Guyana chronicle e paper 02 20 2018

GFC still to recover $80M owed by 04 BaiShanLin PAGE

No. 105191

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

Forensic audit for City Hall

‌Auditor General says financial info hard to get from the municipality ‌PAC members call for criminal probe O3 PAGE

State Minister says GBA statement reckless and treading a dangerous path 05 PAGE

Young pannists set Pan-o-rama 12 ablaze PAGE

Ready for the road! These young men will be part of the Ministry of Social Cohesion Mash band, which was launched on Monday at the E. R. Burrowes School of Arts. The band will feature some 300 plus revellers. (Samuel Maughn photo)

Cabinet approves new 11 Boy, 15, to stand command structure for police trial for murder 10 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Chinese have helped diversify Guyana’s economy - President PRESIDENT David Granger said that the Chinese, who first arrived in Guyana in 1853, have enriched the country’s national culture and diversified its economy, adding that they have done so while still preserving their cultural values.

Speaking at the 2018 Chinese New Year Dinner, the Head-of-State said, “Guyana looks forward in this ‘Year of the Dog’ to strengthening of cooperation with China which we have enjoyed since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1972.” The event was held at the New Thriving Restaurant, Providence, East Bank of Demerara.

The Chinese Lunar New Year and Spring Festival are observed wherever persons of Chinese origin live and work. The dog is characterised as faithful, loyal, sin-

Students of Marian’s Academy gave a beautiful musical rendition in the Chinese language

President David Granger and Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Cui Jianchun toast to the friendly relations between Guyana and China (MoTP photo)

cere and reliable in Chinese astrology. President Granger said this is an occasion to renew long-standing ties of blood, history and friendship between Guyana and China; a time to recall the undeniable contributions which the Chinese have made, and continue to make, to Guyana’s development; and a time for celebration.

“Guyana acknowledges and welcomes the support which China continues to provide to our national defence and development. His Excellency Cui Jianchun [Chinese Ambassador to Guyana], within his first year in Georgetown, provided substantial support for science education at the Cyril Potter College of Education and presented valuable, non-lethal equipment to the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police

Force, among others. I can think of no fitter creature that characterises our hopes for the year ahead and the friendship that we enjoy than one that is faithful, loyal, sincere and reliable,” President Granger said.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Jianchun, in his remarks, spoke of China’s commitment to continued cooperation with its bilateral partners. He informed that in 2017, his country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) surpassed US $12 trillion for the first time, contributing 30 percent of world economic growth. Additionally, more than 30 million jobs were created.

Closer to home, the Chinese community in Guyana has been able to create more than 1000 jobs for Guyanese and the Ambassador assured that cooperation will continue between Guyana and China, particularly in the areas of tourism, trade, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), infrastructure, health, secu-

The Lion Dance performed by members of the Chinese Association

rity and defence, training and capacity building. He also informed that China will be hosting the International Import Exposition in Shanghai in November and said that the country “will fully support the Guyanese delegation in taking advantage of this opportunity to promote Guyana and its products to be sold in the largest consumer market in the world.”

This year, Guyana observed the 165th anniversary of the arrival of the first batch of Chinese indentured immigrants.

Moreover, January 12 has been designated by President Granger as Chinese Arrival Day, in recognition of the sterling contribution of the Chinese to national development. Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon; Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan; Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix; Minister of Finance, Mr. Winston Jordan; Former President, Mr. Donald Ramotar and former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds were also in attendance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Forensic audit for City Hall …Auditor General says financial info hard to get from the municipality

By Navendra Seoraj AUDITOR General (AG), Deodat Sharma has announced that his office will soon conduct a forensic audit of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown since the management of the municipality has failed to provide important financial information to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Sharma’s decision followed a call by a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) member of the PAC, Nigel Dharamlall, for a special audit into the M&CC which has failed to account for $174 million. It was reported that Sharma would conduct the forensic audit even if no documents are found. He said unlike regular audits, depending on his findings he would dispatch a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for charges to be laid.

Members of the committee at a PAC meeting on Monday, expressed how difficult it was to access information from the council.

Chairman of the PAC, Irfan Ali and a member of the committee, Bishop Juan Edghill said the council has failed to present financial reports to the Ministry of Communities and even the AG. “We cannot continue like this…the M&CC refused blatantly to provide the Auditor General with a report…they cannot verify any expenditure by this agency, so there is nothing in the financial realm and operations of this agency that can be really explained and verified because of the attitude towards not only the Auditor General’s Office but the Ministry,” said Ali. In light of this, Dharamlall followed up by calling for an intervention by the police and criminal charges to be laid against the treasurer and the Town Clerk, Royston King.

“The Mayor and Councillors also need to be sanctioned because they have authority to expend,” he said.

The AG reported that $200 million was transferred to the M&CC for the restoration of Georgetown and

by December 31, 2016 the

Chairman of the PAC, Irfan Ali listens to the presentation of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities, Emil McGarrell (Adrian Narine photo)

Council reported that capital works had spent 131.382 million- 173.505 million on five projects, and $42.123 million for the purchase of office equipment and furniture.

Those project include, Constabulary Training School $23.096 million; City Engineers building $13.594 million; Constabulary Headquarters building $12.921 million; Kitty Market: G $60.121 million and the Albouystown Clinic $21.580 million.

But, the payment vouchers and other related documents were not presented for audit examination. “We

are not getting information since last year to now. I don’t want to preempt so when we go in there, we are going to look at whatever they give us and then make a pronouncement,” said Sharma.

Although the members of the PAC intended to get information on Monday, the Treasurer of the M&CC was not present to answer any questions since he presented a medical to be excused from the meeting. Ali however did not give up on meeting with the treasurer. He asked the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities, Emil McGarrell to ensure that

the treasurer is present at a subsequent meeting.

McGarrell was in support of Ali’s decision and he even went on to say that Sharma has the leverage to sanction the treasurer.

There have been growing calls for the sacking of Town Clerk Royston King amidst a growing fallout between city councillors and the administration at City Hall. The PNCR Central Executive Committee has also expressed concerns over the public conduct of Mayor Patricia Chase-Green.

In a correspondence seen by this newspaper last week, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan told Chase-Green that at a Central Executive Committee meeting on February 7, 2018 concerns were expressed about her public conduct. “Madam Mayor, on 2018.02.07 at a meeting of the members of the Central Executive Committee of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), be informed that concerns were expressed about your public conduct generally, with specific reference to your public utterances

$120M set aside for forest inventory THE sum of $120M has been set aside to commence a forest inventory to effectively manage the nation’s forestry resources.

The last inventory was done in the 1950’s, according to the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) 2017 performance report. The report was provided to the media on Monday, at a press briefing at GFC multiplex building, Kingston Georgetown.

The report noted that the National Forestry Inventory will commence this year and conclude in 2020, as much-needed information on the forest stocking and species distribution are needed to positively influence the forest sector marketing and trade efforts.

Further, the report stated that the Ministry of Natural Resources is working with the GFC and its Board will look to create stronger platforms for encouraging value-added forest activities in 2018.

“Amongst some of the immediate measures are increasing efficiency and productivity of wood processing operations and exploring the provision of incentives that can be provided to the wood-processing sector to enhance competitiveness,”

the 2017 annual report added.

With effect from January 1, 2018 VAT charges are exempt for logs and rough lumber to the sawmilling industry, which would improve the cash flow of operators by at least G $80M as logs and rough sawn wood account for over 75 per cent of Guyana’s national production.

Over the past decade the forestry sector has contributed between US $40M – US $60M in export value. Meanwhile, on February 16, 2018 the GFC (GFC) presented the revised National Forest Policy Statement and Plan to stakeholders.

The comprehensive plan and policy statement were presented to stakeholders at the GFC multiplex, Kingston, for a final round of consultation before it is submitted to Cabinet. Minster of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman noted that the update was critical to meeting international obligations in the sector and the green state development strategy. “This strategy highlights the importance of forest in combating climate change, and also emphasises the ecological and environmental services to humanity and the promotion of sustainable en-

Some of the many species of wood that are already inventoried (Samuel Maughn Photo)

ergy services,” he said The forest policy statement is intended to guide the forestry sector’s development for a 10-year period, GFC’s Commissioner James Singh explained. “It is negotiated and informed by a wide range of stakeholder interests guided by national priorities and development strategies,” he said.

The National Forest Plan is the schedule for the implementation of the policy and it outlines the programme activities and the agencies responsible for leading same, among other things. This updated forest policy and plan replaces the 2011 documents.

Since then, new policies like

the green economy, a push for more conservation by the President and change in standards, including the European Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (EU FLEGT) have necessitated the need for more relevant, useful and responsive policies and plans.

The review began last February with nationwide consultation led by The Consultancy Group (TCG) through funding from FLEGT facilitation support.

Minister Trotman noted this round of input seeks to refine the completed revision.

Following the consultation, the documents will be presented to the Cabinet by Minister Trotman for approval and subsequently laid in the National Assembly.

At the end of 2017, Guyana officially signed onto the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU. Once Guyana begins FLEGT licensing, the products covered by the VPA will only be exported to the EU, accompanied by the EU’s FLEGT licenses attesting to their legality.

The EU’s FLEGT Action Plan was created in 2003 because of growing concern over the illegal log-

which may be construed only as confrontational to the office and/or the person holding the office of the Minister of Communities, and the effects and implications of such conduct.

“Further, on 2018.02.10 at a meeting of the General Council of the PNCR, a delegate and councillor called for the removal of the Town Clerk (TC) of the City of Georgetown. That call was premised on the opinion of the delegate that the TC’s conduct, deportment, and actions constitute an embarrassment to the administration” Bulkan told Chase-Green in the letter.

Minister Bulkan also called on the Mayor to provide information relative to business transactions made by the Council. “Be informed that I require the following: a complete list of all contracts, leases, sales, and any other transactions involving assets (real estate, equipment, etc.) under the control of Council, between the date of assuming office in April 2016 to the present,” the letter stated.

…last such exercise was done in 1950s

ging of forests, particularly in the tropics. Guyana is one of nine countries that are currently in the FLEGT negotiation process, which

uses a licensing system to ensure timber exported to the EU has been harvested in accordance with local laws.

PM discharged, recovering well PRIME MINISTER and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo has been discharged from hospital, four days after a successful heart by-pass surgery and is undergoing rehabilitation.

In a statement the Office of the Prime Minister said Nagamootoo’s progress is steady and he is scheduled for further examinations in the coming days. Prime Minister Nagamootoo, on February 12, underwent heart by-pass surgery in the United States of America and the medical procedure was completed successfully. The Prime Minister expressed his personal gratitude to President

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo

David Granger and the ministers of Government, and all those who expressed wishes of support.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

GFC still to recover $80M owed by BaiShanLin

CHINESE company, BaiShanLin, owes the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) in excess of $80M and the commission aims to recover the outstanding debt in collaboration with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

This is according to Chairperson of the GFC’s Board of Directors, Jocelyn Dow, at a press briefing on Monday, at the GFC multiplex building, Kingston Georgetown.

In September of 2016,

the GFC had repossessed concessions held by BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc. (BIFDI), since the company failed to deliver on agreed actions to introduce investors to the Commission. The company was also given time to prove that it had an acceptable plan to clear an approximately GY$80 million debt.

Earlier that same year, it was reported that the Long Jiang Forest Industries Group, a Chinese state-owned company, had acquired 55 per

cent of the shares in BaiShanLin and had intended to fully take over the company in 2016.

According to the GFC, in an effort to conclude the matter representatives of BaiShanLin were invited to a meeting on April 8, 2016 to provide an update on its plans to clear the debt.

When the company started its operations locally in 2007, it had also committed under its investment agreement, to establish a US$100 million wood processing

Chairperson, GFC’s Board of Directors Jocelyn Dow

plant in order to engage in value added exports – this

too was never built.

The GFC said that during the meeting the company representatives had indicated that BaiShanLin suffered financial constraints, which affected the establishing of the wood processing facility, and that the company was engaging a new partner that would contribute significantly to its investment in Guyana.

The GFC Board said it was, at the time, assured of the financial strength of the new partner, who had committed to pay off the debt

owed by the company to the Commission. After the prolonged delay, the GFC in keeping with the Forest Governance Practices, formally repossessed the concessions owned by the company and accelerated efforts to recover the debt owed.

The GRA in April of 2016 had seized a Lexus SUV, PRR 2888, and a Nissan minivan, PRR 3888, from the Chinese logging company after it had failed to pay the import taxes for the two luxury vehicles.

Vacation leave results in shuffle of police commanders AS a result of several key police officers proceeding on vacation leave, the Guy-

ana Police Force (GPF) has made some major changes regarding the administra-

tion of the various police divisions.

In an announcement

on Monday, the GPF said that Police “A” Division (Georgetown and East Bank Demerara) will now be manned by Assistant Commissioner, Leslie James; Division “C” (East Coast Demerara) will fall under the direction of Senior Superintendent, Edmond Cooper; “D” Division (West Bank and West Coast Demerara) will now be headed by Senior Superintendent Fizal Karimbaksh; “F” Division (Interior Locations) will now

fall under the purview of Senior Superintendent, Kevin Adonis and “E” Division (Linden) will now be headed

by Superintendent, Anthony Vanderhyen.

