Homestretch Development Inc. Notwithstanding this, the ministry delivered ALL vouchers requested by the Audit Office with relevant schedules for scrutiny. However, if it is required, the ministry could provide additional information upon request.

Yours faithfully Krest Cummings Public Relations Officer Ministry of Public Infrastructure

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

PPP squandered 23 years as a government Dear Editor I WOULD like to bring to the attention of my Guyanese brothers and sisters, here and abroad, a news item that appears on TVG Channel 28 Facebook page dated 5th February, 2019 with the caption “CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP MUST COME FROM BROAD PROCESS – JAGDEO”.

If we all recall that the day after Irfaan Ali was selected as the PPP’s presidential candidate, he told his supporters on the West Coast of Demerara at a rally, that in his first year in office as President the country will boom; he would create 50,000 jobs and ensure that 500 billion dollars be invest-

ed in Guyana.

Bharrat Jagdeo in this newscast is now telling the nation that his presidential candidate Irfaan Ali lied to the nation once more as he allegedly did with his qualifications by saying that the country would boom from his first year in office, if he is elected President of Guyana.

Jagdeo said that the country will NOT BOOM in 2020, but in the future beyond...”IN THE FUTURE BEYOND 2020 NOT 2020, THEY ARE RAISING EXPECTATIONS UNNECESSARILY THAT T H E C O U N T RY W I L L BOOM IN 2020, THAT’S WRONG”.

Therefore Irfaan Ali and Bharrat Jagdeo LIED TO THEIR SUPPORTERS AND THE NATION AT LARGE ONCE AGAIN at that rally\

public meeting.

Well, this is expected of them every and anytime they open their mouths to tell the nation something.

This is the same Bharrat Jagdeo who told the media at one of his press conferences that those with dual citizenship within the party will have to give it up after the CJ’s ruling, if it so rules and he called MPs Gail Teixeira and Adrian Annamayah holders of dual citizenship.

Lately, on another press conference just after the CJ’s ruling on the no- confidence motion, Bharrat Jagdeo told the nation that GAIL TOLD HIM SHE WILL BE GIVING UP HER DUAL CITIZENSHIP. Bharrat is now saying that the issue with DUAL CITIZENSHIP IS THAT HE

WANTS CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM, SO THAT IT CAN BE EXAMINED CAREFULLY AND MUST COME FROM A BROAD PROCESS. If Guyanese want to return home and invest, work and live that’s no problem.

But he is now saying that they may also aspire for political leadership and because of that, maybe we have to examine that part of the constitution that speaks of DUAL CITIZENSHIP FOR ONE TO BECOME MP OR MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT. The PPP had 23 years in office and they could not have DECIDED ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM, BUT TODAY THEY ARE. WHY? BECAUSE THEY WA N T TO F O O L T H E

GUYANESE ABROAD and PULL THE WOOL OVER THEIR EYES. Maybe Gail Teixeira and the rest in the PPP do not want to give up their dual citizenship as he has said before. So now he is out with another smoke screen to ensure his supporters are not seeing what he is doing.

It could very well be that Bharrat and Irfaan along with their PPP cabals are going overseas and telling the Guyanese there to come back and vote for the PPP, because they will abandon dual citizenship if they are to win the elections and that they (Guyanese abroad) can enjoy life with benefits in two countries at the same time.

Guyanese are welcome back home and we should all be proud that Bharrat Jagdeo

and the PPP have accepted that our people want to come back and invest in Guyana and to live and work here under this government because the ECONOMY IS ON THE RISE. The PPP and Bharrat realise that things are taking shape under this APNU+AFC government for a better Guyana, where all citizens will live “the good life” that they were promised in 2015 by this government come 2020 and beyond. So Bharrat Jagdeo, Irfaan Ali and the entire PPP are contradicting themselves all the time, thinking they can fool all the Guyanese people here and abroad.

Regards Abel Seetaram

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Coalition should aim to become the wind beneath the wings of the poor and downtrodden Dear Editor I HAVE seen multiple videos on social media, narrated by Mr. Charrandass Persaud, being critical of Mr. Hamilton Green’s pension. This yes, yes, yes man is clearly not a happy bunny. It may just be me, but I tend to look at information objectively and I try to be consistent.

Mr. Charrandass Persaud does not seem to have a problem with Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo’s massive pension.

A pension greater than that of Mr. Barack Obama’s. He cares less about Mr. Sam Hinds’ pension. Mr. Donald Ramotar’s pension is not causing him sleepless nights, even though he served for only three years and was arguably the worst President

ever. The transformative leader Mr. Desmond Hoyte’s lack of pension, when he was alive, is cool by him. If he had objected to all the aforementioned pensions then I would have understood. It boggles the rational mind as to why only Mr. Hamilton Green’s pension is getting his wrath. I guess only Charrandass Persaud can answer that question.

I think it is important that I highlight a potential ‘conflict of interest’ as it relates to Mr. Green. I’ll be grateful If Charrandass Persaud can do the same as it relates to those whose pensions he has no concerns about. Six months ago I was in my office at work. It was my research and CPD day. My mobile phone rang. I answered. The person

on the other end introduced himself as Mr. Hamley Case.

I paused. He sensed my confusion. He then said he is the Guyana High Commissioner to the UK. My pause continued. Wondering why a man of such would be calling me.

He sensed I needed some clarity. Mr Case continued by saying that Mr. Hamilton Green was trying to contact me. At this stage I was none the wiser. Mr. Case sensed this and said Mr. Hamilton Green had been reading my letters and wanted to meet the person behind the persona. He gave me Mr. Hamilton Green’s number. I said I had wanted to speak to Mr. Hamilton Green about close to 30 years now. I told him why. I will share that with the readers later.

Mr. Hamilton Green wanted to speak to me because of what I wrote on multiple occasions about myself. Met my father at the age of 18 years since he was languishing in prison.

Lost my mother at the age of eight. Five orphans left behind in this cruel and unforgiving world to be raised by an unemployed 22-year-old aunt. The days of scavenging the Bourda Market stands for greens, vegetables and fruits left behind by vendors.

A past I did not embrace as a child and young adult, but now recognised it was not my fault and I should not be ashamed of it. Mr. Hamilton Green cared less about my political views. I found that out when I spoke with him and his wife.

I spoke to Mr. Hamilton Green two days after I got his number. He shared with me that he just wanted to meet the author of the letters. I told him, “you already did, nearly 30 years ago.” I sensed some mystification in his voice.

I continued, “I was an impoverished teenager. I had problems with my eye- sight, struggling to see. My headteacher suggested I visit your office, which I did. On arrival you said that you wished to see the young boy first. I was invited into your office. I was petrified. You reassuringly held my hands and put me at ease, like a caring father to a son. You said, do not worry we have all day. I told you about my eyes, completely forgetting that I had a note

from my headteacher. I saw your concern. You wrote a note and arranged transportation for me. I was taken to an optician in Middle Street, obliquely opposite juice power. I think it was Modern Optical Service. I was greeted at the entrance by a Portuguese-looking middle-aged man, who said that the prime minister had called to inform him about me. He arranged for me to be seen first, so that I can go off to school. I got my spectacles in a few days. Eyesight now perfect.” To further convince Mr. Hamilton Green about my story, I described his office and its location. “It was in Parliament Buildings. It was not on the ground floor.

I think it was either on the top or middle floor. I know this because I had to take the stairs.” I continued, “your office was at the distal end closest to the Stabroek Market. Your table was facing the direction of the court. The table was brown. I sat facing the Stabroek Market. You sat facing the court.” Mr. Green said he couldn’t remember, but the description fittted his office. He switched the conversation, because he said he would rather the conversation not be about him. I am sure he would have preferred if I had not written about it. I continued, “is what I wanted to do nearly 30 years now. To tell you thank you.”

I was eligible to vote for the first time in 1997. I did not vote for his PNC. In 2002, I did not vote for the PNC. Actually, I never voted in Guyana. So clearly what Mr. Hamilton Green did for me as a child, despite me being grateful, was not enough for my vote. I say this to articulate the point that I’m not saying Mr. Green should get a pension for what he did for me. I am saying that Mr. Charrandass Persaud’s objection to his pension should be rooted in objectivity. If Mr. Green should not get a pension, then Mr. Jagdeo, Mr. Hinds and Mr. Ramotar should not get pensions either. Also, I write about my relationship with Mr. Hamilton Green to place on record of my great experience with him, as an impoverished child without a party card, TURN TO PAGE 9

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019 FROM PAGE 8

Coalition should aim... but most importantly to highlight any conflict of interest.

I also think I should make it pellucid that my encounter with him as a child did not make me vote for his party in 1997 or 2002 and clearly has not influenced my decision to defend his right for a pension. The reason I did not vote in any of the aforementioned elections was for the simple reason that I saw poor people religiously voting but always remained poor. I now regret not voting.

Twenty-three devastating years of the PPP. I know many may be feeling disappointed with the present government. I myself am disappointed. Minimum wage increased. Toll at the Berbice Bridge decreased.

VAT decrease. An independent judiciary. No extra-judicial or political killings among other positives. But that’s not enough. The electorate expected more. I expected more, but I think the electorate needs to look at the alternative. A corrupt, murderous and racist PPP. Many may doubt my story about Mr. Green. That’s their right. Many may say I was coaxed to make it up. I have no reason to. I can write on many other experiences

of angels who looked out for me as a child. I will share some of these experiences with the readers. I will begin with my former headteacher who wrote the letter to Mr. Hamilton Green for financial support for my spectacles.

That very headteacher also arranged daily lunches for me. At lunch break I would walk to a food van outside NBIC in Water Street. A very friendly bespectacled woman would fill my box with delicious food and a large cup of drink. Not sure why she gave me special treatment. I would go to the Promenade Gardens in Middle Street, where I would enjoy my lunch before returning to school. I hope this wonderful lady read this letter. To her I wish to give a massive thank you. Many days that meal was my first and only meal. I never knew why my former headteacher was looking out for me.

Probably the patches on my trousers told a story. I still remain a close friend with her daughter. On many occasions I said to her how grateful I was for what her mother did for me. I do not think she understood what I meant, since I never elaborated.

My former literature teacher was another angel.

Where did the money go?

Dear Editor IT has been reported by the media that the Local Government Commission (LGC) is spending a whopping 91.4 percent of its total budgetary allocation on wages and salaries for its commissioners. If this is true, then it is gross mismanagement of public monies. However, I believe the real question is, what work does the commission do to help local democratic organs?

If almost all of the money allocated to the commission is spent on paying “fat cat” salaries to its commissioners, then what is left for real work? The ministry is quite right to withhold its approval to the wild and excessive behaviour of the commission.

This must be the only organisation in Guyana where 91.4 percent of its allocation is paid in remuneration. This calls for an immediate investigation. Perhaps, the government should publish what commissioners are paying

themselves against the work they do and the benefits the country has gained or is gaining from the amount of money spent by commissioners.

One gets the impression that the commission somehow feels that it is a law unto itself. It is hiring its own staff and setting its own wages and salaries without any reference to the facilitating ministry – the Ministry of Communities. There is definitely cause for concern and the need for government to re-examine the operations of this commission and to set its boundaries.

One other thing, why does the commission believe it is a constitutional body? It is not. Act 2013 shows plainly that, the commission is not vested with such powers. But the composition of the commission makes for this grab for extra power and to spend money it is neither earning, nor can justify.

Regards Radjou Prabhu

Her husband was the deputy secretary-general of CARICOM. She treated me like her son. Got me my school clothes. Always giving me and quite frankly all the students motherly support. I never spoke about my difficulties when I was a child. I was ashamed of it. Not sure how these wonderful angelic teachers picked it up.

Then my former English teacher. She also reached out to me. Her husband who is now deceased was the second in command in the army. Every Sunday she would invite me over for lunch. If she cannot make it, her husband, her husband’s driver or her daughter would pick me up

from my dilapidated house.

Her husband was a very humble man. He would hug me like his son. I got more hugs from him than I got from my own father. Frankly, my father never hugged me. I can count on my one hand the number of times I met my father. Anyway, when I was at their house, my former English teacher and her husband would make me feel at home. She would have her children serve me lunch. I never understood why she did that. Now I do.

She was teaching her kids a valuable lesson. First she was teaching them a lesson on humility and serving the less fortunate. Secondly, she was teaching them the lesson that even though they may enjoy certain privileges, by virtue of their parents’ status, they are not better than the kid who lived in a collapsed house, no potable water or

electricity. Respect the less fortunate. One Christmas she invited me to spend the day with her mother and children. Her mother had a school below her house. I think it was in Albert Street.

That was one of my better Christmases. Her children, her husband or her never made me felt like an outsider.

