Guyana Chronicle E-paper 03-24-2019

24th March, 2019

Treatment Successful

No.105586

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–– President successfully completes first round of medical treatment

– expected to commence radiotherapy in early April

President David Granger

Guyana rakes in US$75M PAGE

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– from direct jobs leading up to first oil

Land titles for 09 Bare Root residents PAGE

Durban Backlands North gets 12 Miner killed potable water PAGE

in Cuyuni 07 PAGE

These young residents take a drink at one of 29 stand pipes that were commissioned by the Guyana Water Incorporated at Durban Backlands Squatting Area on Saturday. The community is now receiving potable water for the first time in more than 50 years (Delano Williams photo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 24, 2019

Guyana rakes in US$75M

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 24, 2019

By Vishani Ragobeer

DIRECTOR of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, has said that Guyana has raked in over US$75M in 2018 from local content in the oil and gas sector.

He made the disclosure during a meeting with Albouystown residents held at the Heavenly Light World Outreach Centre on Saturday.

“What [local content] basically speaks to is how much Guyanese are benefitting from this sector; whether through products that are being purchased, whether through labour as being employed or whether goods that are being

produced… Guyana has benefitted directly to the tune of over US$75M from local content in 2018,” he told the Albouystown gathering.

This figure, he said, was derived “directly” from the emerging oil and gas sector and does not include downstream impacts of the industry such as works in mechanics, electrical work, welding and technical warehousing, among others.

As such, Dr. Bynoe contended that the value of this sector, when taken in totality, will be significantly greater.

In Guyana’s Stabroek block alone, there have been 12 discoveries so far; through these, there

– from direct jobs leading up to first oil –– Director of Department of Energy

is in excess of 5.5B barrels of recoverable oil.

Guyana is expected to begin oil production in early 2020 and, Dr. Bynoe pointed out, will garner revenues from the very first day.

As the country prepares for this, he indicated that the Energy Department is working to ensure Guyanese are involved directly and indirectly in the industry.

TARGET “As of the ending of 2018, 54 per cent of persons directly employed in the oil and gas sector are Guyanese,” he said, noting that the Energy Department intends to up this figure to 75 per

A resident making a point during the engagement on Saturday

cent and even greater by 2020.

In a government release, it was noted that Exxon and its main contractors utilise the services of 227 suppliers and individuals in 2018 and some 309 the previous year.

The director, however, stressed that there is a dearth of technical skills in Guyana and while efforts are being made to employed local persons, it is unavoidable that foreign experts will penetrate the industry.

“Recruitment and institutional strengthening of the sector is part of our mandate,” Dr. Bynoe said, pointing out that this is being done by hiring expatriates and international experts.

The aim, he said, is to facilitate knowledge transfer to Guyanese, who will one day wholly

Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe, addressing the residents on Saturday manage the industry.

“Let’s not be pennywise and pound foolish,” he stressed, adding: “What we are seeking to do is work in a collaborative way to achieve what it is we want to achieve.”

Recently, 25 Guyanese were recruited to work on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which would have about 100 to 150 persons on board. An FPSO is basically a floating vessel that stores barrels of oil.

The vessel is expected to meet Guyana’s shores later this year.

Dr Bynoe also encouraged the residents to focus on developing themselves in their respective fields, since the petroleum sector employs only a small per-

centage of persons because most of the work is highly mechanised.

He explained, too, that there are a myriad of areas that need development and skilled persons. These include the medical, teaching and construction professions.

“What we should be training ourselves for is the expansion of investment that is coming or that has already started as well as the new Guyana that is to come.

We don’t have to chase after oil and gas, what you have to do is to position yourselves, because Guyana will have the great need of those very skills to transform it into the new Guyana that is to come,” the energy director said.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 24, 2019

Major multi-ministry Public Day set for Wednesday A MAJOR multi-ministry Public Day is set for Wednesday, March 27 at the Square of the Revolution (Cuffy Square) as the government ups its efforts to bring critical services to the people.

From 9:00hrs, ministers and officials from 17 ministries and 12 departments and entities would be available to address the concerns of citizens. The government is advising persons to bring along extra copies of all documents to aid in the acceleration of the pace at which their issues are addressed.

Officials from the Ministries of the Presidency, Communities, Public Security, Education, Social Protection, Business, Public Infrastructure, Finance, Agriculture, Legal Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Telecommunications, Indigenous People’s Affairs, Public Health, Natural Resources and Social Cohesion and the Office of the Prime Minister would be present.

The Department of Citizenship, the Department of

Public Service, the Central Housing and Planning Authority, GO-Invest, Guyana Power and Light, Guyana Water Incorporated, Guyana Revenue Authority and the National Insurance Scheme are among entities that will also be present at the outreach.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who will be among ministers present, said where possible, the authorities on the ground will be able to make on the spot decisions as he urged citizens to capitalize on the opportunity.

“We will be taking government to the people. We will be moving out of the offices and we’re going to be taking government and its departments into communities where people can bring their concerns and have it addressed right there,” he said while addressing a group of people at Durban Backlands Squatting Area on Saturday.

He said the public day provides a platform for citizens to engage ministers on issues.

The State said the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government has taken critical steps to decentralize public services.

Explaining that there are three tiers of government in Guyana – Central Government, Regional Government (Regional Democratic Councils), and the Local Government, Minister Harmon said regional and local leaders are now better equipped to provide the required services and address concerns of residents within their districts and local areas.

“In the past, you had to go to Central Government, many of you had to go to Freedom House to meet a minister (but) what we have done since we came into office, we have revitalized the local government system. We have given power, we have given the authority to the local government officers,” he explained.

The Minister alluded to the fact under the APNU+AFC Administration,

Local Government Elections have been held twice within three years as constitutionally required. “We are now broadening the way in which government operates with the creation of new townships in this country. So you don’t have to come from Bartica, from Linden, from Lethem to come to Georgetown to get service. Passport offices are now being decentralized; our Lands and Surveys offices are now being decentralized and several areas of government activities are being decentralized,” he said.

Public Services are now better reaching citizens right in their communities, Minister Harmon emphasized, noting that all communities will be a part of the developmental process.

Apart from the major public day planned for Wednesday, Minister Harmon noted that the government ministries and their departments will be going throughout the country to engage citizens on issues affecting them.

Venezuela crisis: Guaidó aide faces terrorism charge A top aide to Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó is being charged with terrorism after he was arrested by President Nicolas Maduro's government.

Mr Guaidó's chief of staff Roberto Marrero, 49, is accused of planning "acts of sabotage" against officials.

Venezuela's Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said that "weapons and foreign currency" were found by intelligence services during a raid on his home.

Mr Guaidó has called for Mr Marrero's immediate release.

He said that the security forces had committed an "il-

legal and unconstitutional" act, adding that he believed the items allegedly found at Mr Marrero's home had been planted there.

Mr Guaidó has described his aide's detention as a "vile, vulgar kidnapping".

Mr Marrero was arrested as part of an operation to dismantle a "terrorist cell" allegedly planning attacks on the government, Mr Reverol said.

His bodyguard, Luis Paez, faces similar charges.(BBC)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 24, 2019

Treatment Successful

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–– President successfully completes first round of medical treatment

– expected to commence radiotherapy in early April

PRESIDENT David Granger’s health is steadily improving.

He has successfully completed the first phase of medical treatment for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and has returned to Guyana, Halim Majeed, Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba said.

According to the American Cancer Society, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (also known as non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, NHL, or sometimes just lymphoma) is a cancer that starts in the white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system.

Since his diagnosis late October 2018, President Granger has been receiving medical treatment at Cuba’s Centro de Investigaciones Medico Quirurgicas (CIMEQ). During his periodic visits to Cuba, he underwent chemotherapy.

In a statement on Saturday, Ambassador Majeed said President Granger completed the first phase of his medical treatment in the Republic of Cuba. “The Cuban medical specialists who are overseeing his medical care for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma have expressed their full satisfaction with the President’s response to chemotherapy and his overall physical well-being,” Ambassador Majeed detailed.

He said based on an expert’s evaluation of the President’s medical condition, it has been concluded that it is no longer necessary for him to undergo chemotherapy.

“President Granger is expected to commence radiotherapy in early April 2019,” the ambassador further disclosed.

On Friday, Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla paid a courtesy call on President Granger and congratulated him on the positive response to the medical treatment, Ambassador Majeed said.

The President noted that this is the third time that Minister Bruno Rodriguez has visited him since he has been undergoing medical care in Cuba.

“The Cuban foreign minister briefed President Granger on the present political and economic situation in Cuba and praised Guyana and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for consistently supporting

Cuba. He said that Cuba sees the Caribbean as an extended family and informed President Granger that a Caribbean Heroes Park will be open next month in Havana,” the ambassador detailed.

President Granger has acknowledged the sacrifices made by Cubans nationally and internationally and explained that from his point of view, Cuba was a success story in spite of all the hardships the country was enduring. He took the opportunity of again expressing gratitude to Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel; First Secretary

of the Communist Party of Cuba, Army General Raul Castro Ruz; Narciso Reinaldo Amador Socorro, Ambassador of Cuba in Guyana, and the medical specialists at CIMEQ. The President, who is accompanied by his wife Sandra Granger, the First Lady, and ADC to the President, Major Mark St. Claire returned to Guyana on Saturday.

President Granger (centre), Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla (right) and Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed during a recent meeting

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 24, 2019

The political challenges THE Co-operative Republic of Guyana had recently been launched into unwarranted political challenges by insurrectionary parliamentary action taken by the Opposition PPP/C to unseat the APNU/AFC Government by a no-confidence vote in the nation’s Parliament.

Two layers of the judiciary have since spoken: One on Friday invalidated the passage of the motion, ruling that the opposition needed 34 and not 33 votes to have successfully passed its no-confidence motion.

The party has since indicated that it will challenge this decision at the Caribbean Court of Justice.

In the meantime, the full functioning of Cabinet, Parliament and the government continues.

The PPP/C has served 23 years in office from 1992 to 2015. APNU/ AFC so far has served only three years in office. Regularly scheduled general elections are constitutionally due in 2020, less than two years from now. Yet, the PPP/C, overly eager to return to power, tried to outmanoeuver the APNU/AFC Co-

alition Government by upsetting its majority in a no-confidence motion by persuading an AFC Member of Parliament to switch sides and cast a vote with them.

This no-confidence vote did not only threaten the tenure of the APNU/AFC Government, but has also shone the spotlight on the foibles of the fledgling Guyana Constitution.

The PPP/C has been fostering a highly dubious narrative that the APNU/AFC Government is incompetent and corrupt, and therefore must be removed from office after only three years, and without further delay. The party is also confident that it can win the upcoming elections and return to ruling the country. Problem is, the PPP/C ruled Guyana for 23 years, with a long list of highly unsatisfactory outcomes. Guyana, from 1992 – 2015, remained an underdeveloped country, with widespread and deep poverty and inequalities among its people. The educational system deteriorated, with most schools starved for resources. The Univer-

sity of Guyana was left to atrophy from lack of funding. Conditions at that institution were abysmal, with cows occupying its classrooms and high weeds covering its Turkeyen campus. Teachers, nurses and public servants were paid starvation wages. Both the sugar and bauxite industries were severely diminished.

The Capital City, Georgetown, the town of Linden and other communities were starved of resources.

Narco-trafficking was rife, with the country being typified in international circles as a narco-state.

Governmental corruption was both rampant and brazen. Constitutionally mandated Local Government elections were ignored by the PPP/C government, if not abandoned altogether. Widespread robberies and violent crimes induced a sense of insecurity and peril in the population.

Significantly, there were numerous extra-judicial killings. Throughout the years of inept rule, the Guyanese people, mainly supporters of the PPP/C, fled the country in droves for safety and succor in foreign lands. The Guyanese people must

not forget the travesty, the trauma and the pain they were caused by PPP/C governance.

This is by no means to suggest that the incumbent APNU/AFC Coalition Government is not guilty of missteps during its brief three years in office. But this government has undoubtedly restored a strong sense of security, integrity and stable democratic governance to the country. The strength of the APNU/ AFC is that it is a well-intentioned coalition government, meaningfully representative of all sectors of the Guyanese populace, and dedicated to the country’s development and nation building. The weakness of the APNU/AFC is that it is a coalition Government impacted by the stasis of accountability to all its constituents, while not yet being able to please all. This coalition dilemma of togetherness must be resolved going forward, if the APNU/AFC is to continue to be an effective political force in Guyana. It is not only about good governance; it is also about good politics.

