Guyana chronicle e paper 03 12 2018

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Assuria opens shop in Linden

No. 105211

MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2018

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

CCJ opens third term case ...AG leads battery of lawyers to Caribbean top court

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Doubts arise over City Hall $3B debt 02 PAGE

Man killed in Buxton over old grievance 08 PAGE

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets President David Granger during bilateral talks on Sunday. President Granger, who is in India for the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Founding Conference and Solar Summit in Delhi, had earlier met India’s Energy Minister Harsh Vardan. During that meeting, India sought greater partnership with Guyana in increasing the exchange of ideas and best practices in environmental conservation, carbon sink and achieving sustainable development (Photo taken from Facebook page of Indian Ambassador to Guyana Venkatachalam Mahalingam)

Two killed in Houston crash

Call to action on business, health, 07 education, ICT – as curtain comes down PAGE

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on IDPAD Summit

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Doubts arise over City Hall $3B debt A COUNCILLOR is alleging that the Georgetown City Council has a debt in excess of $3B, partially due to contracts signed off by embattled Town Clerk Royston King without the support of the full council, but Chairman of the City’s Finance Committee Oscar Clarke said the allegations are baseless.

On Thursday, Clarke told the Guyana Chronicle that the Council has a debt of less than $2B, the greater part of which is owed to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL); but records provided by an A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Chance (APNU+AFC) Councillor, who is

a long-standing member of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), who requested anonymity, revealed that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council at the end of December 31, 2017, had a liability of $2.957B. For critical services provided by GPL, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), City Hall owes in excess of $2.064B. Additionally, as of December 31, 2017, City Hall had an outstanding sum of $28.4M for Refuse Disposal Contractors; $302.5M outstanding for wage and salary deductions; $449.5M for contractors who

Town Clerk Royston King

executed drainage works; $240,000 for rental of vehicle and equipment and $112.062M for other miscellaneous creditors.

It was noted on the documents that “agencies such as GPL, GTT statements reflect as November, 2017.”

Notably, a number of contractors who were hired to weed, clean and desilt various sections of the city were owed a collective sum of $449.5M. It is the strong belief of the APNU Councillor that all of the contracts were handed out by King without following the correct procedure.

The councillor, in explaining the established procedure, said the City Engineer must first indicate that there is need for a particular project to be executed. That engineer is expected to formulate a contract document detailing the works to be done with appropriate estimates.

“That allows persons to bid, there must be a bidding process…When that bidding process is completed, and that document goes to the City Works Committee, the City Works Committee deliberates on the works and approve, then it then goes to full council,” the councillor explained.

Once approved by the full council, the Finance Committee is instructed to issue the required payment based on the availability of finance.

According to the councillor, that procedure was not followed. The councillor is alleging that the City Works Committee has not scrutinised any proposed work in a very long time.

“The only thing I know was done, was that Mr King sat in his office, the contractor goes to him, and they sign off the contract, and the contractor gone his way with the contract,” the APNU councillor alleged.

According to him, he is unaware whether the engineer proposed all or some of the works, or the magnitude of his involvement in the entire process.

“All we know is that these things appear and we are told that we are so much billion dollars in debt, and we recognise that it is as a result of contracts, and when we saw the contracts we know none came to the City

Works Committee,” the councillor said.

Asked why the City Works Committee did not raise an alarm after seeing works being executed in the city without its knowledge, the councillor said that committee members had requested from the clerk a list of all the contractors and contracts, including the scope of work, but to date the documents are still to be provided.

“On more than one occasion we asked for these things, and they never come to us,” he lamented.

SILENT According to the councillor, the Finance Committee has been silent on these matters.

“To the best of my knowledge, the Finance Committee has not brought any allegation to the Council to say these are works going on and we don’t know anything about these works,” he posited.

The APNU councillor pointed out that the late Councillor Junior Garrett, who also sat on the Finance Committee, had raised similar concerns shortly before his passing.

Excerpts from a report of the City Engineers’ Department for the month of December, 2017, revealed that Garrett had expressed some concerns.

“Councillor Junior Garrett said he saw proposed capital works for the month of January, 2018, and asked whether the works were agreed upon by the City Works Committee, and what was the cost of the works,” a section read. Garrett had also questioned who authorised the demolition of a fence at the cemetery which was constructed through forms of donation. It was the view of Garrett that City Hall had more important projects to address.

In response, the town clerk said that the works that were being done at the cemetery were not capital works, but rather maintenance works and such did not require the attention of the City Works Committee.

The Guyana Chronicle, however, was told that any project or work costing $250,000 or more is required to be placed before the City Works Committee and subsequently the full council.

But chairman of the Finance Committee, Oscar Clarke, who is also an APNU coalition councillor sitting on the council, is maintaining that the council only has a debt of less than $2B. According to him, approximately $1.2B of the total sum is owed to the GPL, and a payment plan has been agreed.

Clarke said any decision that is made by the Finance Committee or any other committee has to be ratified by the full council.

According to him, all payments issued by the committee, is in keeping with approvals granted by the full council. Clarke also denied having any knowledge of King’s alleged bypassing of established procedures to hand out contracts to his friends and associates.

While denying that the Council has a debt of more than $3B, Clarke said what is known, is that more than $4B is owed to City Hall for rates and taxes by businesses. These allegations are surfacing at a time when King is faced with a no-confidence motion brought against him by Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor Sherod Duncan over misconduct.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Third term hearing opens today THE Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will this morning hear the appeal of the Attorney General of Guyana and Raphael Trotman against Cedric Richardson in the controversial third term case.

The case will be heard before the CCJ at 10:00am.

In a constitutional challenge Richardson, just before the May 2015 General and Regional Elections, contested the amendments made to Article 90 of the constitution that were enacted in 2000, following a bipartisan Constitutional Reform Process.

Article 90 (2) states that, “a person elected as President after the year 2000 is eligible for re-election only once.”

Richardson argued that the term limit infringes on Articles 1 and 9 of the constitution, wherein Article 1 states that “Guyana is an indivisible, secular, democratic, sovereign state in the course of transition from capitalism to socialism and shall be known as the Co-operative Republic of Guyana” and Article 9, states that “Sovereignty belongs to the people, who exercise it through their representatives and the democratic organs established by or under this constitution.”

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, the first-named appellant and former Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, the sec-

Attorney General Basil Williams

ond-named appellant, had both argued that amendments made to Article 90 are not unconstitutional.

Williams along with Solicitor-General Kim Kyte-Thomas and Barbadian Queen’s Counsel, Ralph Thorne and Hal Gallop are appearing before the CCJ. In July 2015, former Chief Justice Ian Chang ruled among other things, that the presidential term limit was unconstitutional without the approval of the people through a referendum. Justice Chang’s ruling prompted the attorney general and Trotman, the named parties, to appeal against the ruling.

Justice Chang had said Article No.17 of 2001 is without legal effect because it does not comply with other articles of the constitution dealing with repugnancy, democratic society and sov-

ereignty belonging to the people, which require a referendum for any alteration.

He had reasoned that Articles 1 and 9 underpin the republican commitment to the fundamental concept of popular sovereignty or imperium populi, thereby safeguarding against elective despotism by the elected representatives of the people.

“Thus, while the constitution provides for representative democracy, such representative democracy cannot entrench on popular sovereignty from which it derives and which is entrenched by the requirement of the referendum,” Chang had said.

DILUTES RIGHTS OF CITIZENS The former chief justice had determined that the twoterm limit of presidents indeed dilutes the rights of citizens to elect the person they wish to govern their country regardless of the number of times they wish that person to be Head of State.

In his affidavit, Plaintiff Cedric Richardson had argued that the purported alteration of the constitution

by Act 17 of 2001 would curtail or delimit the electorate’s choice of presidential candidate by rendering ineligible for the candidature any person who has been re-elected once as president, for example, former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Meanwhile, in February 2017, the Court of Appeal

by a two-one majority upheld the High Court ruling that the presidential term limit is unconstitutional and void.

Now retired, Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Carl Singh, and Justice BS Roy upheld Chang’s ruling, while acting Chief Justice (at the time) now Chancellor, Yonette Cummings-Edwards disagreed.

In her dissenting submission, Justice Cummings-Edwards said that Act #17 of 2000 did not require approval by referendum and noted that there is no dispute that it was validly passed.

NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL Secondly, insofar as Act No 17 of 2000 purported to amend article 90 of the constitution as the Honourable Chief Justice as he then was, said that amendment was not unconstitutional; the amendment was validly done.

Article 90 (2) and (3) prescribes that a person elected as president after the year 2000 is entitled to serve as president for only two terms.

Article 90, insofar as it was amended by Act no 17 of 2000, did not either directly or indirectly alter or dilute or effect [sic], or amend Articles 1, and 9 of the constitution, Justice Cummings-Edwards stated.

She cited Article 1 of the constitution which states that Guyana is an indivisible, secular, sovereign state in the course of transition from cap-

italism to socialism and shall be known as the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

The judge questioned which aspects of the amendments have affected the country’s indivisible, secular and democratic nature, as well as sovereignty by the imposition of a term limit of two terms to the presidency.

The Justice of Appeal also questioned what aspect of Guyana’s transition from capitalism to socialism and to be known as Cooperative Republic of Guyana, has been affected by imposing a term limit of two terms.

She posited that Article 9 provides that sovereignty belongs to the people who exercise it through their representatives and democratic organs established by or under this constitution. As such, it is the people who exercised their sovereignty through their representatives, Parliament and local democratic organs.

Justice Cummings-Edwards declared that Act No. 17 of 2000 was validly passed by way of two-thirds majority, it did not affect, either directly or indirectly, Articles 1 and 9 of the constitution and do not require a referendum.

She said the legislation is not unconstitutional and did not diminish the democratic right of the electorate in electing a person of their choice as president.

“I hold that Parliament acting intra vires the consti-

tution by limiting the presidential term to two terms, I will therefore allow the appeal,” said Justice Cummings-Edwards in her ruling.

Meanwhile, Justice Singh in delivering his decision said laws which in effect will prevent citizens from their constitutional right to freely elect someone of their choice is unconstitutional. He submitted that the concepts of sovereignty and democracy are critical to the answering of that question and noted that the constitution must be interpreted in a broad, liberal, purposive and holistic way, so that the role of Guyanese citizens to exercise their democratic entitlement is properly interpreted.

The former chancellor said too that the provisions of Articles 1 and 9 of the constitution ought not to be “lightly regarded,” as they are deeply entrenched and provide substantive protection to the people of this country.

The effect of the amendment to Article 90, he posited, is to create further restrictions to the persons whom the people of Guyana could choose to elect as president, even though the people may consider any such restricted person suitable to be elected the president of Guyana.

As such, Justice Singh argued that before Act No.17 of 2000 was passed, those restrictions did not exist.

