Guyana chronicle e paper 04 11 2018

WEDNESDAY 11th April, 2018

No.105241

US$15M may not be enough – to cover legal fees in Guyana-Venezuela case, says Greenidge

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GGMC staffers want gold board to move PAGE

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Gov’t intervenes on behalf of 12 Mae’s parents PAGE

Senior CARICOM custom officials as they knuckled down to business here on Tuesday at a capacity-building workshop at the CARICOM Secretariat (Photo by Delano Williams)

Four youths held with unlicensed firearms 24 PAGE

Guyana must get own – Canadian study law school

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Leadership conference targets headteachers countrywide – to help them become more proactive

By Lisa Hamilton SEEKING to address the needs and challenges of the education system, the Ministry of Education has launched a three-day Education Leadership Conference targeting headteachers nationwide.

The event is being organised by the Ministry, through the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) and began at the Roraima Duke Lodge on Monday.

Head teachers in attendance from all ten administrative regions will receive leadership skills training on

how to improve communication, overcome challenges, achieve and set goals and fulfil their truest potential.

The sessions will be guided by a panel of facilitators, who will aid discussions in keeping with the theme, ‘Leading schools in a changing world and the challenges change brings with holding people to account’.

Attending the opening ceremony were Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry; Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson; Director of NCERD, Jennifer Cumberbatch and the heads of several other organisations.

In his welcoming re-

marks, Hutson said that the conference will also help to prepare head teachers to be more proactive, to better prioritize their time and to effectively create positive changes in the minds of the future.

He added that people are the most important component of any system, and as such every opportunity for personal development should be capitalized upon.

“We at the Ministry of Education believe that you have what it takes to be the change we want to see and that this why you are here today. It is therefore obligatory that you remain focused, absorb every bit of information that will be shared with you today and, more importantly, seek to transfer what you will learn to the classroom and to all those who are under your sphere of influence,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister Henry said that the training is a part of the ministry’s mandate to close the gaps in leadership and will provide teachers with information on leadership theories, concepts and approaches.

She added that apart from fostering improvement in communication, the training will encourage the formations of professional relations between leaders and subordinates for greater and collective accomplishments.

“This leadership conference will set the pace for the much-needed change in education today. We have a great opportunity at this time through this conference for growth, exploration, learning and development,” she said.

Education was established as the highest funded sector within the national budget which Henry says is

Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry speaks on the Government’s focus on education (Photo by Adrian Narine)

testament to the importance the Government places on the future.

She then encouraged the head teachers to engage in networking for the sharing of

best practices as they assist in moving the education system forward to the level it ought to be.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

US$15M may not be enough – to cover legal fees in Guyana-Venezuela case, says Greenidge

By Ariana Gordon NO part of the US$15M set aside by the Guyana government to pay the legal team representing it at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy has been used.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge during a media briefing at his office on Tuesday, said, “The decision of Cabinet was that US$15M of that amount was for the payment of the lawyers.”

The government received a US$18M signing bonus from U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil in 2016 and that money has since been placed in an Escrow account at the Bank of Guyana. The US$15M of that amount has been allocated to pay for legal services related to the ICJ case.

Late last month, Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters at a post-Cabinet press briefing that the signing bonus received from ExxonMobil will be placed in the Consolidated Fund at an appropriate time.

He said the signing bonus represents money that belongs to Guyana and will not be used to pay anyone, unless deposited into the Consolidated Fund.

“That bonus, wherever it is, will be placed into the Consolidated Fund and it is from that fund that any team whatsoever would be paid; whether they work before or after, it is from the Consolidated Fund these funds will come from,” said Harmon.

Guyana two weeks ago submitted its application to the ICJ requesting the court to confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award regarding the

boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.

However, Greenidge told reporters that while the Cabinet has agreed for the US$15M to be utilised for the payment of legal and associated fees, that sum may very well be insufficient. That however, is dependent on the work to be done by the legal team.

“So the US$15M may not be adequate; the US$15 may be more than is needed for the moment that is, what it is. The Cabinet’s decision was that, as the need arises each year, the money will be transferred to the Consolidated Fund from the Special Account in which it is held to meet the estimated expenditure on the lawyers.”

Greenidge explained that though Guyana has submitted its application to the ICJ, citizens need to understand that the entire process could take as much as six years. As such, to quantify the amount government is likely to spend on the process would be mere speculation at this stage.

“As I said to you, the process could take anywhere between two to six years and in those circumstances it is not possible for me to say to you, this is what it will cost; I can’t tell you that. I don’t know.

The lawyers themselves don’t know, because they don’t know what they will be called upon by the court to do,” the foreign affairs minister stated.

Given the aforementioned, when necessary, Finance Minister Winston Jordan will approach the National Assembly requesting supplementary funds for the payment of those who provide services. Meanwhile, Greenidge cautioned that while an application has been made to the ICJ on the matter, the process can be a

long one.

“It is a long process, difficult process… this is the first time that a referral to the court has gone from the secretary-general in this way,” he said, while noting that the court will hold public hearings and so the public would be privy to those.

The minister made it clear that Guyana has to be very careful in how it treats with the matter as if there is a breach of protocol, it could be found in contempt of court; something he said Guyana cannot afford.

He explained that the ICJ may refrain from hearing the case put before it by Guyana if it is found that it has no jurisdiction to hear the matter or that there is an established mechanism by which the matter before it has been addressed. There are however, other circumstances that could result in the court refusing to hear the matter.

TRICKY “We as a people are at a point that is a little tricky.

Yes, the matter is before the court. We have to fight the matter before the court – what comes out of the court will depend upon what we do and what Venezuela does,” said Greenidge.

The minister noted that while Venezuela’s position on the matter is unclear, the ICJ has already invited the country to respond to Guyana’s application. Once the ICJ goes ahead with hearing the case, Guyana will be called to submit further arguments in support of its contention.

Venezuela will be given an opportunity to respond.

Guyana in its application to the ICJ dated March 29, 2018 has requested the court

among other things to confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the award regarding the boundary between British Guiana and the United States of Venezuela of October 3, 1899.

Additionally, Guyana called on the court to declare that Guyana enjoys full sovereignty over the territory between the Essequibo River and the boundary established by the 1899 Award and 1905 Agreement; that Venezuela should immediately withdraw from and cease its occupation of the eastern half of Ankoko Island, and every other territory recognised as Guyana’s and to have Venezuela refrain from threatening or using force against any person, company licensed by Guyana to engage in economic or commercial activities in Guyana’s territory.

Guyana also wants to declare Venezuela as responsible for violations of Guyana’s sovereignty and sovereign rights and for all injuries suffered by Guyana as a consequence.

“Pursuant to the Treaty of Arbitration between Great Britain and the United States of Venezuela, signed February 2, 1897 at Washington, the 1899 Award was ‘a full, perfect, and final settlement’ of all questions relating to determining the boundary line between the colony of British Guiana and Venezuela,” Guyana’s application states.

Further, Guyana contends that between November 1900 and June 1904, an Anglo-Venezuelan Boundary Commission identified, demarcated and permanently fixed the boundary established by the 1899 Award.

On January 10, 1905, the commissioners signed a joint

Leadership conference targets...

One of the main facilitators of the leadership conference is Director of the LEAD Curriculum Company, Dennise Hilliman who also delivered remarks.

She told the gathering that conference must be a “symbiotic experience” as its organizers aim to impact change in leadership, curriculum and accountability.

Hilliman commended the Ministry of Education, Minster Henry and the Director of NCERD for utilizing dif-

ferent tactics for the improvement of school leaders.

Encouraging the head teachers, she said: “This conference is laying the foundation for our schools to respond to regional, national and international changes… let us all take full advantage of the opportunity this conference experience presents.

“The future of our education system will be bright not just for you, but for everyone that will follow you as a leader.”

Other facilitators who will sit on the panel include: Country Manager of Scotia Bank Guyana, Raymond Smith; International Business Consultant, Rosh Khan; Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith; and Regional Coordinator and Technical Adviser on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) at CARICOM, Jennifer Britton.

declaration and accompanying maps in accordance with the 1899 Award.

“At all times following the 1899 Award and 1905 Agreement, until the independence of Guyana in 1966, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland accepted that the Award and the Agreement finally settled all territorial claims and permanently fixed the land boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela.”

Guyana argues that at all times since its independence in May 1966, it has accepted the 1899 Award and 1905 Agreement as valid and legally binding on both Guyana as successor to the United Kingdom and Venezuela, and that the boundary has always been and remains that which was fixed by the 1899 Award and 1905 Agreement.

“For its part, between 1899 and 1962, Venezuela consistently and repeatedly expressed its unconditional acceptance of the legal validity and binding force of the 1899 Award and 1905 Agreement, and respected the boundary with British Guiana that was fixed thereby,” Guyana’s application states.

CHANGE OF POSITION However, Venezuela changed its position in 1962, as the United Kingdom was making final preparations for the independence of British Guiana.

“Sixty-three years after the 1899 Award was issued, Venezuela formally asserted for the first time that the Award was ‘arbitrary’ and therefore ‘null and void’,” Guyana stated while noting that Venezuela threatened not to recognise the new state, or its boundaries unless the United Kingdom agreed to set aside the 1899 Award and 1905 Agreement and cede to it

(Venezuela) all of the territory west of the Essequibo River which was awarded to British Guiana in 1899.

Negotiations between the UK and Venezuela led to an agreement to resolve the controversy between the two countries. That agreement was signed at Geneva on February 17, 1966 and is referred to as the Geneva Agreement. It provides for recourse to a series of dispute-settlement mechanisms to finally resolve the controversy. Guyana acceded to the Geneva Agreement after gaining independence on May 26, 1966.

Guyana and Venezuela had for more than 50 years after signing the Geneva Agreement failed to resolve the controversy. “Throughout this period, until the present day, Guyana’s sovereignty, security, and development have been jeopardised by Venezuela’s refusal to recognise the long-settled boundary, and its claim to more than two=thirds of Guyana’s land territory, which is home to more than one-quarter of Guyana’s population.

Guyana maintains that Venezuela has never produced evidence to justify its “belated repudiation of the 1899 Award”. By virtue of the Geneva Agreement, which authorises the UN Secretary-General to decide which means of dispute settlement must be employed to end the controversy, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres determined that the Good Offices Process failed to achieve a peaceful settlement of the controversy. Between 1990 and January 2018, Guyana has been involved in several processes, all of which failed.

Nearly 52 years after the signing of the Geneva Agreement, the SG decided that the controversy shall be settled by the ICJ.

From page 2

Headteachers at the first day of the Education Leadership Conference at the Roraima Duke Lodge (Photo by Adrian Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Facebook shares rise sharply as Zuckerberg deters regulation talk FACEBOOK Inc shares posted their biggest daily gain in nearly two years on Tuesday as Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg fended off questions from U.S. senators on how the world’s largest social network might be regulated more closely.

Zuckerberg repeated apologies made on Monday for a range of problems that have beset Facebook, from data privacy to foreign attempts to influence U.S. elections, but the 33-year-old internet mogul managed to deter any specific talk about new laws and made no new promises.

“I’ll have my team follow up with you so that way we can have this discussion across the different categories where I think this discussion

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg needs to happen,” Zuckerberg told a joint hearing by the U.S. Senate’s Commerce and Judiciary committees, when asked what regulations

he thought were necessary.

He denied that Facebook, which has more than 2 billion monthly users across the world, was a monopoly.

“It certainly doesn’t feel that way to me,” Zuckerberg said.

Wearing a dark suit and tie instead of his typical T-shirt and jeans, Zuckerberg appeared largely unruffled as senators questioned him.

Investors welcomed his performance.

“Zuckerberg is conciliatory in his presentation,” said Mariann Montagne, portfolio manager at Gradient Investments in Arden Hills, Minnesota. “The stock is running up on his comments. Maybe people like seeing Zuckerberg in a suit.”

Facebook shares closed up 4.5 percent at $165.04, their highest level in almost

three weeks. It was their largest daily gain since April 28, 2016.

The shares fell steeply last month after it came to light that millions of users’ personal information was harvested from Facebook

by Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy that has counted U.S. President Donald Trump’s election campaign among its clients. The latest estimate of affected users is up to 87 million.

CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE That disclosure pitched Facebook into a crisis of confidence among users, advertisers, employees and investors who were already struggling with Facebook’s reaction to fake news and

its role in the 2016 election.

Facebook disclosed in September that Russians under fake names used the social network to try to influence U.S. voters in the months before and after the 2016 election, writing about inflammatory subjects, setting up events and buying ads.

“We believe it is entirely possible that there will be a connection there,” Zuckerberg said when asked if there was overlap between Cambridge Analytica’s harvested user data and the political propaganda pushed by the Kremlin-linked Internet Research Agency during the 2016 presidential election, which Facebook has said was seen by some 126 million people.

In February, U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who

is investigating possible links between Russia and Trump’s campaign, charged 13 Russians and three Russian companies with interfering in the election by sowing discord on social media.

On Tuesday, Zuckerberg said he believed Facebook employees have been interviewed by Mueller’s office.

Zuckerberg, who founded Facebook in his Harvard University dorm room in 2004, is fighting to prove to critics that he is the right person to go on leading what has grown into one of the world’s largest companies.

On Friday, Zuckerberg threw his support behind proposed legislation requiring social media sites to disclose the identities of buyers of online political campaign ads. (Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Trump abandons Latin America trip US President Donald Trump has cancelled his first official trip to Latin America to focus on the issue of a suspected chemical attack in Syria.

He will remain in Washington to “oversee the American response to Syria”, the White House said.

Meanwhile, the global chemical weapons watchdog has said it will send a fact-finding team to the site in Douma.

Medical sources say dozens were killed in the alleged attack there, but exact numbers are impossible to verify.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said a team would deploy to Syria “shortly”.

