Free Inside
Building capacity No. 105182
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2018
Price: $140
(VAT Inclusive)
–– Ground Structures Engineering training young Guyanese for oil-and-gas sector
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Carjacking ring smashed –– ex-cop, auto dealers allegedly linked
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One of the cars suspected to have been stolen and vehicle parts seized by police Friday night
Movie Towne vows 14 support for local films PAGE
UK investor banks big 02 on coconut PAGE
Rupununi Music and Arts 05 Festival officially launched PAGE
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 11, 2018
Investor banks big on coconut industry Story and photos by Rabindra Rooplall
GUYANA may be just a heartbeat away from the USA, arguably the biggest driver of demand for the product, not to mention the regional hub in terms of supply, yet it’s still to achieve its true potential. But things are about to make a turnaround, as Pomeroon Trading Inc has plans to tremendously boost production. According to British businessman and CEO of Pomeroon Trading, Mr Duncan Turnbull, in the initial stages, the company had invested in an intercropping pilot project to sustain the start-up of the industry. He told the Guyana Chronicle in an exclusive interview that while the company’s main aim is to export coconut water, it will be experimenting with value-added processing facilities, such as using coconut husk for biofuel. Turnbull also said that
the company will be intercropping with avocado, turmeric, black pepper, ginger, moringa, passion fruit and stevia, since they are looking at high-end crops that can be processed here before being exported. But in the interim, there are three main intercrops being planted for the local market, and these are bananas, of which there are 20,000
suckers, watermelons, all 20 acres of them, and 25 acres of pumpkin. He said that with demand for coconuts booming, and ageing trees threatening to curtail world supply, researchers feel that Guyana could develop a viable coconut industry. SUPPLY & DEMAND
Global demand for coconut products, Turnbull said, is growing at a rate of 10 per cent per annum, but supply is another story, as over 90 per cent of the nuts on the market come from smallhold farmers. Again, of the 70 billion or so coconuts on the world market annually, just a measly one per cent comes from the Caribbean.
CARDI Country Representative, Dr. Cyril Roberts (stooping) with Turnbull and other officials at the coconut nursery during a recent visit
Global supply of raw coconuts, Turnbull says, is dominated by Indonesia, The Philippines and India, so Guyana is ripe for development, since urbanisation is challenging the industries in these countries. He said, too, that with the sugar industry on the decline the world over, Guyana will have to adjust, which means that there will be lots of land available and viable for coconut production. And, thanks to health-conscious consumers, the markets for high-end products such as coconut water and virgin coconut oil are seeing exponential growth. Strong niche markets, the Britisher said, are also emerging for coconut-based snacks, milk, yoghurt and ice cream, as well as coconut flour and coconut sugar, while demand for the traditional desiccated coconut is as solid as ever. Contending that the availability of coconut seedlings is one of the key reasons for underperformance in the local coconut sector, Turnbull said: “We are trying to tackle this problem at the most fundamental level. “Existing estates are often ageing and unproductive. Without the right planting materials, the industry cannot revitalise.” BIGGEST SUPPLIER Turnbull has plans for Pomeroon Trading to
be the biggest supplier of planting materials in the Pomeroon. For that matter, he has plans for Guyana to have the biggest coconut seedling nursery in all of the Caribbean, as the company aims to produce over five acres with 50 beds of seedlings in partnership with the Caribbean Agricultural Research Development Institute (CARDI), the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Ministry of Agriculture. Turnbull and his team recently met with Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder and NAREI’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Oudho Homenauth, to update them on the nursery and works being done to rehabilitate the estate. He is particularly grateful for the support he has been receiving from NAREI and the Ministry of Agriculture. He said that presently, his company employs about 40 persons in the community, and has replanted some 30,000 coconut trees. He said that although the availability of seedlings is one of the main challenges to the Caribbean coconut industry, the company will help to tackle this by planting three-year coconut seedlings, which will be available for sale to local farmers, thereby stimulating a vibrant industry. Pomeroon Trading Inc. is a Guyana-registered company operating on some 700 acres of farmland in the Pomeroon that has been leased from the Stoll family. TECH-DRIVEN The company aims to use technology to transform the local industry. Thirty thousand seedlings have already been planted, and this is likely to be increased to 50,000 in the next year. Financed by investors from the UK and the Caribbean, the company is working to restore a neglected estate to its former glory. As part of its corporate social responsibility in the community, the company recently built and handed over a dining hall to the Hackney Primary School. According to a survey done by NAREI, there are over 1,454 coconut farmers in Guyana. And while the industry comprises a large number of estates, small farmers See page 3
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Building capacity
SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 11, 2018
–– Ground Structures Engineering training young Guyanese for oil-and-gas sector
IN a perfect example of how a business can expand its scope to cater for a new and potentially favourable economic sector, Ground Structures Engineering Consultants Inc (GSECI) has now entered the realm of soil-testing, which is necessary for petroleum exploration. In addition to expanding into a new area of petroleum-related, geotechnical services, it is also a demonstration of how young Guyanese professionals can rise to the occasion and make their contribution. At a press conference last Thursday held on the sidelines of the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit (GIPEX 2018), two of GSECI’s officials – Sean Henry, a civil engineer and Pricilla Moore, a geological engineer -- spoke to members of the media regarding their foray into the oil-and-gas sector. It was early in 2017 when the partnership was announced between Dutch engineering company Fu-
gro and GSECI for capacity-building in the provision of petroleum-related geological services. Moore said that prior to
versity. She said while the geotechnical aspect is related to mining, it is still somewhat new to her.
Civil Engineering and Biology. There are also seven young laboratory technicians who are in line to be trained as soil technicians and will be
Pricilla Moore (left) with Sean Henry at the press briefing working in oil and gas, her previous experience was in the mining industry for gold and diamonds. However, she said that she had some exposure to petroleum-related matters as she was chosen for a short scholarship joint programme between the University of Guyana and Texas Tech Uni-
“I expect to gain more experience in it and maybe sometime pursue a Masters in Geotechnical Engineering,” Moore, who recently returned from training in New Jersey, USA, said. Henry said currently the company has three persons at the University of Guyana who are pursuing studies in
given exposure in Trinidad and in Houston, Texas, USA, where they will see first-hand what the expectations of the industry are. Following this, they will be given the opportunity to be trained offshore before functioning on their own. Henry said that through Fugro, one of the young
persons is working with PEMEX, the Mexican National Oil Company, in the Gulf of Mexico. Henry himself will soon be heading to Massachusetts, USA, for training. “With this arrangement, there will be a need for more soil technicians,” he said. According to Henry, everyone gets the chance to learn of the processes involved in petroleum-related geotechnical engineering. “In that respect, everybody knows what their responsibilities are,” he said, adding that working with a first-world company such as Fugro raised their awareness about the required work culture and work ethic. Henry stated that GSECI always give young professions a chance to work with the company, not only in its oiland-gas-related work, but also in environmental management. “[Our Environmental Department] is currently staffed by four recent graduates of the University of Guyana in Biology, along with two mentors who are experienced in environmental compliance
and biodiversity,” he said. GSECI is working along with companies such as oiland-gas support services giant Schlumberger, the Guyana Shore Base Inc and others. “Out of this forum (GIPEX 2018), we were able to meet different players within the industry and they can request our services, which may see an expansion in our business that we do here,” he said. A Fugro press release in March, 2017, said that Fugro is fulfilling its commitment to supporting local content by working with agencies in Guyana. It said that as part of this new working relationship, “Fugro will provide onsite training at its state-ofthe-art accredited laboratory in Houston, Texas, USA, to crosstrain soil technicians to meet industry standards.” Fugro is also providing essential offshore experience to GSECI’s certified soil technicians, who will support a geotechnical campaign that Esso Exploration and Production, Guyana Limited awarded to Fugro recently.
Investor banks Little Kissan big on coconut ... recognised From page 2
make up a significant proportion of the industry. This is especially so in the Pomeroon, Wakenaam and the East Coast of Demerara. Coconuts continue to be Guyana’s major non-traditional export; exports which amount to some US$5M annually. January last, more than 450 tissue-cultured coconut plantlets arrived at NAREI’s Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) head office from Mexico. The varieties include Mexican Pacific Tall, Vanuatu Tall, Markham Valley Tall and Pilipog Green Dwarf. They are currently being monitored at the institute’s greenhouse. The plantlets were donated by the Investigative Centre of Yucatan (CICY) as part of NAREI’s staff, Analeesa Skeete’s thesis for her Master’s Degree Programme in Biological Sciences. According to Skeete, the new varieties are resistant to the lethal yellowing, one of the most fatal diseases that attack coconut palms. An evaluation of the plants will be done to see how well they adapt to Guyana’s climate. Farmers will subsequently be introduced to the new varieties at a demonstration farm, where they can examine the nuts’ sizes, taste and quality. These new varieties are good for both water and coconut oil.
for bravery
LITTLE Kissan Henry of New Amsterdam who saved herself and brother from a fire at their home earlier this week, was recognised at a simple presentation held at the office of Crime Chief Paul Williams on Saturday. According to the police, seven-year-old Kissan was presented with several items, including a plaque and several books on behalf of the Commissioner, Crime Chief and other members of the Force. The Force recognised her bravery and brilliant thinking from a humanitarian standpoint at such a tender age. The reward was made possible through support from the Mark Benschop Foundation and other key stakeholders. The child’s mother went into hiding after the family’s Lot 740 Glasgow, New Housing Scheme, house caught fire last Monday night. The authorities discovered that two under-aged children were left unsupervised on the said evening. The mother has since been placed before the courts.
Crime Chief Paul Williams and his deputy, Michael Kingston handing over a plaque to little Kissan Henry
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 11, 2018
Consultations on GSDS to intensify
By Svetlana Marshall
THE Department of Environment will be intensifying its nationwide consultations on the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) as it pushes towards meeting its June, 2018 deadline for completion of the strategy. The Green State Development Strategy (SGDS) will guide Guyana’s economic and socio-cultural development over the next 15 years. On Friday, Director of the Department of Environment Ndibi Schwiers and GSDS Coordination Desk National Coordinator Eustace Alexander, brought the media up to speed on the strategy. Alexander, in his presentation, explained that a framework document prepared by the Ministry of the Presidency with technical and financial support from the UN Environment Programme, is currently being used to guide the development of the SGDS. The SGDS will outline
President David Granger and his coalition government’s principal foundations for inclusive green economic and social growth, provide a roadmap for achieving sustainable development goals and related targets, and outline a longterm vision for a prosperous and equitable future. It was explained that the strategy will be designed to reorient and diversify Guyana’s economy, reducing reliance on traditional sectors and opening up new sustainable income and investment opportunities in higher value-added and higher growth sectors. The GSDS Coordination Desk National Coordinator said while consultations have already commenced, they will be intensified in coming days as the Department of Environment seeks to have greater inputs from the all sections of society and simultaneously raise awareness. “Nationwide consultations have begun in small and
completion. It was noted too that the consultations will be used as a platform to clear up many of the misconceptions surrounding the GSDS. One of the biggest misconceptions Alexander said, is the belief that the GSDS and the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) are two of the same.
