Issuu

Eight 12 wells for Rupununi PAGE

No. 105206

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

‘US$300M no chicken feed’ PAGE

… Min Gaskin roasts oil contract critics over misinformation

‘We were left in 08 the dark’ PAGE

… relatives of Lindo Creek victims said police did not inform them of killings

Worker injured as house collapses 15 PAGE

Hides face!

Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram covers his face as Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin flays oil-contract critics at an oil and gas seminar on Tuesday (Samuel Maughn photo)

Strong support for Petrobras … to get one of the remaining oil blocks

PAGE

‘US$300M no chicken feed’ –– Min Gaskin roasts oil-contract critics By Alva Solomon

MINISTER of Business Dominic Gaskin came out swinging on Tuesday, taking a dig at those critics who have been daily finding fault with the government over its handling of developments here since the discovery of oil. The occasion was a oneday oil-and-gas forum organised by the Private Sector Commission (PSC), which saw in attendance the likes of Mr Christopher Ram, who is among the fiercest critics of the Exxon agreement. For starters, Minister Gaskin said that the vast majority of Guyanese he has met would like to see the oil and gas industry get off the ground, and to know they can benefit. And to those persons who’ve repeatedly stated

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

that the production-sharing agreement the government has signed with Exxon is “bad for Guyana” among other negatives, Minister Gaskin said that the US$300M this country stands to make come 2020, the first year of production, “is not chicken feed” as they have been wont to say. To bolster his argument, he made the point that whereas it took the government eight years to make around the same amount of money from gold, it now stands to do it in just one year from oil and gas. And on the subject of the oil contract with Exxon, Minister Gaskin said that he cannot fault the previous admin-

government ministers do not negotiate oil-production agreements, adding that there seems to be a concerted effort to derail the process regarding the progress of an industry which will bring much-needed transformation to Guyana.

QUESTION OF ROYALTY As to those comparing Guyana’s 2% royalty with the 10% Ghana earns from its agreement with Exxon, Minister Gaskin said they very well know that they are looking at two types of agreements. He said that whereas Guyana has a royalty and production-sharing agree-

Content Policy. “We will face challenges in the management of this sector,” Minister Gaskin said, adding that the government is currently reviewing the second draft of the local-content policy. “We would like to see local participation when it comes to employment, especially at the higher-skilled levels,” he said, adding that training, local ownership of companies providing goods and services to the sector, as well as knowledge transfer from foreign to local are among the areas government would like to see coming to fruition. Noting that the government will be guided by the

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin addressing the forum yesterday (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

A section of the audience at the forum istration for the contents of the agreement it signed back in 1999 with Exxon. “Who knows where we would have been today had we not signed that contract back in 1999,” he said. Noting that, that initial agreement has since been nullified by both Exxon and the government, Minister Gaskin went on to explain that back in 1999, there was no formal negotiation process. “The company had a valid agreement with the Government of Guyana, which was not up for re-negotiation,” he said, adding that one cannot unilaterally amend a contract after the other party has invested large sums of money under terms of the said contract. He said, too, that contrary to popular opinion,

ment with Exxon, from which it stands to receive a 2% royalty and a 50% profit oil, Ghana on the other hand receives a 10% royalty and a 35% corporation tax from its property in its royalty and taxation model contract with the oil company. He said, too, that the oil company enjoys an import tax waiver here, just as it does with Ghana, but has no value-added tax liability with the African country. And while Ghana has stronger legislation than Guyana when it comes to governing the sector, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman has plans to update the existing petroleum legislation, and to introduce moves to better prepare Guyana for the sector, including the introduction of Local

prevailing best practices as the sector evolves, Minister Gaskin said: “Guyana has a large amount of oil and a small population,” and that by 2030, is likely to be one of the top oil-producing countries per capita. Meanwhile, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen, told the gathering that Guyana is at a critical juncture in its history, as she pointed out the sector’s importance regarding the populace. And PSC chairman, Eddie Boyer, besides urging that the private sector work hand in hand with the government, also commended the government on its establishment of the Department of Energy.

Strong support for Petrobras

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

… to get one of the remaining oil blocks

… seen as viable counterforce to Venezuela threats By Zena Henry THE Guyana Government is being urged to consider granting the remaining oil blocks to Brazilian oil giant Petrobras, as this could provide another counterforce to Venezuela’s expansionist agenda. An informed source close to the coalition government told the Guyana Chronicle that the government has already started this engagement, given that Brazil has not only been a friend to Guyana, but has expressed support in the country’s bid to protect its sovereignty. “Petrobras will be more than a petroleum company for Guyana,” the source said. “Its presence will provide a second strategic bulwark against Venezuela.” This newspaper was told that American company ExxonMobil was the first to help Guyana protect its territory as government will rely on its international prowess to safeguard its assets and by extension, Guyana. Exxon’s efforts and presence are already bearing fruit, the government official highlighted, pointing to the fact that not only has Guyana’s case against the Venezuelan claim reached the International Court of Justice, but that the company through its oil partnership with Guyana has provided the funds to challenge Venezuela at the highest judicial level. “The influence of Exxon here is not too understated and this is why we say that the contract is worth far more than what is written in black and white,” the source

said. The official said that Petrobras brings Brazil into the mix. “Apart from being the regional super-power, Brazil has been a stable and non-threatening force”; a gentle giant, he submitted. Brazil subscribes to the principle that all borders in the Region have been settled and eschews the use of force as a means of settling disputes. Brazil has been an abiding and supporting friend to Guyana for five decades, he insisted. “Strategically, having Petrobras means having Brazil and apart from extending a hand of friendship to a country that has always been a friend to share in our bounty, we also hope that we will gain protection from the bullyism that we have been subjected to for decades. In this way, we can secure and ensure the peaceful and long-term development of the nation.” The parliamentary opposition had resisted government’s announcement to directly engage companies and allow selective bidding for remaining oil blocks. They proposed that the remaining blocks be auctioned without offering consideration for the very real risks the country faces. Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman had told the media however that the direct engagements would be made with other state-owned companies. He had stated that, “As for the manner of disposal, we will be seeking direct engagements with some state-owned companies such as Petrobras and may favour a select bidding process in order to attract other international majors.”

Additionally, in a letter to the press, Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board, GHK Lall, also suggested that Petrobras should be given offshore blocks here. “…future oil block awards must go to the neighbouring oil giant Petrobras. It must be a significant stake; this is executed out of sheer necessity, as made mandatory by circumstances. Guyana has to do so, being fully cognisant of the geopolitical, petro-political, and national-interest considerations. It is a patented no-brainer. Petrobras is from Brazil, and a Brazilian icon of tremendous stature. No more should have to be said,” Lall wrote. Petrobras is one of a number of large oil companies seeking to acquire offshore blocks in Guyana, especially following the 2015 Liza 2 discovery and other discoveries after that. Calling Brazil a de facto “resident superpower in the Region,” Lall said Brazil stands as a counterweight for Guyana, “or at least a restraining presence,” in the border issue between Guyana and Venezuela. “In making Petrobras a partner and beneficiary in those oil blocks, and this has to be said bluntly, Brazil would be committed to having a dog in any fight that arises. That is not only priceless, but immeasurably so,” said Lall. Of late, there has been a heightening of interaction between the Governments of Guyana and Brazil. President David Granger in December 2017 visited Brazil and had talks with President of the Federation of Brazil,

Michel Temer. Further, in February, President Granger received Brazil’s Defence Minister Raul Jungmann and expressed the desire to have closer defence ties to Brazil, given the “…situation on the northern coast of South America.” He said that Brazil will be responsible, within the limits of its ability and where necessary, to offer a word of consolation, a word of reasoning, a word of compromise. He said it was “not by accident” that they were visiting Guyana. A source close to the Guyana Geology

and Mines Commission (GGMC) said that the visits to and from Brazil can be seen as a bolstering of Brazil/Guyana relations in light of the circumstances. The source believes that Petrobras wants in, more so because of the proven reserves. The source said too that Petrobras has been knocking on Guy-

ana’s door for decades, dating back to the 1970s. “Petrobras is a very important potential investor here in Guyana since the 1970s and 1980s,” said the source. “We could always vouch for the Brazilian army to have our backs [if Petrobras enters Guyana],” said the source.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

White House economic adviser Cohn quits U . S . P re s i d e n t D o n a l d Trump’s top economic adviser, Gary Cohn, said on Tuesday he was resigning, a decision that came after he lost a fight within the White House over plans to impose hefty steel and aluminum tariffs. White House officials said the dispute over tariffs contributed to Cohn’s decision to resign but was not the only reason. One official said there had been several issues that led to the parting, but noted: “His biggest mission was on the tax cut bill, which he got passed.” The White House said the timing of Cohn’s departure from his role as director of the National Economic Council had not been finalized but was still a few weeks away. It was the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the White House. Following the news of Cohn’s resignation, the U.S. dollar weakened, while an exchange-traded fund tracking the broad market S&P 500 dipped 1 percent. Prices for

U.S. government debt barely budged. Trump’s announcement last week of his plans to impose the tariffs sent U.S. stock prices tumbling and came after an intense debate within the White House between Cohn and other advocates of free trade, on one side,

port with Trump and proved influential in the administration’s decisions last April not to label China a currency manipulator and to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, instead of terminating it. He also emerged as one of the main drivers of the tax

Director of the National Economic Council Gary Cohn

and protectionist advisers such as Peter Navarro on the other, according to White House officials. Cohn, who served in the White House for a little more than a year, struck an early rap-

DATE: Saturday, March 3, 2018

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overhaul package passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump late last year. The overhaul was Trump’s first major legislative victory. “It has been an honor to

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

serve my country and enact pro-growth economic policies to benefit the American people, in particular the passage of historic tax reform. I am grateful to the President for giving me this opportunity and wish him and the Administration great success in the future,” Cohn said in a statement issued by the White House. Cohn’s relationship with Trump began to sour last summer, after Cohn disagreed with the president’s tepid response to clashes between neo-Nazis and anti-racism protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, sources close to Cohn said. Cohn, a Democrat, had aligned himself with Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the president’s daughter Ivanka Trump, who are both senior White House advisers and like Cohn, are seen as centrists. Cohn, a former president and chief operating officer of investment bank Goldman Sachs, was seen as a bulwark within the White House against protectionist policies. Business lobbyists frequently cited Cohn as their strongest ally in the White House. “Gary Cohn deserves credit for serving his country in a first class way. I’m sure I join many others who are disappointed to see him leave,” Lloyd Blankfein, the chairman and chief executive of Goldman Sachs and Cohn’s former boss, said on Twitter. In a statement, Trump gave Cohn credit for his role in pushing the tax package through Congress and “unleashing the American economy once again.” “He is a rare talent, and I thank him for his dedicated service to the American people,” he said. (Reuters)

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Russian spy: Boris Johnson warns Kremlin over Salisbury incident

The UK would respond “robustly” to any evidence of Russian involvement in the collapse of former spy Sergei Skripal, Boris Johnson has said. Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are critically ill in hospital after being found unconscious in Salisbury, Wiltshire. The foreign secretary said he was not pointing fingers at this stage, but described Russia as “a malign and disruptive force”. Russia has denied any involvement. Downing Street said Home Secretary Amber Rudd will chair a meeting of Cobra, the government’s emergency committee, on Wednesday to discuss the Salisbury investigation. Counter Terrorism Police have taken over the investigation from Wiltshire Police. But in a statement, the unit said the inquiry had not been declared a terrorist incident and there was no risk to the wider public. Relatives of Mr Skripal - a former Russian colonel convicted of spying for Britain - have told the BBC Russian Service that he believed the Russian special services might come after him at any time. His wife, elder brother and his son have died in the past two years, some in mysterious circumstances, the family believe. Ms Skripal lives in Moscow and has visited her father in the UK regularly, especially over the past two years. Mr Skripal and his daughter were found slumped and unconscious on a bench outside a shopping centre on Sunday afternoon. CCTV footage has been released by police which appears to show the pair walking through an alleyway near a Zizzi restaurant shortly before they collapsed. Police have since sealed off the restaurant and The Bishop’s Mill pub was also cordoned off as a precaution. On Tuesday evening, police extended the cordon and shut off a bridge. Eyewitness Jamie Paine said the woman he saw was passed out, frothing at the mouth and her eyes “were wide open but completely white”. He added: “The man went stiff, his arms stopped moving but he was still looking dead straight.” Two police officers caught up in

the suspected contamination have been treated in hospital for minor symptoms, before they were given the all clear. It is understood their symptoms included itchy eyes and wheezing. A third member of the emergency services remains in hospital. Scientists at Porton Down - the UK’s secret weapons research facility in Wiltshire - are studying the “unknown substance”. On Tuesday evening, BBC Newsnight’s diplomatic editor Mark Urban said there are concerns the pair’s conditions could worsen. Despite the sending of samples, scientists have still not identified the substance and one official at Porton Down said “we are treating symptoms rather than causes”, Urban said. Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Mr Johnson said: “Honourable members will note the echoes of the death of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006. “I say to governments around the world that no attempt to take innocent life on UK soil will go unsanctioned or unpunished.” Mr Johnson said the UK was “in the lead across the world” in trying to counteract a “host of malign activity” by Russia. Russia has insisted it has “no information” about what could have led to the incident, but says it is open to co-operating with British police if requested. In a statement, the Russian embassy in London said: “Media reports create an impression of a planned operation by the Russian special services, which is completely untrue.” Responding to Mr Johnson’s comments, the embassy added: “Looks like the script of yet another anti-Russian campaign has been already written.” BBC Newsnight’s diplomatic editor Mark Urban said Boris Johnson’s strongly-worded statement indicates that the Government is “party to some kind of intelligence”. “It’s evident from the foreign secretary’s statement, and certainly the view in Whitehall is, he would not have gone this far unless the government was party to some kind of intelligence about what had gone on,” Urban said. (BBC)

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Jamaica appoints former army chief as police commissioner

Major General Antony Anderson

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has announced the appointment of Major General Antony Anderson as Commissioner of Police for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) effective March 19. According to the PSC, Major General Anderson has developed a keen understanding of the critical nature of the JCF in securing Jamaica and currently serves as the National Security Advisor since being

appointed in December 2016 and is the first person to serve in this capacity in Jamaica. He is also the principal advisor to Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Cabinet on internal and external security, intelligence and defence matters. He is responsible for coordinating security activities across government and liaison with overseas security and intelligence entities. The PSC also noted that Anderson is well-known

to the members of the JCF having worked with the commissioning ranks on joint missions while he served in the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and more recently in his role on the National Security Council. “He is intimately aware of the challenges of the JCF with a clear vision of how it can be transformed to enhance public trust and confidence. Major General Anderson has the demonstrated ability to

lead the JCF at an important point of transformation, strengthening relationships with the other bodies that make up the islands security architecture,” said the PSC, adding that he will be responsible for enhancing the public security services in the country, improving public order, reducing corruption and improving management and accountability within the force. (Jamaica Observer)