The PPP/C is undergoing its

own internal crisis of severity. It is a struggle for leadership that is simmering like goat milk waiting to boil over on its encrusted undemocratic party leadership structure. Former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo is the leader of the PPP/C party. He has ruled Guyana for 12 of the 23 years his party was in office; far more than any other Executive President. The Caribbean Court of Appeal has ruled that no President must serve more than two terms. Yet, he would not relinquish leadership and control of his party, seemingly determined not only to be its kingmaker and puppet master, but also its only voice. Hopefully, this party will in time rid itself of the tyranny of its circumstances.

The abidinglesson, however, for all political parties involved, and for the Guyanese people, is the pressing necessity to reform the country’s Constitution as soon as possible.

Guyanese voters will reject the PPP of today Dear Editor, WITH oil money coming , the political stakes could not be higher, as most of our citizens know and feel that they could be cheated of their God-given rights to the opportunities and wealth of our republic.

Some of our "experts" decry the financial and technological arrangements which we have with ExxonMobil, finding fault and opposing this great investment. Those malcontents should understand that over the next two years, ExxonMobil will invest over 35 Billion US dollars in worldwide oil exploration without a clear prospect of oil recovery and with the price of oil not yet $60 a barrel, the investments are not always profitable .

We in Guyana should be proud and excited that the largest company in the world is investing

real money into our economy; this will eventually attract other good foreign investments and trade to our republic in areas such as agro-industry, mineral extraction, our water potential, our fishing potential, our forest potential and other new avenues to make up for lost time and lost opportunity. Foreign investment and trade, along with the private sector as the engine of growth, is the only way to boost our incomes from rich to poor citizens, and to turn our country into a much better place to live. Any government we have has to facilitate this notion and keep government committed to filling its ranks with younger professionals dedicated to the modern world and new ideas, while decentralising power from the central government to our villages, towns and communities. That is why investments in

education have to be a mission of utmost importance to any government, because young people are our future and our destiny; with wealth coming , adequate money has to be set aside for scholarships--based strictly on merit-- for our brightest to go abroad to the best universities in the world and to return to take the mantle of leadership in our dear republic.

Editor, we will be now preparing for new elections and the above observations should reflect the manifestos of each party; but this is not so with certain parties based on the record we can examine. The PPP/C demitted office only three years ago, so it is pretty easy to show that the Gang of 8 who runs that party are against the very concepts which I put forward above; under their aegis, there was no real foreign investment and trade and no intention of facilitating the economy, so

that the private sector could really become "the engine of growth" and more young people left these shores as no real investments in education were ever done.

The free computer giveaway under Jagdeo was a farce, the shoddy "fixing" of schools was a joke , no buses to take our children to school, no hot meals for our schoolchildren and on and on , compounded by (as President Cheddi always said) "squandermania," as exhibited by such failures as the Skeldon sugar fiasco, Jagdeo's brainchild. Our biggest industry, the sugar industry, where the workers support the PPP/C, took plenty of blows when Jagdeo was in power and the sugar workers were treated with contempt, while the industry went broke and became a drag on our economy. Jagdeo never brought innovations, market adjustments and better pay and conditions for

our brothers and sisters in the sugar industry and himself and Komal Chand ( both members of the Gang of 8) conspired to have the workers' union(GAWU) leadership be a part of the government which was really the employer-- a real betrayal of the rights of the sugar workers who are really taken for granted every time elections are held.

And in this period they have the nerve to celebrate the life of President Cheddi while doing the opposite of what he would have longed for. The voters of our republic will reject the do-nothings who dominate the PPP today-- the Gang of 8.

Regards Cheddi(Joey)Jagan(Jr.)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 24, 2019

LEN targets budding entrepreneurs at Bamia THE residents of Bamia, Linden, are now motivated to become entrepreneurs after gaining knowledge of the opportunities that lie within Region 10.

This was after the Linden Enterprise Network Inc., (LEN) conducted its second outreach this year in the community of Bamia.

LEN is looking at empowering entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs of Linden in the various business sectors, LEN Business Development Officer, Dominic Henry said at the outreach on Friday.

LEN targets persons who have business ideas, who need help developing their ideas or business plans and those who are in business and need help.

“We are ready to serve entrepreneurs,” and provide financial assis-

tance and “any other form of critical assistance that they will need to make their business flourish,” Henry said.

In explaining the process of how a person may qualify for financial assistance, the business development officer said the applicant is asked to submit their documents. The applicants and the profitability of their business plan are then assessed. Further assessments are then done by loan officers after which the forms are carried to the board of directors where the loan would either be approved or disapproved.

“Once approved, the loan is dispersed, and the loan officers work with the applicant step by step. We never leave them alone. We always check on them and ensure things are going the way that it was planned. If any difficulties are encountered, we work

Another great figment of a poisoned imagination Dear Editor, ABOUT the leader of the parliamentary opposition party house-to- house rigging claims – simply ridiculous; utterly so, and again exposes the frantic desperation of a power-hungry leader.

The good thing about such politically reckless behaviour, unbelievable in its infantile and scandalous content, and asinine for its occurrence, given the multi involvement of representatives from all the parties, is that it has allowed Guyanese to fully understand the dictatorial mindset of a citizen who once governed this country; attempted another foray at the presidency via a court challenge, even though he had signed into law the constitutional amendment that had decreed otherwise, and fully aware of such; and who in another devious attempt at power grabbing, had his party’s central committee install Irfaan Ally, his declared good friend, as surrogate presidential nominee for the PPP/C. Those accusations, as to how the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will conduct the house-to-house exercise, are a work of the greatest fiction that could have only been conjured up in a mind like Bharrat Jagdeo’s. But primarily, it

is another attempt to bring the nation’s national electoral administration into disrepute; it constitutes a continued assault on the latter institution.

This is another incorrigible lie, which joins the host of others in their attempts to create unease that does not exist. It is part of the great plot that began almost immediately after the coalition assumed office in 2015, commencing with the unfathomable white lies about the collapse of GuySuCo, of which only the PPP/C is capable.

Editor, I am a firm believer that the citizens of this country, including Jagdeo’s supporters, are deeply worried about what the possible potential of their leader’s daily rantings can have for the peace and stability of this country, inclusive of their communities and traditional, good neighbourly relations. But it is for them to cease their passivity, and hold their leader accountable for actions which are wholly negative, and with no gain for the nation’s continuous progess. Moreover, I am a firm believer that this is a special kind of evil that is self-defeating.

Regards Aditya Persaud

on finding a solution,” Henry stated.

He highlighted that within their Business Advisory Department, entrepreneurship start up and skills training are offered.

Henry is also encouraging persons in Region 10 to visit LEN’s office located 97-98 Republic Avenue, Mackenzie, Linden.

“We are offering a lot of very good services; come into us; talk with us, we are here and we are ready to go,” he added.

Resident of Bamia, Rita Chrashank expressed gratitude to LEN and stated that the outreach “was encouraging and represents a good thing for us in Region 10”.

LEN will be targeting Moblissa, Ituni, Arima and Kwakwani next.

Miner killed in Cuyuni The shotgun and live cartridges found by police

A 19-year-old miner, Dave Boyal, was allegedly murdered by a close relative who was also his employer on Friday.

Boyal of Batavia, Cuyuni River, was murdered at Blackwater Island Backdam in the Cuyuni River around 22:00hrs, reports say.

A police investigation has revealed that the victim and other workers were in their hammocks when the suspect, who was seemingly intoxicated, entered the camp and began to cut down the hammocks.

“The deceased tried to persuade him to stop and during that intervention, the suspect picked up an arrow and fatally stabbed him in the abdomen,”

said the Guyana Police Force in a statement.

The body is at the Bartica Hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem. The suspect of Batavia Island, Cuyuni River, has been arrested and is assisting police with the investigation.

In separate case, police in ‘F’ Division, acting on information, went to a mining camp located at Kupang Backdam, Cuyuni River where they conducted a search and found an unlicensed shotgun and 29 live cartridges and an empty cartridge casing. A 38-yearold chef has been taken into custody.

The Motion has Fallen

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N Friday last, the Guyana Court of Appeal ruled that the opposition motion of no-confidence was not validly carried in the National Assembly, as it fell one vote short of the requisite absolute majority.

By a majority decision, the Court of Appeal set aside the ruling of the lower court, and restored the status quo of legitimacy to the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, which was popularly elected for a fiveyear term on May 11, 2015.

In allowing the appeal, the superior court has put on pause the proverbial political clock that was ticking. This decision has also reduced into a fiction the notion that the President and his Cabinet have been “resigned.” There is no longer any need for the National Assembly to extend the so-called dropdead period beyond 90 days within which fresh elections should be held.

Theoretically, the next elections could be held at the expiration the five-year term of the present government.

The constitutional due date has been reinstated, because the motion of no-confidence against the government has fallen!

TRIPLE FRIDAYS Over the past four months, our people have been treated to a triple dose of drama-filled Fridays.

It was on Friday, December 21, 2018, that the motion which ostensibly removed the government was wrongly deemed to have been carried. However, the Speaker of the National Assembly was in doubt over whether the constitutional threshold was met, which triggered the judicial reviews.

Then on Friday, February 1, 2019, Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire upheld the ruling of the

Speaker which, in effect, “resigned” the President and his Cabinet. Now, on Friday, March 22, 2019, the Court of Appeal upheld an appeal that challenged the validity of that vote.

The majority decision was delivered by Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice Dawn Gregory.

A third judge, Justice Rishi Persaud, gave a dissenting decision.

The beauty of all of this from a layperson’s view is that in our vibrant democratic system, the higher courts could review, modify, affirm or reverse decisions of the lower courts.

CRITICAL ISSUE The decision of the Court of Appeal turned on the critical issue as to whether 33 or 34 votes constitute an absolute majority of all of the 65 members of the National Assembly.

Applying the principle for an absolute majority in an odd-number House, which is one half, rounded up to the next higher number plus one, the Court of Appeal concluded that 34 votes were needed to satisfy the requirement of the Constitution for passage of the no-confidence motion.

The motion having not been passed, the coalition remains intact as the legal or de jure government of Guyana.

The decision of the Guyana Court of Appeal has showcased once more that Guyana’s democracy is alive. The unwritten doctrine of the Separation of Powers or “trias politica” that guarantees the independence of the three branches of the State, has been consolidated.

These events cannot be seen as a funny, three-card game. They have tested the fabric of our democracy and the integrity and efficacy of our major state institutions.

Our people, the demos of our democracy, must feel secure in the fact that the judiciary could uphold their fundamental right to freely choose their government at periodic elections, and also protect that government from calculated and capricious attempts at removing it.

RENEWED FAITH The decision of the Court of Appeal has given Guyanese renewed faith in our democratic institutions, and they should carry on with their lives peacefully in full knowledge that all political matters, however complex, could be settled within the context of constitutionality, and under the Rule of Law. Guyana is also a part of the comity of democratic nations, and there are other countries and organisations that are critically observing how we do what we do, and have invariably offered assistance to build our capacity and to strengthen our institutions. The Carter Center is one of those helpful bodies with which I have been familiar since 1990. I do not share the intemperate view that the Carter Center is a front for “imperialist crusaders.”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 24, 2019

This is not a government view.

My own experience shows how important it is to have support for just causes from other jurisdictions. In 1989, I was invited to Washington by the US State Department where I met Sally Cowal, the then Assistant Secretary of State.

She informed me that the then Republican government headed by President George Bush Snr would support “free, fair, transparent and credible elections” in Guyana.

At the time, five American Senators, including Senator John Kerry, had put forward a resolution to support free and fair elections in Guyana. In the context of what was happening in Guyana at the time, I didn’t see that as “imperialist” interference.

The Carter Center was instrumental in helping to restore electoral democracy in Guyana. Its formula for the composition of the Elections Commission (GECOM) was intended to build bi-partisan cooperation and consensus.

Except for administrative hiccups at the 1997 polls, GECOM has delivered credible elections between 1992 and 2018. Now, it appears

that bi-partisanism has been fractured by opposition-engineered ethno-political polarisation.