GSDS Coordination Desk National Coordinator Eustace Alexander (Adrian Narine photo)
short steps, but we are going to embark on bigger and rapid ways very soon,” Alexander told reporters. He said currently, the Department of Environment is in discussion with the Ministry of Communities and the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs on how to engage communities and villages throughout the 10 administrative regions. Pointing out that “Green Conversations” form part of the consultative process, Alexander said that “reen
Conversations” have already been held at the Pegasus in Georgetown and in Bartica. “The ‘Green Conversation’ is a form of consultation, and the next one will be held in New Amsterdam. The Minister of Environment from Barbados is expected to be there for the next ‘Green Conversation’,” he noted. Alexander explained that information emerging from these conversations and nationwide consultations will be used to map the strategy, allowing for its drafting and
ONE IN THE OTHER “The Low Carbon Development Strategy and the Green State Development Strategy is one in the other. The Green State Development Strategy will build upon the efforts of the Low Carbon Development Strategy. If you understand the Low Carbon Development Strategy properly, you will see many of the recommendations are in line and compatible with the Green State Development Strategy,” Alexander explained. The director of the department of environment added that another misconception is that mining and logging activities will have to be halted when the GSDS is implemented, because of their harmful impacts. “I believe that in simple terms, the ‘Green’ economy really has to do with resource optimisation, how we utilise our resources or how we optimise the utilisation of
our resources for the development of the country. Some of the resources that we have, they are finite resources, that is to say that a time is going to come when we no would longer have those resources, oil and gas is one of those resources; our job now is to ensure that we explore… those resources and use the financial and other benefits that accrue from that to develop other sectors within the economy,” Schwiers explained. She said for this and other reasons, the consultations are critical to the process. “We realise that we need to have much more awareness and education sessions with Guyanese, and the ‘Green Conversations’ are intended to ensure that Guyanese are better aware, they are better prepared on how to contribute to the success of the Green State Development Strategy,” she added. The framework document, which is guiding the process, is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, serving as a tripod platform for economic, social and environmental safeguards. These safeguards, during the development of the GSDS, are to ensure a sustainable and fair transition to inclusive green growth and a better quality Turn to page 5
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 11, 2018
Rupununi Music and Arts Festival officially launched more patrons because it is so close to Lethem and the Brazilian border,” he said. The festival is intended to bring people and cultures together. “It’s really about bringing people together, to cut out bad vibes and to encourage positivity among each other. We hope that over the
By Telesha Ramnarine THE Rupununi Music and Arts Festival, billed for February 16 to 18 at the Manari Ranch in Lethem, Region Nine, was officially launched on Friday at the Colgrain House in Georgetown. The festival weekend has seen performers from Ukraine and the United Kingdom in the past, and will possibly feature groups from Jamaica, Canada and Suriname this time around. Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes attended the ceremony and was high in praise for it, owing to her personal experience of attending a previous festival. “It’s a moving experience because it’s not just music which is a powerful unifying role in any country or part of the world. But the fact is, this is music with depth that allows you to experience a culture,” she said, adding, “I say to any family or any Guyanese, this is a wonderful opportunity to pick up your tent if you do not have an accommodation; go camp in a safe, beautiful, natural environment.” The government, through the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs has contributed $5M to the festival. Festival Director, Bob Ramdhani offered that a number of events are planned so that those attending can be engaged throughout the day. “During the day, we wish
Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes
to create space between 10 to 4 pm so that visitors to the festival can leave if they choose to and visit the neighbourhood and other sites and places of interest within the Rupununi. But for those who are staying on site all day between 10 and 4, we will have arts and music and reading workshops so people are engaged all the time,” he explained. Also in attendance were Carl Bowen from Fly Jamaica, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Alfred King, and representatives of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA). The launch also featured live performances from local rock musician, Gavin Mendonca and Jaime ‘Suru’
Mayers from Jazz and Poetry on a Stool. King commended the organisers of the festival. “In terms of nature, adventure and eco-tourism, I believe this one offers that refreshing opportunity for people to leave the built-up city.” According to him, the festival is expected to create jobs for some 80 persons in the region. The festival has been relocated from the Rock View Lodge in Anai for a number of reasons, Mendonca, one of the organisers, told Chronicle recently. “This is the first time we will be using Manari Ranch which is just about 20 minutes outside of Lethem. From Lethem, it is easy to get ground transportation to the ranch. So we expect a lot
Consultations on GSDS ... of life for all Guyanese. It has seven central themes: Green and Inclusive Structural Transformation; diversifying the economic base, accessing new markets and creating decent jobs for all; sustainable management of natural resources and expansion of environmental services: stewardship of natural patrimony; Energy – transition to renewable energy and greater energy independence; resilient infrastructure and spatial development; human development and well-being; governance
“This is so that we can really make it a world music site but still yet identifiable as a Guyanese site. People must know that they’re in Guyana but still experience cultures from around the world,” he said. The ranch, which is being developed from scratch in terms of a stage and
and institutional pillars and international coop-
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eration, trade and investment.
Performers at a previous festival
years this will have a subliminal effect on the way people think; the way they approach life,” Mendonca expressed. While Guyanese culture will be a big part of it – especially the indigenous culture- he explained that the organisers will also borrow architectural designs from Morocco, Latin America and other countries.
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other facilities conducive to holding a successful festival, is intended to become a fully functioning entity all year round so that it will be possible for smaller events to be held like folk festivals, Brazilian festivals, indigenous events, rock festivals, and cultural workshops, among others.
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Editorial
SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 11, 2018
The Opposition and the democratic process THE PPP’s recent rejection of the President’s nominees for the top Judicial posts calls into question the role of the Opposition in the democratic process. Guyana has over the years been a victim of both government over-reach and Opposition overzealousness. Some may argue, with much justification, that the two outcomes are interrelated. Suffice to say that the country’s democratic credentials have been called into question to the point where some analysts have described us as authoritarian—at least at different points in our post-colonial journey. In fact, Professor Clive Thomas who in the 1980s wrote the seminal book, “The Rise of the Authoritarian State in the Periphery”, was moved in the not so distant past to describe Guyana as a “Criminalized State.” This perception of the state of our democracy may have played a pivotal role in the historic change of government in 2015. Almost three years into the life of the new government, the Opposition PPP has consistently attempted to call into question the democratic intent of those in charge of managing the State. Such charges are a norm in Guyanese and Caribbean opposition praxis. In many cases these opposition parties were themselves recent perpetrators of democratic abuse—a case of “the pot calling the kettle black.” The simple truth is that the now Opposition PPP presided over one of the most undemocratic governments in the modern history of the Anglophone Caribbean. From the descent into a culture of extra-judicial killings to institutional assault on the media to the merging of the party with the state and government to the wholesale transfer of state assets into private hands, that government took Guyana close to the edge
of systemic dysfunction. But if one were unfamiliar with Guyanese politics, one would have much difficulty associating those ills with the now Opposition party. But a close observation of its behavior would give some insight into the way it governed. In other words, there has not been much change in the general approach of the PPP to politics and society since it lost the seat of power two and a half years ago. Its politics of domination, political spite, ethno-racial fear-mongering and manifest destiny are as active now as they were while the party was in power. The argument here is that the PPP, in opposition, is undermining democracy as much as when it held power. Understandably the burden is on government to uphold the democratic principles of governance. But opposition parties are just as responsible for that outcome. Although the dayto-day exercise of power is disproportionately weighed in favour of governments, the opposition does have strategic instruments of democratic check on government. So those parties could in some instances hold the political process at ransom. It is our considered opinion that this is exactly what the PPP has been doing. Just as it used the cover of democracy to govern as an authoritarian, it is now using the cover of opposition oversight to undermine democracy. The tactic is simple but subtle — frustrate the government with the hope that in the interest of discharging its constitutional duties, it acts in ways that the Opposition can deem to be undemocratic. It is a case of the PPP, in Bob Marley’s words, “playing smart and not being
clever.” Our Westminster system assumes that at some levels, the Opposition is part of government and as such has certain fundamental obligations to make the system work effectively. The PPP has deliberately used these obligations as barriers to democratic advance. The party’s attitude to the selection of GECOM Chair comes to mind — the opposition leader utilized his major role in the process to hurt and eventually dismantle the democratic spirit of the Carter Formulae. The same approach is at work on the sugar issue and the appointment of top officers to the Judicial branch. The constant vulgarizing of the National Assembly is aimed at delegitimizing that institution and then blaming the government for the chaos that ensues. The truth of the matter is that, despite mistakes, this government cannot be charged with presiding over an authoritarian state. In fact, one of its crowning achievements is precisely its sterling record in the areas of human rights and the upholding of civil liberties. Such an assessment cannot be reasonably refuted by even government detractors. So, the PPP’s antics are uncalled for—a case of creating a fictionalised dictatorship and seeking to normalise it. It is therefore the responsibility of fair-minded social and political forces to stand in the way of this travesty. There must be a distinction between opposition and civil society oversight on the one hand and willful destabilisation of the process on the other. There must always be a place for opposition critique, but such critique must be grounded in reason and commitment to democratic and moral principles.
Wolves in sheep clothing Dear Editor, I WRITE to express my disgust that there are religious leaders who walk among us pretending that they are normal and virtuous, when in fact they are sick in their heads and are guilty of committing heinous acts of rape and sexual assault. In recent times, there have been countless reports of sexual crimes committed by religious leaders locally, regionally and internationally. It is particularly disturbing that many of their victims are vulnerable women and children who are members of their places of worship. It is unthinkable that so many religious leaders violate their positions of trust and authority to abuse women and children who look up to them for spiritual guidance and comfort during difficult times in their lives. Sexual abuse straddles all religions, but whether it occurs in Christian, Hindu, Mus-
lim, Jewish, Buddhists or other faiths, it is a vile act of betrayal when perverts who are put on a pedestal by trusting religious practitioners choose to target the naive and innocent to commit depraved acts. To me, what is even more repulsive is when these perverse religious leaders go unpunished and continue to be well respected by their church members. Worst of all, they are protected by the silence of ashamed and fearful victims and by high officials in their religious circles. Recently, there was the scandal of a religious leader who referred to himself as a pope and who was reportedly sexually involved with a number of female adult members of his congregation with the audacity to videotape his sexual sessions. There are other accusations out there, such as the case of a Rosignol pastor who was tried and found guilty and jailed for 40 years for raping of a child below the age of 16. Then
a Muslim scholar was accused of raping nine boys while he was a teacher attached to an Islamic school. A pandit allegedly raped a Number 60 Corentyne girl when he went to the family’s home to pray for her since she was unwell. Another pandit was accused of raping a 16-year-old after she had gone to accompany her grandparents to a mandir in Eccles. The rape was committed under the pretext that he needed to perform a spiritual ritual on the girl. One swami who collected large sums of money to set up ashrams in India and the United States proceeded to rape a Guyanese at a function in Trinidad. There are also stories of Jewish rabbis who have committed all kinds of sexual perversions against women, children, boys and girls. The sexually perverse acts by some Roman Catholic priests are historical and monumental, especially against little boys. These persons have disgraced their religions
and their communities. We have also seen our elderly women ages 70, 80 and 90, being raped in their homes in Guyana. Within recent times, there were incidents in Wakenaam, Bartica and Georgetown. These atrocious acts are committed by youthful persons. The victims often wait years before they are ready to speak. They are too ashamed, or confused, or afraid of not being believed. But eventually they tell someone, and once they start speaking, some cannot stop. Sexual crimes are a disease in our society and the laws must be changed, so that the perpetrators are punished severely. I am also calling for a serious approach by society with a national register of sexual perverts who have served time in prison. Their homes must be marked or a visible sign be placed on the fence or the lawns for easy viewing by the public, bearing the offender’s name and the words, “Sexual Turn to page 7
SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 11, 2018
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Jagdeo’s statement undermines the spirit and intent of the constitution Dear Editor: ON the issue of the Integrity Commission, the leader of the opposition by way of his own statement undermines the spirit and intent of the Guyana constitution. The statement at reference reported him as saying that these appointments did not require his agreement, just consultation, [and] the President could have moved ahead (“Jagdeo offers no objection to Integrity Commission nominees” SN, February 9, 2018). Consultation does not mean
the President calling the leader of the opposition and informing of the intent to appoint the named persons, it means such engagement will include opinions from the latter, after which the decision will be finalised and implemented. To say that the President could have gone ahead and make the appointment in the absence of the leader of the opposition’s opinion or knowledge is to undermine the same principle the office-holder is asking to be respected and upheld in other areas of decision-making. By awaiting the leader of the
opposition’s response to the proposed names for the Integrity Commission, the President was acting consistently with the spirit and intent of what “consultation” constitutes and as expected by the constitution. What is troubling in this society is not only an absence of knowledge and understanding of the Guyana constitution, the spirit and intent under which it was framed, but most importantly the absence of how each article is structured grammatically and the meaning of important, enshrined concepts such as “consultation”, “agreement,”
“involvement” and “decision-making.” This fundamental deficiency continues to be a bugbear in governance and the relationships fostered among the people with those whom they elect to manage their business and represent their interests. The constitution nor its office-holders were never intended to preside over the masses or their business by dictat, but through engagement in basic human decency in the management of the affairs of state, protecting and advancing their welfare. Our politicians have to go back to the
drawing board to address the existing deficiencies in understanding how articles, conventions, charters and declarations are crafted, and the spirit and intent behind their conceptualisations. Most constitutions are guided by the principles that exist in universal declarations, international conventions and charters. Political machinations must not be placed above respecting these sacred tenets. Regards, Lincoln Lewis
Goal of national unity, though elusive, is absolutely achievable Dear Editor, AS the promise of oil money pervades the attention of Guyanese, the subject of the prospects for national development is increasingly being hyped by political and business leaders, among others. I wish to point out, though, that an influx of oil revenues does not, by any stretch, automatically translate into development, or betterment for the average citizen. In fact, it is perhaps more likely than not that much of that oil money could end up in private pockets. This is so because, for an influx of revenue to result in development, certain conditions and mechanisms must necessarily be in place, and those conditions may not yet exist. At the top of the
list of those conditions are, 1) National unity, and 2) Good governance. In that order of importance, I believe. First, National Unity. In his address to the National Regional Consultative Committee (NRCC) on January 19, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan said, “After about 135 years of British colonisation . . . Guyana’s progress and development, today, continue to be severely impeded by the makeup of its population owing to historical realities. “Before independence, the colonisers or conquistadors, in pursuit of global domination, first brought people from Africa as slaves . . . After the abolition of slavery in the mid-19th century, bonded labourers were brought from the Asian