FAO urges LAC to keep hunger among priority agenda items The Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Jose Graziano da Silva, Tuesday urged Latin America and Caribbean governments to keep the fight against hunger at the top of their policy agendas, calling also for a “radical transformation” of food systems to combat the spreading scourge of overweight and obesity. “Eradicating hunger must not be our only concern… in a region where seven per cent of children under the age of five are overweight and 20 percent of adults in 24 countries are obese,” he said in remarks to the 35th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean. For the firsFAO logt time ever, all 33 countries of the region are attending the three-day meeting, which began here Monday but will have its official opening ceremony Wednesday, and ends on Thursday. ? “We need to create really sustainable food systems in which production, trade, transport and consumption combine to guarantee a really nutritional food intake,” da Silva said, recalling that Sustainable Development Goal 2 emphasizes the need to eradicate all forms of malnutrition. “Eating fresh local ly-grown produce in place of highly-processed foods is fundamental,” he said, noting that overweight and obesity constitute a “global epidemic” and is spreading in both the developed and developing countries. Worldwide, an estimated 1.9 billion adults are overweight and 650 million obese, according to FAO’s

data. The situation is especially worrying in Latin America, where 96 million adults are obese. Latin America and the Caribbean set an example when, in 2015, it became the first region in the world to achieve the two international hunger-reduction goals, da Silva recalled. However, the number of people suffering from under nutrition in the region has since risen to 42.5 million from 40 million, according to the Panorama of Food and Nutritional Security in Latin America and the Caribbean 2017. Despite that disturbing setback, the FAO’s Director-General expressed confidence that the same political will that led to the earlier achievements will

allow the recent reversal to be overcome. He said countries should continue crafting more inclusive social, economic and productive policies, and on legal frameworks and governance systems necessary to assure progress towards food security for all. “This is essential for the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States to deliver on their pledge to achieve Zero Hunger in 2025,” da Silva said, welcoming the successful work of Parliamentary Fronts against Hunger, established in 19 countries around the region. Da Silva told the 250 delegates that a combination of social protection measures along with initia-

tive aimed at strengthening family farming, which can generate local development and enable more vibrant economic territories, is crucial to reduce rural poverty and combat the various forms of malnutrition. He urged governments to take advantage of the “Decade of Family Farming” recently proclaimed by the United Nations and starting in 2019 with the goal of drawing more attention to the people who produce more than 80 percent of the world’s food and yet, paradoxically,

are often the most vulnerable to hunger. On the issue of climate change, he said this was “profoundly affecting the food and agricultural systems all over the World”, and recent natural disasters such as the earthquake in Mexico and the hurricanes that devastated vast stretches of territory in Central America and the Caribbean show that the region is particularly vulnerable. “FAO is urging countries to promote the adaptation of agriculture to the changing climate, and to do so in a way that protects

poor rural communities,” da Silva said, noting that the FAO offers an array of services to member states in project design and resource mobilization. He said the Green Climate Fund last week approved US$90 million to support a project FAO helped Paraguay develop. He said conserving biodiversity in the region, which is home to a great variety of plant and animal species that are important for farming, food and tourism, is also of great importance. (CMC)

Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Jagan at 100: The Early Years THIS month, Guyana joins with the family and political descendants of Dr Cheddi Jagan to observe his 100th birth anniversary. Like all political leaders, there are mixed feelings about this son of indentured labourers who rose to the pinnacle of leadership in Guyana and beyond. But few would dare dispute the fact that Dr Jagan remains one of the most celebrated political leaders of modern Guyana. And we hasten to say that it is impossible to write our country’s political history without including his monumental contributions. Dr Jagan was born in March 1918, which means he came of age in the period between the two world wars. This was a critical period in anti-colonial agitation here in Guyana, the rest of the British Caribbean and the wider colonial world. During this time, Dr Jagan attended the prestigious Queen’s College, an unlikely place for the children of the poor. He

then left for studies in the USA—an atypical destination for most young students. Many of his peers went to the then mother country, England. It was during his sojourn in the USA that the young Jagan developed his early political instincts and ideology. As was the case with many Black and Brown educated persons in the USA at that time, Dr Jagan was drawn to the progressive message of Marxism. This was a time when the Soviet Union was emerging as the example of what an alternative system to capitalism could look like. It was also a time in the wake of the Great Depression in the USA, when the Communist Party of that country was extremely popular. Indeed, the seeming decline of capitalism as manifested by the depression was good reason to embrace its alternative. Dr Jagan also took note of the racial apartheid system in the USA in the form of legal segregation, which classified Black Americans as in-

ferior citizens. The inter-war years were critical ones in the Civil Rights Movement that sought to overturn the laws that buttressed segregation. The young Jagan would have also noted the dynamic cultural resistance movement among Black Americans, which propelled the collective Black creative imagination to the centre of American cultural evolution. Armed with this ideological exposure to Marxism and Black Nationalism, Dr Jagan returned to Guyana in 1943 with a doctorate in dentistry. He returned to a country and Region that were poised to launch the final blows against colonialism. The labour uprisings of the 1930s, dubbed the “1930s riots,” had shaken the colonial system in the Caribbean to its core. This was aided by the devastation of Britain during the war. The sun had begun to set on the powerful British empire and the young Cheddi Jagan made a conscious decision to become part of its alternative

in his native land. After some effort of familiarisation with the local political landscape, Dr Jagan and others, including his American-born wife who had followed him to his homeland, founded the Political Affairs Committee, a left-leaning group of progressive and mostly young people. It was on a PAC platform that Jagan would successfully contest a seat in the National Assembly at the 1947 election. This victory proved to be the perfect launching pad for what would become one of the most illustrious political careers in Guyana and the Anglophone Caribbean. Jagan’s was the lone progressive voice in an institution that was dominated by conservative voices. But it was outside of the chamber that Jagan’s presence was more felt. The shooting of striking sugar workers at Plantation Enmore in 1948 and its aftermath upped his profile as a potential national leader. By the time Universal

Adult Suffrage was won and the British had agreed to a constitution that granted Limited Self-Government to Guyana, Jagan and his comrades had transformed the PAC into the colony’s first mass-based political party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Joined by another young rising star, Forbes Burnham and other progressive activists such as the then Sydney King (Eusi Kwayana), Martin Carter, Ashton Chase, Janet Jagan and Boysie Ramkarran, Dr Jagan led the new party to victory at the defining 1953 election. At age 35, 10 years after returning to his country of birth, Cheddi Jagan had emerged as the new leader in a new dispensation in the soon-to-

be independent country. Dr Jagan’s career for the next 44 years would help define the new Guyana in ways that are both heroic and controversial, but always steadfast and compelling. Whatever he became, those early years captured here would remain definitive ones in his life’s work. Some have dubbed him a visionary, while others have called him the Father of the Nation. Still others have praised his fidelity to Marxism and the fate of the working-class. His reach was national, but that did not prevent him from articulating and embodying the hope and aspirations of Indian-Guyanese.

Something needs to be Those misleading headlines done about this illegal act Dear Editor,

Dear Editor, I AM hereby calling on the government to immediately investigate the alleged illegal activities of staff purported to be from the Guyana Power and Light, who are allegedly removing meters, claiming the meters are outdated or illegal. Such removals are leaving innocent homeowners in the dark for extended periods and also costing the aggrieved homeowners huge sums of money to have meters re-installed after a lengthy waiting period(weeks/months). Most disturbing is the fact that many of the homeowners affected are senior citizens on fixed incomes and/or who have severe disabilities. One such act of nonsense belongs

to ex-army officer Retd, Mr Henry Mitchell, 90 years old. His daughter Lurline stated, “To date, one month ago, his electric meter was taken away from his home. The company claimed it was an illegal meter. My father was mortified when he was informed. Somehow he kept receiving notifications with no dollar amount. After several of these notifications, he decided to make enquiries, that’s when to his amazement, they told him he had an illegal meter. He was also told he needed to pay an equivalent to $1000 (U.S.) to have the meter replaced.” Well, after a few days of Mr Mitchell “running around”, and his daughter in touch with these so called officials who promised to have the matter resolved ASAP, noth-

ing has been done as of today. The fee was paid weeks ago and he’s still without electricity. This is appalling. He was promised the replacement last week. Expectedly, nothing has been done. GPL’s excuse, “it’s a short week because of Mash.” This slackness and laid-back mentality among GPL’s customer service representatives still exist and is a disgrace. Mr Mitchell initiated another call to GPL two days ago and was given the same lame excuse, “it’s Phagwah and a short week.” He has owned the house since the early 70s and has lived there since remigrating almost 20 years ago. Yes, there were upgrades to the home a few times, but every installation was legal.

He remarked that “it is very annoying and inconveniencing.” This elderly citizen, who has served his country (old soldier) has been treated like a criminal. This horrendous act of fleecing homeowners must stop, and such malfeasance must immediately be corrected to the satisfaction of the affected owners. As an advocate for fairness, I will use my voice and my large forums to keep this malfeasance in the news and will continue to stay on this topic until the situation is remedied. Citizens in compliance should not have to endure such unnecessary obstruction in their daily lives. Regards Lloyd Philips

WE understand that newspapers need to make money, but some of the headlines you read today are so loud, they undermine public confidence. In the oil-and-gas debate, this has been the order of the day, especially regarding the Kaieteur News, which seems to feature loud headlines on oil at every opportunity. One such headline related that ExxonMobil had slapped us with a huge cost recovery bill. This makes it seem as though cost recovery is some kind of punishment, even an insult. But at the end of the day, when Exxon decided to drill here, we must remember that people had been trying to find oil in Guyana for about 100 years, with little to no suc-

cess. This means that Exxon decided to partner with Guyana in order to share the massive risk they were taking. If I told you to invest in an industry with 100 years of failure behind it, wouldn’t you need an incentive to take that risk? Isn’t this more so when the costs of even searching for the resource are enormous? Exxon is not our enemy, and it is far from reasonable to make it seem as if they are trying to punish Guyanese. We asked them to take a big risk and we made every effort to support them, because we knew it was in the interest of the country. Cost recovery is really as simple as that. Regards Malcolm Marshall

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Nothing abnormal about stability clause -- Exxon commercial manager ExxonMobil’s Commercial Manager Peter Dillon said stability clauses are very common features in the oil-and-gas industry, as he dismissed suggestions that it is a means to strangle Guyana’s Parliament and future governments. Speaking at a Private Sector Commission (PSC) oil-and-gas forum at Duke Lodge, Kingston, Georgetown, on Tuesday, Dillon said in countries where there is no clause, such as in Ghana, an investor has to think twice about investing. He said Exxon found the clause in the 2012 agreement it signed with Guyana and noted that it looked very normal. “We were happy to agree to it,” he said. In most jurisdictions, parties sign onto stabilisation

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram makes notes during the forum on Tuesday

MP Edghill needs to account for errors the PPP/C made in protecting the lives of citizens Dear Editor,

IS there anything more tyrannical than a majority which oppresses a vulnerable minority? MP Juan Edghil wrote extensively about what he believes to be authoritarianism in the current administration in a recent Stabroek News article. But his comparisons between the current administration and the previous one are laughable at best. That he can say that the PPP/C “encouraged” democracy throughout their tenure is shocking, given the vast number of alleged extra-ju-

dicial killings that took place during their time in office. How can democracy thrive when voters fear for their lives and the town is in chaos? The very minimum required for democratic governance is citizens’ safety. His argument even extends to the PNC’s time in office, which is several decades ago at this point. But just the other day former Prime Minister Sam Hinds was far from apologetic about that famous crime spree, blaming politically aligned groups. It is as if he needs to be reminded that it is the administration of the day’s job to deal with all

criminals, no matter to whom they are loyal. Not protecting the supporters of opposition parties is really just a majority in power oppressing a minority, it’s that simple. The quality of our democracy is far better now because with the depths we fell to, not much is required to surpass the low bar they set. The honourable MP needs to account for the basic errors the PPP/C made in protecting citizens before his arguments can be at all convincing. Regards Troy Douglas

Trying to imply that the coalition is soft on corruption makes little sense Dear Editor,

THE auditor general a few weeks ago stated at length the number of recommendations he has made across the various government ministries. He also made it seem, however, that his recommendations were largely being ignored. This is far from the case. His numbers themselves indicated significant amounts of his work had been made use of either wholly or in part. What they did not include, however, is an indication of whether any of his recommendations are long or short term, large or small in scale. It seems to me that the ones that are easier to address would be implemented first, and that this

probably represents the ones he mentioned have indeed already been made use of. Further, if he is trying to imply that the coalition is soft on corruption, that makes little sense. After all, haven’t we seen an active SOCU and the establishment of anti-corruption and money-laundering agencies such as SARA and the FIU? These represent serious and meaningful steps to eradicate corruption and should not be undervalued. What the auditor general wants to see is progress, which makes sense. But an accountable, corruptionfree Guyana will take some time, so the best I can say to him is to be patient, because we are clearly moving in the right direction.

Regards Shawn James

clauses in contracts. The clause is commonly inserted in contracts between investors and host nations to protect investors from future changes in the law that affect the economics of a project. ExxonMobil’s Communications and Government Affairs Manager Kimberly Brasington, who also spoke at the forum, said the oil giant is not opposed to negotiation or persons “standing up for what they believe in” regarding the oil contract the company signed with Guyana . President David Granger stated last month that there is no immediate intention by government to review the contract between the two parties. Brasington said the sanctity of a contract is “very important”, especially with a

new ministry and in a country that is new to the industry. She told the forum that there are a lot of eyes on Guyana, Guyana is a stable environment to do business and the company wants to be here for many years. Asked whether the country received a fair deal from the signing of the contract, Brasington said both parties had something to gain. She said dating back to 1999, the oil company had secured more time to explore the seas offshore Guyana and to its gain, the country was able to procure more from the contract when it was negotiated in 2016. “Both parties got something out of it,” she said, noting that ExxonMobil could have stayed with the 1999 agreement, since it was valid.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

‘We were left in the dark’ …relatives of Lindo Creek victims said police did not inform them of killings By Svetlana Marshall

SEVERAL of the relatives of the miners who were killed in the Lindo Creek massacre said that the police had kept them in the dark and that they only knew of the killings through the media. It was while reading a local newspaper in the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) at the bedside of her sick aunt that Natalie McDonald learnt that her nephew Horace Drakes was murdered along with seven other miners at Lindo Creek. McDonald was among five family members of Horace Drakes and Compton Speirs, who took the stand on Tuesday before Commissioner, Justice (Retired) Donald Trotman as the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the June 2008 massacre continues at the Department of Public Service. Drakes had lived with McDonald and her family at Boerasirie Housing Scheme before his death. She had last seen the father of five in May, 2008 before he went to Lindo Creek in the Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice District to work with Leonard Arokium, a miner.