Jagdeo denies PPP unpatriotic OPPOSITION Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has predicted a big victory for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) at the next polls when the party kick-started activities in observance of the 21st death anniversary of founding leader and former President Dr Cheddi Jagan on Sunday.

Addressing a gathering of about 2500 at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, Berbice, the PPP general-secretary said his party will be back in power next elections.

“We will have the most numbers at the poll to win the next elections; it’s going to be a 50,000 difference between us and them," he told the Babu Jaan gathering.

Jagdeo stressed that getting everyone on the voters list is paramount. According to him, a recent

PPP General-Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the Babu Jaan gathering on Sunday

exercise conducted by the party shows that the numbers are looking good, but persons are not making it to the registration centres, despite the fact that more people are doing registration in the current cycle than in the past.

The PPP general-secretary also

said that every effort will be made to protect the integrity of the GECOM database and to have an independent verification prior to elections.

He said many from civil society have been engaging the PPP and many who had left the party have returned, because they are uncomfortable with the policies of the government.

Once elected, he said, the PPP administration will act on these policies.

“We will remove the VAT on 46 food items, VAT on water and electricity and from airline travel to the interiors and we will restore the subsidies to the pensioners, so they don’t have to pay water rates… we are going to reverse many of the taxes that they have put in place that are harming the private sector… you can expect that of the PPP,” he said.

The former president also told the gathering that he believes that the decision to close some of the sugar estates was made to frustrate sugar workers and push them to migration.

He also used the opportunity to refute allegations that he and the PPP are unpatriotic, contending that the

opposition supports the government on the border controversy and the prison break, among other matters.

Other speakers at the annual PPP pilgrimage included former presidents Samuel Hinds and Donald Ramotar and Region Six Member of Parliament Adrian Anamayah.

A section of the gathering at the Babu Jaan event

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

What’s the world’s fastest-growing economy?

-- Ghana contends for the crown

AS recently as the 1980s, the West African nation of Ghana was in crisis, crippled by hunger after a series of military coups. But it has held peaceful elections since 1992, and its economic outlook turned considerably brighter about a decade ago, with the discovery of major offshore oil deposits.

Now, as oil prices rise again and the country’s oil production rapidly expands, Ghana is on track to make a remarkable claim for a country mired in poverty not long ago: It is likely to have one of the world’s fastest-growing economies this year, according to the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Brookings Institution.

Its projected growth in 2018, between 8.3 and 8.9 per cent, might outpace even India, with its booming tech sector, and Ethiopia, which over the last decade has been one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies thanks to expanding agricultural production and coffee exports.

According to the IMF’s projections, only Bhutan, with a minuscule economy, and Libya, whose war-ravaged economy plunged in recent years, may have a higher rate of growth this year.

In January, Ghana’s benchmark stock index achieved the world’s highest rate of growth, 19 per cent, according to Bloomberg.

And oil is not the only re-

source helping to drive Ghana’s economy. Cocoa is Ghana’s other natural bounty, and producers are piggybacking on the oil boom.

Edmund Poku, the managing director of Niche Cocoa, said his processing factory in Tema, an industrial suburb of the capital, Accra, already has contracts to sell all of the powder, butter and chocolate bars it plans to make in 2018.

“This is the first year we’ve done that,” Mr. Poku said as employees in white lab coats ducked into his office from the factory floor for the day’s marching orders.

Inside Mr. Poku’s noisy chocolate factory, crews of technicians sat behind banks of computers, operating machines Street salesmen in Accra, Ghana’s capital. The country is likely to have one of the world’s fastest-growing economies this year (CreditAshley Gilbertson for The New York Times)

that roast, grind, boil, press and blend hundreds of pounds of cocoa beans every day.

His factory embodies the goal of economists and technocrats across Africa: a local enterprise that offers hundreds of well-paid, skilled jobs and uses cutting-edge technology.

Mr. Poku has doubled his factory’s capacity in the last

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two years and plans to hire another 100 workers this year. He predicted other business sectors would also have the opportunity to expand.

“Once people see that the economy is growing, banks and investors will be more willing to see Ghana as a good place to make investments,” he said.

While the country is on a

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roll now, economists and other experts have urged Ghana to avoid the so-called resource curse that has plagued other nations that rely too heavily on the extraction of petroleum and minerals — industries often associated with graft and corruption.

Turn to page 5

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Decomposed Fisherman found dead in in-laws’ yard THE body of Muneshwar this story is not true.

Bisnauth, a 23-year-old Muneshwar was debody found in fisherman, was last evening scribed as a hard- working from the yard of young man. Police have Tucber Park home removed his mother and father-in- since arrested the mother THE partially decomposed body of Richard Blair, called “Chiney”, 62, was found in his Lot 14, Tucber Park, New Amsterdam home on Sunday.

According to information received, a neighbor, Raymond McDeo, 62, was alerted by a pungent stench emanating from Blair’s home and contacted the police.

The cops on checking found the partially decomposed body of Blair in the house.

Due to the state of decomposition, the lawmen were unable to determine whether the body bore any marks of violence.

Blair, who lived alone, was last seen alive on Thursday. His daughter Gia Blair, believes that her father may have fallen and hurt himself since he was imbibing with friends on Thursday.

A post-mortem is expected to be performed on Blair today.

law, hours after he was seen drinking with them.

Bisnauth, who is also known as “Pig Egg” in the Mahaicony area, is said to be a father of a toddler. According to information reaching the Guyana Chronicle, the man was earlier heard arguing with his father-in-law as they sat drinking.

His mother and fatherin-law claimed that Bisnauth was so intoxicated that when he got up to leave the yard, he fell and hit his head, but relatives of the deceased believe

and father-in-law as they launch an investigation into the matter.

Dead: Muneshwar Bisnauth

from What’s the world’s ... Continued page 4

President Nana Akufo-Addo, who was elected in late 2016 on a wave of discontent over the economy, has pledged to heed that advice, and to funnel oil revenues into education, agriculture and manufacturing, to diversify the economy.

In his recent State of the Nation address, Mr. Akufo-Addo called the agriculture industry the “backbone” of his development agenda and said that factories like Mr. Poku’s have been the “takeoff point for industrialisation in most developed societies.” He said he also plans to expand incentives for cocoa processors.

Cocoa sales are helping lift Ghana’s agriculture sector, which at the end of last year posted its best quarter of growth since 2010, driven by a bumper cocoa crop.

Cocoa prices, along with prices for another of Ghana’s exports — gold — are rising again.

The cocoa processing industry is expanding to take advantage of an influx of raw beans, said Eric Amengor, the deputy research manager at the Ghana Cocoa Board. Applications for permits to build new factories are flooding in, he added.

But critics say that a pro-

gramme to set up new factories across a range of industries — one in each of Ghana’s 216 districts — has been slow to get started.

Growth in industries like finance and health care has also lagged, in part because government investment has been restricted over the last few years, in order to correct for years of overspending.

After an initial oil boom in 2011, an overextended public payroll and increasing debt interest payments drove the country into a deep budget deficit when oil prices fell. (New York Times)

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Two killed in Houston crash TWO young people including an Immigration officer attached to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), died tragically in a motorcycle crash on the Houston carriageway, East Bank Demerara on Saturday night.

Police in a press release identified the two persons killed in the accident as Stanley Junior King, 24, of Lot 116 Section ‘M’ Campbellville, Georgetown and Mauava Chase, 25, Lot 187 Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the two were earlier on Saturday at a pool party where Chase saw King and befriended him. They spoke for some time at the event and then subsequently left together.

King, who was riding a super bike, reportedly lost control along the southern section of the Houston carriageway and crashed into the median.

The accident occurred

sometime around 21:45hrs on the night in question and Chase nor King was wearing safety helmets at the time of the crash, police say.

King reportedly sold a motorcar recently to purchase the CBR motorcycle even though he was encouraged by family members and close friends not to do so.

Chase was attached to the Central Immigration and Passport Office of the GPF. Reports indicate that the impact of the crash flung the pillon rider several feet in the air while King skidded several meters on the motorcycle before it came to a halt. Both received severe injuries and died before they could have received medical attention.

The bodies are at the morgue at the Georgetown Public Hospital and a post-mortem is expected to be performed today (Monday).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Developing our mining industry WHAT do Australians, Guyanese and Canadians have in common? As the three countries lie on three different continents, they are by no means close by on the map; yet there is nonetheless one important geographic similarity. Australians, Guyanese and Canadians all live in some of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.

In fact, Wikipedia estimates that there are only 13 countries more sparsely populated than Guyana, two of whom are the previously mentioned nations. This is of course due to how vast they both are, and the relatively small Guyanese population size. What this similarity also implies, however, is that each nation has a very large endowment of natural resources relative to its population.

Guyanese who are aware of the dynamics of the local mining industry will note that there is a significant local presence of Australian and Canadian mining companies.

This is no accident, as the two countries have well-developed mining industries and are therefore well-placed to invest in our vast interior region. But doesn’t this mean that Guyana might analogously be well-placed to develop its own major mining firms and industry?

Finance Minister Jordan spoke at length recently about new investments in mining here by Canadian companies

with expertise in underground mining. We should take every opportunity to learn from such companies and others with a significant presence, so that we can develop our industry beyond more basic operations such as current surface gold mining.

The minister mentioned that Guyana’s government appreciates the challenges our firms face as we attempt to grow the sector, in particular the large funding hurdles that must be crossed. To this end, international partnerships are encouraged, so as to provide an avenue for that investment. Investment in mining research is also a critical complement to seeking these partnerships as we are much more likely to attract partners if we have the technological knowledge to maximise productivity.

The end goal should be to have several large firms operating in our mining sector, which are not only able to extract local minerals, but can seek opportunities to do so elsewhere, perhaps due to their advanced techniques.

A major Guyanese mining firm that is able to operate in similarly sparse Suriname would be a towering signpost of national progress and business development.

Australian and Canadian mining companies certainly did not reach great heights overnight, so an investigation of their history should certainly yield insights into na-

tional development principles that we potentially adopt.

Being open to learning from such histories and then thinking strategically as to how to apply lessons can only help Guyana get the best out of its analogous resource potential.

It is heartening to hear of growing international investment in our mining sector; and it will be even more encouraging if local firms can develop in tandem through learning from these investors and their countries’ histories. We must strive to maximise our large resource endowment, just as Australia and Canada have, if we are to build lasting national prosperity.

Burke takes dig at Bar Association THE March 10, 2018 edition of the Kaieteur News published an article captioned, “Pressure mounts for appointments of Chancellor, CJ – Bar Association endorses Cummings-Edwards in top judiciary post.”

This article stated, inter alia, “Treasurer of the Bar Association, Attorney-at-law Devendra Kissoon, in introducing the acting chancellor, said she is a fiercely independent official. The lawyer urged that she and current acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire, two “wonderful persons,” be confirmed. The introduction was met with a standing ovation.”

