Guyana chronicle e paper 03 14 2018

Students’ exhibition puts spotlight on climate 21 change PAGE

Not so soon No. 105213

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2018

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

Commissioner shocked over police decision to close Lindo Creek case

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Rose Hall martyrs remembered Albion family loses home in mid-morning fire PAGE

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Wife, friend found guilty of murdering US citizen 23 PAGE

Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton interacts with Dr. Fred Sukdeo as Ms. Devi Sukdeo (second, from left) and Ms. Pamela Sukdeo-Badley (right) the grandchildren of one of the slain workers look on

New GuySuCo board approved

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CCJ dismisses land acquisition appeal 08 PAGE

… but upholds $30M award

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

AG visits CFATF headquarters … tells staff underground economy undermining regional countries

CHAIRMAN of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, on Tuesday toured the Trinidad headquarters of CFATF, when he told staff that "many of our regional economies have been affected by the underground economy."

Williams’ visit came one day after he and a team of lawyers represented Guyana in a third term case at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). During the visit Williams met with the Executive Director Ms. Dawne Spicer, Deputy Executive

Chairman of CFATF, Basil Williams and staff of the secretariat Director Carlos Acosta and staff of the Secretariat.

Chairman Williams expressed his pleasure at being able to incorporate the visit to the secretariat following his representation in a matter on behalf of the State of Guyana at the Caribbean Court of Justice. During the visit he engaged the secretariat staff on the vision of the CFATF and commended the hard work of the secretariat in fostering regional implementation of countermeasures to address Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Chairman Williams specifically noted that “many of our regional economies have been deflected by the underground economy being the proceeds of crime from the five wars of globalisation - trafficking in persons, trafficking in narcotics, trafficking in weapons, mon-

ey laundering and terrorist financing.” He noted the efficient work done by the secretariat staff and urged them to redouble efforts to assist CFATF members.

Chairman Williams will preside over the upcoming CFATF Plenary in Trinidad and Tobago during the period May 27-31, 2018. At this time, Chairman Williams is spearheading the ongoing anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism work of CFATF’s 25 member countries.

Meanwhile, only last month Williams led the CFATF delegation at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Plenary Meeting and Working Groups, held at OECD headquarters in Paris, France. CFATF participants included the CFATF Secretariat, Bermuda, Haiti, Jamaica, Venezuela, and Aruba and Curacao (under the Kingdom of the Netherlands).

The main issues addressed by this Plenary were: Combatting terrorist financing, including the adoption of a new counter-terrorist financing operational plan and a statement on the actions taken under the 2016 counterterrorist financing strategy. FATF Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs) were tasked with developing their own counter-terrorist financing operational plans.

Additionally, the plenary addressed amendments to recommendation two on national cooperation and coordination; Haiti was removed from the Third Round FATF ICRG pool; Barbados was placed in the Fourth Round FATF ICRG pool based on the results of the Mutual Evaluation Report and Trinidad and Tobago’s progress was discussed by the ICRG. They remain in status quo and will report at the FATF’s June 2018 Plenary.

Not so soon

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

… Lindo Creek commissioner shocked at police decision to close case

By Svetlana Marshall CHAIRMAN of the Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Justice (Ret’d) Donald Trotman has expressed surprise that the Guyana Police Force closed the case into the mass murder at Lindo Creek back in 2008.

Justice Trotman made the comments during the testimony of outgoing Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud on Tuesday. Persuad, who was the crime chief at the time of the Lindo Creek Massacre in June 2008, was instructed by then Commissioner of Police Henry Green to complete the murder investigation several months after the charred remains of the eight miners were discovered at a mining camp at Lindo Creek in the Upper Berbice River, Region 10.

Initially, the matter was investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility.

Under cross-examination by the Commission’s Chairman and Legal Counsel Patrice Henry, Persaud explained that upon completion of the case, a report was sent to the DPP for legal advice. Commissioner Trotman questioned Persaud on whether advice given by the DPP has to be followed. The DPP had reportedly advised

Chairman of the Lindo Creek CoI Justice Ret’d Donald Trotman (Photos by Delano Williams) that the case be closed.

“Matters involving criminal jurisdiction, we do. In matters involving disciplinary action against members of the force, not in all cases…most times the advice I see involving civil jurisdiction matters would be forwarded to the attorney general for further advice,” he explained.

Pressing for more answers, Justice Trotman asked if there are times when the DPP’s recommendations are not in keeping with those of the police, and if such would be followed; Persaud responded in the positive.

“There are several times where the DPP’s advice

is not in keeping with the recommendations of the investigator, or even the crime chief’s recommendations, but we take action in accordance with the advice of the DPP..,” he explained.

However, Persaud said in this case, he as the crime chief was comfortable with the advice of the DPP to close the case. “As crime chief, given the fact that the perpetrators that the investigation had identified had all been killed, except for one, who had been cooperating with prosecutors and others, and given that…I was comfortable with that,” Persaud told the Commission.

Persaud further indicated

that he was not surprised at the recommendation of the DPP, and was comfortable with the decision to close the case. But Justice Trotman said he was “very surprised.”

Earlier in the hearing, the outgoing commissioner of police disclosed that from the DNA samples taken from relatives of all of the deceased miners, only three came back with positive results, based on a report submitted by the authorities in Jamaica. The DNA tests confirmed that Nigel Torres, Bonny Harry and another miner, whose name he could not recall, were among those murdered at Lindo Creek.

The Trinidadian investi-

gators had also submitted a report to the then police commissioer, that it did not include results from DNA samples taken.

He confirmed that the remains were kept at the Lyken Funeral Parlour, but could not confirm whether autopsies had been conducted. According to the Coroner’s Order, Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh was identified to conduct the post-mortems but his name was crossed out, and replaced by another name. According to Persaud, upon the closure of the investigation, he instructed that the parlour bury the remains, but not before relatives of the identified men were informed, along with the camp owner Leonard Arokium.

“I am informed that one family indicated an interest, but also indicated that they cannot bear the expense and as a result, I instructed that the said parlour as per procedure bury the remains,” he recalled. Co-owner of Lyken’s Funeral Home, Dr Dawn Stewart, who had appeared before the Commissioner earlier this month, had said that the remains were buried at Le Repentir Cemetery on September 11, 2012, some four years after they were discovered.

All the family members

Outgoing Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud who took the stand thus far have alleged that they were never informed of the murder of their loved ones by the Guyana Police Force, and had been left in the dark when the decision was made for the remains to be buried some four years after.

The CoI is investigating the circumstances surrounding the killing of Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Horace Drakes, Bonny Harry, Lancelot Lee, Compton Speirs, Nigel Torres and Clifton Berry Wong, on or about June 21, 2008 at Lindo Creek in the Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice Region.

New GuySuCo board approved FOLLOWING some delays, the new Guyana Sugar Corporation board has been approved and the company has published a full-page newspaper advertisement introducing the new directors.

Last Friday, government said it was continuing its consideration of the Board of Directors. Minister of State Joseph Harmon in response to questions posed at a post-Cabinet press briefing held at the

Ministry of the Presidency, said, “Cabinet has requested to have a further consideration of the board of GuySuCo. “Cabinet made some comments with respect to the board that was identified and I am sure that within the short space of time that all of the issues as they relate to the board will be clarified and that there will be a full board of GuySuCo appointed, gazetted and working,” the Minister of State had told reporters.

New chairman of GuySuCo, Colvin Heath-London

However, in the fullpage advertisement in the Guyana Chronicle today, head of the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) Colvin Heath-London, has been confirmed as the new chairman of GuySuCo. The other directors are: Komal Singh; Verna Adrian; Fritz McLean; Rosh Khan (jr); George Jervis; Arianne McLean; Vishnu Panday; Annette Arjoon-Martins and two executives from GuySuCo. The life of the previous

board, chaired by Professor Clive Thomas, ended on February 14, 2018. Meanwhile, in a statement dated February 25, 2018, the SPU said the life of the board of GuySuCo came to an end on February 14, after the Board of Directors of the National Industrial & Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) at a special board meeting, decided to install a new board focused on the transformation of the corporation as envisioned

by NICIL-SPU.

“The NICIL board also instructed GuySuCo to freeze all hiring and to not renew any employee contracts that are expiring at this time.

NICIL has begun working with the management team at the corporation to implement management changes; some of these changes are already being implemented and more are expected to follow in the coming weeks,” the SPU statement said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Trump fires Tillerson after clashes U.S. President Donald Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday after a series of public rifts over policy on North Korea, Russia and Iran, replacing his chief diplomat with loyalist CIA Director Mike Pompeo.

The biggest shakeup of Trump’s Cabinet since he took office in January 2017 was announced by the president on Twitter as his administration works toward a potential meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after months of harsh rhetoric and rising tensions on Pyongyang’s nuclear program.

The rare firing of the United States’ top diplomat capped months of friction between the Republican president and the 65-year-old former Exxon Mobil Corp chief executive. The tensions peaked last fall amid reports Tillerson had called Trump a “moron” and considered resigning. Tillerson never denied

using the word.

Critics expressed dismay at the decision to swap out top diplomats so soon before the unprecedented meeting and worried that Pompeo would encourage Trump to scrap the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and be hawkish on North Korea.

Critics said the move would sow more instability in the volatile Trump administration and marks the departure of another moderate who sought to emphasize the United States’ strong ties to its allies amid Trump’s criticism.

Trump announced the changes in a morning Twitter post and later told reporters more about why he removed Tillerson.

“We got along actually quite well but we disagreed on things,” Trump said. “When you look at the Iran deal: I think it’s terrible, I guess he thinks it was OK. I wanted to break it or do something, and he felt a little bit

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differently.”

At the State Department, a visibly emotional Tillerson said Trump called him around noon from Air Force One, hours after he was summarily dismissed via Twitter. Tillerson also spoke with White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.

He said his tenure ends on March 31 but he would delegate his responsibilities to John Sullivan, deputy secretary of state, at the end of Tuesday.

“What is most important is to ensure an orderly and smooth transition during a time that the country continues to face significant policy and national security challenges,” Tillerson, whose voice quivered at times, told reporters in a packed briefing room.

He pointedly declined to thank Trump personally or praise him, as he has done on previous occasions, but emphasized his strong relationship with Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.

Together, the two were seen as a moderating influence on some of Trump’s policies.

However, Tillerson, also presided over a State Department which saw its role vastly diminished, with several high-profile posts unoccupied and many allies questioning the efficacy of dealing with a diplomat they suspected never had Trump’s ear.

In contrast, Trump said he and Pompeo have “a similar thought process.”

Pompeo, a former Army officer who represented a Kansas district in the House of Representatives before taking the Central Intelligence Agency job, is seen as a Trump loyalist who has enjoyed a less hostile relationship with career spies than Tillerson had with career diplomats.

Trump chose the CIA’s dep-

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uty director, Gina Haspel, to replace Pompeo there. A veteran CIA clandestine officer, Haspel is backed by many in the U.S. intelligence community but is regarded warily by some in Congress for her involvement in the agency’s “black site” detention facilities.

Senior White House officials said Trump wanted his new team in place before any summit with Kim, who invited the U.S. president to meet by May after months of escalating tensions over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

Tillerson listed several foreign policy objectives Washington was working on and singled out Russia for its “troubling behavior and actions.”

TILLERSON UNCLEAR ON REASON Stocks were lower in the afternoon, shaking off early gains on data showing slowing consumer price inflation, on uncertainty about Tillerson’s dismissal and replacement by Pompeo.

“Pompeo is known to be a real hawk on trade and foreign policy,” said Jim Awad, senior managing director at Hartland & Co in New York. “There’s nobody to be a check and balance on Trump. It’s been unsettling to the market within the context of what we see now in the economy, which is a favorable backdrop.”

Tillerson’s imminent departure had been rumored for several months, and Trump said he and Tillerson had discussed the move. State Department officials said Tillerson did not know why he was being pushed out and had intended to stay. One of them, Steven Golstein, was fired later on Tuesday, after he contradicted the White House’s version.

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Republican and Democratic administrations also questioned Trump’s timing and choice, noting that Pompeo was known as a political partisan with hawkish views.

Evans Revere, a former senior U.S. diplomat who dealt with North Korea under President George W. Bush, said Trump’s move sends “a bad signal about the role of diplomacy.”

“Tillerson’s replacement by ... Pompeo, who is known as a political partisan and an opponent of the Iran agreement, raises the prospect of the collapse of that deal, and increases the possibility that the administration might soon face not one, but two nuclear crises,” he said.

Senior White House officials said Chief of Staff Kelly had asked Tillerson to step down on Friday but did not want to make it public while he was on a trip to Africa. Trump’s Twitter announcement came only a few hours after Tillerson, who cut his trip to Africa short, landed in Washington.

Tillerson appeared to be caught by surprise last week when Trump announced he had accepted Kim’s invitation to meet.

Tillerson joined a long list of senior officials who have either resigned or been fired since Trump took office.

that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man,” Trump wrote on Twitter, using a pejorative nickname for Kim. Tillerson and Mattis had pressed a skeptical Trump to stick with the nuclear agreement with Iran and other world powers, and Tillerson has taken a more hawkish view than Trump on Russia.

Tillerson had emerged as a vocal critic on Russia - for its role in the annexation of Crimea, support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and alleged meddling in the U.S. election. He also singled out Russia for its apparent role in the Soviet-era nerve weapon used to poison a former Russian double agent in Britain - a position that initially diverged from the White House.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate after an April committee hearing, Pompeo will be taking over a State Department shaken by the departures of many senior diplomats and embittered by proposed budget cuts.

Lawmakers from both major parties have criticized those cuts and the administration’s failure to fill dozens of open jobs there.

But over time, many lawmakers grew to appreciate Tillerson as a relatively steady hand in the chaotic Trump administration.