My experiences with them influence many of my actions today and the great respect I have for the poor.

What my former English teacher taught her children I would wish to share with the present government. If re-elected, go out and meet the poor masses. Genuinely serve them. Do it regularly.

Whether in Babu-Jaan or Linden. Forget about the cameras. Be humble. Forget about status. The adults may forget your visits and how much you care. The kids will not, as evident by my only

contact with Mr. Hamilton Green as a child; as evident by my experiences with my angelic teachers. Those visits and support will go a long way in helping many impoverished orphans and kids to take the route I took.

Hence avoiding a few less occupants at the Camp Street Prison.

Thanks to all those who were my voice when I was voiceless. Who were my support when I lacked the strength in my legs. Now that I can stand I will continue the cycle of speaking for the voiceless and supporting the powerless.

Regards Dr. Mark Devonish MBBS MSc MRCP(UK) FRCP(Edin) Consultant, Acute Medicine Nottingham University Hospital UK

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Miners urge ‘speeding up’ of repair works on Puruni Road

THE National Mining Syndicate on Tuesday complained about the deplorable state of the Puruni Road in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). According to its President, Cheryl Williams, the road has been in an impassable state for more than a year, and though a contract was signed since 2018 for it to be repaired, the project is still to be completed.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that in 2018, J and B General Construction Services was awarded a contract to the tune of $88.9M to repair the stretch of road from Itaballi Landing to Puruni.

The contract was awarded by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), however, it was later discovered that the contractor lacked the capacity to effectively

execute the project, and the contract was terminated. J and B General Construction had already been paid a percentage of the money.

On January 15, 2019, the GGMC reportedly signed a new contract with Toolsie Persaud to the tune of $156.2M and a mobilisation fee has since been paid. A GGMC official familiar with the project has indicated that work has commenced on the road.

But Williams said while the project is being executed at snail’s pace, miners continue to suffer. She has linked the death of two persons to the condition of the road. “As a result of the deplorable state of the road, miners who have no choice but to utilise it to access their mining blocks and camps have been injured and in some cases died,” Wil-

The 76 to 77 km area of the Puruni Road before repairs commenced

liams told reporters during a press conference held at Sharon’s Mall, Georgetown.

The Puruni road runs from Itaballi through Papishou and is reportedly the only entrance and exit to various wings of the Mazaruni/Cuyuni District.

The National Mining Syndicate president said, as a result of the appalling condition of the road, miners struggle to transport their supplies to keep their operations afloat.

“When the road is good, the transportation getting in

is $15,000 for one passenger.

When the road is not good, going with the boat, which is risky, is $20,000 a passenger.

Those vehicles that charge $15,000 cannot use the road.

The trucks that are going in, when the road is bad you pay between $300,000 and a $1,000,000 to get in, and you take days. Just to reach to Puruni, you take four, five days,” she explained. According to her, she was forced to shut down her mining operation in the Puruni area for two weeks due to the poor state of the road.

“Last December, a miner travelling to Puruni was forced to exit his vehicle to walk a portion of the road as the vehicle was wrenched.

During the process, the miner

National Mining Syndicate President Cheryl Williams

higher quality of road.

“Mining, in particular gold and diamond mining, is a consistent revenue-earner for the state. Annually, it contributes significantly to the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “We are pleading once again with the government, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), to fix the Puruni road and rid miners of the trial currently faced to access mining areas,” she urged.

The 76 to 77 km area of the Puruni Road after works commenced this week

suffered a broken leg and was transported to Bartica and then to Georgetown for medical attention.

“On February 1, 2019, a Bahier (a cook), who was travelling to the Puruni mining district, was held up for three days on the said road.

The woman, unfortunately, was unable to take care of herself, hygiene or otherwise.

On the fourth day, the woman managed to exit the vehicle she was stranded in, to urine, and upon her return to the vehicle, died,” Williams told reporters. Notably, Williams sits on the GGMC Board, and while according to her, the Puruni Road has been a subject of much discussion, it is unclear what is preventing completion of the project. She said, though the project may have started, much more is required.

“Ever so often when [the] Puruni Road is being done, it lasts for probably a year and then it goes bad, and then it takes forever for somebody to repair or fix it,” she complained while calling for a

GGMC Special Projects Manager, Arun Richard, in offering clarity on the project, explained that J & R General Construction’s contract was terminated after it was found that the company had poorly executed its work. He said the agreement had to be terminated on January 15, 2019, and to date, a total of $32.9M was paid.

Richard confirmed that Toolsie Persaud Timber Trader’s Inc. was awarded a new contract in the sum of $156.2M and the mobilisation advance was paid on February 1, 2019.

“This increased sum reflects the added deterioration that has occurred on the road from last year November to date,” the GGMC official explained.

According to him, work has commenced. “The strategy involves first tackling the deteriorated sections at One km, then to Five km and then to Brenda Hill, before working on the other areas,” he told the Guyana Chronicle.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Suspected foreign strippers detained following night club raid FIFTEEN foreign nationals, believed to be strippers at the Diamond Hotel and Night Club were, on Tuesday, February 05, 2019, detained by ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) following a raid at

the George Street, Werken-Rust building.

The raid was prompted following a video circulating on social media, which showed a woman jumping over a locked gate to get into the Diamond Hotel and Night

Club compound.

The woman was being assisted by four of ‘her friends’ who were on the other side of the fence. They were holding up the security barbwire so that the woman could have gained entry.

The Diamond Hotel and Night Club

$150,000 bail for Mahdia resident

A Princeville, Mahdia resident was on Tuesday, February 05, 2019, released on $150,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for the charge of felonious wounding.

Keith Daniels, 19, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that, on February 1, 2019, at Princeville, Mahdia, Potaro River, he wounded Lorenzo Williams with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Gordon Mansfield, told the court that, on the day in question, Daniels and Williams were at a bar consum-

ing alcohol.

Mansfield explained that Daniels became annoyed when Williams accidentally spilled his drink on him.

As a result, Daniels began throwing glass bottles at Williams, who managed to run away but fell in the process, a short distance away.

The prosecutor disclosed that Daniels armed himself with a glass bottle and began stabbing Williams about his body.

According to Mansfield, Williams suffered from lacerations to his head, face, neck, hands and arms.

The Chief Magistrate, with no objection from the prosecution, released Daniels on $150,000 bail, with the

Keith Daniels condition that he reports to the Mahdia Police Station every Friday.

The matter was transferred to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for April 16, 2019.

Corentyne man dies in collision with truck THE police are currently investigating a fatal accident which occurred along the Number 61 Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, involving a motor lorry and a 31-year-old pedestrian.

Inquiries disclosed that at about 16:00 hours on January 04, 2018, motor lorry GVV 5643 was being driven by a resident of Chesney Village, Corentyne, when

it collided with pedestrian Godfrey Wayne-Gomes, 31, of “C” Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

According to a release, the lorry was proceeding north along the western carriageway of the Number 61 Public Road, when, according to the driver, Gomes suddenly ran from east to west, into the path of the vehicle. Gomes was rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital

where he received treatment and was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, but later succumbed to his injuries.

The body is presently at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The driver passed a breathalyser test and is currently in police custody assisting with the investigation.

Hours after the video ‘hit’ social media, police raided the compound and detained the 15 women, who the investigators suspect to be trafficking in persons (TIP) victims.

Meanwhile, the proprietor of the night club and hotel, Freeman Fordyce, was last week, handed a fouryear suspended sentence by Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, after being found guilty of gun and ammunition charges.

Fordyce is currently on trial for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

He was charged after a video footage showed him (Fordyce) resisting being searched and then punching one Inspector Narine in the face.

The Police subsequently removed a number of women, including Venezuelans, from the premises. The ranks reportedly searched Fordyce’s club while conducting a TIP investigation.

Last month, Fiona Hopkinson, an employee at the night club, was charged for trafficking four Venezuelan women and forcing them to work as strippers at the entity.

She was also charged for withholding the women’s travel documents.

In 2018, Hopkinson and Rodwell Dempster, another employee of the entity, were jointly charged for trafficking five Venezuelans for sexual exploitation at the same night club and hotel.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Irfaan’s bid to stave off criminal charges commences

PEOPLE’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) presidential candidate Irfaan Ali’s bid to quash the 19 criminal charges against him commenced in the High Court on Tuesday.

The matter was called in the chambers of Justice Franklin Holder, where counsel representing Ali, the director of public prosecutions (DPP) and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), presented arguments.

Ali in his application con-

tends that the charges are vague and constitute an abuse of process; as such, he is seeking from the High Court several orders. An order of Certiorari quashing the decision of the DPP to charge him with the offence of conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law on the basis that it was irrational, biased, and influenced by improper considerations and motives; an order of Certiorari quashing the information on oath of Munilall Persaud, Corporal

of Police of the SOCU, on the 19 charges.

Ali is also asking for an order of prohibition restraining the chief magistrate, Ann McLennan, or any other magistrate from hearing or attempting to hear the charges as filed by the corporal; and a declaration that the particulars of the charges do not constitute an offence known to law and one that there is no statutory or common-law duty to obtain a valuation prior to the sale of property.

The charges stem from the sale of lands at the “Pradoville 2” scheme, Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, where he (Ali) is accused of defrauding the state of over $174M after selling the lands at extremely undervalued prices.

The reports said that the lands were sold to former President Bharrat Jagdeo; former Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon; and former ministers Priya Manickchand, Dr. Jennifer Westford, Robert Persaud and Clement Rohee; Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, and former army head Gary Best and Fortune Developers Inc., Guyana.

He also sold lands at the

locations to former General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board and daughter of former President Donald Ramotar, Lisa Ramotar; former President of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Dookhoo; the son of former Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul, Dr Ghansham Singh; former Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Chief Executive Officer, Rajendra Singh; former president of the Caribbean Development Bank, Compton Bourne; Andrew Bishop, former Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission; former Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) Shaik Baksh, Safraaz Khan and George Hallaq.

Mohamed Irfaan Ali The argument of the presidential candidate however, is that selling a plot of land without seeking valuation from a valuation officer is not against the law.

The matter continues before Justice Holder on March 19th 2019, allowing ample time for the parties to make necessary submissions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Jagdeo threatens ‘ratcheted-up’ action …on day when bomb threat disrupts UG, Nations parents take to the streets

AMID concerns that his rhetoric can lead to serious instability here Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday yet again threatened that there would be no business as usual if his party’s demand for elections by March 19 this year is not met.

Jagdeo had made similar threats when President David Granger found his nominees to for the post of chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission ‘not fit and proper.’ Tuesday, on the picket line outside GECOM, he declared that he will be “ratcheting up” his action. While Jagdeo was making his threats, parents of children attending School of the Nations were outside of the Ministry of Public Security protesting alleged threats made against that institution and over at the

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith

GPF officials sent an even stronger message. “We want to send a signal to them that they must respect the timelines imposed by our constitution,” he told the

PPP leader Bharrat Jagdeo threatens to “ratchet up” his action against GECOM

University of Guyana, classes were cancelled owing to a bomb threat.

In the aftermath of the no-confidence vote, civil society and the diplomatic community have been urging all parties to remain calm and not to provoke the peace, but Jagdeo on Tuesday told supporters at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre/ Red House that the party would “ratchet up the pressure” against GECOM and the government. The picketing came ahead of what was expected to be a key GECOM meeting, where the commission was to pronounce on a timeframe for the hosting of new elections.

Barricades blocked access to the commission on High Street from Cowan and Barrack Streets, while the presence of high-ranking

supporters. “If they do work in an accelerated manner, in a simultaneous way, they can be ready for elections by March 19.”

Jagdeo accused the government of refusing to acknowledge the court ruling and intending to “hang on to power.” However, President David Granger at the consecration of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Region Three office on Sunday, maintained that his administration has been acting constitutionally.

In what was his first public speech since the ruling that the no-confidence motion against the government was validly passed, the President said that his action and that of his government are in keeping with the constitution. While Article 106 (6) provides for the resig-

nation of Cabinet, Article 106 (7) clearly states that notwithstanding its defeat, the government shall remain in office until the next President is sworn in. This means that the President remains the President and the government remains the government until elections are held as there cannot be a country without a government.

Meanwhile, Jagdeo after realising the manner of his presentation to supporters, sought to lessen its impact by stating: “We’re not threatening violence; we’re going to use constitutional measures. But certainly, we will ratchet up the pressure on this government.”