It is unfortunate that the acrimony and partisan politics that besiege the constitutional process of appointing a chancellor of the judiciary and a chief justice contaminated this important professional forum, which I’m sure was intended to be non-partisan. Some participants clandestinely rushed to the Kaieteur newspaper to disparage a specific presenter -- the young, Afro-Guyanese female deputy dean of the law school of the University of the West Indies at St Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago.

Their disparagement evidently inspired the March 11, 2018 Kaieteur editorial, which questioned her competency. The source of the scathing editorial is as plain as day to me.

The ensuing rancour; disrespect alleged by the attorney general and the conveyance of a political message to the President through a pretentious endorsement of the acting chancellor, demonstrate why concurrent training

of judicial officers and members of the bar, who practise before the said judiciary, is problematic; let alone the injudicious political posturing by some executive members of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA). This dilemma validates the position that such unorthodox circumstances should be avoided by an entity that is obligated to political neutrality.

I am, nonetheless, delighted that Mr Kissoon has concluded that the character, professional qualifications and judicial temperament of Justice Yonnette Cummings-Edwards, render her distinctly eligible to be appointed substantive chancellor.

This is my stated, unequivocal view. The government’s decision otherwise does not evince political perspicacity or strategic logic.

The quandary suggests, therefore, that the status quo is the resolution.

I wish, however, that Mr Kissoon and fellow GBA executives had sent this memo to Opposition Leader, Mr Bharrat Jagdeo, who rejected Justice Cummings-Edwards’s nomination to be substantive chief justice.

Consequently, Mr Kissoon must inform the nation if he or the executive leadership of the GBA, on whose behalf he spoke, chastised the opposition leader for rejecting the Eminent Madam Justice’s nomination to be substantive chief justice; and whether they have asked Mr Jagdeo for his reason for blocking the elevation of an Afro-Guyanese woman justice, who according to Mr Kissoon, is a “wonderful” nominee?

The persons responsible for appointing

our two highest judicial officers are the President and opposition leader – an abysmal arrangement that underscores the need for constitutional reform.

The judiciary is too important to be the political football of two individuals. I believe this responsibility should be vested in the executive and legislative branches, and not the President and opposition leader. The two are now equally responsible for the inherited, unacceptable constitutional quagmire that has damaged the judiciary and rendered the appointment process ineffectual.

While the GBA launched a partisan attack on the President for the breakdown, its actions have calculatedly absolved Mr Jagdeo from responsibility. This partisan posture has tainted the association, and effectively portrays it

as a tool of the political opposition. This is why the GBA must advise the nation of its position on Mr Jagdeo’s rejection of Justice Cummings-Edwards’s nomination, whether it requested an explanation from Mr Jagdeo and what is his stated reason.

GBA members should not be allowed to get away with bludgeoning the President to disclose his reasons for rejecting the opposition leader’s list of nominees, but intentionally decline to ask the opposition leader why he rejected the President’s nomination of Justice Cummings-Edwards.

Yours sincerely, Rickford Burke President Caribbean-Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)

Spare a thought for families of sugar workers Dear Editor, AS celebrations and observances to mark International Women’s Day, 2018 comes to an end and our womenfolk have been feted, honoured and saluted in all walks of life, spare a thought for the many wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and other womenfolk of sugar workers.

These women, particularly those in

areas of closed estates, toil every day to make ends meet in the home, while providing guidance and sustenance under trying circumstances.

Let’s celebrate and salute these women too, who remain the bedrocks of their families and communities.

Yours sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Call to action on business, health, education, ICT – as curtain comes down on IDPAD Summit AS the International Decade of People of African Descent (IDPAD) Summit 2018 came to an end Sunday, the body identified its plans for the future through a presentation of the strategies discussed during several roundtable sessions.

The final presentation took place at the Marriott Hotel on 11th March, when the experts who moderated the roundtable discussions reviewed the issues and solutions addressed in their groups.

The topics reported on were: Business and Finance; Health and Wellness; Education and Culture; Human Rights and Geopolitics and

“We need to be able to move to the next step and we have to take responsibility for where we are and really start to passionately do something about it and stop waiting for somebody else to lead us out of that state,” Mollison encouraged.

Speaking directly to the anxiety surrounding Guyana’s imminent oil-and-gas industry, Mollison was careful to point out that Guyana is in need of support, now more than ever, as many African countries have not fared well in the industry.

“We don’t have a lot of positive models about what happens to the people of African descent in those communities, so Guyana is

portant aspect to economic growth that remains inadequate in the black community and went on to suggest that Africans create a funding cooperative through engagement with the diaspora.

“Engage people in the diaspora to [contribute] to a wealth-building fund, where we actually get people in the diaspora to pay into a fund that we can then leverage in our respected communities or across the world; and I think Guyana is a good place to start as a model,” she said.

In addition, Mollison highlighted the need for more efforts to be made towards access to capital; entrepreneurship training and development; financial

President of the Libra Management Group (LMG) Stacey Mollison (photo by Samuel Maughn)

of accomplishing even more, providing they receive the right amount of community support, community involvement, and government participation for the formulation of sustainable strategies.

Using Guyana as an ex-

International and local representatives of the African community are given the charge to begin taking responsibility for the growth of the African Community at the International Decade of People of African Descent (IDPAD) Summit 2018 hosted at the Marriott Hotel (photo by Samuel Mauhgn)

Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Reporting on matters discussed in the Business and Finance work group, President of the Libra Management Group (LMG) in the U.S., Stacey Mollison, said that it is disappointing to see that the African community is not improving economically as rapidly as it should.

Exclusion from opportunities, limited access to capital, poor financial literacy and limited entrepreneurship development were only a few of the challenges she listed as factors still affecting the business and financial growth of Africans.

a place where we need to focus on how we change that negative narrative around oil coming in to our community and [Africans] not really being the beneficiaries of that,” she said, adding: “This is an opportunity for us to rally around a country that, economically it hasn’t happened yet, there’s a lot of hope around the oil-and-gas industry, [but] we need resources, support, expertise, information, legal experts, we need people around the diaspora to start pouring into this country to help us to make better decisions.”

Mollison said, too, that financial literacy is an im-

literacy and a reversal of the large un-banked African population.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RyOne Incorporated, Ryan Stewart-Federick, listed limited access to infrastructure, poor ICT curriculums in schools and inadequate public support, as some of the factors that continue to hinder the progression of ICT in black communities.

Despite these challenges, the group’s moderator said that African communities have seen significant advancements and are capable

ample, Civil Rights Attorney-at-Law, Marcia Johnson-Blanco who moderated the Human Rights and Geopolitics working group, recommended that there be more awareness of human rights commissions functioning locally in each respective member state.

This, she said, would enable locals to engage their local organisations about the issues that affect them before the matters are presented the United Nations level for additional assistance.

Some other topics her group discussed were: the mapping of Human Rights resources; using conferences and summits to build networks; utilising UN International Days for conversations on human rights and better documentation of human rights violations in order to properly address them.

The Education and Culture group, in their discussions, addressed the effects of the formal education system on the black community, highlighting the need for

countries to push politically for curriculum development that is “African-centred” through African education history.

It was emphasised, too, that before implementation, both African and non-African teachers need to be trained to be “culturally sensitive” about the materials they will transfer to children.

Other plans of action highlighted were: the rebuilding of African communities and cultures through African leadership; financial mentoring programmes; a registry for black business and programmes to teach respect for African women and girls.

Finally, redefining health from an African perspective, the Health and Wellness working group headed by Dr Ifetayo Adelaide, has decided to publish all of the principles and guidelines formulated at the summit; establish a Regional Herbal Registry and establish a taskforce to ensure the completion of these goals.

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Man killed in Buxton over old grievance LEON Delph, 34, a father of one of Quamina Street, Georgetown, was on Sunday killed in Buxton reportedly over an old grievance, but not before inflicting several stab wounds on his assailant, Junior Allen, who is on the run.

The two men met faceto-face after seven years and a scuffle ensued on the Buxton Railway Line during a J’ouvert party in observance of Mashramani.

The Guyana Chronicle has learnt that the men had a misunderstanding in 2011, and Allen was cuffed to the face by Delph, rendering him unconscious. That incident took place at Wellington and Regent Streets on Old Year’s Night of that year.

It was reported that when Allen was revived, he went on his knees and vowed to terminate Delph, no matter how long it takes.

On Sunday, Delph and his friend went to Buxton

Dead: Leon Delph

for the J’ouvert party when he was spotted by Allen who approached him.

According to reports, Allen walked up to Delph, touched him on the shoulder and asked if he remembered him; and before Delph could have responded, Allen whipped out a broken bottle and slashed his (Delph’s) throat.

The assailant on com-

mitting the act, made a dash from the scene, but Delph tied his jersey around his neck and raced behind Allen, eventually catching up and inflicting on him several stabs with a broken bottle before falling to the ground.

A close relative of Delph said she was at work when she received information about the tragedy and rushed to the hospital, where she saw Delph lying on a stretcher and bleeding heavily.

Moments later, the relative related, Delph passed away as doctors were trying to save his life.

The woman related that Delph on numerous occasions was warned by his family and close friends not to go into Buxton, because there might be trouble, and it was an advice he heeded until Sunday.

The police have launched a manhunt for Allen, as they continue their investigation into the incident.

Rupununi village leaders concerned about newly built road SEVERAL South Rupununi leaders have expressed concern over the construction of a road which was allegedly built by Brazilian miners at the Marudi Mountain and which connects to the bordering Takutu River.

Reports from the area are that the road was built late last year and connects the Marudi mountain area to the villages of Parabara and Karaudarnau. According to residents, the Brazilians actively utilise the road onward to the Takutu River where residents noted there is an active illegal port that is being utilised for the trade.

The issue was discussed by leaders of the Rupununi in recent days, and Nicolas Fredericks of the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) noted that it was only a few days ago that the road was tracked using a global positioning satellite system (GPS). The illegal road was also photographed by a SRDC monitor from one of the villages.

He said that the affected villages are concerned as they were not aware of the road being built. “There will be more roads built through pristine rainforests, watersheds [and] important habitats with no assessments,” Fredericks noted in a debate with oth-

The road which links the mining areas at the Marudi Mountain to nearby villages and the Brazil border

er residents about the legal grounds on which roads in mining areas are built.

“These are just other ways that Brazilian miners can do whatever they want and nothing is being done by the relevant agencies. Ask where the Brazilians are taking the gold from Marudi?” he questioned.

Other village leaders in the area are of the belief that the road is used by the Brazilians to smuggle Guyana’s gold across the border. Persons in the Rupununi have noted that roads passing through villages are sometimes built with the blessings of village councils.

It is not the first time the village of Parabara and its council have been named in activities which some residents noted appeared shady.

Last year the SRDC expressed concern over the presence of several illegal airstrips at Parabara in the South Rupununi, an issue

which it identified as one of several challenges facing the Wapichan Indigenous group.