“I’ve talked to the president many, many times and I know Secretary Tillerson. I’m very aware of the relationship,” said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, a Republican. “And as I’ve mentioned publicly, I thought there was a reprieve that was under way since about the beginning of December, but, look.”

Tillerson said he would now return to private life.

(Reuters)

OUT OF THE LOOP Trump publicly undercut Tillerson’s diplomatic initiatives numerous times.

Last year Tillerson said the United States was directly communicating with North Korea but that Pyongyang had shown no interest in dialogue. Trump contradicted Tillerson’s efforts a day later.

“I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State,

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

“I was pulled from pursuing ‘Fineman’ gang

By Svetlana Marshall

…Seelall Persaud tells Lindo Creek CoI

OUTGOING Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, said in June 2008 he was instructed by then Commissioner of Police Henry Greene to pursue the notorious ‘Fine Man’ gang at Christmas Falls, but it was not long after that he was instructed to withdraw

as a senior superintendent.

Responding to a series of questions put to him by the Commission’s Legal Counsel Patrice Henry, Persaud recalled that prior to June 5, 2008, he was informed by the then Commissioner of Police that Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins and his gang were hiding out at Christmas Falls in the Upper Berbice River. The

the criminal gang. At the time, a reward of $20M was being offered for information that would lead to capturing of the men, who, based on intelligence, were equipped with rifles.

Armed with rifles, handguns, and a boat equipped with an outboard engine and

dent Lowenfield, and Deputy Superintendent Nurse were those who comprised the team led by Persaud.

At around 17:00hrs on June 5, Persaud said they arrived on the right bank of the Upper Berbice River in the vicinity of Christmas Falls where they camped

served there was a body of a person I later learnt was Otis ‘Mudduh’ Fiffee, with a gunshot injury to his face, or what appears to be a gunshot injury,” the outgoing police commissioner recalled.

He said the ranks had also seized nine firearms such as rifles, shotguns and

Outgoing Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud marking off key locations in the Upper Berbice River, relevant to the investigation including Christmas Falls and the UNAMCO trail.

his team to give way to the Joint Services.

The decision was reportedly made after Persaud’s team had engaged in a fierce gun battle with the criminal elements at Christmas Falls – a shootout that left one gang member dead. The remaining gunmen allegedly managed to escape and according to Persuad, were heading in the direction of Lindo Creek.

Persaud, who is currently on his pre-retirement leave, appeared before Chairman of the Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry (CoI), Justice (Ret’d) Donald Trotman on Tuesday at Department of the Public Service, where relatives and friends of the eight murdered miners turned out in their numbers.

At the time of the Lindo Creek Massacre, Persaud was the crime chief, heading the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force

five criminals were wanted for a number of murders and robberies, and Greene had instructed Persaud to conduct an operation to have them arrested. He reportedly provided the crime chief with a map of the hideout location. “…I was given some information by Commissioner Henry Greene, also a map showing a portion of the Upper Berbice River. Some other features on that map were a location name Christmas Falls, a particular location just immediately above Christmas Falls on the left bank of the Berbice River was identified. I also saw on that map a location named Kwakwani and a road named the UNAMCO road,” Persaud recalled.

Upon receiving the classified information, the outgoing police commissioner said he returned to his office, and further researched the area before mobilising his team of policemen to pursue

Relatives, friends and other persons who gathered in the Commission’s Secretariat Chamber at the Department of Public Service to listen to the public hearings. (Photos by Delano Williams)

accessories, Persaud said he led a team of police officers from CID Headquarters in the city by road to Christmas Falls on June 5, 2008. A group of civilians who were familiar with the area had also accompanied the police.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hickens; Deputy Superintendent Withrite; Inspector Layne, Inspector Narine, Assistant Superinten-

out until the next morning.

On the morning of June 6, 2008, Assistant Commissioner Hickens led a team to the left bank.

“Hickens and team crossed the river (about 200ft wide) and shortly after that I heard a series of gunshot sounds including rocket fire, and it lasted for a while. I thereafter crossed the river in the same boat and ob-

handguns and a quantity of ammunition. Persaud told the Commission that after the shooting incident, Assistant Commissioner Hickens informed him that the team of police officers was approaching the camp on the left side of the river, when they came under heavy gunfire, and as a result, they returned fire, killing Fiffee in the process.

Questioned whether Hickens had reported seeing ‘Fineman’ and his other gang members, Persaud responded in the affirmative, adding that they (the criminals) were proceeding to the right of Christmas Falls in the direction of Lindo Creek. “There was a creek just south of the camp, there was a bridge across that creek and he indicated to me that they crossed the bridge… north of the camp… going north…,” he posited, while pointing to the location on a map provided by the Commission.

According to Persaud, he led his team out of the area the same day and returned to the city. During the process,

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Editorial

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

The diaspora and new national prosperity SINCE independence, Guyana has been drained of its population. Into the causes of this exodus we will not go, but from that time to now more Guyanese have left Guyana than those of us who are resident here.

Though the Guyana diaspora could be found in the West Indian islands, Suriname and other Third World countries, the bulk of Guyanese immigrants found their way to the United States and Canada.

Everywhere they have gone, the Guyanese have proven themselves, as a group, model citizens. They are hard-working and a comparatively large proportion of them have secured higher education. Their children have equally been creative and successful citizens and have integrated into their host societies.

Guyana is now on the threshold of becoming

among the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean with its evolution into an oil producer and exporter. Foreign companies are now beginning to come into the country and West Indians are beginning to settle here. The economy of the country would be expanding at a fairly rapid rate and there are opportunities for many new companies, both in the production and service fields.

The diaspora could be a rich source of talent for the oil business, in manufacturing and in a plethora of services. The in-gathering of our compatriots and their families could be as historic an event as the State of Israel’s vision of the in-gathering of the Jewish people. If we are able to attract a fair percentage of the diaspora to settle in Guyana, it would be a historic duty and achievement of the present generation of Guyanese. It would

have various spinoffs such as the repairing of the torn fabric of Guyanese culture, which was badly damaged by the massive emigration.

It would be strengthening the Guyana element and ethos of the population, so as to be able to absorb the inevitable inflow of immigrants from various countries. France and the United States in the 19th century were able to achieve this ideal -- maintaining the ethos and culture of the country, while at the same time receiving large numbers of immigrants.

Attracting the diaspora back to Guyana should not be left to chance. Certain positive steps have to be taken. In the first place, the Citizenship Laws need to be revised as so many countries with large diasporas have done. For instance, Guyana should review its laws to allow children and grandchildren of Guyanese-born

citizens to register as Guyanese nationals enjoying all the privileges of Guyanese nationals. Such would include taking advantage of the lending institutions such as Go-Invest. Go-Invest and the business institutions and even the banks should be selling Guyana’s new opportunities to the diaspora.

Many Guyanese abroad may have sunk such deep roots in the countries where they have settled and even more so their children and grandchildren, that even though they may wish to return and take advantage of Guyana’s new economic prosperity, they would find it difficult to do so, since Guyana would in effect be a foreign country. It is therefore necessary that the state authorities set up institutions both in the diaspora and in Guyana, where the process of adjusting to Guyanese life would be taught. In

time, there could be schools where Guyanese children who would be returning to Guyana would be able to study for the local Caribbean examinations, much as the American school prepares children for the American examinations. Initially, however, compatriots who are returning may wish to have the best of both worlds by keeping one leg in their country of settlement and one in Guyana. There are two other urgent issues which must be addressed to further attract Guyanese settled abroad to return. The first is that crime has to be minimised and with stringent effort this could

be achieved. In this effort, the religious bodies -- Hindu, Muslim and Christian, the Ministry of Education through the school system, the courts and the media in addition to the police will each have their roles to play.

The second issue is, there must be available health care of the highest quality. The general health services must be fully modernised. For example, the ambulances should be properly equipped with properly trained medexes and have oxygen and other first aid facilities and be able to answer calls with greater promptitude.

Education Ministry conducts investigation GAWU seeks good relations with SPU at Zeeburg Secondary School Dear Editor,

Dear Editor’ A FACT-FINDING exercise was carried out at the Zeeburg Secondary School following a letter that was published in the Guyana Chronicle newspaper on Thursday, February 22nd, 2018, entitled “The nonsense at Zeeburg Secondary School must stop”.

The team that conducted this exercise comprised the regional education officer, two district education officers and the senior schools welfare officer. Both the headteacher and the deputy headteacher were actively involved in the process.

Firstly, there was no barring of students from attending the Career Day activity at the University of Guyana. Secondly, regarding the take-awaylunch activity, students were not required to pay the exorbitant prices for lunch and a drink. The prices quoted in the published letter were grossly inaccurate, since the children paid far less for the items.

Another inaccurate alle-

gation made in the missive is that the headteacher of the school uses her office to run a lucrative ‘cook house,’ while at the same time demanding and squeezing money from parents to sustain this industry at the school.

However, the investigation revealed that the headteacher usually assists the school in the preparation of food whenever there is an activity at the school, which was always done free in order to ‘cut costs’. In some instances, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) supplied the ingredients and the headteacher prepared the food.

Further, as it relates to Fifth Form students being barred from writing their mock exams if they did not ‘pay up’, this is completely false. No student was told that they would be debarred from writing the Grade 11 Mock Examinations if they did not pay. Every child was given an opportunity to write the examinations.

Another inaccuracy was that the decision to change the

colour of the school’s uniform was made by the headteacher.

The parents made the decision in September 2017 to change the colour to lime green. There was evidence to show that a wide cross-section of the PTA was consulted in the selection process.

As it relates to children being asked to remove their socks if it isn’t black, the school rules clearly state that the girls must wear white socks and the boys must wear black.

Any other colour is a contravention of those rules.

The letter also mentioned that certain ethnic groups are being targeted because of their hair and being told to cut it low. An investigation revealed that no child is being targeted because of his/her hairstyle.

Students are simply being encouraged to follow the rules of the school.

Additionally, the names of students that have outstanding items for the school were placed on a board at the last PTA meeting. However, this was done in an effort to recover outstanding raffle sheets (for

audit purposes) and text books from students who have books from previous grades.

The letter said that parents cannot voice their concerns: this too is furthest from the truth. Parents are always encouraged to voice their concerns. At the last Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting, parents were encouraged to come forward and speak through the microphone, so that everyone could hear their concerns.

Lastly, concerning the allegation that children were seen climbing and clinging to walls to clean the school, this too was disproved by the investigation that was carried out. Students had assisted in the cleaning of the school for Culture Day, in keeping with Standard Operating Procedures. No student was seen climbing and clinging to walls, as they were closely monitored by their class teachers.

Regards Public Relations Department Ministry of Education

THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has noted the contents of an article titled, ‘ExRose Hall workers refuse to take up jobs at the estate – SPU accuse union of undermining interests,’ which appeared in the March 10, 2018 edition of Kaieteur News.

We found the comments that are attributed to a senior SPU official as unfortunate and surprising. Our union during an engagement with the SPU on March 09, 2018, raised the concerns of the Rose Hall workers.

During that meeting, the GAWU told the SPU team that it was unaware of its plans to re-engage workers. We reminded the SPU representatives that the unit had previously committed that it would keep our union abreast of its plans. In response, the SPU team informed GAWU that, at that time, no contract/s were formalised to engage workers and the unit undertook that it would advise the GAWU when such arrangements were finalised.

It should not be forgotten that the Rose Hall workers, like other workers, have a right to accept or not accept what is being offered to them. In fact, we

did share with the SPU that there is a point where workers would choose to stay home and starve than to work and starve.

It was against this background that our union’s president expressed the workers’ concerns as the Kaieteur News reported. We must say too that we have urged the SPU to take account of such factors as expressed by the workers and take this opportunity to publicly urge that it does so.

While the GAWU recognises that the union and the SPU may not always see eye to eye, we sincerely believe that we both must be frank with each other in the interest of promoting good and positive relations. We were, therefore, disturbed that the SPU did not express its concern, as was outlined by the Kaieteur News article. We nevertheless look forward to strengthening and improving the fruitful relations we have with the SPU as we work in the interest of the sugar industry and the thousands dependent on its operations.

Regards Seepaul Narine General-Secretary GAWU

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

City Hall must take some blame for the devastation of Kitty fire Dear Editor,

THE most recent and tragic fire that occurred in Kitty, Georgetown, that resulted in at least three homes being destroyed and two considerably damaged [and] scores of persons homeless, brings to the fore once again the dereliction on the part of the Mayor and Councillors of the city of Georgetown.

Had the firefighters had access to unpolluted, open waterways, undoubtedly several of those homes would have been saved. Everyone knows that the water storage capacity of the

fire tenders is limited and that they are forced to use trenches, canals and any other nearby source of water to supplement the water that they bring. The search by the firefighters to locate an open waterway that was not clogged with copious aquatic growth, plastic and other garbage items, proved futile.

All of the surrounding drains were chock-full with weed, refuse and other unmentionables.

So the firefighters were forced to haul their hoses a considerable distance away where they were able to eventually get a source of water. This is utterly shameful.

It leaves one to wonder where all the hundreds of millions of dollars have gone, that were given by the Georgetown City Council to just one or two ‘special’ contractors to maintain the integrity of the city’s drainage system without tender procedures being adhered to.

Has it literally gone down the drain? And why were all the nearby fire hydrants non-functional?

City Hall should have a policy for new homes that are being built in the city that should necessitate the installation of smoke alarms built along with sprinklers. They

should also ensure that houses are not built too closely together, which cause multiple homes to be lost when one catches afire.

Then again, the engineers and building inspectors are otherwise engaged and not ensuring the implementation of and adherence to established building codes by persons doing construction and renovations. Every day you hear citizens complaining of their highhanded and disrespectful attitudes.