It comes after Syria and its military backer, Russia, both said they wanted to facilitate a visit by inspectors.

Syria denies being behind any chemical attack.

At the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, Russia, as expected, vetoed a US proposal for a new panel to investigate and apportion blame for chemical attacks in Syria. A previous panel ended in November after Russia used its veto to stop it being renewed.

US Vice-President Mike Pence will travel in President Trump’s place for the Latin America trip, which begins in Peru for the Summit of the Americas.

Mr Trump has promised a “forceful” response, and has spoken of numerous military options. His Defence Secretary, James Mattis, has also cancelled travel plans this week.

Last April, after a Sarin

nerve agent attack killed more than 80 people in a Syrian opposition-held town, Mr Trump ordered the firing of dozens of cruise missiles at a Syrian government air base from US Navy ships in the Mediterranean.

It was the first direct US military action against forces commanded by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Since Saturday’s incident, Washington has been in discussion with Britain and France, raising the prospect of co-ordinated Western military action.

A US Navy guided-missile destroyer, the USS Donald Cook, is in the Mediterranean.

Mr Trump’s decision to cancel his Latin America trip suggests the US response may involve a larger military operation than a limited strike, says the BBC’s Barbara Plett Usher in Washington.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that if military action was taken, it would target “the regime’s chemical capabilities”, and not the forces of its allies Russia or Iran. Speaking in Paris, he said he did “not want an escalation” and that a decision would be made in the coming days.

The information that France has shows “that chemical weapons were indeed used and that the regime could clearly be held responsible”, Mr Macron added.

The US and France have not released evidence to support their assessments of the alleged attack.

Neither the death toll nor what exactly occurred can be verified as the area is blocked

off, with access denied.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to President Trump and President Macron in separate calls on Tuesday.

Mrs May and Mr Trump had condemned Mr Assad’s “vicious disregard for human life” and “agreed not to allow the use of chemical weapons to continue”, the White House said.

Russia has warned at the

UN Security Council that US military action could have “grave repercussions”.

Syrian opposition activists, rescue workers and medics allege that bombs filled with toxic chemicals were dropped on Douma, in the Eastern Ghouta region, near the capital Damascus, by Syrian government forces.

The Syrian-American

Medical Society said more than 500 people were brought to medical centres with symptoms “indicative of exposure to a chemical agent”.

It said this included breathing difficulties, bluish skin, mouth foaming, corneal burns and “the emission of chlorine-like odour”.

The estimates of how many people died in the suspected chemical attack range

from 42 to more than 60 people, but medical groups say numbers could rise as rescue workers gain access to basements where hundreds of families had sought refuge from bombing.

The French representative at the UN Security Council said poison gas had deliberately been used as it could seep down to the basements. (BBC)

20 dead in Brazil prison breakout bid A number of inmates at a jail in the northern Brazilian city of Belem have died during an attempted mass breakout.

They were aided by an armed group outside the jail which used explosives against one of the prison walls.

One guard died, as well as 19 prisoners and those helping them from outside.

The fighting, at the Santa Izabel Prison Complex outside Para’s state capital, had been as intense as in warfare, the Para state security service said in a statement.

Four other guards were injured, including one seriously.

The security service

Prison guards took on attackers from both inside and outside the prison said the prison guards took on attackers from both inside and outside the prison.

The authorities are now

trying to determine if any of the prisoners managed to escape.

Last year 56 people

were killed in an uprising in a prison in the city of Manaus in Brazil’s Amazon region.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Tackling child abuse

THE issue of sex is still somewhat of a taboo subject in Guyana, and rarely one would find parents discussing it with their children. As such, children and adolescents are left to figure out and explore on their own what sex is.

It is not surprising, therefore, why we have numerous cases of unreported sexual abuse. Most incidents occur in the family, so the abuse is either buried deep or parents and guardians refuse to believe the victim.

Many parents do not want their child labelled as a survivor of sexual abuse, and make the decision to deal with it privately, rather than involve law enforcement.

When that decision is made, most often the abuser is emboldened to repeat the behaviour, while he or she, unfortunately, remains anonymous.

In this regard, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) has a huge challenge in reaching out to victims, given that its Director, Ann Greene, had admitted that there aren’t enough officers in each region.

We’ve all heard and read the horror stories of children being raped or touched inappropriately, either by their fathers, close

relatives, or a family-friend. And most of these victims are girls.

Last month, the CPA reported that Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) had recorded the highest cases of child abuse, with some 22.1 per cent in 2017. Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) was tagged at second with 20.6 per cent, with Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) coming in third at 17.6 per cent.

The CPA Director had also observed that the most common form of reported child abuse is neglect, for which Region Ten recorded some 12. 0 per cent.

While Regions One, Eight and Nine did not record any child neglect cases, those regions recorded high rates of child sexual abuses. “All the regions have recorded sexual abuse, so it’s right across the country. But if you look at where the hurt is for children, it’s in the home. In the place where they should be loved the most, they are being hurt. Mothers are the main perpetrators and fathers,” Greene explained.

She noted that these statistics are not reflective of an increase in child abuse,

but rather is attributed to the multimedia child abuse awareness campaign that was launched by the CPA last year. “…There are more channels to report and persons are more willing to talk about child abuse, but there is still too much silence, particularly on childhood sexual abuse which is done behind closed doors and victims are without a voice,” Greene explained.

She also urged a ‘change’ in adult behaviour and attitudes towards children, noting that the Ministry of Social Protection cannot do it alone.

In 2016, the ministry had also received a total of 118 reports of boys being molested, and according to the statistics, the majority of boys suffering from abuse in all of its forms are between the ages of eight and 13.

We, like Ms Greene, believe that the task of addressing sexual abuse in a holistic manner should not rest solely on the shoulders of the CPA; that it requires the collaborative effort of all stakeholders, including the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the religious community.

An aggressive sensitisation campaign on

sexual abuse is needed if the issue is to be tackled effectively; visits to various schools, especially in the hinterland areas, are a must.

It should not be ignored that parents play an important role in this regard and evidence shows that they are often the first to identify signs that something is seriously wrong with their child, but with the evolution of technology, mobile phones, social media and apps have become a major connection between children and abusers.

The role of parents in safeguarding is much harder, because of the difficulties of controlling these media, which are used by sexual abusers to coerce, manipulate, threaten, control, flatter and entice children. As such, we believe that as a society, we should help parents and guardians understand their responsibility to teach their children how to protect themselves from predators. Parents need to recognise that the responsibility to impart this critical information belongs only to them and no one else.

Other appropriate adults can reinforce, remind, and be supportive of the parental process, but the responsibility rests with the parents.

Guyana-New York group launches campaign –to stamp out domestic violence here

Dear Editor,

THE Guyana Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee (New York Chapter) on Tuesday launched a campaign to stamp out domestic violence in Guyana.

The campaign’s theme is “STAMP IT OUT AND SAVE LIVES!” We have written to President David Granger and all Members of Parliament advocating that the Domestic Violence Act be amended to include new law enforcement, social services and judicial measures, enumerated herein, to combat the domestic violence epidemic.

The high incidence of women being murdered by their spouses should alarm every Guyanese. Domestic violence knows no gender. Although this atrocity is a significant cause of death among women, men are also victims.

Neither is it limited to violence against a spouse or partner; it includes violence against every member of a household. Our campaign, therefore, seeks to cultivate a culture that rejects all forms of domestic violence and abuse.

Hence, there must be uniform, across-theboard rejection of domestic violence against both women and men.

Recently, there was warranted, voluble

public outrage against Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Captain Orwain Sandy, who allegedly shot and killed his spouse, Ms. Reona Payne.

Concurrently, however, were saturating news reports that Anita Nazeema Khan and an accomplice were convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Khan’s husband, Mr. Abdool Shakeel Majid. Reaction to this gruesome murder, however, was mute. We must eschew double standards on this issue.

Recently, the wife of the then sitting police commissioner allegedly made a police report against him for alleged domestic violence.

That report was not investigated, and the commissioner continued in office until retirement.

This was a disgraceful failure of the criminal justice system to protect a victim. Unfortunately, this happens every day in Guyana. This campaign is to ensure that society no longer trivialises domestic violence against women, and disregards such violence against men.

This breakdown fails victims, and perpetuates the culture that normalises this criminal conduct.

Our endeavour is to uproot and to reverse this culture. The mission of our campaign is to teach victims to stay positive; get out of abusive relationships; seek help; and See page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Guyana-New York group launches ...

From page 6

always report abuse.

We will lobby the government to amend the Domestic Violence Act to require mandatory charges and prosecutions whenever there is probable cause for an arrest; empower the director of public prosecutions to pursue prosecutions by way of the evidence in cases where victims decline to press charges or testify against abusers; make domestic violence a felony with harsh penalties, including revoking the driver’s licence of individuals convicted of domestic violence; establish a domestic violence bureau in the Guyana Police Force that maintains data on each reported case; and train police officers to investigate such cases.

The amended Act should also establish domestic violence counselling centres and victims’ shelters in all 10 regions; provide for continuous domestic violence awareness campaigns nationwide; teach domestic violence awareness and prevention in schools and throughout society.

We are determined to help fashion a culture that accepts that domestic violence is a serious crime,is not gender-specific, and must be stamped out. If these or similar policies are not enacted by the next general elections, we will introduce this issue into the general election campaign and identify to voters the candidates who bear responsibility for refusing to save lives.

This committee will put its money where its mouth is! We will intensify our media awareness campaign in phases.

We invite all Guyanese to join this campaign by sharing our flyer, and writing letters to President Granger, Cabinet ministers and Members of Parliament, urging that these measures be enacted.

Regards RICKFORD BURKE Chairman

GTUC executive had no knowledge –– of joint statement with FITUG

Dear Editor,

I WOULD like to refer to a story captioned, “GTUC-FITUG rally against move to transfer GuySuCo back to Agri Ministry”, which was published on Page 21 of the 07.04.2018 edition of the Kaieteur News.

I would first like to state that the head of the Guyana Trades Union Congress is Sis Coretta Mc Donald.

Bro Lincoln Lewis is the GTUC general-secretary,a person so appointed by the GTUC executive council to manage its secretariat, to carry out its decisions, and to advise the executive on request or when necessary.

At a joint meeting between the GTUC and FITUG last Friday (06.04.2018) at the GTUC Headquarters, which was

Implement a missing-alert system Dear Editor, SHOCK and anguish are the feelings that erupt across the country when a missing child is found dead.

Fourteen-year-old Akeem Grimond; 13-year-old Leonard Archibald; 14-yearold Malika Hamilton; and nine-year-old Shaquan Gittens are the names and ages of a few of our children who were taken too soon from their families.

They were snatched without a trail, leaving their communities devastated and in fear. Every parent awaits the return of their children with the hope, prayers and belief that they are still breathing. This wasn’t the case for the families of these kids who were found dead after going missing.

Reflecting on the increase of missing persons being killed in our fellow CARICOM nations such as Trinidad and Tobago as well as Jamaica, it is critical for Guyana to implement a missing-persons alert system, drawing from the Amber Alert System that has been successfully utilised by the United Stated of America for the past 11 years.

On February 27, 2017, the Guyana Women Miners Organisation first sent this recommendation to Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, but to no avail.

On March 14, 2018, the GWMO wrote asking Minister Ramjattan to reconsider implementing a missing-alert system.

We strongly believe that the adoption of the proposed system will result in an increase in missing children being found and at a faster pace; deter potential perpetrators; not to mention create a coordinated response from all government agencies, stakeholders and the general public.

The GWMO is grateful that the Vice-President and Minister of Public Security has positively responded in support of the system.

The implementation of this system will aid in the development of a more accurate safety mechanism to protect our nation’s people. The positive change will mitigate the crime rate and distress within the country.

The level of cooperation among our people as the concern and participation of everyone is needed for the success of this system. In this manner, a social change would be enacted.

Regards Guyana Women Miners Organisation

conducted in a very cordial atmosphere, it was agreed and endorsed by both parties that we will do all things together, including our 2018 wreath-laying and May Day activities.

It was also acknowledged that labour has to start speaking with one voice, since it was assumed, whether real or perceived, that labour was under threat in Guyana.

The GTUC Executive, at that meeting, was in total agreement with FITUG that labour’s survival can only be guaranteed through a united labour movement.

Many other things were highlighted and discussed that both organisations com-

mitted to embarking on in partnership, or to the benefit of our general membership, but at no time was the caption aforementioned highlighted or discussed.

Of course, we are concerned and in sympathy with the plight of the retrenched sugar workers and the ensuing challenges faced by the sugar workers’ unions, but it is unfair and very disrespectful for our general-secretary to be making a press release with our sister labour organisation on a very contentious labour issue that has serious national, political and to a great extent, racial implications that the GTUC executive had no knowl-

edge of nor the contents therein.

It would then be safe to assume that the concerns expressed in that press release are the general-secretary’s personal view, to which he is entitled.

Finally, it is my personal view that some of our labour leaders behave as though they are a law unto themselves; they are no longer a servant of the workers or their respective organisations. They operate as though they own them.

Regards EON ANDREWS Vice-President (GTUC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Australian High Commission’s First Secretary pays courtesy call to GPHC THE Australian High Commission’s First Secretary and Consul, Susan Ulrich, paid a courtesy call to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) this morning in an effort to strengthen relations.

The courtesy call included a discussion of the hospital’s procedures with GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Brigadier (ret’d) George Lewis; Chair of the GPHC’s Board, Kesaundra Alves ; Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr. Sheik Amir; Director of Nursing Services, Keith Alonzo, and Public Relations Officer, Mitzy Campbell.

According to Ulrich, the visit will aid her government to better understand what services the GPHC has to offer in the likelihood that Australians or other nationals in Guyana require urgent medical care.