BELLICOSE CAMPAIGN Apart from transparent elections, Guyana stands tall in other areas of democratic governance, which include the expansion of our plural media and the promotion of press freedom.

There is no evidence of state suppression of the media. Strange but true, it is the opposition that has unleashed a bellicose campaign against media and journalists. It is a paradox that journalists have chosen to boycott a news conference by the opposition leader who, as President, had condemned journalists as carrions and vultures.

Moving forward, while Guyana has to maintain an open-door policy, it has to do so on the basis of the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, and mutual respect. In the final analysis, the Guyanese people would define and defend our democracy.

The Court of Appeal has done what in its own judgment, was the correct thing to do, that is, to invalidate the vote of no-confidence.

It is now up to our people to salvage the damage caused by that reckless opposition misadventure.

They have to vest renewed confidence in their government and its leadership.

BEST GOVERNMENT We have come too close to losing what in my opinion is Guyana’s best possible government, notwithstanding some guffaws, at a time of transition from a near failed, corrupt, narco-state to a clean, orderly and progressive society.

We should be on guard, however, as there would be attempts at provocation and sabotage in the wake of the disposal of the failed no-confidence motion.

There would be boycotts, non-cooperation, mock marches, and a “hurricane of protests”, and perhaps industrial strife and strikes.

Our government must keep the peace, even though the opposition may choose to close the door of engagement and lock itself out from the constructive political process. Guyanese must remain vigilant against other back-door attempts at seizure of state power.

March 24, 2019

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 24, 2019

Land titles for Bare Root residents

By Svetlana Marshall

WITHIN two months, over 400 residents from Bare Root, will receive their Certificates of Title to their lands, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) assured on Saturday as it corrects an age-old problem.

For decades, the residents of the East Coast Demerara (ECD) village have been without formal property rights for their lands; however, with the intervention of the Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Adams-Yearwood and the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, the process has been accelerated.

On Saturday, well over a hundred residents gathered at Middle Road, Bare Root, for an update on the processing of the Certificates of Title, and to express their land-reResident of Bare Root, Wesley Ramsey, making a passionate presentation calling for residents to be given back the lands bought by their ancestors (Delano Williams photo)

CH&PA’s Community Development Department Director, Gladwin Charles lated concerns.

Minister Williams said the issuance of Certificates of Title for the lands in Bare Root has been an issue for way too long, and the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) will address it. The issue was raised during a recent visit to the village by Minister Williams.

“For us, it is very important for you to have title to your lands. Titles are very important, why? Because you could utilise your title as collaterals for you to raise loans with the financial institutions,” the legal affairs minister explained. He noted that, historically, many of the villages like Bare Root, Bachelor’s Adventure were a single block of “transport” land. This, he said, stymied the development of many villagers because they were unable to develop their lands. He said the APNU+AFC is committed to addressing the land issues in the country, and through CH&PA, it has begun to issue Certificates of Title for Lands to villages which have been unable to receive formal rights.

As a case in point, the legal affairs minister alluded to Angoy’s Avenue in New Amsterdam where titles have already been issued.

MUCH RELIEF “In the same manner in which they have done that for Angoy’s Avenue, I am saying that they are going to be doing Land tiles for Bare Root, Bachelor’s Adventure residents

By Svetlana Marshall Within two months, over 400 residents from Bare Root, Bachelor’s Adventure, will receive their Certificates of Title to their lands, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) assured on Saturday as it corrects an age-old problem.

For decades, the residents of the East Coast Demerara (ECD) village have been without formal property rights for their lands; however, with the intervention of the Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Adams-Yearwood and the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, the process has been accelerated.

On Saturday, well over a hundred residents gathered at Middle Road, Bare Root, for an update on the processing of the Certificates of Title, and to express their land-related concerns.

Minister Williams said the issuance of Certificates of Title for the lands in Bare Root has been an issue for way too long, and the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) will address it. The issue was raised during a recent visit to the village by Minister Williams.

“For us, it is very important for you to have title to your lands. Titles are very important, why? Because you could utilise your title as collaterals for you to raise loans with the financial institutions,” the legal affairs minister explained. He noted that, historically, many of the villages like Bare Root, Bachelor’s Adventure were a single block of “transport” land. This, he said, stymied the development of many villagers because they were unable to develop their lands. He said the APNU+AFC is committed to addressing the land issues in the country, and through CH&PA, it has begun to issue Certificates of Title for Lands to villages which have been unable to receive formal rights. As a case in point, the legal affairs minister alluded to Angoy’s Avenue in New Amsterdam where titles have already been issued.

MUCH RELIEF “In the same manner in which they have done that for Angoy’s Avenue, I am saying that they are going to be doing that for you now. So you can expect your titles, I am advised, within two months,” Minister Williams assured.

CH&PA’s Community Development Department Director, Gladwin Charles, said the land issues in Bare Root dates back to the early 2000s, according to the records. He explained that in 2004, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission surveyed the area and created a plan; however, there were a number of issues with the measurement. In 2009, a new plan was drafted and residents were invited to apply for their Certificates of Title for the Lands but another issue arose – the parcel numbers had to be changed from the first plan, and the process was halted.

“A third survey was done in 2013, and that was finalised in 2017,” Charles said while noting that Minister Adams-Yearwood played a critical role in accelerating the process to allow for the processing of the titles. “The third plan that we have now, fortunately for us, the surveyors at Lands and Surveys, they maintained the parcel numbers for the 416 lots we have, from the second plan,” he explained.

The Land Registry has since asked the Lands and Surveys Commission to prepare a schedule of all the numbers. It was noted that the southern section of Bare Root belongs to the state and comprises 93 lots of the 416, as such, CH&PA is required to apply to Lands and Surveys by way of a State Land Application, for the Commission to sign it off with the Registry.

GROUND WORK COMPLETED Charles told the residents that the groundwork has been completed; however, some residents are required to visit CH&PA’s Brickdam Office for final verification in the coming week. Persons are asked to visit during office hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to verify their information. The entire process is expected to be completed within two months.

In response to a query raised by the legal affairs minister, Charles said the plan designed did not include a space for a community centre and playground; however; he assured that the CH&PA, with assistance from the Lands and Surveys Commission, will work to identify a suitable area.

Interjecting, an elderly villager,Naomi Prince, informed the officials present that when residents first occupied the area now called Bare Root, Bachelor’s Adventure, lands were identified for the construction of a church, a health centre and a community centre and playground; however, they were subsequently occupied by other people who settled in the village.

Wesley Ramsey, another resident, made a case for a section of the backlands to be transformed into a playground, market facility and a church. Stating that the “backlands belong to the people of Bare Root,” he said residents there should be given additional lands for farming activities. Bare Root, he pointed out, was once a thriving farming community.

“Bachelor’s Adventure was bought by the slaves, and we the people need our land, so instead of just asking for the playfield, we need to get back our land… this is something that should be given unto us, it is our right. This community has been labelled and degraded, marginalised and stigmatised, being prone to crime and unemployment, but this community has impede every strata of public development… and we want this stigma to be removed, because we have over 2000 youths in here,” Ramsey said in a passionate presentation.

In response to the suggestions and concerns, CH&PA Chief Executive Officer, Lelon Saul, committed to addressing the issues raised. “Our interest is to build strong, cohesive and empowered community…. In the building of communities, we recognise that there must be certain features, like a playground and other social facilities, and that is why we will ask of the Lands and Surveys Commission to make more lands available so you can get those things done,” Saul said.

The CH&PA CEO implored the residents to apply for agricultural or farmlands even as he committed to working with them. Meanwhile, other residents, even those from neighbouring and far-flung communities present, complained of not having access to land for residential use. Two public servants disclosed that they applied for house lots in 2008 and 2001 but, to date, they have not been given an allocation. In other instances, residents complained about being sold farmlands for residential use by a single individual. Living on the farmland with limited access to water and no electricity has been a major challenge, the residents said while calling on CH&PA to intervene. Both CH&PA and the legal affairs minister agreed to follow up on a number of the issues raised.

Photo saved as AG Caption: Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, addressing the resident of Bare Root, Bachelor’s Adventure (Delano Williams photo) Photo saved as Residents Caption: Well over one hundred residents gathered at Middle Street, Bare Root, Bachelor’s Adventure to hear from CH&PA and the Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams. They are in line to receive the certificates of title for their lands (Delano Williams photo) Photo saved as Wesley Caption: Resident of Bare Root, Wesley Ramsey, making a passionate presentation calling for residents to be given back the lands bought by their ancestors (Delano Williams photo) Photo saved as Charles Caption: CH&PA’s Community Development Department Director, Gladwin Charles Photo saved as Saul Caption: CH&PA CEO, Lelon Saul

that for you now. So you can expect your titles, I am advised, within two months,” Minister Williams assured.

CH&PA’s Community Development Department Director, Gladwin Charles, said the land issues in Bare Root dates back to the early 2000s, according to the records. He explained that in 2004, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission surveyed the area and created a plan; however, there were a number of issues with the measurement. In 2009, a new plan was drafted and residents were invited to apply for their Certificates of Title for the Lands but another issue arose – the parcel numbers had to be changed from the first plan, and the process was halted.

“A third survey was done in 2013, and that was finalised in 2017,” Charles said while noting that Minister Adams-Yearwood played a critical role in accelerating the process to allow for the processing of the titles.

“The third plan that we have now, fortunately for us, the surveyors at Lands and Surveys, they maintained the parcel numbers for the 416 lots we have, from the second plan,” he explained.

The Land Registry has since asked the Lands and Surveys Commission to prepare a schedule of all the numbers.

It was noted that the southern section of Bare Root belongs to the state and comprises 93 lots of the 416, as such, CH&PA is required to apply to Lands and Surveys by way of a State Land Application, for the Commission to sign it off with the Registry.

GROUND WORK COMPLETED Charles told the residents that the groundwork has been completed; however, some residents are required to visit CH&PA’s Brickdam Office for final verification in the coming week.

Persons are asked to visit during office hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to verify their information. The entire process is expected to be completed within two months.

In response to a query raised by the legal affairs minister, Charles said the plan designed did not include a space for a community centre and playground; however; he assured that the CH&PA, with assistance from the Lands and Surveys Commission, will work to identify a suitable area.

Interjecting, an elderly villager,Naomi Prince, informed the officials present that when residents first occupied the area now called Bare Root, lands were identified for the construction of a church, a health centre and a community centre and playground; however, they were subsequently occupied by other people who settled in the village.

Wesley Ramsey, another resident, made a case for a section of the backlands to be transformed into a playground, market facility and a church. Stating that the “backlands belong to the people of Bare Root,” he said residents there should be given additional lands for farming activities. Bare Root, he pointed out, was once a thriving farming community.

“Bachelor’s Adventure was bought by the slaves, and we the people need our land, so

CH&PA CEO, Lelon Saul instead of just asking for the playfield, we need to get back our land… this is something that should be given unto us, it is our right.

This community has been labelled and degraded, marginalised and stigmatised, being prone to crime and unemployment, but this community has impede every strata of public development… and we want this stigma to be removed, because we have over 2000 youths in here,” Ramsey said in a passionate

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, addressing the resident of Bare Root, (Delano Williams photo) presentation.

In response to the suggestions and concerns, CH&PA Chief Executive Officer, Lelon Saul, committed to addressing the issues raised. “Our interest is to build strong, cohesive and empowered community…. In the building of communities, we recognise that there must be certain features, like a playground and other social facilities, and that is why we will ask of the Lands and Surveys Commission to make more lands available so you can get those things done,” Saul said.

The CH&PA CEO implored the residents to apply for agricultural or farmlands even as he committed to working with them. Meanwhile, other residents, even those from neighbouring and far-flung communities present, complained of not having access to land for residential use. Two public servants disclosed that they applied for house lots in 2008 and 2001 but, to date, they have not been given an allocation. In other instances, residents complained about being sold farmlands for residential use by a single individual.

Living on the farmland with limited access to water and no electricity has been a major challenge, the residents said while calling on CH&PA to intervene. Both CH&PA and the legal affairs minister agreed to follow up on a number of the issues raised.