Further, in relation to the Traffic Division, Superintendent Ramesh Ashram will now serve as the Traffic Chief; Deputy Superintendent, Dennis Stephen as the Traffic Officer attached to “A” Division; Assistant Superintendent, Timothy Williams as the

Traffic Officer attached to “B” Division (Berbice); Assistant Superintendent Morris Fraser as the Traffic Officer attached to the “C” Division and Deputy Superintendent Lonsdale Withrithe as the Officer in Charge of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU). The Guyana Police Force emphasised that this re-arrangement is temporary pending the conclusion of the officers’ vacation leave.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

State Minister says GBA statement reckless and –President has never and will never treading a dangerous path act outside of the Constitution THE Ministry of the Presidency (MotP) questions the motives of the statement by the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), which was reported in various sections of the press today. Referencing the substantive appointments of the Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice, the GBA, in its statement, warned that “any action outside of the said Article 127 is unconstitutional, void, of no legal effect and would have embarrassing consequences.” This perplexing statement, made without any indication from the administration of any intention to ever operate outside of the Constitution of Guyana, was described by the Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, as reckless.

On February 14, 2018, at the swearing in ceremony for Justice Rafiq Khan, when questioned by members of the media on the way forward on the two Constitutional appointments after the Opposition Leader rejected the names of Justices Kenneth Benjamin and

Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards as Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice respectively, President David Granger said explicitly said that he would be guided by the provisions of the Constitution of Guyana.

“I have to be advised by my Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General. We cannot be without a Chancellor and a Chief Justice because right now two persons are acting and I had hoped that we could have moved forward by having a substantive or a full time appointment agreed, but this has not happened and the Constitution requires me to await the approval of the Leader of the Opposition and this hasn’t come so I will have to depend on legal advice and make sure that the Courts continue to function,” President Granger said.

Minister Harmon, in an invited comment, this evening, said that he is concerned at the dangerous path that the Association is treading with its insinuations and strong assertions, despite the public statements

made by the Head of State with regard to upholding of the Constitution. He described as reckless the statement attributed to the Association, which states that the climate surrounding the appointment of the two offices is “repugnant and shakes the public confidence in the legal system. It further unfairly undermines the dignity of the offices and office holders”.

“This is a rash statement from a Bar Association… more importantly having regard for the recent actions of the administration in ensuring that at all material times that the appointments to the Judiciary were made in good time and based on the advice of the Judicial Services Commission. The President has been at pains to respect the Constitution. Every action, which he takes is underpinned by the provisions of the Constitution and so it is quite surprising to me that the Bar Association having regard to what the President has actually said that he respects the Constitution and that he will act in accordance, that the Bar Association arrived at a conclusion

Transgender died as a result of vehicular accident – Autopsy AN autopsy conducted on transgender sex worker, Donneikel Campbell, called “Mogo”, who died on Sunday after he reportedly jumped into the path of a vehicle at Vreed-enHoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD), gave the man’s cause of death “as multiple injuries due to a motor vehicle accident.”

Campbell, a security guard of Lot 23 Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, was reportedly struck by motorcar

PRR 5279, being driven by a 40-year-old resident of Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

According to information, the car was proceeding west along the southern carriageway of the Vreed-en-Hoop Public Road when Campbell allegedly ran across the road from north to south and was struck by the vehicle.

Campbell who sustained injuries to his head and body, was picked up by public-spirited persons and rushed to the West Demerara Regional

Hospital (WDRH) in a conscious state. He died while receiving treatment at the hospital. The driver of the vehicle is currently in police custody assisting with the investigation. A breathalyzer test performed on the driver showed no evidence of alcohol.

However, relatives are of the opinion that Campbell’s demise was as a result of foul play.

An investigation has been launched into the accident.

that basically says that the current climate is repugnant and shakes the public confidence in the justice system. Never before in the history of this country have we had nearly all judicial appointments filled.

We do not have positions now that are unfilled. Acting on advice from the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), the President has appointed Justices of Appeal for short terms to deal with backlog of cases,” Minister Harmon said.

The Minister of State further said that it is under this administration that the Judiciary has been strengthened, with Government’s emphasis on integrity, impartiality and independence. He said that while the Leader of the Opposition would have rejected the nominations for the two posts, no explanations were provided to the Government or the Guyanese society on his disapproval with no public outcry. He note,d however, that when the Head of State had rejected the nominations for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the GBA was one of the many organisations, which voiced their discontent and called for explanations to be given.

“I don’t know what would have motivated them to take this position because the last consultation that was held

between the Leader of the Opposition and the President, the Leader of the Opposition took a position that he was not in support of the nomination and he chose to give no reasons.

Now when His Excellency, the President had to deal with the appointment of the Chairman of GECOM and the nominations by the Leader of the Opposition, he basically said that he did not give reasons for his decision because it is a small country and personalities and characters can be damaged in a certain way. The Bar Association was among many that criticised the President on that and actually went to Court to get a ruling that the President must give reasons. Now Mr. Jagdeo has taken this same position and they make no statement about it. It is saying to me that the Bar Association is going down a very dangerous line. People should not be afraid that the President will act arbitrarily. The President will never act arbitrarily,” Minister Harmon said.

President Granger, in his address at Justice Khan’s swearing in ceremony made clear that Guyana is a state governed by laws and the Constitution of Guyana, which is the supreme law of the land, will, at all times, be respected.

The GBA’s statement, which can be interpreted as premature and potentially misleading

follows closely on the heels of a repeated commitment by the Head of State to uphold the tenets of the Constitution of Guyana and ensure that the judicial system is one that reflects the values of independence, impartiality and integrity.

“The supreme Law of the land is the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana which provides (at Article 149D (1), that: “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or equal protection and benefit of the law. An efficient and independent judiciary, therefore, supports citizens’ rights to the equal protection and benefit of the law. A full complement of legal officers, magistrates and judges enables judicial efficiency, ensures that citizens’ cases are heard expeditiously and enhances public confidence in the rule of law,” he said.

The Ministry of the Presidency uses this opportunity to assure the GBA and all Guyanese that this administration remains committed to upholding the Constitution of Guyana. Any suggestion that it is not or intends to do otherwise is not based in fact nor is there any evidence to suggest that this ominous warning from the GBA, which has to potential to create unwarranted fear, was required.

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

President’s address to police officers AT the recently held Guyana Police Force Officers Conference, President David Granger delivered what can be described as a frank, open and no holds barred assessment on what he described as corruption and equally corrupt policemen in the Guyana Police Force.

Few Guyanese, whether former military personnel, allied to, or academically qualified in any related field, are more qualified to bring a world view on security matters than retired Brigadier and former Commander of the Guyana Defence Force, President David Granger, can. Performing the duties as national security adviser for a period in his illustrious military career, President Granger more than most would have had a unique opportunity to graphically observe and analyse the daily functions of the Joint services, especially the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force.

We further posit, that as a product of the well-known and respected British military brand of training and at other distinguished military schools and academies, President Granger would have been a seminal part of the evolution of the joint services from being colonial oriented, to one that suited the relevant needs of a nation seeking to develop its own national creed of service to the people of the new nation, Guyana.

We need not emphasise the personal premium placed on discipline, and pride in service, displayed by men in uniform in those early years. Particularly, the Guyana Defence Force which, apart from its principal duty of defending Guyana’s sovereignty, also became renowned for performing mercy flights, bringing critically ill persons from the hinterland to the City for medical attention; and the other key security institution, the Guyana Police Force which had continued to

perform its national duty of Service and Protection towards upholding the laws of the land.

As commander-in-chief of the nation’s armed forces, President Granger is very much conscious of his national duties as they pertain to his executive responsibilities, one of which is ensuring a well-trained police force that is led by competent and committed officers for the task of protecting citizens and society from acts of criminality.

His observations towards this critical area of the nation’s law enforcement agency were both piercing and emphatic about the Force’s leadership content, reflecting disappointment, when he stated that a “fish rots from the head.’’

He left no stone unturned, as he exposed what the presence of the cancer of corruption has done to the effectiveness of the Guyana Police Force, through sections of its general leadership category and the less than salutary example this has had on the junior ranks.

Any legitimate state force, military or para military, is defined by the quality of its leadership; for it is this important category that will determine how its ranks perform their sworn duties, in accordance with laid down operational procedures.

This must be inclusive of the key input of discipline which must influence all actions, both in and out of the theatre of institutional operations.

In our Editorial, “Bad examples,” of January 08, 2018, it was clearly stated that “No police force can hope to develop that seminal input of integrity in its professional functions, if there are senior ranks who are themselves lawbreakers.”

We further stated “...that senior officers are in the leadership positions of any police organisation, including the Guy-

ana Police Force, it is paramount they understand their positions as role models for those under their command. For that matter, senior officers in any service institution do influence in many ways the organizational growth and development of their young ranks.”

For the scale of corrupt practices that have seen so many policemen over the years being dismissed from the Guyana Police Force, such criminal activities could have only existed with the connivance and involvement of seniors at various levels of the institution. Any rank, irrespective of seniority, must be subjected to disciplinary action when warranted, and be removed from the Force if the infraction is serious enough.

Unquestionably, the President’s observations and analyses about our police are factual, incontrovertible and profound, which point to a determination that steps will be taken to rid the force of its corrupt members.

And contrary to the convenient PPP/C statements about witch-hunting and demoralizing of the Force’s senior echelons, such a direction of change, guided and influenced by the Security Sector Reform Programme(SSRP), that the latter opposition party had refused when in government, will ensure a better national police force, having the full confidence of citizens. Further, our police force does not need officers and junior ranks within its fold whose aim is solely to make money out of the misdeeds of others.

Guyana has to learn to play by the rules of international business Dear Editor, WHILE I too share the same anxieties as many compatriots over whether government’s share of the revenues from the 2016 petroleum agreement will be the bonanza to finally launch the country into the economic stratosphere, the fact of the matter is we live in a world with established rules and expectations on how international business is conducted and how investment decisions are made by big corporations.

If Guyana would like to persistently attract large investors and to be seen as having comparative advantages over other investment destinations, we need to stop the cur-

rent fretting and groveling over the 2016 agreement. Instead, we need to understand the rules of the game, unpalatable as some of them are, and adjust our mindset to the hard realities. There is little to gain in following the footsteps of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan in campaigning in the wilderness for a new Global Human Order.

Not much in the 2016 oil agreement should surprise. Firstly, the financial regime (profit oil, cost oil, cost recovery, tax waivers, and royalty) is what our consecutive governments have long advertised in their hunt for oil investors.

As long as memory serves, these terms have been written on the GGMC website and in promotional brochures, and touted at

conferences for decades.

Secondly, many of the terms in the agreement are standard features worldwide for our circumstances.

For example, the much-criticised stability clause (Article 32) is, according to one World Bank study, included in over 100 oil contracts worldwide. As I explained in a previous letter, no company would make large long-term investments in the so-called Third World without a stability clause. Insurers, for one, would not touch such a project without it.

That is a rule of the game.

Some have argued that because the 2016 agreement was negotiated after oil had been found (unlike the 1999 agreement), then Guyana should have used this fact to extract

a better deal. But again, this is not how the game is played. Investments in the Stabroek Block were made under set upfront conditions.

Had the company found nothing, it would have had to shoulder all the loss, with no cost to us. That’s one rule I am sure we like. But now that the company’s risk-taking has paid off with several oil finds, we cannot now demand that the conditions that lured the company in the first place be altered to our advantage. Any company could reasonably point out that had it known upfront that Guyana would seek to change the terms of doing business, this circumstance may have changed the investment calculus and caused it to seek fortune elsewhere. It’s akin to a landlord asking for more rent after a tenant

has used his own money to upgrade the house. Is that a good image for Guyana to be projecting to foreign investors? One is reminded of the level-headed advice by Sir Shridath Ramphal and other thinkers in their 1978 report “South-South Dialogue” that the worst thing for a developing country than being exploited is not being exploited.

The 2016 deal is sealed. It is time for us to begin, in a more structured and sustained manner, to discuss how we can wisely use our God-given blessings to transform the lives of our citizens within the next five years.

Regards, Sherwood Lowe

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

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Serious efforts must be made to demand that the politicians act consistent with Article 13

Dear Editor,

THE media need to be commended for its continuous effort in bringing to the Guyanese people the truth as it relates to the contracts signed by the Government of Guyana with the oil companies. The little comparison done by Stabroek News in article “Ramotar signed oil contract with CGX nearly identical to Exxon” (February 18, 2018), has brought to the Guyanese public an opportunity of knowing who is speaking the truth or not.

Members of civil society, like Christopher Ram and Ramon “Rambo” Gaskin, have communicated to us their interest in taking a laser beam on this matter as they dissect the ExxonMobil contract and offer their opinions on whether Guyana is getting the best deal or not. As regards to the politicians the public debates between the

two sides and the evidence unfolding bring into question what their real motives are.