Regards Anu Bihari

Ministry addressing dust problem at Canal No.1 Dear Editor,

REFERENCE is made to a letter published in the March 12, 2018 editions of Stabroek News and Kaieteur News, under the headlines, “Canal No 1 project causing thick dust” and “Why was it not possible to find a better way to undertake this

project? Was no other option available?”, respectively.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure wishes to first apologise to the writer of the letter, Mr. Hubert Roberts, and the other residents who have been affected. Residents brought to our attention the issue of dust pollution and

since then the Ministry has been working stridently to ensure that the situation is mitigated. As Mr. Roberts noted, we have taken steps, such as constant wetting of the roadway, to reduce the amount of dust. We will continue to undertake measures that will lend to the improved comfort of the community.

T h e re s i d e n t s a re further assured that the situation will soon be resolved as the project moves into its paving phase this week.

Regards, Desilon Daniels Public Relations Officer

Ministry of Public Infrastructure

Noise nuisance is killing me Dear Editor,

I AM a 67-year-old pensioner.

Where I live there are some people who think it is their God-given right to bombard their neighbours with noise and whenever it is a holiday, it gets worse. They play their music very loudly and for days, because the police do not respond to calls by elderly citizens who cannot defend themselves.

Let me tell you Mr Editor, what a female rank told me after calling for help on Phagwah Day. I was not feeling well. The street that I live in, no less than six neighbours along the street started playing loud music, each one trying to outdo the other. The torture was unbearable. I suffer with diabetes and high blood pressure; my head started pounding. For hours the music continued and I couldn’t take it anymore. This was happening since earlier in the day and it was almost night when I decided to take up the phone.

I am too scared to say where I live and where I made the call, but a female rank without knowing exactly what was taking place quickly jumped to her own conclusion and answered me when I tried to report what was happening and who was responsible. Her words were to me, “Is a bar and de man get a licence fuh play he music.”

I couldn’t believe what I

was hearing. I was distraught and this caused me to feel more sick. May I say Mr Editor, the help never came and two days later those people continued to play loud music until it boiled down to one neighbour on Sunday March 4, that music played until after 8 O’clock that night. I didn’t even bother to pick up the phone to make a report. I went to bed with tears in my eyes, praying for the music to stop because the heavy pounding from the music gave me a nasty headache and pains around my neck and I knew it was the music that was causing my pressure to rise.

I have given up hope that anything will ever be done concerning noise nuisances.

Nothing was done by the previous administration and nothing is being done by this administration. People, especially the elderly who suffer with illnesses, will end up dead before their time, because there is no one looking out for them. I am still hoping that the police would be more professional and responsive when called upon to do their duty concerning noise. It appears that the female rank is ignorant of the fact that there is a law concerning noise, even if the operator of a bar has a licence.

Regards A distraught senior citizen

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

CCJ dismisses land acquisition appeal … but upholds $30M award

THE Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Tuesday dismissed an appeal brought by Deorani Singh against the Attorney General (AG) of Guyana and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), for what she perceived to be a violation of her constitutional right to protection of property when the state compulsorily acquired commercial premises approximately 35 years ago.

The estate of the late Mohan Pirtam Singh presented by his widow, Deorani Singh, and administratrix, sought compensation for the alleged violation of the appellant’s constitutional right to the protection of property following the acquisition.

Singh had carried on a business on the contested property and held a transport No. 1755 of 1967 until his death in 1980. After he died, the estate leased the property to the Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (GPC), a state entity for five years. In 1982, during the subsistence of the lease, the Government of Guyana acted to compulsorily acquire the property by making orders for entering the property pursuant to the laws.

In February 1984, the Commissioner of Lands passed Transport No. 72 of 1984 in respect to the identified property to GPC. In 1984, at the request of the lawyer then acting for the estate, the AG filed an ex parte motion in the High Court to ascertain the amount of compensation to be paid.

An Order dated October 16, 1984 and entered on January 30, 1986 records the hearing of the said motion

by Justice Prem Persaud, attended by the lawyer for the estate. The judge ordered that notice of the proceedings be advertised by publication in two newspapers and the Official Gazette, and called on all persons interested to protect their rights in the property, that the value of the property be ascertained by the Chief Valuation Officer (CVO) and that the matter do stand adjourned to March 8, 1986 in chambers.

An Order made in the same proceedings dated March 5 and entered on March 18, 1987 before Justice Pompey was noted. The

order said that the judge ordered and declared that the property be deemed compulsorily acquired and that fixed compensation be paid for the property at $578, 000 less the sum of $496, 850.13.

On September 9, 1991 a lawyer for the estate wrote the then president of Guyana asking for the property to be returned to the estate for a sum to be paid by the estate that should not be exorbitant compared to the amount the state had paid as compensation. In 1994, the property was leased to Citizens Bank by GPC and possession was taken by the bank as lessee. In 2003, the property was transferred to NICIL. Some 14 years after the acquisition order had been published; the appellant brought a motion in the High Court contending that her and the estates fundamental rights and freedoms as guaranteed by Articles 40 and 142 of the Constitution had been contravened.

As such, she sought redress declaring among other things that her fundamental rights had been breached; that the purported acquisition of the property was unconstitutional, ultra vires, null, void and of no effect; that the purported registration of title in favour of the Government of Guyana and in the name of the Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation was also unconstitutional, ultra vires, null, void and of no effect; that the property so acquired was never used for the purpose of public works for which it was acquired and that not having fulfilled that purpose, the property remained in the ownership of the estate; that the transport in the name of the deceased remained valid and effective; and that the said property purported to be acquired could only have been acquired on fulfillment of the conditions set out in the Act, that these had to be strictly observed and the failure to do so rendered the acquisition null, void and of no legal effect.

The constitutional motion was heard by Justice Roy in 2002 but the judgment was not delivered until 2010. That delay the judge said was as a result of missing files. In his ruling, Justice Roy said Singh’s constitutional right to property was violated by the acquisition.

He contended that by virtue of the aforementioned, the compensation of the acquisition must have been voted by Parliament and the certificate must have been given by the Minister as conditions precedent to enable the land to vest. This was not done and as such, he posited that the property did not vest.

Instead, it remained in the estate of the deceased and the passing of transport to GPC was a nullity. Additionally, Justice Roy held that Justice Pompey had no jurisdiction to make the order which deemed the property compulsorily acquired and that order was also a nullity.

As a result, the assessment and payment of compensation was a mistake of law. In considering the appropriate remedy, Roy J considered the Appellant’s delay in instituting proceedings and the accrual of third party rights but decided to exercise his discretion to grant relief. He ordered a hearing to assess compensation and, further, that in the event of non-payment of the sum awarded as compensation, within three months from the date of assessment by the Court, declaration would be granted without further order that the property remained the property of the land owner’s estate.

In 2010, the AG appealed the decision and an oral judgment was handed down. That oral judgment concurred with that of the High Court which stated that Singh’s constitutional rights had been infringed. Damages to the tune of $30M were awarded. In considering the facts before it, the CCJ noted that the written judgment of the Court of Appeal was made available one year later and differed in some instances from the oral judgment.

The decision read by Justice Denys Barrow noted that the written judgment only became available just about a day before the hearing at that court.

Singh contended that having upheld the ruling of the High Court, that the purported acquisition was unconstitutional erred when it set aside the order for assessment of damages which Justice Roy made and when it purported to make an arbitrary award of $30M in respect of the property. Additionally, Singh submitted

that the refusal to grant an order that the property be returned to the deceased’s estate was both unconstitutional and oppressive. The AG on the other hand contended that every transport of immovable property, other than a judicial-sale transport, shall vest in the transferee the full and absolute title to the immovable property.

By statute therefore, the transports in favour of both GPC and NICIL were absolute and their validity could not be challenged. Additionally, the state argued that the appellant contributed to the status quo by waiting almost 15 years to file the constitutional motion. It was also argued that the $30M award in 2017 provided more than adequate and sufficient compensation to Singh.

Having regard to the lapse in time, the AG submitted that the issue of laches arose. He submitted that the delay in the matter is unreasonable and argued that the delay should have cause the dismissal of the claim notwithstanding that it was a constitutional claim because such claims were not exempt from the consequence of this form of abuse. NICIL, the second named appellant also raised the issue of delay.

NICIL pointed to the 14 year delay before application for constitutional relief, 13 years elapsed since the transport of the property passed to a state company and ten years passed since the part payment of compensation was assessed by the High Court.

NICIL contended that Singh’s delay ought to strike down her action. “The state and GPC were allowed by the long delay in bringing

the challenge to the acquisition, to believe they were accepted by all the world as the lawful and genuine owner of the property,” the court said while pointing to the considerable works done on the property over the years.

The court flayed the local judicial process as it is to bear considerable blame for the delay. “A constitutional claim is by its very nature, of the utmost gravity and should be heard expeditiously…The five years delay was wholly unacceptable. Worse, it is egregious that after the claim was heard, beginning in April 2002, the judgment was not delivered until August 2010, some eight years later. The judge apologised for that delay and explained that the file with all exhibits had gone missing but, with respect, that is a wholly unacceptable excuse.”

The CCJ pointed to the great delay at the level of the Court of Appeal and said it is regrettable that the observer is left to conclude that the inordinate wait in the High Court for the file to be found and the excessive time it took for the matter to be disposed of in the Court of Appeal, reflect an attitude of insufficient concern and commitment to avoiding excessive delay. “…the Judiciary must do its utmost to guard against and where the attitude does exist to stamp out, for both stamp out, for both itself and the legal community and, most of all, for the public good.

Today’s public is, rightly, increasingly demanding of greater accountability of its public officials, including judges. Unfortunately, the

public blames the judiciary for delay even where it is attributable to systemic causes.”

That aside, the CCJ found that Justice Roy had no jurisdiction to sit as an appellate court over Justice Pompey. “It remains inescapable that the order Justice Pompey, formally made, drawn up, perfected and sealed was never set aside or appealed. It was, always and remains today, a valid, binding and effective order,” said Justice Barrow. He noted too that Justice Pompey by his order deemed the property compulsorily acquired. “It was, therefore, an abuse of process for the Appellant to bring the claim for constitutional relief directed to obtaining declarations of invalidity of the acquisition orders issued by the Executive Branch of government.”

Based on the aforementioned, the court awarded basic costs and disbursements to the State and NICIL and granted permission to the parties to apply within 21 days of the date of the judgment, to vary the order as to costs.

President of the CCJ Sir Dennis Byron, along with Justices Jacob Wit, David Hayton, Maureen Rajnauth-Lee and Denys Barrow presided over the case.

The State was represented by Solicitor-General Kim Kyte-Thomas, Oneka Archer-Caulder and Judy Stuart-Adonis while NICIL was represented by Timothy Jonas.

Singh was represented by Sir Fenton Ramsahoye, SC., Roopnarine Satram, Chandrapratesh Satram and Visal Satram.

‘Tear Drop’ freed on $1.1M robbery charge ONE-TIME local, social media sensation Leon Clarke, called `Tear Drop’ was on Tuesday freed from a $1.1M robbery charge committed on a La Penitence businessman last year.

The 23-year-old West La Penitence resident was charged with, while being in the company of others on September 8, 2017, robbing Vincent Howard of $980,000 in cash, $175,000 worth of GTT phone cards, $50,000 worth of Digicel phone cards and $80,000

worth of scratch tickets.

Clarke was freed from the charge by Magistrate Faith McGusty due to the lack of evidence which was raised by his attorney Keoma Griffith, during a no-case submission.

According to the victim, during the robbery his daughter had positively pointed out Clarke as one of the perpetrators. She was able to point him out as the alleged robber after seeing him on Facebook, she said.

Leon Clarke called “Tear Drop”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Rose Hall martyrs remembered

UNITY was the call as Dr George Norton, Minister of Social Cohesion participated in a memorial and wreath-laying ceremony to mark the 105th Death Anniversary of the 15 sugar workers who were killed at the Rose Hall Estate by colonial masters.

The wreath-laying exercise is an annual event used to pay homage to the 15 labourers, including a female, who were shot and killed on March 13, 1913 for standing up against their colonial master who wanted them to work on a four-day holiday which they had earned and were granted for a good harvest.

Fifty-six other persons were injured as the workers protested against warrants issued to those who were seen as instigators. The police in a bid to get the crowd to comply with their demands opened fire killing Badri, Roopan, Juggoo, Gafur, Bholay Hulas, Motey Khan, Sarjoo, Durga, JugaI,Gobindei, Lalji, Sadulla, Nibir and Sohan.

Meanwhile, at the simple ceremony held at the estate’s compound in front of the monument, Minister Norton called on everyone to celebrate and emulate the bravery

of the fallen heroes. “Those lives were not lost in vain.

These men and the lone woman were heroes, they are our martyrs, their struggles lend support to the fight against indentureship, which ended four years after... Not only must we be proud and recognise their contribution to the world we live here in Guyana today, but as Guyanese we must emulate the bravery of those fallen heroes.”

Dr Norton continued, that in order to honour the fallen heroes, Guyanese need to unite and stand firm against any form of injustice, not only to self but to everyone.

“The events that occurred on that fateful day more than a century ago were an appropriate display of great unity and unity as Guyanese we must emulate. It shows us that when we work together we can influence in a positive way the changes that we wanted.”

He went on to challenge the audience to work in unity for betterment of the country and let the martyrs be the inspiration on the path to prosperity. Also addressing the gathering was Regional Executive Officer Region Six, Kim Stephens, who too

called for unity, noting that the struggles of the martyrs ensured that future generations can have a better life.

“It is time to put our energy together to ensure we have that good life, it is time as Guyanese we recognise the importance of unity. Each one of us can make a difference and can contribute to the better life of people in Guyana and by extension the world at large. We can see the testimonies of better infrastructure around us, better health and education systems, these are things our foreparents would have worked hard for.” She said the time has come “for us to cooperate and build our beautiful country…”

Meanwhile, the PPP’s Regional Councillor Zamal Hussain led a handful of supporters who protested the wreath-laying exercise. The protesters were of the view that the government is not looking into the affairs of sugar workers.