“The most effective way we can deliver services to Australians is for us to understand how systems work in those countries for which we provide coverage and establish relationships, so that we can work with the hospital, the police, the prisons to look after the welfare that may come to their attention” Ulrich stated.

She noted that boosting relations with the varying service

The Australian High Commission’s First Secretary and Consul, Susan Ulrich

services free of cost to the patient.”

In 2016 when the non-resident High Commissioner of Australia to Guyana, John Pilbeam, presented his letter of credence to President David Granger, he had pledged to strengthen relations between the two countries in every area.

Guyana has benefited in the areas of capacity-building, scholarships and joint-aid programmes in other areas from Australia.

The High Commissioner, who is based in Trinidad and Tobago, was recently in Guyana for a meeting with the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman to discuss a number of issues, mainly those related to the oil and gas sector and gold production.

hospital for service, regardless of if the patient is Australian, Guyanese or Norwegian, so we provide

The two nations have shared relations since 1973. (DPI)

Chair of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Board, Kesaundra Alves, presenting a small token of appreciation to the Australian High Commission’s First Secretary and Consul, Susan Ulrich

heads has already been proven to help in many cases. She was also advised of the various processes for payment, insurance, and travel arrangements.

CEO of GPHC, Brigadier (ret’d) George Lewis pointed out

The delegation during discussions

that the medical facility has the “responsibility to treat each and every patient who reports to this

Upgrades to regional hospitals proposed to ease overcrowding at Indigenous Residence WHILE the government has been expending millions of dollars to address overcrowding at the Indigenous Residence at Princess Street, Georgetown, the Administrator Clarie Emanuel, believes that the issues will only be fully resolved once the regional hospitals are fully equipped to ease the number of referrals at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Most of the persons at the residence are seeking medical attention in Georgetown; these include post-natal and pre-natal mothers.

Emanuel told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that “once they (regional hospitals) are equipped with the necessary equipment to deal with some of these issues, and have adequate doctors and personnel, this will ease the number of indigenous persons travelling to Georgetown.”

Administrator of the Indigenous Residence, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Clarie Emanuel

Last year, the government signed a US$17.5M line of credit with the Export/Import (EXIM) Bank of India to upgrade primary health care facilities in the country. The funds are to be utilised for the refurbishing of existing facilities and the construction of new buildings at the Suddie Hospital in Region Two, the West

Demerara Regional Hospital, and the Bartica District Hospital in Region Seven. It will also be used to procure medical equipment to furnish the new and renovated facilities.

However, Emanuel, who has been employed at the facility for the past four years, noted that since the government took office, it has been placing a lot of emphasis on the facility, ensuring that persons are comfortable during their stay.

She explained that last year, the building was given a much-needed facelift. This included an extension to the building and the rehabilitation of dormitories and the maternity sections; it also included the replacement of windows and other minor works. The building was also repainted and the vending section concreted.

Additionally, this year, the sum of $20M was allocated for further extensions

to the building to accommodate four additional rooms for Toshaos travelling to Georgetown to conduct Village Council business.

“The tender document is out and once the bidding process is completed and the contract awarded, I am hoping the process would start very soon,” Emanuel said.

Built in late 1960, the Indigenous Residence, formally known as the Amerindian

Hostel, was constructed to accommodate 120 persons at any one time. However, the building currently houses close to 130 persons.

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, recently told the DPI that in the long term, the government may have to look at a new building, given the growing indigenous population.

“It is a work in progress

and we are hoping that we can bring some relief to the residents of the hinterland. It is going to continue in that frame until we find a better solution”.

In 2017 alone, the facility provided accommodation, transportation, and meals for 2,153 persons seeking medical attention or conducting business in Georgetown and farther afield.

The Indigenous Residence on Princes Street, Georgetown

Guyana must get own law school – Canadian study GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

By Ariana Gordon THE Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) in its final report following a survey of legal education in CARICOM member states, dated February 2018 has recommended among other things that law schools be established in Guyana, and two other Caribbean states.

“New law schools should be set up as soon as possible as part of Utech in Jamaica, UG in Guyana and possibly in Antigua and Barbuda, principally, but not exclusively, for the nonUWI LL.B. degree graduates whose degrees are deemed by the Council to meet the equivalency standard of the UWI LL.B. degree,” the report stated.

Additionally, the recommendations which stem from a survey conducted in Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, said the opening of additional law schools under the aegis of the Council for Legal Education (CLE) as is presently constituted will not solve the problems facing law students across the Region.

According to the document, the establishment of additional regional law schools in the three jurisdictions under the CLE would provide an early mechanism for addressing the unsatisfied demand for access to practice law by the many persons who are holders of non-University of the West Indies (UWI) LLB degrees.

“It would also ensure that region-wide, the highest standards of legal education are maintained,” the report said.

Annually, approximately 25 Guyanese law students are accepted and admitted to the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), in Trinidad to complete their Legal Education Certificate (LEC) - a pre-requisite to practice law in the region. This figure is

pale in comparison to the hundreds of students who graduate each year from Trinidad and Jamaica.

“It is therefore recommended that as a matter of urgency, discussions be held with the government of Guyana with a view to establishing a law school that would be regulated and licensed by the Council in its new proposed role,” the report stated.

Law School of the Americas (LCA) and the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) and will add to the existing options available to holders of a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), and who intend to pursue their Legal Education Certificate (LEC).

The project comes after some two decades of lobbying for an alternative to the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica, the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago and the Eugene Dupuch Law School in The Bahamas.

A PRESSING NEED Additionally, the document states that the proposal to establish a law school in Guyana outside of the Treaty arrangements “only serves to underscore the pressing need for the Council to rethink its role and function, particularly given that other jurisdictions have also signaled their intention to set up law schools outside of the legal framework of the Council if the issue of access to practice law in the region is not addressed in a comprehensive and meaningful and timely manner.”

On Monday, Guyana’s Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams disclosed that the tuition for Guyanese students attending the HWLS has increased to TT$$97,000 or just over G$3M. Students are still forced to find additional sums to obtain accommodation and maintain themselves while in the twin-island republic where the cost of living is relatively high. The report noted that the problems will continue to exist if large numbers of students continue to graduate from the UWI faculties of law with right of automatic entry and little space is left for non-UWI LL.B. holders.

Guyana is in the process of establishing its own law school, to be named after outstanding jurist Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence (JOF) Haynes Law School and is to be situated at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus.

The JOF Haynes Law School is being established through a Public-Private Partnership between the Government of Guyana, the

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Meanwhile, Williams explained that Guyana’s push for a law school is also grounded in the findings and recommendations of the Canadian-funded IMPACT Justice Project survey. “So we are bolstered by that…We really need a law school in Guyana,” said the Attorney General.

The report also recommended that the CLE shifts its focus from managing law schools to a regional accreditation entity and licensor of law schools existing or to come.

In this way, “it [CLE] will be required to focus on the quality of qualifications as opposed to whether they are attained regionally or extra-regionally, an approach which is consistent with the globalized environment in which today’s legal practitioner operates.”

The IMPACT Justice report noted too that the opening of additional law schools under the CLE may be a stop gap measure while the role of the CLE is re-examined and changed.

“However, also as soon as possible, the CLE should commence planning to assume the role and functions of regulator, licensor and accreditation body of regional law school providers existing and perspective, following the Kenya and New Zealand models,” the report stated; a move which Guyana Attorney General welcomes.

It was also recommended that discussions be held with the CARICOM Secretariat, UWI or other regional organisations with regard to providing a temporary home for the accreditation body.

Moreover the report noted that in Guyana there are insufficient specialists in the areas of energy, law pertaining to agriculture, Intellectual Property, and Oil and Gas.

STATUS AND RELEVANCE The objective of the survey conducted in 2016 was to consider the status and relevance of the current legal education system and the extent to which it meets the needs of the respective Commonwealth Caribbean societies, culminating in the crafting of recommendations designed to improve access.

Meanwhile, the findings and recommendations contained in the report have also received support from ACSEAL (The Association of Caribbean Students for Equal Access to the Legal Profes-

sion).

In a statement to the media, the organisation said it along with regional partners is impressed by the research and recommendations made in the Report “as it is suggestive of positive change regarding the now systemic and institutionalised problem of ‘Discrimination in Legal Education and Access to the Legal Profession’.

9 The body notes that the issue directly affects thousands of regional students and is an impediment to the further development of the Region’s legal systems and society.

“We remain sensitive to the fact that thousands of students/citizens throughout CARICOM are becoming increasingly agitated and disenfranchised by this injustice, and so it is imperative that our leaders approach this matter with urgency and diligence required for a speedy and sustainable resolution of this matter,” the statement said.

ACSEAL said it looks forward to continuing the dialogue on the subject with all stakeholders with the hope also that the July 2018 CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Jamaica will see CARICOM leaders deliberating extensively on the matter.

Limit cash at borders 10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

–– to curb revenue leakage, senior CARICOM official suggests

By Navendra Seoraj

ASSISTANT Secretary-General of the Trade and Economic Integration Directorate of the CARICOM Secretariat, Joseph Cox, believes that customs officials should look at introducing quantitative limits on cash at borders.

This, he suggested, can curb leakage of revenues which is a serious matter affecting CARICOM member states.

Cox suggested the option to senior customs officials from CARICOM member states at the launch of the final

evaluation of the regional Single Administrative Document (SAD) and Capacity Building on Customs Valuation threeday workshop held at the CARICOM Secretariat on Tuesday.

“I suggest that one of the areas you look at is for member states to do further monitoring of cash at borders… a solution to this is to look at the introduction of quantitative limits on cash that is being used at the border, because far too much informalities obtain at that level,” he said.

He referred to a recent observation which revealed that almost $800

million in cash was passing through some borders every day, which translated to a courier charge and so forth of $56 million a week.

“With that amount of cash you might run into some challenges; I urge as we look at this, SAD, we spare a few moments and look at some of the other issues, because it might help us,” said Cox. Although his suggestion was not an initial topic for discussion at the workshop, it did form part of CARICOM’s expectation to help customs officials develop a clearer understanding of how to implement policy guide-

lines that are effective at reducing revenue leakage.

In addition to cash at borders, he said customs authorities across the Region suggested that non-compliance among traders to declare true and correct values is the single biggest cause of revenue leakage, with a conservative estimate of 20 per cent projected revenue being lost every year.

The assistant secretary-general reminded participants that the trading environment will continue to evolve as the community seeks to deepen the integration process. Therefore, trade facilitation should

Assistant Secretary-General of the Trade and Economic Integration Directorate of the CARICOM Secretariat Joseph Cox, addressing participants on Tuesday (Delano Williams photo)

The delegates and CARICOM officials take a light photo moment before heading into their discussions (Delano Williams photo) be shifted to a high level of priority on the regional trade agenda.

HARMONISED APPROACHES In keeping with CARICOM’s vision of full economic integration and its obligation under the CARIFORUMEuropean Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement, Cox believes that it is critical to adopt harmonised approaches for conducting trade across borders.

Participants were advised that Article 95 of the revised treaty of Chaguaramas provides a legal ground for regional cus-

toms administrations to apply harmonised laws, procedures and best practices which will result in increased predictability with intra-regional movement of goods.

CARICOM has taken its cue from the “going into effect” of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (FTA) for which member states have started finalising their category B and C commitments, said Cox said.

“Their approval of the model Harmonised Customs Bill and Regulations in September 2016, and advanced work in devel-

oping a CARICOM Customs Procedure Manual, along with the signing last month of a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Customs Organisation, CARICOM, and by extension CARIFORUM has opened doors for the future landscape of trade,” the assistant secretary-general explained, adding that SAD, which will be evaluated at the workshop, is an integral part of their advancement.

The regional workshop which started on Tuesday is aimed at b u ild in g cap acity in CARIFORUM states and is part of a project under the ACP TradeCom II programme which is funded by the EU. It is being facilitated by Paul Hilaire, team leader, and Martin Wilde, customs expert.

Adam Vesinefski, First Secretary, Trade Affairs Manager of the European Union Delegation to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM, said SAD is a crucial step to achieving a real- life single common market economy that enhances the Region’s attractiveness not only to the EU, but other state partners.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Region 8 infrastructural works progressing

MINISTER of Public Infrastructure (MPI), David Patterson and a team of officials from his ministry recently visited the mining community of Mahdia, in Region Eight, where extensive infrastructural work is being done.

During his visit to the community, Patterson, who was accompanied by a number of MPI officials, including the Permanent Secretary, Kenneth Jordan; Chief Roads and Bridges Officer, Ron Rahaman; and Chief Executive Officer of the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. (HECI), Horace Williams, was able to examine first-hand the varying aspects of infrastructural work completed

Eagle Mountain Foot/Stone Hill to Konawaruk Junction (Phase 1); and rehabilitation of Mile 78 to Cassandra Crossing. These projects are all scheduled to conclude within the coming weeks.

Minister Patterson has indicated that the focus will be turned to the rehabilitation of 10 kilometres of roadway between Cassandra Point and the Denham Bridge. This stretch of road is important, since it serves as a link between Bartica and Mahdia, and works on it could commence in 2019.

“It is our hope to bring greater relief, and so we will be doing another 500 metres of roadway in Region Eight this year,” he said.

Patterson stressed that

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson inspects ongoing works in Mahdia by engineers.

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, and two representatives of his Ministry were also present last Friday, and met with residents of the mining community.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the MPI is currently executing six projects within the region. These are the construction of Mahdia Community Roads; the rehabilitation of roads and drains at the Potaro Main Access Road – Mahdia to Denham Bridge; rehabilitation of roads and drains in Mahdia; rehabilitation and construction of Brian Sucre Junction to Mahdia; rehabilitation and construction of

while his Ministry is keen on providing its help, the regional administration and the private sector also had roles to play in pushing for development within Region Eight.