Well over one hundred residents gathered at Middle Street, Bare Root, Bachelor’s Adventure to hear from CH&PA and the Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams. They are in line to receive the certificates of title for their lands (Delano Williams photo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 24, 2019

Understanding Energy

Volunteer Preparedness

JUST last week, Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission (CDC) announced that 41 trainees had completed one of its most promising safety initiatives, the Voluntary Emergency Response Team (VERT) Programme.

The CDC launched the VERT programme last year as a public-private partnership with ExxonMobil’s Guyana subsidiary, the Caribbean Disaster Risk Management Agency (CDEMA), the University of Guyana, and the Guyana Defence Force.

VERT is meant to build on the CDC’s launch of its Volunteer Corps in 2012 and help to give Guyana greater trained capacity to respond to a variety of emergencies by ensuring that local communities have individuals who are trained to assess risks and needs and coordinate disaster-relief services.

Major energy companies often engage

in emergency preparedness training programmes of this kind. Members are trained in basic techniques and terms for disaster management, emergency response, risk assessment and more. They also offer capacity-building opportunities for local communities, as the training is often applicable to a number of potential scenarios.

The programmes are also intended to provide secondary benefits by helping to develop institutions more capable of responding to serious issues and, as a result, make the national government and its local counterparts more prepared for any type of emergency. Doing so benefits both the operators and local communities.

Volunteers for the VERT programme came from all across the country and represented a variety of skill- sets, regions, and experience levels. The first batch of 41

trainees received an Introduction to Disaster Risk Management certificate from the University of Guyana when they completed their training early last week.

The community aspect is particularly important, since locals will often know better than outsiders what the area needs most, where the vulnerable populations and places are and who can play a vital role in coordinating and directing external help.

Community members are also in position to respond first in an emergency.

The skills that volunteers will take back to their home regions can be readily applied to other areas. Having this kind of trained personnel on the ground helps coordinate a rapid and effective response to any sort of disaster from floods and serious storms, to an industrial disaster spilling over from a neighbouring country.

Leadership that excites the youth: The ABIY example

WHERE leadership is not inspiring or starkly different from the run-of-the-

mill speeches and bland promises, the lack of interest from the youth is

justified.

Millennials want to see fundamental change; they like to stick it to the system. It is that one period in your life where your anti-establishment sentiments are most intense; you are filled with energy and ready to heed calls such as ‘the duty of youth is to challenge corruption’ by the great philosopher, Kurt Kobain. It is therefore imperative that leaders who seek the support and interest of the youth must capture their imagination with revolutionary policies that would make them want to storm the heavens.

Leaders who think inside their own boxes and seek cosmetic changes have no moral high ground to lecture them about their lack of interest in the affairs of the State.

Having argued the aforementioned, I now draw your attention to the example of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed. Facing rising tensions among the youth of various ethnic groups in Ethiopia, the ruling coalition of this East African country chose this 42-year-old to lead a nation where 70% of the population is under 30.

Besides his youth and the fact that Abiy hails from the

largest ethnic group, this former Lieutenant-Colonel and co-founder of the intelligence branch set out on a mission to ease the anxiety of the young section of the population. What he has achieved, thus far, by virtue of his leadership style, should be captured in a dossier and distributed to any forerunner who seeks to gain the attention of the younger members of their societies.

Mr. Ahmed began his reign against the backdrop of a raging youth population.

Protests for land rights; deep ethnic tensions; arrests of tens of thousands of activists and many more national disgruntlements. In just 100 days in office, Ethiopia was radically transformed. This transformation calmed the souls of the young population due its sheer audacity. Prime Minister Abiy freed prominent opposition leaders, activists, journalists and other dissidents. He appointed a record number of women to his Cabinet. This was coupled with the appointment of a former judge and opposition figure, Birthukan Mideksa, as Head of Ethiopia’s Electoral Board.

The average politician would express shock and surprise that a sitting Prime Minister

In January 2005, when floods struck much of the country, our emergency-response capabilities were less sophisticated and rescue and recovery efforts were hampered by a lack of citizens available on short notice and trained to respond. Having community volunteers with this kind of experience helps prepare at-risk areas for disaster, especially in view of complications with getting supplies and support to impacted areas.

According to media reports, plans are also in the works for expanding this training to regional organisations over the next few years.

With Guyana’s energy industry expected to play a prominent role in the economy for the next few decades, this could be an important step to maintaining our readiness for any kind of disaster in the long term.

would appoint an opposition figure who was exiled for seven years to run the country’s elections. But when you attempt to introduce real healing to a nation, these are the bold and daring decisions that imbue confidence.

Above all, it grabs the attention and confidence of the youth. Prime Minister Abiy has taken a history-making hammer to domestic, regional and international issues.

In June 2018, Abiy made a trip to Egypt and engaged in an interpersonal meeting with President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. Smiles and hugs signalled the easing of tensions over the use of the Nile River, an age-old problem defanged by revolutionary leadership. Added to this, after decades of political and military stalemate, Ethiopia declared that it would accept the 2000 peace deal with Eritrea. Abiy has appeared in public looking cool, demon-

strating that he is savvy with technology and has embraced revolutionaries such as Nelson Mandela. Undoubtedly, he is exemplary, and provides a blueprint for leaders who wish to excite the youth.

In conclusion, the aforementioned is not easily achieved. When you embark on unprecedented reform, you do so at great political risk.

You are subjected to the wrath of those who have vested interest in the status quo. Your party members are usually flummoxed, and may subject you to the worst verbal abuse. Direct personal attacks and power struggles would ensue.

In the end, the masses, especially the youth, will always be on the side of the adventurous leader who brings the sledgehammer and smashes the old order and tiresome state of affairs.

No petition required –– to hear Charrandass’ nomination to House case 11

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 24, 2019

– Court of Appeal rules

By Svetlana Marshall THOUGH it will have no effect on the failed No-Confidence Motion against the Government, the Court of Appeal ruled on Friday that the vote cast by recalled Member of Parliament Charrandass Persaud was valid as it upheld the High Court’s decision in part in the case of Compton Reid v Speaker of the National Assembly.

However, by a majority decision, it ruled that contrary to the decision of the Chief Justice, the High Court had jurisdiction to hear the case with respect to Persaud’s nomination to the National Assembly on the basis of the constitutional issues that arose.

In the ruling with spanned close to three courts before a packed court room, the Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud delivered their findings and decisions in the case with treated with the issue of jurisdiction, the effect of voting against one’s list, and sitting in the Parliament as a

dual citizen.

In handing down her decision, the Chancellor established that based on a number of local and regional cases, the Chief Justice was correct in her ruling that some of declarations sought

by Reid ought to have been filed by way of an Elections Petition, however, she said based on the Constitutional implications, consideration should have been given to them.

Justice Cummings-Edwards said the contention by Senior Counsel Neil Boston and Attorney-at Law Roysdale Forde that fraud had been committed on the Constitution

by Persaud raised critical issues. “I prefer to say that there being no jurisdictional bar in this instance and giving the finding of the learned Chief Justice on the nomination issue, the court ought to uphold the rule of law and the constitutional provisions,” the Chancellor explained.

Based on evidence submitted to the Court, Persaud, in contravention of Article 155 of the Constitution, held dual citizenship status while being a member of the National Assembly. In handing down her decision, Justice

Gregory, like the Chancellor found favour with the submissions made by Senior Counsel Boston and Forde on the issue of jurisdiction.

“I am persuaded by the submissions of Mr. Boston, S.C, and Mr. Forde, that the court did have the jurisdiction to decide on the consequences and effect of Charrandass Persaud’s disqualifications as found by the Chief Justice,” she told the parties in the matter.

According to her, the court could have considered the constitutionality and the lawfulness of two questions proposed by Reid, in the particular circumstances of this case with respect to being a dual citizen in the House and voting against one’s list.

Justice Persaud, however, upheld the decision of the Chief Justice in the High Court, stating that the questions relating to Persaud’s nomination to the National Assembly ought to have been brought by way of an Elections Petition, and as such, the Court had no jurisdiction to deliberate on those particular questions or declarations sought.

However, on the issue of whether Persaud’s vote on the night of December 21, 2018, the Appellate Judges agreed that his vote was saved by Article 165 (2) of the Constitution. The Chancellor, in detailing her decision, said Persaud had

informed the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland or his List Representative, he would have ceased to be a member of the House but that did not happen on December 21, 2018.

“As I see it, if one declares in writing that he or she will not support the list from which his name is extracted, that persons ceases to be a member. Likewise, if one declares his support for another list that person ceases to be a member…

If one votes for another list without intimating to the Speaker or his Representative of the List that he will not support the list or that he is supporting another list, that vote is still valid,” Justice Cummings-Edwards explained.

The Chancellor noted that the Constitution provides a penalty for such action, as well as provisions for the recall of that member by the Representative of the List as outlined in Article 156. As such, she ruled that his vote was valid and was counted among the 33 were in favor of the No-Confidence Motion.

Justice Gregory’s positions were similar in this regard. Like the Chief Justice and the Chancellor, Justice Gregory ruled that Persaud’s ‘yes’ vote was valid. “I agree with this on the proper con-

Beauty is gender-neutral, says Minister Lawrence

By Elvin Carl Croker TEN disabled youths embarked on a new course of study on Friday when the public health ministry launched the Quality Care Programme for differently-abled adults at the Open Doors Vocational Centre in Sophia.

The batch, which consists of six females, will be trained in beauty care and barbering.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence was happy that men have enrolled in the programme.

“I am very happy that we have been able to break that glass ceiling and let people know that beauty is gender neutral also,” she said.

The minister reminded the audience that years ago, the differently-abled were not spoken of, nor seen in the community.

She said persons were scared to bring their families into the open because of the stigma and discrimination. Today, she said, the ministry has recognised that persons with disability can contribute to society.

In this regard, the minister noted that the launch is also addressing the social determinants of health.

“With Sophia being a developing community, opening the centre and offering the courses go further than just offering some special courses to persons with disabilities; it sends a very strong message to the Sophia community,” she said.

She also noted that Sophia will be a developed community soon and the government has hope and confidence in the residents of Sophia.

The project is viewed as a sign of government investing in young people, and as such, the minister encouraged residents and students at the launch to continue building and embracing development in their community.

The simple ribbon-cutting ceremony was also attended by Junior Public Health Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings; Permanent Secretary, Colette Adams; and Director of Disability and Rehabilitation Services, Dr. Ariane Mangar.

The participants were encouraged to seek sponsorship by applying for a government grant from the Social Protection Ministry to start a business at the end of the training, since they would have acquired a skill.

The minister congratulated Dr Mangar

and her team on the initiative to incorporate differently-abled persons in the beauty and cosmetology programme.

One of the participants, Althea Thomas, who is wheelchair-bound, explained that she will be doing cosmetology learning to do hair, nails and makeups. She said she has just finished a course and decided to sign up for this one.

“My dream is to own a business and motivate myself; get multiple certificates, so that I can be able to get any job anywhere because I wouldn’t limit myself. I am always up to the challenge, I don’t take no for an answer,” the young lady said.

The programme is full time and provides training for persons between the ages 16-41 years.

The vocational centre falls within the umbrella of the Disability and Rehabilitation Services Programme within the Ministry of Public Health.

The two trainers Denise Morthly and Tracy Marshall have over 25 years teaching cosmetology, personal hygiene, shampooing, manicure, pedicure, facials, nails and others.

Attendants toured the well-equipped facility after the official ceremony.

struction of Article 156 (3), Charrandass Persaud seat was not yet vacant when he voted, and although the spirit and intent of Article 156 was to prevent voting for against one’s list and voting for another list, when the constitution is viewed as a whole, I am not satisfied that his vote was a nullity,” Justice Gregory concluded.

Senior Boston had argued that Persaud could not have voted against his own list, by Justice Gregory pointed to Article 179 and Article 180 which allow members to vote against their list in circumstances.

“My finding is that his vote was valid and effective, and was properly ruled to have been cast, and the 33rd of the vote cast in favour,” she concluded.

On the question of dual citizenship she also upheld the decision of the High Court. “Although it was found that Mr. Persaud was disqualified I find that Article 165 (2) applied to his participation in the proceedings on December 21, 2018, and I view the proceedings including the debates and the subsequent vote, having being extracted from his Party’s list, and seated as a Member of the National Assembly and participated in the proceedings, his participation was saved and the entire proceedings were

Expelled AFC Parliamentarian, Charrandass Persaud saved including his vote,” Justice Gregory concluded.