In November last year, the findings of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the presence of an illegal, foreign aircraft in nearby Yupukari on September 13, 2016, included a report that the Toshao of Parabara, “has clear knowledge” of the involvement of residents there in the operations of an illegal aircraft, at an unauthorised landing strip in the area.

Supporting documents of the CoI included a police report that pointed out that several persons were involved in the maintenance and monitoring of the airstrip, located some seven miles from the Parabara.

The police reported, too, that the village captain had clear knowledge of his “people’s involvement in the maintenance of the airstrip.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Local authority to move on Ogle businessman THE local authority with responsibility for the Plaisance/Industry district, are preparing to move in and take action against a businessman whose building which was under construction, collapsed on Monday, injuring a young father in the process.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that a cease order is likely to be issued to prevent the man or his agents from carrying out any further works at the site where the incident took place.

Workers for the businessman had already moved in and began clearing debris from the site, even as a complete assessment is yet to be carried out at the location by the local NDC. Meanwhile, the young man who was injured when the unfinished building collapsed on Monday, has been discharged from the hospital and is resting at home.

He was an in-patient at the GPHC for several hours on Monday before being sent home. He told this publication that the owner for the construction site at which he worked has since

instructed the young man’s family to take him for further medical attention at a private hospital, after it was found that he continues to feel pains about parts of his body.

The father of one recalled working at the site on Monday, when he heard a cracking sound and seconds after he was pinned by concrete and wood from the structure which had crumbled.

The young man related that based on what he has been able to witness since working at the site, all the works which were done were normal works, but he could not confirm whether or not these were done in a substandard manner.

Regional Chairperson of Region Four, Genevieve Allen, told the Chronicle that a team from her office

as well as from the local office in the district where the incident took place, visited the location to assess the situation on Monday.

She said that contrary to what was happening when she received a call on Thursday morning, no permission was given to the contractor or the owner of the property to re-enter the premises and carry out works without the complete investigation into what really went wrong on Monday morning.

Residents are calling for the construction works to cease and for the council to take every possible measure to safeguard the interest and safety of the persons living the community.

They spoke of the structure being constructed on a “swamp,” which was filled with only 11 truckloads of sand.

PSC objects to Butters-Grant on UG Council THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) has called on the powers that be to remove businesswoman, Allison Butters-Grant, as the business representative of the PSC sitting on the University of Guyana’s Council.

“We urge that those responsible to correct this anomaly forthwith,” the PSC said in a statement.

In the statement issued on Friday, the PSC expressed great concern about the appointment of a Butters-Grant to the UG Council.

The body said Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Vibert Welch, wrote the Commission on June 27, 2017 requesting the nomination of a representative of the PSC and according to the PSC, “we nominated the executive head of the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry Limited (CAGI) which we consider to be the private sector authority on education and human development matters to sit on the new council.”

The commission made it clear that this has been the practice over the last 25 years.

“The Private Sector Commission (PSC) is extremely disappointed with regard to the appointment of the representative of business on the council of the University of Guyana,” the statement said.

Additionally, the body reminded that it is important that its voice as the umbrella private sector organisation for business be represented on the council.

Earlier this month, Minister of State Joseph Harmon announced that approval has been granted for the appointment of representatives to sit on the UG Council for the period March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019.

The council members are: Chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris; Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith; UG Academic Board, Jacqueline Murray; Committee of Deans, Dr. Paulette Bynoe AA; President, UGSS, Norwell Hinds; President, UGSSA, Dr. Jewel Thomas; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Vibert Welch; Budget Director, Ministry of Finance, Sonya Roopnauth; APNU/ AFC Representative, Vincent

Business woman Allison Butters-Grant

Alexander; Representative, Parliamentary Opposition; Women’s Interest, Jasmin Harris; Farmer’s Interest, Patrick De Groot; Indigenous Peoples’ Interest, Marian Andrew; Business Interest, Allison Butters-Grant; Guyana Trade Union Congress, Ivor English; Representative, Guild of Graduates, Lawyer’s Association, Timothy Jonas; Medical Council of Guyana, Dr. Navindranauth Rambaran and Marissa Seepersaud.

The Chancellor’s Nominees are Major General Joe Singh (Ret’d); Myrna Bernard; Registrar, Dr. Nigel Gravesande, as well as nominees from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, and the University of the West Indies (UWI).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Commonwealth Day messages from The Queen and the Secretary-General Towards a Common Future. Commonwealth Day, 12 March, 2018.

Commonwealth Day Message by Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth WE all have reason to give thanks for the numerous ways in which our lives are enriched when we learn from others. Through exchanging ideas, and seeing life from other perspectives, we grow in understanding and work more collaboratively towards a common future. There is a very special value in the insights we gain through the Commonwealth connection; shared inheritances help us overcome difference so that diversity is a cause for celebration rather than division.

We shall see this in action at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which takes place in the United Kingdom next month, bringing together young people and business and civil society from across the Commonwealth.

These gatherings are themselves fine examples of how consensus and commitment can help to create a future that is fairer, more secure, more prosperous and sustainable. Having en-

joyed the warm hospitality of so many Commonwealth countries over the years, I look forward to the pleasure of welcoming the leaders of our family of 53 nations to my homes in London and Windsor.

Sport also contributes to building peace and development. The excitement and positive potential of friendly rivalry will be on display next month as we enjoy the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia.

Contributing to the success of the Games, alongside athletes and officials, will be thousands of volunteers.

Voluntary effort, by people working as individuals, in groups or through larger associations, is so often what shapes the Commonwealth and all our communities. By pledging to serve the common good in new ways, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to grow in scope and stature, to have an even greater impact on people’s lives, today, and for future generations.

Commonwealth Day

Message by The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Commonwealth Secretary-General Never before in the history of our family of nations has there been such a remarkable season of gatherings as that heralded by Commonwealth Day 2018.

Over coming weeks at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and associated forums, leaders and representatives of the people in all 53 of our member countries will assemble to work and plan together.

We will share and learn from one another, and be motivated to ever greater heights of endeavour and achievement.

There will also be the Commonwealth Games, with compelling scenes of athletic prowess, tenacity and triumph. Huge new audiences worldwide will deepen in understanding of what the Commonwealth is, what it does, and how it brings positive change for the good of all.

An example of this is

the Commonwealth Blue Charter currently being developed. By agreeing to protect the health of oceans and marine life, and to use the precious resources they yield in responsible and sustainable ways, we will be sharing more fairly the benefits they bestow, and preserving these for future generations.

Wherever we live – on island or coast, or inland where streams and rivers flow to the sea – our actions and the way we live affect life in the ocean. In turn, the health of the ocean affects our own well-being, our weather, our food, our trade and our prosperity. Industrial and domestic wastes pollute great rivers and their tributaries, or flow directly into the sea. Plastic and other toxic waste materials poison the ocean, which belongs to us all and is vital to our common future.

Just as we work together in the Commonwealth to preserve the health of the ocean, we cooperate in many other ways for the common good. Our member countries have committed to nurture and protect democracy, development and respect for diversity, so that people of all communities can live safer and healthier lives, and share in the fruits of prosperity. This includes preventing greed and corruption, unfairness, or partisan discord from poisoning politics and public life.

We work together to achieve this by creating channels through which good ideas and clever ways of doing things flow from the governments and people of all our countries into a continually renewed and refreshed Commonwealth ocean of knowledge. It is an ecosystem of experience and expertise in which all give

and all gain.

Through our ‘Faith in the Commonwealth’ project, we draw wisdom and insights from secular streams of thought, and from the many communities and traditions that are the sea of faith.

Such resources and riches add to all that we celebrate on Commonwealth Day, and they are indeed treasures to be cherished and shared.

There are opportunities for each and every one of us as members of the worldwide Commonwealth family to become involved. With our fellow citizens, we live, learn, work and play in countries set in every continent and ocean – all 2.4 billion of us, representing a glorious spectrum of diversity and talent. It is by living and working for the good of one another, towards a common future, that we build our Commonwealth.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

I’m speaking out for my daughter THE Protection of Children’s Act 2009 (Guyana) applies to the whole of Guyana -- even to people living in remote riverine districts and those in the most isolated areas of the 10 administrative regions.

Children need to be pro-

tected by adults: this should be the mindset of every adult in Guyana, regardless of which part of this 83,000 sq. miles of beautiful land they reside.

Unfortunately, some adults are sexually exploiting their children on a regular ba-

sis. This is against the laws of Guyana and obviously -- as perpetrators are well aware -- not in the best interest of the child. The legal age for sexual consent is 16. Anyone engaging in sexual activity with a child below this age, even with the child’s consent,

is breaking the law. Parents, caregivers or anyone who is --even partially -- complicit in the deviant sexual exploitation of children in their care, face imprisonment.

Miriam’s story I didn’t consider it wrong or right when I was a child, it was simply something that happened to me and as far as I imagined, all girlchildren. I didn’t look at it in the context of the wider world, because at that time I didn’t realise what constituted a violation of trust and I was unaware of my right to grow up without being abused. I had no indication beforehand about what was going to take place.

I was just a small girl in the prime of my childhood. My days were spent playing in the yard, going to the shop for mummy and climbing the mango tree by the front step.

Our relationship as a family was not particularly warm or loving, because I can’t remember many hugs or kisses, but I think I loved and respected my parents: well at least until I realised that what had happened to me during my childhood was rape and sexual abuse. The first time my father got into bed with

me was when he came home drunk. I truly believed it was a mistake at the time, because he didn’t stay there all night and it didn’t happen again… until just after my 10th birthday. He climbed into my bed while I was half asleep and this time stayed the whole night. Nothing was said about it in the morning and we carried on with our family life as usual.

It wasn’t long after this that his ‘sleeping with me’ was accompanied by sexual activity -- an activity in which I was neither a willing nor unwilling participant.

This was just part of my everyday life as a child. That is how I was thinking at the time. I had no opinion about what he did to me at all. Looking back, I realise that, that is exactly how my parents wanted it to be.

Just before my 12th birthday, I began to feel sick every morning and could not attend school. My father was working on a dredge somewhere far away, so it was just me and mummy. The health worker confirmed I was pregnant a few months later and my mother told me not to say anything if asked about the

father of my child. After delivering my daughter, Emily Rose, there were complications. My body was not fully developed for pregnancy or childbirth and I was haemorrhaging badly. The doctors had to remove my womb in order to save my life.

Today, six years on, I feel like a child who never had a childhood. Aged 18, I am a single parent with strong views on childcare and child rights. This is the first time I am speaking publicly about my ordeal and I’m doing so because I want others to know that it is not right to sexually abuse children and mothers must not encourage it. Shame on you! I swear as long as I have breath in my body my daughter will never go through the kind of things that happened to me. (Names have been changed to protect identities) If you are concerned about the welfare of a child ring the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION

Assuria opens shop in Linden AMONG the latest string of investors that have established businesses in the mining town of Linden, is the Assuria General Insurance Company.