Asked whether there was a possibility that the opposition would agree to an extension of the 90-day period, the opposition leader hung all hopes of that on a “good-faith” discussion. “If there is a good-faith discussion ---but this government has not had any good-faith discussion thus far, it has just tried to delay the timeline— if we saw that then that could have been a compelling case to probably change the date for a few days,” he said. After the short picketing exercise, the protesters quickly dispersed from the location, some in mini-buses parked on the lawns of the Red House. Meanwhile, the A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has organised its own protest against GECOM slated for February 7, 2019, themed ‘No Registration; No Election.’

NO PEACE Back in 2018 following President Granger’s appointment of Justice James Patterson as the Chairman of GECOM, Jagdeo had threatened:”If they think they can rig the elections and have the kind of peace that we have now…they are wrong…they are very, very wrong.” He added then, “I hope they are not thinking that in their calculations and it is not coded language.”

The former President has been criticised over the years for being intemperate. He had used similar language in March 2015 at a Babu Jaan rally when he told his successor, Donald Ramotar: “The past three years must have been a nightmare to Ramotar…Sometimes we need to administer something else, some kicks up the asses,” the former President had said.

A police patrol assessing the situation on campus after members of the university were evacuated [Vishani Ragobeer photo]

BOMB THREAT AT UNIVERSITY Meanwhile, across at the University of Guyana, a bomb threat forced students to evacuate the Turkeyen campus and caused classes to be cancelled for the day.

According to a statement from UG, the administration of the university was made

building and surrounding areas. “I have sent all the students home and all the staff home until we have established full security of our buildings,” Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith told media operatives who were on the campus at the time.

Further, he said: “The action was deemed necessary

til Wednesday, January 6. Students who were on campus at the time shared their fright over the incident but affirmed that the officers and UG administration acted well to keep the situation under control. One student who was in the Centre of Information Technology (CIT) building at the time

Police presence in UG’s parking lot (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

aware of the bomb threat on Tuesday afternoon following information that was received at the Alberttown Police station, Georgetown, at 12:40hrs that day. Upon receiving that information, the school, which currently has about 8000 students alongside a sizeable staff, began to evacuate onto the field in front of the school.

Later, all persons were sent home as classes were cancelled for the rest of the day.

Officers from the GPF and the Fire Service meticulously conducted checks in each

as a precaution, and out of safety concerns for the students and staff members who would use the facility during this time.”

A later update provided by the university, via its Facebook page, highlighted that the in-depth search was completed and revealed that there were no explosives on campus.

Consequently, an “‘allclear” was given; however, Professor Griffith instructed that the campus remain closed for students and faculty members un-

when UG received the information of the threat, told the Guyana Chronicle that lecturers rushed into the classrooms to inform students about the threat.

According to this student, members of the university community were asked to assemble on the field and were later informed by the police officers overlooking them to head home. Even as persons were evacuated, police officers remained on campus to keep persons away from the potential threats.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Greater attention to training –– says Minister Ramjattan of security forces Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, said the Guyana Police Force will continue to push ahead with training of junior and senior officers as the force positions itself to adapt to the security sector reform.

Ramjattan said while to

a great extent training will focus on the Guyana Police Force; it will also include the prison and fire services as well as the Customs Anti-narcotics Unit.

According to the security minister, these agencies can only become better at what they do individually if

training is continuous and they are constantly exposed to practices which work in other countries.

He stressed however, that the government cannot realistically send members of the various services on every overseas training that comes up, due to the finan-

cial costs attached.

As such, he explained, the heads of the agencies are encouraged to have discussions with those offering the training and experts to travel to Guyana to conduct training.

“We will continue and we want officers to continue training as we want the better sets of units in the areas of homicide, special branch, major crimes, narcotics, traffic and even intelligence, so that they can better monitor what is going on with the criminals around the place, and yes; even traffic also,” Ramjattan told Guyana Chronicle.

The security minister also noted that some spending will be done in the area of customs anti-narcotics, as he pointed to the work

CANU and the police have been doing to eradicate illicit substances and cannabis farms in various parts of the country.

He also told this publication that CANU, and the Police Narcotic Branch, have been encouraged to continue networking domestically, regionally and internationally, to sift out those in the local drug trade.

According to him, there is evidence that the networking strategies of the two arms have been working well and this can be measured by the seizures of drugs on a weekly basis.

“The intelligence and networking are no doubt working better now,” Ramjattan said.

With respect to the Guyana Fire Service, it was not-

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan ed that 13 members of that agency have recently participated in training in oil and gas spills management, and airport accident responses.

“So we have them going for that, some training in airport crash-landing procedures and specialised training for oil and gas fires, and how to respond to these places where the storing of oil will be done and so on,” Ramjattan explained.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

No decision on elections date

By Lisa Hamilton

THE stalemate at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) continues regarding a date for new elections, as the Operations Sub-Committee set to report on the matter, was unable to conclude its deliberations on Tuesday.

The sub-committee has been granted an extension to discuss matters further and, the full commission is expected to meet again at their next statutory meeting on February 12, 2019. “Unfortunately, that Sub-Committee was unable to arrive at any decision on the submissions made. The Sub-Committee will be meeting again at some

GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander (Adrian Narine photo)

point in time, to continue deliberations relative to the submissions that I would have made on behalf of the Secretariat,” GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO)

Keith Lowenfield told the media on Tuesday.

The Operations Sub-Committee, on Monday, had received submissions from the GECOM Secre-

GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield (Adrian Narine photo)

tariat regarding the various possible timelines for the holding of elections. The

GECOM Commissioner Robeson Benn (Adrian Narine photo)

committee is co-chaired by Commissioners Sase Gunraj and Charles Corbin and includes Desmond Trotman and Robeson Benn as members.

Following Tuesday’s statutory meeting, GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander said that in the proposals presented to the sub-committee, it is clear that the holding of elections in March or April is out of the picture.

There are, however, options for the hosting of elections beyond April, which could include house-to-house registration or a claims and objection period, the latter of which presents the earlier time period.

HOUSE-TO-HOUSE REGISTRATION It was stated that the claims period would require between 28 to 21 days while the objection period could take up to seven days. “In my view, GECOM’s obligation is not merely to hold an election in a particular timeframe but it’s to hold a certain quality of elections. And, for me, the quality of elections requires house-to-house registration because the list is bloated and this is something we all recognised; we now have the finances to correct it and we should use the monies to correct it,” Alexander stated.

Although it was already established that Tuesday’s deferral was as a result of the sub-committee needing more time for deliberations,

Commissioner Benn suggested that a “cynical and callous” plan to delay the holding of elections is afoot.

He lobbied, like on previous occasions, for the re-training of Local Government Election (LGEs) field staff, tweaking the training to take account for the requirements of national elections.

Benn expressed his disappointment that GECOM did not take into consideration a previous presentation of his, where he indicated that this training could be achieved within 29 to 32 days. “I am really not prepared to go to any other discussion on the other options, unless we look at the first option and, that option is the holding of elections on March 19, 2019,” Benn said. “When we examine that and we have thoroughly dispensed of that, then we can move on to the other options.”

However, Alexander said that some two weeks ago there was a consensus among the commissioners that the March 19, date was impossible. After, perhaps, receiving new instructions from their party, Alexander said that the PPP-nominated commissioners have switched up their position on the issue.

Meanwhile, Lowenfield says that if an election date is not called by April 30, 2019 the Commission will have to proceed towards the production of a new list for elections.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

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Mayors meet to explore areas of cooperation M AY O R S a n d d e p u t y mayors from the municipalities of Linden, Bartica and Madhia on Monday, February 4, 2019, paid a courtesy call on Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, to applaud him on his election as Mayor, and to discuss means by which mayors across the10 municipalities can cooperate and support each other.

The mayors praised Narine on being possibly the youngest mayor in the history of Guyana, taking up the post at the age of just 27 years. A member of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Party, Narine won a seat on the council, after he won Constituency One. He was then elected to the mayorship by the councillors. He officially took over as mayor from the beginning of January, 2019.

“We’re having a discussion here on possible areas of cooperation and how we can continue to support each other. Mayor Narine, being a new mayor, he will definitely need support to be successful and we’re here to offer him that support.

Also, Mahdia being a new town, will also need some support in terms of capacity building,” explained Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall.

“We want to take this opportunity to congratulate Mayor Narine on his election to office. He is perhaps the youngest mayor in the history of Guyana and we thought it best to do a courtesy call today, offering our support,” continued Mayor Marshall Narine noted how pleased he was, not only about the courtesy call but to see the municipalities forming lasting associations for mutual benefit.

“I’m extremely happy. I like to say I’m not building walls but bridges. This is a sign. We can reach out to others and, we as mayors have to work together to build our city. I feel blessed to have the few mayors here, that we can be able to show and demonstrate to our nation that working together is a good foundation to start,” Narine noted.

Mayor of Mahdia David Adams was also very grateful for the exercise.

Adams is Mahdia’s first Mayor, with the community ascending to township just last October.

The Mahdia municipality is still working on setting up its office, and hiring the necessary staff.

“I’m here on a fact-find-

ing mission, really, to find out what I can get out of it, and I look forward to working over the next year with them. This meeting, here for me, is one to build a relationship with the other mayors. I’m new, they might have some more experience on how things are done. I intend to seek their advice and their guidance on what I should do and make my job easy,” Adams related.

Though Narine and Adams are new to life as mayors, Marshall, and Linden’s Waneka Arrindell have some amount of experience in the arena.

Marshall has reigned as Bartica’s Mayor since the ‘Township’ was established in 2016. After serving as a Deputy Mayor for two years, Arrindell was first elected as Mayor in 2017.

She was re-elected to the post to serve from 2019.

Marshall noted that while Monday’s meeting involved just four of the 10 municipalities across the country, the meeting was considered a starting point.

“This is the first of many, many things. We will also be reaching out to New Amsterdam, Rose Hall, Corriverton and so forth, and see how best we can learn from each other.

We all can learn from each other. There are many areas we can start discussions on.

One such area is the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS). While Bartica is a `green’ model town we believe that all towns will embrace the policy of greening. So we will discuss that. Finance is an important aspect of the council.

We will talk about that. We can learn about economic policy; that is also key to any town,” Gifford noted.

Arrindell noted that working together as mayors was very important.

“The point is, if we work together we will be able to be more effective across the country. If we can unite entire regions can become better. So this opportunity is for us to share our ideas, to see where we can assist, where we can help each other, where we can build on each other. Georgetown has a lot of history and a lot of information that we can use in our smaller towns to be able to build.

It’s a privilege to be here.

He is the youngest mayor but he will get the support, as much as he needs us to stand behind him as we move forward,” Arrindell said.

Mayor of Mahdia, David Adams (standing left); Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall (standing right); and Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell (sitting left) paid a courtesy call on Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, (sitting centre) on Monday (Samuel Maughn photo)

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Epileptic drowns in drain

A FATHER of five was on Tuesday morning found dead in a drain at a construction site in Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

The 41-year-old man was identified as Solomon Kandhai, who is said to be a carpenter. Kandhai showed up for work and reportedly collapsed and died.

His relatives say he suffers from seizures, and might have had an attack and fell into the drain.

He was reportedly the only person at work at the time. The Guyana Chronicle was told that Kandhai was seen in a distressed position earlier, and two persons who saw him were not aware that he needed help.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the young men saw Kandhai in an apparent

Relatives and a policeman at the scene of the incident

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019 face-down position, but due to the distance between them, they though something had fallen and he leaned to pick it up.

However, after about 10 minutes looking back at the area and realising that the man’s position had not changed, they realised that he may be in need of help and went over to the construction site where he was working.

It was then they realised that he may have fallen. The men quickly pulled the 41year-old out of the drain and attempted to resuscitate him, but their attempts proved futile.

Kandhai’s brother, who lives a few doors away, said he was called to the scene by someone in the area, who told

him that his brother had fallen and might be in a serious condition. When he arrived, his brother was already dead.

The man confirmed that his brother indeed suffers from seizures. When Guyana Chronicle arrived at the scene, the man’s wife was already there weeping over his body. It is said that the two have been married for a number of years. Police detectives, although being told about the man’s illness and his apparent seizure on Tuesday morning, are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to be performed on the remains to ensure no foul play was involved in his death.

The investigation into the matter is ongoing.

Mahdia felonious wounding accused granted bail A Pepper Hill, Mahdia resident, was on Tuesday, February 05, 2019, released on $170,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for the charge of felonious wounding.

Paul Simon, 38, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that, on February 1, 2019 at 111 Miles, Mahdia, Potaro River, he wounded Rahaman Moses with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Gordon Mansfield, told the court that, on the day in question, Moses gave Simon $5,000 to purchase beers for him.

Mansfield explained that Simon accepted the money and purchased the beers for Moses, but did not hand over any change.

As a result, Moses inquired about his change,

Paul Simon causing Simon to strike him to his face.