The PPP/C Opposition decries the APNU+AFC Executive for the agreement it signed on behalf of the people of Guyana with ExxonMobil. Today the media is bringing to the public attention the similarities in the agreement signed by PPP/C Government with CGX and the APNU+AFC Government with Exxon.

This nation will remember CARIFORUM negotiated an Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union (EU). Subsequent to this CARICOM had commenced an engagement to seal an agreement with Canada on an economic partnership. The Canadian Government used the CARIFORUM/EU Agreement as the template in engaging CARICOM. In negotiation the first agreement sets the founda-

tion for any that come thereafter. There is a principle in negotiation that it is wise to seek to avoid starting wrong because you will end wrong.

In the case of the oil and gas agreements the first agreement will set the tone for others coming thereafter. While one is not aware whether the CGX can be considered the first, what is being gleaned is that it was used as the template in negotiating with Exxon.

Wherever Guyana finds itself at this juncture our political leaders, on both sides, need to take responsibility for the current agreements. There exists a political culture where the politicians believe they are the beginning and end of every idea, they know everything, even though they continue to prove everyday their deficiencies in such regards.

The conundrum with the oil and gas agreements brings home every day two critical

Congratulations to new administrators of the Berbice Cricket Board Dear Editor, PLEASE accept our sincere congratulations on your well-deserved victory at the Berbice Cricket Board elections held on February 18, 2018. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Honorable Justice Navendra Singh for his patience and dedication to the rule of law and tireless search for the truth.

The ‘Hostile Take Over’ of the Berbice Cricket Board and Berbice cricket by a few radicalised individuals in March 2017, has left an indelible scar on the reputation of our organisation. What is even more painful is the fact that, although the Judge had found them guilty of ‘Rigging’ the BCB elections on October 8, 2017, aided by two current and one former senior executive members of the Guyana Cricket Board, they still had the gumption to canvas and contest the elections of February 18, 2018.

In 2017, we thought we were living in an autocracy.

In 2018, we now know that we are living in a democracy, thanks to our valiant members who stood tall and said no, and our brilliant young Attorney-at-law, Mr. Arudranauth Gossai. Under this new administration, we see great potential for the future of Berbice and Guyana cricket, but success will depend upon cautions recognition of circumstances that have hindered our progress so

far. It should be clear that our task is enormous, but we have risen from the ashes before.

We must be honest, fair, dedicated, loyal and productive.

We must have a sound knowledge of the game, its laws and rules, our constitution and the Cricket Administration Act of 2014. We must communicate, be ‘Available, Accessible and Accountable’.

Some have passed on at a time when, for practical reasons, they were in service of Berbice cricket. We speak of 36-year-old umpire Pyandi Rengasammy, who in 1981 voluntarily stood in on a semi-final match at Port Mourant and passed away at the Port Mourant Hospital within half an hour of him exiting the field. He left to mourn his young wife,Yvonne, and six young children. Assistant Secretary, Detective Inspector Norville Simpson, who died by accident on the No. 19 Public Road in 1985, and was described by his president as a dedicated, motivated and outstanding member of the Board. Our first Special Member -1973, Attorney-at-law J. Maurice Haniff, was a stalwart who served as a Legal Advisor, Vice President and representative on the Guyana Cricket Board. He also served as Chairman of Region Six and Mayor of New Amsterdam.

He passed on in 1986. The great, Leslie Lennox Amsterdam, AA. who died by drowning in the Berbice River in 1999, at a time when he was

serving as Vice President of the GCB and President of the BCB. Amsterdam also served as Vice President of the BCB, Berbice and Guyana Chairman of the Selection Committee, Berbice County team captain and national cricketer. In 1983 he managed the West Indies senior team in the Caribbean during the Indian tour. He is the only individual to have been honored -posthumously- with inductions into both the Cricketers’ Hall of Fame and the Administrators’ Hall of Fame. In 1991, he was honoured by the Government of Guyana with the Golden Arrowhead of Achievement.

We all felt as though we too had been honoured.

As we move forward, we must remember that we stand on the shoulders of these great ambassadors of our beloved sport. We stand up today because they stood up yesterday, and we are thankful for their service of an exceptionally high quality. We wish to emulate them, our great cricketers, and many others who have and continue to serve our organisation, and the game we love with pride and passion. In expressing these sentiments, I am joined by my fellow Life Members and Hall of Fame Administrators, Lennox Phillips and Ancel Hazel, both of who have served as Vice President of the GCB and President of the BCB. Regards, Mortimer George

points. One, we cannot accept the notion that when all the politicians and political parties are sitting in the Executive under some so-called ‘national unity government’ Guyana and the masses’ interest will be put first. Two, the arrogance in continuing to disregard Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution that mandates inclusionary democracy means that this nation is being deprived of

input from diverse groups, talents and skills in the management and decision-making processes of the State.

Whatever we do the oil and gas industry will significantly alter our social, cultural, economic and political landscape and, where this continues to be ignored we will all catch hell. Current revelations are bringing forcefully home the point of the importance

of taking a nationalistic/ inclusionary approach as against hugging issues of national import within one group at the exclusion of others. Serious efforts must therefore be made to demand that the politicians act consistent with Article 13, and we must require this not after the fact but before and throughout.

Lincoln Lewis

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

The ANC has betrayed its own Freedom Charter

Dear Editor,

THE ruling African National Congress of Azania (still named South Africa), finally removed Jacob Zuma as president. Zuma will be remembered as one of Africa’s most inept Heads of State.

He will also be remembered for his shameful collusion with the imperial powers in the destruction of Libya and the brutal killing of one of Africa’s greatest leaders, Muammar Qaddafi.

Like Thabo Mbeki before him, Zuma’s pursuit of neo-liberal economic policies has created a new class-a parasitic bureaucratic bourgeoise, who work hand in hand with the transnational and Boer capital to enrich themselves, their families

and friends, all the while calling it “Black empowerment”. Truth be told, Azania has moved from apartheid to neo-apartheid. As the great revolutionary Pan-Africanist, Kwame Ture pointed out, “Black visibility and Black faces in high places does not necessarily translate into Black Power”.

Enter Cyril Ramophosa, the new president and one of the wealthiest men in Africa. Guyanese need to know that Ramophosa was a director of the Lonmin Mining Company and a senior member of the governing ANC, when in 2012, the South African security forces were given the order to shoot workers striking against Lonmin. In total, 34 workers were gunned

down by police. Referred to as the Marikana Massacre, this shocking act of State terrorism was eerily reminiscent of actions taken by the White Apartheid regime of days gone by. A former leader of the National Union of Mineworkers, Ramaphosa, in an email between Lonmin management and government officials the day before the massacre, stated, “The terrible events that have unfolded cannot be described as a labour dispute. They are plainly dastardly criminal acts and must be characterised as such … there needs to be concomitant action to address this situation”.

Ramaphosa was directly responsible for the company’s failure to abide by its

commitment to build 5,500 houses for employees, instead, completing only three dwellings. It was this and low wages that the striking workers were protesting.

After more than two decades of ANC rule, the majority of Azanians are still without basic necessities, such as decent housing, electricity and healthcare, while the wealth of the country is plundered by foreign capital. The truth is that the ANC has betrayed their own Freedom Charter, and is quite content to manage a neo-colonial arrangement, facilitating EU and US control of African resources, not unlike the PNCR, who have betrayed the Sophia Declaration, and are also facilitating

the plunder of Guyana’s resources in the name of “Black empowerment”.

Like the Organisation for the Victory of the People (OVP) here in Guyana, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) under the leadership of former ANC youth leader, Julius Malema, are leading the charge when it comes to resisting neoliberalism and completing the national liberation struggle initiated by the African National Congress, Pan Africanist Congress, Azanian People’s Organisation and others. The EFF is now the third-largest party in both houses of Parliament, having received 1,169,259 votes in the 2014 elections. They dress as miners and maids in parliament to reflect the people they represent. With more than

half a million members and growing, they have relentlessly opposed Zuma’s corrupt leadership and the ANC’s neo-liberal agenda. Their battle cry is “economic justice in our lifetime”. The EFF has just issued a statement vowing to oppose Ramophosa.

In Azania, as in Guyana, black faces in high places has not translated into liberation for black people, who remain impoverished, exploited and marginalised, despite the vast wealth of their countries. In both countries, the struggle for true independence, economic justice, human advancement and dignity in a genuinely multi-cultural society continues.

Regards, Gerald A. Perreira

Ignorance of the law excuses no one Dear Editor, THE Town Clerk’s letter of February 17, 2018, “Royston King responds to Sherod Duncan” is yet another demonstration of his disqualification for office. The orientation of his thinking underlines his continued ignorance of the law, and concomitantly his role and responsibilities. It is the core of why transparency, accountability and good governance are under threat at City Hall. Firstly, the Municipal and Districts Councils Act, Chap 28:01, Sixth Schedule, refers to “Powers, duties and responsibilities of certain officers” and outlines that of the Town Clerk. In three instances it gives specific guidance to the Council on the Town Clerk’s role on legal matters: (2) He shall advise the council and its committees on all matters upon which his advice is necessary, including the standing orders and by-laws thereof.

The schedule expands, yet it limits the Town Clerk’s role contextually, (11) He shall, where legally qualified so to do, give legal advice to the Council, and whether legally qualified or not, to local government officers in the service of the council on questions arising with regard to their official duties and obligations.

Note, the Town Clerk’s advice to Council is predicated on where he is “legally qualified to do so”.

Chap. 28:01 Section 6, “The City Council may sue and be sued by and in the name of Town Clerk of Georgetown,” therefore, does not put legal proceedings and matters of Council in the exclusive jurisdiction of the Town Clerk, but instead makes the Town Clerk the object of legal proceedings, least rationally, every councillor or employee as

servants of the Council be engaged in litigations individually and continually for Council business, hence affecting the efficient functioning of the body.

Secondly, the Town Clerk quoted his favourite section, (77): (3) “The clerk or other officer authorised in writing by the clerk may, subject to the general or specific directions of the council, exercise the powers of the council, and all acts done by the clerk or such officer in the exercise of those powers shall be deemed to have been done by the council.”

The learned Town Clerk does not seem to realise the authority “exercise the powers of the council” is not an unfettered discretion, but that the very section curtails the power, making it, “subject to the general or specific directions of the council”. It is the Council that must instruct the Town Clerk to act on its behalf and when he so does, it is deemed to be done by the Council.

The Town Clerk also states, “I would also note that similar legal matters were never taken to the Council for decision. Successive Councils understood that it is the responsibility of the Town Clerk to manage the legal arrangements of the Council. Again, there is no precedence in this area of administrative responsibility, at the Mayor and City Council. Therefore, my action is based on custom and practice, my understanding of my responsibility and the Act, Chapter 28:01.”

Editor, there is well established jurisprudence that is pellucid in articulation that performing a function incorrectly or illegally for any period of time, protracted or otherwise, does not automatically transform such actions to a legality. This legal principle is best expressed in the Latin phrase ‘ignorantia juris non excusat’: ‘ignorance of law excuses

no one’, which holds that a person who is unaware of a law may not escape liability for violating that law merely because one was unaware of its content.

Thirdly, the election of a Councillor to execute the responsibilities of Mayor while both substantive Mayor and Deputy Mayor were out of the jurisdiction, is not a light matter, but has legal implications, as the process features in Chap 28:01. I am astonished by the Town Clerk’s ignorance, as he is condemned by his own words in his letter.

Editor, Chap 28:01: 17 (1), says, “During any period when the Mayor is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his office, those functions shall be assumed and performed by the Deputy Mayor. (2) If the Deputy Mayor is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office of Mayor in accordance with subsection (1), The Town Clerk shall call a meeting of the councillors to elect a councillor to perform those functions; and the councillor so elected shall assume and perform those functions until such time as the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, as the case may be, is able to act.” The Town Clerk also stated the period for which the Mayor was out of the jurisdiction.

The Act is absolutely clear, “The Town Clerk shall call a meeting of the councillors to elect a councillor to perform those functions”. Did the Town Clerk discharge his function and call a meeting? Absolutely not!

The Town Clerk deliberately waited for the regular Statutory Meeting to occur. Clearly it is yet another dereliction of duty. Subsection (3) of 17 refers precisely to the manner in which that meeting must be called.

The Act and subsection are clear. The councillor is elected to perform the functions of Mayor, this is not restricted to chairing a

Statutory Meeting, this is but one of the functions of the Mayor. The Act is clear that the person so elected “shall” perform “until such time as the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, as the case may be, is able to act.”

The Town Clerk in his letter stated, “The Deputy Mayor or the Councillor elected to carry out the duties of the Mayor must perform those functions for seven consecutive days or more before he or she is accorded the facilities assigned to the Office of the Mayor. This is in keeping with Section 17, subsection (5) of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01.”

The Town Clerk, quotes the Section-17 (5), “In the event of the Deputy Mayor or a Councillor performing the functions of the office of Mayor for seven consecutive days or more, the Deputy Mayor or Councillor, as the case may be, shall during such period, have at his disposal, in lieu of the Mayor, the funds placed at the disposal of the said office in the manner specified for the payment of such funds”.