McDonald told the Commission that it was on her way to the hospital in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market in June, 2008 that her attention was drawn to a newspaper vendor. “I heard a newspaper man saying ‘get the news, get the news, Lindo Creek massacre, eight men die,” she recalled.

Suspecting that it was her nephew who was among those killed, McDonald said she, along with her other sister went to visit Drakes’ mother Lena Waldron at her East La Penitence home. McDonald and Waldron are sisters. The two sisters queried whether Waldron had heard anything concerning

Carmen Gittins (DPI photo)

The woman said she was compelled to buy the newspaper and it while visiting her aunt in the hospital along with a sister that she decided to read the front-page story. According to her, at the end of the story, a man identified only as ‘Drakes’ was listed among those murdered. She quickly drew it to the attention of her sister.

her son and was told no. It was then that they showed her the newspaper. According to McDonald, contact was made with a relative, who is also a miner, and it was he who confirmed that Drakes had been murdered. A memorial service was held in his honour on June 26, 2008. Lena Waldron said her son was 42 years old when

he died. Like her sister, she had last seen her son in May, 2008 before he went into the interior locations to work. According to her, though her family was not contacted by the police during the initial stages, at some point she visited the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters with her

information. According to her, shortly after they had received the news, the Force sent her husband home and told him to “comfort his wife”. Drakes’ daughter, Deon Drakes, also took the stand. Though her testimony was brief, she recalled that her father provided for his family.

Natalie McDonald (Samuel Maughn photo)

youngest son, Keon Waldron for him to give DNA samples to Jamaican investigators. Strands of hair were taken and his mouth was swabbed. Waldron said though her husband was stationed at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), the police made little or no contact with the family on the matter, and did not furnish them with any

She too had last seen him in May 2008. Meanwhile, eight-yearold Carmen Gittins said her brother, Compton Speirs, left in May, 2008 for Lindo Creek to work with Leonard Arokium. She was the mother figure for her siblings after their mother died in 2001. In June, 2008, Gittens said she received a phone call from

her niece Rhonda Hutson, who related to her that Speirs was murdered. Though she claimed that the police did not make contact with her or any other family member, the elderly woman disclosed that her brother’s son Erwin Drakes had provided investigators from Jamaica with DNA samples. Erwin’s mother, Marlyn Hinds-Sullivan, who subsequently took the stand, confirmed this, adding that her son was only nine when his father died. All the family members who took the stand so far have alleged that they were never informed of the murder of their loved ones by the Guyana Police Force and had been left in the dark when the decision was made for the remains to be buried some four years after. The CoI is investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing of Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Horace Drakes, Bonny Harry, Lancelot Lee, Compton Speirs, Nigel Torres and Clifton Berry Wong on or around June 21, 2008 at Lindo Creek in the Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice Region.

Florida school shooting victim files legal notice to sue local gov’t

A lawyer for a student wounded in February’s mass shooting at a Florida high school on Monday filed a legal notice of intent to sue the county sheriff’s office and the school district for failing to protect the students. The lawsuit would be the first for the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in which a gunman killed 17 people and wounded or injured more than a dozen others. The so-called notice of intent to file a claim is required by Florida law before a lawsuit can be brought against government entities. It would be brought on behalf of 15-year-old Anthony Borges and his family. Borges was shot five times during the massacre, suffering life-threatening injuries, and remains hospitalized, according to the notice. “The failure of Broward County public schools, and of the principal and school resource officer to adequately protect students, and in particular our client, from life-threatening harm were unreasonable, callous and negligent,” the family’s lawyer, Alex Arreaza, said in the notice. Arreaza sent the letters to the Boward County administrator, its sheriff’s office and the superintendent of its public schools, as well as to the risk management division of Florida’s Department of Financial Services. Representatives of those offices could not immediately respond to a request for comment after business hours. The notice said the Borges demand damages in an unspecified amount as settlement for the officials’ negligent actions. Law enforcement officials and state employees are generally immune to legal claims over inaction, as courts have held they need to be able to make decisions without fear of liability. But legal experts have previously said the Broward County Sheriff’s Office could be sued over the failure of one of its deputies to enter the high school during the shooting and that plaintiffs might be able to overcome the immunity standard. Under Florida law, damages awards against state agencies are capped at $300,000 per claimant, but Florida’s legislature has the ability to waive those limits in particular cases. (Reuters)

Broward Sheriff visits 15 year old Anthony Borges, recovering in a hospital, who was shot at Stoneman Douglas, in Broward Country, U.S., in this undated photo obtained from social media and released on February 18, 2018. Courtesy of Broward Sheriff /via REUTERS

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Power generation system study to focus on GPL networks – gov’t aiming for 100 percent renewable energy by 2025

GOVERNMENT will soon commence a study on expansion of the power- generation system, with the main focus being on the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) power networks. In light of the budding oil-and-gas industry, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure believes that a previous study of the power- generation system done since 2016, has to be upgraded in order to keep up with the potential changes. Although the overall focus of the study would be on GPL’s power networks, some of the particular aspects of the company’s work that will be reviewed, include the supply of electricity to Linden and the expansion of power supplied to the Demerara-Berbice Interconnection System (DBIS), said energy experts during a Sustainable Energy Workshop at the Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday. Coordinator of the Sustainable Energy Programme, Horace Williams, announced that Brugman SAS, a consul-

Some of the energy experts and participants gathered at the sustainable energy workshop at the Pegasus on Tuesday (Samuel Maughn photo) tancy group from Colombia was hired to do the update at a cost of US$183,000. It

is expected to be completed by May. Williams and other en-

Gov’t to assist where it can

ergy experts explained that a part of the study would include identification of the

generating capacity at minimum cost for the Linden and DBIS systems.

Prior to this, the experts said that they would need to evaluate cost comparisons among the power-generation technologies that might be applicable for the new power-generation capacity in the two systems. Their intent is to adjust the diesel generating systems to utilise natural gas, since Guyana might soon provide natural gas locally, instead of importing, when oil production commences in 2020. The consultancy firm would also analyse and revise the use of renewableenergy technologies and existing natural gas generation options. “The study enables Guyana to provide cheap and reliable electricity to the country, so we are looking at all the alternatives possible for us to get where we want to be, so that we can be 100 percent renewable by 2025… we want to provide the country with cheap electricity,” said Minister of Public Security, David Patterson.

–– to help family man who lost hands while on the job THE Regional Education Department of Region Four, through its welfare department,has reached out to a teacher whose husband lost both of his hands after being electrocuted while on the job. The accident occurred last December while Mr. Melroy Pyle, who had to have both hands amputated, was working on one of the buildings at the University of Guyana compound. Since the mishap, his wife, who teaches at Clonbrook Primary, has been forced to make some adjustments in the family to accommodate her husband’s incapacitation. The father of four, who was pursuing a degree in engineering at the very university, was also

forced to take some time off from his studies because of the accident. He related that at the time of the accident, he was in his second year of studies and working part-time with M&P Investment, which had been contracted to erect two new buildings at the university’s Turkeyen campus. His wife, a teacher for the past nine years, was also pursuing a degree in education at the said university. But because of what happened to her husband, she, too, has had to put the furtherance of her education on hold as she is now the sole breadwinner of the family. As Welfare Officer within the Region, Ms. Shevon Vyphuis told the Pyles at a simple presentation ceremo-

ny, “We at the department are cognisant and aware that at this stage, there are challenges and difficulties confronting you and your family as a result of the accident. “Therefore, we are more than happy at this stage to lend whatever assistance that we can give to you. “We stand committed and ready to grant whatever further assistance and help that you and your family may require, and it doesn’t have to be only with regards to finances. “But if there is anything that you need assistance with, please feel free to let us know.” A grateful Mrs. Pyle said the provisions would go a long way in helping to

Representative of the Department of Education, Region Four Welfare Department, Ms. Rhonda Monize, right, with Mr. and Mrs. Melroy Pyle relieve the enormous stress she’s been under, of late, due to the situation. Noting that even though her husband has

been incapacitated, he has no intention of giving up, Mrs Pyle said:“Melroy is very determined, and his spirit remains high as

we contemplate our next move. As you know, we have four children to care for, and that can be a challenge in itself.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Repairs of sea defence on WCD almost complete –– ExxonMobil donates $2M to flood-relief efforts

CONTRACTORS have been working around the clock to repair parts of the seawall at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD), where high tides and strong waves destroyed the concrete structure. An excavator operator who was on the site explained that heavy waves destroyed four parts of the seawall. He told the Guyana Chronicle that they have

placed boulders in place of the open spaces to temporarily seal the breach and avoid another overflow. The worker said that the repairs should be completed within a day or two, providing that there is good weather. Last Friday, as people across the country celebrated Phagwah, some struggled to stay dry after the Atlantic breached the sea defences in

Leonora, Uitvlugt, Zeeburg and Stewartville. Residents had explained that very little could have been done at the time of the overtopping and breach of the seawall, since it occurred around 3:00am that morning. Strong waves tore down houses, destroyed fences and even the camp sites of fishermen at Zeeburg. George, one of the fishermen who suffered because of

Contractors working to repair parts of the seawall that were destroyed by heavy waves and high tides (Samuel Maughn photos)

Fishermen rebuilding their camps at Zeeburg

the breach, said it was chaos since most of the fishermen in that area lost most of their equipment that was stored at campsites next to the seawall. In addition to losing their equipment and millions of dollars, some of the fishermen were even afraid to head back out to sea, because the high tides that they experienced that day were like no other. “We don’t know what to do because this never happened… in all me years here I never see something like this yet… we waiting to see what happened, but some of the guys done start build back their camps and gon be ready to head back to sea,” said George. According to previous reports, residents of the villages of Uitvlugt and Leonora called for improved sea defences and proper drainage and irrigation in their communities. They contended that many of the drains were filled with debris and this prevented a smooth flow of water off the land. The Leonora Diagnostic and Treatment Centre (Cottage Hospital) was closed due to flooding in the lower flat of the building. Residents noted that the poorly kept drains and irrigation canal around the hospital resulted in the flooding, pointing out that those surrounding areas of the hospital were not flooded. On Sunday, affected res-

idents had cleaned up their homes and premises of the debris that the flood deposited, which included mud and other articles captured by the ferocious waves which some estimated to be as high as 15 feet. Several families were displaced and extensive damage was done to goods and household items. Over 300 households in Uitvlugt on Saturday received cleaning supplies to safeguard against water-borne diseases and other hazards. Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, had distributed bleach and jeyes fluid among other supplies to the residents of the community. In addition, government recently received a sum of $2 million from ExxonMobil that is geared towards assisting with flood-relief efforts. The BK Group of Companies, Banks DIH, Bakewell Bakery, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and Camex Restaurants also donated to the flood- relief efforts. In a release by the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said that the Government of Guyana welcomes the $2M donation from ExxonMobil Guyana to flood relief for the residents and communities affected by the recent flooding. Harmon, who holds responsibility for the Civil Defence Commission (CDC),

expressed the government’s appreciation to all members of the private sector, including ExxonMobil, who have made resources available to the CDC to support its work. “On behalf of the CDC and the Government of Guyana, we would like to thank ExxonMobil for giving so generously and contributing to the disaster-relief efforts of the Civil Defence Commission. “We are all aware of the damage and we believe that this is an excellent demonstration of your social corporate responsibility and corporate consciousness that you have come forward without even prodding, to give this generous donation,” he said. Meanwhile, Ms Suzanne De Abreu, ExxonMobil Guyana’s Community Relations Manager, said that the company considers its community relationships an essential element of its business and added that in times of crisis, it is important that resources are combined. “We have been continuously impressed by Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission and their ability to respond in real-time to distress caused by natural disasters around the country. ExxonMobil is proud to offer assistance, through the CDC, to the West Demerara residents whose lives have been affected by the flooding. We are glad See page 11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Dimension stock yard was proposed by private sector

THE Ministry of Natural Resources yesterday hit back at a news report which appeared in the Guyana Times on March 4, 2018 and which attributes what it called inaccurate statements to Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo. The purported comments by Jagdeo attempted to impugn the integrity of a recently announced initiative to develop the forest sector. The report in question called the dimension stock yard as proposed by the Government “shady” and that the details surrounding it were murky. Jagdeo questioned the proposed $50 million investment with regards to who the Government’s partners were and how that partnership was arrived at. However, the MNR in its release, made it clear that the stock yard was proposed by the private sector whose members in the forestry subsector, recognised

the shortcomings and the need to up their game to tap into local and international markets. “It is important to note that it was the private sector that proposed this facility as an initiative to improve growth in the sector. In 2017, the Minister of Finance took the initiative of engaging the forestry sector representatives in conjunction with the Ministry of Natural Resources to assess and better understand the challenges, and to find ways of stimulating growth within the sector. Technical input was provided by the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association (GMSA) and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC),” said the release. According to the Ministry, the stakeholders agreed on a menu of measures “which included - a reduction of the VAT on lumber, the conducting of a vitally-needed National Forest Inventory and the

establishment of a Dimension Stock Yard.” The Ministry said the Government allocated $50 million in Budget 2018 and that will be used “to set up the regulatory framework of the facility, the governance and administrative structure, conduct site preparation activities inclusive of minimal capital equipment and marketing efforts.” The Ministry said it was observed that it was difficult to find quality lumber in sufficient quantity and dimensions and as such the Consolidated or Dimension Stock Yard will bridge this gap. “It is believed that the quality of locally produced lumber is not at the level to make it very competitive both locally and internationally, as only a few operators are producing lumber at the desired quality level,” the Ministry’s press release pointed out. It said too that an oversight body will manage the

Repairs of sea defence ... From page 10 there was a way we could help,” Ms De Abreu said. Minister Harmon also extended gratitude to other private sector entities that also contributed to the relief efforts. These organisations include, the BK Group of Companies, which provided assistance to the residents of Sea View, Stewartville, by creating a secondary drain between the sea defence and the housing area to channel the run-off of water from the land, Banks DIH Limited, which donated 300 small boxes of crackers, 75 cases of water (1 litre bottles) and 150 cases of small Aqua Mist water to aid in the provision of food at the emergency shelters. The Bakewell Bakery donated 300 loaves of bread and tennis rolls for the

feeding programme at the shelters, while the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) Uitvlugt Sugar Estate provided the services of its caterers and kitchen to help in the preparation of meals. The estate also offered the CDC the use of its community centre as an emergency shelter. The Camex Restaurants Incorporated under its Church’s Chicken and Pollo Tropical brands, aided in the provision of meals at the emergency shelters by donating 100 lunches, while the Demerara Charitable Foundation assisted in the mobilisation of donations from the private sector towards the relief effort. Meanwhile, with regard to the situation on the ground, the water has completely receded and the Minister of State is expected to conduct a visit today to meet residents.