She ruled that the appeal was dismissed except in relation to the finding on jurisdiction. As in the previous issues, Justice Persaud fully with the analysis and conclusion of the Chief Justice. On the issue of dual citizenship, he said there was a lack of evidence to suggest that Persaud knew that he was not qualified to be elected to the National Assembly by virtue of his dual citizenship.

“It seems that other members of the National Assembly were similarly unaware of their own status prior to the definitive pronouncements by your honour Chief Justice,” he posited.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 24, 2019

Durban Backlands North gets potable water

THE struggle to access potable water in Durban Backlands Squatting Area is no more, now that the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has commissioned 29 standpipes in the community pending its regularisation.

Minister of State Jo-

the GWI managing-director said the move to address the issue which spans decades aligns with the theme for World Water Day 2019, that is, “Leaving no one behind.”

As part of government’s mission to bridge the social divide between the coastland and the

tions (UN’s) Sustainable Development Goal No. 6, which underscores the importance of providing “clean water to all,” and President David Granger’s quest to eradicate the inequities on the coast or the coast and the hinterland of Guyana.

He said in the case of

managing-director told the residents.

He, therefore, urged the residents to protect the system from any leakages.

“This is water that you can drink. It is safe water, but you have to care it,” he implored those present.

Dr. Van-West Charles said the standpipe is just a starting point. “As I said, we cannot move as of getting water into your homes, because we have to work with the Central Housing and Planning Authority; but the 29 standpipes are close to the homes,” he posited, emphasising that the best days are yet to come.

The managing -director strongly believes that GWI will attain Sustainable Development Goal No. 6 by 2025, five years ahead of the 2030 deadline.

Since 2015, approximately 75,000 Guyanese gained

Mariah Henry remembered the days when desperation led residents to turn to the trench for water for domestic purposes. For many years, the entire community depended on two pipes. She said 29 standpipes are a blessing to the community.

To y o u h e r e t o d a y lined in the SDGs, noting bringing water into this that in recent months, the community is that good government through the walife, to other persons who ter authority has delivered might have been accus- water to far-flung communitomed to having water in ties of the country. In South their communities, maybe Rupunnuni, eight artesian

Minister of State Joseph Harmon drinks from one of the 29 standpipes as residents and local leaders watch with amusement. Minister Harmon and GWI Managing-Director Dr Van-West Charles (extreme right) commissioned the new water system on Saturday. seph Harmon and GWI’s Managing-Director, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, commissioned the water network system, on Saturday. This now allows the more than 3,000 residents squatting in Durban Backlands, aback the Chinese Embassy, to have access to potable water 24/7 at 29 strategic locations.

During a simple ceremony in the area that attracted scores of residents,

hinterland, the ‘served’ and the ‘underserved,’ GWI will be commissioning a number of projects throughout communities across the country to improve their access to potable water.

ERADICATE INEQUITIES Dr. Van-West Charles told the residents that GWI’s programmes are guided by the United Na-

the Durban Backlands Squatting Area, GWI, in deciding on the project, took into consideration the essential nature of the commodity (water), and its importance to good health and proper hygiene.

“While it is not fully laid out, we sought at best how we could bring water to this community. Initially, we thought that we were going to put about 17 standpipes but after walking around, we ended up with 29 standpipes,” Dr. Van-West Charles said.

He noted that GWI will also treat with the issue of sanitation within the squatting community. “To the eastern end of this community is the conservancy. Most of the people in Georgetown receive their water, which is treated in the Shelterbelt in terms of the supply of water to Central Georgetown, [from the conservancy]. So we are working to ensure that there is no movement of infiltration or pollution at that end in terms of the conservancy,” the GWI

Residents of Durban Backlands Squatting Area listening attentively during the commissioning ceremony (Photos by Delano Williams) access to potable water, adding to the hundreds of thousands already receiving.

Minister Harmon affirmed that establishment of the water network system in the area previously deprived of water is in keeping with government’s agenda.

GOOD LIFE “The philosophy of our coalition, the philosophy of President David Granger is that we must guarantee and provide a good life for all of the citizens of this country; and that life means different things to different people.

fixing the pipe for them, would be something for them; but to you, because water is being provided to your homestead for the first time in so many years, this is in fact the government bringing to you that good life that we promised,” Minister Harmon explained.

He told them that installation of the standpipes is not the end, but rather the beginning of greater things to come as he too underscored the importance of regularising the community first.

He said GWI has been working extremely hard to satisfy the requirement out-

wells have been drilled by the Government of Brazil through the Sixth Battalion Engineering Corps (BET) of the Brazilian Army, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Water Incorporated, he pointed out.

Constituency Nine Councillor Shonelle Smith-Daniels and local leaders applauded the move by the government.

Beneficiaries like Mariah Henry and Keith Hughes applauded the move, noting that they would no longer have to “fight over” the two standpipes that all 3000 plus residents depended on for water.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 24, 2019

Water a driver of change – says GWI boss in ‘No one left behind’ campaign

GWI Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van WestCharles has called on all citizens at the community, municipal, regional and national levels to examine why their fellow people are being left behind, and to show how access to water and sanitation can be drivers of change.

He made the appeal at an event to celebrate the 26th anniversary of World Water Day hosted by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Linden branch on Friday, under the theme “No one left behind”.

“For this to be possible, access to knowledge coupled with understanding is vital. This means that a marriage of citizens rights and the conversant responsibility provides a healthy pathway in the 2030 agenda. This call, therefore, means that the citizens’ understanding of the individual rights and the implications for their responsibility can move us in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana closer to the attainment of the goals of 2030,” Van West-Charles said.

He added that GWI chose Linden as the host town of this year’s anniversary ceremony GWI Managing Director, Dr. Richard because most of the Van-West Charles town’s residents access potable water from fresh-water sources, which means that protecting watersheds is critical.

Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell noted that with Linden moving towards the adoption of the sustainable development goal, “how we utilise water and how we protect our watersheds is very important.”

She highlighted that the community consists of a large number of water sources, and hopes it becomes one of the communities that will continue to provide water for the rest of Guyana.

The mayor is also calling on GWI to edify the public on the importance of water and how it affects everyone when water is wasted through radio and television programmes.

She also pencouraged residents to, “be cognisant of what we are doing, and understand the importance of water to us, but moreso how the rest of the country will lose if we do not take a stand on how we work to preserve our water sources.”

The Linden Mayor and Town Council, in partnership with the Ministry of Communities, will be embarking on a stringent programme of waste removal in an attempt to protect the watersheds of Linden.

The theme for World Water Day 2019, “Leaving no one behind”, is a revision of the significant promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The human right to water allows everyone, without discrimination, access to adequate, non-toxic, satisfactory, physically accessible and inexpensive water for personal and domestic use.

Van West-Charles highlighted that GWI has embarked on an initiative with the Ministries of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Communities, Finance, Education and Public Health to correct the imbalance occurring in Region Nine villages.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 24, 2019

Lindeners complain about water, Internet issues –– during outreach by Public Utilities Commission

By Naomi Marshall THE Public Utilities Commission (PUC) hosted their first of many outreaches on Friday in the mining town of Linden.

The outreach, which targeted the residents of Linden, was aimed at making persons aware of the PUC and the platform which exists to allow them to voice their complaints regarding the telecommunications,

electricity, water and sewage sectors in Guyana.

“We have recognised that people can’t come to us simply because it might be expensive to get to us in Queenstown, which is considered to be a feared zone and also people might not know where we are; people might not know about PUC or they might not be able to reach us which is why,” said Dela Britton, Chairperson of the Public Utility’s Com-

mission.

Britton noted that most of the complaints received were about Guyana Water Inc., while the others were based on billing issues and internet quality in Linden.

The mission of PUC is to ensure that regulated utilities offer efficient services to consumers at a reasonable cost.

In explaining the complaint process, Britton said when a complaint taken it is

The Public Utilities Commission’s team on Friday as they attend to consumers then processed. This means that the complaint, along with a letter from the PUC, will be sent to the utility provider which usually has two weeks to respond. The time may be truncated depending on the severity of the matter.

The consumer is then contacted with the response from the utility provider, if not favourable, the utility provider is asked to re-examine the complaint. If it is found that the utility provider is at fault, the PUC will commence advocating for the consumer. If the utility accepts fault, then they would compensate the consumer by credit on their next bill. No cash will be returned.

According to Britton, PUC have received some $11 million in December, 2018 in credits on behalf of consumers Britton noted that they are happy with the turnout; however, they intend to ‘ramp up’ public relations to have a better turnout at upcoming outreaches.

She highlighted that the

PUC services are free and can be reached via their website, PUC.org.gy.org or at their office located at 106 New Garden Street Queenstown, Georgetown or on telephone numbers, 2273204/2267042.

“We decided to embark on this series of outreach for the people of Guyana.

Basically, we plan to go hopefully to the length and breadth of this country doing exercises of this nature,” she added.

Georgetown, Mahaica, Essequibo and Kwakwani are some areas that will be targeted next. Linden will also be visited for a second time.

The PUC was established on October 1, 1990 under the Public Utilities Commission ACT of 1990.

This act was passed to regulate the telecommunications sector in Guyana.

The act was later repealed to include the regulating of the electricity sector in 1999 and further amended to regulate the water and sewage sector in 2003.

Sunday, March 24, 2019 05:30hrs - 07:00hrs

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 24, 2019

Education key to crime reduction – Commander Chapman

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) is working with young people in various communities to get them on the right path, said ‘A’ Division Commander, Marlon Chapman.

According to Chapman, the Police Force has assisted hundreds of young people to enroll in institutions such as the Government Technical Institute, the Guyana Industrial Training Centre and even the GPF. “We understand why it is necessary to have a skill; to be able to earn for yourself.

As a matter of fact, persons from these same groups are now policemen and women” he stated.

The commander noted that efforts of the Police Force have helped to change the way young people view the work of law enforcement officers. This is due to the relationship the GPF has built with the various communities.

Commander Chapman believes that sending young men and women to prison is not feasible. He said the Force has been playing its role to keep young people away from crime and out of

the prison system.

According to the Divisional Commander, “the Police Force sees the need to assist these youths because it is not always the best thing to have a youth going up the court steps every day on a charge of simple larceny. We do try our best to avoid that and that is why we have these interventions.”

The Guyana Police Force has established hundreds of youth groups throughout the country. These groups cater for children as young as five years old who are involved in various activities such as sport, reading, mathematics and skills training.

Commander Chapman further explained that youth interactions present a unique set of challenges and opportunities for law enforcement since for many youths, their first encounter with anything justice-related — whether in school, their neighbourhoods, or social service settings — is through law enforcement.

As such, the assistant commissioner noted that the nature and circumstances of this contact can have a significant and lasting impression on a young person.

‘A’ Division Commander, Marlon Chapman He explained that concerned adults, mentors and role models can assist adolescents to embrace and adopt acceptable behaviour.

Police officers, Chapman noted, are in a strong position to take on the role of positively influencing youths.

“A law enforcement officer who builds a good relationship with youths can be a strong, protective figure for them,” he said.

The commander said role models, who come from a wide array of professions and backgrounds, can help youths in their personal and professional development.

15

Students tour Juvenile Holding Centre THIRTY-four students from the St. George’s High School were ‘enlightened’ during a tour of the Sophia Juvenile Holding Centre by Assistant Superintendent Kevin Das and Woman Inspector Abbigail Ali of the Brickdam Police Station.

The students were given the opportunity to tour in and around the building and to observe the various areas within, such as the dormitory, cells, sanitation block, and the classrooms.

The tour was conducted with the aim that the students may become knowledgeable of

the life of a ‘recalcitrant’.

They also had the opportunity to ask questions and two notable questions were “This is where they sleep?” and “There is no television?”

The visit was done to encourage change and to build their self-esteem, which may positively influence their future behavioural pattern.

This intervention is one of the many which are being conducted within ‘A’ Division with the aim of reducing youth crime and making communities safer.

Assistant Superintendent Kevin Das in discussion with the students at the Juvenile Holding Centre

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 24, 2019

Danns, Welshman send Guyana to the ‘Gold Cup’! ..take out Belize 2-1 at the National Track and Field Centre last night

By Rawle Toney FOR the first time in the country’s history, Guyana will play at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, thanks to goals from Neil Danns and Emery Welshman which lifted the Golden Jaguars to a 2 – 1 win over Belize last night at the National

Fans flooded the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora to support the Golden Jaguars

Track and Field Centre in Leonora.