Hussain is also calling on the government to act on a motion that was passed by the Regional Democratic Council of Region Six for transportation subsidies to be granted to children of sugar workers.

A section of the gathering at the memorial service

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Miner remanded on gun possession charge

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018 A 26-year-old gold miner was on Monday remanded to prison

by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus for gun possession.

Cosbert Dick denied that on March 11, 2018 at Mango Landing, he allegedly had a .38 revolver in his possession without being a licensed firearm holder.

Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that a party of policemen went to a shop at Mango Landing and saw the defendant with a haversack. The haversack was searched and the firearm was found inside.

The magistrate remanded Dick to prison until March 27.

Cosbert Dick

Moruca man remanded for alleged rape

Jefferson Blake

A MAN from Moruca Village, North West District, was on Tuesday remanded to prison for the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl.

The man appeared before Senior Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus where the matter was held in camera.

He was not required to plead to the indictable offence which alleged that on March 6 he engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16.

He was unrepresented and was remanded to prison until March 27.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

US ban on catfish species 'protectionist'–– public health director

WHILE the banning of Guyana’s catfish species from the US export market is just a temporary technical barrier to trade it is still a “big blow” said Dr Ozaye Dodson, Veterinary Public Health Director.

Dr Dodson said the move by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a “protectionist measure” by that country’s public health system and the catfish farmers who have invested heavily to develop the industry there.

Guyana’s Veterinary Public Health Department has been mandated under the 2002 Fisheries Act and the Fish and Fishery Product Regulations of 2003 with guidance

of the inspections manual to monitor, inspect and certify vessels, landing sites, fish processing establishments and fishery products for the local and export markets.

In a release by the Public Health Ministry, Dr. Dodson said there are daily inspections and certification of the catfish products to guarantee their “wholesomeness for human consumption” He said the US Food Safety Inspection Services (FSIS) asked Guyana to provide the relevant documentation to verify this country’s inspection system equivalence to the US standards or its equivalent degree of the public health system to

that of the US. Guyana, Dr. Dodson said, complied with the request.

However, the country fell short of the US standards in three areas: firstly, on the issue of the presence of inspectors; secondly, there was insufficient documentation detailing the verification of each step in the sanitation and HACCP process; and thirdly, there was insufficient documentation specifying how the industry manages adulterated catfish products.

New US standards for import of catfish species demands the presence of inspectors on plants for one hour during an eight-hour shift. Dr Dodson explained that Guy-

ana’s inspection pursues a “risk-based approach” which is a European Union (EU) standard.

The Veterinary Public Health official said Guyana’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and documentation of its inspection frequency will be upgraded to satisfy the new US standards.

“Our (Fisheries) Act is broad, covering all species of fish. The US has specific regulations for the catfish species (and) there has been no changes to the local Act since 2003. There will have to be some adjustments to the Fisheries Act Inspection Manual and Regulations to

bridge the gaps,” Dr Dodson said. He added that changes to the country’s Fisheries Act and Regulations will be taken to the Attorney’s General (AG) Chambers shortly and published in the Official Gazette.

When this is accomplished, US officials will conduct an audit of the local fisheries department and other relevant agencies “to pave the way for the country’s likely re-entry into the American catfish export market.

Guyana was among several countries banned recently from the US catfish export.

Others were Bangladesh, Canada, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico,

Myanmar, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Only China, Thailand and Vietnam met the new requirements demanded under the new standards outlined for the export of catfish, cuirass, gilbacker and hassar, Dr Dodson revealed. He said the MPOH Veterinary Public Health Department is “working assiduously” with the Fisheries unit of the Agriculture Ministry to realign Guyana’s legal framework with the new US fishery export demands.

“Let us not panic because of the new changes (by the USFDA) it is just a temporary technical barrier to trade,” Dr Dodson counselled the country.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Albion family loses home in mid-morning fire A pregnant woman along with her five children and husband are now homeless after fire of unknown origin ravaged their home at High Reef, Albion, Berbice on Tuesday morning.

At approximately 10:00hrs Sheeneiza Willie, 27 said she was on the Kilcoy Public Road when someone informed her that her rented home was ablaze.

“I was by my landlord , when a boy came and called out saying the house is on fire , so I just get up and run out to the house but when I reach the house was already blazing I couldn’t get in,” the woman said.

Willie, who is an Assistant Teacher at the Community Based Rehabilitation Centre in Port Mourant, has been renting the house for the last six months. She lived there with her husband, Damion Simon, a hire care driver, and their five children whose age range from 2-11 years.

The woman, who is heavily pregnant, told the Guyana Chronicle that she has nowhere to go and is unsure of their next move.

At the time her children were still in school and were

unaware the place they once called home is no more. She is pleading with the general public for assistance as she lost everything from electrical appliances, furniture, clothing and food items, together with all her newborn baby clothing and supplies she bought over the last few months. The woman is expected to give birth any day soon.

“Just recently I bought a computer for my son to do his school and homework… all that too burn up… everything we own gone,” she sobbed. Despite a prompt response by a fire tender from Albion Estate, the building was gutted within minutes.

The owner of the house, Somattie Mohamed, estimated her loses in the region of $8M and the woman believes the fire may have been the work of an arsonist. She said she was offered the said amount two weeks ago for the property but because the Wille’s family has nowhere else to go she declined the offer until they were better off on their feet. Persons desirous of assisting the affected family can contact them on 672-5363/613-8434.

The aftermath of the fire that destroyed the house

I was pulled from ...

contact was made with the then police Commissioner, who was informed of the shooting. “He [Commissioner Greene] called me back shortly after and instructed that I withdraw and indicated to me that the Joint Services would be deployed to the area to pursue the gunmen,” Persuad told the Commission.

Persaud made it clear that at no time did he or members of his team visit Lindo Creek, although admitting that the Joint Services had comprised both members of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force. The Joint

Services had taken over the manhunt for the gunmen.

Further pressed for answers by the legal counsel, Persaud

The Lindo Creek Commission Legal Counsel Patrice Henry posing a question to the outgoing Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud

told the Commission that as the crime chief of the day, he was informed of the Lindo Creek Massacre; however, he was not the person mandated to lead the investigation into the mass murder.

“I was informed by Commissioner Greene that a team led by Head of the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) comprising members from CID Headquarters and the police ‘E’ and ‘F’ Divisions will investigate the matter. Officer in Charge of the Major Crime Investigation Unit, Assistant Superintendent Trevor Reid, was

instructed to provide assistance to the OPR as well as retired Senior Superintendent Thomas, who was Head of the Crime Laboratory which would have included the crime scene investigators,” Persaud recollected.

Head of the Office of Professional Responsibility was Heeralall Mackhanlall at the time. It was noted that after the owner of the mining camp at Lindo Creek, Leonard Arokium, had told reporters that it was the Joint Services who had killed the miners, he accompanied a team led by the then Prime

Continued from page 5 Minister Samuel Hinds, who was acting president at the time, to Arokium’s home, firstly at South Ruimveldt and then at Tuschen on the East Bank of Essequibo, where statements were taken on the incident.

During Persaud’s testimony, it was pointed out that along the UNAMCO trail there were visible logging concessions. Additionally, based on information from the Guyana Forestry Commission, former treason accused Phillip Bynoe had a logging concession in the Christmas Falls area.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

CARICOM making steady progress in empowering women

MINISTER of Social Protection, Amna Ally told a United Nations forum on Monday that despite the challenges affecting the region, CARICOM continues to progress in achieving regional and international goals for the empowerment and advancement of women and girls.

Ally made the remarks while representing CARICOM at the United Nations, 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

She said the provision of education continues to be a strong focus in all of the CARICOM countries. The commission is being held under the theme: “Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”.

Ally indicated that women in rural areas are exposed to a plethora of issues that causes vulnerability, referencing: the informal economy, cultural norms, work with little or no benefits, migration and Trafficking in Persons (TIP). Guyana, including many Caribbean territories, has led the way in enacting specific legislation against Trafficking in Persons (TIP). However, the minister said according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the

Caribbean, trafficking of women in the Caribbean has increased, and is associated with illegal migration.

Migrants are specifically at risk to trafficking, becoming victims of international criminal networks and of sexual exploitation in the tourism, logging and mining industries. Nevertheless, a recent achievement for the Caribbean has been the elevation of Guyana from a Tier 2 to a Tier 1 country in the US Department of State’s 2017 Annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

Minister Ally said CARICOM is working both collectively and individually to achieve gender parity and to address the challenges of women. Noting the importance of women in rural society, Minister Ally said; “In Belize, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Guyana, Indigenous women play a fundamental role in sharing knowledge, including the historical memory of villages and technical expertise such as agro-ecological management, seed selection, plant reproduction and medicinal uses of herbs”; mentioning also that rural women account for a great portion of the agricultural labour force.

It was further highlighted

that “In countries such as Jamaica and Guyana with large agricultural bases, efforts to meet the challenges faced by many rural women are realised by micro-credit programmes to offer persons grants to initiate small projects in their communities.”

According to the minister, “The Caribbean Rural Network of Women Producers, with chapters in seven Caribbean countries, promote strong business models for rural women who use locally-sourced materials, low-energy and sustainable production processes and traditional methods for their economic empowerment and broader national development.”

She said promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women has been a central priority for CARICOM states and maintained that budgetary allocations must cater for the development of women in the rural areas. The 62nd Commission on the Status of Women is taking place at the United Nations headquarters in New York from March 12 to 23, 2018.

The Commission is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Guyana's delegation – (From right) Minister Amna Ally, Karen Vansluytman, Assistant Chief Labour Officer (ACLO) and ministerial adviser Alicia Reece.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Duncan to file complaint of procedural breaches –– after mayor rejected no-confidence motion against town clerk

By Telesha Ramnarine ALLIANCE for Change (AFC) Councillor Sherod Duncan has said that he will be writing the Local Government Commission (LGC) to complain of a number of breaches that he saw evident in the procedure used on Monday, to deal with the no-confidence motion he filed against Town Clerk Royston King.

In an invited comment, Duncan told Chronicle on Tuesday that he also intends to file an official complaint with the LGC on the conduct of the Town Clerk Royston King.

The motion was rejected at Monday’s statutory meeting on the basis that only the LGC can discipline King.

Duncan’s motion, however, only sought a vote of no-confidence in the Town Clerk and mentioned nothing about disciplinary action.

Apart from approaching the LGC, Duncan said he has already contacted his lawyer to secure legal advice on the way forward.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen last Monday threw out Duncan’s motion, citing legal advice from attorney-at-law and former Magistrate Maxwell Edwards that King can only be disciplined by the LGC. The motion, seconded

by Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran, not only spoke to a number of shortcomings on King’s part, but also accused him of acting outside of the interests of the citizens of Georgetown.

It also accused King of showing “total disregard” for the laws governing the municipality, which adumbrate the role of the Town Clerk and Council, and set the latter as the supreme decision-making body.

“I advise that the motion,

if passed in its present form, would be otiose, nugatory, incompetent, ineffectual and of no legal effect,” was the advice given.

Under the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, a Town Clerk cannot be disciplined by the City Council; only by the LGC, which became operational on October 23, 2017, the mayor said, in reading Maxwell’s advice to councillors. And even if the no-confidence vote was carried, it would not have been binding on the LGC as the disciplinary authority.

“The proposed mover of the motion is not a member of the LGC, nor is he to be presumed to be acting under delegated authority,” the lawyer advised, adding that Duncan’s motion should be limited only to a discussion of his allegations.

Chase-Green, as directed

by the lawyer’s advice, asked Duncan to amend his motion by removing the “vote of no confidence” aspect of it. But he refused, resulting in the mayor ruling that the motion will not be allowed.

Duncan said he found it strange that the mayor read a legal response to his motion even before he was afforded an opportunity to speak on it.

He also pointed out that the lawyer King secured the advice from is the husband of a sitting councillor, Noelle Chow-Chee.

Duncan argued that King was the one who deemed the motion fit enough to be placed on the agenda, but through his legal advice, was later saying that it is unqualified.

“The town clerk procured legal advice that the mayor, Her Worship Patricia ChaseGreen, admitted was not asked for by Council, but was read out before my motion,”

AFC Councillors Sherod Duncan (at left) and Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran, after their no confidence motion was rejected last Monday he later commented on a social media post.

“Her Worship said the town clerk procured the legal advice because the matter concerns him. The advice was later accepted by Council ahead of my tabled motion.”

Duncan said he believes the legal advice is biased and against natural justice, as it was procured from the hus-

band of a sitting councillor, Noelle Chow-Chee, “who is clearly against any sanctioning of the Town Clerk.”

“So, in effect, the mayor followed the advice of an individual who has no `authority at Local Government; whose advice was not sought by the Council but by the town clerk who is at the centre of the motion in question.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Refusing to vote is a selfish decision THE International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance informed us that ‘Despite the growth in the global voter population and the number of countries that hold elections, the global average voter turnout has decreased significantly since the early 1990s.

Global voter turnout was fairly stable between the 1940s and the 1980s, falling only slightly from 78 per cent to 76 per cent over the entire period. It then fell sharply in the 1990s to 70 per cent, and continued its decline to reach 66 per cent in the period of 2011– 15’ (Report: Voter Turnout Trends Around the World).

The global percentile for voter turnout is 66 per cent according to this report. I will not profess to be a psephologist but that does not bar me from concluding that this is a worrying trend.

This percentile translates into a simple situation where about 100,000 to 1,000,000 people on the day of their national elections, stay at home to disregard the electoral process. Some may wish to argue that the politicians created this apathy by their actions but the eligible voters who decline to register their concerns at the ballot box, are no better than the bad politicians they so despise.