One of the mangled campsites at Zeeburg

facility, which will work with the operators “so that orders can be consolidated to meet a particular demand or market in accordance with set quality standards.” The Ministry, however,

assured that the facility will not undercut business for the private sector entities as there will be no price disadvantage or compulsory requirements. The Ministry is asking the public not to be mis-

led by the comments in the press regarding the initiative which has the potential to raise standards and secure markets and called for the media reporting to be facts-based.

Eight wells for Rupununi

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

… reconnaissance work for drilling to start March 19

–– drilling to begin in October THE Government of Guyana, in collaboration with the Government of Brazil, will soon conduct reconnaissance work in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine), which will pave the way for the drilling of eight wells in eight villages. This will assist in the storage of water for the dry season (El Nino). The drilling of the wells is expected to commence in October and will last for a period of 60 days. According to a Department of Public Information release, the first working group meeting was held on Tuesday at the boardroom of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) with the Brazilian Military Attaché to Guyana, Colonel Deni Da Silva, Acting Director-General of the organisation, Lieutenant-Colonel Kester Craig and stakeholders from the Ministries of Communities, Public Health, Foreign Affairs and Agriculture, as well as the Guyana

Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) and the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI). During the drilling phase, the Brazilian army will be working closely with the Guyana Defence Force and this collaboration will see the drilling of artesian wells in the villages of Aishalton, Chukrikednau, Shea, Maruranawa, Awarawaunau, Karaudarnau, Achiwib and Bashraidrun. In an invited comment, Colonel Craig said that the drilling of the wells is an important part of disaster response and preparedness, particularly during the El Nino season. “As we know, [the] Rupununi is susceptible to droughts and floods, so we want to remove that uncertainty and have a system under which the communities could be supplied with fresh water continuously during the year. Mainly, in Region Nine, the residents use hand-dug wells

and you find that a couple weeks into the dry season, there is no water for them to use. Those wells are usually about 20 metres, but these that will be dug later in the year will be 100 metres, which translates to about 300 feet. It is all part of us responding to the drought situation during the dry season in the region,” he said. Upon completion of the wells, Colonel Craig said that the commission will undertake the task of monitoring and evaluating the project to determine how it has impacted the communities. This project follows President David Granger’s state visit to Brazil in December 2017, when the Complementary Agreement to the Basic Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Federative Republic of Brazil for Implementation of the Project Technologies to

Brazilian Military Attaché to Guyana, Colonel Deni Da Silva and Acting Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission, Lieutenant-Colonel Kester Craig along with other stakeholders at the working- group meeting Reduce the Effects of the Drought in Region Nine of Guyana, was inked. The Complementary Agreement states that the Government of Brazil shall undertake to “promote the transfer of Brazilian knowledge and experience related to mitigation of the effects of drought; provide the means for implementation of activities foreseen in the Project, send consultants and experts to implement activities to be carried out in

Guyana, support the development of the Guyanese technical team’s capacity to drill artesian wells and monitor and evaluate project implementation.” Meanwhile, the Government of Guyana, as prescribed in the Agreement, shall undertake to “take responsibility for the maintenance of the artesian wells that will be drilled during the practical operations on the ground; appoint a technical team to monitor and

participate in activities to be implemented, provide the technical team sent by the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil with the logistical support required to implement activities of their responsibility and to take measures to ensure that activities implemented by professionals sent by the Brazilian Government will be continued by professionals from the Guyanese implementing institution.”

Youth remanded for robbing cop with scissors AN 18-year-old Norton Street resident was on Tuesday remanded to prison on a charge of simple larceny. Trayon Arthur, appeared before City Magistrate Judy Latchman on an allegation that on February 28, while armed with a pair of scissors and in company of others, at the National Park, he robbed police officer Nashan Bentick of one Samsung Galaxy S5phone worth $40,000, two silver rings valued at $50,000 and one silver chain worth$25,000. Arthur pleaded not guilty to the charge. His attorney, Tiffany Jeffrey, in asking the court to be lenient with her

client, said that on the day in question he was with the wrong company. She added that Arthur’s parents and the virtual complainant had since come to an agreement in relation to settling the matter. However, when Bentick subsequently arrived at the court he gave no indication that he wanted the court proceedings to be discontinued. Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore cited the seriousness of the offence in his objection to bail being granted to the accused. As such Magistrate Latchman refused Arthur his pretrial liberty and remanded him to prison until March 19, when he will make his next court appearance.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

The execution of Yohance Douglas: March 1, 2003

ON a cool and breezy Saturday on Saturday, March 1 in the land of the ruling Cabal, five friends (Yohance Douglas, O’Neil King, Kwesi Heywood, Randolph Goodluck and Ronson Grey) proceeded for a casual drive after basketball practice. They proceeded along the Eastern Highway and ended up at the junction of Sheriff and Bonasika Streets after stopping at Mr Lee’s Mathematics lesson for a check on a family member. Upon their exit from Bonasika Street, they were stopped by a Green CRV occupied by men with no explicit identification, who instructed

them to exit their car. Filled with rage and death on their minds, these rogue, bloodthirsty members of the Guyana Police Force opened fire on the White Toyota Sprinter, PHH 8115 which carried five innocent young, law-abiding Guyanese citizens. When the gun-powdered smoke had cleared, Yohance Douglas was left with the brunt of the assault. Reports by material eyewitnesses suggest that the rogue policemen rushed Yohance to the hospital after planting a wig in his pants pocket and told the hospital staff that this second-year University of Guyana Archi-

tecture student was injured in a shootout during a robbery attempt. The hospital staff, maybe misguided by lies told by the not-so-lawful men, may have disregarded their Hippocratic Oath and delayed treatment. He subsequently succumbed to spinal injuries and blunt trauma. His was life snuffed out in one fell swoop at the barrel of the gun. He was laid to rest on March 11 at the Beterverwagting burial ground. His death shocked the Guyanese people and some who were imbued with a sense of classism, presumed that model, educated citizens are immune to excesses of the state. This

model citizen and exceptional basketball player, prior this deadly encounter, had never even featured in the detention book of St Joseph High during his tenure as a high school student. The execution of Yohance Douglas was the culmination of a long series of executions that beset a nation filled with ghosts and Phantoms who operated with mortiferous immunity. This can be traced to the post1992 period with the emergence of the ‘Black clothes’ or ‘Target Squad’. In those days, there was a penchant for small groups of members of the Guyana Police Force who

were answerable only to the political directorate. The first sign that suggested we were in for a long period of extrajudicial killings came in the form of the execution of Jermiane Wilkinson in Albouystown in 1996. This deadly culture was fomented and celebrated by a ruling cabal which embraced the Stalinist ideology of ‘No man, no problem’. However, this column is not seeking to present a treatise on extrajudicial killings in Guyana, while there exists a treasure trove of some 400 cases to do same; this is about Yohance. Executions and assassinations move history, I hereby

posit that Yohance’s execution is an exemplar of this phenomenon. Many University of Guyana students who were revolted by his death, led a movement against these excesses and while justice was not realised, it produced a generation of youth leaders who were determined to change the system. These youth voices craved change and had a visceral opposition to the custodians of the state during this period. These youth leaders, in their post-university lives, continued their activism and will forever carry the unpalatable memory of this execution.

Court accepts plea to manslaughter PHILIP Sutherland on Tuesday pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter before Justice James Bovell-Drakes in the Georgetown High Court for

the 2014 killing of Martin Roberts. His plea was accepted. State prosecutor Mandel Moore, told the court that on the day in question the ac-

cused killed Roberts. Sutherland is represented by defence attorney Siand Dhurjon who told the court that on January 9, 2014 in the County of Essequibo, the accused and the

victim and some others were drinking yeast tonic in the Rupununi area when a fight broke out between the accused and another man. Dhurjon added that some-

how the victim got involved in the fight and received injuries. The cause of death was given as asphyxiation, a broken larynx and blunt trauma to the head.

The accused will return to the Georgetown High Court before Justice James Bovell-Drakes for a probation report, followed by sentencing on March 27, 2018.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Lindo Creek CoI hears of flaws in coroner’s orders By Svetlana Marshall

THE Coroner’s Orders, which were prepared by the Guyana Police Force for submission to a pathologist, did not state that the Lindo Creek victims had been burnt, but rather that they sustained ‘gunshot injuries,’ the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) heard when Detective (Ret'd) Carl Jacobs took the stand on Tuesday. Jacobs, who served in the Guyana Police Force for 25 years before retiring in 2012, had prepared the Coroner’s Orders while stationed in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the ‘E’ and ‘F’ Division Headquarters at

Detective (Ret'd) Carl Jacobs Eve Leary, Georgetown. The ‘E’ and ‘F’ Division

was responsible for interior locations and Linden, Region 10. Before a packed chamber at the Department of the Public Service on day two of the public hearings, Detective (Ret'd) Jacobs told the Chairman of the Commission, Justice (Retired) Donald Trotman, that the orders he had compiled on June 25, 2008, did not state that the eight miners had been burnt. According to him, he was not privy to that information at the time, and as such, wrote that they had sustained gunshot injuries. Additionally, from his testimony it was clear that the established procedure in preparing a Coroner’s Order was not entirely fol-

The commission’s Attorney Patrice Henry questioning Detective (Ret'd) Carl Jacobs before Commissioner Donald Trotman on Tuesday. (Samuel Maughn photos) lowed, although he had was reportedly prepared Arokium, Cedric Arokium, received specialised trainapproximately four days Compton Speirs, Horace ing in that area. The order after the charred remains Drakes, Clifton Wong, of the miners were removed Bonny Harry and Nigel from the crime scene – Lin- Torres. However, he did do Creek, Upper Demerara/ not call Lancelot Lee’s Upper Berbice, where they name, because he could not were discovered by the have recognised it fully. camp owner Leonard ArokIn preparing the docuium on June 21, 2008. ments, the detective named Responding to a series Dr Nehaul Singh as the of questions put to him by pathologist, but when questhe commission’s Attorney tioned whether he had subPatrice Henry, Detective mitted same to Dr Singh, he (Ret'd) Jacobs explained responded in the negative. that when there is an un- In fact, Jacobs could not natural or violent death, it give any reason or explais required that a Coroner’s nation for not submitting Order be prepared with the the orders to Dr Singh, and view to a post-mortem. said that he was unaware “On receipt of a report of a whether Dr Singh had conviolent or unnatural death ducted post-mortems on after it is confirmed….you the remains. contact a relative to have Questioned by Attorney the necessary information Henry on whether he had in order to prepare the Cor- seen the remains, visited oner’s Order, after which the crime scene or made the Coroner’s Order will contact with relatives of the be taken to a Justice of the deceased, Jacobs responded Peace, where it would be in the negative, while mainsigned after being sworn… taining that the orders were that document is then tak- prepared on the basis of en to the pathologist,” he instructions from the then explained to the commis- inspector. sion, while adding that the Pressing for more document is prepared in answers, Justice (Ret'd) triplicate. word ‘murder’ was stated Attorney Henry then on the documents pret o o k J a c o b s b a c k t o pared and Jacobs respondJune 25, 2008, at around ed in the negative. Asked 15:00hrs, based on a state- whether death certificates ment he submitted to the usually accompany the commission. “I was in the Coroner’s Orders, Jacobs office, E & F Division, said no, but explained Headquarters, Eve Leary, that a short report outwhen then Inspector Pitt lining the facts of the returned from the Com- matter would normally mander’s office, the com- be attached. But in this mander then was Mr Louis case, such was not the Crawford. On his return, case. Justice Trotman also Inspector Pitt gave me cer- pointed out to Jacobs that tain instructions to prepare the pathologist’s name, to Coroner’s Orders for eight which he had alluded, had miners who were mur- been crossed out. Asked dered in the interior, Lindo if he recognised the name Creek,” Jacobs recalled. written above, the retired According to him, the detective said no. The CoI orders were prepared, is investigating the cirsigned by JP Tiwari at the cumstances surrounding Maraj Building on the cor- the murder of the eight ner of King Street, and miners on or about June submitted to the ‘E’ and ‘F’ 21, 2008, at Lindo Creek Division Registry Office. in the Upper Demerara/ When the Coroner’s Upper Berbice region. Orders were shown to JaThe findings with reccobs by Attorney Hen- ommendations will be ry, he recognised them by compiled and submithis handwriting and the ted to President David names of the deceased: Dax Granger.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Worker injured as house collapses

ENGINEERS and building inspectors from the Plaisance/Industry Neighbourhood Democratic Council are probing the circumstances surrounding the collapse of a house which was under construction at Back Street, Ogle, East Coast Demerara. A 23- year-old worker and father of one who was working on the house at the time, was pinned by a concrete beam from the house. He was among four persons working at the construction site at the time of the tragedy. Up to late last evening, he was still being treated at a medical institution for his injures. This publication could not immediately confirm if the injuries are life-threatening. The injured man has been identified as Agaffi Obermuller, a resident of Ogle who lives across the road from where the house was under construction. His sister Christina said that her brother began working on the house from its inception. He was hired by a businessman in the community, whose name was given as ‘Davo’-- a lumber dealer. Concerns had been raised about the integrity of the building which was under construction as persons had contended that the works were being done all too fast. They expressed concerns over the pace at which the foundation was laid, columns erected, blocks laid and roof installed. It is however unclear if these concerns were raised

Injured: Agaffi Obermuller with the local authorities or any representative from that office. Added to that, the workers on site, including the now hospitalised man, were all said to be working without safety gear. On Tuesday, residents of the community reported that they had observed the foundation for the building being laid and shortly after the walls were being erected without a proper period left for the curing of the concrete. They also contended that prior to construction of the house, the land on which it was being constructed was filled with slush and was a swamp. A man who identified himself as the contractor for the house told the Chronicle that the place was properly sand-filled. When asked how many truckloads of sand were placed at the location

Toddler died from drowning - autopsy THE autopsy conducted on the remains of two-yearold Tia Conyest of Monka, Upper Pomeroon River in Region Two, has confirmed that she died as a result of asphyxiation due to drowning. The autopsy was conducted on Monday evening by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh at the Suddie Mortuary. Conyest was found floating on February 25, around 13:00hrs. According to the mother of the child, Marcia Conyest, she left her child playing in their unfenced yard around midday, while she was doing her chores. The mother said when she made checks about half an hour later she could not find her child. After making other checks and she did not find the child, the mother said she then checked at the front, where the child was observed her lying motionless in the Pomeroon River with her face down. The mother said she immediately raised an alarm and neighbours gathered and comforted her. The deceased was then taken out of the water and escorted to the Charity Police Station, where the body was examined. There were no marks of violence, neither does the family suspect foul play.

for the sand-filling, he said 11 truckloads. Hours after collapse of the structure, neither the police nor the NDC came to investigate. It took the intervention of this publication to initiate contact with the authorities. When contacted, the lumber dealer said that he was not the person responsible for the construction and that he was just doing it for a friend. He indicated that the friend was overseas and he was just asked to assist. However, the worker who identified himself as the contractor claimed that it is the lumber dealer who owns the property and who contracted the men to work on the structure. The Chronicle was also told of the structure being rented for various purposes, including tenancy. It is unclear if with this development the local authorities in the area will seek to have their engineers test the structural integrity of other buildings, which are said to be controlled by the lumber dealer.