Meanwhile, before conducting a community walkthrough, the Ministers met with the board of the Mahdia Power & Light (MPL) and its members provided a progress report on the company’s performance for this year thus far, including its income, expenditure, and collection rates. The chairman of the board also highlighted some of the challenges being experienced by the company.

In response, Minister Patterson expressed concern

A recently completed road in Mahdia

over the collection rates, which typically peaked at 70 per cent. It was explained to the MPI team that residents are often in arrears. Minister Patterson emphasised that the MPL is a business and must therefore act as such to improve its reliability and overall service to consumers.

“We cannot have a power company operating as a social service; you will always be in a severe deficit,” Minister Patterson said, adding: “A company operating like this will run into serious problems.” He added that while the goal is not to be unnecessarily hard on residents, it was important to maintain a certain standard where the residents uphold

Ministers of Public Infrastructure, and Business, David Patterson and Dominic Gaskin their responsibilities.

Meanwhile, the ministers also visited the famous Den-

ham Bridge.

The bridge is a point of interest for both ministries

due to its infrastructure, business, development, and tourism potential. (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Gov’t intervenes on behalf of Mae’s parents THE government, through the Ministry of Education, has stepped in to speak with Mae’s Schools following its arbitrary decision to increase school fees by a massive 42 per cent, and its unwillingness to call a meeting with parents.

One parent, Andrea Bryan-Garner, who has set up a Facebook Group called “Mae’s Parents” with some 216 members, has since ap-

plauded the move by the ministry to intervene on behalf of the parents.

On Tuesday, a team from the ministry was led by Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson and comprised Legal Officers Kellyanne Payne-Hercules and Doodmattie Singh and Private School Coordinator and National Parent-Teacher Association Coordinator Nadia Hollingsworth.

Representing the school

were Lucinda McCurdy, Administrator (Ag); Megan Archer, Director - Primary; and Shaundell Beckles, Deputy Director - Primary.

A statement from the ministry said the two sides had a “fruitful” exchange that should see a resolution being arrived at soon that is acceptable both to the school and parents.

In another two weeks, the ministry said the two parties

Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson (second left) with other ministry officials and representatives of Mae’s Schools on Tuesday

will meet again to have another interface on the way forward.

But Bryan-Garner and

others are now pondering whether or not parents should be invited to that meeting.

“I applaud the move by the Ministry of Education to intervene on behalf of parents and even teachers who may be underpaid despite the proposed increases. They have achieved what we could not by having a meeting with the school’s administration.

I think it speaks volumes in terms of the Ministry’s commitment to its role as watchdog for the education sector, whether public or private,” Bryan-Garner told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday.

Bryan-Garner said parents are looking forward to a positive outcome, as well as the passing of the new Education Act and amended legislation that covers consumer protection for persons who choose private schools.

The school, which stood by parents and protested with them against the implementa-

Mae’s parent Andrea Bryan-Garner

tion of VAT some time ago, is now demanding that the very parents pay a whopping 42 per cent increase.

The school’s administrators have refused to call a meeting, resulting in parents staging a protest outside the school’s Third Street, Subryanville premises on Monday.

“No to 42% increase”, “Highway robbery to the max”, “42% increase is unreasonable! We have bills too”, read some of the placards.

Police asking public’s help – identifying man fished out of city trench ONE day after the body of a male of African descent was found in the canal separating the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying it.

The shirtless body of the man, who appears to be in his late 30s, is currently at the Lyken Funeral Parlour Anyone with information leading to the man’s identification is asked to contact the Guyana Police Force on telephone numbers 227-1611, 227-1149, 227-1270, ?227-6940-9, 226-6221, 225-2694, 911 or the nearest Police Station.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

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Beneficiaries hail Guyana Foundation’s transformative work

By Lisa Hamilton REAFFIRMING its commitment to transforming the lives of Guyanese, the Guyana Foundation on Tuesday hosted a press conference and luncheon to shed light on its accomplishments and future projects.

The meeting was held at the New Thriving Restaurant conference room and was attended by its founder, trustees, team members and members of the diplomatic corps.

According to founder, Supriya Singh-Bodden, the Guyana Foundation is a registered charitable trust with the goal of offering skills training courses and mental health training to those most in need.

Three young women, Zohise Harris, Neateefa John and Candacie Calistro were invited to tell their stories of how they became involved with the foundation and how it has helped to transform their lives.

Prior to getting into contact with the foundation, the women said they were hopeless, depressed, had low self-esteem and harboured suicidal thoughts. Guyana now has the second highest rate of suicides in the world.

Several in the audience were moved to tears by the experiences recounted, but were comforted by a message of hope, new-found happiness and transformation which concluded their stories.

Singh-Bodden said Guyana’s serious mental health problem influenced the establishment of the foundation’s Sunrise Centre, which serves to provide support services to at-risk individuals.

The term “sunrise” was chosen as a means of encouraging Guyanese to want to “wake up to see another sunrise.”

In 2016, the first centre was launched in Essequibo and, with additional funding, the foundation hopes to establish other centres on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, in Berbice and in other regions of Guyana.

“We did not know what the impact of this would be.

We did not know if when we opened the gates of that

Sunrise Centre if anyone would come. But what has happened to us is that the community has embraced it fully, it is now their centre,” Singh-Bodden said.

To date, 126 adults have graduated from the centre in Essequibo, 81 police cadets were trained in mental health awareness and over 300 children benefited from after-school and summer school programmes.

Additionally, the Guyana Foundation has in its future projects, plans to introduce sports, drama and dance workshops to remote communities and empowerment projects which target women.

Meanwhile, craft and bakery production are in the pipeline for indigenous villages and are aimed at generating additional incomes to families residing away from the hub of the coastland.

In 2017, Scotia Bank (Guyana) donated US$36,000 to the foundation as part of its Community Programme which Scotiabank Marketing Manager Jennifer Cipriani said she will work towards renewing in the future.

“Listening to the stories [of the women] made me realise that we didn’t just give money, we gave hope to many persons…. I know our contract ends this year and I am definitely going to be applying for funding to support the programme -- at least for the next few years,” she said.

Meanwhile, executive member of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) Eric Phillips, who is also a trustee of the foundation, expressed appreciation to Scotia Bank and others who continue to assist.

Other trustees of the foundation are proprietor of the New Thriving Restaurant Jian Ping Che and Chief Executive Officer of Mings Products and Services Limited, Stanley Ming.

The foundation offers free courses in cosmetology, catering, tailoring, craft, electrical repairs, music, dance, information technology, fabric design, wedding planning, massage techniques, make-up artistry and soap and cream-making.

Members of the Guyana Foundation, the diplomatic corps and Scotiabank (Guyana) at the press conference and luncheon held at the New Thriving Restaurant on Tuesday (Photo by Delano Williams)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

CAL passengers fret over flight cancellation

By Zena Henry GUYANESE continue to stress the need for improved air travel, especially on the profitable Georgetown-New York (GT-NY) route, even as work to upgrade the sector and its supporting facilities continues.

This was the expression of numerous passengers who weighed in on what they called the “blatant disregard” for Guyanese passengers by Trinidad carrier Caribbean Airlines (CAL), after the company cancelled its Sunday flight out of Guyana and reportedly failed to provide

an alternative option for those who urgently needed to return to the US. Warren Figueira, a passenger with CAL, expressed much disappointment over the situation.

In a Facebook post in which he tagged several prominent persons including the Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, Figueira explained that CAL had cancelled its flight out of GT-NY via Trinidad last Sunday and later informed passengers that no other flight would be available until Wednesday April 11.

The man said he was “literally begging” to be

placed on an earlier CAL flight when the airline told him that business-class seats were available, but not until Tuesday and more money would have to be paid for the upgrade.

Figueira noted that CAL never called or emailed him to say that the Sunday flight was cancelled, but he did receive two $300 vouchers from the company, which they refused to accept to help pay for his upgraded seats.

“So how about the $300 x 2 voucher they gave us at the airport? They said we cannot use that!!! So after paying $1,225 per ticket and after they cancelled our From right: Nandani and Sudesh Hemnauth, Crail Taylor and his relative were among the many persons seeking answers at the CAL office on Monday

flight, we have to pay additional [money] to upgrade to get on a flight two days later to get home….They have zero empathy about how your job is being affected, missing work because of their fault,” an upset Figueira stated.

Efforts to contact CAL on these allegations proved futile.

Reacting to the CAL matter, some persons called for a boycotting of the airline, while others called for Guyana to revive its own flag carrier.

“It’s time Guyana get their own plane,” Joyleen Crawford said, while Alana Corbin opined that the only reason Guyanese go through “nonsense” on the GT-NY route is because the choice is extremely limited!

Another person called for government to encourage more airlines on the GT-NY route and to ensure that they do not shortchange Guyanese.

Other persons wanted to see penalties being instituted against airlines that fail to act responsibly to their customers, while some expressed delight at the competition potential carriers such as American Airlines and others would bring to the Guyana market.

Director of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Captain Egbert Field, had told the Guyana Chronicle that American Airlines in Guyana was a good sign in the country’s

improving aviation safety and security capacity.

He indicated that it would also bring competition to the robust Georgetown –New York route.

The Georgetown- New York route though profitable is unstable.

At times, there could be as many as six carriers plying that route and then only two or three carriers could be traversing between the two capitals, mainly regional and US-based carriers.

Given the high profit margin, Guyana has seen many fly-by-night carriers and unscrupulous characters offering services to the flying public. In the end, Guyanese are often left stranded, overcharged and even discriminated against.

Numerous persons were seen seated in the CAL’s Avenue-of- the -Republic office Monday, many awaiting information on their flight.

Some persons were also seeking answers regarding another CAL flight that was also cancelled on Saturday.

Sudesh and Nandani Hemnauth said their CAL flight was cancelled on Saturday and there had been no word as to when they would get a flight out of Guyana.

While they said CAL officials told them the Saturday flight was cancelled because the pilot reported sick, Crail Taylor said he had heard nothing following the cancellation of his Sunday flight.

Oil-fare

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

‘EVER since the likes of Nick Butler from the Financial Times declared, ‘The hottest new prospect for the world’s oil industry is Guyana, spurious flag bearers have emerged to weep for the nation they once sold out for 30 pieces of silver.

Before I proceed, let me make a clear distinction between genuine nationalists who harbour deep love for this country and the patrioteers, those with sinister agendas covered in the veneer of nationalism.

This very familiar group straddles the political divide and includes members of a pre-2015 engineered civil society. They are separate apart from the nationalists. The nationalists must not be ignored, it is nice that we debate the best ideas to exploit this maximum resource to the benefit of all Guyanese and the government of the day must be receptive to best advice from this camp, since we all know no government is omniscient, no government has a monopoly on ideas. This column has no business with constructive critics and organic civil society vis-à-vis the oil debate/discussion.

The word oil-fare is a play on the word warfare which means an engagement in war or conflict. Since it was announced that Guyana is on the precipice of being an established oil-producing nation, this issue has become very emotive, the national debate and discussions have been so acrimonious that it sometimes seems like warfare, hence the title

of this column. Beneath the facade of this new-found care, there lies selfish, personal and ill-boding enterprises. The engagements are sharp, the criticisms are venomous. Plots and schemes in smoke-filled rooms being fraught at feverish levels with black gold on their minds. As an observer of Guyanese politics for many years, I can say without fear of successful contradiction, we have never seen this level of activism in the affairs of the state in such passionate forms. This did not occur for other issues that were far more worthy of attention in our recent past. We have had decades of a plethora of abuses that were anathema to the nation’s interest and we did not see some of these forces forming the ‘Human Rights Association’ or the ‘Good Governance Association’. This oil-fare has brought the most dormant forces back to life.

The question must be inevitably asked, are these intense motivations based on genuine interest in the nation’s development, or is this oil-fare being fraught due to the age-old trappings of black gold? If you conclude the latter, I humbly submit this column.

The wagers of oil-fare must know, oil-fare teems with serious existential implications for this nation. There are many threads in this dangerous tapestry, let us extract the thread of ethnic divisions. Let us imagine in this technological age of ‘fake news’, these forces resort to the race card, last refuge of political desperadoes, this could be disastrous.

The world has already seen numerous recent examples of the power of social media and the push for political power: the Arab Spring, the US elections 2016 and the Me Too Movement. Alec Ross warned all governments around world, ‘If you are not open to social media spaces then you are not attuned to the dynamics on the street and you sacrifice both understanding and power’. There is no reason to believe that those who have waged oil-fare will not resort to this effective political tool to achieve their aims and objectives. The writing is already on the wall as evidenced by the appearance of websites such as the ‘Indo-Caribbean Diaspora News’ (ICDN), which is a social media tool that spews ethno-centric opinions on Guyana. This approach facilitated by social media could place Guyana in a situation where the nation is extremely divided at

a time when a particular neighbour is looking on with envy of our acquisition of black gold.

I don’t think the perpetrators of oil-fare care that much; this kind of politics does end at the Wenamu River.

For these forces, there must no appeasement, no negotiations, no détente, and no rapprochement. They have decided that they must be the ones to shepherd Guyana through a period of oil wealth at any cost. Oil-fare is real and as we proceed to the 2020 elections, Guyanese must stay laser focused on this group and watch their actions, it is not about country, it is about self and friends. We have seen this movie, it premiered for 28 years right before our very eyes.

We must proceed from this theoretical assumption to expect anything is possible with oil-fare.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Six homeless after Linden fire A FAMILY of six, including four children, is now homeless after a fire totally destroyed its home at lot 16 One Mile, Wismar, Linden on Monday. Dorette Higgins lived with her father Curtis Higgins and she is now wondering what the future holds for her and her children, the youngest being two years old.