The prosecutor disclosed that the victim suffered from a laceration to his face which was 10cm long.

The chief magistrate, with no objection from the prosecution, released Simon on $170,000 bail with the condition that he reports to the Mahdia Police Station every Friday.

The matter was transferred to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for April 16, 2019.

WBD man remanded on alleged sodomy charges A 42-YEAR-OLD Belle West, West Bank Demerara (WBD) resident was, on Tuesday, February 05, 2019, remanded to prison for sodomising four underaged boys.

Stepheon Phillips, appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Leonora Magistrates’ Court, where the four charges were read in-camera and he was not required to plead.

Particulars of the four charges alleged that, on January 31, 2019, at Belle WBD, Phillips engaged in sexual penetration with the four boys, all under the age of 16.

He was remanded to prison until February 28, 2019.

According to reports, on Thursday, January 31, 2019, residents from the Belle West, West Bank Demerara community, dismantled and torched parts of Phillips’ shack where the four boys were found.

Ranks from the Wales Police Station were summoned to the village and Phillips was arrested.

The villagers had suspected Phillips of preying on minor boys in the area but they did not have evidence to prove their claims.

However, on the day in question, a boy from the area went missing and was found in Phillips’ shack, along with the three other victims.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Cops seize $1.3B worth of ganja so far this year … new cultivations opening up in Lethem, North West District

By Leroy Smith

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) in its drive and fight against the cultivation, sale and use of marijuana and other illegal substances has seized marijuana worth approximately $1.3 billion Guyana dollars, a senior anti-narcotics official told the Guyana Chronicle.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that 90 per cent of the marijuana which the police intercepted is grown locally. The figure represents the discovery of acres of the cultivated illegal substance, as well as what have been found through raids and in the possession of persons.

According to the official, marijuana being cultivated here is in high demand by persons in Barbados, while Guyana in turn seems to have a craving for the ‘Pappy weed” coming out of Colombia and Venezuela. Outside of the ‘Pappy Weed’ from Colombia and Venezuela, there is the ‘Bush Weed’ which is cultivated locally, the `Jammy Weed’ which is cultivated by the Jamaicans and the ‘Sour Diesel’ which is popular in the United States and Canada. The marijuana out of the two latter countries is very expensive, the official noted.

The drug carries a price tag of approximately $1.6 million per kilo, making it more expensive for a kilogramme of cocaine and generates a disinterest by Guyanese in acquiring it due to the cost.

Over the last few years, the GPF has been successfully conducting drug eradication exercises countrywide, but most of the finds have been coming from the traditional areas, known for cultivation of the herb, which is not legal in this country.

Some areas in Region 10, mostly Kwakwani and Ituni are known for the cultivation

of the herb in large quantities.

They are followed by locations in the Berbice River.

While Guyana does not have a hot spot `per se’, according to the source, evidence has shown that places in the Essequibo, Lethem and North West District have been proving to be new cultivation areas. The Police do not necessarily believe that these new areas are indicative of new users or new players in the game, but rather, it is as a result of the law enforcement’s aggressive posture, which is pushing the dealers away from their comfort zone.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that some $11.7B in cannabis was seized by the security agencies in 2017. Of the amount, the GPF seized 64,887 kilogrammes(kg) 674.45 grammes(g) of cannabis; the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU)123kg 825g and the Guyana Revenue Authority-Drug Enforcement Unit (GRA-DEU) seized 18kg 982g, totalling 65,030kg 481.45g of cannabis, altogether representing $180 per gramme. In the case of the eradication of illicit cultivations, there were nine operations in which nine fields were targeted, representing 17.5 acres of land. Some 61,330 plants were discovered weighing 75,166kg. In the case of dried cannabis, 2kg 210 grams were discovered and some 1355kg 231.45g of herbal seizures were done, representing a grand total of 1357kg 441.45g. Dried cannabis representing $397,800 was seized ($180 per gram street value), while herbal seizures represented a street value of $243, 941,661 ($180 per gram, street value); a combined total of $244,339,461.

President David Granger, since taking office in 2015,

Jury selected for start of murdered city businessman’s case A 12-member jury was, on Tuesday (February 5, 2019) empanelled for the trial of Morris Prince, who allegedly murdered city businessman, Oriley Small on March 19, 2016.

On the presentation of the indictment, the accused pleaded not guilty to murder.

Mark Waldron is being retained by the accused, while the State prosecutors are Tuanna Hardy, Teriq Mohamed and Abigail Gibbs.

The State will present witnesses as the case starts before Justice Navindra Singh in the Demerara High Court.

has said that his administration will bring narco-trafficking to an end. He described the trade as “the mother of all crimes” and noted that once illegal drugs enter Guyana, it would be difficult to control crime here. “We do not have the resources, the assets, and we do not have aircraft to patrol our borders. We do not have the ships to patrol our sea space.

We do not have the vehicles to patrol the land space to bring these crimes to an end…,” the Head of State had said in October 2016.

This camp was set ablaze during a marijuana eradication exercise at Ebini, on the Berbice River, in 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

TB cases significantly reduced in prisons over 19 years –– owing to robust, effective screening efforts

FOR many years, the government has been tackling Tuberculosis (TB) in the local penitentiaries, and from 2012, the numbers

have been gradually decreasing, with 2018 recording the lowest number of new cases in 19 years.

Recently, the Department of Public Information (DPI) sat down with the Programme Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP), Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall, who gave updates in this regard. According to Dr. Mohanlall, at the end of 2018, only eight new cases of Tuberculosis were diagnosed in the prisons. This accounts for a vast reduction in new cases usually detected annually in the prisons.

The doctor, who has been heading the programme for several years, said the reduction “Is owed to the robust and effective screening efforts that have been implemented in the prison system through a collaboration with the prison authority and with support from the Ministry of Public Health.

“We have had a DOTS [Direct Observed Treatment Short-course] supervisor in the prisons since 2012, and so, we have been doing a lot of work since then in terms of screening cell by cell, block by block. In 2012,

we have had 43 new cases in the prisons and over the years because of continuous screening and preventative therapy, last year we have only had eight new cases in all the prisons,” he further said.

As the DOTS programme took effect in the prisons, there was a lot of work to be done for it to be fully effective. The programme took root in the prisons as early as the year 2000, as efforts were explored to concretise the intervention. “We had a lot of challenges before where the staff were not fully

Programme Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis Programme of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall investigating the patients. For example, they would conduct one part of the investigation and leave out the other part … So, when we evaluated the patients, we found patients before us without proper investigations.” Dr. Mohanlall explained.

The programme coordinator was not shy to admit that there are still minor challenges that exist, but confidently declared that this will not hinder the DOTS programme in the prisons. He noted that these low numbers indicated that eradicating TB in prisons is possible. He extended gratitude to the health teams at the various prisons who facilitate and conduct actual TB clinics, collecting samples and providing continuous treatment. Mean-

while, the TB team from the unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital regularly visits these prisons to perform follow-up checks on patients, especially new cases.

The most common type of TB detected in the prisons is Drug-Sensitive TB. This type of Tuberculosis can be cured within six months, as long as a patient adheres to the treatment. With the low number of TB cases in prisons, the NTP is even closer to achieving and fulfilling its END TB strategy, which seeks to eliminate TB as a public health problem by 2030.

There are currently five prisons in Guyana: Lusignan, Mazaruni, New Amsterdam, Georgetown and Timehri.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Vending spots for Mash available from Thursday

Mayor and City Council Deputy Director of Solid Waste Management, Floyd Rollins (Samuel Maughn photo)

MEMBERS of the public desirous of vending or picnicking along the route of the Mashramani Float Parade, on February 23, can go into the Mayor and City Council (MCC) beginning Thursday, February 7, 2019, to pay the necessary fee and be allocated a spot.

At a press meeting held on Monday, February 4, 2019, MCC Deputy Director

of Solid Waste Management, Floyd Rollins, informed the public that over 1000 designated spots were available.

The spots are 10 feet x 10 feet, and, for vendors, the fee would range from $10,000 to $25000, depending on the location of the spot. However, for picnicking, it would be $5000 per spot.

This year, the Mashramani Float Parade route has been extended: - beginning at Camp Road and Carifesta Avenue, proceeding east along Carifesta Avenue, then south into Vlissengen Road and ending at Durban Park.

“Based on the route, we have already identified areas that will be allocated for vendors and those areas are on the southern carriageway of Carifesta Avenue. On Irving Street, both sides of the road from Carifesta Avenue to Church Street will be used for vending. Also the Square of the Revolution and inside of Durban Park will be allowed for vendors,” Rollins explained “We’ve also made some adjustments for persons who

Safer city this year, says Ramjattan SUBJECT Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, said this year the Ministry of Public Security will place greater attention on the rolling-out of the first phase of its Safe City Programme.

Speaking with Guyana Chronicle, Ramjattan said the programme is expected to boost the intelligence capabilities of the security sector, since it will monitor movements in and around the city.

The pilot will see surveillance cameras mounted at strategic locations and hotspots in Georgetown.

Those cameras will be linked to a central command centre managed by police officers.

The Safe City Programme is very popular in some developed countries, including the US and England.

The Public Security Ministry is currently looking for a facility to house the command centre. Asked about the facility at the Castellani House, Ramjattan said he was advised that a separate building will have to be identified, since there will be additional and larger screens, more human resources and other aspects of the command centre. Castellani House would not be able to

accommodate an operation of this scale, he said.

The Safe City Programme will be rolled out in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Telecommunications.

“We are making arrangements to have a command centre, we are also going to have a delivery of a number of cameras to be mounted at some of the hotspots as mapped out, and all [will] be interconnected to the command centre,” Ramjattan said.

As it relates to the patrolling aspect of the operation, the smart city solution will rely heavily on existing resources of the Guyana Police Force. It is the hope that all patrol vehicles will be connected to the centre so that they can receive transmission there, Ramjattan said.

The Safe City Programme is an initiative of the business community, law enforcement and technology partners which came together to devise a strategy aimed at reducing crime and creating a safer city environment. Guyana adopted the initiative a few years ago and has begun the ground work to have it implemented.

would be providing kids games and selling toys and so forth. We would be offering flexible prices to them for them to come out and earn a living,” Rollins relayed.

There will, however, be several areas where vending will not be allowed.

“Places vending will be prohibited are on the northern carriageway of Carifesta Avenue, on Vlissengen Road from Carifesta Avenue straight up to Hadfield Street there’s no vending allowed there, picnicking or parking

of vehicles. Along Homestretch Avenue once again no vending or picnicking or parking of vehicles will be allowed,” Rollins said.

Rollins noted that persons who pay for a picnicking spot and are caught vending at the location will be made to pay the difference in the fee for the spot. MCC revenue officers will be policing the route and persons will be required to produce their receipts for the spots they occupy.

Those persons vending

are asked to make garbage receptacles available at their allocated spot to help with the garbage collection along the route.

On the issue of the MCC’s clean-up plan, Rollins shared that a plan was in place to have a cleaning crew in place at the end of the parade.

“For cleaning of the route, we’re in discussion with the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion. Last year the MCC would have under-

taken that task whereby we started to clean after the last float would have started off.

We went behind that float and started to clean the road and the next morning we would’ve done a revisit to the area and removed any waste that would have been found, we would have advised that that be done again and we’re engaging the ministry to have that finalised,” Rollins said.

Rollins said the MCC will also be looking to have their own garbage receptacles placed along the route.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Nations’ parents want answers from security forces … offer $1M reward for credible info on source of threats

SCHOOL of the Nations’ Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) is demanding that the Guyana Police Force update the nation on the progress made in investigating the threats of destruction that have rocked the school and other educational institutions in recent days.

Standing a short distance away from the Ministry of

Public Security on Tuesday, four parents led by the PTA’s President, Anna Lisa Fraser-Phang, pleaded for answers from the authorities, in particular the Guyana Police Force. On January 24, a person or persons unknown threated to ‘shoot-up’ the school. The Director of Nations, Dr. Brian O’Toole, was hours after shot and injured at his home.

According to Fraser-Phang, the PTA had advised the police to issue a public statement updating the nation on the investigation into the threats, but was met with rejection. Though not discrediting the work done by the police thus far, Fraser-Phang said much more needs to be done.

“They sent their people in; they have done a sweep

of the school, thank you very much, we appreciate that but more needs to be done. You need to speak to the people of the nation and let us know what is happening,” the PTA President said. Added to that, she said there is need for widespread condemnation of the threats associated with terrorist acts.