sub-continent to replace the freed African slaves. Part of our independence inheritance, therefore, is a population comprising two major race groups who arrived here from two different continents; a natural fault line; a line ripe to be taken advantage of by politicians seeking a political throne. “More recently . . . I heard for the first time someone describe Guyana as being two countries in one place. An objective assessment would not dispute this. Now, two decades later, the results of the 2015 elections suggest that the phenomenon is virtually immutable.” Editor, most would agree that the ethnic divide to which Minister Bulkan referred is the single largest impediment to development. It follows then, that for sig-
nificant development to be realised, that divide must be bridged. Second, Good Governance. In order for oil revenues to be used in their entirety for the good of the people, there must be governmental transparency, fiscal accountability, and true democracy -- among other conditions. In other words, there must be good governance. In a letter captioned, ‘Managing power effectively’ (GC, Feb 8), I strongly implied that the power possessed by the people is superior to that held by both political and business leaders, because those leaders are given or allowed power by the people. Here, I am flat-out, definitively asserting that belief. It follows that for good governance to be assured, the people must unite in order
to effectively exercise their power to ensure that their leaders follow the principles of good governance. That is why I said that national unity comes first, and good governance follows. Minister Bulkan, in stating that, “[there is] a natural fault line; a line ripe to be taken advantage of by politicians seeking a political throne,” was correct. In fact, we have seen, and continue to see some politicians doing just that. It is therefore incumbent upon Guyanese to reject any attempt to divide us, and further, to work to overcome our own prejudices which make us vulnerable to divisive political rhetoric. This may be the starting point of the effort to achieve unity. Editor, I remain convinced that the goal of national unity, though elusive,
is absolutely achievable, and, I believe that there are genuinely good leaders who are committed to good governance. A detailed recipe for how those objectives can be realised is a question for another day. In closing, I urge Guyanese – whether in positions of leadership or not – to think about what is at stake. We must understand the magnitude of our personal and collective responsibilities. We have only about two years to get our act together. So, we had better get up now, and get moving. Regards, Mark DaCosta
Wolves in sheep ... Predator Lives Here”. The police in the respective communities should also have photos posted at their stations if a convicted sexual pervert lives in their jurisdiction. Further, if these people are changing their addresses, then the police must be informed. But
wait! The police are also caught up in raping people who go to report crimes. They are raping their female prisoners and even children! What are we to do in a country where we can’t even trust the police with our children when it comes to sex and rapes? We are also aware of
a case a few years back where a GDF corporal raped his two-year-old stepson. Let us as a society make a serious stand to control and eventually stamp out this problem with a no-nonsense approach. All these sexual crimes beg the question: what is
the role of our religious organisations? Can they do something and help? Our religious leaders need to move their focus away from politics and other activities and concentrate on the spiritual upbringing of their congregation members. They need to focus on teachings
that will lead to stopping rape and sexual assault. They need to play a bigger role. Parents also need to teach their children about what constitutes a good touch and a bad touch. We all need to play a bigger role. The fact that toddlers are being raped by their family members is
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a national shame. Let’s enact legislation that would ease the way for survivors to take legal action against their abusers. Where is the humanity in us? Let’s do something about it and stop this evil. Regards, Haji Roshan Khan
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 11, 2018
Youths Are The Now! By Sherod Duncan
WE grew up with the refrain ‘youths are the future’. It was to become a “fleeting illusion to be pursued but never attained”, to turn a quote. Our future never became the present. I say, YOUTHS are the NOW! There is a sense among young people of marginalization. Of unfulfilled promises. We voted like a boss with utopian hopes to correct our course but that is as far as the simile was to be explicated. The United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Jayathma Wickramanayake, in January stated, “Today our world is home to the largest youth population ever in history. There are currently 1.8 billion people around the globe between the ages of 10 and 24 and this number
is expected to grow.” “Over the next 13 years, almost 2 billion young people will become part of the world’s youth cohort. In most developing countries, children and adolescents already make up the majority of the population.” In Guyana, the 2012 census gives an indication of our population size at 746,955; our population under 40 years of age 529,566 (70.89%), over 60 years of age: 59,832 (8%). Fortunately or unfortunately, young people under 40 care less about the heroics of our founding fathers. The question is, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ The coming battles at the ballot box will be less about political parties and those allied allegiances and more about a generational trajectory and ideology. The recent David Granger “youth luncheon” and
Ex-policeman among suspects in carjacking ring AN ex-policeman and four females are in custody after the police in ‘A’ Division found a quantity of vehicle parts and several vehicles suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained at a property located at Monument Hill, Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, on Friday. The discovery was made following a tip-off ranks in the division received. In a separate matter, ranks of the force’s Major Crimes Unit, also on Friday night arrested a couple at their Vryheid’s Lust North ,East Coast Demerara home, after a quantity of Allion, Premio and Spacio parts with engraved numbers, were found on their premises. The couple have been identified as Shivendra “Buju/Mohan” Tekumarie, 29, and Davina Arjune. Investigations are in progress. In recent months, a number of vehicle owners have lost their vehicles. Some were stolen, while others were taken by carjackers. Several persons have since appeared in court, as the police appear to be making headway into the unlawful act.
then the establishment of the Guyana Youth Service are encouraging signs, first steps in the right direction. A concern I had raised as early as 2016 was that too many programs which are engineered to benefit youths were scattered and shrouded throughout the various Ministries and departments. The Youth Service initiative will seek to remedy that. That being said, like the Guyana Youth and Student Movement’s (GYSM) call in early 2017, I too would like to see a Ministry of Youth, led by a competent young person. Youths can lead. I continue to be tremendously impressed with the multitude of young people all over our country and region, making a positive difference on a daily basis. These are young people who are not waiting for a handout by a Government
or an NGO but who are creating the present and future that they want; with their own hands. As a young activist said in a social media post “Guyana needs now, more than anything, a youth population that understands the times and can respond confidently and eruditely to developing solutions to combat the issues we face which need direct attention. Such issues include joblessness, ignorance, crime, poverty, idleness, among other things.” Agreed. The representation and participation of youths locally needs depth and breadth. All issues and options are on the table, now more than ever. Our failures of the past will pale in comparison if we squander the macro opportunities presenting themselves, especially those with our offshore discoveries.
Young Guyanese Collin Constantine, a PhD student in Economics at Kingston University, in his essay, The New Deal: Will Guyana’s recent oil find breed conflict or cohesion?” published in Business Guyana argues, for instance, “The recent oil discovery puts Guyana at a crossroads – do we take a decisive break from the past or promote a more egalitarian society or do we deepen the dividing lines?” “We must transparently and honestly discuss initial socio-economic conditions and how these place some groups in a more advantageous position vis-à-vis the oil economy. Failure to appreciate unequal initial conditions ensures that policy reinforces these and that the oil economy sows seeds of conflict. By unequal initial conditions I mean high concentration of top incomes (e.g. richest 10%), ethnic &
gender income inequality, unequal ethnic distribution in the public and private sectors, unequal access to quality education and political power.” Youths must reposition themselves. In the words of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, “There is no better fight than the struggle for the world we want.” We are tired hearing youths are the future. A future that is always elusive. You need the job to get experience and experience to get the job. Always shackled by youth. Too young, too much youthful ambition, too bold, too quiet, too outspoken, over qualified, under qualified, always the bridesmaid never the bride. But there is an awakening among our young people. Local Government Elections in November could be the first statement on this.
Suspected links –– crime chief suspects some auto dealers are linked to carjackings By Leroy Smith ASSISTANT Commissioner of Police and Crime Chief, Paul Williams is not ruling out that some carjacking could be tied to local auto dealers. “We are not ruling out anyone and we are not putting any cap saying that person or that person would not be involved in this kind of activities,” Williams told Guyana Chronicle. Williams said where the intelligence leads, the police will go, pointing out that based on the intelligence of his unit, auto dealers are likely involved in carjacking. According to Williams, he has personally had to deal with instances where persons who would have purchased vehicles from auto dealers would wake up and find their vehicles missing, not knowing
that it has been repossessed by the dealers. He said that in many cases, persons are only in arrears of as little as $300,000 but car dealers would send their agents to repossess the vehicles, although not being armed with a court order to do so. “Since I am here, I have had to deal with cases where people come and ask for intervention. The dealers have lawyers and they will tell you their lawyers advised them that the matters are private ones and they would like to stick to that notion. However, I am aware that in order for you to carry out a cease order, you need to have something from the court giving you that directive.” He explained that there are cases in which vehicles are repossessed and repeated efforts by the owners to contact the auto dealers proved futile.
There are also cases in which previous owners see the vehicle on the road and they would be of the opinion that it is being driven by someone who may have stolen it from them and would try to repossess it. Williams said these cases make the incident appear as carjacking or robbery when in fact, it is the dealers who repossess the vehicles at night and refuse to make contact with the persons from whom the vehicles were repossessed. The vehicles are then sold to others, sometimes for as much as three times the price the vehicles were initially sold for. The crime chief stressed that he is aware that once a vehicle is registered in someone’s name, the vehicle belongs to that person and any action to repossess the vehicle must be done through the court.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 11, 2018
TOWARDS 1000 DAYS IN OFFICE THE many activities taking place in Guyana, almost simultaneously, inject positive vibes as we approach the first 1000 days since our coalition was elected to office in May, 2015. I believe that the latest infomercial, “One Guyana”, captures this graphically when it refers to the “surge in confidence in the way Guyana is being governed again” and that our country is on the road to national transformation.
MINI DEBATES For anyone who is interested in progress inside what used to be a badly mis-managed and corrupted state, the mini debates as to whether a new, concrete road should be built in Mabaruma or Mahdia, instead of somewhere else, comes over as political fun. Whether a new bridge should be constructed at Tabatinga or a Magistrate’s Court at Lethem, in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine); or a state radio station at Aishalton or Orealla, or somewhere else becomes the talking points on development, not stagnation. I am hoping that during the first week next month, when we celebrate 1000 days of progress, that the new, spacious, modern Departure Lounge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport would be commissioned. Departure would now be facilitated by a jet bridge that connects the terminal gate to the aircraft. But I wouldn’t be surprised that another mini debate would surface over whether there should be five or 10 jet bridges! Whether we commission one or three pedestrian overpasses or crossings over busy traffic, one or 10 wells, one or several pumps, 10 or 20 ICT hubs, schools and school buses, markets, health centres, street lamps etc., the narrative unmistakably is
one of progress. Guyana is on the move, again.
KEEP MOVING It reminds me of an inspirational speech by Martin Luther King at a college graduation ceremony. He told the students that life is a journey towards a destination. They could get there by walking, riding, or even crawling. It does not matter how you get there; just keep moving. I think that it would be safe to say that in spite of pockets of non-cooperation and an inexplicable, anti-national hate drive, our government did not stand still. We moved forward, every day, all the time. When we look back, we could say that the journey in the first 1000 days was bumpy with a few slips and slides, and also challenging. But we came through with shining colours, on most fronts, even while conceding that we could have done better in some other areas. No bump nor slide, however, could be more tragic than the cowardly appeal to investors to stay away from Guyana. It baffles the mind that the “independent” press would find it profitable or convenient to publish that advertisement. But, then, the free press is indeed free to do as it pleases, to uphold the right even of dissident-free expression (New York Times v Sullivan). LOVE OF COUNTRY What it exposes unfortunately is that love of country is not a value inherent to everyone. It is what we choose to embrace and cherish as life itself. This message was conveyed in a Bollywood movie, “Rangoon”, a love tragedy that was played out during the Second World War.
Sandy’s Funeral Home accountant found dead THE police are investigating the circumstances under which a 60-year-old accountant of Sandy’s funeral Home was found dead Saturday morning at his lot 108, La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara home. Dead is Sheek Mohamed Hack. He was found lying motionless face up behind his gate at his residence by passerby, with a wound at the back of his head. Enquiries disclosed that the
victim was suffering from a heart condition and recently had a heart surgery in the USA and would usually visit that country for checkups. Hack, who is a licensed firearm holder, did not walk with it because of his condition. However, the police did not find the weapon at his home. The body was taken to Sandy’s Funeral Home as investigations continue.
The heroine Julia had journeyed to Burma to entertain British troops, a contingent of which was made up of Indian soldiers. She fell in love with sergeant Malik, an Indian soldier who was secretly a loyalist of the rebel Indian National Army of Subash, Chandra Bose. Though he fought against the Japanese invaders, Malik hated the British for denying independence to India. His life was in danger. In one memorable scene, Julia asked Malik a simple question: “What is more important than life?” His answer was, “something for which one could die”. There was no doubt that when he was killed by the British, he had sacrificed his life for his country’s freedom – for him, a cause more noble than his life. That was a choice that Malik had made, and there are many other lessons in history where, before dying fighters wrote with their blood as Walter Rodney once reminded us, the word “liberty”. The battle-cry of the Cuban revolutionaries, was “Patria O Muerte” – Country or Death! LURE OF POWER The “Beware” ad is just the opposite of such patriotic impulse. It is part of the hate hurdle along the path to progress, which cannot be ignored, but must be surmounted. We could do so by collectively ascending to higher levels of political conduct that would put country first, even while we understand that occasionally the lure of power would titillate the appetite of some individuals and make them behave irrationally, or even against the country’s interests. The better news is that many investors have ignored the ad as just dirty trash, and have emerged from the Guyana Petroleum Business Summit and Exposition (GIPEX) with greater resolve to enter the windows of opportunities in Guyana via the vehicle of
capital and technology Scaring investors is a lost cause. I saw how the campaign to keep Indian investors from involvement in the sugar industry contributed to the displacement of workers. I had met with one such investor from India, whose company manages some 35 sugar factories in several countries. He told me that given a chance, his company could rehabilitate the Skeldon factory within three months, and that it could speedily increase the 10 MW power supply from the co-generating facility to 90 MW. All of Berbice and beyond, could have benefitted from cheaper electricity. But the potential investors were scared away with false and wicked claims about “crime” and “genocide” against a particular ethnic community in Guyana. POSITIVE ATTITUDE But the Indians would not remain discouraged for too long. Other investors from Canada and elsewhere are flocking to these shores. That is why the Caribbean Development Bank has optimistically forecast higher economic growth, and has assured help to provide technical support to expedite implementation of development projects. This positive attitude provides hope and assurance that we could and are capable of doing better. This positive attitude was embraced by Kevin Ramnarine, the former Energy Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. He not only welcomed positions taken by the Guyana Government in the oil and gas sector, but embraced the golden vision that production of 360,000 barrels of oil a day from the Liza 1 and 2 wells in the not too distant future, will transform Guyana. For all Guyanese, keep hope alive!