There was a time in the world when the ordinary woman/man had no say in the running of the affairs of the state. This lack of say was responsible for the most arrogant display of power by men and women in history, best exemplified during the times of high absolutism.

During the days of high absolutism in Europe, William of Prussia once thundered to a crowd of supplicants, ‘ Your salvation belongs to Lord, everything else you do, is my business’.

Equally demonstrable of the point I am about to make, is the case of Catherine the Great of Russia who once odiously professed, ‘I shall be an autocrat: that is my trade and the good lord shall forgive me: that is his’.

How about Louis X1V of France who professed, ‘It is law because i wish it”.

I have documented these cases of complete arrogance in power in a time when the right to vote was nonexistent to now proceed to the central point, citizens who do not exercise their right to vote can encourage and breathe the abuse of power at the expense of other citi-

zens who are more engaged.

Refusing to vote is arguably the most selfish decision any citizen can make for several reasons; the right to vote has been a long hard and arduous battle to achieve, once you refuse to vote, you have lost the right to complain and equally important, your refusal to vote affects the quality of life your fellow citizens will or will not receive.

History adequately demonstrates that the right to vote was always subjected to class, race and gender considerations. This was not an automatic birthright it did not simply mean having a passport or an Identification Card. The right to vote was reserved for those born into privilege and authority, it depended on the lottery of birth. This right had to be gained with bloody and revolutionary struggle. This is sadly but unavoidably epitomised in the story of groups such as the Suffragettes, the movement to secure the right for women to vote. It took much activism at risk of life and limb for women such as Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney to procure the right for women to vote.

Further, this was achieved against the backdrop of imprisonment, arson, fires, disrupting political speeches, property damage and civil disobedience. This resulted in women being able to vote in the US in 1920 and during the 1930s and 1940s across Europe. For a citizen to sit and whimsically dismiss the right to vote as a facetious and pointless exercise, flies in the face of the blood, sweat and tears and monumental sacrifices made by so many over centuries. To just sit and flippantly discard this sacred duty is blasphemous and as I have mentioned ad nauseam, extremely selfish.

Refusing to vote means that you have whisked away your sovereign power as a citizen, you have thrown away a potent weapon to advocate on any issue. The Guyana Constitution gives sovereign power to the masses, to the people who have the final and ultimate say. Rejecting this duty, in my estimation, automatically strips you of the right to complain about any issue in the post-election period. If you wake up in the post-election period after having refused to vote, just zip it up and accept all that is done in the exercise of power. If the drains are not clean or someone in power abuses their authority, you

have zero moral high ground to submit a complaint. I respectfully submit in this column that this duty to vote is so important, nations have introduce laws with punitive measures to ensure citizens exercise their franchise, this is compulsory in most countries globally.

This is no accident it underscores the cataclysmic consequences of foregoing this undertaking. It does not matter how apathetic and cynical you become about

your electoral process, even to a point of indifference, there is no excuse for not voting. You can claim all the rights you wish, this right is arguably the most important. Having refused to vote, to then baulk at any issue in your society in the post-electoral period is like crying to dessert or barking at a flying bird.

I have posited that the reluctance to report to the ballot box is self-centered, it is even more accentuate when

your decision has an impact on your fellow citizens. If bad governance is afflicted upon the people and the masses use the democratic process to repel bad governance and utilise or exploit every channel available to do same and some citizens, in their indifference, decline to get that ink on their finger on voting day, the work of their fellow citizens becomes null and void. Your rejection of the democratic process is often at the expense of your

fellow citizens. A high voter turnout is the starkest sign of a healthy democracy and engaged citizens, this normally breeds or encourages good governance. It is an act of civic duty to say where you stand on the issue of who will exercise authority over you during an electoral cycle.

I remain steadfastly unapologetic in my view-the refusal to vote is arguably the most selfish decision any citizen can make.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Car of murdered Lindener found near home

THE police on Tuesday recovered the Toyota Allion, PVV 2057, belonging to businessman, Romel Gomes, who was shot and killed Monday evening in his home.

The vehicle was discovered Tuesday morning by the police, in an alleyway about seven minutes away from Gomes’ home.

It is alleged that the suspects drove Gomes’ car after killing him. His house was also found ransacked.

Commander of E’ Division Anthony Vanderhyden said that the car and house are being processed as investigation continues.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that a neighbour who cares for Gomes’ son had visited the home around 17:00hrs on Monday and saw Gomes with his hands tied and a red cloth around his neck. He then beckoned to her to take his son away.

Three men were in the yard at the time, two of whom

had braided hair. In shock, she went away and it was not long after that gunshots were heard.

Another neighbour related that she had heard Gomes swearing moments before the gunshots were fired.

A suspected gunshot wound was seen on Gomes’ right temple, a small laceration on top of the head and another wound to the neck.

The scene was processed and a small calibre weapon was found along with a kitchen knife with blood stains. Persons believe that the murder may be robbery-related while others posited that it may be something deeper. “This boy is a quiet boy, don’t mix or anything, I don’t know who could have done this, I believe that he knew who was

the person because of how they kill he, people working for their hard earn money and people just want to rob you,” Gomes neighbour commented. He would have been celebrating his 33rd birthday on the 22nd March.

He leaves to mourn his wife and a son. A post-mortem examination is to be conducted on Wednesday.

Romel Gomes

The Toyota Allion PVV 2057 belonging to businessman, Romel Gomes, was found abandoned

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Accused of killing her children by poisoning

HOFOSAWA Awena Rutherford is on trial in the Georgetown High Court before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury to answer charges that she allegedly killed her children by poisoning on March 27, 2014 at her home at Branch Road, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge of two counts of manslaughter and is being represented by defence counsel Adrian Thompson.

Meanwhile, the state is led by prosecutor Tiffini Lyken in association with Shawnette Austin and Abigail Gibbs.

In Lyken’s opening statement following the empanelling on Monday, she told the court that oneyear-old Jabari Cadogan and four-year-old Odasia Cadogan died from pesticide poisoning.

She added that the cause

of death was revealed during an autopsy.

On Tuesday when the trial continued, several witnesses testified, including Superintendent Philip Azore, who is Head of the Guyana Police Force Forensic Laboratory. He testified that he had examined fleshy tissue samples which were taken from the bodies of the children and he was able to determine that ‘rat poison’ was present.

He was able to form that opinion, since he recalled upon examination the pungent odour among other things.

Detective Sergeant Lawrence Thomas took the stand and told the court that in 2014, he was stationed at the Mahaicony Police Station as the Subordinate Officer-in-charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and was the lead investigator in the murder of Jabari and Odasia Cadogan.

He recalled that on the day in question, he visited the scene in company of other ranks and observed what appeared to be vomit in a chair, a creamy, whitish substance in a piece of paper and a drinking glass in the house occupied by the accused.

Thomas said he spoke to several persons and he was told ‘something’ and a blackberry curve cell phone which belonged to the accused was handed to him; the scene was photographed and the drinking glass was dusted for fingerprints.

On that same day he visited the Beterverwagting Police Station where the accused was in custody and he put the allegation of murder to her, after which she was cautioned and told of her rights.

The police witness said he took the caution statement in the presence of another rank and took the accused to

the Plaisance market where she allegedly bought the ‘rat’ poison. After which he took her back to Beterverwagting Police Station where she was placed in custody.

Lance Corporal Sarwan Kumar testified that during the month of March, 2014, he was stationed at the Mahaicony Police Station Traffic Department and he was on mobile patrol duties when he received certain information.

As such, he went to the Mahaicony Hospital and

contacted the accused who was a patient and he interviewed her.

She said, “Offica meh went fuh get wuk but ne nah get thru, me get stress and I went Plaisance Market and purchased tablets and when I reach home I gave it to my children and then I drink it.”

Kumar added that he then spoke to a doctor on duty and he told him ‘something,’ after which he went to the Accident and Emergency section and checked the bodies of Jabari and

Odasia Cadogan for marks, but none were found.

The police witness told the court he then returned to the Mahaicony Police Station where he reported the matter to Sergeant Thomas and made an entry in the station diary, pertaining to what the accused had told him.

The matter continues in the Georgetown High Court before Justice Navindra Singh today, when more witnesses are expected to take the stand.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

KAPA accredited to The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy

THE Konashen Amerindian Protected Area (KAPA), Guyana’s first and largest community-owned protected area, in Region Nine, was recently accredited to The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QQC).

QQC is an initiative to unite Commonwealth countries through a network of information sharing and forest conservation projects across the globe.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs recently, KAPA which stands at approximately 700,000 hectares (almost 3,000 miles) and four times the size of London, is part of the High Biodiversity Wilderness Area of Amazonia and a key section of the Guiana Shield corridor.

The origin of the Essequibo River can also be found in Konashen Protected Area.

“Guyana’s participation as a CARICOM country in this significant Com-

monwealth initiative will create tangible benefits for communities and the environment and will demonstrate the very great value of CARICOM nations working towards a global environmental objective,” Guyana’s High Commissioner to London, Frederick Hamley Case, said.

“We see this rather as a CARICOM dedication to forest conservation and to the lungs of the Earth,” the High Commissioner added.

A map of the Konashen Amerindian Protected Area In 2004, the Wai Wai people of Konashen District received absolute title to the land and have since worked towards conservation and sustainable economic development. In 2007, under the Part V, Section 58 of the Amerindian Act (2006), the Konashen District Council made the local declaration of the Konashen Community Owned Conservation Area (KCOCA). The Konashen Protected Area was formally declared a protected area by the Protected Areas Commission in 2017.

The Department of Environment, Ministry of the Presidency endorsed the move by the protected area to attain the accreditation from the QCC.

An aerial view of KAPA

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Teachers, administrators brainstorm ways to instill discipline in schools

TEACHERS and administrators on Tuesday participated in a workshop geared towards the implementation of positive disciplinary measures in schools.

The workshop was held at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) under the theme: ‘Accelerating the Use of Positive Discipline in Schools through Efficient Monitoring and Coaching’.

The seminar is a partnership between the Education Ministry and the United Nations Children’s Fund

(UNICEF), which Education Specialist at UNICEF Audrey Rodrigues says is a telltale sign of the government’s commitment to ensuring that schools are safe learning environments.

Rodrigues said in her remarks, that it is UNICEF’s desire to see every child in school willingly participating in activities and once this vision becomes a reality, performance levels and behaviours are likely to improve. “This is what we want for Guyana. Happy children in spaces that are warm, inviting and

protective, so that they feel comfortable and that they can concentrate and interact very smoothly with not only their peers, but with the teachers who are there,” she said.

Parents too, the education specialist indicated to the administrators, must be involved in the work of positive discipline outside of the classroom, in order to stimulate the very best of results.

“The intention is that we don’t only work with our teachers and the children in our classes, but we also work with those parents. We real-

Several officers, teachers and administrators turned out at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) to hear of the strategies for contemporary forms of discipline in the classroom (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

ised that if we practise positive discipline in schools and we do not have that kind of support in the extension of positive discipline in the home, our efforts may be stifled,” Rodrigues said. Finally, she reiterated UNICEF’s perpetual willingness to assist the Ministry of Education and by extension all the regions of Guyana as a part of its mandate to create a better world and education system for children.

Meanwhile, addressing the group of individuals specially selected to attend the workshop, Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO), Owen Pollard said that the issue of indiscipline in local schools has remained stationary over the years.

He stressed that it is time for corporal punishment, often mistaken as discipline, to be taken “out of the system” and highlighted child-friendly classrooms and aroundthe-clock engagement as preferred methods of positive discipline. “We are in modern times and as such, it is time that we employ modern methods of dealing with issues within our schools… the best thing to do is to ensure that we fully occupy the students’ time, so that there would be no need for disciplinary measures or actions

Education Specialist at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Audrey Rodrigues, tells of her organisation’s viewpoint on positive discipline at the workshop held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (Photo by Samuel Maughn) to be taken,” Pollard advised.

The ACEO then beckoned the administrators to pass on the knowledge they received with others, to make their presence felt in their respective schools and to cause a positive change by creating a climate that is conducive to all.

“I trust that when you would have returned to your schools, you would not keep the knowledge gained here to yourself, share it with your counterparts…the time is now for us to realise that the change is necessary and you are in the forefront, you are especially chosen for this purpose,” he

said.

At the same function, Regions Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) were commended by Monitoring Officer attached to the Ministry of Education, Eleatrice Davenport, for their great show of interest and exemplary performance in previous training sessions in the area of positive discipline.

Davenport also presented to the attendees a checklist for positive discipline and allowed the participants to make recommendations and suggest any needed additions to the list to ensure its all-roundedness.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

The new Board of Directors of GuySuCo was approved by cabinet on February 26, 2018. The appointments took effect on March 1, 2018.

The life of the Board will expire on December 31, 2019. The Board is comprised of 11 members two of whom are GuySuCo executives, to be named when their appointments are confirmed.

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL INVESTMENTS LIMITED SPECIAL PURPOSE UNIT

GUYSUCO BOARD OF DIRECTORS Colvin

Heath-London MBA . PMP

Chairman

Fritz McLean BSc

Fritz McLean is a Mathematician, Agricultural Statistician, Research Agronomist, and currently the Diversification Specialist with the SPU. He previously served as a Director of the Board of GuySuCo, with responsibilities for crop diversification. Other positions at GuySuCo include, but are not limited to: Agronomy Manager, and Director of Diversified Crops. McLean has also worked as part-time Lecturer at the University of Guyana.

Annette Arjoon Pilot

Annette Arjoon has special expertise in Aviation Management, Tourism Development, Environmental Management, and Community Development. Arjoon served as Managing Director at Shell Beach Adventures, Operations Manager at Mazaharally & Sons Limited, Operations Manager at Air Services Limited, and Country manager at Air Caribbean International.