Watched by almost 5,000 football-crazed fans, Danns scored in the 16th minute when he converted from the penalty spot, while Welshman’s goal was seen as the ‘game-winner’, given the fact that Belize’s Elroy Kuylen equalized in the 25th minute, before the Canadian-based Guyanese found the back of

the net in the 43rd minute.

Head Coach Michael Johnson started with Akel Clarke in goal, but surprised almost everyone with his tactical gamble of playing Kadell Daniels in the leftback position; a gamble which paid off, since the Dover Athletic midfielder was outstanding in the position.

Ronayne-Marsh Brown teamed up with his young-

er brother, Keanu-Marsh Brown, along with Elliot Bonds, Captain Samuel Cox, Welshman, Terrence Vancooten, Danns, Callum Harriott and Anthony Jeffrey in the starting line-up.

Danns was tasked with giving Guyana the go-ahead after Newport County’s Keanu-Marsh Brown was brought down in the ‘18’ in his attempt to latch onto a pass from Welshman.

Pandemonium broke out in the stands as fans celebrated the goal, but it was short-lived, as Kuylen curled a well-placed free-kick to the top right corner of the net from about 22-yards out from goal, leaving Guyana’s Akel Clarke stunned.

Danns would later have a chance to make it 2 – 1 but, when he stepped to the penalty spot to take a conversion after Welshman was brought down in the ‘box’, the Belize keeper this time went the correct side to deny

the Guyanese.

Welshman, just before half-time, connected on a Callum Harriott shot that was saved and did nothing wrong when he let loose a powerful right-footed volley that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Bolton Wanderers’ Stephen Duke-McKenna, Caledonia United’s Sheldon Holder and MLS side Philadelphia Unions’ Warren Creavalle then entered the game, replacing Danns, Vancooten and Keanu-Marsh Brown as the substitution used by Johnson.

At the end of the 90 minutes, the facility at Leonora was flooded with tears, as the players and fans huddled at centre field, and celebrated the country’s Gold Cup berth, following in the footsteps of the Lady Jags who had reached the women’s Gold Cup in 2010.

Ninvalle takes AMBC vice-president position WHEN the dust settled following the Congress of the Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) last Friday in Panama, Guyanese Steve Ninvalle emerged as one of the vice-presidents of the body.

Ninvalle, president of Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), was elected to the prestigious position and will hold the office for four years.

The AMBC governs amateur boxing in the Caribbean, North, South and Central America and is one of five Confederations affiliated to the world governing body

AIBA. In a telephone interview from Panama City, Ninvalle declared that his election underlines the growing confidence the international boxing fraternity is placing on the Caribbean.

"My election to Vice-President is indicative of renewed confidence placed in the Caribbean and our ability to administrate. My intention is to use the new office to promote further development of the sport not only in the Caribbean but also throughout the Americas," Ninvalle said.

The recent elevation to the AMBC hierarchy follows two other important positions that the boxing trailblazer received this year.

The GBA boss was elected Chairman of the Caribbean Steering Committee in January, and last month was appointed Chairman of AIBA Youth Commission.

According to Ninvalle the recent achievements were only possible through the "solid and unflinching" backing he received from Caribbean countries.

"It is my humble opinion that countries in CARICOM

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and other parts of the Caribbean constitute one of, if not the most unified block in boxing. It is only through this sustained united approach that we were, and will be able to achieve more. We have indeed remained true to our motto of One Voice, One Goal, One Caribbean."

Meanwhile, two other Caribbean administrators were elected to the AMBC executive on Friday. Attorney-at-Law Leyla Jackson of Cayman Islands and Dr Debra Stephen-John were voted in as Executive Committee Members.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 24, 2019

Burundi qualify for first African Cup of Nations finals

By Mark Gleeson

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - Burundi qualified for the African Cup of Nations football finals for the first time as they kept Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in check, to get the point they needed in a 1-1 draw yesterday.

The result secured them second place in Group C to join Madagascar and Mauritania as countries going to the finals for the first time and their achievement sparked wild celebrations in the tiny

east African country.

They were joined later yesterday by Cameroon, Guinea Bissau and Namibia, who qualified despite losing 4-1 to Zambia in dramatic circumstances.

While Burundi needed only a draw, visitors Gabon, who hosted the last finals in 2017, had to win in Bujumbura to join group winners Mali in the expanded 24team finals in Egypt in June and July.

Burundi were kept at bay repeatedly by the heroics of Gabon’s veteran goalkeeper Didier Ovono before Cedric

Amissi broke the deadlock in the 75th minute.

Yet celebrations were kept on hold until the final whistle as Gabon equalised with eight minutes left when Burundi defender Omar Ngandu turned the ball into his own net.

Gabon’s Arsenal striker Aubameyang had a largely quiet afternoon and they were unable to get the second goal they needed to reach the finals.

A dramatic stoppage-time equaliser from Frederic Mendy secured Guinea Bissau top place in Group K after

a 2-2 draw at home to Mozambique.

Mozambique were headed to the finals along with Guinea Bassau as they came from behind to lead 2-1 thanks to an 89th-minute goal from substitute Nelson.

But they conceded an equaliser to Mendy four minutes into stoppage time and the 2-2 result left them level with Namibia on eight points.

Namibia, despite being

thrashed 4-1 by Zambia in Lusaka, qualified in second place in Group K ahead of Mozambique on the headto-head results between the two countries.

Namibia’s match finished minutes earlier and their players anxiously watched live action from the other game on an ipad on the side of the field, before celebrating when they realised they had also qualified.

Defending champi-

ons Cameroon, originally named hosts of the 2019 finals before the tournament was moved to Egypt amid concerns over preparations, confirmed their qualification with a 3-0 home win over Comoros Islands.

The Indian Ocean islanders needed a win to usurp Cameroon in the group but were never in the match in Yaounde.

Massiah Primary defend UCCA ...

153-3 in their allotted overs with Assad spanking 83. Support came from Hoopchand Dhanraj, who scored 30.

Lesbeholden Primary were then bowled out for 43.

Yacoob and Assad finished

with three wickets each.

For their overall victory, Massiah Primary were presented with a gift voucher worth $25 000, while Crabwood Creek collected a $20 000 gift voucher.

Mayor of Corriverton,

FROM PAGE 27

Winston Roberts, a former secretary of UCCA, was on hand for the final.

Meanwhile, the sponsor announced that they will support the competition in 2020.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 24, 2019

Massiah Primary defend UCCA Inter-Primary School cricket competition title MASSIAH Primary from No.71 Corentyne defended their title in fine style when the final of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) Inter-Primary School 10-over softball cricket competition concluded on Friday afternoon at the Crabwood Creek cricket ground.

The championship clash of the 14-team competition, which was sponsored by Davendra Ramgoolam of R and R Auto Rental Service of the Upper Corentyne, pitted Massiah Primary against their arch rivals Crabwood Creek Primary.

Massiah won the toss and batted first. Led by 54 from Divesh Ramkissoon (the

eventual man-of-the-match), the visitors were able to reach 109-4 from their allotted overs.

Akram Assad (24) and Dharmindra Persaud (20) also played a few shots for the visitors. Lionel Seegobin led the bowling attack for the home team with 2-14.

Crabwood Creek could muster only 80-5 before their overs expired when they batted. Assad and Airon Yacoob combined for four wickets to lead the visitors’ attack.

Assad finished with 2-16 and Yacoob 2-20. Jason Achree led the runners-up with 20 runs.

Coach and teacher of Massiah Primary, Lakeram Latchman, who is also sec-

retary of UCCA, said he was happy and pleased with his team’s performance and that they retained the title due to “hard training and determination”.

This year’s competition was an improvement from last year since four teams travelled from Black Bush Polder. The teams were grouped into four zones and the preliminary rounds were played with the top teams clashing on Friday in the semi-finals, before the final.

In the first semi-final, the winners of Zone One Crabwood Creek took on the winners of Zone Three, Leeds Primary from No 51, and they registered a comfortable victory.

Massiah Primary are once again champions of the UCCA Inter-Primary School 10-over softball cricket competition.

Crabwood Creek won the toss and raced to 130 with Andrew Persaud hitting 85 runs. Leeds, in reply, were skittled out for 43 after Achree took 3-16.

In the second semi-final the defending champs, who won Zone Two, hammered the winners of Zone Four, Lesbeholden Primary, by 110 runs.

Massiah Primary amassed TURN TO PAGE 26 ►

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 24, 2019

Andre Jagnandan - Guyana’s new Junior Chess Champion

By Vishani Ragobeer

FOLLOWING seven rounds of intense competition and months of training, 19-yearold Andre Jagnandan emerged as Guyana’s newest Junior Chess champion.

At Sasha Cells National Junior Chess Championships, eight competitors, including 2018 Junior Chess champion, Joshua Gopaul, engaged in the ‘battle of wits’ as they vied for the title.

Following the final round, which was held at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, Jagnandan amassed 5.5 score

and 24 points. With this, he cemented himself as the best Junior chess player in Guyana. His closest competitor, Ghansham Allijohn, trailed him with his 4.5 score and 21.5 points. The dethroned Junior champion, Joshua Gopaul, only amassed a 2.0 score with a meagre 7 points.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, following his victory, 19-year-old Jagnandan shared: “From October last year, I have been training and now with the victory, I can see the hard work paid off.”

The young man shared that

after winning the championship he just felt a sense of deep accomplishment. In fact, he said: “Being the Junior chess champion is something I’ve wanted for a long time and now that I (am) actually the junior champion, I can finally check that off my list.”

But for Andre, chess has been a part of his life for a long, long time. In fact, he said, “I’ve been playing chess for about nine years, but with school and stuff, I’ve been away from the national arena for a long time.”

Currently, he is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Law

Junior Chess champion Andre Jagnandan

at the University of Guyana (UG) and it was his ‘chess friends’ at the university that encouraged him to compete in this year’s competition.

Due to his age, this year was his final year to participate in the Junior section of the competition. However, his coach Roneul Greenidge and a few other members from the UG chess club egged him on.. And his comeback was, evidently, a wise decision.

Jagnandan has been a student of Queen’s College for the past seven years, where he successfully completed the Caribbean

Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), subsequently. But during this time, he did not neglect the sport.

Though he took a hiatus of some sort from the national championships, he still found the time to play the board game he has grown to love.

In fact, in his school he was instrumental in organising chess tournaments and worked to keep the school’s chess club alive.

And, he mentioned that

the game also helped him improve his academic life.

“In school, chess helped me a lot with Mathematics, in the sense that the same analysis I used for chess, I could relate to the subject,” the player noted. Even now, as he pursues his law studies, Andre noted that he would play a few chess games before he studied to “open up” his mind.

Speaking in a matter-offact tone, Andre posited: “In my view, chess is a nice sport to pair with academics and a nice pastime as well. It has a lot of benefits” By no means is Jagnandan strictly a ‘chess guy’ however.

In fact, he highlighted that he also plays basketball and volleyball.

“Chess is different,” he explained. “Chess allows you to use your mind in a way that is different; you push your brain to the limit to analyse the board and to find the best move.”

With this title in the bag Andre now has his eyes set on the chess championships at the Carifta Games, which will be held in Curacao, later this year.

CSK crush RCB in a lowscoring IPL season opener CHENNAI Super Kings (CSK) rode on a stunning show by spinners Imran Tahir, Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja to thrash Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by seven wickets in the opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai yesterday.

After opting to bowl, CSK bundled out RCB for a paltry 70 runs. Ambati Rayudu top-scored for RCB with 28 runs, strengthening his case for India’s number four slot in the World Cup squad, as the home team chased down the small target with 14 balls to spare.

RCB, in defeat, maintained their inglorious record against CSK and also had the ignominy of ending with the sixth lowest total in the league.

Skipper MS Dhoni’s move to open with Harbhajan (3-20 in 4 overs) paid rich dividends as he removed rival skipper Virat Kohli (6) in the fourth over and RCB never recovered from that early blow.

Dhoni’s reading of the pitch was immaculate as a top score of 29 from Parthiv Patel was a testimony to that and the time that CSK needed to score the runs.