Stanleytown man killed in accident FORTY-FIVE-YEAR old Rohan Pooran called “Pompey” lost his life at around 21:00hrs Saturday night after he was hit by motor pickup GKK 6238, on the Stanleytown Public Road, New Amsterdam, Berbice. The driver of the car which hit Pooran is a popular mechanical engineer and has been detained. He is assisting police with their investigations. According to an eyewitness, Nicole Baird, the now deceased was consuming alcohol at the nearby Smith’s Grocery at Lot 48 Stanleytown, when he left the group of imbibers and ventured out on
the main thoroughfare. There, he was seen stooping on the roadway. Moments later, a loud impact was heard. Initially, persons were of the belief that the driver may have collided with a donkey, but on a closer inspection, it was Pompey who was struck down. Pooran of Lot 58 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, sustained injuries to the head and was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He leaves to mourn a teenage son and a brother.
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Thinking about Social Cohesion THE Ministry of Social Cohesion from time to time has reported that it has done work in the communities and it has held workshops and other stakeholders’ forums. However, I get the sense that the overall work of the ministry is not being taken seriously by many individuals and groups, whose participation and cooperation are pivotal to any process of healing and reconciliation. The opposition PPP, for example, has not been too enthusiastic about the ministry. And I don’t know how we can have any meaningful cohesion without the blessings of that party. There are other organisations which have not been engaged or have disengaged themselves. But having said that, I do not think that the ministry has adequately
articulated to the nation its understanding of the concept. I am sure there is one, but it has not been properly articulated— there has been no overarching message in this regard. Social Cohesion from my perspective is about education, conversation, communication and articulation of a national ethos in which all our diverse groups and communities feel respected and included. One must simultaneously speak to the nation and to its diverse communities. There is need for the mass media, the education system, the arts and popular culture in this process. One gets mixed signals from the ministry. For example, one lead trainer at a training session some time ago downplayed the centrality of politics. I think that is an
ill-informed approach, but if that is what the ministry sees as Social Cohesion, then say that. At other times, we hear about engaging “stakeholders”—a category that can include everybody and nobody. There is no doubt that if Social Cohesion means breaking down the artificial walls of separation among groups and communities in the society, then such an effort must identify those walls and begin by tackling their origins. One, then, should determine the most effective tools and approaches to do that delicate repair work. There must be a distinction between artificial walls of separation and cultural boundaries— the latter are a function of diversity and not necessarily destructive The task is multifac-
eted, but one cannot do any serious social cohesion work outside of the ethno-political divide. That’s the area where our polarisation is most glaring. If you start there, then you can open a conversation that could lead to other possibilities. But to ignore it as a critical area of discourse and engagement, as the ministry seems to be doing, is to commit an error only slightly less grave than doing nothing at all. Remember, this is a government department and the government is dominated by a group of parties which represent only half of the electorate. As such, the ministry should be conscious of its role and for what its resources are used. The role of the ministry, to my mind, is to facilitate, to put mechanisms in place
that are national in their conception and outlook. I see the Ministry of Social Cohesion as a “Bridge Ministry,” that simultaneously does a number of things. First, to serve as a bridge between and among other relevant ministries such as Education, Youth, Culture, Amerindian Affairs, Information and Social Protection and agencies such as the Ethnic Relations Commission and Youth Empowerment. Second, it needs to facilitate national conversations among the various national ethnic organisations representing our various ethnic communities. Third, it needs to serve as a bridge between our communities which exist side by side, often in ignorance and fear of each other. Fourth, it should
serve as a bridge within the individual communities. In all our ethnic communities, there are religious, social-class, political-tribal and gender conflicts that cry out for resolution. So, all this work should be done simultaneously. But the desire must flow from a larger vision of the ministry and the government. If I were advising the ministry, I would advise a national listening tour, whereby the ministry and other leaders go from community to community and find out from people what they understand the work of the ministry to be, what are their issues, insecurities and fears and how they think these can be corrected. It is not too late to do that.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 11, 2018
Politics and the trade union –– commonalities of 1989 and 2018
POLITICIANS will always fight for control of the turf in Labour, because it is the largest, permanent, continuous organisation of citizens who are eligible to cast a ballot at national, regional and local government elections. The spirited fight being witnessed today between the political opponents -- the APNU+AFC Government and PPP/C Opposition -- as to the direction in which the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) should go, is informed by this fact, and in other instances the desire to control or seek to destroy where control does not exist. Action to the contrary would see determined efforts to demonstrate respect for advancing the workers’ welfare consistent with ILO Conventions No. 87 and 98 that speak not only to protecting the fundamental right and freedom of workers, but also non-interference in the day-to-day activities of the trade union. Further, the rights of the members of the trade union to determine who are their leaders and what course of action they will take within the confines of the laws, and respecting the Labour Laws would not be trifled with or compromised. What we are witnessing today is not new to the trade union community. On the 4th April, 1989, when bauxite workers walked off the job protesting the devaluation of the Guyana dollar, three days after sugar workers joined the struggle. In that period, the activities of the Catholic Church, other men of the cloth, forces in
the then political opposition and some in the business community became active in wanting to influence the direction and agenda for the labour movement. Labour leaders of the time -- yours truly, Christopher James, Komal Chand, George Daniels, and the late Leslie Melville and Gordon Todd -- worked assiduously in making sure the struggle was not hijacked by the politicians. At the commencement of this strike, the then Federation of Independent Trade Union (FITUG, 1988-1993),which was established to repel every element of external influence in determining the path of the trade union movement consistent with ILO Conventions, stood its ground. As the 1989 strike prolonged, the options each day towards having a resolution became fewer and the gates at the plant narrower. The bauxite unions -- the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) and the Guyana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) -- were the first to strike an agreement with the bauxite industry. There is vivid recall of an invitation extended to me -- and whomever I wanted to be part of the delegation -by Sylvester Carmichael, Vice-President (Marketing) at the Bauxite Industry Development Company (BIDCO). Discussion was held with Chris James, GMWU General-Secretary, who shared the view that dialogue was important at every level. As such, we mobilised a small team and met Carmichael the
said day the invitation was issued. At that discussion, which took an informal format, ideas were thrown up and it was decided that one way of addressing or resetting the relativity in the purchasing power of the workers is for the company to find indigenous measures in addressing the potential deprivation that devaluation brought. The idea of placing one per cent of the earnings from calcined bauxite into a fund to subsidise the cost of essential food items for bauxite workers was floated as a viable proposal to be made to management. The following day at about 9:00 a.m., Carmichael advised the unions that the management of the bauxite industry had bought the idea and would be making a proposal to the Desmond Hoyte government. By that evening, the unions were informed that the government had bought into the idea and the following day negotiations around the table commenced. By the 4th May, 1989, the named bauxite unions and GUYMINE had a comprehensive framework as to how we can work to resolve our differences. On the 5th May, the unions advised the FITUG executive of the negotiation and where we were. The GAWU leadership, in the person of Chand, indicated its desire to use our format and approach GuySuCo and here he requested that in solidarity, bauxite and sugar move to bring about normalcy at the same time, with which the majority agreed.
FITUG met again on the 12th May -- by this time the named bauxite unions and bauxite industry had sealed an agreement -- and at this meeting publicly announced the strike should come to an end by the 13th May. At that point the opposition political operatives and the religious and business communities had put their propaganda machinery in place, claiming that the bauxite unions’ leadership was bought out and the workers must resist any call to end the strike. On the 15th May, a FITUG delegation comprising Todd, Melville and Chand travelled to Linden to join the leadership of the bauxite unions in correcting the misinformation and calling for the resumption of work. As we walked into the GB&GWU Hall on Bulletwood
Street, a rope was hanging over the stage, indicating to union leaders and that there was disgruntlement among the membership and they were prepared to hang us. This rage was testimony to the effectiveness of a wicked propaganda to secure political turf control. This rage was defused, and here I want to mention a role Chand played in this regard. He stood before an incensed and agitated crowd, saying words to the effect -- that he is a PPP and wants the PNC out of office, but this strike is not about bringing down the PNC government, it’s about resetting the economic relativity in the system so that workers can live better. In closing let me make very clear two issues: 1)
Chand’s position today in dealing with the government on the handling of sugar, which is in opposition to Bharrat Jagdeo’s, and his rejecting Prime Minster Moses Nagamootoo seeking to reference this conflict in government’s outreach to affected sugar workers, is tactical and not unexpected; and 2) the intractable politics cultivated during the Jagdeo presidency – and which continue today -- where there is no regard for the right to freedom of association, independence of organisation, and wisdom in bringing resolution to grievances soonest is backward and must stop. This society has to develop and in order for growth to take place, bad habits and poor governance have to be shunned.
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Crime Statistics vs the Real Feel
OVER the last two years the Police reported that serious crimes have reduced when compared with previous years. The Force boast of
breaking up several criminal gangs, the virtual cessation of piracy on the open seas and solving of murders and other serious crimes at
record pace. There were arrests and prosecution of masterminds behind bicycle robbery gang, CG motorcycle crew and car-
SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 11, 2018
jacking ring, among others. Several rouge officers are either before the courts, behind bars or have been dismissed. Those in charge of both policy and operational matters should be commended. The Police Force is said to be enjoying increasing public confidence and it will do well to consolidate these gains. Discussions on crime and safety is very much like the weather. Along with the daily temperature (more often than not) there is a differing value called “the real feel.” Even though the actual temperature may be 30?C, the real feel may be given as 35?C; this may be due to other factors such as wind and humidity. There is official crime statistics on one hand and public perception of crimes on the other. Social media, opinion columns, editorials and hard news reporting seem to indicate that “the real feel” on crime is higher than the statistics indicate. The public ‘perception barometer’ can be a rather potent tool that may be difficult to overcome with official statistics. There are several factors driving public perception, chief among them are:- the relationship between the press and the police seem to be cozier than it was in the past; more unauthorized police “sources close to the investigation” are willing to release unofficial reports under anonymity; the media seem to have direct live channels in interrogating rooms; the Force’s PR department is busier and much more responsive than in times gone by; there has been an exponential increase in the number of journalists and a corresponding increase in the number of news outfits and newscasts; the growth in online news outfits and social media reporting is innumerable; it seems as though every
reporter has a live blog. The growing number of journalists and quasi-reporters, coupled with access to social media, have substantially lowered the bar of responsible reporting. Verification of facts seems not to be kosher these days; the operative thing is to be the first to publish the story on a newsfeed or simply to get in on the act. It is almost as if every person who has heard about a criminal act shares it to social media; crime is in our face all the time. The current generation of media consumers crave sensational and salacious news. Crime is an easy whipping boy for sensationalism. Various types and aspects of crime and crime reporting have all the hallmarks of heart throbbing and high intensity dramatics of an A-list Hollywood action film, it is attention-grabbing and can sustain the suspense of speculation. We should not be unmindful that many media outfits are driven by an ignominious political agenda which is manifested in their crime reporting. News outfits regularly skew their reports in unethical fashions to attempt to embarrass the government or to propagate a certain ethnic narrative for the chief purpose of perpetuating political distrust and maintain a stranglehold on captive demographic enclaves. Police statistics suggest that there is a short-term spike in sporadic armed robberies. Though there are several responsible factors, a major influence can be attributed to police success in breaking up gangs and crime rings. Whenever police penetrate criminal gangs they often disperse into smaller cells or lonewolf enterprises, often lacking leadership and coordination. They tend to be less discriminating
about their intended targets and pursue pettier avenues, as such, greater number of occurrences are not unexpected. The policy and operational response will determine whether this trend is sustained. The Force is in urgent need of a mop up operation. Perhaps more boots in the streets, more patrols, more undercover operatives and paid informants. There is need to create a manpower and physical grid of private security services, develop SOPs and conduct joint training exercises (especially with the better equipped services) to support policemen by responding to crimes in progress, especially in circumstances of police manpower shortfall. A critical component of any successful crime suppression and eradication program is public participation (and public education), a greater number of active policing groups and neighbourhood lookout may be needed. The business community should be an integral part of crime fighting. The Private Sector Commission and the various Chambers of Commerce should devise a plan to outfit all of their members with CCTV cameras. A key component should be to create (as far as is practicable) a seamless street-view, in that the cameras of all businesses give coverage to the street in such a way that it creates a continuous flow. If a person commits a crime anywhere in a business district, the entire sequence of movements can be followed from the combined street-view footage. To facilitate this, the government may wish to consider the removal of import duties on CCTV and associated equipment or grant a tax refund to all entities participating in the program.