General Manager of the company, Yogindra Arjune, said Linden is developing and Assuria thinks now is the best time to establish an office there.

“It took us a couple of years, but I think it is the best time for the town, the town is developing at a very rapid rate and we want to be here when it is developed. We want to play our part when it is developed,” he said. With two Lindeners in its employ, Assuria will be offering unique packages to suit Lindeners’ pockets.

At the launching, Mayor of Linden Corwyn Holland said investors are finally gaining confidence in the town and he is happy that Assuria has seen it fit to invest and also to employ Lindeners. He said Lindeners are looking for affordable insurance packages and with Assuria offering same, the benefit will be two-

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland (left) assisting a staffer of Assuria to cut the ribbon to officially open its new office in Mackenzie

fold.

“One of the things I must speak of is the local contractors; I know persons looking to get bonds and different services as that, persons who are seeking contracts, I know they were some difficulties in accessing that in a timely manner and I know with the services that Assuria is offering, it will be beneficial to contractors and others,” Holland said.

The insurance company has

promised to fulfil their social/ corporate responsibility.

Assuria is a Surinamese company, but has offices regionally. It has been in Guyana for the past six years and has already established six locations, Linden being the last. Some of the services being offered are fire and life insurance, motor insurance, bonds, contractor’s liability, fire and other unique packages.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Tidy Up launches liquid detergent refill centre at Diamond

Owners of Tidy Up, Melissa and Dwayne Younge (Adrian Narine photos)

LOCAL detergent company Tidy Up has launched a refill centre at Third Avenue Diamond, as part of its 3R “Reuse, Refill and Reduce” initiative.

The new establishment is unlike any other, said owners, Dwayne and Melissa Younge during an interview with reporters on Saturday.

Their aim is to address the impact of plastic bottles on the environment espe-

cially since a plastic bottle could be found in almost every drain across the country.

“Instead of dumping the bottles you could reuse and refill them with liquid detergents that are manufactured locally,” said Dwayne, adding that the liquid detergent refill centre is the first of its kind in the country.

Persons could access eight different products at the centre including dish

washing liquid, hand soaps, disinfectants, multipurpose cleaners, fabric softeners, laundry detergents and even car wash detergents.

“One of the things we do is pride ourselves in the quality of the product… we worked hard on providing a quality product that is still affordable,” Melissa said.

She believes that Guyanese should be proud to have a local detergent that

An employee of the centre demonstrates how the refill system works

works and is affordable.

Aside from the initial business, the centre is a spin off to focus on community development and environmental protection.

Dwayne said they are on a mission to ensure that no plastic bottle finds its way into the drains.

They chose Diamond as the pilot location because it is a development community which should react well to

the new business.

“We do not want to limit it to here… the 3R is a franchise and entrepreneurs who want to set up similar centres just have to approach us and we would supply the detergents,” Dwayne explained.

As opposed to the cost of detergents that are found in the supermarket, persons would be able to get a refill for at least 50 per cent less.

Dwayne explained that they were able to make it cheaper because the most expensive components of the manufacturing process, bottles and labels are not needed.

He, however pointed out, that while the centre was a bit costly to establish, they were able to benefit from the Low Carbon Initiative loan from the Small Business Bureau.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Sharpen your knowledge of oil-and-gas sector -- acting chancellor urges legal fraternity

MEMBERS of the legal fraternity are being encouraged to seek to understand the intricacies of the oil and gas sector ahead of oil production slated for 2020.

At the first joint bench and bar oil and gas seminar held at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, practicing attorneys, members of the judiciary and magistracy were called upon to focus more on oil and gas law.

At the conference, titled ‘Guyana oil and gas law training development conference’, Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards reminded the participants that significant interest is being generated as a result of Guyana’s oil finds.

“Everybody is discussing Guyana and its oil find. We in the legal profession must do likewise,” she said, noting that legal professionals and practitioners must be proactive, eager to learn and embrace Guyana’s new found industry.

The acting chancellor alluded to the fact that several lawyers, prior to the discovery of oil here, completed their post-graduate studies in oil and gas. She applauded them and urged the others to sharpen their skills through education.

“This is an important in-

Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings- Edwards

dustry within Guyana and as lawyers and legally trained persons, we must be able to take up that mantle as independent, competent and ready, both bench and bar, to meet and greet this new, great, enormous industry,” said Justice Cummings- Edwards.

Similarly, Alias Elias-Roberts, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies (UWI), and one of the conference’s main presenters reminded participants that oil and gas is one of the most important sectors in any country.

She stressed that if properly developed, the natural resource has the potential to rapidly transform the economy of countries like Guyana. “This

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman holds up a sample (not in photo) of Guyana’s crude oil during the presentation Friday

can be the biggest opportunity that this country has been blessed with, so it is really important that this is not a missed opportunity. It is important as a nation we learn lessons from other hydro-carbon nations of what went wrong and what is needed to be understood to make better decisions,” EliasRoberts stated.

President of the Bar Association, Kamal Ramkarran, in his brief address to the participants, said the oil and gas conference themed, “Exploring the legal framework in oil and gas law”, is the first step in ensuring that members of the legal profession are equipped

A section of the participants at Friday’s opening ceremony of the first Oil and Gas Law Training Conference held at the Ramada Princess Hotel. Seated in the front row (from right) are Barbara Reynolds, UG Deputy Vice-Chancellor; UG Vice Chancellor of the Judiciary, Professor Ivelaw Griffith; Acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire; Acting Chancellor, Yonette Cummings-Edwards; Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and Acting Prime Minister Khemraj Ramjattan (Adrian Narine photos)

and learned in the area.

He noted that the conference is an initiative of the Chancellor and acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire.

“The public looks to us… lawyers, judges and magistrates… so it is our duty to understand the law,” remarked Ramkarran.

Meanwhile, in a PowerPoint presentation titled, “Development of Guyana’s oil and gas industry”, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman outlined his administration’s efforts over the past three years.

He provided the legal

fraternity, of which he is a member, with timelines and the successes and challenges Guyana has had over the period. Additionally, the Natural Resources Minister spoke of several areas to which his administration intends to focus on going forward.

These include a national upstream oil and gas policy, a revised Petroleum Exploration Act, examining the possibility of a national oil company, a scientific institute and an onshore logistics base, among others.

Trotman noted that the journey has not been easy, but despite the challenges

Guyana will press on. He also welcomed criticisms as he said, “they keep us busy on our toes”.

Among the areas of discourse to be deliberated on during the two-day conference are the legal and regulatory framework of oil and gas law, the multi-disciplinary nature of oil and gas law, petroleum contracts, contentious legal issues in oil and gas exploration and production, the Sovereign Wealth Fund and local content in Guyana’s oil and gas sector, taxation, and good governance in the management of oil and gas resources.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

RAID project picking up pace RESIDENTS of Ithaca on the West Bank of Berbice in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) said Thursday that the pace of progress on the Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development (RAID) project aback the village has picked up satisfactorily.

“The contractor has ‘pulled up his socks’ and the project seems to be moving in a positive direction,” Mr Desmond Weekes, President of the Ithaca Agricultural Land Development Coop Society reported.

The residents had a few

weeks ago expressed concern about the priorities of the contractor, and the slow pace of progress on the project, which is designed to provide them with drainage and irrigation infrastructure, plus land-preparation equipment and technical advice, which will help to boost agricultural production on 900 acres of hitherto unproductive land aback the village.

An official of the Ministry of Agriculture monitoring execution of the project said yesterday that complaints about the priorities of the contractor and the slow pace of progress

Boycott parties, songs that degrade women --wife of Linden mayor urges

LINDEN women were on Thursday evening encouraged to boycott all entertainment events and songs that degrade and demoralise women.

The call came from none other than Nikosa Holland, wife of Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland.

“Ladies, we must refuse to support any event that degrades women,” she said.

“Therefore, any party or function that says ‘anything goes; ladies free all night; wet tee-shirt fete’ should be boycotted by women. Any artiste that sings songs that celebrate women as sexual toys, brainless figures only capable of twerking or satisfying male pleasures should be shunned by all women,” she told the scores of women at a rally at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground (MSC) to mark International Women’s Day. Addressing the rally, Holland called on women to have some respect for themselves and to remember the position of trust they hold as moulders of the future, and as such should not countenance any form of demoralisation or sexual objectification from anyone, especially those in the entertainment industry.

Noting that it is the very women who allow these enterprises to do as they please, Holland said the time has come to put a stop to it.

“I guarantee you that if all women determine that they would not support these enterprises, they will fail,” she said, adding: “Segments of the entertainment industries that degrade women are thriving on the revenue of women; we are paying to be demoralised and debased.”

She also encouraged the women to set good examples for their children, as not doing so will create a ripple negative effect.

Throughout the programme, women were celebrated for possessing great

strength and being the pillars of our society.

President of the Women on the Mission International (WOMI), Linda Johnson, encouraged the women to stop second-guessing themselves as to their strengths. “Let us not only march today and have the camaraderie with each other only today,” she said.

“Let it go forward every day; let us try and reach and touch another woman, another girl, a young man, anyone.

“Give them some kind words of encouragement; we need to encourage and empower each other in order to rise.”

Deputy Mayor Waneka Arindell spoke of the right of a woman to be educated and empowered, adding that mothers should train their daughters to understand that they have the right to be whatever they want to be.

Giving brief health tips was Doctor Karen Perreira of the Linden Hospital Complex on how laughter, sleep, weight control and eating breakfast can contribute to being a healthier woman, while other words of encouragement came from Vanessa Kissoon of ‘Virtuous Women on the Move’; Lurlena Roberts of ‘No Woman No Cry’; and the mayor, among other well-wishers.

Several women were also presented with awards for being outstanding in their service to society.

Among those women were: Winnette Smartt, Morice Skeete, Shondel Easton, Margette Benn, Loraine Innis, Shirley Williams, Monica Higgins, Coretta Hutson and Gloria Britton.

Other organisations that took part in the event were the Linden Hospital Complex, Linden Youth Leaders, and Guyana Police Force ‘E’ Division, the Guyana Public Service Union, and the Linden branch of the Ministry of Social Protection.

had arisen out of a misunderstanding.

“I think that we are clear of that now, and I have given all interested parties the assurance that the Ithaca RAID project will be completed efficiently, and within schedule,” he said.

The project to open up unused fertile lands aback Ithaca for agricultural production is being made possible under a loan granted to the Government of Guyana by the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF).

The name of the project is Rural Agricultural Infrastruc-

-Ithaca residents report

ture Development (RAID) in small-scale farming communities in Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

The CDF was established under Article 158 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas “for the purpose of providing financial or technical assistance to disadvantaged countries, regions and sectors.”

It is the centrepiece of the regime to address disparities among CARICOM

member states, which may result from implementation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Buxton and Triumph on the East Coast and Mocha on the East Bank are three small-scale farming communities in Region Four which will benefit from similar D&I systems and agricultural support under the scheme.