One man was injured when this house collapsed

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

NDIA to resuscitate more WCB sluices THE National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will continue to resuscitate and upgrade sea sluices along the West Coast of Berbice this year. Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dave Hicks, said part of the works include the resuscitation of sea sluices constructed during the colonial days. The number targeted were five, namely one be-

tween Lovely Lass and Golden Grove villages, one between Number 28 and Number 29 villages, one at Number 12 Village, one at Bush Lot and one at Bel Air. The first two at Golden Grove/ Lovely Lass and Number 28/29 were completed and were fully functional for the 2017 November/December rains. This year, these two

Guilty verdict against Troy Jackson … to be sentenced for sex act with girl, 7

ON Tuesday a 12-member jury, after deliberating for more than two hours, found Troy Jackson guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 years. After the verdict was announced, a tearful Troy Jackson was escorted out of the courtroom in shackles and handcuffs on his way to jail. However, his attorney Adrian Thompson was not present at the time the verdict was announced and as such, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall told the court that sentencing will take place today (Wednesday) at 11:00hrs in the Sexual Offences Court. The foreman said the verdict was in the proportion of 10 to 2, The accused: after which they arrived Troy Jackson at a guilty verdict. It is alleged that on October 20, 2016, the accused engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 years in the County of Demerara. Jackson had pleaded not guilty to the charge. It is alleged that on the day in question, he committed the act with a child who was only seven years at the time. The accused Troy Jackson was a friend of the child’s family and had resided with them for a few years, but at the time of the incident he was not living with them. The state was represented by Seeta Bishundyal, Orinthia Schmidt and Narissa Leander, while the defence counsel was Adrian Thompson.

Man granted bail for stealing mobile phone DOODNAUTH Mohanlall, 25, of Aurora Village, Essequibo Coast was granted bail on a burglary charge when he appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. It is alleged that on March 3, he broke into the home of Patricia Jaitoon and carted off a Blu mobile phone valued $30,000. Mohanlall pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of $20,000. The matter was adjourned to March 22 when it will be called again at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

completely rehabilitated sluices will be strengthened with erosion protection in the form of revetment works on both the seaward and landward sides to the tune of $35M. Work on the sluice at Number 12 Village started last year, but was not completed. Hicks said the NDIA will excavate outfall channels for the Number 12

sluice just before the May/ June rains. “We will be using a pontoon and two excavators to make this sluice operational in time for the anticipated next rainy season,” he disclosed. The NDIA will also rehabilitate/resuscitate the sea sluice at Bush Lot Village to make this sluice, the fourth of the rehabilitated sluices along the West

Coast of Berbice, operational this year. Hicks disclosed that the two sluices which were completely rehabilitated last year had favourably impacted the discharge capacity of rainfall floodwaters in West Coast Berbice during the last rainy season. He added that there was so much success with the Number 28 /29 and the Golden Grove /Lovely Lass

sluices last year, that the authority may rethink the need for the Bel Air sluice. The resuscitation and upgrading works to be done beginning from this month will be funded by the NDIA, but will be executed by the Mahaica / Mahaicony/ Abary Agricultural Authority (MMA/ ADA). Labour for the project will be drawn primarily from West Berbice.

Paralyzed by Fear

THE day I quit my job at the world’s top investment bank my boss’ boss’ boss pulled me into a meeting room and asked if there was anything he could do to make me stay. There wasn’t. I think that was the moment, the literal moment that wanting to move

back and help my country became actually stepping up and doing it. I was scared then, as anyone would be, but I believed enough in Guyana to make the leap. I recognised then the importance of this moment in Guyana, this critical moment, and knew I had to return. I

am not the only one who sees how much this time really matters for Guyana’s future. As I listen to the furious back-and-forth about the coming oil industry, however, some of these arguments sound all too familiar. “Oil will not bring progress” they say. “Guyanese don’t know

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

what they’re doing” they say. That’s one step away from “Moving back home will be a big mistake,” which I’ve heard from the moment I left to study in the United States. I don’t know how you feel, but I’ve had enough of listening to people who are, to be frank, scared of the future.

Fear, not anger, is what is driving the national oil debate today. We can’t blame the PPP/C any more than the coalition, because both sides have worked closely with Exxon, and we can’t blame Exxon, because at the end of the day, they’re just operating like any business would. So who exactly are we Guyanese angry with? Ourselves? No, I believe that all this emotion is really just fear that we won’t make the best of this bright opportunity. It’s an almost hysterical cry for a future different than our aching past, and I can appreciate that. In a way it’s like Napoleon once said: “Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.” But Guyanese -especially young Guyanese -- need to move beyond the fear that is now paralyzing us. We need to recognise that these are the days that will define the rest of our lives, even our country’s long-term development, and we need to seize this moment. We cannot allow ourselves to be stunned into inaction, because there is so much to do if we want to ensure our future and our children’s future. Young people must now work closely with elder generations, guided by their wisdom and respectful of their experience. But we know that their role can’t be to come up with the innovative ideas we crave, because these generations lack the requisite skills and knowledge. That’s not to say efforts to learn about advances in technology aren’t being made, but I think we can all acknowledge young people’s greater proximity to these constantly changing innovations. I also sometimes wonder if Guyanese really grasp that there are probably going to be at least 13 wells in the Stabroek block alone, or that Exxon’s 500,000 barrel-aday target is more than twice Trinidad and Tobago’s highest-ever production. Do we realise that between 2020 and 2025 there will be at least 1.5 billion USD in oil revenue for

the government? And all this is the very minimum we will ever receive as production will continue to grow and grow! I fully appreciate the importance of thoroughly debating the terms of any national resource contracts, but am also keenly aware that as of yet we have hardly any concrete plans on how to actually manage this huge surge of revenue. Wasting oil revenue because we are unprepared when the tap begins to flow is simply unacceptable. And so I am calling on young people to refocus, to pull together and begin believing in our future. Youth leadership is beginning to discuss critical issues such as what to do about the University of Guyana and whether we should establish a specialised youth bank to fund innovation, basic scientific research and artistic projects. What are the other areas we should be focusing on? Some structures are thus slowly beginning to take shape, but as this must be a collective project I am calling on my peers to begin brainstorming. If there was ever a time to strive for progress, that time is now. I know that if we put the right ideas together, work with our elders and then advocate for these, they can form the cornerstones of a truly phenomenal future. Young people have been relatively quiet during the oil-and-gas debate, but we will slowly, steadily, mightily make our voices heard. I want to end with a message of hope and courage, because that is what seems to be missing from the current national narrative. I believe in this country-- not just in its potential -- but its people. I believe in our youth -- not just in their potential -- but their character. And I believe in our future -- not just in its potential -- but what Guyana will be. Maybe that makes me a brave fool, but that’s miles better than being paralyzed by fear.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Starkey Foundation takes hearing screening to Region Five

A TEAM of volunteers from the Starkey Hearing Foundation Guyana has partnered with the Ministry of Public Health and Department of Health Services in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) to provide free hearing screening, among other audiology services to residents in March. The outreach, which forms part of the first phase of Starkey’s 2018 mission to Guyana, will see the foundation decentralising its services for the first time, according to a release by the Department of Public Information (DPI). Previously, the hearing outreaches

Tamiann Young, Caribbean Regional Coordinator, Starkey Hearing Foundation

One patient having the hearing impression done they go through the voice were hosted at the Sophia testing if they need one. If Exhibition Centre and they don’t have an audiosaw large numbers of gram then the blessing, patients travelling from the magic happens at our the West Coast of Berbice impression station and (WCB) to access the serthat’s where the patient vices that were provided. gets a custom fit mold The Rehabilitation made for them.” Department at the Fort The Starkey team will Wellington Hospital has make a return visit in facilitated this inaugural June, and those persons exercise in Berbice that who have been through is expected to benefit at the process of having ear least 100 persons. Caribimpressions done will bean Regional Coordinabenefit from a hearing tor of the Starkey Hearaid then. ing Foundation, Tamiann One resident, Devin Young, explained that the Sookraj said that the outobjective of the venture is reach is timely and he is to ensure that an opportugrateful since his mother nity is provided for perwas afforded the opporsons to hear by acquiring tunity to be screened for a hearing aid, free of cost. an independent hearing. Young noted that the Sookraj, who is also a outreach is designed to past president of the East determine the hearing Canje’s Lions Club, exdeficiencies in an indiplained, “my mom here, vidual. “In Phase one, couple years now about the patient gets checked five to six now, we’re to ensure that they need having the problem with the hearing aid and then her hearing. She hears they actually go through sometimes, and somedifferent stages, registratimes you have to raise tion then the screening,

your voice for her to hear properly and sometimes speak very slowly so that she can understand what you are saying…We have to go through pressure testing and so forth to determine if she has to get a hearing aid or not, I’m very grateful for this.” This first phase of screening and testing continues on Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at the Sophia Exhibition Centre. The outreach at that location will facilitate more than 100 registered patients of the Ministry of Public Health’s Audiology Department as well as walk-in patients with hearing impairment.

Patients who turned out to benefit from the hearing outreach

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

U.S. citizen scalping murder trial

Accused paid friend US$5,000 to have spouse killed – court hears - caution statement admitted into evidence

MURDER accused Hemwantie Abdulla had given her friend and co- accused Seerojni Permaul, US$5000 to hire a hit man to kill her husband Abdool Shakeel Majid, whom she claimed was abusive. Former Detective Sergeant Aubrey Joseph revealed to Justice Sandil Kissoon and a mixed jury that, after putting the allegation and caution to the number one accused Hemwantie Abdulla, called Annie, she responded,’ Officer me gon tell you the truth’. Abdulla, called Annie and Anese, a nurse aide of 132nd Street, Ozone Park, Queens, New York, along with Seerojni Permaul, known as Surojnie or Usha, are accused of unlawfully killing Abdool Shakeel Ma-

jid, a citizen of the USA on April 26, 2012 at Number 63 Beach, Corentyne, Berbice. They have pleaded not guilty to the murder indictment and are represented by attorneys-at-law Murseline Bacchus, Nigel Hughes and Arun Gossai . Majid, along with his wife of four months, Hemwantie Abdulla, had arrived in Guyana on April 22, 2012 with the intention of spending a two-week vacation. But, five days later, the battered, lifeless body of Abdool Majid, whose scalp was missing, was found on the popular beach, while his wife had returned to their Queens home in New York, USA. Meanwhile, in his evidence, Joseph, who now heads the security unit at

Barama Logging Company, reading the caution statement attributed to Abdulla, and which was admitted into evidence said, ‘ Abdool Shakeel Majid was my husband. We were married on November 26, 2011. I have six children, but none with my present husband [ Majid].During May or June 2008,he was involved in a vehicular accident in Jamaica , New York, as a result, he was bedridden. I cared for him while he was in hospital and at home.’ ‘We were having domestic problems every time I would go out and come in he would beat me up. This problem was going on for a long time in the USA. I got fed up and planned to kill him. Two months before April 2012, the couple travelled to

Guyana and visited ‘Usha’ house at Belvedere Settlement Squatting area, where her new husband was introduced; but, he was not appreciative of the friend and had warned his wife from being around her. ‘’So, I told my friend Usha, to see someone to kill him. I gave her US$5000. A week later, my husband and I returned to the USA. On April 17, 2012, Usha and I spoke on the telephone. She said everything was okay.’ Five days later, the couple returned to Guyana .During this visit Majid rented a car (PNN1208) from one Shawn of Georgetown. After spending three days in Diamond Housing Scheme at Majid’s house, they travelled to Chesney Village, Corentyne, where a night was spent at her cousin Boopram. During that period, she contacted and spoke to hired hitmen ‘Nicky’ and ‘Black Boy’, before travelling to Skeldon where food

was purchased. Thereafter, they travelled to the Number 63 Beach where after eating they took a walk along the shoreline. ‘’We come out the car and began to walk. ‘Nicky’ and ‘Black Boy’ came and started to beat my husband.. Nicky lash my husband in his head with a piece of wood he picked up from the beach. My husband fell to the ground. The ‘Black Boy’ picked up my husband and placed him in the trunk of the car. Nicky drove the car with ‘Black Boy’ inside , and they dumped the body far away on the beach. They returned the car, before walking away. I drove the car to Usha’s house, where I washed out the blood from the trunk and sprayed freshener. Then I called my brother Balwant Singh for him to pick up the car at Usha’s place and give it back to Shawn. On April 27, 2012, I returned to the USA. I did not tell my husband’s relatives what I did to my

husband’. Meanwhile, in her caution statement, Seerojni Permaul, known as Surojnie or Usha, recounted knowing Abdulla when she lived at Belvedere village over nine years before. At that time, her husband was Azim Abdulla. ‘Sometime during January 2012, Annie brought another man to my house. She tell me she tek the man and that he name Shakeel. February 2012, she visited my house twice with her brother Balwant Singh called Ballie. April 2012 she come with a guy in a silver motor car. She carry me in the house and gave me $5000 fuh give me son-in-law. Later, she ask me fuh some cloth and water. She opened the trunk and clean it, before spraying freshener’. The trial is continuing with Joseph being cross-examined by defence attorneys. Special Prosecutor is Mr Ganesh Hira.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

GTT to provide free internet to primary schools

-establishes $18M Innov8 fund to assist with STEM education, projects

THE Guyana Telephone Telegraph Company (GTT) has extended the width of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) by announcing that primary schools will soon receive free internet and an $18 million Innovat8 fund was established to assist with the development of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and projects. GTT, which has been giving back to its customers and society in many ways, has included the new initiatives as part of its plan to ensure that youths are equipped with the tools to be technologically inclined, said the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Justin Nedd. “We will be bringing internet to our youths free of charge to all primary schools that we could reach,” Nedd announced during his remarks at the launch of the Innov8 Summit, GTT’s technology Expo at the Marriott hotel on Monday. The first three schools that will benefit from the initiative are: Sophia, Lusig-

CEO of GTT, Justin Nedd nan and Paradise primary. The CEO believes that it is time that youths are given the tools to push Guyana forward, especially in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Nedd called on the Ministries of Education and Public Telecommunications to support the company’s effort, which does not just stop at providing internet access for the youths at the primary level.