Fraser-Phang was backed

by John Ramsingh and Jer-

ry Gouveia, both of whom have children attending the school. “An education is a basic right for a child, and we cannot fulfill that right…

So we would just like the authorities to give us some answers, tell us it is safe to send our children back to school because we have ‘A, B, C’ in custody, we have questioned ‘X, Y, Z’. We need to know something, we need to know that it is really and truly a safe place again that we can call school,” Ramsingh said, as he added his voice to the issue.

In a written statement, the concerned parents said that through the media, they learnt that a former student of the school was identified as a person of interest, however, to date; there is no clear indication whether the person is assisting the Guyana Police Force in solving the act of terrorism. “We know that persons who have aided and abetted are just as guilty as those who are considered master minds, as such they should all face the full brunt of the law,” they said.

To assist with the investigation, the small group of parents is offering a $1M reward to person(s) who may have credible information that may lead to the capture of the perpetrators.

The school’s administration has increased security measures at the Georgetown campus, and has sought help from US cyber Security and the State Department to track the origin of the threatening Facebook post. The Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, and the Education Minister, Nicolette Henry, met last week and agreed to have police officers placed at schools across the city after threats were made against Queen’s College and the Bishops High School. Since that meeting, police officers could be seen at city schools including School of the Nations, but Fraser-Phang on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction. According to her, enough attention is not given to School of the Nations.

“We were expecting and told that we would have the mobile and the counsellors available to all our children at School of the Nations, we have not seen anything.

They were extended to other schools, and I am not belittling any other school, they need it just as much, but we were offered very little and given even less,” the PTA president told reporters.

She expressed concerns that officials from neither the Education Ministry nor the Ministry of Public Security or Social Protection has

reached out to the parents whose children’s lives have been endangered.

“We demand more of our authorities. We are not second rate citizens, our children are not second rate citizens, we should all be treated with the same urgency,” she posited.

Fraser-Phang said she is now left with no other choice than to write the three ministries and the Guyana Police Force on the matter to formally register the PTA’s concern and frustration.

“I guess we will have to write. We are speaking to them through the media, and sitting down one-on-one doesn’t seem to get anywhere, certainly not with the commissioner of police. Tell me what else do we need to do as citizens to get a response from the authorities?

Are they not aware of what is happening?”

Fraser-Phang also used the platform to call on parents to be more responsible.

She said parents ought to be more involved in the lives of their children and monitor their activities and friendships.

Gouveia said that school has not been the same the start of the threats on January 24. It was noted that while some classes have resumed, others have not because parents are awaiting clear answers from the police.

The parents said they know the seriousness of the criminal activity and the intention of the perpetrator(s), pointing out that after several threats via the internet, Nations Director, Dr. Brian O’Toole was shot and injured. Stating that cybercrime, bullying and violence have no place in society, the parents pointed out that when that when a threat was issued to President David Granger, the perpetrator was swiftly apprehended.

“There are evidence of amplified security measures in and around the schools premises and we are pleased, but we will be convinced that all schools are safe again for our children when the criminals are caught and until then we wouldn’t ease our efforts,” the parents said.

Two senior officers of the Guyana Police Force were seen observing and interacting with at least one of the parents. The police reportedly wanted to ascertain the purpose of the small gathering opposite the ministry.

Shortly after the exercise ended, there was a bomb scare at the University of Guyana.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

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Region 10 toshaos, police discuss security of villages

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

… commit to forging stronger ties

By Vanessa Braithwaite TOSHAOS representing the various indigenous

villages across Region 10 and the police high command in the area held lengthy discussions on

ways to improve security in their communities.

The indigenous leaders have also committed to Toshaos of the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice region at the regional conference forging stronger ties with ‘E’ Division Commander Linden Lord, Deputy Commander Jermaine Harper and other ranks, to provide the needed assistance in fighting crime in their villages.

They were at the time holding discussions at the Regional Toshaos Conference and election of an executive body at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Mackenzie, Linden.

While the Toshaos related that they are cognisant that the constitution allows them to give permission to anyone, including the police to enter their villages, they are of the view, however, that permission must be always granted to the police at any given request to perform any raid or intelligence-led operations in their communities.

They also believe that any toshao who fights against the police is a toshao that does not have the best interest of his/ her village at heart and should be investigated for corruption. The toshaos related that there are rising cases of drug abuse in their villages, as well as sexual abuse and have opted to get the police involved, even though this may cause their relationship with fellow villagers.

Toshao of Muritaro, Lorretta Feidtkou, noted that one position she took is to invite the commander into her village and he was privy to what is transpiring in the village before meeting with residents.

In that way, the villagers, especially those committing crimes, would become aware that the ranks are cognisant of what is happening and would be less inclined to commit crimes, even petty ones.

BE A LEADER, DON’T BE POWER DRUNK In his address to the toshaos representing the villages which include

Muritaro, Malali, Rockstone, Kimbia, Calcuni, Wairuni River View, Deputy Commander of ‘E’ Division, Jermaine Harper, urged the toshaos to forge stronger communication ties with the police and to remain humble, thus not becoming power drunk with the position that has been bestowed upon them by the law.

Harper reminded the Toshaos that while they constitutionally represent the security of the village, the police constitutionally represent national security and has a right to perform their duties in the interest of the law. “Our main concern in the division, in looking into the villages, is to ensure that the security aspects of it come first and that you are happy where you are living,” he said. Harper, however, related that one of the things observed by him and the commander is, there are situations that are concealed, since the villages are very tightly knit and information is not given.

“If they are wrong things happening in the village that needs to be addressed by the police, you need to come forward, you need to stand firm in your village,” he urged, adding that sexual abuse is one crime of concern occurring in the indigenous villages.

He reminded the toshaos that they have already matured to adulthood and they should allow children that same opportunity and this cannot happen if they are abused and mistreated.

Their sworn duties is not only to control their villages, but also to ensure that their people are safe and happy. If they build a close relationship with the police, crime can be tackled quickly and the perpetrators can be taken into custody before any greater harm is caused.

Harper related that there was an incident in See page 26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

CARIFORUM adolescent training workshop opens … spotlight on drug treatment and rehabilitation

CARIBBEAN Community (CARICOM) Assistant Secretary-General (ASG), Dr. Douglas Slater, has emphasised the critical link between human resource development and economic development and, in this regard, the importance of treatment and rehabilitation for persons with problematic drug use and misuse.

The ASG was speaking at the opening of the Regional Adolescent Training Workshop on Tuesday in Trinidad and Tobago.

“Human resource development and economic development can be likened to conjoined or Siamese twins…to separate one from the other would be certain death for both”, he said. Dr. Slater called attention to the

dire impact of drug use on adolescents and the youth population, which he described as the “reality” of the region. “The current global competitive environment demands the development and honing of certain skills in our adolescents, namely: critical thinking, problem-solving, social skills...these are all negatively impacted by drug use”, he said.

According to the 2010 statistics, youth represent more than 60 per cent of CARICOM’s population.

In referring to a number of studies, Dr. Slater cited the findings of the 2016 school drug survey conducted by the Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD). That report stated, “Drug use is known to be

causally related to a variety of physical and mental health problems: crime, poor school performance, family disruption.”

According to a CARICOM Secretariat release, the ASG expressed particular concern that the findings also indicated an increase in drug use to an earlier 2010 survey, and a decline in the age of first-time user and the perception of harm associated with drug use.

Given these and similar findings, the ASG reiterated that interventions such as the regional training workshops was required for our youth, and by extension the region; noting that the development of our human resource was necessary to advance our economic development.

“The focus on adolescent and youth, and on building capabilities among See page 27

Region 10 toshaos, police discuss ...

From page 24 a particular village in the division where information about crimes was not forthcoming and the police was basically prohibited from entering the village by the toshao.

Upon his removal, scores of cases of abuse and other forms of crime were discovered and now the police has

Deputy Commander ‘E’ Division, Jermaine Harper a great task ahead in dealing with the mountain of cases.

This, he said, could have been avoided, if the toshao and villagers were more respectful of the law.

SECURITY CONCERNS In raising their concerns, the toshaos, who also serve as rural constables, said that they are not properly equipped and armed to respond to crimes before the police arrive.

They alluded to the recent case of a toshao being beheaded in Region Seven, because he was not properly armed. “We don’t have any firearm to go and do any apprehending of people who are violating that law…. we have to be armed, we cannot go empty-handed, it is terrible for us,” Toshao of Kimbia Ricky Boyle said. He also stressed that the toshaos are not properly identified and are not recognised by perpetrators when they turn up to crime scenes as the officials do not have proper identification, not even a precept.

Deputy Commander Harper said that he understands their fear and encouraged them to apply as a group for their firearm, since that might expedite their application and approval. He also offered to assist in the application process.

Following these discussions, through a democratic process, the executives of the Regional Toshao Committee were elected. Toshao Ricky Boyle from Kimbia was elected Chairman, while Toshao Andre Lindee was elected deputy chairman. Boyle said that he feels honoured to be elected chairman for the regional committee and is prepared to work for the betterment of the villages collectively. “I will ensure whatever is budgeted in parliament and so, can be filtered down to different communities, so that we can push our agenda forward, so that we can satisfy all the needs of the communities,” he said Regional Chairman Renis Morian reminded the toshaos that indigenous peoples are very important to regional and national development and promised that the RDC will continue to support these villages.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Composer Valerie Rodway to be honoured on birth centenary

THE Ministry of the Presidency will, next week, honour the life and work of Guyanese composer and teacher Ms. Valerie Rodway, CCH, with a roster of activities to

Valerie Rodway, CCH mark her birth centenary, including the issuing of a commemorative stamp and book at a reception to be held at State House.

Ms. Rodway was born in New Amsterdam, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) on February 12, 1919 and is best known for her composition of national songs, including, “Oh Beautiful Guyana”, “Kanaïma”, “Hymn for Guyana’s Children”, “Arise, Guyana,” and “Guyana the Free.”

She also put to music the famed Guyanese independence

poem by Martin Carter, “Let Freedom Awaken.” Ms. Rodway’s creative output represents a solid exploration of the Guyanese experience during a crucial period in the quest to end the colonial experience and become a free state. Her compositions embody the civic values cultivated by her family and friends.

They were also influenced by her travels and reflect the creative responses to the spirit of the times, the Ministry of the Presidency Press Service Unit said in a release.

Valerie Rodway composed patriotic music, music for the schools, test pieces for the music festivals, music for community singing, music for large choirs, and art music. “Guyana the Free” was her submission for the national anthem competition. In sum, she left behind a substantial body of work that represents several styles. It also reflects national pride and a commitment to quality. Valerie Rodway’s life as teacher, performer, and composer has provided examples of the lasting power of music.

The commemoration programme will include: A Church Service on Sunday, February 10, 2019, at 10:00hrs at the AME Zion Church, New Garden Street; the official naming of the building at Lot 94 Carmichael Street as ‘Valerie Rodway House’ on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at 11:00hrs.

A commemorative stamp and a

CARIFORUM adolescent ...

From page 26

those who interface and work with them on a daily basis, is in keeping with the Social Resilience Pillar of the Community’s Strategic Plan.

It is also in keeping with the Human Resource Development Strategy (2030) which seeks to enhance factors and capabilities for improving education and life-long learning.

The workshops are facilitated with the support of the European Union/ CARIFORUM Crime and Security Programme, under the 10th EDF. The Crime and Security Programme has three components: drug demand and supply reduction; crime and violence prevention and social development; and capacity building of law enforcement and security agencies and enhanced cooperation with Third States.

The drug demand reduction component of the programme provides the opportunity to build capacity of service providers and strengthen institutional systems and networks, to effectively reduce the demand for illicit drug and alcohol.

CICAD-OAS is collaborating with the CARICOM Secretariat and the Ministry of National Security National Drug Council in conducting the workshops.

To this end, more than 45 persons working with adolescents and youth across the CARIFORUM region will be empowered to further understand and appropriately respond to those who are misusing substances.

These workshops which run from 4-9 February, 2019 are in response to gaps identified under the Ninth EDF, which indicated that treatment and rehabilitation programmes and services, particularly for adolescents and youth were needed.

Regional Master Trainers will instruct participants from modules developed by CICAD/OAS in the areas of Adolescent Development; Screening and Assessment; Trauma and Trauma informed Care; Adolescents in Conflict with the Law; Adolescent Drug Treatment and Family Interventions.

book on Ms. Rodway will also be released at a reception to be held at State House.

A symposium on Valerie Rodway’s music- ‘A National treasure’ - will be held on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus in the Education Lecture Theatre from 17:00hrs to 19:00hrs. Valerie Rodway died in August 1970.

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The building to be named ‘Valerie Rodway House’ located at 94 Carmichael Street, Georgetown.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Three more Lindeners resign from PPP

By Vanessa Braithwaite

THE haemorrhaging of support from the mining town of Linden continues for the

opposition People’s Progressive Party with three card-bearing members tendering their resignations from that party and related that the courage to do

so, sprung from seeing other executive members doing the same thing.