The Town Clerk interprets this to mean once the Mayor is out of the jurisdiction for less than seven days, there is no need for a Councillor to perform the duties of Mayor, or where there is necessity for someone to chair the Statutory Meeting, there is no need for the privileges of the office of Mayor to be afforded the individual acting.The relevant subsection is specific that it is “the funds [which is] placed at the disposal of the said office” of the Deputy Mayor or Councillor after seven days, if the Mayor is unable to act.

As a result of the Town Clerk’s misinterpretation he did not afford the said Councillor adequate protection, transportation and needless to say, relevant information for carrying out of the functions of the office to which he was then elected.

Editor, again, I remind the Town Clerk of the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan’s guidance to the Council: “There can be no doubt that the letter and spirit of the law contemplates that there must at all times, be a Mayor within the jurisdiction of the municipality and common sense would reveal that this would more so apply to the capital city.”

Finally, the 2009 Amendments to the Principal Act, Municipal and Districts Councils Act, Chap 28:01, places on every councillor a responsibility, among other things, to “Ensure that the municipality is managed in a professional and competent manner by a qualified Town Clerk.”

I am profoundly concerned about the Town Clerk’s understanding of the workings of Chap 28:01, general domestic law, and the quality of his work overall.

It is time we embrace the recommendations the City Hall’s Commission of Enquiry (2008) dubbed the Keith Burrowes Report. The report recommended: “If one were to consider the reasons why it became necessary to establish a Commission of Inquiry, it may be a worthwhile proposition that a legal department of some prominence be set up in the administrative structure of the Council. Also, in light of the fact that the Town Clerk is required to “give general legal advice to the Council”, without explicitly suggesting that the Town Clerk should be a qualified Attorney-at-law, perhaps, it may be necessary to include some legal training as a necessary aspect of the qualifications for the position of Town Clerk.

Regards, Sherod Avery Duncan City Councillor

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

LGBT group seeks greater inclusion A SECTION of the religious community on Saturday participated in a public discussion on the lifestyles of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and queer (LGBTQ) community.

The forum themed, “Loving thy LGBTQ Neighbour/ family member” and held at the National Library, saw a number of persons participating in the discourse, a statement from the Guyana Rainbow Foundation (GuyBow) said Monday. The panel consisted of Bishop Francis Alleyne from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Georgetown, Brother Wazir Baksh of the Guyana Islamic Trust, and Swami Aksharananda, founder and head of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School.

Colleen McEwan, representative of GuyBow in her opening remarks, noted that members of the LGBTQ community often time feel left out of certain celebrations, including Valentine’s Day, as stigma and discrimination here remains high. McEwan opined that religion is used as a weapon of discrimination against members of the community.

As a result of that view, she said the public forum was organised to have mature conversations among religious leaders and members of the LGBTQ community.

The GuyBow representative noted that the forum was geared at encouraging dialogue, reducing stigma and discrimination and building appreciation and respect for human rights, diversity and the LGBTQ community here. McEwan acknowledged too the important role religious leaders play in moulding society while calling on those leaders to extend welcoming arms to those who are part of the LGBTQ community.

Bishop Francis Alleyne apologised to the LGBT community for the Church’s

Bishop Francis Alleyne makes a point while other panelists, Swami Aksharananda (centre) and Brother Wazir Baksh (right) look on

lack of interaction with the community. He said too that while the church may hold its own view on the actions of the community, tradition also has a role to play in how their members are treated here. In fact, he told the gathering that he too has prejudices in this regard but pointed to Saturday’s dialogue as part of a process to share views, discuss positions and reduce barriers, stigma and discrimination.

Bishop Alleyne disclosed that research has shown that while attitudes in Guyana towards LGBTQ persons are indeed discriminatory, it is also a fact that a high level of compassion exists when people are asked about those close to them, such as co-workers and family members. The Roman Catholic bishop said the social teachings of the Church are based on the principle that every person is good, every person belongs and all persons are created in the image and likeness of God. GuyBow said Bishop Alleyne described the principle of association--that we are in connection with and responsible for each other--as well as the Christian notion of solidarity with and concern for minority and marginalized persons as key tools for shaping a better society.

“He lamented the degeneration of basic human respect in the Guyanese context and encouraged persons to embody the alternative--to be a presence of integrity, to each be a Valentine to

Guyana. Instead of telling persons what to do or provide rules, Bishop Alleyne espoused instead the notion of helping others to develop their own understanding and awareness,” GuyBow said in a statement to the media.

Moreover, Bishop Alleyne said the notion of rights and responsibilities must be respected and urged all gathered to be involved with and contribute meaningfully to society.

Meanwhile, Wazir Baksh, representing the Muslim community said Islam frowns upon public displays of sexuality and the overt sexualization of the physical body though embodying the principle of a shared humanity of all persons. The Quran, he noted, commands Muslims to love and be generous to their neighbours, while stressing that the Holy Book says Muslims should not pry into their neighbours private bedroom affairs.

According to GuyBow, Baksh said if two persons of the same gender are ‘shacked up’ whatever transpires between closed doors is their business. “He advised Muslim parents who might be confused, concerned, or ashamed of their LGBTQ children to understand that that is their choice as adults, and as Muslim parents they should only advice and counsel their children to be true to their conscience,” the statement added. Additionally, Baksh said it is wrong to act

Accused of wounding friend THIRTY-two-year-old Quinton Ashby of Charity Back Street on the Essequibo Coast was on Monday granted bail for unlawfully wounding his friend. Ashby made his first appearance before Magistrate Ester Sam at

the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

The charge stated that on February17 at Charity Back Street, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Chris Henry with a broken bottle. He however pleaded not guilty to the charge and

was granted $15,000 bail.

The case will be called again on March 12. He was represented by attorney-at-law Latchmi Dindyal who told the court that his client was not a flight risk and he had a permanent place of abode.

violently towards members of the LGBTQ community, even if their actions are considered sinful. While Muslims view homosexuality as wrong, Baksh said all persons have the right to choose how they intend to live. That right, he reminded, is enshrined in Guyana’s Constitution.

Similarly, Swami Aksharananda emphasized diversity and noted that there is no notion of God as a judge in Hinduism.

In fact, he said in Hinduism, each person is an embodiment of God and as such, humans can do nothing to violate God. Moreover, Swami Aksharananda pointed to the Kama Sutra, an ancient Indian Hindu text on human sexual behaviour in Sanskrit literature and said that sexual orientation does not take anything away from an individual’s desire for freedom.

Saturday’s discourse was attended by several within the LGBTQ community, human rights activists and representatives of Georgetown University’s Law School of Washington, DC.

Rama Krishna Primary School issues being resolved THE Education Ministry is in the process of resolving many of the issues that have been plaguing the Rama Krishna Primary School.

Earlier this month, several parents of children who attend the Middleton Street, Campbellville educational institution, had picketed the teachers and staff over what they considered to be the deplorable conditions under which the pupils were forced to learn.

Poor management on the part of the head teacher was among the key concerns, in addition to the decision to lock students out of their classrooms for extensive periods. The classrooms were described in the words of some parents as “dirty and smelly”.

In a statement on Monday, the Education Ministry said a senior officer from the Ministry visited the primary school on February 8, to clearly understand the reasons behind the recent protests by parents.

“Both parents and teachers were engaged on the

matter and were given an opportunity to voice their concerns,” the Ministry said, adding that a number of matters were raised and solutions arrived at, some of which were immediately implemented.

Additionally, it was stated that a court case involving a parent and a teacher will be dropped by both parties.

They have since apologised to each other in relation to the previous misunderstanding “The locks were changed on the classroom doors and class teachers were given a key, while a spare remains with the head teacher,” the Education Ministry further disclosed.

Teachers were also encouraged to transform the image of the Rama Krishna Primary School and to form themselves into a strong team. The school in conjunction with the Education Ministry will be launching a community drive aimed at engaging the community and its members to build partnerships with stakeholders.

Fine, community service for repentant ‘smoker’ A 58-YEAR- OLD man appeared in the Magistrates’ Court charged with possession of cannabis.

It is alleged that on February 15, Nicholas Caesar of Blue Berry Hill, Wismar, Linden, was found with 4.4 grammes of narcotics.

According to the prosecution’s facts, the police went to the defendant’s house where a search was carried out. The defendant had no

objection. The narcotics were discovered in the defendant’s room in a transparent zip lock bag and he was then taken to the police station.

Caesar told the court he was sorry for the unlawful act.

He was fined $10,000

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan who also ordered that he perform eight weeks of community service.

Linden Councillors failing to follow procedures – says Town Treasurer COUNCILLORS of the Linden Town Council are accused of failing to follow procedures and rules of spending Central Government allocations.

Treasurer of the municipality, Audrey Nelson broke her silence about the issue when she appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday to clear the air about spending in the town.

Nelson was blunt in her response to People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) member of the PAC, Bishop Juan Edghill, who asked why only $3 million was spent from the allocated $16 million in 2016.

“We have issues following

the procedures,” the Treasurer said immediately, adding: “remember, the subvention programme that is being given, we had to stay within the ambits of the programme and spend the money within the ambits of the programme.

They wanted us to go outside of the programme.”

She said they were only able to purchase equipment under the programme they had in 2016 because the council wanted to spend the money without the approval of the Ministry of Communities. The PAC was told that the council has not adhered to the advice of the treasurer who had suggested that in order to make

additional purchases, they have to request a change in the work programme.

“Although we try to tell them that this is the process, they still want to go outside of it… remember, they are from other organisations so they tell themselves that we can do it the same way we do it outside,” said Nelson. Despite efforts to spend the money, she said the council could not do so. Nelson explained that the remaining $13 million is in a special bank account.

Chairman of the PAC, Irfan Ali commended the treasurer for being blunt, open and honest by following the rules and laws.

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Found not guilty of robbery outside Finance Ministry

Samuel Adams flanked by attorney Dexter Todd and his Mother

A 30-year-old man was on Monday found not guilty

by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman for the $3M armed robbery committed on a BK International supervisor who was attacked outside the compound of the Ministry of Finance on Main Street in 2016.

Samuel Adams was charged in 2017 for the offence which alleged that while in the company of others and armed with a gun, he discharged a loaded firearm at John Brian on December 5, 2016, at Urquhart Street.

It was alleged too that on the same date and at the very location Adams and others, armed with guns, robbed Brian of $3 million.

Adams’ lawyer, Dexter Todd, during trial maintained that the evidence presented by Police Prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves was insufficient and requested that the matter be dismissed.

Magistrate Latchman ruled that although there was a caution statement presented in the court by a police officer, that evidence was

inadmissible since it was taken five days after Adams was arrested by the police.

Latchman further noted that the evidence and details given in the caution statement could have been fabricated by the police, since the officer was in possession of the CCTV footage days before.

The Magistrate added that the faces of the robbers and the licence plate of the white get-away car used were not seen on the CCTV footage.

Based upon the entire evidence, Adams was found not guilty of both charges.

According to reports, on the day in question, the victim was walking on Urquhart Street when two bandits, one of whom was armed with a handgun, exited a white Toyota Premio and approached him.

Brian, upon seeing the men, ran to the Ministry of Finance’s gate, where he threw a haversack, which reportedly contained $3M in cash, into the compound.

The robbers ran into the compound, collected the bag

and were exiting when the victim tried retrieving it. In the process, the armed suspect shot the victim, hitting him in his right thigh.

However, Adams is currently on bail in a similar matter where he and an alleged accomplice, Kurt Kendell, are before Magistrate Latchman also.

The charge alleged that the duo on February 13, 2017, at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, discharged a loaded firearm at Christopher Marks with intent to murder him.

According to reports, on February 13, 2017, Marks had accompanied his employer to Citizens Bank around 17.00 hrs to make a deposit. The businessman had just deposited the cash when a silver-grey car, with three occupants, stopped outside the bank.

An eyewitness said that the men shot in Marks’ direction and the employee, who had a handgun, returned fire. However, Marks was wounded during the exchange and had to take cover.

Boy, 15, committed for murder of top cop’s brother THE Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the death of Hymant Persaud, brother of Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud came to an end on Monday with the committal of a 15-yearold boy to the High Court for the capital offence of murder.

The teen was committed by Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore who ruled that a sufficient case was made out against the teen for him to stand trial at the

High Court before a judge and jury.

The charge alleged that the teen on February 19, 2017 at Stabroek Market Square, killed 51 year-old Persaud.

Reports indicate that Hymant Persaud was on a ‘drinking spree’ in the vicinity of the market when he was joined by a female, after which he was reportedly lured to a washroom in the area.

The 51-year-old was

reportedly attacked by two men and stabbed with a knife by one of the perpetrators. The robbers relieved him of his money and other valuables before making their escape.

Persaud was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The 15-year-old was positively identified by a witness during an identification parade held by the police.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Decision made on NA School woes THE Education Ministry has ironed out a number of problems facing the New Amsterdam Multilateral School following an intense meeting with key stakeholders, including those sitting at the helm of the school’s administration.

In a statement released on Monday, the Ministry’s secretariat said “a decision was arrived at for the smooth administration of that institution and the improved performance of the school,” but officials have been tightlipped on the matter, declining to give particulars of the decision.