H Nauth and Sons General Engineering Contractors had won the $148M

contract for constructing drains, canals, access dams and hydraulic structures for the RAID project at Ithaca.

Those Ithaca residents who will benefit from it have organised themselves into a cooperative society named the Ithaca Agricultural Land Development Coop Society.

Weekes said that members of the Society are monitoring the roll-out of the project “very, very closely.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Berbice teen-mother who drank poison dies – baby still in hospital under observation

NINETEEN-year-old Roshanie Ramlakhan, who last weekend reportedly drank poison and fed some to her year-old baby, has died.

She died at the Skeldon Hospital where she and the baby were admitted on Thursday afternoon, despite doctors effort to save her.

Reports are that the East Berbice teenager was last Friday found semi-conscious near the Number 61 bus shed with a greenish substance coming out of her mouth. She also had her baby with her, and he was crying uncontrollably.

Relatives said she had confessed to them when she was able to speak that she had ingested a poisonous substance and rubbed some on the child’s mouth.

Last Tuesday when the Guyana Chronicle spoke to Ramlakhan’s mother, Kayolall Thakurdyal, she said that doctors at the Skeldon Hospital where the teen and her baby were admitted were able to flush the poison out of the toddler’s system, and that though his lips were still red, swollen and blistered, he was able to take his formula.

The latest on the toddler is that he is in a stable condition, but is being monitored

around-the-clock by a medical team.

Thakurdyal said she had learnt that her daughter had drank gramaxone after having had a particularly heated argument with her husband.

The husband, Dinesh Singh, 23, later told the Guyana Chronicle that he and Roshini did had an argument that day, but it was nothing major as to warrant her wanting to take 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, but recalled her threatening once, when their son was just three months old, that she would end both their lives.

If you know of someone who has suicidal thoughts and/or experiencing difficulties and need counselling, kindly seek help by calling the Guyana Inter-Agency Suicide Prevention Helpline on Telephone Numbers (+592) 223-0001, 223-0009, 600-7896, 623-4444, Email:guyagency@yahoo.com WhatsApp: +592-6007896, 592- 623-4444.

Revised Order of Precedence under review

CABINET is currently considering a revised Order of Precedence for official use here after a more than 33-year hiatus of the said document.

An Order of Precedence is a sequential hierarchy of nominal importance of persons used in the context of people by many organisations and governments for formal and state occasions.

This is also a feature where diplomats are present.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon told reporters on Friday at a post-Cabinet press

briefing that Guyana should conform to international conventions but over the years there have been slippages in their applications.

As such, Cabinet has agreed to examine the proposed draft document before granting its approval, Harmon told reporters at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The minister noted occasions when persons have difficulties identifying the precedence list. Following Cabinet’s consideration of the document, it will be circulated.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Women in GWI celebrated THE Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) on Thursday observed International Women’s Day under the theme, “#PressforProgress” with a march and ceremony in Bartica, Region Seven, celebrating women in water and other notable women.

Minister of Public Affairs, Dawn Hastings-Williams; Region Seven offi-

cials, GWI’s Managing- Director, Dr Richard Van-West Charles; board members and over 100 members of staff from across the country, marched from the Bartica Stelling to GWI’s regional office on Fifth Avenue, the venue for the well attended ceremony.

Delivering the feature address at the ceremony, Minister Hastings-Williams

Monday, March 12, 2018 - 02:00 - 13:30 hrs Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - 02:30 - 14:30 hrs Wednesday, March 14, 2018 - 03:30 - 14:30 hrs

commended GWI for recognising the relevance of its female staff in every way and seeking to grant them their due respect and consideration.

“GWI has sought to close the gender-inequality gap by granting highly qualified and skilful women the opportunity to be top executives and heads of departments,”

GWI Chairperson Patricia Chase-Green led the march on Thursday

Turn to page 16 ►

16

Women in GWI... she said.

The public affairs minister pointed out that managerial positions within the company such as those in revenue, collections and billings management, human resources and commercial relations are held by women.

She also noted that 80 per cent of GWI’s female staff are mothers, which is evidence that a balance between professional life and home responsibilities is possible.

Minister Hastings-Wil-

liams highlighted that women of GWI are holders of higher-education degrees in areas such as economics, civil and electrical engineering, architecture and biology.

“Women at GWI have over and over again broken the social stereotype that women are only inclined to the arts and humanities careers, rather than STEM careers,” she stressed.

Positions such as meter reader, water services inspector, leakage inspector and

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

From page 15

production and distribution supervisors are also held by women. Some 263 women in GWI are office-based while 82 are field-based.

Turning her attention to the women of Guyana as a whole, the minister said they have come a long way since International Women’s Day was first observed here.

“They are more cognisant of their place within society and they demand the respect and treatment they deserve. They seek for

social progress, they seek for economic progress, they seek for development within different aspects of society and varied occupations,” the minister said.

She saluted the women of GWI, Bartica and the country as a whole and encouraged them to continue pressing for progress in different aspects of their lives.

Meanwhile, GWI’s Managing-Director, Dr Richard Van-West Charles saluted the women of GWI and thanked them for their contributions.

He said that International Women’s Day is one which

focuses on equity, fairness and justice.

Dr Van-West Charles acknowledged the need to closely examine human resource practices, so as to ensure that women are equipped with information about vacancies within the company.

The managing-director stressed the need for all to have a gender-parity mindset and to challenge the stereotypes and biases among both men and women.

Chairperson of GWI’s Board of Directors, Patricia Chase-Green, pointed out

that the company can proudly boast that women are included at every level.

She urged female staffers of GWI not to be content with where they are and to advocate for progress in every sphere of their lives.

The women of the company along with other women from the region were presented with tokens of appreciation.

Also present at the event were Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford; Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall; and Deputy Mayor Kamal Persaud, among others.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

17

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

AB ton, Rabada pace peg back Aussie fight (Reuters) - USMAN Khawaja scored 75 runs to lead an Australian fightback on the third day of the second test against South Africa at St George’s Park, falling just before close of play after enabling the tourists to cancel out a first innings deficit.

Australia will take a 41-run led into the fourth day after finishing Sunday’s play at 180 for five wickets.

Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh put on 87 runs for the fifth wicket before Khawaja, whose place in the team has been under

threat, was trapped leg before wicket by Kagiso Rabada in the second to last over of the day.

The tourists had been teetering at 86-4 just after tea, when Khawaja was joined by Marsh, who played a solid supporting role to end the day on 39 not out. He will resume on Monday with Tim Paine, who has five runs to his name.

Australia lost three wickets in the second session after lunch, including that of Captain Steve Smith, and then Shaun Marsh with the second ball of the last session.

SCORECARD

Australia 1st innings 243 all out South Africa 1st innings 382 all out Australia 2nd innings Cameron Bancroft b Lungi Ngidi

David Warner b Kagiso Rabada

Usman Khawaja lbw Kagiso Rabada

Steven Smith c Quinton de Kock b Keshav Maharaj Shaun Marsh c Quinton de Kock b Kagiso Rabada Mitchell Marsh not out Tim Paine not out

Extras: 0b 10lb 0nb 0pen 2w

Total: (63.0 overs)

Bowling

Vernon Philander Kagiso Rabada Keshav Maharaj Lungi Ngidi

Aiden Markram

Ov 14 16 20 10 3

Md 5 7 2 4 1

24 13 75

11

1 39 5 12 180-5

Rn Wk Econ Ex 38 0 2.71 38 3 2.38 1w 70 1 3.50 21 1 2.10 3 0 1.00

Milo U-18 Schools Football tournament…

Christianburg booted out by Pure Masters

IN an upset game under the setting Sunday sun, Linden’s Christianburg/Wismar were booted from this year’s Milo Schools Football competition.

After being deadlocked at the end of regulation and then extra time in the second match of the day at the Ministry of Education Ground, the game went to penalties, which the Linden side lost 3-4 to Pure Masters.

Omar Brentley had earlier given the Linden-based side the lead in the 41st minute but Ravon Bailey’s 69th minute strike brought Pure Masters level again before the penal-

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ties played decider.

In the earlier game, Buxton Youth Developers trounced Vergenoegen 6-1 with Chris Smith scoring for the losers.

Buxton was spearheaded

by Shamar Scott (4th, 54th, 74th and 83rd), Shamar Singh (41st) and Teshawn Gordon (87th).

In the day’s final game, Morgan’s Learning Center disposed of St Roses 7-0. Darien Dickson (8th and 11th) led the scoring for the winners with single strikes from Malcom Miggins (89th), Koby Durant (16th), Nixon Richardson (43rd), Ryan Dowding (72nd) and Kellon Blue (67th) In Saturday’s fix-

tures, Annandale ousted Uitvlugt 2-1 thanks to goals from Trevor fiffee (14th) and Troni Semple (87th) while Uitvlugt had Jonathan Leitch (19th) on target.

Sir Leon Lessons also found their stride with a 7-0 win over Friendship, thanks to Lennox Young (3rd, 10th, 45th and 48th), Ryan Ramsey (16th and 65th) and Julian Bamfield (74th).

Masters Academy also advanced 4-1 over Bishops’ High with Isaiah McPherson (1st), Tyrone Khan (5th and 78th) and Calvin Peters (20th) all on target. Daren Chan (17th) scored for the losers.

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20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

94 days to go …

BRAZIL will again be amongst the favourites to win the World Cup come this summer, but what will Tite’s squad look like?

Brazil qualified for the 2018 Russia World Cup without any major difficulty but have some way to go if they are to claim their sixth trophy.

The draw was relatively kind to the Selecao, placing them in a group with Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia for the finals, and manager Tite will be confident in bettering their finish of fourth on home soil in 2014.

The former Corinthians coach has been tasked with injecting the Brazilian national team with the creativity it was once synonymous with and has been largely successful in doing so since taking over in 2016, but the World Cup presents him with the ultimate opportunity.

The Brazilian settled on a group of players during the World Cup qualification process and reaped the rewards of his consistency.

Brazil topped the CONMEBOL qualification group by 10 points and were amongst the first to book their place in Russia, while they have also already named part of the squad which will travel to their Sochi base in the coming months.

Roma goalkeeper Alisson Becker and Manchester City’s Ederson will fight to be the Brazilian number one in the tournament, though it

Brazil’s

2018 World Cup squad predicted:

Who will make Tite’s 23-man squad?

Paris Saint-Germain pair, Dani Alves and Marquinhos have both enjoyed fruitful seasons at the top of Li-

is the former who is likely to be selected.

T h e 25-yearold has emerged as the finest

shot-stopper in Serie A this season and has been Tite’s recent choice between the sticks.

gue 1 and will both be travelling to Russia, as will teammate Thiago Silva.

And despite pick-

ing up a serious injury, Neymar will make up the PSG foursome that will be involved.

The 26-year-old’s broken foot caused alarm amongst Brazilians, though his recent surgery has since been cited as a positive by fitness coach, Fabio Mahseredjian, and his recovery is likely to shape his nation’s World Cup success.