The members shared the same sentiment that they are tired of the

cliquism culture of the party and the only thing they have received for their years of service is criticism and condemnation. Speaking out is long-standing member

resigning. He is urging them to make the bold step and resign and join a movement that is for the people. The GAP will be officially launching its executive body in Linden soon, as over the weeks, its support base has widened. Since 2019, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Sydney Allicock, who is one of the founders of GAP, has already made

Jason Bourne Jason Bourne, one of the last three to have tendered their resignations. Bourne said that he finally got the courage to do so and has no regrets. He said that he has experienced being sidelined because he is not part of the clique and realises that this culture in the party will not change. “The PPP only pushes persons who push a certain type of people, who are part of their system for years, there is no space for youths,” he said. After giving the party 10 years of service, he said that there is nothing to look back at and has made a decision not to continue down that line.

Bourne has since joined the Guyana Action Party (GAP), which is a smaller arm of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and within the short period of time, he said, he has already seen action and is happy to be part of a movement that puts the interest of its constituency first and not its selected members. “It is a small party, I have already seen action, they have delivered to the people; they have already assisted many persons with a start in their business and this does not require no long application for grants or so and I am pleased with what I am seeing,” he said.

Bourne said that he is aware of many members of the PPP who are not satisfied with the treatment they are receiving but are afraid of being persecuted or discriminated against for

Kevon Lorrimor donations to residents of Linden in an effort to maximise their potential in farming, a promise that was never fulfilled by the PPP. Bourne, as well as other former PPP Region 10 executive members such as Kevon Lorrimor, said that while they are supporting GAP, their support is by extension for the entire coalition government. Lorrimor, who assisted the others with their resignation letters, said that he is happy that like him and Akanni Blair, others are wiping the veil off of their eyes and seeing the PPP for what it truly is-- a blatant disrespect to the people.

“The PPP party is a full dictatorship, a lot of young people in the party cannot rise above the selected members, I want to ask them, look at what they have benefited for their community or for their cause since joining the party, it would be nothing but criticism; the PPP doesn’t give you anything, they just take from you. I hope that others open their eyes and see,” he said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

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40+ children back in school after truancy exercise in Region 2

THE Region Two, Pomeroon-Supenaam Regional Administration has launched a campaign to get children back in school, starting with a walkabout in the Dartmouth area.

The mission of the visits is to engage parents and guardians in ensuring that school-age children attend school. The first visit was conducted within the Dartmouth to Westbury area on Thursday last. This resulted in 43 students, thus far, returning to the classroom.

Schools’ Welfare Officers (SWOs) traversed the communities engaging parents and guardians.

According to SWO Haimraj Hamandeo, the 8th of May Secondary School in the Dartmouth to Westbury zone registered poor attendance records by some students, hence the decision to start in the area. “From the primary school’s registers, we are aware of the number of students that were supposed to be attending the 8th of May Secondary School, but for reasons unknown to us, the attendance

rate has been significantly low. The walkabout has generally indicated to us that negligence on the part of parents and guardians is the main factor. Notwithstanding that, some did indicate financial constraints among other factors.”

Hamandeo further indicated that the Department of Education would be monitoring the situation closely.

Regional Executive Officer (REO), Denis Jaikaran noted that there is a special provision in the 2019 Budget to address the matter of truancy, and he expects that the fan-out exercises will bear fruit.

“I am told that the exercise so far has seen some 40 plus students returning to the classroom which is good to note. There is a special allocation in Budget 2019 for Region Two to cater for truancy, and at the end of our exercise we hope to attain universal secondary education.”

Within the first quarter of this year, 12 areas of interest are expected to be targeted within the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region. (DPI)

Court hears closing arguments in ‘Mango Man’ murder trial BOTH the defence and State made closing submissions on Tuesday in the Demerara High Court, before Justice James Bovell-Drakes, as the ‘Mango Man’ trial is nearing its end and the two accused would soon know their fate.

After taking many witnesses in the trial, the summing up of the case is scheduled for Thursday (February 7, 2019) at 09:30hrs in Court Two, and then it would be handed over to the 12-member jury to deliberate for a verdict.

According to the State’s case, it is alleged that on August 30, 2007, the two accused, Sherwin Nero called ‘catty’ and Mark Royden Williams called ‘Mark Durant’, murdered Kumar Singh called ‘Mango Man’.

According to the indictment, the duo were among four gunmen who, back in 2007, invaded Kumar Singh’s Cove and John, East Coast Demerara, home, during which Singh was shot and killed.

Both accused had retained the services of defence attorney Nigel Hughes, while the State was represented by Tameika Clarke and Tiffini Lyken.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Man gets over 12 years for killing friend A REMORSEFUL Renwick Alexander was on Tuesday sentenced to 12 years six months for the 2010 killing of his best friend, after he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter, before Justice Navindra Singh.

In handing down the sentence, Justice Singh said, “I am not harsh, you have accepted responsibility and you have thrown yourself at the mercy of the court.” Having taken certain mitigating factors into consideration, including the genuine show of remorse, Justice Singh ordered the prison authorities to deduct time served from the sentence.

Justice Singh told Alexander to start preparing himself to be released, and recognise that he had been given a fair chance of life or what is left of it. In response, Alexander told the court that he was very thankful. In presenting the State’s case, Teriq Mohamed told the court, on Tuesday morning, that it was alleged that on November 3, 2010, the accused, Renwick Alexander, murdered Carl Thomas, 35.

Alexander, after consulting his attorney, Nigel Hughes, pleaded not guilty to murder but Renwick Alexander pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

The court accepted the guilty plea. Alexander, in his statement to the court, said “my sympathies to the family, I am really sorry,” after which he cried but was asked to address the daughter of the deceased, who was present in court.

Alexander told her: “I am sorry for what took place,” and she too began to cry. In his plea of mitigation, the defence attorney told the court that Alexander was 69 years old and the duo were good friends, so much so they shared a house in central Georgetown. He added that the close friends had many difficulties, and things got so economically strained, they had to share a bedroom, and, on the day in question, they had an issue which turned into an altercation.

Hughes stated that, during the altercation, the deceased was stabbed and Alexander had already spent eight years in jail, had no priors before the incident, although he had social challenges. The defence attorney pointed out that the accused had been exceedingly remorseful and wasn’t any trouble to law enforcement and, as a bachelor, it was a misadventure that placed him in the position.

Owing to the fact that a life was lost, the life of his closest friend, Hughes described the incident as a tragedy of emotions and asked the court for mercy on behalf of his client, who was considered a model prisoner at Mazaruni Prisons. Hughes added that a single stab wound was inflicted, and, in his twilight years, the accused wanted to make peace. On April 2, 2014, before the same judge, Alexander was sentenced to 56 years’ imprisonment after a 12-member jury found him guilty of the offence of murder.

The sentence was appealed and a re-trial was ordered.

However, when he appeared before Justice Singh on Tuesday, he opted to make a guilty plea of the lesser count of manslaughter, which was accepted.

The State was represented by prosecutors Teriq Mohamed, Abigail Gibbs and Tuanna Hardy, while the defence attorney was Nigel Hughes.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

FAO, Lands and Surveys Commission in sustainable land development project DATA and information management across sectors is set to be improved with the development of an Action Plan for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).

This is one result of the ‘Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Development and Management (SLDM) Project’ between the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to support the development of land administration, policy and planning.

The NSDI is a digital and open-data geospatial information system which facilitates communications among different sectors and enhances decision-making processes. The Action Plan sets out the priorities for improving cooperation in data and information management. It will be presented at the World Bank Land and Poverty Conference in March 2019. Guyana will be an international leader in developing and implementing such a plan to improve geospatial data infrastructure.

Trevor Benn, Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), said that he was extremely pleased with development of the Action Plan. According to Sally Bunning, Senior Policy Officer in the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, NSDI is a basic building block to build efficiency and a modern approach to land management and planning. The NSDI helps different sectors to combine their information and database to create one map, so that all sectors can make decisions together. It will enable the GL&SC to interact better with other agencies and have better information to support farmers and agricultural sectors. The project will contribute to the implementation of the Action Plan.

As part of the SLDM project, support was also recently provided to host the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention 17th Session, which was a significant step in the global effort to address land degradation.

Guyana’s hosting of the event allowed sharing of experiences and innovative ideas for the country to combat land degradation and realise sustainable land management.

The SLDM project started in April 2018 with the objective of promoting sustainable land use and the reclamation of degraded lands, which is essential to Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy, the national development plan that guides the country’s green economic and socio-cultural development over the next 15 years. The work is funded by the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund.

Guyana enjoys a diversity of natural resources, including agricultural lands, mineral deposits and rain- forests. Such endowment, however, is potentially threatened by land degradation and deforestation.

Sustainable land use and management is necessary, not only for protecting soil and water resources and ecosystems within Guyana, but also for enhancing livelihoods, food security and Guyana’s capacity to combat climate change.

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COHSOD meets to discuss free movement of security guards, agricultural workers SECURITY guards and agricultural workers are expected to have an easier time moving across the Region for work in the near future.

CARICOM’s Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) on Labour is doing its part to move the process forward by having a special meeting this week to further discussions on the matter. This meeting of Ministers of Labour from across the Region will be held via videoconference today.

According to a CARICOM Secretariat release, Assistant Secretary- General, Human and Social Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Douglas Slater, and Chairman of the meeting, Minister of Labour and Small Enterprises and Development, Trinidad and Tobago, Mrs. Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, will give brief remarks at the opening. This special meeting of the COHSOD will seek to advance efforts towards implementing the mandate from the CARICOM Heads of Government for agricultural workers and security guards to move under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The COHSOD is to advise on the avenues that can be used to facilitate the movement of Community nationals in these categories. In particular, the meeting will determine definitions of these categories and the mechanisms to be used to assess who is an agricultural worker or security guard. A definition of household domestics will also be considered.

The council will be guided by proposals from consultations with stakeholders in the agriculture and security sectors held on 15 January, 2019. Delegates will also be guided by discussions that took place in September and November of 2018 regarding the definition of household domestics at the 20th Meeting of Officials on the Free Movement of Skills and the Facilitation of Travel and the 47th Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) The CARICOM Heads of Government, at their 18th Special Meeting on the CSME (3 – 4 December 2018), agreed to extend the categories of nationals entitled to move across the Region to include agricultural workers and security guards under the CSME. The conference agreed that these additional categories are to be facilitated administratively by the end of February 2019 and implemented into legislation by member states by the end of July.

The conference had agreed previously that household domestics with a Caribbean Vocational Qualification were eligible to move under the CSME.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Rape-accused cop gets $250,000 bail ASSISTANT Superintendent of Police, Seecharran Singh, after spending almost two weeks on remand for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl, was on Tuesday, February 05, 2019, released on $250,000 bail.

Singh, 31, of Plantation Providence, East Bank Demerara, during his first

Bernard DeSantos.

The magistrate, as a condition for his bail, ordered Singh to keep 50 feet away from the victim. The matter will be recalled on February 15, 2019.

The Guyana Chronicle had earlier reported that the teen was left in the care of Singh, during the month of June 2018.

Assistant Superintendent, Seecharran Singh (in stripe top) being led to the courtroom by police ranks court appearance in January, 2019 was remanded to prison for allegedly engaging in sexual activity with the under-aged child, during the month of June, 2018, at his home.

Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, on Tuesday, when the matter was recalled, released Singh on bail, following an application by his attorney,

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

Upon the return of the child’s mother and the friend, the incident of what took place between the teen and the police officer was recounted to one of the female adults and the police was informed.

Richard Archer sentenced to 21 years for rape RICHARD Archer was on Monday, (February 4, 2019) sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment for raping his underage neighbour in 2016.

The sentence was handed down by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow in the Sexual Offences Court of the Demerara High Court on Monday, (February 4, 2019) when he (Archer) pleaded guilty.

The judge started at a base of 21 years but ordered that the prison authorities deduct one third of the sentence for his early guilty plea of the rape of a child under 16 years of age.

According to the State’s case, the incident took place on April 10, 2016, in the county of Demerara when the female child was only 12 years old.

Archer, who is said to be in his 50s, took the sentence calmly.

The state was represented by Lisa Cave in association with Sarah Martin and Seeta Bishundial, while the defence attorney was Maxwell McKay.

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Cameron calls for ICC over-rate rule to be ‘modified’

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) president, Dave Cameron, believes the time has come to “modify” the ICC’s controversial overrate rule, in the wake of the suspension of West Indies captain, Jason Holder, for this weekend’s third Test against England.