RPA urges GRDB to pay millers/exporters THE Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) is calling on the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to urgently make payments due to millers/exporters of rice to Panama. “We recently learnt that the payments of approximately G$2 billion is due to these millers/exporters since July 2017. Our millers supply the rice to the GRDB,
the contracted party with Panama over the life of two contracts and are still awaiting payments. We are of the strong view that the GRDB is in a sound financial position, based on the amount of levies collected from exports over the years, to pay these millers either fully or at least a substantial amount of the total due,” the RPA said in a release.
It noted that the rice sector is severely affected by this huge amount due and many farmers are still to be fully paid. According to the RPA, some millers are facing bankruptcy while others are unable to make investments for the much-needed upgrades to their facilities which will affect efficiency and ultimately profitability.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 11, 2018
Toshaos urged to craft Village Improvement Plans
TOSHAOS from across North Pakaraima, Region One, were encouraged to formulate Village Improvement Plans (VIPs) to propel social, economic and other benefits of their communities. This call was made by Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, during the opening of the Fifth North Pakaraima District Council Board meeting on Thursday, hosted by
be addressed through successful implementation of the VIPs. The minister also emphasised “cooperation” as a key tool in fostering development as he encouraged village councils to continue building fruitful partnerships with the ministry, other ministries and agencies as Guyana moves progressively towards becoming the “Green State.” The VIPs, according to the minister, will boost eco-
Meanwhile, acting Regional Executive Officer (REO) Gavin Gounga, who was a member of the visiting team, addressed several concerns raised, ranging from health concerns, education and infrastructural developments. He assured leaders that the region is willing to continue working with them in realising key developments. One of the burning issues raised by leaders is the
Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock addressing the gathering Kamana Village, Region Eight. Minister Allicock said VIPs are important, since they help in making villages sustainable economies. “When you look at the VIPs and the plans that you come up with, you share that with the region, they will be able to help and we will be able to move to infrastructure and to all those things. We need to lift the capacity of what we are doing, we cannot stay like that all the time like we are in a stagnated boat, there are areas that we can access support and that is why the VIP is important,” he said. He added that many of the challenges that arise in a number of villages will
nomic initiatives such as community-based tourism. “You must be able to plan it, you have other villages, extended families and I will use the North Rupununi as an example [of] where we do not compete, but support each other and there is where hard currency comes into this country, we all help,” the minister said. VIP is a long-term sustainable plan which will be formulated by a community to guide its development in keeping with internationally agreed goals covering poverty, education, health, environment and governance, among other areas that Guyana has agreed to achieve and report upon.
fact that local contractors are unsuccessful in their bid for projects, despite having the necessary skills to compete in this field. In response, the acting REO said, “The Ministry of Communities is also concerned about local contractors not getting the opportunity to win contracts in the region; and we understand what is happening there because the contractors don’t reside or belong to the region who win these contracts and the monies are not spent in the region, so we are working closely, and Minister Bulkan wanted to meet with those contractors from the region to find a way forward.” He noted that what is
A section of the gathering at the meeting
critical is the need to establish “a human resource inventory, we have to find all our skilled people in our village… so anything that is coming to your community, we know what is on register, so we don’t have to
bring people from outside your village or community to get the work done.” Minister Allicock led a five-member team, which included the REO acting, Special Assistant David James, Personal
Assistant Errol Ross and Communications Officer Alethea Grant-Charles to the region to listen to and address concerns that are affecting the respective villages and provide solutions to address them.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE February 11, 2018
MovieTowne vows support for local films
PEOPLE do business for money, but MovieTowne is an initiative intended to do much more than garner profits, said international business tycoon, Derek Chin. According to the Guyana-born Chairman of Multicinemas Incorporated, when MovieTowne’s Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara complex is opened in Guyana, special emphasis will be placed on giving Guyana’s film industry the exposure it needs. “We will have screens dedicated to showing movies
that are made in Guyana, by the people of Guyana,” Chin declared. Even though Guyana’s creative arts industry has produced some fascinating movies, they have not enjoyed the kind of exposure being afforded films made in its sister countries such as Trinidad and Tobago. MovieTowne is about creating opportunity, supporting local film producers and giving them the opportunity of exposure. He said Trinidadian talent was significantly boosted following the establishment
Guyana-born Chairman of MovieTowne, Derek Chin
A sneak-peek at the work under way inside the spectacular entertainment complex
An aerial view of MovieTowne Guyana of MovieTowne in late 2002. it to the world, remains par- has ever seen. Over the years, Chin said amount. “It is going to be spectacMovieTowne has been second When it opens in a few ular!” Chin, guaranteed. to none, boasting a massive months, MovieTowne GuyPreviously deemed a international following. ana will boast of being one “Mecca for movie lovers,” With that, playwrights, ac- of the largest private sector construction of the massive tors, directors, videographers initiatives in recent times. entertainment complex is efand many other professionals The multibillion-dollar ficiently moving apace. from the twin-island republic’s facility is intended to astonish Despite the challenges, film industry, have enjoyed tre- movie-goers with the magic Chin and his team are workmendous ‘big-screen’ exposure. of world-class cinema. ing tirelessly to execute a The businessman exWhile officials are not spectacular May 2018 openplained that with Guyana ready to let the cat out of the ing. being the basis of his iden- bag just yet, the complex’s “Guyana will be astontity, developing the country interior theme is promised to ished, I guarantee it,” Chin and exposing the beauty of be unlike anything Guyana said confidently.
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Vox Populi, Vox Dei
VOX Populi, Vox Dei is an old political phrase meaning, “The voice of the people is the voice of God.” I was chatting with a few young people recently about politics’ influence on policy in Guyana, in particular that it was quite strange that there have been only three turnovers of government in 50-plus years of democratic independence, and this phrase came up. I think that in order to understand what administrations do, it is sometimes critical not merely to look at the most direct factors, like the specific political views of those in power, but the system within which that power exists. When government policies misfire but administrations remain in power, the above phrase points to this being because the true voice of the people, in its own way the highest law of the land, is being somehow submerged. I think that lacking regular turnover locally has led to a chronic inability to readjust when development projects have gone awry. As a result, we allow these policy errors to build and build until they result in forced, massive adjustments and the related national costs. I’ve written that the sugar industry is the clearest current example of this, with very few major changes being made, despite years of decline, but there are numerous examples from much deeper in our history. Even further, I have related in a previous column that a PPP/C electoral loss in 2020 will do a great deal for the party and policy in Guyana, but this could use additional detail. I hope to express how we can change our fundamentally unhealthy low-government-turnover approach to democracy and the key benefits this brings. We need to develop a more appropriate approach to reform, epitomised by the Chinese principle of the Mandate of Heaven. Writer Kallie Szczepanski relates that this is a principle various new conquerors made use of, as a way of justifying their military campaigns and subsequent reforms. Essentially, the idea is that it is heaven which bestows a leader’s right to govern and that poor performance is a sign this mandate has been withdrawn. This thus allowed for conquerors to carry out reform-based transitions of power, with new leaders vested with a keen understanding of their predecessors’ errors. While such turnovers of
government took very long periods of time to take place in ancient China, an analogy to the democratic process is intuitive as they both hold to the tenet that faltering administrations should be replaced. Because our politics has historically been factional, with loyalties not primarily based on development ideas, voters have supported their factions of choice fastidiously, even if they did not agree with the group’s particular governance philosophy. Do the leaders of the APNU+AFC, with their lawyer, doctor, civil servant and soldier senior party members, want to opt for government-led development strategies? Probably. Does the PPP/C leadership, with its numerous strong business ties at the senior party level, want to do the same? Probably not. But while the APNU+AFC can say what they truly mean because this presents no conflict with their typical voting support (who have no objection to government employment), this is not yet the case for the PPP/C. They can’t come out and say that they want a smaller government, because many of their supporters depend on state intervention for employment, sugar workers who rely on government bailouts being again the best example of this. I suspect that with the increasing importance of swing voters, the PPP/C wants badly to be freed of these historic commitments. How else are they to believably articulate the private sector-focused, growth-oriented messaging these voters might support? But while the APNU+AFC will be free to promote all manner of socially beneficial government initiatives with oil money, the PPP/C is not yet free to counter with contrasting ones that promote jobs by cutting taxes and shrinking the government. Time will tell whether this proves a critical handicap. However, if the PPP/C does indeed lose the next election, swing voters should rejoice. With their old ties to the sugar industry cut by being unable to hand oil money to the sugar industry perpetually, the PPP/C should be able to appropriately refocus on growing the economy. And this will mean that Guyana’s politics has collapsed into left wing (government-focused) and right wing (private sector-focused) governance philosophies, with current swing
voters who are open to arguments from each side forming the decisive minority. There are few perfect things in governance, but in terms of promoting good development policy few surpass such a balanced system. The Chinese Mandate of Heaven will manifest as an excess of government intervention will be met by electoral loss and cutbacks. The opposite will be true of excesses of business largesse, resulting in an environment in which politics is not factional, but truly based on competing ideas. This can only be expected to improve the quality of ideas put forward, thereby producing better governance by either party. Finally, this will truly make manifest the phrase Vox populi, vox Dei, as this growing group of swing voters, who are both open to these competing ideas and best placed to appreciate every voting group’s point of view, determine the governing administration. At long last, after over 50 years of subduing debate in favour of factionalism, the voice of the people will be the voice of God.
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Quartet creates history
AFEEZA Khan, Deoranie Babulall, Errica Canterbury and Calvin Lawrie must be celebrated as the history-making Guyanese quartet in the field of occupational therapy. When they strolled across the University of Guyana (UG) graduation stage to receive their Bachelor of Science Degrees in Medical Rehabilitation in Occupational Therapy in November 2017, the quartet became the first ever locally educated and employed in that discipline. In the past, work in occupational therapy in Guyana was done by members of the US Peace Corps and Voluntary Service Organisations (VSOs) who also helped train locals to be rehab assistants. Occupational therapists treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.
Historically, there have always been locally-trained and employed physio and speech therapists, but never occupational therapists, confirmed Ms. Ariane Mangar, a UG lecturer and Director of Disability and Rehabilitation
As trailblazers, Khan, Babulall, Canterbury and Lawrie have assured they will be difference-makers at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC); the Palms Geriatric Home; the West Demerara Regional
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they are employed. In Lawrie’s view, all are candidates for rehabilitation. “Everybody needs rehab in some way or the other,” he said, flashing his characteristic grin followed almost instantaneously with his in-
From left: Calvin Lawrie, Deoranie Babulall, lecturer Ariane Mangar, Errica Canterbury and Afeeza Khan at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) during an interview this week.
Hospital (WDRH) and the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre respectively, where
fectious laughter. As a tutor at the Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre, Law-
rie sees first-hand the daily struggles of children compounded by the absence of badly-needed updated policy to guide the sector. For him, teachers at every level of the education system must receive rudimentary training to spot disabilities among students and the wider labour sector must provide “on-the-job” therapy for workers in need. “If you start therapy early, patients can get better faster,” the UG graduate said, appealing to the Ministries of Education and Public Health to forge stronger bonds in the quest. Educators and employers should also exhibit greater compassion by retrofitting offices, securing patient-friendly furniture and modifying their teaching methods to suit the learning styles of children and comfort for employees with disability as needed, Lawrie counselled. CARDINAL
Restoring patients’ independence is cardinal in Babulall’s daily work at the Palms. As a pioneering occupational therapist, her methods at first made patients hesitant, but after two months they have been embracing it, she said. Breaking cultural barriers in the field of therapy was the first hurdle Babulall achieved. For Guyanese, only physiotherapy previously existed and with the coming of the ‘new-kid-on-theblock’ occupational therapy, there were mental hurdles to master. There are some 45,000 Guyanese undergoing therapy. Sight impairments accounts for 30 per cent, mobility 16.4 per cent; body movement 10 per cent; hearing related 9.1 per cent and mental impairment 8.3 per cent. Data indicates that “the need for disability and rehabilitation services may be significantly higher than suggested by the (2010) See page 21
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Quartet creates ... From page 20
Census Report alone”. “Disability shouldn’t rob you of opportunities,” the perennially-optimistic Afeeza Khan, who is attached to the GPHC, said. But patients are unwittingly robbing themselves of opportunities for full rehabilitation by skipping their rehab timetable. At the referral hospital, Khan said “getting patients to honour their daily schedule” is her biggest challenge. She reminded that “occupational therapy will help victims reintegrate into society,” faster. Khan is currently on a campaign to “bring awareness” about the differences between occupational and physio therapies to GPHC staff, patients and their families. Meanwhile, Errica Canterbury wants the spotlight focus more on those invisible elements which provide
daunting challenges for sufferers and the healthcare system alike. Guyana must zero in on mental health; bipolar disorders; stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the WDRH staffer said. In the rehabilitation sector, Guyana’s current seven-year plan which concludes in 2020, has several key components: strengthening the health system for disability and rehabilitation services; improving accessibility; promoting prevention; minimising and preventing further disabilities and mobilising resources/finances through partnerships. The four ground-breakers want leisure and enjoyment to be fully part of the country’s programme for rehabilitating patients who are “…not less of a person because of your disability”. “With fun there is (fast-
er) progress” in rehabilitation, said Lawrie, who received approving nods from his three colleagues. They gave their assent too when he noted that rehab “is no quick-fix but a gradual process” and that despite national policies and programmes “the family is the support system for rehabilitating patients and what happens in the home is a big part of rehabilitation”. After more than 50 years as an Independent State, Guyana has only now begun to harvest its home-grown occupational therapists and the future in the field is bright “despite the challenges,” Babulall said. “Open your eyes, open your doors (and) open your businesses to people with disabilities,” the history-making Khan pleaded. (Ministry of Public Health)
Land of Canaan pensioner trailed, robbed A PENSIONER of Land of Canaan Village, East Bank of Demerara (EBD) was tied up and robbed Friday night after two armed bandits pounced on him while he exited his vehicle PSS 1375--a grey CRV. Reports indicate that the 78-year-old was returning home after going to a bank on the EBD when he was confronted. Upon leaving his vehicle, a handgun was pointed at him and he was led inside his home. The bandits then tied the pensioner up with his belt and began
ransacking the home. The robbers collected a quantity of electronics, grocery, liquor, suitcases, the pensioner’s passport and an undisclosed sum of cash. The bandits then took the CRV and escaped with the valuables. The pensioner, after managing to untie himself, alerted the police. His CRV was later recovered at the Soesdyke junction and was taken into police custody as investigations continue.