Philippe Coutinho and former Liverpool team-mate Roberto Firmino will make up a section of the squad, while elsewhere in the Premier League, Willian’s stunning form for Chelsea will see him heavily involved throughout.

Manchester City duo Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus are ranked in the top five Brazilian internationals in terms of playing time during 2017 and have been included in Tite’s list of certainties.

The latter of the City pair finished on seven goals in qualification, the same number as Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez and Felipe Caicedo, beaten only

by Edinson Cavani.

Elsewhere, defenders Joao Miranda of Inter and Real Madrid’s Marcelo will both be on the plane, barring injuries, with the latter’s Blancos club-mate Casemiro also to be included.

Barcelona’s midfielder Paulinho’s revival in the Spanish top-flight has also secured his spot on the plane, while his form has carried into the national team too-the Tottenham man ended qualification on six strikes, the same total as Neymar.

The final player to have officially made Tite’s list is Renato Augusto. The ex-Bayer Leverkusen star has had a successful two seasons in the Chinese Super League with Beijing Sinobo Guoan and was part of the Selecao squad to claim the 2016 Olympic gold medal.

While Danilo’s summer move to Manchester City has been a positive one, the former Real full-back has missed a significant amount of the Premier League season through injury. Danilo was overlooked by the Brazil hierarchy between June 2016 and May 2017, when he was selected as a substitute for Brazil’s tie against Bolivia.

Juventus full-back, Alex Sandro may be highly sought after in Europe but his international career has fallen well short of his club success to date. Sandro made his full Brazil debut in 2011 but has just 10 caps to his name going into the summer. He has been selected by Tite on a number

of occasions, however, and his form for Serie A champions, Juventus, is likely to see him picked for Russia.

Sandro’s Juventus teammate Douglas Costa is also in with a shout, though hasn’t featured in a competitive game for his country since the 2-0 victory over Peru at the back end of 2016.

Since handing Taison his international debut in 2016, Tite has included the Shakhtar attacker in his match day squad on 10 occasions and given him five caps. There’s a good chance that the 30-yearold will also be part of the squad which travels to Russia, should he remain fit.

Goalkeeper Cassio Ramos is likely to be the third in his position to be selected, having been on the bench for the last six games.

Fenerbahce midfielder Giuliano is also likely to make the cut, bringing the number up to 21. The 27-year-old was heavily involved throughout 2016 and has since been an option off the bench for Tite while playing in the friendly games.

As the manager himself said, there will be opportunities for players to force their way into his squad between now and the end of the season.

Seasoned midfielder Hernanes will be hopeful of picking up one of the last remaining spots in Tite’s side, but faces competition from Manchester City target Fred, 21-year-old Gremio star Arthur, and Diego Ribas, who featured as a substitute in a number of fixtures across 2017.

Pedro Geromel has just one senior cap to his name, a 1-0 friendly win over Colombia, and is unlikely to be called upon here, but Monaco’s Jemerson is an outside shot, having featured prominently for the Ligue 1 holders this season.

WORLD CUP FACTS

World Cup Facts - Here is a list of nine interesting World Cup facts to get you into the soccer spirit for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. ¤ 1. The World Cup in 2018 will mark the first time Russia has ever hosted this event and their 11th World Cup appearance. Their highest finish was 4th place in 1966. ¤ 2. The World Cup has been played 20 times--Brazil holds the most titles with five. Italy and Germany are close behind with four each. ¤ 3. For the first time in the history of football, the 2002 World Cup was held in two different countries: South Korea and Japan.

¤ 4. The oldest goal scorer in the World Cup was Roger Milla, who was 42 in 1994 when he scored a goal for Cameroon against Russia. ¤ 5. The World Cup trophy went missing for 7 days in 1966, when it was stolen just prior to the tournament. ¤ 6. The highest scoring game in World Cup history was in 1954, when Austria defeated Switzerland 7-5.

¤ 7. The Italians have had the most number of draws in World Cup history with 21. ¤ 8. Surprisingly, Mexico has the most World Cup losses (25), though they do also have 14 wins and 14 draws. ¤ 9. Of all countries that have appeared in the World Cup, Indonesia has played the least number of matches – just one in 1938.

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

West Indies women swept by New Zealand

Captain Stefanie Taylor top-scored with 26.

The various winners after the Mayor Holland Swim Meet

Torpedo stages successful Mayor Holland swim meet THE Torpedo Swim Club successfully staged its second swim meet yesterday with several winners in the various age categories.

The 40-event card which took place at the Watooka Pool was organized by the Torpedo Club’s coach, Mary Chung –Phillips and sponsored by Mayor Carwyn Holland

Since the club was formed last April, it has held two meets; the first was staged in August to launch its formation and yesterday when it promoted the activity to attract more swimmers to its fold, according to its president, Tyrone Peters.

Over thirty swimmers competed in the

various events covering distances of 40 and 60 yards in the free style, breast, butterfly and back strokes.

Among those outstanding were Under 8 Boys’ Champion, Raphael Harding while the 9-10 category saw Romeno Daw emerging the champion.

For girls, it was Jumia Bremner who

crossed the line first.

The 11-12 champions were Devon Spencer and Annalisa Davis. The 13-14 champion was Jasmine Thom, while the 15-17 champions were Fitzroy Thom and Nicola Balman. In the Open races, Nikita Fiedtkou, Damian Spencer and Maureen Johnson were the champions.

‘I wasn’t expecting ...

Continued from back page

this has been a life-long dream that has been finally achieved.

“I wasn’t expecting this call but when I heard about it, I got really happy. It’s a very proud moment for me because representing the West Indies in international cricket is a dream for me,” he said.

Paul shot into the limelight during West Indies’ Under-19 World Cup victory in 2016, and since then he has

continued to fulfill his true potential. His last 24 months have had exciting and fulfilling performances.

Paul has 82 wickets across first-class and List A cricket, with a bowling average of 17.35 and 21.32 in the two formats respectively. He boasts an impressive bowling figure of 5 for 49 against the England Lions, which could be deemed as one of the factors for his in-

clusion to the Windies set-up.

Paul said yesterday that though he was surprised by the call up, he wanted to make the most of the opportunity.

“Now that I have been given the opportunity… an opportunity I always dream of, I will definitely want to grab it with both hands,” he revealed.

West Indies beat Ireland in Harare yesterday to reach the Super

Six stage of the World Cup Qualifier.

The Caribbean outfit can seal the maximum four points to carry into the Super Six round when they play the Netherlands in their final Group A game on Monday.

Only two teams from the qualifiers will join the world’s top eight ODI nations at next year’s World Cup in England and Wales.

(CMC) - WEST Indies Women saved their worst performance for the final One-Day International, as they went under by 205 runs to suffer the ignominy of another whitewash on New Zealand soil here Sunday.

Asked to chase an improbable target of 311 at Hagley Oval, the Caribbean side was rolled over without so much as a whimper for a paltry 105, to suffer their third straight defeat in the series.

Captain Stafanie Taylor top-scored with 26 but was the only one to pass 20 as her side’s batting declined badly to record their second lowest ODI total in two years.

On their last tour here four years ago, Windies Women were also swept 3-0 in the one-day series, before going on to lose the five-match Twenty20 series 4-0.

Opting to field first, West Indies Women watched as the White Ferns piled up an imposing 310 for five off their 50 overs.

Suzie Bates extended her superb run of form with 89 to go past 4 000 runs in ODIs, Sophie Devine weighed in with 73 and Amy Satterthwaite, 69.

Windies struck early when Lauren Down was run out for three in the fifth over with the score on 16 but that was their last bright spot as the hosts batsmen dominated.

First, Bates and Satterthwaite came together to post 151 for the second wicket, a stand which put the advantage firmly in New Zealand’s favour.

Bates, with scores of 44 and 101 not out in the two previous ODIs, stroked six fours in a 97-ball innings while Satterthwaite faced 81 balls and also struck six fours.

Both fell in the space of 12 deliveries with just six runs added but Devine anchored a 58-run, fourth wicket stand with Katey Martin (24) before adding a further 63 with Anna Peterson (27 not out) in an unbroken sixth wicket partnership, to give the innings a strong finish.

Devine counted six fours in a busy 58-ball stay at the crease.

West Indies Women’s run chase was in crisis from as early as the third over when Kycia Knight was run out without scoring, with eight runs on the board.

Hayley Matthews followed for 11 in the seventh over at 21 for two but the visitors took hope in two small partnerships anchored by Taylor and then Deandra Dottin (15).

Taylor, with half-centuries in her two previous innings, added 21 for the third wicket with Dottin, who in turn put on 23 for the fourth wicket with Kyshona Knight (12).

Dottin’s demise in the 18th over, however, saw the last seven wickets tumble spectacularly for 40 runs.

Devine completed a solid all-round outing with three for 24 while fellow seamer Holly Huddleston picked up two for 19.

West Indies face the hosts in the first T20 International of the five-match series starting Wednesday in Tauranga.

SCORECARD

NEW ZEALAND *S Bates b Connell 89 L Down run out 3 A Satterthwaite run out 69 +K Martin b Dottin 24 S Devine not out 73 M Green b Dottin 3 A Peterson not out 27 Extras: (b6, lb2, w11, nb3) 22 TOTAL: (5 wkts, 50 overs) 310 Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-167, 3-173, 4-231, 5-247.

Bowling: Connell 10-0-63-1, Dottin 10-0-58-2, Matthews 5-0-19-0, Mohammed 10-056-0, Fletcher 6-0-50-0, Taylor 4-0-31-0, Peters 5-0-25-0.

WEST INDIES WOMEN H Matthews c wkp Martin b Huddleston 11 Kycia Knight run out 0 *S Taylor c Peterson b Huddleston 26 D Dottin c Peterson b Kasperek 15 Kyshona Knight c Peterson b Rowe 12 +M Aguilleira c wkp Martin b Rowe 5 B Cooper lbw b Devine 17 A Fletcher b Ebrahim 3 A Peters c & b Devine 2 A Mohammed not out 4 S Connell c wkp Martin b Devine 7 Extras: (lb1, w2) 3 TOTAL: (all out, 34.5 overs) 105

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Bowlers set up title for Demerara ... Berbice whip Essequibo by 125 runs

By Rajiv Bisnauth

DEMERARA made light work of the National Select Under-15 team to win yesterday’s final round of the GCB’s Inter-county Under-17 tournament by 9-wickets at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.

With the win, Demerara played unbeaten throughout the tournament to claim this year’s title. Yesterday’s victory was first set up by the bowlers, who combined to bowl the Under-15’s out for 114 in 46.5 overs.

Put in to bat, the Un-

der-15’s had a tough start against some tidy pace bowling, before the spinners took total control of the innings.

Their inability to rotate the strike and a failure to stitch together a meaningful partnership proved their undoing.