Higgins told this publication on Tuesday that she was not home when the fire started, but was told by her son that he and his siblings were in the bedroom when he felt his nostrils burning. His sister then got up and realised smoke was coming from the

bedroom and it was then that the children ran away.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the scene on Tuesday, the immediate neighbour related that she was on her way home when she was told by one of the children that the house was on fire. She then raised an alarm to the neighbours but it was too late to save anything but a washing machine that was behind the back door.

The neighbour said she made phone calls to the 911 emergency three times before the fire tender arrived, but it was too late.

Dorette said that she believes the fire is of electrical

origin, since a few says ago the lights came off and the refrigerator stopped working.

She and her children spent the night at her mother’s one-bedroom house and are now at an apartment that has no water or electricity. “Right now I just feel to scream out to God, as to what next, me and my children just sit down here wondering what next,” Higgins said.

Since the fire, no regional authority has reached out to her to lend a helping hand, Higgins revealed, while expressing hope that someone would come to her family’s aid.

The Higgins' former residence that was gutted by fire

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

GGMC staffers want gold board vacate compound mission from government before they can access their facility, despite the serious mercury situation.

A visit to the GGMC also proved that some departments at the commission such as the library, the human resource department and audit department, among others, have been either closed, partially closed or partially functioning due to the location of the depart-

GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison and Board Chairman Stanley Ming (centre) engaging staffers in the GGMC compound on Monday

By Zena Henry STAFFERS of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) are demanding the eviction of Guyana Gold Board (GGB) staffers from the commission’s compound in light of several persons being found with mercury in their systems.

The staffers made their demands clear during a meeting with Commissioner Newell Dennison and GGMC Board chairman Stanley Ming on Monday.

Dennison told staffers that the GGB has been considering its options.

“At this point in time, they are communicating that they have nowhere to go,” he said, noting that despite tests being done by Kaizen Environmental Services (Guyana) and the Environmental Protection Agency and areas of the compound have been proven “benign”, there remains a justifiable

fear from staff.

The view of many, he noted, is that the GGB activities be curtailed or stopped. He related however, that there is nothing more the GGMC could say on the matter, except that workers will be moved to points of the compound where there are no high emissions that could affect them.

Staffers were not satisfied with this response. One female staff asked whether the commission would treat persons for mercury or send them on sick leave only to have them return to the same unsafe work environment.

“Let the Gold Board remove and go somewhere in the interest of the workers and their health. We’ve got to take drastic measures,” she demanded, contending that “if they don’t want to move, we got to get drastic because they killing out workers slowly but surely.

So if they can’t stop, well then they have to move.”

A male staff also expressed discontent at the manner in which the issue is being handled. He complained that while the Natural Resources Ministry is occupying GGMC’s three-storey building to house a handful of staffers, space remains an issue at the commission, with the mercury situation adding to the problem.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that last week, the Ministry of Natural Resources commenced vacating the GGMC building which was taken over by then Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud in 2013, after he sought relocation of his ministry from the then Office of the President.

The Natural Resources building is partly vacated and GGMC staffers are upset that the commission is being asked to wait for per-

Back in prison for same type of crimes MONTHS after 34-yearold Devon Holder was released from prison for snatching gold chains from persons in the vicinity of Stabroek Market, he was on Tuesday sentenced to four years’ jail for the same crimes.

Holder appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh and pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery.

He confessed that on January 9, 2018 at Stabroek

Market he stole a chain valued $530,000 from Rafeek Mohammed. The court heard that Mohammed was robbed of his chain after reportedly being trailed by Holder.

Holder further admitted to being armed with a knife on April 5, 2018 at the Stabroek Market, and robbing Pamela Gibson of her $100,000 gold chain using violence to achieve his goal.

According to reports,

Holder attacked Gibson by placing a knife at her neck and took away her chain.

During the ordeal he reportedly dealt her several cuffs about her body before he escaped.

Holder, who has been in and out of the prison system since 2009 for similar charges, was sentenced to two years jail each for the offences read out in court. The sentences will run concurrently.

ment in relation to the GGB lab, where emissions are released, or staffers being treated or sent on leave for mercury contamination.

GGMC staffers heard that even staffers that were housed away from areas of exposure showed high mercury readings of about 11 ng/mL, while others in areas “well away” from contaminated locations showed mercury readings of 4 to 11

ng/mL. Dennison had told the Guyana Chronicle that almost 200 letters were issued to staffers to have them tested. He urged staffers at the meeting to get tested if they have not done so. He restated the commission’s commitment to standing with its workers, noting that the situation requires higher attention.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

South Central Hotel murder trial

Caution statement tells of gruesome details

By Michel Outridge AS the “South Central Hotel Murder” trial continued in the Georgetown High Court on Tuesday, Detective Sergeant Keith Conway testified that he was present as a witness when the caution statement was penned by retired Sergeant Philip Bowman.

He told the court that during 2013, he was a corporal stationed at Brickdam

CID and relative to a report of an alleged murder committed on Joseph Jagdeo, who was found dead on November 14, 2014 at the South Central Hotel, he assisted in the investigation.

The police witness said that on November 30, 2013, he took the accused Brian Leitch to the CID at Brickdam. He was seated and the allegation of murder was put to him by retired Sergeant Bowman in my presence.

Sergeant Conway stated that at this point the accused was cautioned in accordance with the Judges’ Rules and he said, “Offica, I don’t know anything about any murder.”

The witness added that the accused was then placed in custody.

Sergeant Conway told the court that on December 1, 2013, at about 11:00hrs in his presence as a witness, Sergeant Bowman and the

Joseph Jagdeo

accused were in the CID office at Brickdam Police Station when he made an oral statement and elected his colleague to write it at dictation speed.

The witness added that the statement was made by the accused in relation to the alleged murder of hotelier Joseph Jagdeo.

After an application

made by state prosecutor Mandel Moore and which was granted by the trial judge, the police witness was shown the caution statement after which he read from same.

Sergeant Conway reading form the caution statement said, “The morning Joseph came in my room and tell me to leave, I get vex then tie he hands, tie he mouth and push he under the bed. I locked the room and tek the key and throw it over on the bed then tek he cell phone from the office and left. I sorry fuh wah happen.”

Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh also took the stand on Tuesday when he gave the cause of death as haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head compounded by suffocation and compression to the neck.

Dr Singh was deemed and expert in pathology

and said he conducted the post-mortem on the body of Joseph Jagdeo on November 15, 2013.

The post-mortem report was marked, tendered and admitted as evidence in the trial.

According to the state’s case, between November 13 and 14, 2013, it is alleged that the accused Brian Leitch called “Big Foot”, murdered hotelier Joseph Jagdeo called “Joey” at his own place of business, South Central Hotel located on South Road.

In his opening address, state prosecutor Mandel Moore told the court that between November 13 and 14, 2013, the accused allegedly murdered the deceased and stuffed his body under a bed.

The state is represented

by Mandel Moore and Lisa Cave, while the defence attorneys are Lawrence Harris and Hewley Griffith.

Four in custody for ‘smoking’ villagers FOUR persons have been held after the villages of Zorg-En-Vlugt and La Union, Essequibo Coast became engulfed in dense smoke, forcing residents to vacate their homes on Tuesday.

According to one resident, Lall (only name given), his

wife has become ill after she inhaled the smoke. Children were seen wearing sun glasses to protect their eyes, while adults were busy taking their birds to safety.

The Guyana Chronicle was informed that a pregnant mother along with her child had to be rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital for medical attention.

“It’s sheer suffocation we going through, it’s horrible, we can’t breathe, the people

lit their farmlands and left it to light and it in turn catch afire and started huge smoke,” another resident Jai Singh related.

The heavy smoke started after a farmer lit his farmland aback of the villages. The fire quickly spread to almost 20 acres of land, resulting in massive smoke.

The four persons held are assisting the police with their investigations.

A fire tender trying to put out the fire

The thick smoke at Zorg-En-Vlugt on Tuesday

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Focus on effecting chan in gov't departments – Min. Lawrence tells PAC HEALTH Minister Volda Lawrence has chided members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for introducing extraneous matters to the functions of the committee at its sittings.

The minister was at the

time responding to a line of questioning by Committee Chairperson, Irfaan Ali, and members Juan Edghill and Nigel Dharamlall, that was based on inaccurate information.

The issue at hand was

whether approved spending for the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) was based on identified authorised strength.

“The budget will show us that for a long period the budget never reflected the au-

thorised staff nor anything to do with how many vacancies there were, but we now have that,” Minister Lawrence said.

Based on responses from the Region Number Five RDC, regarding the filling of vacancies, Minister Lawrence further queried whether the auditor feels the time has come for him to have a new look at the manner and cat-

Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence

egory of information being presented in his reports on public spending.

“I am wondering from the auditor general’s perspective whether he doesn’t believe that he needs to restructure what he is sending to the Public Accounts Committee….

Wouldn’t the auditor general have checked or asked for the evidence to ensure that what the officer is saying to us is, one, that these vacancies are on the PSC’s circular, and two, that they have been there for some time?” Minister Lawrence questioned.

She then remarked, “the auditor general needs to check that, and that he or she…did make the requisite representation at the PSC, which has given them the approval to act on matters pertaining to the employment of persons within their various agencies.”

Meanwhile, Committee member Juan Edghill called on the auditor general to investigate whether payrolls across the regions are misrepresented, or whether staff have been hired in an unauthorised manner.

“If at the time of the Appropriation Act there is no declaration of what exists and what is to be filled, how can the audit office effectively audit an agency to check to see if there is excess, because in the past there was a declaration of what is the authorised strength, what is the actual and what are vacancies…

That model has since been removed. You’re only having an actual, and because you’re only having an actual, any number could be thrown up at the end of the year as authorized,” Edghill added.

In response to Edghill, Minister Lawrence interjected on a point of order and noted that the matters being raised were not for the PAC to dis-

cuss. “If the member feels that way, then the procedure is for him to either take a question to the National Assembly, or he can carry a matter so that it can be debated within the National Assembly.”

Minister Lawrence also deemed as inaccurate, claims

by Edghill that the standard for appropriations was changed in recent years.

“Since I am on a point of order, the auditor general said he used the authorised positions at the estimates. I have both 2014 and 2016 estimates and they only show what was filled. There are no authorised numbers in these accounts. No authorised numbers in any of these entities. It shows you what was filled, not authorised,” Minister Lawrence added.

Granted the floor to address the auditor general, committee member Nigel Dharamlall said, “I think that my job as a member of the PAC is to, whilst we are going through the auditor general’s report, is so to ensure that the monies that have been appropriated are well spent, so it’s not just about sweeping these things under the carpet.”

To this, Minister Lawrence challenged committee member Dharamlall to contradict her claims that there were never in recent times a similar partisan approach to the work of the PAC. “I have been the Chair of this Public Accounts Committee and there was never a time when the Public Accounts Committee has done its work without full collaboration with both sides of this house, and I say it without fear of contradiction. Because we focus on the issues, we saw it as a national issue, and we had to address it so that we can make the accountability within every agency in this country done in

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

nges New brand of motorbikes hits the streets

t r n r t e

o s s

f d e s s d o f u e

, l t e g s e s e

e e a o e c d n t h y e l s e y n

accordance with the rules and regulations.”

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), whose primary role is to examine public spending and make recommendations for improving accountability based on the Auditor General’s Report, met today in Parliament Chambers to examine the Auditor General’s Report for Regions Five and Six for the year 2016.

According to the Auditor General’s Reports, there were several issues relating to contracted employees, staff recruitment practices, procurement, the award of contracts, capital purchases, current expenditures, overpayments and utilisation of contingency funds among others in the regions.

Appearing before the PAC were Regional Executive Officers, Ovid Morrison of Region Five and Kim Williams-Stephens of Region Six, accompanied by their technical officers. (DPI)

MOTORCYCLE lovers could expect something new on the market in Guyana, as Jin Sang Motorcycles Spares and Services opened its doors on Tuesday.

The company, which is located on Church Street, Georgetown, has introduced a new brand of motorcycle called ‘Moab’ to Guyana.

The motorcycle is made and manufactured in China and offers a quality machine that is fuel-efficient.

Speaking at the launch was the company’s owner, Christopher King, who explained that the bikes would be the most economical transportation around the city.

He added that the motorcycles come in three models: the ladies' gents' and trail bikes, which are all inexpensive.

King disclosed the prices: $195,000, $250,000 and $265,000 respectively “The business is local and is also providing jobs for Guyanese,” King added,

The owner of Jin Sang Motorcycles Spares and Services, Christopher King

as he stated that the company plans on expanding its location.

Jin Sang Motorcycles Spares and Services will cater to its customers’ needs and will also be providing flexible payment plans along with lay-away and cash .

Additionally, repairs and spare parts for the Moab bikes are also catered for by the company.

From (L-R) The ladies’, the gents’ and the trail bikes (Photos by Delano Williams)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Broadcasters denounce Kaieteur News false report THE National Communication Network (NCN) and Hits and Jams (HJ) have refuted a Kaieteur News report which stated that 98.1 and 94.1 Boom FM were among stations to be taken off air very soon.

In separate statements, both companies declared that they were financially

compliant with the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) since all their fees were paid.

According to the Board of Directors of NCN, they are up-to-date on all 2017 fees that were owed to the GNBA for their three radio stations.

Similarly, the management of HJ said they have

already settled outstanding fees for 2017 and are not listed among stations to be taken off air.

Both entities have criticised the move by Kaieteur News to publish false information about their financial standing without seeking a comment or clarity from them. Both companies are calling on

Kaieteur News to retract the story and issue a public apology to them.