Additionally, she is the President of the National Air Transport Association.

Colvin Heath-London is Head of the NICIL- SPU. He has a wealth of experience in Consultancy/ Advisory positions with a focus on business turnarounds. He worked in Executive Management positions on multi-billion-dollar projects in the Caribbean, China, and the Middle East. He also served in Executive Management

Komal Singh MBA

Komal Singh has deep roots in the sugar industry, where he worked as a farmer for most of his life and still functions in that capacity today.

He is currently the CEO of Gaico Construction Inc. and has served as the accountant and financial analyst for Texaco for over 17 years. Singh is a member of several boards including the Private Sector Commission.

He holds a MBA in Finance and is currently a PHD student.

Arianne Mc Lean LL.B. LEC

Arianne Mc Lean currently holds the post of In-House Attorney and Company Secretary of NICIL. She is part of the management team, as well as the head of the legal department. Mc Lean previously served as a Senior Legal Adviser at the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Additionally, she is a Director and Company Secretary of Omai Gold Mines Limited.

positions in the sugar industry in the Caribbean.

He was CHEC’s Group Investment Manager for the Americas and played a vital role in assembling the US$150M CJIA expansion project. Heath-London was Senior Project Manager, USAID/PADCO/AECOM. He still serves on several corporate boards in the region.

Verna Adrian MA

Verna Adrian is a senior economic and financial analyst at the Fiscal and Monetary Division, Ministry of Finance. Adrian holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences Degree in Economics, from the University of Guyana. In addition to this, she holds Master of Arts Degree in International and Development Economics, from Hochschule fur Technik und Wirtschaft (University of Applied Sciences), Berlin Germany.

Roshan Khan MD

Roshan Khan is a digital marketing strategist, and a corporate trainer.

He is the Chief Strategist at Khan Consulting Inc. He is the founder/lead trainer and facilitator at Masterclass Institute, and the owner/director of Socialrank Media. Additionally, he has wide-ranging experience in healthcare, having graduated with a MD from the American International School of Medicine at the age of 23, and currently practices medicine on a volunteer-basis.

Vishnu Panday Dip. Mang.

Vishnu Panday has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the sugar industry. He holds an International certificate in Sugarcane Agronomy and an Executive Diploma in Management.

He has 40 years of experience at GuySuCo in various postions including the position of General Manager.

Panday previously served as a Director of the board of GuySuCo.

George Jervis MBA

George Jervis, Director of Agriculture Sector Development Unit, Ministry of the Presidency, and served as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture for several years. He is a former director of the board of GuySuCo. With over 20 years of experience in the agriculture sector, he has served as an Administrative Manager at the Wauna Oil Palm Estate, and also served as the Administrative Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Students’ exhibition puts spotlight on climate change

By Lisa Hamilton

STUDENTS of the 10 administrative regions presented a grand exhibition of innovative projects to combat climate change in accordance with the National Assembly of the Parliament of Guyana’s celebration of Commonwealth Day 2018.

The event which saw a large representation from government, the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries was held at the Umana Yana on Monday under the theme “Towards a common future”.

It was by attended by several local notables, including acting President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, who interacted with the students on the motivations behind their projects.

The projects addressed issues such as climate literacy, wind turbines as alternative energy, waste disposal, tree planting, upcycling and eco-tourism.

During the formal ceremony, Greenidge said he was impressed by the enthusiasm and clarity by which the students were able to explain their exhibits and centred his brief remarks on the importance of youth involvement in climate change.

“It is important that young people see that we are a reflective and organised people in confronting the future. We don’t panic at the sight of something new or of something different and that we can organise ourselves,” he said.

He added: “We must share with them and ensure that we imbue in them a systematic and fearless approach to the future.”

Also addressing the gathering was Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, who said the fight to protect the earth from climate change is one that can unite the world and called for the “gap in finance” for developing countries fighting climate change to be filled.

She said democracy and climate change are critical and fundamental facets to protecting the planet and noted the need for good governance, inclusivity and diversity as other aspects that

play major roles.

Speaking briefly on the matter of oil and gas, the Opposition Chief Whip said the revenues originating from the emerging sector need to be injected into the cause of mainstreaming climate change and renewable energy.

“We must understand that gas… is finite and will run out whether in 20 years, or 30 years, or 40 years so we need to always keep our sights on harnessing renewable energy,” she said.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon began his brief statement by expressing his satisfaction at the level at which the students were able to explain complex subjects like Kinetic energy, adding that it is proof that the country’s education system is moving forward in the right direction.

Despite the fact that Guyana’s two main political parties are known for their disagreement in visions and policies, Harmon, in response to Teixeira’s previous remarks, said efforts to combat climate change is a position shared by both sides.

He highlighted some of the work of the Commonwealth over the years, particularly its assistance to small states.

“The Commonwealth remains at the forefront of policy research and global advocacy to assist small states to build resilience, access financing, alleviate debt burdens and devise measures to respond to natural disasters and the impacts of climate change,” the minister of state said.

Harmon also pointed out that Guyana is set to host the 12th Biennial Conference of the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) this October, which will facilitate knowledge exchange and networking.

Addressing climate change from the perspective of India which joined the Commonwealth nations in 1947 was Charge D’Affaires of the High Commission of India (ag) Rajender Perindia.

He said India has taken up several initiatives to explore and implement solutions to climate change and

that existing Guyana-India agreements help to further promote the cause of a green world powered by renewable energy.

“India is trying its best to make its role compatible as a responsible and enlightened member of the international community, ready See page 22

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Acting President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge learns about the ‘Gravity Float’ project from students and this teacher from the North-West Secondary School

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Students’ exhibition ...

From page 21

A student from the Linden Foundation Secondary School (LFSS) explains to Acting President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge how the wind turbine farms can help to positively affect climate change. Looking on are Minister of State Joseph Harmon (far right);Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security,Khemraj Ramjattan (second right); Speaker of the National Assembly, Barton Scotland (third right) and a LFSS teacher (second left) to make its contribution to the solution of a global challenge which impacts on humanity as a whole,” the Charge D’Affaires said.

In her remarks, High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, said rising sea levels, hurricanes and other extreme events continue to affect many Commonwealth countries and, as such, working together must be a priority.

“Our future depends upon how we navigate our way through this and how we build global resilience to face it. Canada is a committed global partner on climate change.

“Our fundamental values

mirror that of the commonwealth and were adumbrated in our 2018 budget presentation. Taking care of each other can lead to stronger growth and better outcomes,” she said.

Last year, Canada pledged CDN $100M over a five-year period to assist in the rebuilding of Caribbean states ravaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria.

British High Commissioner to Guyana Greg Quinn said the Commonwealth is more relevant today than it ever was and its member states must continue to use this form of unity and collective efforts to their advantage.

“The Commonwealth has deep roots and profound strengths. We must use those strengths to face challenges that exist around global trade, security, democracy, good governance and inclusivity.

“Together we have the chance to build a reformed and revitalised Commonwealth and the UK is determined to help carry forward that agenda for the long term,” Quinn remarked.

In closing, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland thanked the gathering for its favourable turn out and the schools for their participation in the Commonwealth Day celebration.

Seated at the Commonwealth Day celebration at the Umana Yana are, from left, Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira; British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn; Charge D’Affaires of the High Commission of India (ag.), Rajender Perindia; High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee; and Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs.

(Photos by Adrian Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

U.S. citizen ‘scalping’ murder trial

Wife, friend found guilty…to be sentenced on March 29 AFTER deliberating for just under two hours, the 12-member Berbice Assizes jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty in favour of the prosecution, led by Special Prosecutor Ganesh Hira.

However, the sentences of Hemwattie Abdulla and Seerojnie Permaul have been deferred to Thursday, March 29, when a probation report on the convicts’ backgrounds will be presented to the court.

On Tuesday, February 13, Justice Sandil Kissoon commenced hearing the ‘scalping’ murder trial, in which Abdulla called Annie and Anese, along with Permaul known as Seerojnie or Usher, were

accused of unlawfully killing Abdool Shakeel Majid, a citizen of the USA, on April 26, 2012 at Number 63 Beach, Corentyne, Berbice. They had pleaded not guilty to the murder indictment. Permaul was charged with being an accessory to the crime.

Majid, along with his wife of four months, Hemwattie Abdulla, had arrived in Guyana on April 22, 2012, with the intention of spending a twoweek vacation.

But five days later the battered, lifeless body of Abdool Majid, whose scalp was missing, was found on the popular beach.

In the meantime, Abdulla had returned to the Unit-

ed States of America, where she is a resident, and had informed the deceased’s relatives that her husband was enjoying himself in Suriname, and that, he had urged her to return home ,as her daughter had sustained a fractured arm.

The deceased’s brother Abdul Hasseeb Majid of Jamaica, Queens, USA, in his testimony recounted the last moment he saw his brother alive, and thereafter, the utterances of Hemwattie Abdulla, the number one accused, which caused him to make a missing-person report at the New York City Police Department , before travelling to Guyana. At his local address at Diamond Housing Scheme ,East Bank Berbice, he discov-

ered his sibling’s suitcase, clothing ,United States of America passport, along with other personal doc-

uments.

It was he who triggered an investigation, which led to the subsequent ar-

rest and charges against the accused women.

Fourteen witnesses testified for the State.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Guyana labour survey results to be released on Thursday

THE results of the Guyana Labour Force Survey (LFS), for the period July to September 2017, will be officially announced on Thursday by the Bureau of Statis-

tics (BoS).

The figures for employment, unemployment, the size of the workforce, age, sex and salary scales are some of the labour force statistics that will

be shared with the public.

This is the first phase of a continuous quarterly labour force survey programme and the resulting statistics would be published on a regular basis,

a release from the bureau said.

According to the bureau, prior to July 2017, no such survey was regularly conducted in Guyana. This reality hindered the possibility of having up-to-date, objective information to inform evidence-based policy decisions.The bureau said continuous Labour Force Surveys (LFS) is one of the main tools used to track labour-market dynamics such as unemployment, job creation and job destruction.

The LFS for the quarters July to September and October to December of 2017, were funded by the IDB and executed by the

consulting firm Sistemas Integrales Ltd, in collaboration with the Bureau of Statistics and the International Labour Organization (ILO). The format of the LFS execution has ensured that the BoS develop the capacity to now conduct the subsequent LFS for 2018 and beyond.

Funding for the 2018 LFS is provided by the Government of Guyana.

The bureau said that once launched, the public will be able to access the 2017 July to September LFS bulletin at the BoS website, www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy. All future LFS bulletins and reports will be published

on the BoS website. The BoS is urging all Guyanese to support its survey efforts. All LFSselected households are asked to participate by providing the required information to the BoS enumerators and other designated field staff.

Individual information would be treated confidentially and would not be published nor shared with any person or organisation.

Your information will assist the BoS to construct the key labour force indicators, which are crucial for planning both at the government and private sector levels.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Finance Ministry to deal with Region Two misallocation of funds

REGIONAL Executive Officer (REO) of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Rupert Hopkinson, has defended his council’s decision to use funds from the region’s current allocation to execute capital projects.

Responding to audit queries before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, Hopkinson maintained that at the time the decision was made, the council had very little knowledge of the breaches of the regulation and that the move was simply to satisfy dire needs in the community. “We were all caught up in the fact that we saved a lot of money and so we each said that this is what we want to have done. We saved $250 million and so I can recall that the head of the programme said I would like to have this done and all decided this is how we are gonna use the money,” Hop-

REO of Region Two, Rupert Hopkinson kinson told the PAC. The projects undertaken, and which were under review by the audit office, include the construction of a bus shed at Dartmouth, work on the Anna Regina Health Centre, the construction of two fences at Unity Park Phases one and two, construction of a seating area in Cotton Field and a Landing at Liberty, Pomeroon. He said the council seeks pardon for any contravention of policy on the grounds that the region saved some $500 million from 2016 to date.

Finance Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Hector Butts, said the use of current allocations to fund capital projects is acceptable if it is authorised by the minister.

The funds were taken from the region’s 2017 savings of $250 million, following completion of all budgeted, capital and current projects.

The council said that the savings, which facilitated the emergency projects in question, were made possible through responsible spend-

ing and prudent management controls by the regional administration. It said the research found that in the past, such savings which resulted from unrealistic but realistic but deliberate estimates for requirements such as fuel, maintenance, dietary, purchasing of materials and

Finance Secretary Hector Butts (Delano Williams photo) or supplies were utilised in government’s interest.

It went on to say that the large amounts of payments made to the highest-paid contractors during the years 2010- 2015, should not only be a concern of the PAC, but must be a reason for a swift audit.

Butts also said that the misallocation of funds by the regional administration would be dealt with at the level of the Ministry of Finance. A special audit done by the Auditor General (AG)’s office had discovered that the region was utilising current allocations to fund capital projects. “The use of current allocations to fund capital projects is only acceptable if it is authorised by the minister,” said Butts during the PAC meeting on Monday.

According to the audit, the money to fund the capital projects was taken from $250 million of the region’s 2017 savings. The finance secretary was critical of the region’s decision to spend in such way, noting that it was a breach of the law. He advised that Hopkinson, who is in charge of the region’s budget agency, should have sought the authorisation of the Minister of Finance before using the money. A way forward on the matter would be decided after the Ministry of Finance has reviewed the findings of the audit, said Butts.

Members of the PAC, Juan Edghill, Nigel Dharamlall and its Chairman, Irfaan Ali, were also displeased with the misuse of funds.

The audit revealed that there were breaches in payments

for incomplete work, awarding of contracts and even misallocation of funds for

several projects.

These included rehabilitation work on the

Anna Regina Health Centre, the construction of two fences at Unity Park, a

landing at Liberty Pomeroon and a bus shed at Dartmouth.