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Ronoldo hat-trick beats down Real Sociedad
(BBC) - Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed Real Sociedad to warm up for Wednesday’s Champions League tie with Paris St-Germain. Ronaldo set up Lucas Vazquez to head a first-minute opener then blasted home from Marcelo’s cross. Toni Kroos added a third before Ronaldo headed in Luka Modric’s corner. Jon Bautista pulled one back after the break, but Ronaldo scored his third from close range before Asier Illarramendi’s volleyed consolation. CONFIDENCE BOOSTER FOR PSG TIE With Real Madrid long out of the La Liga title race - they are 16 points behind Barcelona even after this win - the Champions League is their last remaining hope for the season - and perhaps for Zinedine Zidane’s job. Real became the first team to successfully defend the Champions League last season, both successes coming in Zidane’s two years in charge. But they have been poor domestically this season. Zidane named a strong side against 14th-placed Real Sociedad, with only Gareth Bale and Casemiro rested from their last match, and he was rewarded with a good performance and result - a couple of defensive blips aside. They could - and should - have won by more, with Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, who was booed by the home fans after missing a last-minute sitter, also hitting the woodwork.
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GFF Elite League restarts today
(GFF Release) - WITH the restart of the Guyana Football Federation’s senior League – the GFF Elite League – set for today at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, the first double-header promises to be exciting. Playing in the first match will be GDF FC vs Den Amstel FC at 17:30hrs and Western Tigers FC will go against Fruta Conquerors FC at 19:30hrs. Director of Competitions, Ian Alves, said this phase of the League will see a more competitive brand of football, “Now that the mid-season transfer has concluded, clubs would have been able to make the necessary adjustments to their squads with a view to improving their performance for the remainder of the Elite League. Based on some of the player-transfers seen during the window, fans can look forward eagerly to more competitive matches and a more attractive brand of football for the remaining part of the League.” Meanwhile, in a pregame interview, the coaches of the teams scheduled to play in today’s opener are ready for the restart. Below are the comments received from the
respective coaches. SEON PRINCE – Assistant Coach, GDF FC: “We were preparing for this year, the continuation of the Elite League even though we had a pause for the year-end tournament at which we came out victorious. “We were victorious at the last League as well, we were the champions so we’re going out there to show that GDF are the number one team; we are going to take this one again, we are not taking anybody for granted. We are taking every game one step at a time and we’re taking it as an important game, like a final. “We have two African players that we have brought in together with others who have come during the transfer window. I won’t be saying much on those two players. What I would like is for the fans to come out and they will see what we have to offer. “They’re working with the team, meshing well; we’re getting the togetherness and the communication. The team is comfortable and we are just waiting on Sunday to go out there and pull off a victory to start the tournament.” ONIEL HEYWOOD –
GFF president Wayne Forde presents third-place prize money to head coach of Fruta Conquerors FC, Sampson Gilbert, for their performance in the GFF Super-16 Yearend Classic
Head Coach, Den Amstel FC “Our team preparation is going ok. On Wednesday we completed our final warmup game against Uitvlugt FC, which we won 2-1 and I think we are ready for the army on Sunday. I know it will be a very competitive
game because we are a good team. We bought some good players during the transfer. I know it will be a very competitive game because we have players like Marvin Frank and Chris Macey, two central midfielders. “We also have a young
goalkeeper Jermaine Cumberbatch who is a real boost to the team. We have national players like Kester Jacobs and Dellon Lanferman whom the team will be depending on heavily to score goals. CALVIN ALLEN – Head Coach, Western Tigers FC “Preparations are going good so far. It was a bit of a challenge to have consistent attendance at training due to work commitments of some of the players but we worked around that. “We did a lot of strength work and a lot of physical building because we want to have strong players who would last the duration of the tournament. We’re now getting into the technical and tactical aspects of the game. We’re one of the younger teams in the tournament in terms of the experience at the Elite League. “I have players with me who would have played the Elite League before; I also previously coached an Elite League in the first season. I along with a few senior players will try and help the other players settle into the environment and hopefully, we can get the best out of them. “Once we stick to our plans and we do the ba-
sics right, I think we will be okay. Fruta Conquerors by no stretch of the imagination are an easy team; they are number two in the country so it’s like number 10 playing number 2 this Sunday. However, I know the squad we have and the depth in the team so I’m expecting some good results from Sunday going forward.” SAMPSON GILBERT – Head Coach, Fruta Conquerors FC: “Fruta Conquerors’ focus for the restart of the League is on physical preparation. It is obvious that we have players who are technically adequate. Our tactical awareness will be employed as long as our fitness level permits the various aspects to fall into place. We have some new players that are now available to us and they will be integrated into our programme and used strategically.” On Wednesday, the GFF met with the representatives of the Elite clubs where they were briefed by Wayne Forde, GFF President, on the plans for the restart of the League. During that meeting, the prize money for the GFF Super-16 Year-end Classic was presented to the firstto fourth- place winners.
GAPLF pushing for more recognition of female powerlifters THE Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation’s (GAPLF) is looking to have more female involvement in the sport. Following the body’s elections and Annual General Meeting on January 27, Runita White was elected Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the federation and that is one of her early missions. She aims to garner more recognition and support for female powerlifters in Guyana as well as to enhance the image of women in the sport. In an invited comment, White told Chronicle Sport; “Powerlifting is a sport that is dominated by men; and women who venture into this sport are often thought to be ‘manly’ and are given reviews such as ‘You shouldn’t be lifting that much weight, it’ll make you too bulky’ or ‘you know you won’t be able to get pregnant because of all the weight you lift’ or the most annoying of them all “a woman can never be as strong as a man’.”
She further pointed out, “These are things that I’ve had people say to me and it’s all about challenging the stereotypes. Meet after meet we see women who challenge those stereotypes and break records.” White also noted that the sport already has some outstanding female athletes; “We have our very own set of strong women: Andrea Smith, Lisa Oudit, Nadina Taharally and Natoya Robinson. Each of those women mentioned has broken records and can lift more weight than some of the men who critique them.” She also highlighted: “At the Novices/ Juniors National Championship we had four women who competed in powerlifting for the first time and we would like to see more women take part in the sport.” After the recently concluded Novices/Juniors Championships on February 4, the GAPF and powerlifters will set their sights on the Intermediate/Masters Championships on May 27.
The GAPLF is looking to garner more recognition and respect for women in the sport.
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Eastman fends off stern challenges to cop R&R title By Michelangelo Jacobus TEAM Coco’s cyclist Hamzah Eastman fended off the stinging rain and stern challenge from his teammate Jamual John to take yesterday’s feature 35-lap Schoolboys and Invitational R&R title. Competing around the inner circuit of the National Park, Eastman also came under fire from youngsters Curtis ‘Chappy’ Dey and Romello Crawford.
In extremely wet and windy conditions Eastman stuck with the peloton which consisted of Dey, John and Crawford. Together the quartet led for the duration of the race at a blistering pace which ensured the chasing pack had no real chance of catching up. His win meant that last year’s winner of the meet, Paul DeNobrega was dethroned. Eastman, who spent the greater part of 2017 on the Caribbean and USA cycling circuits, recorded his first win
of 2018 by executing a perfect bike throw to pip Crawford on the line while John had to settle for third place with Dey coming in fourth. The sprint down the final stretch was initiated by Dey, who perhaps jumped the gun a bit too soon, as John shifted gears to catch Dey on the final turn. It was there that Eastman and Crawford followed suit. The latter is known for his tremendous sprinting but Eastman did just enough to
take the race while John’s legs failed him for the last few yards. Eastman’s thrilling win came in a time of one hour 17 minutes 13 seconds. The cyclists will now head to West Demerara today for the R&R-sponsored Road race; Eastman is the reigning champion having won last year’s edition. He will be looking to take the double today and retain his Road race title at the same time but that will be no easy
task as he will once again face formidable competition in the form of Dey, Crawford and John, along with Alonzo Ambrose and Paul DeNobrega who will all be out to kick-start their 2018 with the elusive win. The race begins at 08:30hrs at Schoonord on the West Bank of Demerara. The cyclists will pedal their way to Bushy Park, Parika then return to the Demerara Harbour Bridge for the finish.
Sri Lanka close down Bangladesh in three days
(BBC) - SRI LANKA wrapped up a three-day win over Bangladesh in the second Test in Mirpur to win the series 1-0, with a personal milestone for Rangana Herath. The veteran spinner took 4-49 to overtake Pakistan legend Wasim Akram as the most successful left-arm bowler in Test history, with 415 wickets. Off-spinner Akila Dananjaya took 5-24, the best figures for a Sri Lankan on debut as Bangladesh,
needing an unlikely 339 to win, crumbled for 123. Mominul Haque topscored with 33. Earlier, Sri Lanka, who had begun day three on 200-8, made their way to 226 all out as rookie batsman Roshen Silva impressed again, with his performance earning him the man-of-the-match and man-of-the-series awards. After a duck on his debut against India in December, the right-hander scored 74 not out, 109, 56 and 70 not out in his next
COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Alick Athanaze-418 runs (2) Bashkar Yadram-11 wickets Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the highest individual score by a WI player in the recent ICC Under 19 World Cup? (2) Which WI had the best bowling figures? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
Ayr 09:50 hrs Just Don’t Ask 10:55 hrs Grand Morning 12:30 hrs Smuggler’s Stash 13:00 hrs Sory Exeter 10:00 hrs Blu Cavalier 10:30 hrs Djingle 11:05 hrs Charming Zen 11:35 hrs Gentleman Jon 12:40 hrs Le Rocher 13:10 hrs Time To Move On Irish Racing Tips Pinchestown 09:40 hrs Cantlow 10:10 hrs High Sparrow 10:40 hrs Hardline 11:15 hrs Swingbridge
Rangana Herath sent Mominul Haque back for 33 runs © Associated Press
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday February 11, 2018)
English Racing Tips
four Test innings - giving him a batting average of 103 after three Tests. “I want to thank the Almighty God for helping (captain Dinesh) Chandimal win the toss on this wicket,” Silva said.
The Mirpur pitch was in contrast to that of the drawn first Test in Chittagong, where 1 533 runs were scored for the loss of only 24 wickets across the five days - with the International Cricket Council
rating the batting-friendly surface as “below average” and awarding it a demerit point. The tour concludes with two Twenty20 internationals on February 15 and 18.
McLeod loses race, two titles to Holloway (SPORTSMAX) - 2016 World Indoor champion Omar McLeod lost a race, his collegiate record and a facility record in one go when he was beaten by Florida sophomore Grant Holloway at the 2018 Clemson Tiger Paw meet at the Clemson University Indoor Complex on Friday. McLeod was second to Holloway who stormed
to victory in 7.42s, a full 0.3s faster than the previous NCAA record set by McLeod in 2015. McLeod was timed in 7.52s while Aleec Harris was third in 7.60s. Holloway also broke McLeod’s newly minted facility record of 7.46 set in the heats. The record was previously owned by Holloway who set it last month. McLeod, the Olympic Champion and IAAF World
Champion, was gracious in defeat. “Congrats on a great race, and also breaking my collegiate record. 7.42!! #Savage,” he tweeted after the race. Holloway was respectful in his response. “Much respect man! I look up to you so much and it was fun running against you. Thanks for passing me a piece of your bio.”