According to the Kaieteur News report, GNBA Chairman Leslie Sobers said only Blackman and Sons, Brutal Group Inc, CNS Sharma, Two Brothers Corporation, Multi-Cultural Communication, Kaieteur Radio,

I-Radio, Pinnacle Radio, Freedom Radio, Radio Guyana Inc, Little Rock Radio and NTN Radio are deemed legal broadcasters.

The report went on to quote the GNBA chairman as saying, “radio stations that continue to operate while owing are doing so illegally, and in the very near future they will make

moves to take them off air”.

Sobers had also indicated that he will not be backpedalling on the sub-committee’s decision to take serious action against those owing millions of dollars in backed-up fees.

Efforts to contact the GNBA chairman for a comment proved futile.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Four escape from Youths held with NOC, one recaptured unlicensed firearms

ONE escapee has been recaptured as staff of the New Opportunity Corps (NOC), Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast and the police in ‘G’ Division continue their hunt for three others from the juvenile delinquent centre last Saturday.

According to information received, a 16-year-old facilitated the escape by opening a chain link from the fence close to the female dormitory.

The incident occurred around 10:00hrs and the girls are said to have escaped into the backlands.

The girls were sent to the institution for the offences of wandering and unlawful wounding. One of the escapees was recaptured Monday evening on the Airy Hall Public Road and was escorted to the Suddie Public Hospital where a medical examination was conducted.

The three other teenagers are on the run and acting NOC administrator Parasaram Singh is calling on residents to report students and strangers roaming in their communities.

Since this year began, several students have escaped from the institution, but they were recaptured.

Many of them escaped by jumping the back fence of the NOC.

FOUR youths who appear to be teenagers have been detained after police discovered four unlicensed firearms with matching rounds in their possession during a stop and search exercise Tuesday night.

A police source told this publication that the youths were stopped around 20:45hrs af-

ter their heavily tinted white Toyota car drew the police’s attention.

The men were arrested and taken to the Diamond Police Station. When Guyana Chronicle arrived on the scene, the men were in handcuffs, assisting the police with their investigation.

The white Toyota 212 (left) impounded at the Diamond Police Station

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Medical supplies expected at Skeldon Hospital following sit-in SEVERAL doctors and nurses attached to the Skeldon Public Hospital Accident and Emergency Unit (A&E) on Monday staged a sit-in over shortage of medical supplies at the institution, forcing patients who had showed up for treatment, to return home According to Ram Mangru, executive member of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), medical personnel have contended for several months that the hospital has been without basic medical items inclusive of injections, gauze, medication and plaster. And this is severely preventing them from carrying out their duties effectively.

Mangru told media operatives that he spoke with his

office in Georgetown and was advised to visit the institution to rectify the situation.

“I received a call and I was told there were no injections, no gauze, plasters etc. So I asked if the GMO was aware of the situation and I was told yes.

So I came up to Skeldon to see what is really going on.

“I came up here and spoke with the doctor, asking him if he was aware of the situation and he said yes and he had been constantly making reports and requisitioning for drugs, but has not been getting any attention on the matter.

As such, I am here in solidarity with our members.”

Meanwhile, a press release from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) stated that

the doctors will resume duties on Tuesday, as a high-level meeting has been planned for the same day to address the situation.

The release went on to state that the strike action did not affect operations in other parts of the hospital.

Alex Foster, Point Person for the Public Health Ministry in the region, is quoted as saying, “A&E physicians were upset that critical supplies were unavailable to treat their patients, forcing them to take industrial action.”

Furthermore, MoPH Permanent Secretary, Ms Collette Adams and other ministry officials are mystified by Monday’s industrial action by the Skeldon Hospital physi-

cians. Adams said the hospital received supplies from the Materials Management Unit (MMU) last Thursday.

“No hospital authority or the doctors complained to the ministry or the union about shortage of supplies at the A&E”, Adams highlighted.

The ‘sit-in’ by the A&E

employees was “not authorised” by the Public Service Union (PSU), bargaining body for the MoPH employees. The union said Adams had talks with the bargaining body’s representatives on Monday.

Meanwhile, Rajindra Shivnarine explained that he was forced to return home limping after severe pain to the ribs.

“I feel bad coming and was told I couldn’t get help today.

I am a poor man, I can’t go anywhere else. I am hoping

they can remedy the situation, so that doctors can get the things they need to work with properly.”

Another patient who was turned away said he would have to return to work in discomfort, since he was suffering from an abscess on his mouth.

“I went there since morning, then they tell me come back at 12. I come back now they say doctors not working, they strike. I living in the Backdam, now I have to go in back just so.”

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South Africa Racing Tips Greyville 08:20 hrs Good Lord Padmore 08:55 hrs Riverboat Queen 09:30 hrs Silva’s Bullet 10:05 hrs Silvan Saint

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Commonwealth Games CDA mourns loss of junior hockey team players, officials Caribbean athletes

sweep three gold medals on day six

Members of Canadian Dominoes Association (CDA) during the observance of a minute’s silence for the 15 persons who died in the accident.

THE Canadian Dominoes Association (CDA), comprising exclusively of Guyanese nationals living in Toronto, last Sunday night paid tribute to the fifteen people who died after a bus carrying a junior hockey team to a playoff game in Saskatchewan collided with a transport truck on a rural highway.

At a simple, but moving ceremony during a break from its annual winter dominoes tournament, being held at Starlite Restaurant & Bar, Scarborough, members of the association observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to those who died in the tragic accident.

The bus, carrying the Humboldt Broncos hockey team, crashed into a

truck en route to Nipawin for a game last Friday night.

The Broncos were about 20 minutes away from their destination at the time of the crash.

The team’s bus was T-boned by a transport truck, according to the president of the Nipawin Hawks.

The truck driver was uninjured in the crash and was released after being questioned by police, Saskatchewan RCMP Assistant Commissioner Curtis Zablocki said.

The driver is being provided with mental health and wellness assistance.

According to RCMP, the bus was travelling northbound on Highway

35 when it collided with the truck approximately 30 kilometres north of the small town of Tisdale. The truck had been travelling westbound on Highway 335.

Environment Canada data shows that it was a clear but cold night at the time of the accident. There are stop signs with flashing lights for both westbound and eastbound traffic on Highway 335 where it meets Highway 35.

Images from the scene show both vehicles partially overturned with the truck’s cargo littered across a snowy field.

The front end of the team’s bus appears to be completely shorn off. (Frederick Halley)

Asia Cup 2018 moved from India to UAE THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been awarded the 2018 Asia Cup that was originally scheduled to be held in India. The tournament will be played between September 13 and 28, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Political tensions between India and Pakistan have been cited as the reason for the change. “The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) deliberated on the matter and decided that this was the best way forward,” ACC and PCB chairman Najam Sethi told ESPNcricinfo.

“All decisions were unanimous.

All participants agreed to support the return of international cricket to Pakistan subject to certain constraints. That’s why the ACC

Annual General Meeting will be held in Lahore and the BCCI has pledged to participate in it like all other ACC members. That’s why a number of matches of the Emerging Asia Cup will be played in Pakistan.”

The Asia Cup will feature 50-overs games between Full Members India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and a sixth team.

The sixth team will be determined via a play-off that includes UAE, Hong Kong, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia and Oman. Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be the venues for the tournament, where India is to serve as the official host. The Emirates Cricket Board is renting out the stadiums.

This will be the 14th edition of the Asia Cup. The first 12 were staged as ODI competitions, while the previous Asia Cup in 2016 was the first to be held as a T20I event, effectively as a warm-up event ahead of the World T20. India are the defending champions, having beaten Bangladesh in the final two years ago.

The 2018 Emerging Teams’ Asia Cup, meanwhile, will be co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Originally set for April, the tournament has been moved to December. Pakistan will also play host to the next ACC Annual General Meeting, which will be held later this year. (ESPN Cricinfo)

India celebrate with the Asia Cup trophy.

GOLD COAST, Australia (CMC) – Jamaican Kimberley Williams produced a superb final leap to snatch gold in the Women’s triple jump, headlining a trio of Caribbean winners as fellow countryman Ronald Levy captured the Men’s sprint hurdles and Grenadian Lindon Victor claimed the Men’s decathlon, on day six of the Commonwealth Games here yesterday.

The defending champion appeared headed for silver after teammate Shanieka Ricketts laid down the gauntlet with a season-best jump of 14.52 metres in the opening round, to lead throughout the competition.

However, Williams unfurled a personal best 14.64m on her final attempt to overtake Ricketts, who was forced to settle for silver.

Dominican Thea LaFond grabbed bronze with 13.92m, to ensure a Caribbean clean sweep of the podium.

Up until the final round, Williams’ best mark had been 14.37 in the fourth round but came up with her best following a foul jump on her fifth attempt.

The 29-year-old won gold in Glasgow four years ago with a measurement of 14.21 and only last month copped silver at the World Indoor Championship in Birmingham with a leap of 14.48.

Trinidadian Ayanna Alexander, who took bronze at the last Commonwealth Games, was well below her personal best with 13.47, which was good enough only for sixth place.

Teenaged Guyanese Natricia Hooper (8th) recorded a personal best 13.36 while older sister Natrena (11th) posted a season-best 12.62 but the performances left them down the field.

Levy, meanwhile, collected his first global title when he nipped teammate Hansle Parchment coming off the final hurdle to win the 110m event in a time of 13.19.

Parchment, who looked the winner at the half-way stage, posted 13.22 secs for silver while Australian Nicholas Hough stopped the clock at a personal best 13.38 to claim bronze.

An Olympic bronze medallist in London and a silver medallist in Beijing World Championship three years ago, Parchment was challenged by England’s Pozzi early on, with South African Antonio Alkana also in contention.

Levy, in lane seven, gradually gained on the leaders and was level with Parchment following the last set of hurdles before out-sprinting him to the finish.

Barbadian Shane Brathwaite was sixth in 13.53 while 18-year-old Jamaican De’Jour Russell was last in 13.92.

Victor, meanwhile, made the most of leader and defending champion Damian Warner’s massive stumble, to take the decathlon title by amassing 8 303 points.

Canadian Warner, the Olympic bronze winner and a former world silver medallist, entered the second day of the event as the odds-on favourite to win but crashed out of the pole vault after missing three attempts at 4.50 metres.

He slumped from first to sixth and then failed to compete in either the javelin or the 1500 metres, leaving the door open for his rivals.

The 25-year-old Victor grabbed the opportunity.

He cleared 4.60 to win the pole vault in a new personal best, unveiled an excellent throw of 71.10m on his final attempt to also win the javelin and trailed in seventh in the last event, the 1 500m, in five minutes 04.75 seconds to formalise his title capture.

“It’s not the way I wanted to win with Damien having three fouls, but I prayed for the gold medal. It’s 10 events, not nine. It’s the nature of the decathlon,” said Victor, a two-time NCAA decathlon champion.

“I was a little below my personal record, but it’s early in the season.”

Canadian Pierce Lepage took silver with 8 171 points while Cedric Dubler of Australia was third with 7 983 points.

Victor’s brother Kurt Felix, who claimed bronze in Glasgow, finished fourth with 7 756.

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64 Days to go …

United States stun England, Brazil's Maracanazo woe in World Cup's biggest upsets SPORTS fans love an underdog story and the World Cup has provided a number of them down the years.

Here are 10 of the most memorable World Cup upsets to have caught the football-loving public's imagination.

10. ITALY VS GERMANY, 2006 While the eventual champions and threetime winners’ ability to beat anyone might not seem to be the most galloping shock, the defeat of hosts Germany in 2006 was quite an upset, because it seemed written that Jurgen Klinsmann's side would lift the cup on their own turf. The semi-final in Dortmund was a hugely tense affair that, as the 119th minute approached, was heading for penalties.

And if you think the English hate shootouts, before this tournament the Italians really hated them, given three of their previous four World Cups had ended in such a manner, including their own home semi-final in 1990 and of course the 1994 final.

But then, up stepped Fabio Grosso, sweeping improbably home before the final punch was delivered in the form of Alessandro Del Piero's clincher, two minutes later.

An exhilarating upset!

9. NORTHERN IRELAND VS SPAIN, 1982 Northern Ireland beating Spain was not quite as much of a shock 36 years ago as it would be today, but it was still quite the eyebrow-raiser. The Spanish hosts had already qualified for the second round, but expected to brush Billy Bingham's team aside, who themselves needed a win to go through.

Just after halftime, Gerry Armstrong powered through the centre of the Spanish midfield, before feeding Billy Hamilton on the right. His low cross was palmed out right into the danger zone by keeper Luis Arconada, where Armstrong, who hadn't stopped his run, was there to power the ball under the prone keeper and into the net.

Northern Ireland survived something of an onslaught from the embarrassed Spaniards, but held on, and finished above them in the group. Alas, they lost both games in the next group phase and went out, but they'll always have that night at the Mestalla.

8. EAST GERMANY VS WEST GERMANY, 1974 UEFA avoided a tricky political situation when Spain missed out on playing Gibraltar in Euro 2016 qualifying but FIFA was not spared a similar fate in 1974, when East Germany were paired with West Germany in the World Cup group stages, 15 years before the Berlin Wall came down.

"If one day my gravestone simply says 'Hamburg 74,' everybody will still know who is lying below," said East Germany striker Jurgen Sparwasser, whose 77th-minute strike to win the game seemed to light a fire under a previously confident West Germany side.

The post-mortem seemed to work, as West Germany won the tournament, beating Netherlands in the final.

7. ALGERIA VS WEST GERMANY, 1982 One of the main reasons underdog sto-

ries are so popular is that the little guys get the happy ending they are so often denied.

Unfortunately, in this upset the little guys didn't get their fairy-tale moment, thanks to collusion and the vagaries of the World Cup schedule.

West Germany really didn't take first-time qualifiers Algeria very seriously after being drawn against them in the first round, the reigning European champions treating their first game as a formality.