Wading into the debate after the ICC attracted a firestorm of criticism over their decision, Cameron said he hoped the move

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would not overshadow an otherwise outstanding performance by the West Indies side.

“We will, of course, abide by the ICC ruling, but we have to wonder if such punitive action at a pivotal stage of the series is good for cricket,” Cameron said in a statement.

“What a shame if the series is remembered not for the sparkling play of the reinvigorated West Indies players but for a

crippling decision made by a rule that ought to be modified.”

West Indies crushed England by 10 wickets inside three days of the second Test here last weekend, to take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-Test series and reclaim the Wisden Trophy for the first time in a decade.

However, match referee Jeff Crowe adjudged the hosts to be two overs short of their quota, leading to 20 per cent fines for the

Windies players and a 40 per cent fine for Holder, as skipper.

The all-rounder was also slapped with a one-match suspension as the over-rate breach was West Indies’ second in 12 months.

Cameron advised Holder to use the break to recuperate for the pending five-match One-Day International series.

“Jason now has the opportunity to benefit from resting his body over the

period of the next Test and be well prepared for the upcoming ODI series against England which begins on February 20,” Cameron said.

Holder has been the driving force behind West Indies in the series. His unbeaten maiden double-hundred propelled them to a massive 381-run win in the opening Test in Bridgetown two weeks ago, and an inspired spell of seam bowling in the second innings of the second Test

helped them seal the series win last Saturday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Cummins jumps to No.2 in ICC rankings AUSSIE quick Pat Cummins has jumped ahead of England’s Jimmy Anderson and is now just four points away from taking over the mantle of the world’s top-ranked Test bowler.

Cummins has jumped from third to second in the latest ICC rankings, moving above Anderson, after taking four wickets in Australia’s thumping win over Sri Lanka in Canberra.

The right-armer now has 878 rankings points, 18 more than Anderson and just four behind South African superstar Kagiso Rabada.

Pace teammate Mitchell Starc has jumped 10 spots following his 10-wicket haul at Manuka Oval, moving back into the top 20 to be in 15th spot.

Australia’s batsmen also made ground after four of them posted centuries in Canberra; Usman Khawaja has gained three slots to reach 13th after an unbeaten 101 in the second innings while his teammate Travis Head gained a huge 23 slots to reach a career-best 20th position after scores of 161 and 59 not out. Joe Burns is

Pat Cummins 68th and Kurtis Patterson is in 83rd spot.

West Indies players also made gains after they completed a series win over England, with quicks Jason Holder (sixth), Shannon Gabriel (11th) and Kemar Roach (12th) all in the top 12 bowlers in the world.

It’s the best bowling rankings result for the Windies since they had four in the top 12 in mid-1996 – Curtly Ambrose (first), Courtney Walsh (fifth), Ian Bishop (seventh) and Kenny Benjamin (12th).

BATTING 1) Virat Kohli (Ind) – 922 points 2) Kane Williamson (NZ) – 897 3) Cheteshwar Pujara (Ind) – 881 4) Steve Smith (Aus) – 857 5) Henry Nicholls (NZ) - 763 6) David Warner (Aus) – 756 7) Aiden Markram (SAF) –

741 8) Joe Root (Eng) – 740 9) Hashim Amla (SAF) - 711 10) Dean Elgar (SAF) – 693 BOWLING 1) Kagiso Rabada (SAF) – 882 points 2) Pat Cummins (Aus) – 878 3) James Anderson (Eng) – 860 4) Vernon Philander (SAF) - 809 5) Ravindra Jadeja (Ind) – 794 6) Jason Holder (WI) – 778 7) Trent Boult (NZ) – 771 8) Mohammad Abbas (Pak) – 770 9) Tim Southee (NZ) – 767 10) Ravi Ashwin (Ind) – 763 ALLROUNDERS 1) Jason Holder (WI) – 448 points 2) Shakib Al Hasan (Ban) – 415 3) Ravindra Jadeja (Ind) – 387 4) Vernon Philander (SA) - 341 5) Ben Stokes (Eng) – 331

Austin steers Reliance Hustlers to 10/10 title

A blistering unbeaten half-century from Mark Austin in the final piloted Reliance Hustlers to victory in the Reliance Grounds C o m m i t t e e - s p o n s o re d 10/10 tournament that was played on Sunday at the Reliance ground.

Three teams participated with Reliance Hustlers easily defeating Balkissoon’s XI, who could only produce

27-8 in their allotted 10 overs after winning the toss and batting. Sedeshwar Shivambar bowled impressively to claim 3-5 from 2 overs while there were 2 wickets each for Keith Blackman and Seon Fraser.

Reliance Hustlers wasted little time by racing to 29 from just 3 overs with Narendra Mandolall scoring a brisk unbeaten 20

Mark Austin

containing four fours.

In the final, Reliance Hustlers humbled Cotton Field by 9 wickets. Batting first, Cotton Field posted 93-4 in their 10 overs at the crease with Kevin Persaud striking 38 (6x4s) and Yashpaul Singh 26 (3x6s) being the principal scorers. In reply, a solid opening stand of 64 between Mark Austin and Beshan Narine saw Reliance Hustlers comfortably securing victory.

While Narine departed for a fluent 33 (5x4s), Austin batted beautifully, caressing the loose deliveries to the boundary as well as nonchalantly clearing the ropes to be unbeaten on 64 (8x4s, 3x6s) when the target was achieved. He was later adjudged Man-of-the-Match while Reliance Hustlers received $30,000 as the winner.

Meanwhile, the Central Essequibo Cricket Committee will bowl off their first 20/20 competition for the new season.

Some of the teams that will compete include Imam Bacchus XI, Affiance Number 1, Reliance Hustlers, Balkissoon X1, Queenstown and Ravens S.C. (Elroy Stephney)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

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Patriots now under new ownership of City Sports, Hong Kong for new CPL season BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Chris Gayle’s St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will be under new ownership for the upcoming Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Organisers announced Monday that City Sports, Hong Kong – a member of the City Group of companies – had purchased the franchise ahead of the new season scheduled to bowl off in August.

Patriots was previously owned by Dr Uday Nayak and Mohammed Ansari.

We have been delighted with the way that the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots franchise has grown since they first joined the league in 2015 and we are certain that the City Group can take the team forward to even greater success,” said CPL’s chief operating officer, Pete Russell.

“This investment shows

the high regard in which the CPL is held around the world and how the tournament continues to go from strength to strength.

“St Kitts & Nevis has always been a big part of CPL since we first had games there in 2014 and we look forward to that continuing for years to come.

“We would like to express our thanks to Dr Uday Nayak, Mohammad Ansari and their team for the amazing job they have done with the Patriots over the years.”

Patriots, based at Warner Park, replaced Antigua Hawksbills for the 2015 season and have gone on to make their mark in the tournament, reaching the 2017 final before going down to eventual champions, Trinbago Knight Riders.

Their roster currently boasts the likes of superstar

Gayle, West Indies Twenty20 opener Evin Lewis, and Windies T20 skipper Carlos Brathwaite.

City Sports chairman, Sushil Kumar, said the company hoped to make Patriots a success, not only on the field, but for the country as a whole.

“We, at City Sports, are elated to be a part of the Hero CPL and having acquired the St Kitts & Nevis franchise we want to become part of the local community through the game of cricket,” he said.

“We want to promote the spirit of true sportsmanship and fair play, while at the same time creating a unique identity through our focus on performance and development.”

“With a total economic impact for the Hero CPL 2018 being in excess of US$127 million, we are looking to

Sri Lanka axe captain Chandimal for South Africa tour (REUTERS) - Sri Lanka have dropped out-of-form Test captain Dinesh Chandimal ahead of their tour of South Africa and appointed Dimuth Karunaratne as stand-in skipper, the country’s cricket board said yesterday.

Chandimal scored just 24 runs at an average of 6 as Sri Lanka suffered a 2-0 Test series defeat in Australia, extending the team’s winless run to seven matches.

The right-handed batsman has played 53 Tests for Sri Lanka in all, racking up 11 centuries and averaging a respectable 41.86 runs.

“The national selectors released Dinesh Chandimal from his duties as captain and player of the national Test team to play domestic cricket to

regain his form and be ready for future international tours,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

Middle-order batsman

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been dropped after a poor run of form.

Roshen Silva and all-rounder Dilruwan Perera, who both toured Australia, were also left out of the 17-man squad.

Sri Lanka will tour South Africa from February 6 to March 24, playing two Tests, five One-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches. The Test series begins in Durban on February 13.

Sri Lanka Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya De Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Embuldeniya.

Wilder, Fury granted extension for rematch deal by WBC DEONTAY Wilder and Tyson Fury have been granted additional time to agree a deal for their rematch by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

WBC president Mau-

ricio Sulaiman confirmed via Twitter the purse bid, scheduled for February 5, had been delayed following requests from both parties.

“We have extended (for) one week the free negoti-

The WBC has pushed back its February 5 deadline for the camps of Deontay Wilder (right) and Tyson Fury to agree a deal for their rematch.

ations, per their request,” Sulaiman told ESPN. Wilder retained his WBC heavyweight belt after a contentious draw against Fury in Los Angeles on December 1.

Many felt Fury had done enough to earn the win despite twice having to get up off the canvas, the second time coming in an incredible 12th round at Staples Center.

Speaking in January, Fury’s promoter Frank Warren stated he expected the fight to take place on either April 27 or in May. Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel told ESPN: “We’re in strong negotiations and hopefully we will get things done. I don’t think we are going to need a purse bid.” (Omnisport)

bring a greater economic impact to St Kitts & Nevis in 2019 and beyond.

“We are also hoping our investment into the St Kitts & Nevis franchise is a catalyst to further investment into the country and growth of its economy.”

St Kitts Newis Patriots openers Chris Gayle (right) and Evin Lewis

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Reliance Hustlers Sports Club hosts Berbice women cop 2019 GCB Senior inter-county tournament Awards ceremony and dinner

Erva Giddings collects her player-of-the-match trophy from a GCB official.

Reliance Hustlers members proudly pose with their memorabilia at Saturday’s evening ceremony.

By Eltoy Stephney HISTORY was created when the Reliance Hustlers Sports Club on the Essequibo Coast staged the first-ever Awards ceremony and dinner for its members last Saturday evening.

On the lawns of the Club’s captain Trevis Simon’s residence, the gathering, including members and their relatives, sponsors and supporters, were serenaded to an Evening of Nostalgia.

Recollecting the club’s performance in 2018 was Trevis Simon, who was elected captain in 2017. He praised his charges for having a creditable year by winning several titles as well as uniting as a team.

Simon also alluded to the tremendous support from the corporate community in having the team fully uniformed, providing sufficient gear at their disposal as well as upgrading and structurally transforming the Reliance ground that serves the community.

A tribute was also made by prominent businessman Mr Danny Mipaul who has offered to remain faithful towards the continued aspirations of the club as well as the needs and well-being of the aspiring young players.

The colourful evening’s programme was chaired by Mark

Austin as he unveiled the first batch of awardees for 2018: Keron Boodram the most improved cricketer, Mark Austin best batsman, Pavindra Persaud best bowler, Ravindra Parasram best fielder, Narendra Mandolall the most entertaining cricketer and Anthony Ifill, who received the captain’s award for his commitment and dedication.

The presentation was rounded off with Abdool Nadir being awarded junior cricketer-of-the-year and fittingly Trevis Simon as senior cricketer-of-the-year.

Medals and trophies were presented to the awardees. Nadir also received a bat, which was donated by Demerara’s former Under-19 inter-county player, Anthony Ifill.

Each member also collected a medal. Those present were Sedeshwar Shivambar, Dinesh Joseph, Beshan Narine, Keith Blackman, Seon Fraser, Ravindra Mangal, Jageshwar Mangal along with the club’s manager Romesh Shivambar. Among the other sponsors were Prem Persaud, Cecil Shivambar, Vijay’s Trading, Najab’s Trading, Jairam Persaud and Factory Price.

A sumptuous dinner was then served, accompanied by serenading sounds during the cool evening and much to the pleasure and joy of the well-attended gathering.

Drag racing championship postponed INCLEMENT weather forecasts have forced the postponement of the opening round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s Drag racing event.

Initially billed for February 17, the event will now be held on March 17 after organisers saw a forecast which featured rain on the day prior to and after the day.

The club has had bad experiences with inclement weather after a competitor’s vehicle turned turtle during one of the events last year.

While the driver and many spectators emerged unhurt, the club is not willing to risk another scene like that.

Meanwhile, the GMR&SC has also indicated that should the forecast

change before February 17, they would consider holding a club day for cars.