11:45 hrs Burning Ambition 12:20 hrs Mall Dini 12:50 hrs Getaway John South Africa Racing Tips Scotsville 08:20 hrs Daydream Believer 08:55 hrs Deep Down Rebel 09:30 hrs Diamond Noir 10:10 hrs Two Moon Junction 10:40 hrs The Matador 11:15 hrs The Grey Crusader
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Maxwell, Lynn and Short fire Aussies to Tri-Series final (REUTERS) - AUSTRALIA’S Glenn Maxwell, Chris Lynn and D‘Arcy Short fired with the bat to secure an emphatic seven-wicket victory over England as the hosts booked a place in the Twenty20 tri-series final yesterday. In front of a 42 691 crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Short (36 not out), Maxwell (39) and Lynn (31) contributed with crucial boundaries to seal their third consecutive win of the tournament with 33 balls to spare. England had earlier posted a modest 137-7 from their 20 overs after stand-in captain Jos Buttler was the only England player to make a substantial score, but even he needed 49 deliveries for his 46. “It was another poor performance from us, we didn’t quite soak up the pressure early on with the bat and then we never really kicked on,” Buttler said. “We never felt we had enough runs and the power of Australia proved too much. We haven’t performed to our abilities yet but now we look forward to New Zealand.” The visitors were restricted by a disciplined pace-bowling performance from Kane Richardson, who finished with 3-33, while Billy Stanlake claimed 2-28. England fast bowler David Willey had Australia’s stand-in skipper David Warner caught behind with just two runs on the board, giving England a glimmer of hope in the first over but Lynn soon snatched the momentum.
David Warner celebrates his run-out of Dawid Malan. (Getty Images)
He smashed two fours and a six in the next over from Tom Curran and by the time he was dismissed by Chris Jordan in the final over of the powerplay Australia were in control at 51-2. Short and Maxwell took charge against England spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson before Aaron Finch confirmed the victory with backto-back sixes off Willey.
South Africa thump India in fourth ODI
(REUTERS) - INDIA opener Shikhar Dhawan scored a century in his 100th One-Day International but scintillating South Africa claimed a five-wicket Duckworth-Lewis victory in a thrilling rain-curtailed clash at the Wanderers in Johannesburg yesterday. Dhawan’s brilliant 109 from 105 balls lifted India to 289 for seven in their 50 overs, but after rain intervened in the contest, South Africa were left chasing 202 from 28 overs, a target they passed with 15 balls to spare to stay alive in the six-match series. The home side had previously had to battle against India’s wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in the series, but tore into them with a vicious assault that yielded 119 runs in just 11.3 overs to ease them past their victory target. India lead the series 3-1 heading into the fifth match, to be played in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday. India won the toss and chose to bat, and their innings was anchored by the excellent left-hander Dhawan, who put on 158 for the second wicket with captain
SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1st innings Jason Roy c Alex Carey b Kane Richardson 8 Alex Hales c Aaron Finch b Billy Stanlake 3 Dawid Malan Run Out David Warner 10 James Vince b Andrew Tye 21 Jos Buttler c Ashton Agar b Kane Richardson 46 Sam Billings c David Warner b Billy Stanlake 29 David Willey c David Warner b Kane Richardson 10 Chris Jordan not out 1 Extras: (b-2, w-7) 9 Total: (seven wkts, 20.0 overs) 137 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-16, 3-34, 4-70, 5-113, 6-133, 7-137. Bowling: Kane Richardson 4-0-33-3 (w-2), Billy Stanlake 4-0-28-2 (w-2), Marcus Stoinis 4-0-18-0, Andrew Tye 4-0-29-1 (w-3), Ashton Agar 4-0-27-0. AUSTRALIA 1st innings David Warner c Jos Buttler b David Willey 2 D’Arcy Short not out 36 Chris Lynn c Jos Buttler b Chris Jordan 31 Glenn Maxwell c Jos Buttler b Chris Jordan 39 Aaron Finch not out 20 Extras: (lb-2, w-8) 10 Total: (14.3 overs) 138-3 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-51, 3-116. Bowling: David Willey 3.3-0-30-1 (w-1), Tom Curran 2-0-23-0 (w-1), Chris Jordan 3-0-26-2 (w-1), Adil Rashid 4-0-34-0 (w-1), Liam Dawson 2-0-23-0.
England next face New Zealand in consecutive matches in Wellington (February 13) and Hamilton (February 18) as they attempt to join Australia in the final.
SCOREBOARD INDIA 1st innings Rohit Sharma c & b Kagiso Rabada
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Shikhar Dhawan c AB de Villiers b Morne Morkel Virat Kohli c David Miller b Chris Morris
109 75
Ajinkya Rahane c Kagiso Rabada b Lungi Ngidi
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Shreyas Iyer c Chris Morris b Lungi Ngidi
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MS Dhoni not out
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Hardik Pandya c Aiden Markram b Kagiso Rabada 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar run-out JP Duminy Extras: (lb-6, w-12) Total: (seven wkts, 50.0 overs)
5 18 289
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-178, 3-206, 4-210, 5-247, 6-262, 7-282. Bowling: Morne Morkel 10-0-55-1 (w-4), Kagiso Rabada 10-0-58-2 (w-3), Lungi Ngidi 10-0-52-2 (w-1), Chris Morris 10-0-60-1 (w-2), Andile Phehlukwayo 6-0-38-0 (w-2), JP Duminy4-0-20-0. SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings Aiden Markram lbw Jasprit Bumrah
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Hashim Amla c Bhuvneshwar
Heinrich Klaasen struck some lusty blows in South Africa v India 4th ODI, in Johannesburg, yesterday. (AFP)
Virat Kohli (75 from 83 balls). At that stage India had looked on course for a score well in excess of 320 but managed only 83 runs for the loss of five more wickets in the final 15 overs after the players had left the field because of the threat of lightning. The hosts reached 43 for one in 7.2 overs in their reply when rain
swept across the ground, keeping the players off the field for just shy of two hours. Their shortened innings forced South Africa to be more positive against the Indian spinners and this worked to their advantage as they launched both Chahal (1-68 in 5.3 overs) and Yadav (2-51 in 6 overs) over the boundary with regularity.
David Miller (39 from 28 balls) survived being bowled by leg-spinner Chahal off a no-ball when he had seven and put on a crucial stand of 72 in 41 balls for the fifth wicket with the impressive Heinrich Klaasen (43 not out in 27 balls) that turned the tide in the favour of the home side.
Kumar b Kuldeep Yadav
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JP Duminy lbw Kuldeep Yadav
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AB de Villiers c Rohit Sharma b Hardik Pandya
26
David Miller lbw Yuzvendra Chahal
39
Heinrich Klaasen not out
43
Extras: (lb-3, nb-2, w-6) Total: (five wkts, 25.3 overs)
11 207
Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-67, 3-77, 4-102, 5-174. Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-0-27-0, Jasprit Bumrah 5-0-21-1, Kuldeep Yadav 6-0-51-2 (w-1), Hardik Pandya 5-0-37-1 (w-2), Yuzvendra Chahal 5.3-0-68-1 (w-3, nb-2).
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 11, 2018
Aguero drowns Foxes, Kane underscores Spurs dominance (BBC) - SERGIO Aguero scored four second-half goals as Manchester City thumped Leicester to move 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The Argentina striker took his tally to 13 in 10 games in 2018 with another display of deadly finishing, aided by a brilliant performance by Kevin de Bruyne, who set up his side’s first three goals. Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez, who almost joined Manchester City at the end of January, received an ovation from both sets of fans as he returned from his self-imposed exile to make an appearance as a second-half substitute. Whether Mahrez’s move to Etihad Stadium is resurrected in the summer remains to be seen, but this
London derby at Wembley as Spurs’ surge towards an end-of-season place in the Premier League’s top four gathers momentum. He soared high above Laurent Koscielny in the 49th minute to direct a Ben Davies cross beyond Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech and move
Spurs up to third in the table. It was only the defiance of Cech that kept a rampant Spurs at bay in the second half, producing a collection of outstanding saves to somehow keep Arsenal in contention as Pochettino’s side threatened to run riot. It was a performance
that almost earned outplayed Arsenal an unlikely point only for substitute Alexandre Lacazette to waste two last-gasp opportunities, the second when he was clear through on Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris but shot wide of the far post.
Sergio Aguero
display from Pep Guardiola’s side showed that they can cope pretty well without him, especially with de Bruyne and Aguero in this form. de Bruyne picked out Raheem Sterling at the back post to put the home side ahead in the third minute, with Sterling converting from almost an identical position to where he had missed against Burnley last weekend. Leicester, playing with
five at the back and using Jamie Vardy’s pace on the break, did not roll over and he levelled when Nicolas Otamendi’s mistake let the England striker in to score. Elsewhere, Harry Kane is “the present and the future” of Tottenham according to manager Mauricio Pochettino, following the striker’s match-winning display in Spurs’ 1-0 win over Arsenal. Kane’s towering header deservedly settled the north
Harry Kane (number 10) scores against Arsenal (BBC photo)
Joint Korean hockey team lose opener
(BBC) - THE joint North and South Korean women’s ice hockey team created history as they competed on the first day of action at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. But the team suffered an 8-0 defeat by 2014 bronze medallists Switzerland. There was joy for the home nation when shorttrack speed skater Lim Hyojun won South Korea’s first gold medal. Earlier Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla claimed the first gold of the Games in the women’s skiathlon. Norwegian Marit Bjorgen’s silver medal in the same event saw her become the most decorated female Winter Olympian of all-time. There were also gold medals for German biathlete Laura Dahlmeier (women’s 7.5km sprint), German ski jumper Andreas Wellinger (men’s normal hill) and Dutch speed skater Carlijn Achereekte, who led home team-mates Ireen Wust and Antoinette de Jong in the women’s 3000m. HOCKEY HARMONY The unified team was formed after the two Ko-
The Korean team were given a rapturous reception at the Kwandong Hockey Centre.
reas reached a deal to compete under the same flag at the Games, and at Friday’s opening ceremony athletes from both nations marched together into the arena. Under the arrangement, 12 North Korean players were added to the South’s full roster of 23 players
and three players from the North were on the ice at any time. The team was watched by dignitaries including International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, South Korean president Moon Jae-in and Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Their build-up to the Games was less than smooth - their only practice match resulted in a 3-1 defeat by Sweden and the language barrier also required coach Sarah Murray to have her commands translated from English into Korean
and then into North Korean so those players could understand. Although they received a rapturous welcome at the Kwandong Hockey Centre, including from the North Korean cheerleaders, the team - who are the eighth seeds in the competition -
found it tough on the ice. Alina Muller scored a hat-trick in the first period and added another in the second before Phoebe Stanz and Lara Stalder scored two apiece as the Swiss managed 52 efforts on target to their opponents’ eight.
SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 11, 2018
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Volcanoes stun holders Pride
(CMC) – WINDWARD Islands Volcanoes stunned hosts Barbados Pride by 22 runs late Friday night, to deal the title-holders their first defeat of the Regional Super50. Chasing a modest 202 in the day/night affair at Kensington Oval, Pride’s batting collapsed to leave them 179 all out in the 47th over, breaking their impressive fourgame winning streak. The defeat dislodged the hosts from the top of Group A, slipping to second on 19 points with arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago Red Force assuming first place on 20 points. Pride and Red Force clash in a key fixture tonight at the same venue. Electing to bat first, Volcanoes were dismissed for 201 in the final over, with opener Johnson Charles top-scoring with 40, Kyle Mayers getting 37 and Kavem Hodge, 27. They slumped to 35 for two in the eighth over after Devon Smith (19) and Andre Fletcher (10) departed
All-rounder Kyle Mayers (second from right) celebrates another wicket with his teammates during Volcanoes’ win. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)
cheaply but Charles and Kirk Edwards (12) rebuilt in a 45run third-wicket stand. Johnson faced 54 balls and struck five fours but he and Edwards fell within eight runs of each other, and when Roland Cato (15) holed out in the deep off off-spinner Ashley Nurse (2-35), Volcanoes
were wilting on 113 for five in the 32nd over. Barbadian Mayers then came to his side’s rescue, adding 32 for the sixth wicket with Hodge before putting on a further 34 for the seventh with captain Shane Shillingford (9). He struck a pair of fours
Softball action postponed to next Sunday
and one six off 48 balls before perishing via run-out in the 46th over. What should have been an uncomplicated run chase quickly turned messy when Pride lost four wickets inside the first 13 overs to slide to 43 for four, as seamer Mayers (2-31) and left-arm spinner
Hodge (2-31) both struck. Amid rain interruptions, Jason Holder, who top-scored with 49 and captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who made 32, posted 63 for the fifth wicket in what appeared to be a potential match-winning stand. Brathwaite had faced 72 balls and counted two fours when he missed a swing at off-spinner Shillingford (3-27) and was lbw in the 28th over. Holder followed six overs later, bowled by Shillingford, pushing forward, and off the very next ball Nurse was caught by Smith at slip, as Pride crashed to 125 for seven. Pride found hope in a 47run eighth-wicket partnership between Carlos Brathwaite (24) and Dominic Drakes (23) but the stand required 63 deliveries, and when Brathwaite drove left-arm speedster Delorn Johnson to Smith at point in the 44th, 30 runs were still needed from 36 balls with only two wickets in hand. Fittingly, Mayers performed the final rites,
SCOREBOARD VOLCANOES innings D. Smith c Nurse b J. Holder 19 J. Charles c wkp. Hope b Drakes 40 A. Fletcher b C. Holder 10 K. Edwards c Carter b Drakes 12 K. Hodge c Carter b Nurse 27 R. Cato c C. Holder b Nurse 15 K. Mayers run-out 37 S. Shillingford c Nurse b J. Holder 9 D. Johnson run-out 12 L. Edward not out 8 K. Williams lbw b C. Brathwaite 0 Extras: (lb-3, w-9) 12 Total: (all out, 49.1 overs) 201 Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-35, 3-80, 4-89, 5-113, 6-145, 7-179, 8-179, 9-197. Bowling: J. Holder 7-0-39-2, C. Holder 5-0-26-1, C. Brathwaite 7.1-0-36-1, Benn 10-2-27-0, Drakes 6-1-12-2, K. Brathwaite 7-0-23-0, Nurse 7-0-35-2. PRIDE innings K. Brathwaite lbw b Shillingford 32 K. Stoute b Hodge 3 S. Hope b Hodge 20 J. Carter c Edward b Mayers 8 R. Chase c wkp. Fletcher b Mayers 0 J. HOlder b Shillingford 49 C. Brathwaite c Smith b Johnson 24 A. Nurse c Smith b Shillingford 0 D. Drakes lbw b Mayers 23 S. Benn not out 1 C. Holder b Mayers 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-6, w-9) 19 Total: (all out, 46.4 overs) 179 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-28, 3-43, 4-43, 5-106, 6-125, 7-125, 8-172, 9-179. Bowling: Johnson 8-0-48-1, Hodge 101-31-2, Mayers 8.4-0-31-4, Shillingford 10-1-27-3, Edward 10-1-32-0.
knocking over Drakes and Chemar Holder (0) in the 47th over.