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Wednesday March 14th, - 04:00 - 14:30hrs Thursday March 15th, - 04:30 - 14:30hrs Friday March 16th, – 05:00hrs

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Vurlon Mills is GFF’s latest Technical Development Officer

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has appointed senior national player, Vurlon Mills, as Technical Development Officer (TDO) assigned to the GFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centre (ATC), the federation stated in a release yesterday.

According to the GFF, the appointment will see Mills as responsible for ensuring the national playing philosophy is instilled in the players of the Georgetown ATC. Technical Director of the GFF, Ian Greenwood, said Mills’ appointment is part of the technical development strategy of the GFF, where the federation is engaging current and former national team players, which, according to the Englishman, “is a key component in our coach development and recruitment drive’.

Their understanding of regional and international football, combined with GFF’s technical department training, makes them ideal candidates to deliver at the nationwide Academy Training Centres.”

“Not all players have the ability to transition from player to educator but Vurlon certainly has those attributes. He has the temperament and enthusiasm to inspire a new generation of players from grassroots to senior football on the GFF player pathway. We feel he is a great addition to our ever-growing bank of licensed and qualified coaches,” Greenwood stressed.

Meanwhile, in an invited comment, Mills, an attacking midfield player on Guyana’s senior National Football team (Golden Jaguars), said he is happy to contribute to the devel-

opment of the skills of the young players, noting, “It is an honour to serve as the Technical Development Officer assigned to the Georgetown GFF-Scotiabank ATC.” “There are very talented players around and I believe with the right technical guidance, they will realise their potential. I have skills, which are transferable and can help them in their development and ultimate selection to the national squad. That makes me excited to serve, knowing that I’ll make a long-term difference to their life,” said Mills.

The ATCs are a pathway to national team selection where players learn the necessary skills and attributes by certified coaches. Sessions are conducted on a weekly basis in the nine regional member associations (RMA).

FIFA rejects Webb appeal against million-dollar fine L A U S A N N E , Switzerland (CMC) –

World football governi n g b o d y, F I FA , h a s

rejected former CONCACAF president Jeff Webb’s appeal against a fine levied for his involvement in the now infamous FIFA corruption scandal.

The 54-year-old, who is currently in the United States awaiting sentencing on corruption charges, was also slapped with a life ban from football and a US$1.05M fine.

While Webb accepted the ban, he appealed the fine only for FIFA to announce Monday it had upheld the decision by the adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee.

“After analysing and taking into consideration all circumstances of the case, the Appeal Committee determined that the fine imposed on Mr Webb in the amount of CHF 1,000,000 (Swiss francs), as ruled by the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, was adequate in this case,” a FIFA statement said. “ C o n s e q u e n t l y, M r Webb’s fine and lifelong

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ban are maintained, in accordance with art. 6 par. 1 h) of the FIFA Code of Ethics and art. 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”

Webb, along with several other football officials, was arrested back in 2015 after security forces swooped down on a Zurich hotel in a pre-raid dawn.

He was subsequently slapped with United States federal charges of wire fraud and money-laundering and extradited to the U.S., where he pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, three counts of wire fraud conspiracy and three counts of money-laundering conspiracy.

Webb has already agreed to forfeit more than US$6.7M in cash and assets as part of an agreement with the courts.

Webb was also a powerful FIFA vice-president and head of the Cayman Islands Football Association.

Earlier this month, his sentencing was delayed for a seventh time.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

92 days to go …

FIFA World Cup 2018 prize money (Record 40% increase confirmed by FIFA) FIFA has announced the 2018 FIFA World Cup prize money pool where they have allocated a record $791M for prize money, payments to clubs and player insurance fees. That’s 40% increase in the total contribution compared to 2014 World Cup where total contribution was $564M. ($400M will be purely awarded to 32 national federations according to how they finish in the tournament where eventual FIFA World Cup 2018 winners will pocket $38M. While $209M will be used for the Club Benefit Programme (for clubs who

release their players for world cup), the remaining $134M will be insurance fee for clubs whose players get injured during world cup.

Teams eliminated from the group stage will pocket $8M each. First knockout stage losing teams will get $12M each while quarterfinal losers get $16M. Fourthplaced team will get $22M, third place $24M, losing finalists pocket $28M and the winners will take home as much as $38M. FIFA WORLD CUP PRIZE MONEY HISTORY Over the last five World Cups, FIFA has increased the

prize money with every tournament. Back in 2002, total prize money pool for World Cup was $154M, followed by $262M in 2006 World Cup. $420M in World Cup 2010, followed by biggest increase in 2014 World Cup when FIFA handed out $564M in prize money, insurance and payments to clubs.

The World Cup is FIFA’s flagship event and 85% of the organisation’s revenue comes from World Cup taking place every four years. FIFA announced that depending on the revenues, they expect to increase prize money pool for each of the next four world cups.

FIFA REVENUE DETAILS FIFA made $4.8B during the 2014 World Cup while the total expenses were around $2.7B resulting in $2.1B profit.

FIFA World Cup 2014 total revenue included $2.4B in TV rights, $1.5B in sponsorship and commercial activities around 2014 World Cup while ticket sales gen-

erated another $550M for FIFA. While costs included $576M in prize money and insurance payments for clubs, another $370M in

TV production, $470M was invested to help organise the 2014 World Cup and another $100M was handed to the Brazilian FA as ‘Legacy’ payment.

WORLD CUP FACTS

Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon is the oldest player to play in a World Cup THE Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon became the oldest player ever to play in a World Cup match. He came on as a substitute in the second half against Japan at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Faryd Mondragon

Mondragon was just over 43 years old and was a member of Colombia’s World Cup squads in 1994 and 1998.

Before 2014, the record

for the oldest player was held by the former Cameroon striker Roger Milla.

Milla last played at the 1994 World Cup in the United States when he was 42.

Though Mondragon first joined the Colombian squad for the 1994 World Cup, he did not play until 1998 in France. That team failed to make it to the knock-out stage.

With the exception of Milla, most veteran players have been goalkeepers. Among them are Northern Ireland’s Pat Jennings, who played at 41, the England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who played at 40 and Italy’s Dino Zoff.

Zoff is the oldest winner ever of the World Cup, which he earned as captain of the Italian team in the 1982 tournament in Spain, at the age of 40.

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Contrite Rabada wants to learn from latest ban

Alonzo Ambrose won the first leg of the 21st Cheddi Jagan Memorial cycling road race. He will want to repeat in the second leg in West Demerara.

Kagiso Rabada

Second leg of Cheddi Jagan Memorial road race heads to West Demerara

NATIONAL cycling coach Hassan Mohamed will organise the second leg of the 21st annual Cheddi Jagan Memorial cycling road race on the West Bank of Demerara on Sunday.

The race, which will pedal off at 08:30hrs from the Demerara Harbour Bridge (West Bank) and proceed to Bushy

Park, East Bank Essequibo, before finishing at the point of origin, is expected to see top quality riding from a number of cyclists.

GDF’s Alonzo Ambrose took the first leg in Berbice on Sunday. He held off tough competition from Team Coco’s 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.

At last year’s edition, Curtis Dey was the victorious junior rider. This time around the title is up for grabs.

Meanwhile the Linden

Bauxite Flyers Cycling Club will host its Annual Baker’s Memorial Classic on April 8.

The race is expected to begin promptly at 08:00hrs.

Last year, in the senior category, which saw the riders battle over 60 miles, Raynauth Jeffrey chalked up his second win in the six-year history of the event.

Smith calls on Aussie batters to step up (REUTERS) - Australia captain Steve Smith has demanded his team’s batsmen to lift their output and score centuries against South Africa in the wake of their humbling six-wicket loss in the second Test at Port Elizabeth.

Australia were restricted to 243 in the first innings at St George’s Park and were bowled out for 239 in the second to give the Proteas an easy victory chase of 101 to level the series at 1-1.

While no Australian has managed a century, the home side has had two - rookie opener Aiden Markram scoring a gallant 143 in the loss in Durban and AB de Villiers setting the platform for victory at Port Elizabeth with an unbeaten 126.

“We haven’t got a hundred so far in this series, so that’s not ideal,” Smith told Australian radio station SEN. “Mitchell Marsh probably deserved a hundred in the first Test to be fair, but if we’re getting batters scoring big hundreds it certainly helps us out a hell of a lot.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to do that so far in this series, but

we’ve got a good opportunity to turn it around in the next.”

After a rollicking home summer against England, the prolific Australia captain has also been down on his own lofty standards.

Skipper Steve Smith’s highest score in the series is 56

His highest score was 56 at Durban and he was dismissed cheaply twice in Port Elizabeth.

Smith has scored only one ton against South Africa - an even 100 in his first match at Centurion in 2014 - and only three fifties in 14 innings against the same opponents since.

“I’ve played a lot more now since 2014 and the more you play, the more people have plans for you to try to keep you quiet and

those kind of things,” Smith said.

“It’s just a part of batting, sometimes you have to work really hard for your runs and take a little bit longer, and some days you come out and things happen really quickly for you.”

The four-Test series resumes in Cape Town on March 22 and Australia will be glad for the extended break as all-rounder Marsh races to recover from a groin strain.

The Western Australian, who scored 96 in Durban, had a tough test at Port Elizabeth, battling a stomach complaint and dropping a catch in the slips.

He was also fined 20 percent of his match fee for swearing at South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who was himself banned for the rest of the series for repeated code of conduct breaches.

“As regards to Mitch Marsh, it’s a good break now, between now and the next Test match, and he’s telling me he’ll be fine but we’ll wait and see how things go,” said Smith, who also gave a clean bill

of health to Australia’s pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

“I think all the quicks are going really well. I haven’t heard today, but before today they were all feeling fine, so hopefully with a good 10-day break they can freshen up a little bit.”

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (Reuters) - A contrite Kagiso Rabada admits he has let his team down after his two-Test suspension significantly weakened South Africa’s chances of winning their home Test series against Australia.

The firebrand fast bowler recorded figures of 11-150 to help South Africa win the second Test in Port Elizabeth on Monday and level the series at 1-1 With matches to come on hard tracks in Cape Town and Johannesburg, Rabada had the potential to lead his side to a first home-series victory over the Australians since 1970.

“It’s going to have to stop. I can’t keep doing this because I am letting the team down and I am letting myself down,” Rabada told reporters on Monday.

“I have to move forward. I have to see it as a big learning curve and not repeat the same mistake. I am not happy about it but time moves on.”

It’s not the first time Rabada has been forced to the sidelines. He was banned for the second Test against England in July last year after swearing at Ben Stokes, with the punishment pushing him to four demerit

points.

After being found guilty of making contact with Australia captain Steve Smith and being overzealous in his send-off of David Warner in the second Test, he now has nine demerit points, triggering an automatic two-game suspension.

“There are a lot of grey areas but rules are rules.

The reason why we went for a hearing (on the Smith charge) was because we believe that there’s not a lot of consistency. If I knew I did it deliberately, I wouldn’t have gone to contest,” Rabada said.

“I didn’t even feel contact in that moment because I was so pumped up. It’s the same as with Lord’s - I didn’t try and appeal (the charge) because I knew I did it.”

Rabada admits he lets his emotions get the better of him, though his celebrations on Monday were noticeably more muted.

“I don’t know what I am thinking actually. To be honest, I just let it out. It’s a big series; there is a lot to play for. There’s a whole lot of emotion and pride. You don’t want to roll over. You want to get them out. It’s competitive,” he said.

Venus cuts Serena’s comeback short at Indian Wells

REUTERS) - Venus Williams cut her sister Serena’s comeback to tennis short with a 6-3, 6-4 win in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Monday.

but her rustiness told in the end.

Venus told reporters that she never counted the 23-time grand slam champion out of the match.

“I always know that it’s never over until it’s over,” she

Serena Williams, left, was competing in her first tournament since giving birth last year.

Returning after more than a year away from the game to have a baby, Serena put up a good fight, saving match point while trailing 5-2 in the second set,

said. “She kept roaring back, I’m just lucky that I’ve played more matches than she right now.”

Venus, who has climbed to No.8 in the world after enjoy-

ing a strong 2017, had six aces and broke Serena’s service four times, prevailing in a long final game when her younger sister’s groundstroke fell long.

In earlier matches, Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki kept alive her hopes of regaining the world number one ranking with a scrappy 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 third round win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Next up for the 27-year-old Dane, who needs to win the tournament and hope that top seed Simona Halep fails to reach the final, is Daria Kasatkina after the Russian defeated U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-3.

Stephens has been in a tailspin since breaking through for last year’s major win and has failed to advance past a quarter-final this year. Fourth seed Elina Svitolina fell to Carla Suarez Navarro 7-5, 6-3.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

ECB decides on new selection process as Whitaker quits LONDON, England (Reuters) - James Whitaker will leave his role as England’s chief national selector at the end of the month as part of a revamp of the team selection process, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said yesterday.

Whitaker has been an England selector for 10 years and his departure is linked to the ECB’s introduction of a formalised scouting network to pick its Test, Twenty20 and One-day sides.

The system includes a three-strong selection panel consisting of Whitaker’s replacement as national selector, a full-time independent England selector and the England head coach.

This panel will receive information on players from a team of designated discipline-specific scouts in a bid to give selectors deeper insights into the available

talent pool.

“The new approach will allow us to see more players throughout the county game, more often, and simplify the selection process,” England cricket director Andrew

privilege and an honour for me to have been an England selector for the last 10 years,” he said.

“I have been involved for a decade now and it feels that the time is right, with

James Whittaker has been an England selector for 10 years.

Strauss said in a statement.

Whitaker has overseen four Ashes series wins, victory in the 2010 World Twenty20 in 2010 and Test series triumphs in India and South Africa.

“It has been an immense

this new approach, for me to move on.”