Following last weekend’s Endurance race, the Club is now in preparation stages for

its Annual General Meeting and election of office-bearers. That is set for February 8 at the club’s Thomas Street office.

The first round of the

National Race of Champions is set for March 2 and 3, with the first International engagement fixed for Trinidad on March 23 and 24.

THE 50-Over format of the 2019 GCB Senior Female inter-county tournament concluded with the third round of matches yesterday at GCC and Everest Cricket Club grounds. Berbice defeated Demerara to finish top of the table and claim the title with two wins from three games.

At GCC, Demerara clashed with Berbice; Demerara won the toss and decided to bat, a decision which did not go in their favour, as they fell cheaply for a meagre 68 runs in 25.1 overs.

Opening batter Lashuna Toussaint scored 16, while Akaze Thompson top-scored with 19, Heema Singh contributed 12.

Bowling for Berbice, Erva Giddings picked up 5 for 13 which gave her the playerof-the-match award while Sheneta Grimmond supported her with 2 wickets for 4 runs.

Berbice, in their reply, reached their total for the loss of just two wickets in 13.3 overs. Sheneta Grimmond was the lone batter to reach double figures knocking a valuable 36 off 31 balls. Heema Singh and Akaze Thompson collected a wicket each for Demerara.

Over at the Everest ground, Select Under-19 wrecked Essequibo as the team whipped up 384 for 4

in 42 overs. Shabika Gajnabi top-scored with a massive 160 while Cherry Ann Fraser fell short of her century by 7 runs scoring 93 off the innings.

Support also came from Lafona Gilgeous and Africa Gentle with 18 and 39 runs respectively. Vanita Balkishun collected 2 for 59 while Kumarie Persaud and Aniliza D’Aguiar also claimed a wicket each for the Essequibo team.

In reply, Essequibo failed to achieve their target and fell for a measly 55 runs in 18 overs which gave Select Under-19 a massive 329-run victory. Bowling for Select Under-19, Mandy Mangru cleaned up the Essequibo batting line up collecting 7 wickets for 18 runs while Navina Ramnauth grabbed the other 3 wickets for 14 runs.

With the conclusion of the 50-Over format, GCB will now turn their attention to the T20 format of this tournament which is scheduled to commence tomorrow.

It runs through to Sunday and in the first round of matches, Select Under-19 battle Berbice at Everest from 09:00hrs while Demerara will take on Essequibo from 13:30hrs at the same venue.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday, February 06, 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)

Drags action has been postponed to March 17. (GTRidez Photo)

(1) (2)

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: 97-Trent Bridge, Nottinham, 1976 73 times

(1)

(2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: How many times the WI & England have now contested Tests at the Kensington Oval, Barbados? How many the WI have won?

Who is the first man to score a hundred in his one hundredth Test?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 6, 2019

47

Ninvalle, Thomas win Elite singles TT titles at schools tournament

… Bishops’ High, Mae’s and West Demerara Secondary excel in team events KAYSAN Ninvalle and Thuraia Thomas were crowned champions of the Elite Boys’ and Girls’ singles respectively when the curtain came down on the three-day GTTA 2019 National Talent-spotting Schools Novices and Elite Teams and Singles Table Tennis Challenge last Sunday evening.

Kaysan Ninvalle won the Elite Boys’ singles

The event attracted 35 schools in several different communities around the country and 180 students participated at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Along with the individual encounters, several schools also fought for supremacy in team events, with Bishops’ High, Mae’s Schools and

West Demerara Secondary emerging victorious.

ELITE SINGLES Ninvalle, who attends Chase Academy defeated West Field School student Dhanesh Persaud in the final of the Boys Elite Singles 1012, 11-7, 14-12 and 11-7.

Singles final 11-8, 11-8, 11-7.

In the semi-finals, Thomas had defeated Nkechi McRae 11-4, 11-8, 11-13, 11-8, while Phillis got the better of Jasmine Billingy 6-11, 11-3, 11-8, 12-14, 11-1.

NOVICE SINGLES In the Open Boys’ Rookie/

Although he bowed out early in the singles, Van Lange was instrumental in leading the Bishops’ High to the Elite team title.

Young Persaud did well, given that he upset two national players - Jonathan Van Lange in the quarter-finals (11-9, 11-4, 12-14, 11-7) and Isaiah Layne (11-8, 11-8, 11-8) in the semi-finals.

Marian Academy student Thomas got past Aneka Phillis from Buxton Youth Developers in the Girls’ Elite

Novices Singles, it came down to a battle between Isa Islamic School pair of Umar Percival and Saalih Rahim.

Thirteen-year-old Percival, broke the deadlock with an 8-11, 2-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 win against Rahim, who is one year his senior.

Ta t y a n a M o h a m e d emerged as champion in the

Open Girls’ Rookie/Novices Singles event. The St. Mary’s High School student defeated Mae’s student Nicky Melville 3-2 (11-8, 13-15, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9).

Third place went to losing semi-finalists Roze-Ann Saunders and Christine Ramdial.

TEAMS’ BATTLE In the Open Boys’ Rookie team, West Demerara Secondary defeated Mae’s ‘A’ 3-1, while Isa Islamic and Linden ‘A’ finished a joint third.

In the Boys’ Elite teams final, Bishops’ High, led by Van Lange, defeated Chase Academy 3-1.

Van Lange defeated A. Persaud 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-2), while Jamal Nicholas got past Krystian Sahadeo 3-2 (16-14, 12-10, 7-11, 15-17, 11-7) to even up the game. Bishops recaptured the lead after a 3-2 win in the doubles, before Van Lange came from behind to overcome Nicholas 9-11, 1311, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7.

The Girls’ team battle took place in the Novice division.

Sisters Crystal and Nicky Melville led a Mae’s Schools ‘A’ team to championship honours.

The Girls played undefeated in the league format.

They blanked Charlestown Secondary 3-0, St Mary’s

Sisters Crystal (left) and Nicky Melville played undefeated to lift Mae’s Schools to the Girls’ Novices team title.

3-0, Bishop’s High School 3-0 and their schoolmates, Mae’s B team 3-0.

Mae’s B pair of Ramdial and Edelia Simmons finished second.

Guinness Greatest of the Streets West Demerara Zone

Defending champs Showstoppers head into quarter-final action tonight ALL roads will lead to the Pouderoyen Tarmac tonight, when the quarterfinal round commences in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ West Demerara/East Bank Demerara championship from 19:00hrs at the Pouderoyen tarmac.

The opening quarterfinal will pit Jetty against Up-TopBosses, with Bagotstown Warriors engaging Brothers United in the second quarterfinal. In the third fixture, ESPN will take aim at Ballers Empire, with Showstoppers tackling former champion West Side Ballers.

According to an official release, tournament coordinator Travis ‘Zoti’ Bess stated, “Every quarterfinal game should be gruelling where no inch will be given and no yard will be taken. Everyone will be looking to get the upper hand over their opponent to get into the semi-final.

The first quarterfinal will be attack versus defence, whereby Up-Top-Bosses is a more offensive team and Jetty is more organized defensive unit. The

goalkeeper Oswald Cornett.”

“Next we have Brothers United against Bagotstown Warriors. Basically this is an open game which is hard

ka Jones for Bagotstown has provided a wealth of experience heading into the knockout round.”

“This is one of the games of

Action in the Guinness Greatest of the Streets West Demerara Zone.

game should feature some of Guyana’s brightest stars in Delon Lanferman, Leo Lovell, Kevin Dundas and Amoniki Buntin, while Jetty has the services of former national

to call but Brothers United have experienced in Andrew Murray Jr, siblings Adami and Gadi Hoyte, while Bagotstown is a relatively unknown team. The acquisition of Sha-

the night in ESPN versus Ballers Empire which is a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal that was won by ESPN. According to Ballers Empire, they are prepared for ESPN this year

and all the challenges the pose.

This is clash of styles in offense and defence and ESPN has been more threatening and consistent than everyone else in the event.

ESPN is basically a mixture of past and present national players in Pernell Schultz, Trevon Lythcott, Dennis Edwards and Dwayne Lindie, while Ballers Empire possess emerging talents in Jamal Hamilton, Quincy DosSantos and Seon Alfred.”

“The feature game of the night is a clash featuring former winner West Side Ballers against current champion Showstoppers. Since the inception of the event, the record is 1-1 in two meetings and this year is expected to be a very exciting one. Both teams are very offensive minded, and the team that plays the better defence will win. Showstoppers feature Marvin Josiah, Dexroy Adams, Trayon Bobb, Stephon Jupiter

and Kayode King. On the other hand, West Side Ballers consist of Quessey Alleyne, Dwayne St. Kitts, Kevin Frank and Morgan Denny. Basically all four quarterfinals are expected to be exciting.”

The event, which is the first zone of the annual season, features 16 teams battling in an initial round-robin format.

The top two finishers from each group will advance to the quarterfinal round. Winner of the event will collect $500,000 and a trophy, while the runner-up will receive $250,000 and the corresponding accolade.

On the other hand, the third and fourth place teams will pocket $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and a trophy. The other playing dates are February 1st, 6th, 8th, with the final penciled for the 15th.

Chantoba Bright

named Conference USA Female Field Athlete-of-the-Week … sets PB in first triple jump outing for UTEP

By Rawle Toney G U YA N A’ S C h a n t o b a Bright was named the Conference USA Female Field Athlete-of-the-Week following her leap of 12.77 metres - a personal-best in the triple jump.

In her first meet, competing in the triple jump, Bright got off on the right foot erasing her old mark of 12.60 metres at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic.

Bright, who is on a full scholarship at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One School the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), now ranks 30th across the USA in the triple jump and second in the conference after her first attempt. Bright also ranks sixth all-time in the UTEP record book.

“My season was off to a slow start. I was frustrated because I wasn’t getting the

results I was working for.

Nevertheless I continued working hard with my coach.

After every competition we went back to the books and made adjustments that led to this achievement,” Bright told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview.

The former Mackenzie High School student said she started her season off with a distance of 5.90m in the long jump and is ranked 49th na-

tionally in the vent and 30th in the triple jump. She’s also ranked fourth in her conference in the long jump and second in the triple jump.

Bright’s 12.77m is also the sixth best distance in the school’s history and according to the Victo-

ry Valley resident, “As a freshman this is a big achievement since the season just started and I’m overwhelmed but this

is only the beginning of greater things to come as I continue to be humble and work hard to make my country, parents and myself proud.”

“As I prepare to compete in conference USA next week I’m looking forward to producing better results than the previous ones and scoring for my team and hopefully to make it to NCAA as a freshman,” the soft-spoken athlete stated.

The diminutive athlete is known for her academic achievements as much as her exploits in the triple and long jump.

At the 2016 CARIFTA Games Bright won silver in the triple and the long jump.

In 2017 she won gold in the long jump and bronze in the triple jump. In 2018, she won gold in the long jump, bronze in the triple jump and silver in the 4x400 relay.

At the IAAF World

England surprised by Windies – Viv Richards WINDIES batting legend Viv Richards believes England have been “outgunned” and surprised by the quality of West Indies during their Test series.

The Windies have already sealed a series win over England heading into the third Test, which begins on Saturday.

England have had no answers, making scores of 77, 246, 187 and 132 in two heavy defeats in the series so far.

Richards feels some of the tourists’ batsmen have been exposed, surprised by how good the Windies have been.

“You have to look at it in the cold light of day, England have been outgunned. I don’t think they expected it. I don’t think they expected West Indies to be this competitive,” the great told The Mirror.

“They have played the better cricket and have been

in great form, and it has really hurt England. The West Indies are bowling at a pace that, whoever you are in world cricket as a batter, you won’t like it. England haven’t coped at all with it.

“There are some real

chinks in that England batting order, and they have been exposed by the pace bowlers.

“They were able to get stuck into the (Jonny) Bairstows and the (Joe) Roots earlier than they would have

liked and that can play havoc in the minds of some individuals.”

Bairstow has been England’s leading run-scorer in the series, managing just 108 at an average of 27.

Chantoba Bright

U-18 Championships last year, in Kenya, she finished fifth, while at the South American U-20 Championships, she won gold in the long jump and bronze in the triple jump.

Bright’s PB in long jump is 6.30m and she

also dabbled in high jump where her best height cleared was 1.65 metres.

With several Nationals’ records to her name, Bright is noted to be one of Guyana’s brightest prospects ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games.

Cameron calls for ICC over-rate rule to be ‘modified’ Page

43

Windies captain Jason Holder disturbs the stumps of Jonny Bairstow on the third day of the second Test. (AFP photo)

WICB president Dave Cameron

Drag racing championship postponed ► 46

Page

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019