Weather puts Inter-county U-15 final on hold
Regal Masters will look to add another trophy to their collection.
THE Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association/Nauth’s Motor Spares, Trophy Stall and Mike’s Pharmacy softball tournament which was scheduled to conclude today has been postponed. The event was set for the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground but was postponed on account of the weather.
In next Sunday’s final, top softball action is expected in three categories. In the Male Open final, Speed Boat will play Success Sports Club with the winners set to pocket $100 000 while $25 000 will go to the runners-up. In the Male Masters category, Wellman and Regal Masters will do battle for the $100 000 first prize.
The day will begin with semi-final action in the female category. Trophy Stall Angels will take on Blue Divas and Wellwoman battle 4R Lioness, before the winners meet in the final for a winning purse of $50 000 and bragging rights. Player-of-the-match in each final and MVP in each category will win $5 000.
The flooded outfield of the GCC ground Bourda. (Adrian Narine photo)
CONSISTENT rain and water-logged outfield conspired to force an abandonment of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Dave West Indian Exports Guy-NY Intercounty Under-15 50-over tournament yesterday. The final was scheduled
to take place between defending champions Berbice and hosts Demerara at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda. However, the final has been put on-hold until further notice, according to an official from the GCB.
A keen battle is expected from both teams, although Berbice have hammered all oppositions to reach the final unbeaten. Both coaches said while their players were disappointed, there was not much anybody could do about the weather.
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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 11, 2018
CPL 2018 finals
We have to be careful with our financial commitments - Minister Norton By Rajiv Bisnauth THE hosting of the Caribbean Premier League T20 games has largely been considered a successful venture for Guyana over the years with figures from 2017 showing that US$14M or G$2.8B was made while hosting four matches. The figures could grow this time around with the Guyana Amazon Warriors scheduled to host five matches and the possibility of nine should the country manage to host the finals week. However, Minister responsible for Sport, Dr George Norton, insists that the government will have to be careful about its financial
commitments before making a final decision with regard bidding for finals. “As I said before cricket is so important in the culture of the Caribbean and West Indies and, wherever it is possible we certainly will want to support, and to provide the Guyanese nation with that opportunity to see good competitive cricket. “We saw what happened the last time with sold-out crowds but we have to be careful with our financial commitments. We might not be in a position to do so now or I might not be in a position to pronounce on it, which is much more a situation where the Ministry of Finance can pronounce on,” Dr Norton said.
Dr George Norton says that the Government has to be careful with its financial commitments, when he was asked about bidding for the CPL 2018 finals.
The minister added, “As a Guyanese, as a West Indian, I will love to see cricket
played here whenever the opportunities arise I would want every effort for that to
happen, but at the moment I am not in a position to say if the government will make a bid to CPL for the finals,” Dr Norton revealed. Guyana was expected to be in the running to host the finals last year, but no public bid was made to the CPL. The tournament was then hosted in Trinidad and Tobago who won the competition. The league will enter its sixth year and the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has hosted three finals with St Kitts and Nevis being the other benefactor in 2014 and 2016. The Amazon Warriors have played in three of the five finals to date but are yet to lift the title. Meanwhile, for the first
time ever, the draft for the 2018 CPL will take place outside of the Caribbean. This year, the draft takes place on March 1 in London. The Hero CPL will have some of the best cricketers taking part in the tournament, from around the world as well as from across the Caribbean. The window for this year’s event means that there are no West Indies fixtures that clash with the Hero CPL so the very best West Indian players will be available for selection. This year, the draft shifts to Europe, which organisers say is a reflection of the global nature of the tournament which will take place between August 8 and September 16 this year.
Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ West Demerara/East Bank Demerara Zone
ESPN, Hustlers and Showstoppers secure quarter-final spots ON Friday night the round of 16 of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ West Demerara/East Bank Demerara Zone was contested on the Pouderoyen tarmac and saw ESPN, Hustlers and Showstoppers making light work of their opponents to book quarter-final spots. With every game ESPN seem to be growing stronger; in their round of 16 clash with Parfait Hardball they managed to keep a clean sheet while putting four goals past their opponents. The Lythcott brothers broke Parfait’s defence to give them a 2-0 lead; first Trevon ‘German’ Lythcott netted in the 14th minute while his younger brother Kevon doubled ESPN’s score in the 17th minute. Pernell Schultz added the icing on the cake in just a minute later with a ‘Guinness Goal’ to make it 4-0. A comfortable 3-0 victory for the Hustlers over Mocha came courtesy of a Kwame Holder brace and a solitary strike from Sunil Logan. Holder’s pair of goals came in the fourth and 17th minutes while Logan netted in the 15th minute. Meanwhile Showstoppers handed Harmony Ballers a 2-0 loss, with late goals from
Action at the Pouderoyen tarmac in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ West Demerara/East Bank Demerara Zone
Dexroy Adams and Stephon Jupiter ensuring their side secured a spot in the quarter-finals. Adams opened the scoring in the 14th minute while Jupiter made it 2-0 in the 17th. Meanwhile a thrilling encounter between West Side Ballers and Patentia Money Team ended at 2-2 after normal time with the winner decided from the penalty spot.
The West Side Ballers had taken a 2-0 advantage after Kevin Frank scored a late ‘Guinness goal’ in the 32nd minute only for Patentia to equalise through Kenton Boyce in the 34th minute. The resulting penalty kicks saw the West Side Ballers emerge 1-0 winners. Also winning from the spot were Boom Bang who
beat Up-Like-7 by 2-1 on penalties while Ballers Empire had a 2-0 victory via the same method over Brothers United. The Dream Team needled Harmony Warriors with Orville Stewart grabbing the only goal of the game in the 14th minute. Eon King’s 13th minute’s strike was just enough for Rising Stars to beat Zeelugt FC
and ensure progression to the quarter-finals, which will be played on Tuesday (February 13) at the same venue. In addition the semi-final matches will also be played on the same night. (Michelangelo Jacobus) Tuesday night’s fixtures can be seen below: Quarterfinals 1) ESPN vs Ballers Empire - 20:00hrs
2) West-Side Ballers vs Rising Stars - 20:30hrs 3) Hustlers vs Dream Team - 21:00hrs 4) Showstoppers vs Boom Bang - 21:30hrs Semi-finals: Winners of 1 play Winners of 3 Winners of 2 play Winners of 4
SUNDAY CHRONICLE, February 11, 2018
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Lights green for King of the Strip today
By Stephan Sookram
The unmistakable growl of the 1000+ hp monster Goliath has the racing pedigree of several years of engineering and a best time of 7.5 seconds on the strip. On the converse side, the Caldina of Persaud has recently undergone some upgrades that should put it in that four-digit region, according to sources, making the battle all the more fun. The quickest shootout to date could be over before you blink and is sure to be a crowd-puller.
THE fastest cars in a straight line will be known today when the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) stages its King of the Strip Drag Race meet. Nine classes of action will thrill crowds today from the 15-second class all the way down to the nine-second and unlimited divisions as well as bikes. When the event gets rolling today, there will be several battles within the war.
Starlet shootout The pocket-rocket turbo-charged little Toyota Starlets have also got themselves a grudge match within the war today, as several of those cars are eager to be crowned ‘fastest starlet’. The motor-trend team of Motilall Deodass has laid claim to the title with the BM Soat/Prem’s Electrical Starlet and the Ramchand Autobody car also expected to shake things up. Mix in sprinklings of road-going cars and that’s sure to be a class to watch. The sponsors are Tropical Shipping, STAG, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Rent-a-Tent, Perms Electrical, Paul Jiwanram, White Boy Auto Spares, BM Soat, Palm Court, Samaroo Investments, Windjammer, Nexus, E-Networks, JR Burgers, Toucan Industries, Trans Pacific, Ramchand’s Auto Body Shop, Special Auto, A and R Jiwanram Printery Inc., Infinity Imports and Japarts. For patrons who are desirous of witnessing the heated races at South Dakota today, entrance fees are $1 000 for adults and $500 for children. The Rent-aTent VIP will be available for $3 000.
East Side vs West Side The A&R Jiwanram trophy is up for grabs today in the East Side vs West Side battle, which is expected to be a sure firecracker. The two sides have been trading blows with the West Side being led by former 13second champion Imran Khan. He will have his work cut out when he comes up against Balram’s Auto Mechanic and Raj Auto, some of the East side competitors expected to be on show. Still, when the dust settles, there will be one side holding the trophy and it will be the side with the most guys on the podium GTR Goliath vs Nightmare Caldina Probably the most sought after battle this weekend will be that of the GTR of Team Mohamed’s Enterprise, known as Goliath, and the Toyota Caldina Nightmare of Shawn Persaud. Both cars are in the unlimited class and many have their favourites come race day.
Milo Schools Football continues today FOOTBALL action in the Milo Schools Football tournament continues today with the scheduled matches at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue. The first match at noon will pit St Rose’s High against Uitvlugt Secondary while at 13:30hrs, Buxton Youth Developers will take on Charlestown Secondary. The last game of the day will pit Lodge Secondary against Queenstown Secondary. Meanwhile, the matches which were washed out yesterday will be played tomorrow at the same venue. They are as follows: Annandale will take on Carmel, South Ruimveldt and the Business School will clash an hour and a half later in game two and Chase Academy and Friendship Secondary will close off the evening The tournament is sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health.
Lights are green for today’s GMR&SC King of the Strip Drag Race meet. (GTRidez photo)
Petra, GFF host Futsal referees workshop
The Petra organisation teamed up with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to host a two-day Futsal referees’ refresher course.
THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the Petra Organisation teamed up yesterday morning to host a twoday workshop for Futsal referees. The referees refresher
course will continue today at the Federation’s Secretariat. Head of the Refereeing Department at the GFF, Stanley Lancaster, conveyed the federation’s elation at hosting the work-
shop, given the influx of futsal tournaments in the country. Lancaster explained tournaments of the past saw neglect in the administration of the correct rules and regulations for Futsal.
He noted that there are obvious differences between the way street football is played and indoor futsal, adding that there needs to be an improved dress code, with players wearing socks,
shin pads and no armless clothing. Petra’s co-Director Troy Mendonca stated that their assistance is part of a founding mandate to develop the sport. He hopes the course can help to create a product that is most marketable which can hopefully take Guyana into FIFA domain of futsal. First vice-president of the Guyana Futsal Association, Mark Younge, said, “We have a chance to show what football is all about and we hope it doesn’t stop here, as our referees can go forward and be FIFA referees.” More so, executive member and head of the National Referees Council, Dion Inniss, asked the participants to fully absorb the information being imparted and also thanked Petra for the support and future programmes like these which will encourage more tournaments countrywide. The ten referees were chosen from Georgetown, Upper Demerara, West Demerara and Berbice Football Association.
Lights green for King of the Strip today 31 PAGE
Eastman fends off stern challenges to cop R&R title
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Victory! Hamzah Eastman (left) executes a perfect bike throw to pip Romello Crawford (middle) while Jamual John settles for third. (Adrian Narine photo)
CPL 2018 finals We have to be careful with our financial commitments - Minister Norton
GFF Elite League restarts today PAGE
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The Caribbean Premier League T20 games always attract sold-out crowds. Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208
GFF president Wayne Forde presents first-place prize money to president of the GDF FC, Loring Bennons, for being champions of the GFF Super-16 Year-end Classic SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2018