Once Harbhajan’s finger-spinners had inflicted a telling damage on the psyche of the RCB line-up, Tahir tormented the visitors even more with his googlies that killed the contest in the first half. With so much assistance for spinners, Ravindra Jadeja wasn’t going to be left behind, finishing with 2-15 in 4 overs.

Having gauged the pace of the pitch, Harbhajan altered the length of his deliveries effectively and also reduced the pace at times to trouble the batsmen. There are times Harbhajan dropped his length but the slowness of

the track made batsmen indecisive.

While he was lucky as his off-break dropped short but Kohli’s mistimed pull-shot was taken by Jadeja at mid-wicket boundary.

Moeen Ali slog-swept Harbhajan for a six but that was all that he could manage with a length delivery stopping on him as he tried to check his drive and a loopy return catch was gleefully accepted.

AB de Villiers (9) wanted to hit out of trouble and was first dropped by Imran Tahir and, off the very next ball, was caught by Jadeja at mid-wicket boundary. With Shimron Hetmyer (0) getting run-out needlessly, RCB were in the dumps even before halfway stage.

It was the perfect platform for Tahir and Jadeja, who were unplayable with the pitch offering reasonable turn and it only helped that the lower-order’s confidence was shot to pieces.

The way each batsman reacted to Tahir’s googlies was different. Left-hander Shivam Dube (2) didn’t read the googly and edged to slips. Navdeep Saini padded one in his intent to defend while Yuzvendra Chahal holed out at deep square leg trying to hit out of trouble.

Pathiv Patel (29) was the top-scorer and the last man dismissed but hardly looked convincing. The pitch wasn’t an easy one to bat on but 70 was too small a total to defend for RCB even though they stretched CSK for nearly 18 overs.

Suresh Raina (19) didn’t score much but he did complete 5 000 runs in IPL when he reached an individual score of 14.

An IPL ‘legend’, Raina is the first player in tournament’s history to achieve the feat.

(PTI)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 24, 2019

Cameron unfazed by criticism from former Windies legends … says they have not performed off the field KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Incumbent Cricket West Indies (CWI) president, Dave Cameron, has accused some legendary former players of not “delivering the goods” when given the chance to do so in the boardroom.

As such, the controversial Jamaican argued that the value of these great former players lay in their ambassadorial roles in promoting West Indies cricket, not in cricket administration.

Several iconic figures, including Sir Viv Richards, Sir Andy Roberts and Clive Lloyd, have come out in support of Cameron’s challenger, the former St Kitts and Nevis government minister, Ricky Skerritt, ahead of today’s CWI presidential elections here.

In his comments, Sir Viv

Legendary former captains Clive Lloyd (left) and Sir Vivian Richards

said Skerritt’s election was necessary in order to bring “respectability” back to the office of president while Lloyd made reference to the “decimation” of West Indies cricket “especially under this administration”.

Cameron said he was unfazed by the criticism.

“We will continue to support them. As a matter of fact,

we don’t take it personal and we believe that they believe that the opposition can provide a different way,” the Observer newspaper quoted him as saying.

“We believe in standards and processes and some of those persons (legends) we have given opportunities in almost every area of West Indies cricket,

except probably being the president, and they haven’t delivered the goods except playing on the field.”

Lloyd, who led West Indies to historic triumphs at the 1975 and 1979 World Cups, has served as team manager and more recently chairman of selectors while Sir Viv, who never lost a Test series as captain, had a spell as chief selector and Windies coach.

Sir Andy, a member of Lloyd’s fearsome fast bowling battery of the 1970s and 80s, also served in capacities as coach and selector.

Speaking ahead of his bid for a fourth successive term, Cameron defended his administration use of the Windies legends, pointing out they had been used to promote such global events as the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup last November.

“We use them as ambassadors. They were just ambassadors for the Wom-

Murray, Harper join chorus of former players backing Skerritt for CWI post BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Ex-West Indies vice-captain, Deryck Murray, and former off-spinner and head coach, Roger Harper, yesterday announced their support for Ricky Skerritt and Dr Kishore Shallow, as resistance continued to build against the incumbent Dave Cameron ahead of today’s Cricket West Indies (CWI) elections.

Murray, also a former Trinidad and Tobago board president, said in a statement that the Skerritt/Shallow ticket represented the “way forward for West Indies cricket” at a stage when the game in the region was at a “crucial juncture”.

“I am asking for full support of those who can vote, to cast it in favour of Mr Ricky Skerritt and Dr Kishore Shallow,” said Murray, who played 62 Tests for West Indies between 1963 and 1980.

“I think their candidacy is a way forward for West Indies cricket and thank these gentlemen for putting themselves forward at this crucial juncture in West Indies cricket.

“We all know that West Indies cricket needs radical

Roger Harper

Deryck Murray

change and hope Mr Skerritt and Dr Shallow can bring that to the table and I look forward to them taking over and improving the fortunes of West Indies cricket on and off the field.”

Harper, who played 25 Tests between 1983 and 1993 and led the regional team as head coach from 2000 to 2003, said Skerritt possessed both the professional and personal qualities necessary to advance West Indies cricket.

“During my time as coach of the West Indies team I had the opportunity to work closely with Mr Ricky Skerritt who was the team manager,” Guyanese Harper said.

“I was able to observe Mr Skerritt’s management, organisational and com-

munication skills first hand and I have no doubt that he will be able to build positive relationships with all of the relevant stakeholders in West Indies’ cricket to ensure that the West Indies team progresses to the top of our beloved game where it belongs.”

He added: “Importantly, we need leaders who are responsible, objective and honest, who will put cricket first but treat the governance of West Indies cricket with the seriousness it deserves. I believe that Mr Skerritt and Mr Shallow will do that.”

Harper’s home territory has already signalled its support for the incumbent Cameron, so much so that it snubbed a request from Skerritt and Shallow to

address the body.

But with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) embroiled in confusion in recent years, Harper says a change in CWI change could also have positive spin-offs for the GCB. “As a Guyanese, I look forward to new leadership of CWI, new leadership that will be committed to resolving the crisis in the administration of Guyana’s cricket that has been ongoing since 2011 without democratic elections.”

Murray and Harper are the two latest cricketing personalities to come forward in support of Skerritt/Shallow candidacy.

This follows similar endorsements over the last week by legendary former players Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Andy Roberts and Clive Lloyd, along with two-time Twenty20 World Cup-winning captain, Darren Sammy.

So far, veteran former Windies left-hander, Shiv Chanderpaul, along with former speedster, Tino Best, have publicly endorsed Cameron and vice-president, Emmanuel Nanthan.

en’s World T20 and any opportunities like that we will use them, but we don’t take much credence from what their views are in respect to administration, but we respect them,” he said.

“The reason why we are West Indies Cricket is because of them, so we respect them. We are not thinking too much about that and at the end of the election come next week. We will treat with that going forward.”

Cameron, re-elected unopposed in 2017, has received a stiff challenge this time around from Skerritt and running mate Dr Kishore Shallow.

Not only have legendary former players not backed him but at least two sitting prime ministers, Dr Keith Michell of Grenada and Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, have signalled their support for Skerritt/Shallow ticket.

However, Cameron remained upbeat about his chances, maintaining that with Barbados, Guyana and Windward Islands behind him and providing six of the 12 votes up for grabs, he simply could not lose.

“At this point, and I think you heard the vice-president (Emmanuel Nanthan) say it, we can’t lose the election,” he contended.

“Obviously we would like to hear that Jamaica is in support going forward, but at this point in time we can’t lose the election. We have six secured votes, and not just votes, but you see the leadership of those organisations coming out in support of us.”

The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) is yet to declare their support for a candidate, after hosting meetings with both last week while the Leeward Islands and Trinidad and Tobago have already endorsed Skerritt.

Crawford cops 6th Annual Star Party Rentals cycling title

Romello Crawford

YOUNG Berbician cyclist Romello Crawford once again was top of the podium, continuing his amazing run of form, this time capturing the feature Schoolboys & Invitational 35-lap race of the sixth Annual Star Party Rentals 11-race cycling meet.

With the title up for grabs, as last year’s champion Hamzah Eastman is competing abroad, Crawford was head and shoulders above the other 20 starters. He crossed the finish line in one hour 17 minutes 21.18 seconds.

He was followed by Christopher ‘Chicken Legs’ Griffith while Briton John was third, Paul Cho-WeeNam, Deeraj Garbarran and John Williams were fourth, fifth and sixth in that order.

The sprint prizes were shared among Griffith and

Crawford who had three each while Paul DeNobrega and Dwayne Gibbs Jr bagged one apiece.

In the Veterans category, Warren ‘40’ McKay was triumphant in the Under-50 event while Junior Niles and Lear Nunes settled for second and third respectively. In the Over-50 race, Kennard Lovell was the victor ahead of second-placed Bochel Samaroo and Kevin Jeffrey.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Ramsuchit was victorious on his return to cycling, copping the Juvenile event ahead of Sherwin Sampson and Steve Bhimsin who were second and third respectively.

In the BMX Boys and Girls 12-14 race, Sampson was the winner while Bhimsin and Jaheme Henry finished second and third in that order.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 24, 2019

Sir Hilary says new CWI leadership will have to grapple with crucial reforms KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Prominent Caribbean academic, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, believes whoever wins today’s Cricket West Indies (CWI) presidential elections, faces the challenge of undertaking critical governance reform of the regional body, regaining the trust of stakeholders and implementing a visionary structure to move West Indies cricket from “awful to awesome”.

In a statement entitled ‘Present Crisis and Future of West Indies Cricket’ carried live on UWI TV, Sir Hilary said CWI had now become a “backward institutional system” after rejecting the opportunity for reform through the Patterson Report, closing the Barbados-based High Performance Centre, and creating “greater acrimony” among critical stakeholders like business, government and universities.

Sir Hilary, a former CWI director, was speaking ahead of the highly anticipated showdown between incumbent Dave Cameron and former St Kitts and Nevis government minister, Ricky Skerritt, for the position of CWI president.

“Other countries that have been faced with systemic decline in their performance have opted to restructure their governance model and engage in a period of strategic planning within the stakeholder grouping,” pointed out Sir Hilary, the University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor.

“The Patterson Report sets out very clearly the path forward for West Indies cricket to enable the emergence of our cricket culture. The governance reforms embedded in

Leading Caribbean academic Professor Sir Hilary Beckles

the Patterson Report, however, have been rejected.

“It’s a report that calls for greater accountability in the management of West Indies cricket, in the leadership of West Indies cricket. It calls for greater transparency. It calls for the removal of cliques and cabals and it calls for the recognition that cricket is the public good in our Caribbean world.”

He continued: “Unfortunately, what we have seen in recent years is that reform has been stalled and greater acrimony is developing within the stakeholder community that represents the basis of excellence.

“The old mentality is digging in while the goose that laid the golden egg is dying.

It is clear to all of us that CWI is not as accountable as we would wish; the public has been calling for greater transparency and a greater type of accountability within the leadership.”

Sir Hilary outlined 10 points with which the new CWI administration needed to grapple, among these, “developing and not dividing the young talent … embracing and not alienating investors in West Indies cricket …

deepening accountability and not to deepen a lack of transparency in the stakeholders network … and a commitment to reform and not resist new visions of governance”.

He also urged CWI to “promote and not marginalise nor degrade the genius of our indigenous legends”, in reference to involvement of the iconic former players in cricket development.

Sir Hilary also pointed to the value of the now-defunct High Performance Centre (HPC), which he said provided the environment “to produce the ideal West Indian cricketer for the 21st century”.

The HPC, based at the UWI Cave Hill Campus, ceased operations last year after CWI pulled the plug.

“We are the only global cricket institution that has no high performance centre,” Sir Hilary lamented.

“We saw what happened when our players did so well in England in recent years, and returned home – no academy to help them resolve their technical and emotional problems. In that sense, we are a backward institutional system.

“In all of the countries

that are competitive, they have built their academies within the learning environments of the universities.

This is what England did back in the 90s … in India, in Australia this is the norm but in the West Indies, CWI continues to see the learning environment as a problem.

“We have heard the statement: ‘we’re here to produce cricketers, not professors’, and indication of a lack of understanding within the cricket environment.”

Cameron, who was elected president for the first time in 2013, is bidding for a fourth successive two-year term, along with vice-president Emmanuel Nanthan.