Leg-spinner and Manof-the-Match, Niron Bissu (3-9), Andre Seepersaud (2-11) and Andrew Samaroo (2-22), were the chief destroyers after medium pacer, Sachin Singh bowled opener Tomanni Caesar for five, which

started the batting collapse as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Safie Shazad (20), Mavendra Dindyal (17) and Ajay Gainda (14), were the main scorers for the Under-15’s.

In reply, Singh stroked 56. Yeudisteer Persaud and Navindar Persaud contributed 14 and 27 respectively to the winning total.

In the other game, Berbice whipped Essequibo by 125 runs. Batting first, Berbice scored 227- 6 off their allotted 50 overs. Seon Glasgow made 59, which included five fours and one

six. He was support by Nigel Deodat and Jevon Shultz, with 54 and 58 respectively.

In reply, Essequibo failed to reach the target, as they were bowled out for 102 in 45 overs. Sheldon Charles top scored with 43.

Bowling for Berbice, Jevon Schultz grabbed 3-13 while Abdul Ramsammy and Nigel Deodatt claimed 2 wickets a piece. Jevon Schultz was awarded Manof-the-match for his 54 not out and three wickets.

Glasgow was named the Most Valuable Player in the tournament.

UDFA/Frank Watson Memorial U-15 Football…

Botofago whips Amelia’s Ward 4-0

By Joe Chapman

TYREL Lewis netted twice for Botofago as they whipped Hi Stars 4-0 in the Upper Demerara Football Association’s Frank Watson Memorial Under-15 football league championship.

The two sides clashed on Saturday at the Wisburg Secondary School ground.

Lewis netted a brace the 11th and 20th minutes as Botofago took control of the game in the first period of play. After the resumption, Adrian Samuels and Mala-

Tyrel Lewis netted twice for Botofago

chi Todd each netted in the 46th and 53rd minutes to ensure maximum points for the winners who are now lying second in the seven-team contest.

Earlier, the game between eagles and Amelia’s Ward was not played as Eagles United failed to show.

The competition continues on Saturday with another planned double-header.

The first game will be between Milerock and Eagles while the other features Amelia’s Ward and Botofago.

Windies to play in Karachi instead of Lahore

CMC - WEST Indies will play all three of next month’s Twenty20 Internationals in Karachi instead of Lahore, a move designed to put the cosmopolitan southeastern city “back on the cricket map”.

The Caribbean side had been expected to play the historic series in Lahore, home to the Gaddafi Stadium which hosted the third T20I between Pakistan and Sri Lanka last October.

But Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi said Sunday he had successfully negotiated with Cricket West Indies to have the series hosted in Karachi, the country’s financial centre and most populous city.

“I have been working day and night to conclude an

agreement with West Indies which I have just finalised an hour ago,” Sethi said.

“Good news is that West Indies will play three games but these matches will be played in Karachi.

again.”

West Indies, the reigning T20 World champions, are scheduled to clash with Pakistan on April, 1, 2 and 4.

The series will represent

West Indies to face Pakistan in Karachi series.

“They will not play in Lahore but in Karachi. That is how we intend to put Karachi back on the cricket map once

the first time international cricket will be played in Karachi since 2009, when militants attacked the Sri

Lanka team bus resulting in the death of several of the security forces.

While the attack took place in Lahore, international teams ceased their tours of Pakistan, with the national side forced to play their home matches in United Arab Emirates.

Last September, Pakistan hosted a World XI in a threematch Independence Cup T20 series in Lahore, as the PCB intensified their bid to have international cricket returned to the country.

Sethi also announced that the final of the ongoing Pakistan Super League, which features several West Indies stars like Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Darren Sammy, will be staged in Karachi.

First Pre-CARIFTA Games camp completed

Chantoba Bright

THE first pre-CARIFTA Games weekend camp for the athletes who have made the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) qualifying standards was completed yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora.

Fifteen of the 18-member squad is locally based and they all took part in the camp where they worked along with various coaches in their respective events.

Among the athletes who took part in the camp were Daniel Williams, Chantoba Bright, Deshanna Skeete, Shaquka Tyrell, Princess Brown, Anthony Williams, Tremaine Brown, Jermaine Simmons, Murphy Nash, Tortque Boyce, Kenisha Phillips, Cordell Charles, Joanna Archer, Kissana Glenn and Kezra Murray.

The trio of Onassha Rogers, Avon Samuels and Claudrice McKoy are overseas-based and competing at the US National Colle-

giate Athletics Association (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 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.

The CARIFTA bound athletes will compete against Guyana’s senior athletes next weekend as they hope to be as well prepared as possible for the meet in the Bahamas.

The team will depart the ‘Land of Many Waters’ on March 28 or 29.

The front-runners of the campaign will be Daniel Williams, Chantoba Bright, Claudrice McKoy, Onassha Rogers and Avon Samuels.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday March 12, 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 yesterday’s quiz: (1) Lauren Down (NZ) (1) WI defeated UAE by 60 runs Today’s Quiz: (1) Who took most wickets for WI women against NZ

women in the recent first ODI? (2) Who was voted Man of the Match in the WI first ICC

World Cup Qualifier game?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, March 12, 2018

Ambrose, Eastman cop top honours in weekend’s cycling double-header HAMZAH Eastman and Alanzo Ambrose were the winners during the weekend’s cycling meets; first Eastman blew away the field to take the 12th Diamond Mineral Water feature Schoolboys and Invitational 35-lap race, while Ambrose grabbed a win in the 21st Cheddi Jagan Memorial road race in Berbice.

Ambrose finished first from a field of Guyana’s top cyclist in a time of two hours 11 minutes five seconds to win his first race of the year, a 55-miler.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) athlete held off tough competition from Team Cocos Jamual John who had to settle for second place this time around. The other top six places went to Andre “Padlock” Greene (third), Paul DeNobrega (fourth), Andrew Hicks (fifth) and Christopher “Chicken Legs” Griffith in sixth.

The riders departed from in front of Freedom House in New Amsterdam, Berbice, then headed to Number 55 Village in the Corentyne and returned to Port Mourant for the finish.

Meanwhile, on Saturday at the inner circuit of the National Park, Eastman finished with a blazing time of one hour, 16 minutes and 39 seconds.

Last year’s winner, Romello Crawford finished a distant second with Paul DeNobrega coming in behind for third place.

Walter Grant-Stuart, Deeraj Garbarran and Junior Niles followed close behind to fill out the top six rewarding spots.

Meanwhile, other winners yesterday included Jonathan Ramsuchit (BMX Boys and Girls 12-14), Junior Niles (Veterans U-50), Kennard Lovell (Veterans O-50), Adelie Hodge Hamzah Eastman was in a class of his own on Saturday, winning the 12th Diamond Mineral Water (Juveniles), Jared Barrington (BMX 6-9), Jaheim Henry Cycling meet at the National Park. (Delano Williams Photo) (BMX 9-12) and Marvin Knight (BMX 12-14).

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Sparta Boss, Back Circle advance to Corona KO round

SPARTA Boss and Back Circle are among the sixteen teams that have made it to the knock-out round of the Corona Futsal Tournament following the conclusion of the round-robin phase Saturday evening.

The other teams that made the cut are Alpha Warriors and Show Stoppers (Group A), Tiger Bay (Group B), Future Stars and Old School Ballers (Group C), West Front Road and Albouystown (Group D), Bent Street and California Square (Group E) and Leopold Street (Group F).

The four best third-placed teams were Mocha (Group B), Xtreme Campbellville (Group C), Sophia (Group D) and Alexander Village (Group F).

In the last round of matches at the National Gymnasium, Show Stoppers set the tone for the night with an 11-9 goal-fest win against Kingston. Dexroy Adams had goals in the 7th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 17th minutes. He was supported by Jermaine Samuels’ hat-trick (4th, 8th, 18th), Damien Williams’ brace (2nd and 14th) and a lone strike from Delroy Jordan (3rd). Kingston had a pair of hat-tricks from Olson Lewis (38seconds, 9th and 19th mins) and Collin Clarke (12th, 14th and 20th), coupled with a brace from Simon Emanuel (8th and 13th) and Nigel Denny (15th).

California Square were also winners on the night, defeating Channel 9 Warriors 6-3, thanks to Dillon Kelly (3rd, 4th and 10th), David George (4th and 16th) and Mashack Barratt (8th). Travil Alexander (7th and 11th) and Junior Thorne (9th) were on target for the losers.

Leopold Street beat Broad Street 3-2 in the third game of the night. Okeni Fraser (1st), Darren Benjamin (4th) and Omallo Williams (18th) were the goal scorers for Leopold Street with Daniel Ross (16th) and Shawn Muhammad (14th) on the cards for Broad Street.

A two-goal stalemate occurred between Albouystown and Sophia, with Desmond cotton (3rd) and Dwayne Lowe (14th) scoring for the former and Moses Gittens (1st and 12th) scoring for the latter.

Bent Street beat North East 7-3 thanks to Job Caesar’s hat-trick (4th, 13th and 14th), Purnell Shultz (1st and 3rd) and Andrew Murray and Kelsey Benjamin in the 8th and 18th respectively. Keifer Brandt (9th), Shakiel Browne (3rd) and Carl Tudor (1st) were on target for the losers.

In the final game of the night, West Front Road beat YMCA 9-2 with braces from Jamal Pedro (9th and 15th), Randolph Wagner (6th and 16th), Collin Nelson (8th and 15th) and Joshua Brown (1st and 14th) and Hubert Pedro’s lone strike in the 5th. YMCA had Frank Crandon and Randy Roberts scoring in the 4th and 11th respectively. (Stephan Sookram)

‘I wasn’t expecting a WI senior call-up’ - Paul Mahadeo reigns supreme at Kares Fitness games

Keemo Paul says that he is surprised to be called up to the West Indies Senior Squad

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Fit and Proper! Dillon Mahadeo retained his Guyana Fitness games title yesterday by demolishing his competition and the stages at the national park. Details in Tomorrow’s Edition. (Samuel Maughn Photo)

Milo U-18 Schools Football tournament…

Christianburg booted out by Pure Masters

Guyanese all-rounder Keemo Paul has expressed surprise at being called up to the West Indies squad for the World Cup Qualifiers, which began on March 4.

The 20-year-old was called up as a replace-

ment player for the injured Sheldon Cottrell, who was ruled out of the Caribbean side’s ongoing ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, the Essequibian expressed his surprise but noted that

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The victorious Demerara team and GCB officials share the moment.

See Page 19

Bowlers set up title for Demerara ... Berbice whip Essequibo by 125 runs

The Christianburg keeper,Omar Brewley, went the right side for this penalty shot but could not stop the expertly placed shot. (Samuel Maughn photo)

Ambrose, Eastman cop top honours in weekend’s cycling double-header

See Page 23

Windies to play in Karachi instead of Lahore See Page 22

First Pre-CARIFTA Games camp completed

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MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2018