In addition to ensuring that the little ones are equipped, GTT has allocated $8 million from the fund to STEM Guyana and $3 million to the University of Guyana (UG) to aid with the promotion of strategic initiatives. He said the Innov8 fund is also open and available to persons who are involved in STEM. According to the CEO, his vision is to ensure that $200 million is available every year for STEM education and projects in the near future. Vice-Chancellor of UG, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, communicated his gratitude to GTT for the donation and expressed his optimism about the future of STEM. He said STEM is the future that will help to build connectivity among science, business and other areas. Director of STEM Guyana, Colin Sawh, expressed similar sentiments as he commended GTT for their contribution, which he said will go a far way in helping STEM Guyana to execute its projects.

Baby on the mend, mom still critical

–– after both ingested poison DOCTORS are reportedly battling to save the life of 19-year-old Roshini Ramlakhan, of East Berbice, who last Saturday drank poison and gave some to her one-year-old baby after a heated argument with her husband. According to Ramlakhan’s mother, Kayolall Thakurdyal, the doctors were able to remove the poison from the toddler’s system, and despite the lips being swollen, red and blistered, the child is now able to drink his formula. Thakurdyal related that on Saturday last, she received a call saying that her daughter was at the Number 61 bus shed; that a greenish substance was coming out of her mouth; and that her son was next to her and crying uncontrollably. She said that she later learnt that her daughter and her husband of two years had an argument and that she ingested gramaxone in a bid to end her life.

Public-spirited citizens rushed to teenaged mother and baby to the Skeldon Hospital. Dinesh Singh, the 23-year-old husband, told the Guyana Chronicle that on the morning in question, he and Roshini did have an argument but that it was nothing major as to warrant her attempting to end her life. “We had a li’l quarrel the morning, but we did okay; was not a big fight or so,” Dinesh said, “but like she took it to heart and decided to try fuh kill sheself and meh son.” He said they would always have their little arguments and recalled her threatening once when their son was just three months old, that she would end both her life and the baby’s. Now her relatives are blaming the husband for what she did, saying that it is the constant bickering that pushed her over the edge.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Convict begins jail time for robbing neighbour

REPEAT offender Clifton Ramsarran, who was caught by cops on Sunday after being on the run for some time, has begun serving a five-year prison term which was handed down by Senior Magistrate Alex Moore in early February. The convict was accused of robbing his neighbour, Sabita Kellawan, at her Number Two Village, East Canje, Berbice home in May 2017, while her ailing mother looked on helplessly.

Court prosecutor, Police Corporal Winston Poliah told the court that Ramsarran, armed with a cutlass and a rope, attacked and robbed Kellawan. The court heard too that the convict placed the rope around the woman’s neck in an attempt to strangle her, thus forcing her to hand over her valuables, including money and jewellery. Ramsarran upon collecting the valuables jumped a fence in the yard and fled the scene. Following the incident, the

convict was arrested and charged but he had stopped attending the trial after he was placed on bail and had posted it. The trial continued in Ramsarran’s absence and at the conclusion he was found

guilty and sentenced. He was recently released from jail having served a three-year sentence for a charge of break and enter and larceny.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Monday, March 07, 2018 Tuesday, March 08, 2018 Wednesday, March 09, 2018 Thursday, March 10, 2018

09:00 hrs 09:30 hrs 10:30 hrs 12:00 hrs

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Hetmyer, Gayle tons give Windies winning start HARARE, Zimbabwe (CMC) – Man-of-theMatch Shimron Hetmyer and veteran opener Chris Gayle both struck imperious hundreds as West Indies overwhelmed United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 60 runs to make a winning start to their World Cup qualification campaign here yesterday. Choosing to bat first in the Group A contest at Old Hararians, the Caribbean side motored to a massive 357 for four off their 50 overs, with Hetmyer blasting 127 and fellow left-hander Gayle carving out 123. Hetmyer faced 93 balls and belted 14 fours and four sixes to mark his maiden One-Day International hundred while Gayle lashed seven fours and 11 massive sixes in a 91-ball innings which delivered his 23rd one-day century. Stroke-maker Shai Hope gathered 35 before

requiring 107 balls to post his second ODI century while Anwar faced 62 balls and slammed five fours and three sixes. Holder struck twice in the 39th over, removing Anwar and Mohammad Usman (1) and even though Shahzad and Mufti put on a lively 80 off 60 deliveries for the sixth wicket, the target proved beyond UAE’s reach. West Indies face Papua New Guinea in their second match tomorrow at the same venue.

West Indies captain Jason Holder picked up five for 53 with his medium pacers

retiring hurt with a knock to knee in the final over while left-hander opener Evin Lewis struck 31. I n r e p l y, R a m e e z Shahzad stroked an impressive unbeaten 112 as UAE rallied to 297 for six off their allotted overs, in an effort that gained the minnows plaudits. Shaiman Anwar weighed in with 64, Adnan Mufti got 45 while Chirag Suri hit 38, as UAE did well to bat out their 50 overs despite the defeat. Captain Jason Holder was the best Windies bowler, picking up five for 53 with his medium pace. The result was never really in doubt once the Windies notched their fourth highest total in ODIs, as Gayle and Hetmyer dominated the inexperienced UAE attack. Gayle posted 88 for the first wicket with Lewis who faced 49 balls and struck three fours before falling lbw to left-arm spinner Ahmed Raza in the 17th over. His dismissal brought Gayle and Hetmyer together, and they added a further 103 for the second wicket to keep the Windies in cruise control. The 38-year-old Gayle provided the early momentum, punching five fours and three sixes to ease to his half-century off 47 deliveries, before racing to three figures off a mere 32 more balls. He brought up his landmark in the 25th over with a single down the ground off seamer Mohammed Naveed, to become only

the third batsman to score ODI hundreds against 11 different countries. South African Hashim Amla and Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar are the other two batsmen to have achieved the feat. Gayle then celebrated with successive sixes off the first three balls of the next over from captain and off-spinner Rohan Mustafa before eventually holing out to deep mid-wicket in the 29th over off leg-spinner Imran Haider. The 21-year-old Hetmyer quickly took charge of the innings, accelerating the scoring to reach his hundred off 78 balls in the 44th over. He added 77 for the third wicket with Marlon Samuels (15) and a further 65 for the fourth wicket with Hope before falling to a catch at the wicket off seamer Amir Hayat in the 48th over. In reply, UAE found themselves in early trouble when they lost their top three to slump to 69 for three in the 17th over. Seamer Kemar Roach had Mustafa caught at the wicket by Hetmyer for eight in the fourth over with the score on 19 and Holder struck twice, first claiming Ghulam Shabber caught and bowled for six in the 13th over and then sending back Chirag Suri caught behind. To UAE’s credit, however, there was no collapse as Shahzad and Anwar put on 144 to keep West Indies on their toes. The 30-year-old Shahzad counted nine fours and four sixes in a knock

SCORES IN BRIEF FOR OTHER MATCHES PLAYED ON TUESDAY: IRELAND beat PNG by four wickets, Harare Sports Club, Harare (Group A) PNG 235 all out, 50 overs (Tony Ura 151, Chad Soper 25; Andy McBrine 3-38, Boyd Rankin 2-41, Kevin O’Brien 2-53) Ireland 237-6, 49.1 overs (William Porterfield 111, Ed Joyce 53, Paul Stirling 27; Assad Vala 2-39) Player of the match – Tony Ura (PNG) ZIMBABWE beat Afghanistan by two runs, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo (Group B) Zimbabwe 196 all out, 43 overs (Brendan Taylor 89, Sikandar Raza 60, Graeme Cremer 19 not out; Rashid Khan 3-38, Mujeeb Rahman 3-49, Dawlat Zadran 2-17)

Afghanistan 194 all out, 49.3 overs (Rahmat Shah 69, Mohammad Nabi 51, Mohamad Shahzad 24; Sikandar Raza 3-40) Player of the match – Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) SCOTLAND beat Hong Kong by four wickets, Bulawayo Athletic Club, Bulawayo (Group B) Hong Kong 91 all out, 38.2 overs (Nizakat Khan 26, Aizaz Khan 17, Ehsan Khan 16 not out, Tom Sole 4-15, Alasdair Evans 3-19, Mark Watt 2-23) Scotland 92-6, 23.3 overs (Kyle Coetzer 41 not out, George Munsey 22; Ehsan Khan 3-29, Ehsan Nawaz 2-24) Player of the match – Tom Sole (Scotland) Fixtures for Thursday (matches start 09h30 local time, matches featuring the Netherlands and Nepal will be classified as List-A matches as the two sides don’t have ODI status coming into this tournament): Netherlands v UAE, Harare Sports Club, Harare (Group A) Wi n d i e s v P N G , Old Hararians, Harare (Group A) Scotland v Nepal, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo (Group B) Afghanistan v Hong Kong, Bulawayo Athletic Club, Bulawayo (Group B)

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES innings C. Gayle c Amir Hayat b Imran Haider 123 E. Lewis lbw b Ahmed Raza 31 S. Hetmyer c wkp. Ghulam Shabber b Amir Hayat 127 M. Samuels c Chirag Suri b Rohan Mustafa 15 S. Hope ret. hurt 35 J. Holder not out 12 A. Nurse not out 0 Extras: (b-1, lb-8, w-5) 14 Total: (4 wkts, 50 overs) 357 Fall of wickets: 1-88, 2-191, 3-268, 4-333. Bowling: Mohmmed Naveed 9-0-53-0, Amir Hayat 10-1-80-1, Rohan Mustafa 10-0-66-1, Imran Haider 10-0-62-1, Ahmed Raza 9-0-67-1, Shaiman Anwar 2-0-20-0.

UAE innings Rohan Mustafa c wkp. Hetmyer b Roach 8 Chirag Suri c wkp. Hetmyer b Holder 38 Ghulam Shabber c & b Holder 6 Rameez Shahzad not out 112 Shaiman Anwar lbw b Holder 64 Mohammad Usman c wkp Hetmyer b Holder 1 Adnan Mufti c Lewis b Holder 45 Amir Hayat not out 1 Extras: (b-11, lb-3, w-8) 22 Total: (6 wkts, 50 overs) 297 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-50, 3-69, 4-213, 5-215, 6-295. Bowling: Cottrell 4.4-0-22-0, Roach 10-0-60-1, Holder 10-1-53-5, Samuels 6-0-28-0, Mohammed 0.2-0-0-0, Nurse 9-0-61-0, Miller 10-0-59-0. Result: West Indies won by 60 runs. Points: West Indies 2, UAE 0. Man-of-the-Match: Shimron Hetmyer

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

99 Days to go... Cuba is the first Caribbean country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup WITH 99 days remaining until the kick-off of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Chronicle Sport will be publishing, daily, some historical facts relative to the world’s most popular lucrative sporting event. Today, we take you back to the 1938 World Cup which was the third hosting of the event, where the Cuba National Football Team became the first Caribbean team to participate in the FIFA World Cup. Cuba’s qualification came about as a result of the decision to hold this, the third

Cuba at the 1938 World Cup

World Cup tournament, in France. This decision was poorly received in the Americas, who felt the tournament should have returned to their side of the globe after the second one was held in Italy. All nations in South America except Brazil withdrew, and all CONCACAF nations except Cuba withdrew, thus the two qualified by default. The tournament was held as a straight knock-out tournament of 16 nations and once the tournament got on the way, the Cuban

team defeated Romania in a replay 2-1 after drawing against them 3-3. They (Cuba) were then eliminated in the quarter-finals by Sweden, 8-0. Cuba have not returned to the World Cup since. They have, however, finished second in the Caribbean Cup in 1996, 1999 and 2005 and won the 2012 Caribbean Cup. Haiti (1974 West Germany), Jamaica (1998 France) and Trinidad and Tobago (2010 Germany) are the other Caribbean sides to feature at the World Cup.