Their complacency came back to bite them, with an Algerian side of surprising skill and athleticism simply outplaying their cocky opponents and winning 2-1 with goals from Rabah Madjer and Lakhdar Belloumi.

The Algerians lost their next game but recovered to win their final fixture, which

leaving them defeated and baffled on the turf of Giants Stadium.

5. NORTH KOREA VS ITALY, 1966 Ayresome Park is a housing estate these days, demolished in the early 1990s as Middlesbrough moved to the Riverside.

In the middle of the paths and lawns there is a bronze cast of a football boot - specifically Pak Doo-Ik's football boot, in roughly the spot where he struck the goal in the 1966 World Cup that beat Italy 1-0, sending them home to be pelted with eggs by an outraged public.

The Italians were among the favourites for the tournament, boasting stars Gianni Rivera, Sandro Mazzola and Giacinto Facchetti, but while they lost their second game against a

3. CAMEROON VS ARGENTINA, 1990 These days, as seems relatively appropriate, the hosts kick off the World Cup, cutting the ribbon on a month-long jamboree of football and thinly-veiled nationalism. However, the curtain used to be raised by the defending champions, facing whichever unfortunate whipping boy they had been drawn against.

In 1990 Argentina faced Cameroon, a spirited collection of perceived no-hopers who were simply there to provide some nominal form of opposition.

It wasn't just that they were playing the champions, but Cameroon were something of a shambles before the tournament, having lost embarrassingly in the African Nations Cup and dropped their goalkeeper Joseph Antoine-Bell after he had the temerity to ask the FA about bonuses.

2. WEST GERMANY VS HUNGARY, 1954 Germany made quite a few appearances on this list, but that was the only time they are the upsetters rather than the ‘upsettees’.

Hungary had cut swathes through the 1954 tournament in Switzerland, sashaying through the first round with 17 goals in two games (including an 8-3 victory over the very same West Germans), gently brushing aside Brazil in the second round before beating defending champions Uruguay in the semi-final.

Victory was a foregone conclusion for the Magyars, with commemorative stamps printed up back home and work had begun on 17 lifesize statues of the winners.

Despite Puskas being half-fit at best for the final having fractured his ankle earlier in the tournament, it all looked good after eight minutes - Puskas gave them the lead and Zsoltan Czibor added a second, only for Germany to score two in the next 10 minutes to equalise Thus it stayed until the 84th minute, when Helmut Rahn picked up a loose ball and fired into the net from the edge of the area.

was played a day before West Germany and Austria closed the group, but both sides knew a one or two-goal win for the Germans would see both European sides through, so after Horst Hrubesch's early goal, they simply played out the remaining 80 minutes, to the sound of jeers from the crowd.

6. BULGARIA VS GERMANY, 1994 By the time they played Germany in the quarterfinals of the 1994 World Cup, Bulgaria already had a couple of shocks to their name, after sending France into a spiral of national introspection in the qualifiers and beating Argentina 2-0 in the first round.

However, Germany were the defending champions and were looking good to at least make a decent fist of becoming the first side to retain the title since Brazil in 1962.

It all looked like a fairly familiar story when Lothar Matthaus gave the Germans the lead just after halftime.

However two goals in three minutes - a brilliant free kick from the great Hristo Stoichkov, followed by that flying header

by Yordan Letchkov - stunned Germany,

strong Soviet Union, there was little panic as a win against the North Koreans, the first Asian side to qualify for the World Cup finals, would have been enough to send them through.

4. USA VS ENGLAND, 1950 The famous and possible apocryphal story goes that upon receiving word that the USA had beaten England 1-0 in the first round of the 1950 tournament, several English newspapers simply assumed there had been some sort of typographical error, and instead published the result as 10-0 or 10-1 to the English. True or not, that such a story is plausible speaks to what an extraordinary shock this result was, because the England team featured Tom Finney, Stan Mortensen, Billy Wright and Wilf Mannion, while the Americans were a collection of hastily thrown together semi-pros who had played together only once before the tournament.

The only goal was scored by Joseph Gaetjens, a Haitian dishwasher, who deflected a shot from teammate Walter Bahr into the net. Some believed it was a fluke, but because the grainy footage of the game misses the moment of the goal, it's rather hard to say.

BRAZIL VS URUGUAY, 1950 Victory for Brazil was expected, assumed, meant to be. The Uruguayans were supposed to be training cones dressed in light blue that the hosts would simply have to dribble around and score four, five or really as many times as they wanted.

Brazil were South American champions, having won the 1949 Copa America in fine style, scoring 46 goals in eight matches and handing out a 7-0 shoeing to Paraguay in the "final" (it was actually a playoff game after the two sides had finished the eight-team league level on points).

When this game came around, it seemed everyone was just setting out the trestle tables in preparation for a celebration, rather than readying themselves to watch a football match. A celebratory song had been composed; a couple of newspapers got their victory congratulations in early - that is to say, before the game; the mayor of Rio offered his own pre-emptive well-dones; Uruguay midfielder Julio Perez wet himself during the national anthems. It was written.

Then Uruguay won 2-1 and a nation fell into a collective depression -- and the match was later dubbed the Maracanazo.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Woman of her word, Caster Semenya wins 1500m gold

By Ian Ransom

GOLD COAST, Australia (Reuters) South African flag-bearer Caster Semenya powered her way to the 1500 metres title at the Commonwealth Games yesterday, keeping her bid for a golden double at the Gold Coast intact.

The 800m Olympic and world champion bided her time before burning away from the modest field to post a Games record time of four minutes 0.72 seconds on a soggy track at Carrara Stadium.

Semenya, who will run for gold in the 800m, left Kenya’s silver medallist Beatrice Chepkoech (4:03:09) in her wake, with Wales’ Melissa Courtney taking the bronze.

Before arriving in Australia, Semenya promised to lead South Africa by example.

She now hopes her commanding win will

inspire her team mates.

“Basically I’m more like a captain so I need to show the guys that I’m a woman of my word,” the 27-year-old told reporters after an evening session punctured by rain showers.

“If I say I will do something I will do it.

Also it’s just to motivate them so they can believe in themselves.

“With 10 years of experience for me now I think I’m ready for anything.”

Semenya’s gold continued a proud Games for South Africa on the track, following Akani Simbine’s 100m gold when he upstaged Jamaica’s favourite Yohan Blake on Monday.

Another African nation, Botswana, also denied Jamaica in the men’s 400m as the flamboyant Isaac Makwala blitzed the field with a quality time of 44.35 secs.

With another bumper crowd roaring supCaster Semenya of South Africa holds up the national flag after winning the women's 1500m final. port, Makwala crossed the line with mouth agape and arms spread like an aeroplane, well clear of runner-up compatriot Baboloki Thebe (45.09) and third-placed Jamaican Javon Francis.

He dropped to the track and did some trademark push-ups while his rivals stood around panting.

The 31-year-old was controversially barred from competing in the 400 final at last year’s world championships in London over illness fears, so the Commonwealth gold was some consolation for that disappointment.

“Disappointment is disappointment (in) 2017, now we are focused again on the 2018, so we forgot about what happened in 2017,” said Makwala, whose path to gold was smoothed by the absence of South Africa’s Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk.

Blake’s stumbling effort for a disappointing bronze put a dampener on the Jamaican team on Monday, but the athletics powerhouse hit back with gold medals in the 110 metres hurdles and the triple jump.

Ronald Levy led a Jamaican one-two in

the hurdles ahead of former world silver medallist Hansle Parchment, with local runner Nicholas Hough claiming bronze.

Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams also led a one-two for the nation in the triple jump, leaping 14.64 metres on her final effort to pip her team mate Shanieka Ricketts by 12cm. Thea Lafond took the bronze for Dominica.

Olympic champion Elaine Thompson won her heat to qualify fifth fastest for the 200 metres semi-finals. Her team mate Rasheed Dwyer, the defending champion, was also safely through to the men’s semis.

Grenada’s aptly-named Lindon Victor took gold in the decathlon with a total 8,303 points, capitalising on defending champion Damian Warner’s calamitous setback during the pole vault.

Canadian Warner, the Rio Olympic bronze medallist, held the lead before the vault but crashed out of medal contention after he failed to clear a height.

Canada’s Pierce Lepage (8,171) took the silver, with Australia’s Cedric Dubler clinching bronze.

Australia, Pakistan head for T20 tri-series in Zimbabwe HARARE, South Africa (Reuters) Australia are to return to Africa in July, three months after their controversial tour of South Africa, when they take part in a triangular Twenty20 series with Pakistan in Zimbabwe.

Australia lost 3-1 in their four-Test series against the Proteas in March and April, overshadowed by a ball-tampering scandal which led to the suspensions of captain Steve Smith, Cameron Bancroft and David Warner and the resignation of coach Darren Lehmann.

Warner was captain of Australia’s T20 team but is suspended for 12 months and from ever being captain of any Australian team again after the incident in Cape Town last month.

Each team will play four matches in a round-robin format from July 1 to 6, with the top two sides meeting in the final on

July 8.

All fixtures will be hosted at the Harare Sports Club.

Pakistan will then stay on for a fivematch One Day International series against Zimbabwe at the Queens Club in Bulawayo between July 13 and 22.

Zimbabwe failed last month to qualify for next year’s World Cup in England, despite hosting the qualifying competition.

T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe Sunday, July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan Monday, July 2: Pakistan vs Australia Tuesday, July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe Wednesday, July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan Thursday, July 5: Pakistan vs Australia Friday, July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe Sunday, July 8: Final

37

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Roma dump Barca out of Champions League with stunning 3-0 win

ROME (Reuters) - AS Roma pulled off one of the great Champions League comebacks by knocking Barcelona out with a remarkable 3-0 win in their quarter-final second leg on Tuesday, overcoming a 4-1 deficit from the first game to reach the last four on away goals.

Roma’s Kostas Manolas headed the decisive third goal in the 82nd minute, putting the Italians in the semi-finals for the first time since they reached the European Cup final in 1984 and making amends for his own goal in the first leg at the Nou Camp.

Roma forward Edin Dzeko had opened the scoring when he beat the offside trap and latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Daniele De Rossi to score in the sixth minute, lifting the hopes of the boisterous home fans in the Olympic Stadium.

Captain De Rossi converted a penalty in the 58th for the hosts after Dzeko was fouled by Gerard

Pique, giving Roma a deserved second goal after Dzeko and his Czech strike partner Patrik Schick missed two clear chances each before the break.

This would be a great triumph for any team, but for Roma and considering our story in European competitions, it’s truly incredible,” De Rossi told reporters.

“We knew it would be difficult, but we had that little bit of belief. The first leg showed us Barcelona had a lot of quality, but not as much as a few years ago. We knew the gap between us and them wasn’t 4-1.”

Barca fielded the team that thrashed Roma in the first leg with the help of two own goals and were overwhelming favourites to go through but the fivetimes European champions barely got a foothold in the game after falling behind to Dzeko’s opener.

BARCA SWAMPED Ernesto Valverde’s side were swamped by Roma’s

high pressing and struggled to get hold of the ball as they were bullied in the air by the more physical Italian side, who inflicted the damage with long balls over the top and frequent crosses.

The visitors’ Sergi Roberto squandered the first chance of the game but after that Barcelona struggled to respond to Roma’s constant waves of attacks until substitute Ousmane Dembele whistled a long-range shot just over the bar in added time.

“We weren’t capable in any moment of getting in the game because of how they approached the game,” said Barca coach Valverde. “They were very strong with second balls and we aren’t used to defending like that.”

The runaway La Liga leaders had not lost in the Champions League this term until visiting Rome but slumped out at the quarter-final stage for the third year in a row after being eliminated

by Juventus last season and

Salah, Firmino send Liverpool into Champions League last four

By Simon Evans MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Liverpool moved into the semi-finals of the Champions League as second-half goals from Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino gave them a 2-1 victory against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium yesterday, earning them a 5-1 aggregate win.

Trailing 3-0 from the first-leg City manager Pep Guardiola had said his team needed to produce a “perfect game” if they were to achieve a famous comeback and for 45 minutes they were not far off that level.

Gabriel Jesus scored after two minutes to fuel the home fans with hope and City then launched wave after wave of attacks to pin Liverpool back.

Yet after Bernardo Silva hit the post in the 40th minute and Leroy Sane had an effort ruled out for a disputed offside two minutes later, City had just the solitary goal to show for their first-half exertions.

It was Liverpool whose approach turned out to be perfect in the circumstances as they followed up their staunch first-half defending, to deliver the decisive blows, scoring through Salah in the 56th minute and Firmino 13 minutes from fulltime to clinch their third win against City this season.

After a glorious attacking display in the first leg, Liverpool did exactly what they had to do in Manchester and deservedly took their place in the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in 10 years.

City can look back with some pride though on their first-half performance. They needed an early goal to set the mood and they got exactly that, taking the lead in the second minute.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk gave the ball away and Fernandinho played a superb pass to Raheem Sterling on the right who slipped the ball across to Jesus to slot home.

CONSTANT PRESSURE Fired-up by that breakthrough and with the crowd roaring them on, City were first to every ball, applying constant pressure on the Liverpool defence while Juergen Klopp’s side were unable to earn some respite.

Kevin De Bruyne tested Loris Karius with a low drive in the 27th minute and the home side had an appeal for a penalty turned down when former Liverpool forward Sterling went down in the box with Andy Robertson’s arms around him.

Yet for all the pressure, Liverpool’s defence held firm and City were unable to create another clear-cut chance until the 40th minute when Bernardo Silva cut in from the right and his fierce left-foot drive crashed off the post.

Two minutes later, Sane thought he had added a second, poking the ball over the line but the referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz ruled the German was offside. City protested strongly, arguing the ball towards Sane had come off Liverpool’s James Milner.