According to the statement, the Education Ministry convened a meeting with the Regional Chairman, the Chairman of the Education Committee of Region Six; the Chairman of the School’s Board; the President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union; the Chief Education Officer and the Deputy Chief Education Officer, after the matter was brought to its attention.

The New Amsterdam Multilateral School has been plagued with a number of issues, including racial tension among teachers. Due to many problems facing both teachers and students, 12 teachers reportedly requested to be transferred.

Meanwhile, attempts to speak with the chair of School Boards’ Secretariat at the Ministry of Education proved futile. And, when the Region Six, Regional Chairman David Armogan was contacted, he said while the meeting was held, the Ministry has not communicated its decision to the region.

President of the Guy-

ana Teachers Union (GTU), Mark Lyte, when contacted by the Guyana Chronicle, declined to speak on the matter, saying that the Education Ministry could be contacted for further information.

Countless efforts to reach the Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson also proved futile.

Last week, Orlando Fraser, a parent of a student of the New Amsterdam Multilateral School, in a letter to this newspaper said the image of the school has been tarnished by the poor quality of leadership. Fraser noted that the school had often been associated with academic excellence, it once ranked third in the country based on CXC and CAPE results, and was recognised both locally and regionally in the areas of Sports and Theatre Arts.

However, he said that under the current management there has been a drastic drop in student population (moving from over 900 students at one point to about 400 students presently); and an increase in the number of transfers requested by parents for students to other schools in the region; along with a drastic drop in results at the CXC and CAPE examinations.

Fraser lamented that the school has also been embroiled in many scandals involving issues related to pecuniary abnormalities and the recent issue of racism, which caused six teachers to request transfers. “The issues mentioned have inevitably eroded staff morale and affected their ability to deliver the curriculum to students who are in their care,” Fraser

noted.

He said investigations have been done by Ministry of Education officials, as well as, by the Ministry of Social Cohesion. The findings from these investigations have highlighted poor quality of leadership by the HM and DHM (Ag), their inability to work together and how these factors have collectively affected the development of the school. In a point of fact, based on the findings from a recent investigation, an administrative transfer letter was issued to the DHM (ag) to take up a substantive post in another school.

“However, that transfer was countermanded by the Chief Education Officer and a directive was issued by him that the HM and DHM (Ag) continue to work together. This decision has left a corrosive taste in the mouths of many teachers and parents. The decision by the CEO begs a very important question: if the HM and DHM (Ag) have failed to work together over the past five years for the continued development of the school, what makes the CEO think they will be able to do so now?” Fraser noted in his missive. He called for swift action be taken and that the HM and DHM (Ag) be removed from the school, so that it can once again live up to its motto of “Progress through Cooperation”.

It is time for change! In conclusion, I urge Ministry of Education officials to consider the importance of the phrase “No School Left Behind!” his letter concluded.

Ministry moves to rid roads of derelict vehicles IN an effort to improve safety while reducing damage to Government reserves, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is forging ahead with a project that will see the removal of trailers and derelict vehicles that have been left on roadways.

Oftentimes, the vehicles are left on Government reserves and are unlit, thereby becoming a safety hazard to road users, the ministry said in a release. In some cases as with Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara, the trailers and/or derelict vehicles are left on sidewalks, making these facilities unavailable

MPI workers removing a trailer from the roadway

to pedestrians and cyclists.

The ministry is urging the owners of trailers and derelict

vehicles left on Government reserves to remove them immediately.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Cabinet approves new command structure for police TWO years after the announcement by the government to implement a regional commander system to foster effective management of the country’s geographical location, the proposal has been approved.

On the sidelines of the opening of the Police Officers’ Conference on Thursday, Minister of Public security, Khemraj Ramjattan told the Guyana Chronicle that the National Security Committee and subsequently Cabinet have both approved the initiative.

The system, however, will not be rolled out just yet as there are several logistics which are expected to be put in place, according to the Minister of Public Security.

He pointed to the physical infrastructure for the functioning of the divisions and the establishment of headquarters for the respective divisions which will soon be brought on stream.

With the system from divisional to regional commanders, the police force is likely to see some major transformations as it relates to the establishment of commanders. The move is also expected to see some regions being headed by superintendents also. “The process is presently going on to ensure that all police divisions accord with the regional divisions so we are going to have one to ten divisions; that means places like what is currently known as ‘F’ Division would see Regions 7, 8, 9 etc, having their own commanders,” Ramjattan told the Guyana Chronicle.

its headquarters and division too, so that is what we are trying to do” Ramjattan explained. The Regional Commanders system was first proposed in 2016, several months after President David Granger took office.

Speaking at the open-

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan

The systems will also provide for better supervision of ranks and also for the administrative heads of the regions at the police level, having a better grasp of what is taking place under their noses as against what presently exists where some commanders are centrally located but find it hard to get to the remote locations of their divisions due to terrain.

It is unclear if with the new structure, the Guyana Police Force will again seek to increase its strength to ensure there is enough human resources to staff the various regional divisions, as some ranks are expected to be pulled and transferred to other locations. “The mapping of boundaries in each of the administrative divisions will also have to be checked out; they have their townships already, so we will have a division for Region 9—Lethem--and that will be in Lethem. Bartica will have

Woman remanded, son on bail after cannabis raid

Bernadette Robertson

Cosburn Robertson

A 65-year-old woman was Monday remanded to prison while her 25-year-old son was granted bail when they both appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on separate drug

charges.

Bernadette Robertson was first called to answer to the charge which alleged that on February 15 at Lot 90 North Blueberry Hill, Wismar, LinTurn to page 13 ►

ing of the Guyana Police Force Officers’ conference last week, President Granger underscored that human safety is necessary to ensure the country’s stability. “Our country must be secured against trafficking in drugs, guns, and people. Public

security will signal to investors that this country is a safe destination for their investments,” the President said. Noting that change must take place at the level of the country itself, President Granger said government cannot continue to ignore the Constitutional reality that the Government governs 10 administrative regions – not districts or divisions.

“There is only one Government. That Government’s policy is executed

through its 10 regions. Each region will be administered by a capital town. Each region must provide its citizens with public services, including public security.

Each region must have its own police division that is coterminous with the administrative region. Security sector reform will reconfigure the police divisions, increasing them to 10 so as to correspond with Guyana’s administrative system,” the President said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Young pannists set Pan-o-rama ablaze Story and photos by Vishani Ragobeer IT was a rapturous scenario on Sunday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall as 13 bands competed for bragging rights in three categories for the Mashramani Pan-o-rama steelpan competition.

The competition got underway with the Small Youth Band category, where all the bands had to play a steelpan rendition of any Adrian Dutchin song. The ‘Rising Stars’ from the Diamond Secondary School set the mood with an energetic rendition but it was the West Demerara Secondary School that really stole the show right from the start. It was undeniable that they would score the top spot in this

category.

Dolphin Secondary came close to upstaging West Demerara but had to settle for second place, while President’s College was able to send the crowd wild with their performance of Dutchin’s “Jook”, but copped third place.

With no vacant seat in sight and patrons lining every available space, the pressure was definitely on for the Large Youth Band Category.

Last year, the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School was forced to settle for third place but decided this time around that it was time to reclaim their spot at the top.

They entered the floor in what could be described as a ‘Mash procession’, dancing with masqueraders and

flanked by models waving their school’s flag and the Golden Arrowhead. When they began playing, it was difficult to even hear one’s own voice as the sounds coming from the pans clashed with the screams and chants of the crowd.

While fervently playing their piece, the models mesmerised the crowd and perhaps the judges with their flag routines.

At the end of their performance the crowd erupted with a chanting of “Multi!

Multi! Multi!.” With such a performance it was no surprise that they eased their way to first place. The neatly-dressed Pan Wave Academy settled for third place behind the brightly-coloured Bishops’ High School, which was another

Winners in the Small Youth Band category: The West Demerara Secondary School Steelpan Band

The North Ruimveldt Multilateral Steel Orchestra does a dance routine before their winning performance

Winners in the Large Band category: The National School of Music Steel Orchestra

crowd favourite. Hanai Ben Lewi, who won the Senior Steelpan Soloist title a few days ago, was the energetic director for the Bishops’ band that the crowd favoured because of his antics.

And finally, with the last three bands left to compete in the Large Band category, all heads were glued to the floor as the Parkside, the Guyana Police and the National School of Music Steel Orchestras began preperation to play. The Parkside Orchestra performed first and put on quite a show as they pranced all around but skillfully stayed glued to their pans. In the first line of players was Ben Lewi who drew all the attention to himself through his antics,

again.

But the Parkside Orchestra was outplayed by both of the other bands. The ‘All-black’ Police Force Band with their director bedecked in ‘all-white’, won the crowd’s favour as the spectators made siren sounds throughout, but it was the National School of Music with their elaborate costumes and myriad of supplementary musical instruments that stole the first place.

“We want music!” chanted the pan players from the National School of Music upon their arrival onto the floor and coupled with their energetic routine it aptly ended the formal part of the night’s performances.

Following the announce-

ment of the results, the night ended with a cacophony of pan melodies punctuated by shrieks of jubilation from the winners and supporters alike. Some spectators descended from their seats on the stands and scurried onto the floor to take a quick selfie or video the North Ruimveldt Band playing their celebratory song. When they were finished, it was the National School of Music Steel Orchestra’s turn to play their celebratory rendition and the crowd was with them all the way.

This year’s Pan-o-rama competition was sponsored to the tune of $2.8M

by Republic Bank which has been doing so for the past decade.

The colourfully-dressed pannists of the Bishops’ High School Steel Orchestra

Social Cohesion Ministry launches Mash band STAYING true to local culture, the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, launched its Mash band on Monday at the E. R. Burrowes School of Arts, boasting 300 plus costumes and revellers.

The ministry’s mash band takes on the look and feel of ‘everything Guyanese’ by utilising only the colours of the Golden Arrowhead and costume decorations utilising representations of the Cacique Crown and the Victoria Regia Lily.

Meanwhile, the floats for the King and Queen of the band are decorated with the popular Hibiscus flower; the country’s national bird--the Canje Pheasant--and several butterflies, birds and frogs.

Coordinator of the Mash Camp, Volda Ramsammy, told the Guyana Chronicle that the motivation behind the designs is aimed at encouraging Guyanese to be proud of their own vibrant culture.

“Because it is a Guyanese event, one of our biggest… we have decided to use the national colours to do all of our costumes…we want Guyanese to keep focus on the reason for this event.” “In the past I have observed that Guyanese we’re shying away to other people’s culture like Carnival, Crop-over…we want to look more like Brazil or Trinidad, but I think we should be proud of who we are and we need to showcase what Guyana is about and what Guyanese nationality means to us,” Ramsammy

Minister of Social Cohesion, George Norton, shares a light conversation with the revellers on how to celebrate on Mashramani Day. Included in the photo are: (right) Permanent Secretary of the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, Melissa Tucker

said.

Minister of Social Cohesion, George Norton was in full support of the costumes, labelling them as a true representation of hard work, social cohesion and Guyanese pride.

“I spoke with those who were involved and I thought we needed something much more like what we have now. And I am totally in agreement with what we have produced. I think this is what Social Co-

hesion is all about,” he said adding: “I am also hoping that this is going to lead the way and other folks will follow pattern in the sense that it depicts what Guyana is all about--our Coat-of-Arms, our

national symbols, our own flowers and humming birds.”

The minister said, too, that over the years the school has developed an excellent track record which will be difficult to surpass and recommends that more individuals become involved with the arts school.

“I want to invite the general public to take a special look and to take a special interest in the Burrowes School of Arts... Burrowes School of Arts has gotten a tradition to upkeep and under the stewardship of Mr. Ivor Thom [the school’s administrator], with all the hard work that you would have been doing…I’m looking forward to seeing what you have out there to display,” Norton said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Questions raised over the National School of Music’s participation at Pan-o-rama A FINALIST in this year’s Mashramani Pano-rama Steel Pan Competition is alleging that the national contest was unfair and involved a serious case of conflict of interest.

Although the group came in second in the large band category when the finals were held on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, members believe that they should have placed first, ahead of the National

School of Music–which was declared the winner for the third consecutive time.

Outraged over the judges’ decision, Michael Smith – the instructor of the group and his colleague, Troy Roberts, opted to make their concerns known.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Smith, who has been playing steel pan for 47 years and is no stranger to the Pan-o-rama Steel Pan Competition, is alleging that the contest

has become tainted over the years. Although his Allblack band won the crowd’s favour with spectators making siren sounds throughout, it was the National School of Music which scored the first place, and Smith said there is a reason for that. He pointed out that the annual Mashramani Pan-o-rama Steel Pan Competition is organised and facilitated by the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport from which the judges are

closely associated. Also, the National School Music also falls under that department. “You can’t get a band in the competition from the ministry and the judges are from the same ministry, I feel it is a conflict of interest,” Smith posited.