Fan safety, price gouging, racism among concerns facing Russia WHEN Lionel Messi and Argentina stepped out at the Luzhniki Stadium in November, it felt like a dress rehearsal for Russia 2018’s dream final. A capacity crowd filed past the monolithic statue of Vladimir Lenin, through the impeccably preserved Soviet-era facade and into plush, renovated stands. Lining up on the pitch were, in one half, the best player in the world and his teammates; opposite them a team representing the host nation whose fans displayed a banner reading, “Together we are a family”. Messi failed to score and Russia, willing but limited, were beaten by a Sergio Aguero goal. Rather more deflating was the post-match sight of supporters queuing in their thousands to access one of the three train stations nearby, corralled by the authorities into a line that took more than two hours to clear. While it gave rise to little more than frustration, it did speak of a process yet to be properly thought through. That is what these dry runs are for and that, essentially, is where we are with 100 days until the World Cup kicks off with Russia facing Saudi Arabia. It will be all right on the night, certainly where the games’ staging and televised spectacle are concerned -- nobody, despite the usual flickers of concern about a host country’s preparations, can seriously doubt that. But Russia 2018 remains a tournament beset by more

localised queries and concerns than most, as well as one or two fundamental issues that may shape the future face of an entire sport. The world’s best football isn’t the World Cup -- it’s competitions like the Champions League. It’s why Neymar’s fractured metatarsal, which will keep him out for a minimum of two months, will be such a big storyline. It feeds into the fact that any element of confusion and delay to proceedings will cause people to switch off from the action in Russia.

in its history, it will struggle to change the perception that it’s not exactly an attractive destination for football fans. Against that, there are some more encouraging figures: the U.S. and Netherlands, neither of whom qualified for the tournament, provided 87 052 and 71 096 requests, respectively. It was the last thing organisers needed then, when supporters of Spartak Moscow and Athletic Bilbao brawled in the Spanish city before the sides’ Europa League meeting on February 22. A policeman

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, left, and President of Russia Vladimir Putin at the group-stage draw in December. (Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty Images)

There is also the more practical and pressing matter of the engagement of supporters on the ground. FIFA have been keen to trumpet healthy ticket demand figures, with applications totalling 8.4 million globally by the end of January. Yet only 57 957 of those had come from England, usually one of the best-supported countries at a tournament, suggesting that,\ despite the fact Russia will be more accessible this summer than at any point

tragically died of a heart attack after a flare was thrown his way during the clashes. There is no suggestion Spartak fans were responsible for his death but, after a series of Champions League meetings between Russian and English sides that went off without serious incident, this was an unwelcome return to the headlines Russia generated at Euro 2016 in France. The ghosts of Marseille and the appalling violence

around England’s clash with Russia still linger, giving rise to fear that has never quite gone away. In fact, Russia has cracked down considerably on hooliganism within its own borders and the prospect of danger around the stadiums seems remote. One ultra, who follows the Samara-based team Krylia Sovetov and has links to some of those who participated in the Marseille violence, told ESPN FC that the intention among past troublemakers is to lie low. The present domestic season has seen police act with force towards fans on several occasions, notably during a high-profile match between Zenit St Petersburg and Spartak Moscow in August. But the chances of miscreants getting anywhere near a stadium this summer are remote in themselves: all supporters, domestic or international, are required to apply for a ‘Fan ID’ for which rigorous background checks are made, also helping to nullify the risk of touting. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, last month signed a law rubber-stamping steep fines for those caught illegally selling tickets for the World Cup. Putin himself has kept largely quiet in relation to this summer and there is no mistaking the nature of his priorities. The majority of supporters are likely to make whistle-stop visits to host cities and remain in FIFA-run area around the stadia, reducing the risk to potential danger or unpleasantness. Yet those

not travelling with official groups may find themselves hamstrung by the exorbitant prices charged for hotel rooms and apartments in smaller, less tourist-friendly cities such as Saransk and Volgograd, where England will take on Tunisia. The Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda recently visited Saransk, where they were quoted up to £1,275 a night to rent modest Soviet-era apartments. A shortage of hotel rooms, and subsequent demand, is one reason; another is the fact that Portugal, and Cristiano Ronaldo, will play Iran there and that comes with a premium. Saransk is one of a number of venues whose stadium -new, gleaming and seemingly far too big for the modest local side it will house from next season -- has struggled against deadlines. The most glaring is Samara’s dramatic Cosmos Arena, which is not expected to be ready until mid-March and will not hold a test event until April 28, seven weeks before it hosts its first World Cup tie. The path here has, for many cities and venues, been fraught with financial and logistical issues (plans for the Cosmos Arena, to take one example, were scaled down from an 80 million high dome when costs became too high, although its 65M replacement will be striking enough). But you can’t help feel this is a tournament Russia would like to get out of its hair. The government cut

its World Cup budget by £340M -- to around £7.4B -- in 2015 and, although the event’s scope has accordingly shrunk, it still appears a financial millstone in difficult times. Russia’s place in the global political landscape has changed since 2010, too, and its perception among certain other states -- especially in Europe -- is one of an unpredictable and unreliable partner. Beyond the biggest clubs and cities, this is not a country with a voracious match-going culture. A survey by DW.com last year showed that only 17 percent of its inhabitants regard themselves as long-term football fans, with a third watching from time to time. They will need convincing that the event in front of them is special -- whether it features Messi, Neymar, a resurgent national team or a group stage battle between Panama and Tunisia. Tickets for locals are priced from £16 in the group stage but rise dramatically after that, with second-round tickets starting at £29. For many, these are not trifling sums. As recently as 2014 the average monthly wage in Mordovia, the republic in which Saransk resides, was just £250. Empty seats at less glamorous fixtures will be among FIFA’s worst nightmares. Despite the lingering question marks, Russia’s tournament could be in a worse place at this stage. The biggest job over the next 100 days is to convince people of exactly that.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Athletics and sport pay great tribute to Sir Roger Bannister LORD Coe led the tributes after Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a subfour-minute mile, died at the age of 88. Bannister, who achieved the feat by running 3:59.4 at Oxford’s Iffley Road stadium in May 1954 - in what turned out to be his final year in athletics – died on Saturday last surrounded by his family. The Commonwealth Games and European Championships gold medallist went on to have a successful career as a neurosurgeon, but only after paving the way for some of Britain’s great middle-distance runners. Lord Coe was one of those, breaking the mile record on three separate occasions in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the last of those seeing him cover the distance in 3:47.33. Coe, who is now president of the International Association of Athletics Federations

Sir Roger Bannister died on Saturday aged 88.

(IAAF) said: “This is a day of intense sadness both for our nation and for all of us in athletics. “There is not a single athlete of my generation who was not inspired by Roger and his achievements both on and off the track.” Former Great Britain sprinter Darren Campbell told Sky Sports News: “He was an inspiration for any-

body of my age, especially anyone wanting to get involved with athletics. “Anyone who wanted to understand the meaning of the sport, just going out there giving your best, but having no limits and never giving up, when people tell you something is not possible, that’s Sir Roger Bannister to me.” UK Sport chair and Olympic gold medallist Dame Kath-

erine Grainger hailed the life of a man who “set the standard for British sport on the world stage”. She said: “This is a very sad day but it gives us the opportunity to reflect on a great life. “Sir Roger will always be remembered as a man who set the standard for British sport on the world stage. In the few times I was lucky enough to meet him, Sir Roger was incredibly modest about his own extraordinary sporting performances but always generous to others and those that came after him. “He went on to achieve great things in his career after athletics especially as an eminent and renowned doctor. I know I speak for the whole of UK Olympic and Paralympic sports in paying great tribute to him, thanking him for his inspiration and sending our thoughts and best wishes to his family.”

Perera powers Sri Lanka to victory over India in T20 opener

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Kusal Perera struck a belligerent 66 off 37 balls to set up a five-wicket victory for hosts Sri Lanka against India in the Twenty20 Tri-Series opener at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday. Chasing 175 for a win in the first match of the tournament, which also features Bangladesh, Sri Lanka lost their way in the middle overs but ultimately reached their target with nine balls to spare. Put in to bat first, India got off to a wobbly start but recovered through a fine 90 from opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan to post a challenging 174 for five in their 20 overs. Sri Lanka lost Kusal Mendis for 11 in the second over of their chase but Perera and Danushka Gunathilaka put the Indian bowlers to the sword during a 58-run second-wicket stand in

just 3.3 overs. India seamer Shardul Thakur conceded 27 runs in

wrest momentum for his side. The left-hander completed his half-century in 22 balls and

Kusal Perera raced to a 22-ball fifty the third over of the innings hit six fours and four sixes in his with Perera smashing five knock before being out stumped fours and a six in that over to to off-spinner Washington Sun-

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Sri Lanka also lost Upul Tharanga to leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal cheaply to suffer a minor hiccup before all-rounder Thisara Perera hit 22 off 10 balls to take the side home. Earlier, India’s batting got off to a false start with the fall of stand-in captain Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina in the first two overs. Leading the side in the absence of the rested regular captain Virat Kohli, Rohit fell without scoring and it was left to Dhawan and Manish Pandey to lift the side through a third-wicket stand of 95. Gunathilaka dismissed the dangerous Dhawan, who hit six fours and an identical number of sixes in his 49-ball knock, while Pandey made 37. The second match of the tournament will be played between Bangladesh and India at the same venue tomorrow.

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ICC charges Warner, de Kock for Durban dispute

David Warner

(REUTERS) - Australia vice-captain David Warner and South Africa batsman Quinton de Kock were charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday for their heated off-field exchange on the fourth day of the first Test in Durban. CCTV footage from the players tunnel at Kingsmead on Sunday showed Warner and home wicketkeeper de Kock involved in a fiery exchange as players climbed the stairwell to their dressing rooms during the tea break. “The umpires officiating in the Durban Test have reported Warner for a level 2 offence and de Kock for a level 1 offence for ‘conduct

that brings the game into disrepute’,” the ICC said in a statement on their website (www.icc-cricket.com). The teams have been given until today to respond to the charges handed out by match referee Jeff Crowe. Warner faces a possible suspension from the second Test in Port Elizabeth. A level 2 charge brings with it up to four demerit points that could result in a one-Test or two limited-overs game ban. He could also be fined 100 percent of his match fee from the first Test. Australia won the opening Test of the fourmatch series by 118 runs. The second Test begins on March 9.

Russell ruled out of remaining PSL 2018

Andre Russell

ISLAMABAD United have been dealt a major blow as Andre Russell has been ruled out of the remainder of PSL 2018 due to a hamstring injury. The all-rounder pulled his right hamstring in the very first over of the clash against Karachi Kings last Sunday while fielding, when he tried to run across from long-off and stop the ball. “Russell was injured during the game against Karachi Kings and MRI results were not encouraging. He will not take any further part in the tournament,” an Islamabad United official was quoted as saying by Geo.TV. In his first competition since returning from a one-year ban for doping whereabouts violation, Russell has been an integral member of the United set-up. In this season, he has four wickets and 82 runs to his name, including a thrilling last-ball six against Lahore Qalandars in a oneover eliminator. The extent of the injury could have a bearing on his availability for Kolkata Knight Riders in the upcoming edition of the IPL, scheduled to begin on April 7. (Cricbuzz)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Represent Berbice with pride, Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Memorial football launch set for today passion and commitment By Joe Chapman

… BCB president tells U-17 team PRESIDENT of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Hilbert Foster last Monday urged the Berbice 14-man Under-17 team to represent the Ancient County with pride, passion and commitment during the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-17 Tournament. The newly-elected president was speaking at a specially-arranged meeting of the players, their parents and team management at the Albion cricket ground. Berbice, Foster stated, was known around the cricketing world as the Home of Legends such as Rohan Kanhai, John Trim, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Ivan Madray, Alvin Kallicharran, Roy Fredericks and Leonard Baichan. Addressing the full house of cricketers and parents, Foster spoke widely on the importance of team unity, personal discipline, hard work and commitment. No form of indiscipline would be tolerated as the management of the team has been authorised to send home play-

ers who break the BCB Code of Conduct. The BCB president urged the attentive parents to be positive role models to their children and to instil in them the formula necessary for success.

Vice-president and Chairman of the BCB Cricket Development Committee, Albert Smith, urged the 14-man squad to work as a unit and to celebrate each other’s’ success. A highly successful cricket

the teams. Smith also urged the cricketers’ parents to work along with the Berbice Cricket Board as the Board intends to create a working bond among itself, players, parents and the general public.

BCB president Hilbert Foster speaking to players and parents

He committed the BCB to invest in the players’ future and announced that 2018 would be remembered as the year when Berbice Cricket was returned to its rightful place as the best in Guyana.

coach at the Inter-county and National levels, Smith stated that he was confident that the management team of former National players, Andre Percival and Delbert Hicks, would bring the best out of

Berbice are the defending champions and they face off today with the GCB Select Under-15 team at Bourda while Demerara clash with Essequibo at the Lusignan ground.

GFF/Pele Alumni Frank Watson U-15 League, EBFA

Agricola’s Lambert fires 7 goals in 2 matches … Grove suffer defeat, Timehri move to third

IT WAS another productive weekend for leaders Agricola Red Triangle, who increased their advantage with back-toback wins, as they maintained their unbeaten streak. Grove Hi Tech suffered their first loss, as they endured mixed fortunes when rivalry in the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) leg of the GFF/Pele Alumni Frank Watson U-15 Intra-Association League continued last Saturday and Sunday at the Timehri Red Ground. Also in winners’ row were Herstelling Raiders, who also suffered mixed fortunes, Diamond Upsetters, Timehri Panthers, Swan and Mocha. But the weekend belonged to Agricola and their leading forward Brian Lambert, who fired in a helmet-trick in their 5-1 win over Samatta Point/ Kaneville on Saturday and followed up on Sunday with a hat-trick when they trounced Friendship 4-0. Lambert’s seven-goal performance last weekend has taken him to the top spot on the goalscorers’ list with 15 goals in seven matches, overtaking Herstelling Raiders’ Shoran James who has 14 also from a similar number of matches. Lambert netted in the 10th, 21st, 36th and 52nd minutes against Samatta Point with Leon Hope tucking in the other in the 51st minute. Samatta Point got their consolation goal

from Matthew Austin in the 53rd minute. The lone walkover at the weekend out of eight matches was recorded when Mocha did not show up for their match against Herstelling Raiders on Saturday. Diamond Upsetters waltzed to their third win in seven matches when they stopped Soesdyke Falcons 3-1 on goals from Michael Pierre (18), Shafeek Russell (38) and Jamal Thomas in the 43rd minute. Soesdyke had taken the lead in the 4th minute through a Tyrone Burnette goal. Timehri Panthers handed Grove Hi Tech their first loss of the league - a 6-0 whipping. Ishmael Pulsarran led the way with a hat-trick (28th, 68th, 69th), while there was one apiece for Yohance Reynolds (18), Prince Forde (30) and Tywell Lovell in the 44th minute. Swan FC, based on the Linden Soesdyke Highway, posted

their third win in six matches when they thumped Samatta Point/Kaneville 4-1 in the opening encounter on Sunday. Azeem Calistro opened the proceedings in the 12th minute and was emulated by Joshua Joseph twice in the 22nd and 24th minutes before Kevin Daniels got his in the 35th minute. Jaden Forte was the lone scorer for Samatta Point in the 39th minute. Agricola then took the field for their clash with Friendship and ran away comfortable 4-0 winners, led by Lambert with a hat-trick (5th, 11th, 13th), Brandon Narine converted the other goal on 39th minute. Mocha Champs, who did not show up on Saturday ensured they did so on Sunday and took full points in their match against Soesdyke Falcons, 3-1. Mocha wasted little time in stamping their authority and within eight minutes had already put the game

in the bag. Kelvin Gordon (3rd), Genesis Lewis in the 5th and Jermaine Harry in the 8th minute netted for Mocha, Tyrone Burnette scored the lone goal for Soesdyke in the 31st minute. Grove rebounded well from their loss on Saturday to win an exciting duel against Herstelling Raiders, 2-1. Herstelling had taken the lead through the energetic and lethal Shoran James in the 16th minute, his 14th goal of the league. But Grove, led by their captain and main defender Devon Padmore, were not in the mood to go down again. Padmore netted the winning goal in the 32nd minute, his fifth of the league; but that was after the equalising effort of Jaden Isaacs in the 26th minute. Eight more matches are carded for this weekend at the same venue, four each day.