The ECB aims to appoint Whitaker’s replacement by mid-May, when the squad for the home Test series against Pakistan is named.

Black Caps recall wicketkeeper Watling for Test series

BJ Watling made his debut in 2015 and has played 52 Tests for New Zealand.

NEW Zealand have recalled wicketkeeper BJ Watling for their two-match Test series with England. Watling missed the Black Caps’ series whitewash of West Indies in December with a hip injury.

New Zealand will begin a training camp in Tauranga this week before the first Test at Eden Park on March 22.

A squad of 12 has been named at this stage.

All-rounder Mitchell Santner has been ruled out of the series with a knee injury.

National selector Gavin Larsen says the Black Caps will be buoyed by Watling’s

return to the side.

“BJ is a proven performer at Test level for us and brings a lot to the group both on and off the field,” he said.

“We’ve monitored BJ’s progress over the past few months and it’s great to see him back with the gloves for Northern Districts. Tom Blundell did a great job in BJ’s absence and we’ll keep working with him going forward.”

Larsen also believes Todd Astle will provide suitable cover for the injured Santner.

He added: “Having another spin bowling all-rounder in Todd is of real benefit

for us and he’ll be looking forward to his opportunity.

“Being involved in the first day-night Test in New Zealand is really exciting and there’s always something special about playing England. They have match-winners throughout their squad so we expect a challenging series.”

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (wkp.).

(BBC Sport)

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Welcome, Damon star for Charity FC in Under-15 football

By Elroy Stephney

THE Essequibo Coast and Pomeroon Football Association (ECPFA)-sponsored Under-15 football competition continued at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground last Saturday with a double-header.

In the first encounter, Charity FC hammered Devonshire Castle FC 7-1 to register a convincing win and open their account in the point-standings. Strikers Ravi Welcome and Roydon Damon of Charity combined to completely decimate their opponents with dazzling skills and swift foot movements.

As early as in the 8th minute Welcome created a chance and scored. His

teammate Damon then got into the act and blasted one past the goalkeeper in the 29th minute to provide the early momentum to his side.

It was, however, Welcome again on the score-sheet when he smartly tucked one into the net in the 37th minute to carry his side to 3-0 at halftime.

When the 70-minute game resumed, Charity FC continued to press home the advantage with a combination of precise passing and good ball control.

They were rewarded with another goal when Damon found the back of the net in the 42nd minute to register his second goal. Devonshire Castle FC then found some rhythm and created a brilliant opportunity for Marvin

Persaud to trouble the net and score in the 55th minute.

From thereon, however, it was Charity’s Ravi Welcome who stole the spotlight with impressive goals in the 60th, 66th and 72nd minutes to dominate proceedings with 5 goals and a margin of 7-1 in favour of Charity FC. In the second encounter, Good Hope FC upset Henrietta FC 2-1 in another exciting match which was witnessed by a fair-size crowd.

Both teams got off swiftly trading shots and exhibiting admirable ball possession. It was Good Hope FC, however, who proved accurate first, as they stunned the hosts as early as the 6th minute when Kyle Bascome

Man. United crash out after Sevilla’s Ben Yedder strikes twice

powered the ball past the keeper just outside the 18yard box.

It was the only success in the first half as the teams continued to trade shots, some of which had the keepers from both sides busy preventing the ball from entering the net.

The game continued at a fast pace in the second half and it was the hosts who struck back in the 45th minute to score from a free kick. The talented Denzel Haynes took the shot from about 22 yards and with power and precision hammered the ball past the diving goalkeeper and much to the delight of the home fans.

Both teams then played it safe, with defensive play until the dying stages when striker

Charity FC’s Ravi Welcome (left) and Roydon Damon share the moment.

Kyle Bascome sealed it with another spectacular goal in the 72nd minute for his second goal to give his team a hard-fought victory 2-1.

Both matches were refereed by Olwyn Stewart who displayed sound awareness

Nathoo stuns Drayton in Sasha Cells National Chess Championship

THE Sasha Cells National Senior and Junior Chess Championship got underway last weekend with a major upset highlighting the first three rounds of action at the Windjammer Hotel in Kitty.

Meusa’s 1967.

Based on those numbers, Drayton entered the clash with Nathoo as the overwhelming favourite.

However, Nathoo, with a FIDE ranking of 1669, took

Wissam Ben Yedder strikes from the edge of the Manchester United box to put Sevilla into the lead. (Reuters photo)

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester United suffered a shock exit in the Champions League last 16 with a 2-1 loss to Sevilla after substitute Wissam Ben Yedder struck twice at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The Spaniards moved into the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time after Ben

Yedder scored with a sharp turn and sweet shot past David De Gea in the 74th minute.

Four minutes later Ben Yedder doubled Sevilla’s advantage with a header at the back post which the crossed the line after hitting the underside of the bar despite De Gea’s efforts.

Romelu Lukaku pulled one

back for Jose Mourinho’s side in the 84th but there was to be no comeback for United, who drew 0-0 in the first leg, and the visitors could have added more.

Sevilla have never reached the Champions League quarter-finals but did make the European Cup quarter-finals in 1958.

Fitness Express on board GBBFF Novices Championships

Loris Nathoo pulled off a major heist, beating Candidate Master Anthony Drayton.

Jamie McDonald (left) of Fitness Express hands over the sponsorship package to GBBFF president Coel Marks.

THE Guyana Body Building and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) has revealed the date and venue for its Novices Championships and as the norm, Fitness Express has come on board as a sponsor.

GBBFF president Coel Marks received a cheque yesterday from Jamie McDonald who noted, “As always, Fitness Express has been a paragon of support for the federation and I just want to thank them for

coming on board.”

The venue for the Novices Championships is the National Cultural Centre on April 8 and action will begin at 19:00hrs. Admission to the event will be $1 500.

and knowledge of the rules which he applied admirably.

The competition will continue next weekend as more teams are expected to participate, including Mainstay, Dartmouth and Queenstown FC.

In the senior category, Loris Nathoo pulled off a major heist, toppling one of the favourites, Candidate Master Anthony Drayton, in their head-to-head showdown.

Drayton has a FIDE ranking of 1945, the second highest by a Guyanese behind Wendell

matters into his own hands and dropped Drayton, whose tournament has not been going according to plan so far.

Drayton was held to a draw against Meusa, and has recorded his only win after three rounds against Glenford Corlette in the opening round.

After three rounds, former champion Taffin Khan is leading the point-standings with 2.5 points, earned from two wins and a draw.

Meusa, Nathoo and Ronuel Greenidge are stacked on two points apiece, followed

by Drayton on 1.5.

Saeed Anwar Ali has a solitary point, while Corlette and Maria Varona Thomas occupy the cellar position with half-apoint each.

The junior tournament is sizing up to be a very competitive showdown for the title with two players locked at the top of the table. Table-toppers Joshua Gopaul and Ghansham Allijohn have so far accumulated 2.5 points each, with two wins apiece and their head-tohead clash producing a draw in round three.

Jaden Taylor, Roshawn Washington and Ethan Lee are in a battle on two points each, while Nellisha Johnson has one point so far. Dwayne Bess and Sasha Shariff are languishing at the bottom of the table, both yet to score.

The competition will wrap up this weekend with action in both categories at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.

Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) executive member Irshad Mohamed said another intense two days of chess rivalry is anticipated as the battle for the prestigious titles of Junior and Senior chess champions of Guyana for 2018 continues.

Mohamed also noted that should there be a tie at the top of the table, a tie-breaker with the players in question would be held on Monday.

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Heated competition expected for Starlet Cup

Ten competitors have signed up so far for the Starlet Cup 2018. (GT Ridez photo)

By Stephan Sookram THE pressure is building as time counts down to the first national Race of Champions set for March 25 at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri.

While there are many groups that will be up for contention, none is expected to be more challenging than the Starlet Cup. The defending champion is Motilall Deodas having swept the competition last year. This year, however, the

competition is going to be tougher.

Ten competitors have signed up for the first race meet to take place in just under two weeks, making it one of the largest fields expected on race day.

More so is the fact that Deodas’ two main threats, Anand Ramchand and Rameez Mohamed, have been upgrading their reliability.

A source told Chronicle Sport that both parties have been conducting testing on

their respective cars as they look to snare the title from Deodas this year.

Still, nothing is definitive and on race day, the car that crosses the line first is the one that will secure valuable championship points.

Even more interesting for this year is the fact that mechanics have now been added to the fray, with ‘fixers’ or teams being awarded points based on where they finish the respective races.

A long-time talking point

is who the best mechanics were. The Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) has sought to offer bragging rights to the mechanic with the most points at the end of the year.

And while the banter may seem friendly now, the intensity increases as the days count down.

The 24-race programme is sponsored by Ansa McAl, through its STAG brand, Mohamed’s Enterprise and Tropical Shipping.

Chase, Lodge advance to next round of Milo football

Part of the Action in the final round-of-16 match of the Milo schools football tournament

DEFENDING champions Chase Academic Foundation and Lodge Secondary are the latest to advance to the quarter-finals of Milo schools football tournament on Monday afternoon.

In the first game, Lodge Secondary overcame the Business School 3-0. Shem-

roy Myers opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Goals followed from Adrian Berkshire and Thurston Gordon in the 66th and 68th respectively.

In the second game, an own goal in the 17th minute, coupled with strikes from Wayne Barker (28th) and Malaki Adonis (90+4)

ensured the defending champions Chase beat Ann’s Grove 3-1. On the losing end Nkosi Williams’ 49th minute goal found the back of the net.

The other teams in the quarter-finals are Annandale Secondary, Sir Leon Lesson, Masters Academy, Buxton

Youth Developers, Pure Masters and Morgan Learning Centre.

In the first of the quarter-final matchups on Saturday, Masters Academy will play Buxton Youth Developers while Chase Academic Foundation will face Sir Leon Lessons.

Windies keeping close eye on Zimbabwe in Super Sixes clash

West Indies captain Jason Holder

HARARE, Zimbabwe (CMC) – Captain Jason Holder says West Indies will be keeping a close eye on hosts Zimbabwe, as his side prepare to do battle in the Super Sixes of the ICC World Cup qualifiers beginning tomorrow.

West Indies and Zimbabwe, along with Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, Ireland and Scotland, have all qualified for the second stage of the competition.

The Caribbean side re-ignite their rivalry with Zimbabwe in their second match next Monday with memories of their last meeting during the 2016 Tri-Nations Series still fresh.

They lost to Zimbabwe in a rain-affected final preliminary match and missed out on the final against Sri Lanka.

“I think everybody will be up for it. Obviously it’s a must-win game and a very important game,” Holder said.

“I think the last time we played Zimbabwe in an ODI they got the better of us on Duckworth/ Lewis so we won’t forget that and we will have that in the back of our minds going out there.

“They are a quality side, obviously they’re playing at home and they will definitely have the support of the crowd.”

We s t I n d i e s , t h e pre-tournament favourites, played unbeaten in the preliminaries to top Group A and will take four points into the Super Sixes where they open their campaign against Afghanistan to-

morrow.

They will also face Scotland in their final match on March 21.

Holder said the Windies were in good shape heading into the vital second round of the tournament and would be treating every match with equal importance.

“We’ve obviously qualified for the Super Sixes and not only qualifying, but going into the Super Sixes with four points,” he stressed.

“I think that was crucial coming out of the group stages. I think every point is crucial in this tournament and every game is very important.”

West Indies produced dominant performances with the bat throughout the preliminaries with totals of 357, 257 and 309 while batting first in three of their four outings.

Holder believes key to similar strong totals in the Super Sixes will be the attacking opening pair of veteran Chris Gayle and the youthful Evin Lewis.

“It’s not the first time these guys are opening the batting together,” he said of the pair who have already shared two half-century stands in the competition.

“They play for the same franchise in the CPL back in the Caribbean and they have some pretty good opening partnerships so far, mainly in T20 cricket.

“But having said that, they have good camaraderie, good understanding, good communication between them and it’s really good to see them complementing each other so well.”

Heated competition expected for Starlet Cup

See page 39

Three new referees make debuts in Essequibo football competition

By Elroy Stephney

New referees Janelle Peters (left), Abraham Chester and Ashanti Smith pose just before their first officiating stint at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground.

FIFA rejects Webb appeal against million-dollar fine See page 34

Former CONCACAF strongman Jeff Webb

THE Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon Refereeing Association last Saturday handed the licence to operate to three new referees who made their debuts.

They are Ashantie Smith 16, Janelle Peters 17 and Abraham Chester 20. They officiated in the Essequibo/ Coast and Pomeroon Football Association’s sponsored Under-15 competition at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground.

The officials had undergone extensive training over a period of time under the association with senior referees Ranzolin Durga, Colin Belfield and Rawl Griffith.

History was also made as Ashantie Smith and Janelle Peters are the first batch of female referees to emerge from the Essequibo Coast.

Both served as lineswomen in the two matches and were well received by the crowd. They have since been congratulated by the Essequibo/Coast and Pomeroon Football Association (ECPFA) and the Essequibo/ Coast and Pomeroon Refereeing Association, as they commence what is expected to be a long and rewarding career in the sport.

Meanwhile, GFF executive member Maxine Stewart also extended congratulations to the trio on behalf of the governing body. In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport, Stewart stated that she is quite happy that more young people are committing themselves to the sport and every effort will be made to support them at the highest level.

She further revealed that there are exciting plans on stream to develop Essequibo’s football, including sustained training at all levels for the local footballers as well as for officials including coaches, referees and administrators.

The ECPFA will also seek to establish an office soon, to facilitate the efficient and proper functioning of the Essequibo Football Association, according to Stewart.

Vurlon Mills is GFF’s latest Technical Development Officer See page 34

GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood (right) welcomes Vurlon Mills to the GFF.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2018