In addition, Smith is contending that the National School of Music breached the rules of the competition. “Before they played, they know they bring first, they go in front

of the judges and dance, when the rules say you can’t dance in front the judges before you go to the pan, and that is not fair. For three years, they winning, and we all know why because the judges are from the Ministry,” he contended. According to Smith, the winner of the competition lacked originality. Troy Roberts another band member also complained bitterly, arguing that it is unfair for the ministry to have a

band in the competition that is organised and judged by that same ministry.

The National School of Music was awarded first place in the competition followed by the Guyana Police Force Band and the Parkside Steel Orchestra. Attempts to solicit a comment from the Mashramani Co-ordinator Andrew Tyndall, who was integrally involved in the Pan-o-rama competition were unsuccessful.

Children to benefit from 45,000 exam practice questions CHILDREN from grades four to eleven can now practice for their examinations through access to some 45,000 questions drawn from international, regional and local sources.

This pool of questions comes from Braincentral--an online environment where students can get help with their studies. According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Braincentral, Lance Hinds, “We have 45,000 questions online which we use to build a range of questions for students to take.”

He explained that these questions have not only been drawn from local sources, but Braincentral also has “agreements” with international content providers.

Hinds noted, “They [the questions] are from far and wide but they are classified in various grades.” This, as said by him, enables students to have a wider scope of understanding of the subject areas.

“When someone is taking one of our quizzes, they have a wider experience which

Chief Executive Officer of Braincentral, Lance Hinds showing how the platform works at the Digital Wealth Creation summit held recently

makes them a better student and better enables them to take the exams locally,” he said. With these quizzes also, Hinds explained that the online platform allows for “simulation exercises”. With these exercises, students would be placed under exam

conditions, I.e., answering a fixed number of questions under a time limit, just as the national examinations.

And since it is an online platform, the CEO highlighted that marking is done in real time so students and parents would be able to gar-

ner their grades right away and see where their downfall and/or successes were immediately. Additional features offered on the platform include: live tutorials, recorded sessions, discussion forums and chat rooms, all tailored to provide the best experi-

Main suspect in Plaisance shooting, robbery arrested THE Police on Sunday arrested one of the prime suspects who allegedly shot a minibus driver at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Friday evening.

Investigators nabbed 32-year-old Kevin “Orwin” Peters, at Sparendaam, ECD. Peters who is a welder, is a resident of the said village.

On Friday, minibus driver Alfred Braithwaite, 37, of South Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, was shot

and chopped about his body by three men, two of whom had guns and the other a cutlass. They reportedly also relieved him of $14,000.

The victim, who was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital is said to be in a stable condition.

Meanwhile, the Police are still hunting for the other two suspects known as `Bang’ and ‘Juvenile’.

The injured man had told the police that on Friday evening, he was standing in front of a Superbet

shop when the suspects approached and demanded money and because he refused, he was shot in the right leg.

Braithwaite further alleged that after being shot he rushed into his minibus number BVV 7712, which was nearby, and secured himself. The men, however, pursued him and proceeded to damage the windscreens and windows of the minibus. They also inflicted a wound to the right side of his face.

Arrested: Kevin “Orwin” Peters

ence for children.

While the platform has already been launched and is available at www.braincentral.online , Lance related that there have been talks with the Ministry of Education to integrate the platform.

“We have begun talks on the harmonisation of this,” he said and noted that some private schools have already been approached to pilot the programme. Moreover, children in the community of Victoria are also set to benefit, since members of the platform made arrangement with the local cafes to let the children use the application free of cost for a specified time. There is also talks for this to be done through the Ministry of Public Telecommunications (MoTP)’s ICT hubs. “Part of what we’ve proposed to the ministry (of education) is to let children use the application free of cost for a specific period, say 2pm to 5pm every day,” he revealed.

Aside from that, the cost for children to use this application would be a mea-

gre $1500 a month. This, Hinds explained, is only because the platform has its operational costs and is thus only a “partially commercial venture”.

But that’s not all that children can garner from Braincentral. Students of Grades Six and Nine will also get a chance to test their knowledge of Mathematics and win a tablet through the ‘Math Olympiad’ being hosted on Braincentral through support from Scotiabank.

This Olympiad will be held on March 3, 2018 when participants--students preparing for the grade six and nine examinations--can go online on March 3, 2018 and simultaneously take two timed quizzes.

These quizzes will consist of 40 questions to be completed in 50 minutes and the top five winners will be selected and awarded tablets after the second and final round.

Students are required to review the rules and sign up for the competition at Braincentral’s website.

Woman remanded... den, she had 94.2 grams of cannabis in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Her son, Cosburn Robertson was charged with having 14.2 grams of cannabis in his possession on the same day in question.

The Robertsons denied the charges while their attorney, Gordon Gilhuys made an application for bail.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that on the day in question, the police acting on information, made contact with Berna-

From page 11

dette.

The woman reportedly took the police into the kitchen and handed over the parcel of cannabis and told the ranks: “I does sell weed to pay my bills”.

Meanwhile, Cosburn was busted with the drugs in his bedroom.

The magistrate remanded the elderly woman to prison and released her son on $$75,000 bail. The matter was also transferred to the Linden Magistrate’s Court for March 13.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

UG’s undergraduates could conduct research – Vice-Chancellor IN a bid to further elevate the profile of the University of Guyana (UG), Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, is touting the participation of undergraduate students in research projects.

Speaking to the Department of Public Information (DPI) recently, Professor Griffith said that a university of substance is not only in the business of teaching but of enabling new knowledge to be created. That new knowledge, he said, is created through research and publishing. The Vice-Chancellor said officials from government and civil society should be able to turn to the university to seek out experts in particular areas. According to him, that is the place where the country’s premier tertiary

institute hopes to go through research.

Back in 2016, the university launched an undergraduate research programme, which has seen much success. “I have seen the power of getting undergraduate students involved in research.

The idea is to get students from the first year, not waiting until your third and fourth year to be involved in research,” he told DPI. Professor Griffith recalled that in April of 2017 at the Tain, Berbice campus, several students presented their research papers. According to the Vice-Chancellor, the question is how to motivate students to become involved in research, and lecturers to publish with their students. The answer to this, he said, is that the University

Tuesday, February 20, 2018 - 05:00 hrs Wednesday, February 21, 2018 - 05:00 hrs Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 09:00 hrs

has to become affiliated with organisations. It is hoped that students from the University of Guyana could also travel abroad to present their research papers.

“It is not going to be a peer-reviewed A1 scientific journal, but it is setting the stage for them to be comfortable with having research as something that they do

and using that research as something they do to move to the other level,” Professor Griffith explained. That next level could be postgraduate studies or moving into the workforce, but having research capabilities enhances the student’s research sense of self, while at the same time, elevating the profile of the university, the Vice-Chancellor said.

He disclosed that part of the university’s plans for re-organisation in this area

will see the establishment of a deanery for graduate studies and research.

Speaking about the recently-launched University Press, the Vice-Chancellor said the entity now has a board with a number of overseas-based members and is headed by Professor Ken Danns. In March of 2017, the university signed an agreement with the Ian Randle publishers out of Jamaica, one of the largest established, scholarly pub-

lishing houses to establish the UG Press. The intent of that, Professor Griffith said, is to enable research and publishing, and create a mechanism. “The press is part of the project of the renaissance of lifting the credibility of the publication. The University’s Press is hoping to publish books, journals, monographs and significant lectures. There are also plans for digital publications, Professor Griffith said. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Rashid Khan, top order give Afghanistan 4-1 series win FIFTIES from Javed Ahmadi and Rahmat Shah, and the all-round brilliance of Rashid Khan, powered Afghanistan to a 4-1 series win in Sharjah.

Their margin of victory 146 runs - was their second highest in ODI cricket. Their biggest had come in this series as well, in the first game.

After opting to bat, Afghanistan had a steady start with Ahmadi and Rahmat putting on 129 for the second wicket following the early dismissal of Mohammad Shahzad.

Their partnership contributed 54% of Afghanistan’s total. Ahmadi was particularly fluent against spin, scoring 55 runs off 53 balls. Rahmat hit Chisoro for 30 runs off 23 balls but Sikandar Raza had him slicing a catch to long-off for 59.

Rahmat ended the series as the top-scorer with 272 runs in four innings at an average of 68.

Three overs later, Ahmadi was run-out for 76 off 87 balls. From 142 for 1,

Rashid Khan

Afghanistan slumped to 177 for 7. Rashid’s 29-ball 43, though, hauled the team to 241 for 9.

In reply, Zimbabwe collapsed to 95 all out in 32.1 overs with only two of their batsmen passing 20. Rashid took 3 for 13 to finish as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 16 wickets, at an outstanding average of 7.93.

Brendan Taylor (27) and Craig Ervine (34) rebuilt the chase briefly with a 46-run stand, before Zimbabwe imploded.

They lost their last eight wickets for 23 runs with 16-year-old Mujeeb Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Nabi, and Rashid sharing the spoils. Rashid took three wickets in six balls to wrap up the tail.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

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Bent Street halt Sparta Boss for inaugural Magnum `Mash Cup’ title … Leopold Street cop third place

A ‘NEVER-SAY-DIE’ attitude from a resurgent Bent Street side prevailed over the most decorated Futsal team in Guyana, Sparta Boss, to take the inaugural Magnum ‘Mash Cup’ and $400 000 on Sunday night before a capacity crowd at the National Gymnasium.

It was pulsating action between the two sides from the outset when the final started well past midnight.

However, Bent Street who fielded a fairly young, newlook team went ahead 1-0 in the 12th minute when Ryan Hackett thundered home the first goal of the game, But Jermin Junior, a newcomer to Sparta, levelled the score three minutes later.

With the scores level, both sides failed to breach the other’s defence and it wasn’t until late in the second half that the game took an interesting turn.

Sparta took a deserved lead in the 42nd minute with Junior grabbing his second goal of the match. This galvanised the Bent Street outfit into action and it was fitting that Kelsey Benjamin

brought his team level, three minutes after going behind to Sparta. The match petered out at the final whistle with the scores level. So it was up to penalty kicks to decide the winner.

It was the Bent Street players who ultimately held their nerve to come out 3-2 winners on penalty kicks, to the pleasure of their fans while Sparta had to settle for being second best this time around.

In the third-place game that preceded the final, fans were treated to a 13-goal thriller between Leopold Street and Silver Bullets which really set the tone for the evening.

The Linden-based Silver Bullets are known to be a free-scoring side while Leopold Street have always been offensively aggressive as well. Both teams stayed true to their colours but Leopold Street triumphed in the end winning 7-6.

Leopold Street were led from the front by their captain Okanie Fraser who netted a hat-trick, Fraser came flying out of the blocks

scoring his first two goals in the seventh and 11th minutes respectively to give his team a seemingly unassailable 2-0 cushion.

However, Kieron Cameron in the 15th and Damion Williams in the 16th minutes clawed Silver Bullets back into the game at 2-2, but Leopold’s Tyrese Forde in the 18th minute along with Fraser’s third strike and a Darren Benjamin goal in the 23rd minute, gave their side some breathing space. Omallo and Orandel Williams with a strike apiece in the 25th and 33rd minutes completed Leopold Street’s victory.

The other scorers for Silver Bullets were Jermain Samuels in the 21st and 29th minutes while Cameron scored a second goal in the 32nd minute, Deshawn Freeman had a single goal in the 34th minute but it was too late.

The runners-up of the tournament (Sparta Boss) had to settle for $200 000, while third-placed Leopold Street pocketed $150 000 and Silver Bullets $50 000.

(Michelangelo Jacobus)

CARIFTA Games Trials

Skeete, Williams seal 400m qualification

GUYANA’S golden boy Daniel Williams sealed his U-20 200m and 400m qualifications for the CARIFTA Games on Sunday.

He achieved these at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora, when the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) hosted their second trial meet.

Williams bettered his 200m time from a week ago at the first trial meet by running 21 seconds flat way under the CARIFTA Standard of 21.60s.

In that race he dispatched his

nearest competitor by some distance winning comfortably/ His competitor was Tyrell Peters who crossed the finish line in 22.02s, while third place went to Brian Roman who clocked 22.05s.

Meanwhile, Williams ensured that he booked his spot in the 400m at CARIFTA running 48.35s well under the qualifying standard of 48.50s. In that race Williams was followed to the finish line by Brian Roman who came in way behind with a time of 49.59s and Shemar Garraway who

stopped the clock at 52.31s.

Also making the CARIFTA 400m qualification standard was Deshanna Skeete in the Girls’ U-17 category, she ran 56.95s, just under the standard of 57s flat.

Coming in second was Shantae George who clocked 57.80s and in third was Keliza Smith who crossed the line in 57.88s.

Long jumper Anthony Williams bettered his 7.10m jump from last weekend increasing that to 7.14m and he was joined by Lindener Tremain

Browne who leapt some 7.07m to join Williams in the top-two bracket of Boys’ U-20 long jumpers.

The CARIFTA Games is being hosted by the Bahamas in Nassau this year and will run from March 30 to April 2.

Guyana’s contingent to the Bahamas will comprise the top two athletes in each respective event in the different age categories.

The next CARIFTA Trial meet will be held on Sunday at the same venue.