Latest Points Standings: Team Agricola Grove Timehri Kuru Kururu Diamond Upsetters Swan FC Herstelling Mocha Samatta Point/KV Friendship Soesdyke Diamond United

P 7 8 5 6 7 6 7 6 6 7 7 4

W 6 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 0

L 0 1 1 2 3 3 4 2 3 5 6 4

D 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0

F 22 11 16 8 5 19 22 7 7 6 10 1

A 3 11 2 7 7 7 13 5 14 14 19 33

GD +19 0 +14 +1 -2 +12 +9 0 -7 -8 -9 -32

Points 19 15 12 12 10 9 9 8 7 6 3 0

THE annual Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Memorial Linden Schools Under-18 football championship will kick off as scheduled next Monday, March 12, but the launching has been rescheduled for today, after last Wednesday’s launch did not come off, at the YMCA building. Last week’s planned launch failed to come off as the participating schools, with the exception of the Linden Technical Institute and education officials, did not show up and it is hoped that those responsible for the failure last week will make themselves available. Coordinator for the event, Kevin Dejonge, said that the briefing is very important for the contesting schools, since a number of details pertaining to participation will be discussed and non-attendance could see teams being sanctioned. There will be one game on the opening day next Monday. Christianburg Wismar Secondary will ace Harmony at 15:30hrs and the next playing date will see a double-header feature at the Wisburg Secondary School ground. The other schools are Mackenzie High, New Silvercity Secondary, Linden Technical Institute, Linden Foundation Secondary and the Combined Private Schools. It is the coordinator’s hope that all the teams will be present this afternoon for a prompt 15:30hrs start. (Joe Chapman)

Kobras stun Pacesetters in Division 2, Guardians send Sonics U-23 team packing KOBRAS defeated Pacesetters in the 2nd Division while Plaisance Guardians downed Sonics in the U-23 section, when the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Knockout Championship, commenced on Monday. Guardians prevailed over Pacesetters 59-52 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue. Amoniki John recorded a game-high 16 points in the hard-fought win. He was assisted by Patrick John, Rondell Wilson and Selwyn McAllister, who contributed 11, 10 and nine points correspondingly. For Pacesetters, Quincy Dos Santos netted 15 points, while Zion Gray, Kwesi Roberts and Stephen Peters supported with 10, eight and six points each in that order. The first period highlighted the cagey and competitive nature of the contest, as Pacesetters secured a slim 13-12 advantage. The Georgetown unit maintained their lead in the second stanza, outscoring their opponents 13-11 to enter the halftime interval ahead at 26-23. However, the momentum changed in the pivotal third period, with Kobras netting 14 points while restricting Pacesetters to 10 points to seize control at 37-36. The victory was then

sealed in the final quarter, as Kobras outhustled their opponents 22-16. Meanwhile Plaisance Guardians brushed aside Sonics 81-62. Leading 21-17 at the end of the first quarter, Guardians commenced their domination in the second period, outscoring Sonics 19-8 to lead 40-25 at the halftime break. Guardians maintained their control in an evenly contested third period, outshooting their foes 20-19 to enter the final period ahead at 60-44. The result was then put to bed, as Guardians outscored Sonics 22-18. Anton Fileen top-scored in the rout with 20 points. Nigel Bowen and Terrence Daniels were the next best scorers with 14 and 11 points respectively. Chipping in with nine, six and five points respectively were Andrew Johnson, Jared Sears and Akeem Crandon. On the other side, Manasseh Murray and Lemuel Grant battled to 15 and 13 points each. Supporting were Shemon Sharples (8) Shemar Keiler (6) and Jacques Vicente (5). The tournament continues today at the same venue with another round of matches. In the 2nd Division, Eagles will oppose Guardians at 18:30hrs while Kobras match skills with the University of Guyana (UG) Trojans from 20:30hrs.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Expect great things from CARIFTA 18-member squad - Hutson By Michelangelo Jacobus

A FINAL 18-member contingent to the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Games, scheduled for the Bahamas in less than five weeks’ time, has been named by the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) following three separate trial meets hosted at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora. The 18-member squad is as follows: Daniel Williams, Chantoba Bright, Deshanna Skeete, Shaquka Tyrell, Princess Brown, Anthony Williams, Tremaine Brown, Jermaine Simmons, Murphy Nash, Tortque Boyce, Kenisha Phillips, Cordell Charles, Avon Samuels, Joanna Archer, Onasha Rogers, Kissana Glenn, Kezra Murray and Claudrice McKoy. Fifteen of the above athletes listed are local-based while the trio of Onassha Rogers, Avon Samuels and Claudrice McKoy are overseas-based and competing at the US National Collegiate Athletics Association

Chantoba Bright

Daniel Williams

(NCAA) level with their respective colleges. McKoy was third in the 1500 metres (4:50.88) at last year’s CARIFTA Games, and, along with both Samuels and Rogers, has been one of the top performers at her collegiate level. The aforementioned athletes have all had

Claudrice McKoy

several top-of-the-podium finishes this season for Monroe College and are still arguably the best Guyana has to offer in their respective track events. Following last year’s eight-member team who raked in Guyana’s largest medal tally (eight) at the Games, AAG boss Aubrey

IAAF extends Russia’s ban, warns of new sanctions

(REUTERS) - Russia’s ban from international athletics over widespread doping was extended by the sport’s governing body on Tuesday and the country was warned it could face further sanctions this year. The International Association of Athletics Federations said it would consider next July withdrawing permission for Russian athletes to compete as neutrals “if progress is not made.” It might even consider expelling Russia from the IAAF, it added after a Council meeting held in Birmingham, England. Russia has been banned from the sport since November 2015 after the McLaren report discovered widespread doping. Russia’s political and sport-

ing leaders have repeatedly denied state involvement in doping, a key sticking point in lifting the ban, although Russian athletes were allowed to compete as neutrals at last year’s world championships. The IAAF said in a statement issued after its meeting on Tuesday that “while some conditions have been met.... several key areas have still not been satisfied by RusAF (Russia’s athletics federation) and RUSADA (Russia’s anti-doping agency)”. This included a plan for this year “that shows an adequate amount of testing” and fixing legal issues which currently prevent athletics coaches from being provisionally banned. Russia is still regarded as non-compliant by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday March 07, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to Sunday’s quiz: (1) 8 centuries (ODIs) (2) 2 centuries (T20 Int’ls) Today’s Quiz: (1) How many ODIs WI women are scheduled to play on the current tour of NZ? (2) In which group is the WI slated in the current ICC World Cup Qualifiers? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

However, the country has been reinstated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after being banned from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics last month where Russians could compete as neutrals. Separately, the IAAF said it had agreed to a set of principles to allow athletes to transfer allegiance from one country to another. Transfers have been banned since the IAAF ordered an immediate freeze in February last year. Unlike some other sports such as soccer, athletics allows its competitors to switch nationalities even after they have competed for one country. Several dozen athletes changed allegiance on the eve of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The new rules would include a minimum three-year wait, a review panel to “determine the credibility of applications” and evidence the new country was offering full citizenship rights. Athletes would be allowed only one transfer in their careers and could not change nationalities before the age of 20. The IAAF said the changes would be voted on at its Council meeting in Buenos Aires in July and the freeze on switching nationality would remain in place until then.

Onassha Rogers

Hutson had expressed hopes earlier this year of sending a 20-man squad to the event which will be held in The Bahamas, March 30-April 2. However, speaking to Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview, Hutson noted that he was satisfied with the contingent especially pointing

out that the field athletes stood up with quality performances in the jump events. However, he expressed some disappointment at the fact that field events such as the discus, javelin and shot put have not been producing athletes at the requisite level. “I expect great things from this team, Guyanese should now understand that at the junior and youth level, when we go to these competitions, we have moved from just participating to actually being contenders for medals and spots on the podium.” He has special praise for long jumper Anthony Williams whom the AAG has had an eye on for quite

some time especially after his more than creditable performances at last year’s National Schools championships. In terms of financial support for the contingent’s travelling expenses, Hutson said that the AAG has reached out to state agencies and some private sector entities. “The feedback received thus far has been encouraging but we need as much assistance as we can.” The team will depart the Land of Many Waters on March 28 or 29. The frontrunners of the campaign will be Daniel Williams, Chantoba Bright, Claudrice McKoy, Onassha Rogers and Avon Samuels.

Vickery through to Indian Wells main draw

Sachia Vickery about to serve against Ashley Kratzer at the Indian Wells yesterday

SACHIA Vickery defeated Ashley Kratzer yesterday in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 to reach the main draw for the 2018 BNP Paribas Open (also known as the 2018 Indian Wells Masters) in California. Earlier in the qualifiers, Vickery had defeated

Rebecca Peterson, also in straight sets, 6-3, 4-0. Speaking to Chronicle Sport last evening, Vickery said, “The girls had started off well, but I’m in a really good place right now.” According to Vickery, who also climbed four places in the WTA rank-

ings, she’s elated at the move since it will give her a good opportunity to play some of the world’s best. Meanwhile, Vickery said she’s focused on progressing further in the tournament which fetches a US$8.6M first place prize.

Hetmyer, Gayle tons give Windies winning start

See Page 27

Shimron Hetmyer goes on the attack during his 127 against UAE yesterday. (Photo courtesy ICC)

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CMC) – Rookie West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer was understandably thrilled after notching his maiden One-Day International hundred, but said it was batting with superstar Chris Gayle that had fulfilled one of his childhood dreams. The 21-year-old Hetmyer top-scored with 127 while fellow left-hander Gayle pummeled 123 as West Indies notched their fourth highest ODI score of 357 for four

Hetmyer says batting with Gayle has fulfilled one of his childhood dreams

Chris Gayle powers one down the ground in his 123. (J IDI/Getty Images)

en route to beating minnows United Arab Emirates by 60 runs in their opening match of the ICC World Cup qualifiers here yesterday. Together, the pair added 103 for the second wicket, a partnership Hetmyer said he had dreamed off as a young boy growing up in Guyana. “It was a fantastic feeling for me. I grew up from the tender age of probably five and even younger watching Chris on television and thinking of the day when I could

be accompanying him at the crease,” he said afterwards. “Being there when he got his hundred was just fantastic.” Hetmyer arrived at the crease after Gayle and Evin Lewis (31) had posted 88 for the first wicket, and blossomed after a patient start to strike 14 fours and four sixes in an entertaining 93-ball knock. On 31 when Gayle perished in the 29th over, Hetmyer then accelerated his scoring, adding 77 for the third wicket

with Marlon Samuels (15) and a further 65 for the fourth wicket with Shai Hope (35), before eventually falling in the 48th over. Hetmyer said he had taken a simple approach to his innings, especially focusing on hitting the ball straighter. “I just went out to accompany Chris and try to rotate the strike as much as possible to him and at the same time trying to get myself in and I guess it worked well for me,” he explained.

“I’m just working on it (playing straight) as of late, working on hitting the ball as straight as I possibly can and not trying to go across it, and I guess it worked for me today. I’ll just keep working on it in the nets and getting it as perfect as possible.” The ODI was only Hetmyer’s third in a fledgling career, following his debut in the 50-overs format on the ill-fated tour of New Zealand last December. And after tasting the thrill

of three figures, he said he hoped it was the start of a successful career. “It was great actually. My first ODI hundred and one for me to remember, and I’ll just try to get many more,” he noted. “The guys did well and I would just like to commend the guys. Jason (Holder) the skipper he took five today and he bowled pretty well … I guess all the guys came together and did a very fantastic job.”

East Coast Crime Prevention programme WDFA records highest number of picking up pace through sports transfers during GFF mid-season window A TOTAL of 188 transfers including 46 by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) were facilitated during the mid-season transfer period, which ended on January 30. During the period, the highest number of transfers was recorded by the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) with 49, followed by the Upper Demerara Football Association (40), Georgetown Football Association (30), Rupununi Football Association (19), Berbice Football Association (3) and East Demerara Football Association (1). The Elite Clubs with the highest number of transfers include Fruta Conquerors FC and Ann’s Grove FC with seven players. Nicholai Andrews, Gregory Richardson, Tefon Daly, Simeon Moore, Miguel Rojas, Sunil Logan and Job Caesar (Fruta Conquerors

FC) and Les-Charles Critchlow, Dwight Peters, Gerald Sobers, Kevin Smith, Chavez John, William Europe and Justin Herod (Ann’s Grove FC) were among high-volume movement of players. Ian Alves, GFF’s Competition Director, said the fans are already seeing the impact of the transfers in

GFF’s Competitions Director Ian Alves

the Elite League, stating that the “the mid-season transfer period has seen quite a number of player movements, among the Elite Clubs, and this has contributed to a more competitive League.” “The fans are benefiting from the transfers, as clubs were able to bolster their performance, which is reflected on the pitch. This augurs well for the League, which is a platform for the engagement of consistent football and for senior national team selection,” said Alves. For the non-elite clubs, the top three clubs with a high number of transfers were Pouderoyen FC (31) followed by Haynes-Winners Connection FC (11) and Beacons FC (10). The next transfer window is scheduled for June 1 – July 31.

C-Division Commander, Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper, hands over the balls to the Victoria Youth Club. THE crime prevention Cooper told Chronicle tiative will be spread to programme for the East Sport, “We (the police) want several other venues along Coast of Demerara is pick- to let them know crime is the corridor. ing up steam following not the way, so on the part Over the years, the Guythe donation of several of the police we try to or- ana Police Force has been sporting articles by Senior ganise sporting activities using sport as an avenue Superintendent Edmond and social programmes to to address crime and delinCooper. have them meaningfully quency in several communiCommander Cooper, in engaged.” ties across the country. charge of the C-Division H e c o n t i n u e d , “ We Cricket and football recently donated a quanti- stayed with Victoria Youth matches as well as commuty of balls to the Victoria Club where we donated sev- nity outreach programmes Youth Club in an attempt to eral footballs to them. We are also methods through ensure that the youths have plan to do the same distri- which the GPF hopes to an afternoon activity as a bution to the other villages foster developmental ties deterrent from crime and on the East Coast.” between citizens and the delinquency. He noted that the ini- Force.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2018