However, he has received a strong challenge from Skerritt, also a former Windies team manager, who has as his running mate, St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association president, Dr Kishore Shallow.

Sir Hilary, who did not endorse a candidate, said West Indies’ resurgence on the field rests heavily on the quality of leadership which will emerge from CWI in coming years.

“We are clear about the fact that the decline of our performance especially at the Test level is complex (and) intellectually deep-rooted but what we are clear about is that the movement from awful to awesome has to take place at the level of leadership, on the field and in the management,” he stressed.

“We have to get rid of the old mentality, we have to embrace knowledge. We have to embrace information because we’re looking to produce the ideal West Indian cricketer for the 21st century.”

Colonial Medical Insurance Regional Women’s Super50

T&T trump Jamaica in low-scoring game IN A top-three clash, Trinidad and Tobago faced Jamaica at Everest Cricket Club (ECC) ground, when action continued yesterday in the Colonial Medical Insurance Regional Super50 Women’s championship.

It turned out to be a low-scoring encounter which T&T won by 4 wickets. The victors won the toss and put Jamaica in to bat and bowled them out for a meagre 115 (29.5 overs) before chasing down the target in 34.3 overs but not without a few hiccups of their own.

A fine performance in the

field and with the ball landed Karishma Ramharack the player-of-the-match award.

She took five catches, effected a run-out and snared three wickets to spur T&T to victory.

Batting first, Jamaica imploded with just two batters getting into twenties with the top score being 24, for T&T. The pick of the bowlers was Leandra Ramdeen who captured four wickets for 35 off her 8.5 overs while Ramharack also turned in a sterling performance bagging 3-19 (6 overs) with Anisa Mohamed grabbing 2-27 (8 overs).

In their chase T&T stum-

bled as they lost their top-order batters and looked to be in trouble at 38-5 at one point before vice-captain Reneice Boyce and Leah Kirby steadied the ship and carried them to victory.

Boyce chipped in with 31 inclusive of five boundaries before she was dismissed. However, she had already steered her side to safety with Anisa Mohamed hitting a four, to hand T&T victory, Mohamed was unbeaten on five while Kirby was not out on 39 (4x6, 49 deliveries).

Trinidad and Tobago will next face table toppers Bar-

bados tomorrow at Enmore ground while Jamaica take on Leeward Islands at Guyana National Stadium, Providence and hosts Guyana face Windward Islands at GCC, Bourda.

Meanwhile at Enmore, Windwards won handily after bundling bottom-of-the-table side Leeward Islands out for 50, and overhauling their target in the 13th over.

Leeward Islands 50 off 17.3 overs (Swayline Williams 3-13, Afy Fletcher 3-16) Windward Islands 54 for three off 12.1 overs (Juliana Nero 30 not out) .Windwards won by seven wickets.

Skerritt urges time to change course at CWI elections today KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Cricket West Indies presidential hopeful, Ricky Skerritt, yesterday made one last rallying cry for support, warning of the need for the regional governing body to change course in order to confront the challenges before it.

The former St Kitts and Nevis government minister is bidding to prevent incumbent president Dave Cameron from securing a fourth successive term, at CWI elections here today.

He is partnered by St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association president, Dr Kishore Shallow, who is up against vice-president Emmanuel Nanthan.

Skerritt said he and Shallow would bring an inclusive approach to the management of West Indies cricket, ensuring that all critical stakeholders play a role in helping to develop the game.

“We will rely on former players and all of our stakeholders for input into the creation of our agenda for change, and the design of simple but intelligent strategies to implement that agenda,” Skerritt said.

“We would like our stakeholders to share responsibility for the agenda and strive to become its co-owners. We need to adjust our sails before it’s too late.”

Skerritt and Shallow have campaigned on a 10-point Cricket First Plan, promoting the importance of creating a ‘cricket-centric culture’ and repairing the relationship with the vital stakeholder community.

However, Skerritt said what was just as important was the level of leadership ability and integrity, which would become the hallmark of

CWI leadership, once he and Shallow were elected.

“Dr Shallow and myself will bring integrity and a greater commitment to the needs of cricket,” the 62-year-old noted.

“We will ensure that our executive management team is focussed strongly on the underlying governance and performance principles that generate successful organisational change, learning and improvement.

“The results of these efforts usually hinge on leadership skills and the personal effectiveness of the people leading and implementing them. These principles are not new to us.

“To be successful, we need to continually rediscover them for ourselves, repackage them for our time, and make them relevant for today’s problems and circumstances.”

The Skerritt/Shallow ticket has gained widespread support in recent weeks, with several legendary former players like Clive Lloyd and Sir Vivian Richards, publicly endorsing the duo.

They have also gained the support of two regional prime ministers, Dr Keith Mitchell of Grenada and Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent.

However, so far, Skerritt and Shallow have only publicly secured the backing of two territorial boards – Trinidad and Tobago and Leeward Islands – giving them just four of the seven votes needed to win the election.

Cameron and Nanthan, meanwhile, have already secured the support of Barbados, Guyana and Windward Islands, with Jamaica yet to declare their support.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 24, 2019

Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Cup

Barbados beat Guyana in all four matches

By Rajiv Bisnauth

REIGNING champions Barbados made it four wins from four matches in the Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Cup yesterday in round four at Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The poor domestic structure at the female level was again evident, as the Guyanese suffered a five-wicket defeat.

The victory was first set up by the visitors’ bowlers, led by captain Hayley Matthews before Deandra Dottin smashed an unbeaten 56-ball 76, with 12 fours and a six, to complete the run chase in just 25.2 overs.

Opting to field, the defending champions produced an excellent effort in restricting the Guyanese to 159 in 42.3 overs, as they failed to bat through their full quota of overs. Extras contributed a healthy 30 runs to the total.

Earlier, the home team

batters found it difficult to exploit the batting-friendly conditions, with captain Shemaine Campbelle top-scoring with 40 while Shabika Gajnabi made 24, the only two batters to pass the 20-run mark. They got little support from their other team-mates.

Off-spinner Matthews claimed 4-25, while medium pacers Dottin (2-26) and Shakera Selman (2-32) snared two wickets each in a good bowling effort.

The home team made a disastrous start with opener Sheneta Grimmond being dismissed, leg-before to Shanika Bruce without scoring, at 1-2.

After losing her opening partner Mandy Mangru (16) was joined by Campbelle, and the duo stitched together 40 runs for the second wicket.

The right-handed Mangru struck two sweetly-timed boundaries before she was removed by Sha-

Deandra Dottin smashed an unbeaten 56-ball 76. (Adrian Narine photo)

kera Selman for 16. After Mangru’s dismissal, Shabika Gajnabi joined forces with 26-year-old Campbelle to carry the momentum forward.

The right-handed Campbelle was particularly destructive as she took the attack to the bowlers to accelerate the flow of runs.

Charlestown, Bishops’ advance to Milo schools football quarter-finals CHARLESTOWN Secondary and Bishops’ High are the first two teams through to the quarter-finals of the Milo Schools Football tournament 2019.

In the first game of the day, Golden Grove opened the scoring with Simon Jones in the 15th and it looked to be heading the out-of-town side’s way.

However, a late surge from Charlestown ensured that they live to fight another day.

Tariq Pryce’s 77th minute strike brought the game level before Raymond Bandhu’s 80th minute goal ensured the win.

In the other match, Bishops’ High drubbed Cummings Lodge 5-2.

A pair of braces from Malachi Richards (17th and 81st) and Romeo Bradford (11th and 32nd) along with Antone Herod’s single strike in the 54th set the tone for the Georgetown side to move into the next round.

Christian Harris (51st) and Simon Ifill (80th) were the only two goalscorers on the day for the Cummings

Bishops’ High (in black) are one of the first two teams into the next round. (Delano Williams photo)

Lodge, East Coast side.

Play continues today with four matches. The opening game features East Coast’s Annandale Secondary and East Bank’s Friendship Secondary.

Christianburg/Wismar Secondary are up next at 13:00hrs as they play Canje Secondary for a spot in the round-of-eight.

St Cuthbert’s Mission and Vergenoegen meet at 15:00hrs while the last game of the day will pit President’s College against Queen’s College at 17:00hrs.

On Monday at 15:30hrs, St John’s College will take on St Stanislaus College and from 17:30hrs Lodge Secondary will clash with Tucville.

However, a double blow from Deandra Dottin, saw the dismissal of both batters in the space of 13 balls.

Campbelle faced 62 balls, hitting six eye-catchin g b o u n d a r i e s, w h ile Gajnabi’s innings lasted 45 balls for three boundaries. The duo shared a third-wicket stand of 48

runs.

The run rate never really moved up from there, with the home team losing their last six wickets for just 60 runs.

Matthews removed Lashuna Toussaint (18) and Akaze Thomspon (2), Melanie Henry (1), and Cherry Ann Fraser without scoring. Tremayne Smartt made 19 towards the back end of the innings.

The run chase started poorly for the visitors, losing both openers Danielle Small and Matthews, along with Kyshona Knight, at 28-3.

The pace-spin combination right from the start proved fruitful for the Guyanese as left-arm seamer Erva Giddings (2-52) bowled Small (4) before off-spinner Grimmond (2-23) had the dangerous Matthews (11) taken on the lone-off boundary, and Knight for two.

However, Kycia Knight and Dottin stabilised the chase in an attacking

fourth-wicket stand. The pair added 91 runs in 11.4 overs, and took the game completely away from the hosts.

Knight made 45 off 45 balls, counting eight boundaries before she was caught and bowled off Thompson (1-38).

Giddings then returned for a second spell and immediately removed Aaliyah Alleyne (0), at 121-5. But at the other end, Dottin continued unperturbed to reach her fifty off just 37 balls.

The 27-year-old Dottin and Charlene Taitt (12 not out) then confirmed the formality with an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 43 runs.

The final round is billed for tomorrow. Guyana will play Windward Islands at GCC, Leeward Islands face Jamaica at Providence while Barbados play Trinidad and Tobago at Enmore to determine the winners.

Lights green for today’s first round of Drag Racing at South Dakota

THE stage is set for today’s first round of the National Drag Racing championship 2019.

Set for the South Dakota Circuit Timehri, the first instalment will take place on the newly constructed launch pad.

After months of talk, the new pad was completed late last week with several cars having a chance to test the surface.

The pad is hailed as a major infrastructural installation for the Rameez Mohamed administration and today’s drag will be historic in that regard.

Another first for the sport will be the fact that the club will host its first full quarter-mile drag race as against the regular 1 000ft that has taken place in the past.

The extension of the strip means that times will increase for cars (IE, a 10-second car may now do 11 or 12 seconds) but it will allow more level competition.

Cars will also have a chance to record a time equivalent to that of international quarter-miles, especially since the laying

of track bite, a substance which allows high horse-power cars to put down their power more effectively.

Meanwhile, late into yesterday afternoon, cars and bikes were seen testing the pad and the quarter-mile facility as they get ready for a day of action today.

Feedback from many indicated that both the launch pad and the extended strip are a drastic change to the norm but it is also welcome.

Ticket prices for fans desirous of witnessing the action will be $1 000 for adults, $500 for children, while there are VIP seats available at $4 000.

The sponsors for the event include Mohamed’s Enterprise, BM Soat Auto Sales, Motor Trend Service Centre, Delco Ice Factory, Trans-Pacific Motor Spares, Supreme Ventures, Air Services Limited, PowerLine Auto, Cyril’s Taxi, Omega Brokers, E-Networks, Prem’s Electrical, Miracle Optical, Choke Gas Station and Super Bet, R. Kissoon Contracting Services, Hand-in-Hand Insurance and Top Brandz Distributors.

Danns, Welshman send Guyana to the

‘Gold Cup’! ..take out Belize 2-1 at the National Track and Field Centre last night 25 PAGE

Golden Jaguars Captain Sam Cox celebrates!

Defender Ronayne Marsh-Brown and Neil Danns in tears with the ‘Golden Arrow Head’ following their 2 – 1 win over Belize to advance to the Gold Cup (Photos by Carl Croker)

Skerritt urges time to Ninvalle takes AMBC change course at CWI vice-president elections today 30 position PAGE

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GBA boss Steve Ninvalle elected a vice-president of AMBC. SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2019