Former football coach jailed for 30 years for child sex abuse

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Ex-football coach Barry Bennell was jailed yesterday for 30 years on 50 counts of child sexual abuse by a judge who called him the “devil incarnate.”

The 64-year-old Bennell, once a scout for Manchester City and Crewe Alexandra, abused 11 boys aged eight to

15 between 1979 and 1990 on an “industrial scale”, Liverpool Crown Court had heard.

“To those boys you appeared as a god ... in reality you were the devil incarnate,” Judge Clement Goldstone said. “You stole their childhoods and their innocence.”

He added: “Your behaviour towards these boys in grooming and seducing them before subjecting them to, in some cases, the most serious, degrading and humiliating abuse, was sheer evil.”

Half of the jail term will be served in custody with the rest on licence, plus another one year licence period.

Bennell was charged in November 2016 after prosecutors received a file of evidence from Cheshire Police.

In testimony, several victims estimated Bennell had sexually abused them on more than 100 occasions.

Bennell had been previously convicted three times of child abuse. He received jail

sentences in the UK and in the US in 1995, 1998 and 2015.

Allegations of child sex abuse in English soccer from the 1970s through to the 1990s have shocked Britain and led to deep soul-searching in the game amid fears hundreds of young boys might have been involved.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Persaud claims Yokohama tyres golf tournament EIGHT-TIME Guyana Open champion Avinash Persaud claimed the Beharry Automotive Limited (BAL) Open title last Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Course.

Despite light showers, Persaud recorded a Best Net of 71, displacing the likes of second-place Patrick Prashad (72/9), third-place Patanjalee ‘Pur’ Persaud (72/20) and fourth-place Fazil Haniff (72/13).

Veteran golfers Prashad, Haniff and even Pur Persaud (who is recovering from injury), had good outings as their respective 2nd,

3rd, and 4th places were one stroke behind Persaud’s). A tie had to be determined by the ‘Back 9’ count!

Nearest to the Pin prize was snatched up

by Kassim Khan (6 feet) while Persaud, who also won Best Gross for his 73, walked away with the grand prize of four new Yokohama tyres compliments of BAL. Other golfers who scored in the top 10 were Papo Haniff (73/6), Deanand Bissessar (75/22), Joann Deo (75/18), Roy Cummings (77/11), Maurice Solomon (78/25), Aleem

Hussain (78/12) and Balgobin Ragnauth (79/18).

Following the match, Persaud said, “This was normal performance, I shot a net 71, some players may have had a difficulty because the course lacked bounce and roll today, but I mastered it and so was able to produce a good game.”

Marketing Officer of BAL, Ulex Smith, said the company supports golfing in Guyana, adding that BAL continually strives to give back to Guyana in the form of charitable work and sponsorships.

From left: Kassim Khan, club president Aleem Hussain, Patrick Prashad, Avinash Persaud, BAL’s Ulex Smith, Fazil Haniff, Patanjalee Persaud and Vickram Amit.

Pakistan cricket legend Imran Khan marries for a third time

Pakistani cricketer-turned-opposition leader and head of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) party Imran Khan (C) posing for a photograph with his new wife Bushra Wattoo (2R) along with relatives during a nikah wedding ceremony in Lahore Credit: (AFP)

IMRAN Khan, the talented Pakistani fast bowler, who tormented West Indies batsmen for more than a decade, got married for a third time on Sunday, S p o r t s M a x . T V u n d e rstands.

The 65-year-old retired fast bowler married Miss Bushra Manika, who was getting married for the second time.

Bushra Manika is in her 40s and belongs to the Wattoo clan, of which the Manikas are a sub-clan. She was previously married to Khawar Farid Manika, a senior customs official in Islamabad but parted ways in recent times. The ceremony reportedly was held at her residence.

Khan played 18 Tests against the West Indies be-

tween 1977 and 1990, tazking 80 wickets at an average of 21.13. He was one of Test cricket’s greatest players, mastering the art of swing bowling with which he terrorised some of the world’s best batsmen.

In all, he played 88 Tests for Pakistan between 1971 and 1992 and took 362 wickets at an average of 22.81.

Peroune acquires Kumite and Kata first places

The participants at the just concluded ASK-G National Karate Championships

ROGER Peroune displayed superb touch which eventually earned him the coveted Kumite and Kata titles when the ASK-G National Karate Championships took place at the YMCA Thomas Lands.

Peroune eliminated his first opponent in a very short time before defeating seasoned veteran Keith Beaton to earn the Kumite title.

Joel Kellman’s Kata was excellent for a Brown belt level, despite not winning a medal.

However, two superb Kata performances by Peroune stole the show. Speed, timing and sharpness of

technique mesmerised the judges and spectators earning him first place.

Kellman once again performed creditably in the Kumite, placing third among the Black belts.

The closing saw two superb sets of performances from the female adult Brown and Black belts along with the male 15-17 years Brown and Black belts.

The female Katas were as strong as their male counterparts, as Rebecca Wesley won first place.

The Kumite, however, saw two disqualifications due to excessive contact in

which Kristine Ramkissoon emerged victorious.

In the 15-17 males, strong performances from Trevon Miller and Charles Benjamin in the Kata division were recorded..

The Kumite saw another fiery combat as Trevon Miller and Shemar Parkinson took top positions.

Over 80 competitors from the East Bank, East Coast, West Bank, West Coast of Demerara and Georgetown participated.

Some 40 categories, 20 in Kata and 20 in Kumite at different age ranges showed off their skills.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

21

Kent clinch semi-final spot after rain-affected win

COOLIDGE, Antigua (CMC) – In a match marked by several notable individual performances, including career-best spells from Orlando Peters and Adam Riley, and a series of stoppages for rain, Kent Spitfires claimed a 23-run victory under the Duckworth/Lewis/ Stern Method over Leeward Islands Hurricanes to clinch the last semi-final spot in the Regional Super50 on Sunday.

The Spitfires side defied a career-best spell of 5-49 in 10 overs from Orlando Peters to post 266 for nine from their allocation of 50 overs, after they chose to bat in the final match in Group B at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

Sean Dickson hit the top score of 72, Daniel Bell-Drummond supported with 66, Zak Crawley made 43, Alex Blake got 31 and skipper Will Gidman was

not out on 27, as consistent batting right down the order helped the visitors mount a competitive challenge.

In reply, Keacy Carty led the way with 69 and Montcin Hodge cracked 62 to give the Hurricanes a great launching pad of 122 for the first wicket.

But off-spinner Alex Riley with a career-best 4-40 in his 10-over spell removed them both in quick succession and helped to apply the brakes to the Hurricanes’ chase before rain towards the end of the innings left them needing 40 from the last seven balls which effectively ended their resistance.

The result earned Kent four points which placed them second in the group – one behind group winners Guyana Jaguars and one ahead of last year’s beaten finalists Jamaica Scorpions – to complete the line-up of teams for the Final Four.

Sean Dickson hits a top score of 72 for Kent

In the semi-finals, reigning champions Barbados Pride will face the Spitfires tomorrow at this same venue, where Jaguars meet Windward Islands Volcanoes the following day to determine the two teams which advance to the Final on Saturday, also at the CCG. Kent’s top order – led by Dickson and Bell-Drummond

– made sure they left nothing to chance in the race for the last semi-final spot.

Bell-Drummond, whose 87-ball knock included six fours, shared 96 at just over four runs an over for the first wicket with fellow opener Crawley before left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein made the breakthrough in the 23rd over.

Hosein held a return catch to dismiss Crawley, but Bell-Drummond continued to push things along with Dickson before he fell to spinner Terrance Warde in the 32nd over, and three overs later, Adam Rouse was stumped off Hosein for six to leave the English county side 153 for three.

Blake came to the crease and put on 72 for the fourth wicket with Dickson, whose 62-ball innings contained three fours and four sixes, before their dismissals – both to Peters – within three balls of

each other in the 45th over left the innings needing oxygen in the final stages.

Gidman provided the impetus with a four and a six from 18 balls, as the Spitfires lost their last six wickets for 41 in the closing overs.

As Carty and Hodge diligently went about their business, scoring at close to five runs an over, to give the Hurricanes a strong start to their chase, it looked like the hosts would canter to their target.

But Hodge fell to Riley in the 26th over, and four overs later, Carty was lbw to the same bowler to leave Hurricanes 142 for two.

But the weather, which played a major part in the match, falling in several short periods, broke the momentum of the Hurricanes batsmen and the last to affect the contest left them with a highly improbable, if not impossible task.

ETI take top honours in Inter-Ministry Day of Sports in Region Two

By Elroy Stephney

THE sun shone brilliantly and so was the display of members from the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI) who took top honours in two of the three sporting disciplines in the Inter-Ministry Day of Sports held last Friday at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground in Region Two. The day of activities was sponsored by the Region Two Administration and saw participation from the Health Department, ‘G’ Division of the Guyana Police Force, ETI, Drainage and Irrigation Department, Fisheries Department and Survival Run Sports Club of Henrietta and the RDC Councillors XI. The day began with a formal opening ceremony with the Deputy Regional Executive Officer Roopkumar Persaud welcoming the participants and expressing the Administration’s commitment in engaging in such activities which he stated can serve to unite the masses and minimise the stress encountered sometimes from the working environment. He then declared the games open.

The eight-a-side softball competition began with Health Department showing that they were healthier by defeating Drainage and Irrigation Department by nine wickets.

Batting first, D&I registered 71-1 from their eight overs to which Health responded with 83-1 from 7.4 overs and claimed an exciting win. The next game saw the

RDC Councillors being taught a lesson by the Essequibo Technical Institute.

ETI won the toss and batted, rattling up an imposing 119-3 from eight overs with David Williams compiling an impressive 55 laced with 5x6 and 3x4. In reply, RDC Councillors could accumulate only 53-5 when their overs expired.

ETI were again in action and this time they arrested Police to win by 10 wickets.

Batting first, Police reached 38-4 in 4 overs to which ETI replied with 42 without loss.

The final was then contested between ETI and Health who won the toss and batted.

They gathered 45-3 from 4 overs and it was convincingly overhauled by ETI who ended on 46-2 from 3.3 overs with David Williams being the star player again, with another fluent knock of 25 including 2x6 and 1x4 to lead his side to victory and the title for the first time.

ETI then placed aside their bats for their boots and proved decisive every time it mattered, to win the 7-a-side football tournament. The 15-minute affair saw four teams participate. In the first match, ETI had the better of Police during the penalty shoot- out after both teams emerged scoreless when the whistle was blown.

ETI then registered the lone goal from the boot of Rawl Pearce to earn victory.

The scenario was repeated with Health scoring in the shoot-out against Survival Run with Health’s Andrey Jeffrey scoring the lone goal. Interest-

ingly the final between Health and ETI was also decided on penalty and it was ETI who held their nerve and came out 1-0 in their favour of another tournament triumph.

The dominoes competition was then contested with RDC 2 stealing the spotlight with a narrow victory over Police and Health. At the end of three sittings, RDC 2 chalked up 43 games with Police and Health ending on 38 games apiece.

There was a large attendance during the day of activities which included Member of Parliament Hemraj Rajkumar, Regional vice-chairman Nandranie Coonjah, Principal Personnel Officer, Bibi Rameeza Mullah, Administrator Morris Walcott and Youth and Culture Officer Herald as well as staff members from various organisations including RDC 2, National Insurance Scheme and the Guyana Power and Light among other well-wishers and supporters.

During the presentation, ETI received trophies for winning the cricket and football tournaments while David Williams received a trophy as being Man-of-the-Match in the cricket final. RDC 2 received the trophy for winning the dominoes competition while Charles Josiah of RDC 2 received a trophy for scoring the most sixes.

The day of activities formed part of the Region’s list of events in celebration of Mashramani 2018, which is being held under the theme ‘Let’s Cooperate and Celebrate Republic 48’.

SCOREBOARD KENT INNINGS D. Bell-Drummond c Hodge b Warde 66 Z. Crawley c & b Hosein 43 S. Dickson c Berridge b Peters 72 A. Rouse stp. Clarke b Hosein 6 A. Blake b Peters 31 W. Gidman not out 27 G. Stuart c wkp. Clarke b Peters 3 C. Haggett lbw b Peters 5 A. Riley c Carty b Peters 1 Imran Qayyum c Hodge b Berridge 1 I. Thomas not out 0 Extras: (b-5, w-5, nb-1) 11 Total: (9 wkts, 50 overs) 266 Fall of wickets: 1-96, 2-142, 3-153, 4-225, 5-228, 6-237, 7-251, 8-254, 9-260.

Bowling: Berridge 9-1-65-1 (w-1), Thomas 5-0-16-0, Peters 10-0-495 (nb-1, w-4), Warde 10-0-48-1, Hosein 10-0-41-2, James 4-0-21-0, Athanaze 2-0-21-0.

HURRICANES innings M. Hodge c Crawley b Riley 62 K. Carty lbw b Riley 69 K. James c Gidman b Riley 6 D. Thomas not out 28 T. Warde lbw b Riley 8 O. Peters b Stewart 1 J. Athanaze c Haggett b Gidman 0 J. Searles not out 8 Extras: (b-1, lb-4, w-9) 14 Total: (6 wkts, 42 overs) 196 Fall of wickets: 1-122, 2-142, 3-152, 4-166, 5-172, 6-178.

Bowling: Thomas 6-0-34-0 (w-2), Stewart 5-0-18-1, Haggett 6-0-39-0 (w-1), Imran Qayyum 10-0-36-0 (w1), Riley 10-3-40-4 (w-4), Gidman 5-0-24-1 (w-1).

Points: Kent 4, Hurricanes 0

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Windies arrive in Zimbabwe to kickstart World Cup qualification bid HARARE, Zimbabwe, (CMC) – West Indies received a rousing welcome at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport here Sunday evening as they became the first team to arrive for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers starting next month.

A traditional dance group put on a cultural extravaganza at the airport, with dozens of local cricket fans also on hand to greet the two-time former 50-overs World Cup champions.

Members of the Local Organising Committee and government representatives also welcomed the Caribbean side.

“We are really excited to be here. It’s a lovely place,” Windies captain Jason Holder said.

The last time we came here we had great success and hopefully on this tour we’ll have success again and qualify for the 2019 World Cup. “We are well supported here . . . the fans here adore cricket, they are big cricket fans, they love us and we love them so we have come here to put on a really good show for them, entertain them and make them happy.”

Another batch of Windies players and officials are expected to touch down on Monday.

West Indies captain Jason Holder.

The Caribbean side are one of 10 teams down to do battle in the March 4-25 tournament,

as they vie for the remaining two spots at the showpiece in England next year.

West Indies open their campaign on March 6 against United Arab Emirates, who won the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 last week, to book their spot in the qualifiers.

They, along with Ireland, the Netherlands and Papua New Guinea comprise Group A while Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Scotland, Hong Kong and Nepal form Group B. The top three from each group will advance to the Super Sixes, where they will each play three matches against teams they did not meet in the preliminaries.

The finalists will secure the final two berths at the

ICC World Cup from May 30 to July 15 next year.

Queens Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club in Bulawayo, Harare Sports Club and Old Hararians Sports Club in Harare and Kwekwe Sports Club, Kwekwe, will share the 34 matches in the qualifying tournament, with Harare Sports Club staging the final.

West Indies missed out on automatic qualification for the World Cup after finishing outside the top eight in the ICC one-day rankings at the September 30 cut-off date last year.

Dwight Yorke sued by Soca monarch

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Former Trinidad & Tobago and Manchester United footballer Dwight Yorke is being sued by reigning Chutney Soca Monarch, Neval Chatelal, for the non-payment of a TT$250 000 (One TT dollar =US$0.16 cents) loan.

Yorke, 46, was reportedly loaned the money in March last year to assist in a financial bind.

In the court documents filed last week, Chate-

lal claimed that Yorke approached him for the loan after his ‘Island Vibe’ fete which was held on March 4, 2017.

The court documents say the former national footballer was unable to secure a lender for the fete and as a result, was in a bind as he needed to pay those who provided services for the event. Yorke allegedly said that he could not approach the bank as the time for approval would place him in an embarrassing

situation.

Chatelal subsequently agreed to loan Yorke TT$250 000 with a TT$50 000 interest to be paid after two months.

He reportedly deposited the money into the Dwight Yorke Foundation account on March 7 following the agreement.

Two months following the deposit, Chatelal contacted Yorke who in December 2017, paid him TT$50 000.

In January, a pre-action

protocol letter was sent to Yorke where he was “invited to amicably settle the matter”.

There was no response and on February 12, the legal proceeding was filed.

In 2016, Machel Montano sued Yorke for falsely using his name to promote a party that year.

He later dropped the lawsuit but had obtained an injunction to stop Yorke from using his name.

Former T&T and Manchester United footballer Dwight Yorke

Five qualify for CARIFTA Swimming Championships RAEKWON Noel, Leon Seaton and Lian Winter are set to once again return to represent Guyana at the CARIFTA Swimming Championships, along with first-timers Aleka Persaud

and Patrice Mahaica, after the quintet of swimmers clinched qualifying times in varying events last weekend at the Annual Mash Meet at the National Aquatic Centre.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday February 19, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Curtis Reid & Richard Terry (AUST vs ENG, Melbourne, 1877) (2) Tom Brooks & Lou Rowan (AUST vs ENG, Melbourne, 1971) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who are the first two umpires to stand in a Test match in the Caribbean?

(2) Who are the first two umpires to stand in an ODI game in the West Indies?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

Aleka Persaud

Seaton, Winter, and Mahaica have all so far qualified for one event apiece, Persaud made the time in two events while Noel managed to close in on qualifying time (QT) in three of his events last weekend.

Noel, who swam in the Boys’ 11-12 category last year, has moved up to the

CARIFTA Swimming Championship qualifiers, from left: Leon Seaton, Lian Winter and Raekwon Noel

Boys’ 13-14, swimming QT in the 200m IM, 200m freestyle and 400m freestyle. He cut it close in the 200m freestyle where he completed the race in 2:19.47s, only just inside the 2:20.4s QT. In the 400m freestyle he was gunning after a 5:11.4s, and comfortably covered

the race in 4:56.17s. In the 200 IM he clocked 2:41.53s, inside the 2:44.1s QT. Clocking 2:44.87s for second place in this race, Ethan Gonsalves just missed out on making the team.

However, with the Championships set for March 30 – April 4, swimmers still have the opportunity to qualify for

the team.

Also in the Boys’ 13-14 category, Seaton made a qualifying time in the 50m freestyle after he finished the race in 25.35 secs, beating the 26.02 secs QT. Winter had her luck in the Girls’ 13-14 200m butterfly.

With her only competition being the clock Winter raced to 3:04.90s four seconds shy of the qualifying time in this event.

Mahaica and Persaud are both in the Girls’ 11-12 category. Persaud just made it past the mark in the 50m freestyle (30.12s) and 50m butterfly (32.38s).

With the QT set at 34.75 secs in the 50m backstroke, Mahaica barely made inside after clocking 34.72secs in the race.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, February 20, 2018

23

Hamilton ton, Reifer 95, put Windies-A in command over Lions

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Jahmar Hamilton slammed his sixth first-class hundred, but Raymon Reifer fell agonisingly short of his second, as West Indies-A moved into a superior position against England Lions in the second ‘Test’ yesterday.

The diminutive Hamilton struck an even 100 to anchor the middle of the innings before Reifer was the glue that held the bottom half together with a fluent 95, as Windies-A were bowled out for 422 about an hour and 10 minutes before the scheduled close on the second day of the match at Sabina Park to gain a 277-run first-innings lead.

They, however, had to share the spotlight with leftarm spinner Jack Leach, whose 6-138 from 41.4 overs made him the pick of the English bowlers.

The home team, however, failed to make any headway in an hour in the field before stumps were drawn, as the

Lions reached 34 without loss in their second innings with their captain Keaton Jennings not out on 11 and fellow opener Haseeb Hameed not out on 18.

Starting the day on 159 for four, the overnight pair of Hamilton and Dowrich batted resolutely through almost the first hour to consolidate the position of West Indies A. Dowrich, not out on 20 overnight, looked set to follow up his first ‘Test’ hundred with another significant innings before he was caught close to the wicket off Leach with the lead 55.

It was extended, however, when Reifer came to the crease and further frustrated the Lions in a stand of 102 with Hamilton either side of lunch.

Hamilton, not out on 17 overnight, reached his hundred from 182 balls with the last of his 17 boundaries in the first hour after lunch, but faced just four more deliveries before he became the only wicket for Toby Roland-Jones after spend-

Raymon Reifer shares in the delight of Jahmar Hamilton reaching 100 on the second day of the second ‘Test’ between Windies-A and England Lions yesterday at Sabina Park. Reifer fell for 95 (CWI Media/Athelstan Bellamy).

ing 3 ¾ hours in the middle.

Further resistance came when the burly Rahkeem Cornwall came to the wicket and shared 49 for the seventh wicket with Reifer, who duly passed his 50.

Cornwall was bowled by Leach for 25 to leave West Indies-A 351 for seven, and Jomel Warrican proved not to be the immovable force he was in the first ‘Test’ and was stumped off Leach for seven before tea.

After tea, Reifer continued to keep the score moving with a view to another first-class hundred, but Louis was caught at slip to become the only wicket for Paul Coughlin.

This left Reifer with batting bunny Keon Joseph to partner him in the search for the milestone, but, trying to push on, Leach bowled him after a near four-hour stay that included eight fours and two sixes from 179 balls.

West Indies-A lead the three-match series 1-0, af-

Brazilian football game abandoned after 10 red and eight yellow cards

BRAZILIAN footballers are traditionally known for their skill on the ball, but there wasn’t much on show in the Bahia state championship match between Vitoria and Bahia.

After a feisty first half, featuring

six bookings and Denilson’s goal for the hosts, things really got out of hand after the break.

Bahia were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute, and chaos ensued when Vinicius celebrated scoring it by dancing in front of the home

Yamaha are struggling, says MotoGP great Valentino Rossi

Sport Motorcycling - Movistar Yamaha Team Presentation - Madrid, Spain - January 24, 2018 Movistar Yamaha’s MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi of Italy poses with his new bike for the 2018 racing season. REUTERS/Susana Vera

(REUTERS) - The evidence from MotoGP’s two pre-season tests so far is that Yamaha are struggling, according to Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales. talian great Rossi, the nine-times world champion who turned 39 last week, was 12th in the combined timesheets after the latest test in Thailand while his Spanish team mate was eighth.

Vinales had been seventh and Rossi ninth at the previous three-day test in Malaysia.

“It was a difficult test, we struggled and we have to improve because we didn’t improve a lot compared to last year,” the MotoGP.com website quoted Rossi as saying after the sessions at Thailand’s new Buriram circuit.

“Especially with the elec-

tronics, so I think we have a lot of work to do.”

Vinales, who finished third overall last year, said the factory Yamaha team needed to improve in all areas with rivals Honda and Ducati setting the pace so far in 2018 after also battling for the title last year.

While Yamaha’s main riders have found their bike lacking grip, the non-factory Tech3 team have looked much more on the pace, with Frenchman Johann Zarco second fastest at the Thai test.

Rossi is hoping for improvements at final testing starting on March 1 in Qatar, venue of the season’s opening race on March 18.

“At the moment we’re struggling,” he said. “But this is today. Maybe in Qatar it will be better.”

supporters.

Both sets of players piled in, punches were thrown, and - after a delay of 16 minutes to restore order the referee sent off eight players.

Three red cards were shown to Vitoria players, and five to Bahia

players, with Vinicius and three substitutes among those dismissed.

The match continued, but when Vitoria had two further players dismissed 11 minutes from time, it was abandoned, with Bahia likely to be awarded a 3-0 victory. (BBC Sport)

ter winning the first ‘Test’, which ended last Sunday, by two wickets at the Trelawny Multipurpose Complex on the Jamaica north coast.

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND LIONS 1st innings 145 WEST INDIES A 1st innings (o/n 159 for four) J. Campbell c Hameed b Leach 47 K. Powell c & b Livingstone 59 J. Blackwood c Jennings b Leach 6 S. Brooks b Livingstone 1 J. Hamilton c Clarke b Roland-Jones 100 S. Dowrich c Gubbins b Leach 43 R. Reifer b Leach 95 R. Cornwall b Leach 25 J. Warrican stp. Davies b Leach 7 J. Louis c Jennings b Coughlin 14 K. Peters not out 5 Extras: (b-4, lb-10, w-3, nb-3) 20 Total: (all out, 110.4 overs) 422 Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-78, 3-87, 4-128, 5-200, 6-302, 7-351, 8-371, 9-410.

Bowling: Porter 11-2-51-0; Roland-Jones 10-1-42-1; Livingstone 234-83-2; Leach 41.4-6-138-6; Crane 14-159-0 (nb3, w2); Coughlin 11-1-35-1 (w1) ENGLAND LIONS 2nd innings K. Jennings not out 11 H. Hameed not out 18 Extras: (lb-1, nb-4) 5 Total: (without loss, 18 overs) 34 Bowling: Reifer 2-1-3-0 (nb-1), Louis 2-0-5-0 (nb-1), Joseph 2-1-1-0 (nb-1), Cornwall 7-2-11-0 (nb-1), Warrican 5-3-13-0.

Position: England Lions trail by 243 with all second innings wickets standing.

Hamilton ton, Reifer 95, put Windies-A in command over Lions

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Bent Street halt Sparta Boss for inaugural Magnum `Mash Cup’ title … Leopold Street cop third place

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Bent Street hold their nerve on Sunday night to beat Sparta Boss on penalties, to claim the inaugural Magnum ‘Mash Cup’ Futsal title and $400 000.

CARIFTA Games Trials

Skeete, Williams seal 400m qualification 19 PAGE

Deshanna Skeete qualifies for the Girls’ U-17 400m on her first try on Sunday.

Daniel Williams books his 400m spot at the CARIFTA Games on Sunday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

Former football coach jailed for 30 years for child sex abuse

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Ex-football coach Barry Bennell jailed for 30 years.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY, 20, 2018