Liverpool sent a warning just before the break when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rounded Ederson after a swift attack but shot wide from a tight angle.

As the teams came off, Guardiola’s protests about Sane’s disallowed goal resulted in his being sent to the stands for the second half.

All City’s breathless efforts were undone when Liverpool got the crucial away goal - Sadio Mane burst into the box, City keeper Ederson dived at his feet but the ball spilled out to Salah who took his time before coolly converting.

The goal left City needing to score four without reply to progress and 10 minutes later they threw on club record scorer Sergio Aguero in the hope of a miracle.

Yet any lingering questions over who would advance to the last four were ended when Firmino robbed a sloppy Nicolas Otamendi and slotted past Ederson.

Atletico Madrid in 2016.

“It’s difficult to accept this elimination because we had a lot of hope for this season and once again it has escaped us,” said Barca captain Andres Iniesta.

It was a reversal of fortune for Barcelona who last term pulled off the greatest comeback in Champions League history by overcoming a 4-0 loss to Paris St Germain.

They join PSG and AC Milan (eliminated by Deportivo La Coruna in 2004) as the only teams to have been knocked out after winning the first leg by at least three goals.

Roma's Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Florenzi celebrate after the match. Alessandro Bianchi, (Reuters)

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Saints, GCC off to winning starts in Solo/GHB U-19 League THE Solo Under-19 hockey league, featuring competitions for both boys and girls under the age of 19 years, got off to a good start over the weekend.

Several players were on display in the competition and the quality of play seemed much better than that of a year ago.

In the Boys’ competition, the Saints Sonics pulled off the largest margin of victory with an astounding 17-0 score against the newcomers North Ruimveldt Multilateral. The GCC Pitbulls seemed destined to maintain the title with two wins while the Hikers cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Saints Splinters.

In last Saturday’s highly anticipated match between the GCC Pitbulls and Old Fort, outstanding junior nationals Kareem McKenzie and Meshach Sargeant for GCC faced off against ball wizard Omar Hopkinson of Old Fort.

While GCC appeared the more complete side with the edge on possession, Old Fort’s quick counter-attacking raids always seemed a dangerous threat.

With the first half coming to a close and no goals on the sheet, the diminutive Sargeant finally got the breakthrough for his side with a drive into the scoring circle and well-placed shot

past the Old Fort goalkeeper.

Not surprisingly, McKenzie was the other name on the GCC score sheet just after the break with a powerful shot.

While Hopkinson and the rest of the Old Fort crew created several chances, the staunch defence,

litany of Garnett brothers and cousins took on the Saints Splinters in what turned out to be a tougher battle than anticipated.

Prolific goalscorer Baraka Garnett pulled off a hattrick of goals in the last 5 minutes of play to decide

GCC’s Kareem McKenzie on the go against Old Fort marshalled by Samuel Woodroffe, kept them scoreless and gave GCC a 2-0 win at full time.

GCC also defeated the Joseph’s Warriors the following afternoon by 2-0 with goals by Tariq Nelson and Seth Jeffrey.

The Hikers, featuring a

the match which was dead even up to that point. The Splinters fought bravely but ran out of steam in the end and conceded to the stronger side.

With NR Multilateral playing their first-ever competition, the Saints Sonics took full advantage of their

home court familiarity to score maximum goals. The experienced Troy Hodge led the scorers with six goals, Hilmar Chester added four, Edmond Chinian three, Shakeem Fausette two and Shemar Boston along with Malique Ferreira added one each.

In the Girls’ competition, the Bingo Spartans made light work of the GCC Her-icanes with a 12-0 victory. Speedy striker Abosaide Cadogan was the top-scorer of the match with 5 goals while Alana Cheung scored a hat-trick, Makeda Harding added 2 and singles were scored by Madison Fernandes and Sarah Klautky.

The Saints Girls rounded off the weekend’s matches with a 4-1 victory over St Joseph.

Talented athlete Charlia Webb scored the opener for Saints in the 10th minute and Cherub Autar scored the team’s second on the halftime buzzer.

Although St Joseph managed to pull one goal back just after the break through Jasmaine Assanah, Autar was in unstoppable form and hammered home two more to complete her hat-trick and a 4-1 final score for the Saints win.

Matches continue this Saturday and Sunday at the St Stanislaus College ground.

Joshua tells Fury to stop talking and start training ANTHONY Joshua has told Tyson Fury to stop talking and get in shape as the two British heavyweights continue to circle each other at the very top of the sport.

Joshua defended his IBF, WBA and WBO titles against Joseph Parker at the end of last month and has now set his sights on unifying the heavyweight division.

Fury - who hasn't fought since winning the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles with victory over Wladimir Klitschko back in 2015 - was less than impressed with Joshua's performance in Cardiff quickly proclaiming himself as 'the true king' on social media.

But Joshua remains unmoved and has called on Fury to

Anthony Joshua (left) tells Tyson Fury to stop talking and start training get back in the ring if he's to be taken seriously once more.

"After the Klitschko fight, that was a guy I called out to challenge me straightaway and I still mention it now," he said. "There is no denying Tyson knows how to box.

He is a good boxer.

"But until he makes his return to the ring, I cannot sit down and wait patiently at home for Tyson Fury's return. I have a career and goals I want to achieve so I am focusing on what I am doing.

"When he gets himself together … boxing fans are awaiting his return. He has to get himself back in action and worry about what he is doing, rather than sitting at home commentating on my fights.

"He should be getting a bit of motivation and hunger back in the belly to get training and get back in the ring because realistically people don't want to see a commentator.

They want to see a fighter fight."

Olympic stars Thompson, Miller-Uibo cruise into 200 metres semis GOLD COAST, Australia (CMC) – Olympic champions Elaine Thompson and Shaunae Miller-Uibo both won their preliminary heats as they cruised into todays’ semi-finals of the 200 metres at the Commonwealth Games.

The 25-year-old Thompson, the reigning double sprint champion from the Rio Games, won heat four in 23.09 secs, leading eight Caribbean qualifiers into the penultimate stage of the event, yesterday.

Trinidadian Kai Selvon finished fourth behind Jamaican Thompson in 23.23 to book her spot in the semis.

Thompson will clash with Olympic 400m champion, Miller-Uibo, in today’s second semi-final after the Bahamian captured heat three in 22.95 secs.

Miller-Uibo, who sensationally won her Olympic title two years ago when she dived over the line, said she was running the event to strengthen her performances in the 400m.

“It all went to plan. I think I did a pretty good job today. I have been here only five or six days and I have only just started to acclimatise,” Miller-Uibo said afterwards.

“My coach believes the first 200m is my weakness (in the 400m) so I have been sent out to Olympic 200m chamrun the 200m. I am having a bit pion Jamaican Elaine of fun with it.”

Thompson

Jamaican Shericka Jackson also advanced by winning heat five in a time of 22.87, with Trinidadian Kamaria Durant coming home third in 23.33 to qualify also.

Jamaican Shashalee Forbes, second in heat one in a season-best 22.88, Trinidadian Semoy Hackett who followed her home in third in 23.37, along with Bahamian Anthonique Strachan, who finished fourth in heat two in 23.52, were the other qualifiers from the region.

In the men’s event, meanwhile, Jamaican Warren Weir booked his spot in the semi-finals when he clocked 20.60 to win the opening heat.

The 28-year-old, an Olympic silver medallist from London 2012 who also won silver at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, was one of eight Caribbean qualifiers.

Jamaican Rasheed Dwyer won heat three in 20.78 while Kyle Greaux of Trinidad and Tobago clinched heat eight in 20.67, with Barbadian Burkheart Ellis Jr finishing second in 21.02.

Antiguan was third in 21.10 but qualified as one of the fastest losers.

In heat five, Trinidadian Jereem Richards made sure of his qualification by crossing the line first in 20.33.

Jamaican Kenroy Anderson, second in heat two with 20.89 and Bahamian Teray Smith, second in heat four with 20.82, both also qualified.

Zharnel Hughes, who formerly represented Anguilla before recently suiting up for England, raced to victory in heat nine in 20.34.

In the women’s 400m, Jamaicans Anastasia Le-Roy and Stephenie McPherson both won their semifinals to qualify for today’s final.

Le-Roy clocked a season-best 51.08 to win semi-final one while McPherson was timed at 51.21 in taking semi-final three.

In the men’s 400m hurdles, Jamaican Jaheel Hyde led the Caribbean qualifiers for tomorrow’s final with a win in heat two in 49.14, with countryman Andre Clarke (49.10), Kyron McMaster of British Virgin Islands (48.78) and Bahamian Jeffery Gibson (49.75) all advancing.

On the women’s side of the event, Jamaicans Janieve Russell (54.01), Ristananna Tracey (55.66) and Ronda White (55.10) all reached the final along with Trinidadian Sparkle McKnight (55.15).

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday April 11, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Mumbai Indians (2) Ben Stokes (Rising Pune Supergiants)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Which two teams contested the first game of IPL 2018?

(2) What was the result of the match?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

GCB/Hand-in-Hand Inter-County U-19 3-Day Cricket

Yadram’s superb unbeaten 260 puts Demerara in strong position on day one … Essequibo bowled out for 83 against Berbice

By Michelangelo Jacobus A SUPERB unbeaten 260 (219 balls) with 26 fours and 14 sixes from Demerara’s U-19 skipper Bhaskar Yadram, along with 94 from opener Adrian Hinds, ensured their side a seemingly impregnable 445-8 at the end of the first day’s play in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Hand-in-Hand Inter-county U-19 tournament at the Everest Cricket ground.

Playing against a Guyana Select U-17 XI Yadram and Hinds were the anchors of the innings despite their teammates constantly throwing their wickets away. U-17 leg-spinner Niron Bissu was the pick of his side’s bowlers.

Opening the batting for Demerara were Hinds and his partner Robin Williams. The latter was the first to be caught and bowled for 20 by Nigel Deodat.

Hinds buckled down and continued to bat but vice-captain Sagar Hathiramani was the second wicket to fall, lbw to Seon Glasgow for 15.

This brought Yadram to the crease and with Hinds, they put the U-17 bowlers to task carrying Demerara to the lunch break without further loss.

When play resumed after lunch, Yadram and Hinds continued to take the attack to the opposition.

However, upon reaching 90, the runs began to dry up for Hinds who became frustrated and eventually holed out to point off the bowling off Bissu.

Stephon Wilson joined Yadram at the crease but soon fell victim to Bissu, even with wickets starting to tumble around him, Yadram held the fort and showed that he was a class above all in an innings laced with 26 fours and 14 sixes.

Bissu quickly added two more victims, both holing out for scores of 1 and 5; Dwain Dick joined his skipper at the crease and contributed a valuable lower-innings knock of 30 until he was dismissed by Deodat.

Ashmead Nedd was dismissed for five but Qumar Torrington and Yadram saw Demerara to the end of the day’s play without further incident.

Over at the Lusignan ground, East Coast Demerara, Essequibo won the toss and decided to bat. However, their batting lineup struggled to cope with the Berbice bowlers, as they crumbled for a meagre 80 off 38 overs.

Quintin Sampson and national youth fast bowler Joshua Jones scored 18 and 13 respectively. Bowling for Berbice, Karran Arjpaul returned excellent figures of 3 for 3, while Keith Simpson and Kevin Sinclair grabbed 2 wickets for 3 and 6 runs respectively.

Berbice, in their first innings, reached 149 for 3 off 55 overs at close of play. Opening batsman, Alex Algoo is unbeaten on 83. He gained good support from Kevlon Anderson with 36.

The second day of round one in the 2018 GCB/Hand-in-Hand

Sam Billings hit five sixes and two fours in his 23-ball innings. (BCCI)

scandal, the Super Kings overhauled Kolkata's total of 202-6 with one ball to spare.

Sam Billings (56 off 23) had kept Chennai's chase on course before teammate Ravindra Jadeja finished the job in style, launching the penultimate delivery for six.

The Knight Riders had set such an imposing target thanks to a late blitz from Andre Russell, who crashed 11 maximums in making 88 not out from just 36 balls.

BRAVO TO RUSSELL Kolkata - who had beaten Royal Challengers Bangalore in their opening fixture - were indebted to the West Indies all-rounder after their top order failed to build on a promising start.

Birthday boy Chris Lynn made 22 on the day he turned 28, while Robin Uthappa added 29 in a hurry, but the Knight Riders slipped from 51-1 to 89-5 by the halfway stage of their innings.

However, Russell's onslaught put Chennai on the back foot as the Knight Riders became the first franchise to make over 200 in this year's competition.

The right-hander hit half a dozen

DAY SIX of the Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast held mixed fortunes for Guyana.

Guyana’s top badminton player Narayan Ramdhani made a strong statement at the Commonwealth Games, breezing past Vernon Smeed of St Helena in straight sets.

Playing in his opening match of the Games on Court Three of the Carrara Sports Arena Two, Ramdhani demolished Smeed in the Men’s singles Round of 64.

Ramdhani, who is currently on a five-year scholarship in Canada, stunned his opponent 21-6, 21-8, the match lasting a mere 19 minutes. The Guyanese will next face Jason Ho-Shue of Canada in the Round of 32 today.

RIFLE SHOOTING Lennox Brathwaite and Ronsford Goodluck finished 11th overall when the Queen’s Pairs Prize Final concluded yesterday.

Competing at the Belmont Full Bore Range, the Guyanese ended the two-day Pairs competition with 563 points and 48 Vs. Brathwaite had 284 points and 23 Vs, while Goodluck managed 279 points and 25 Vs. Brathwaite shot 49:5 at the 300-yard, 50:5 at 500, 47:4 at 600, 72:6 at 900 and 66:3 at 1000, while Goodluck had 50:6 at 300, 49:6 at 500, 48:3 at 600, 65:4 at 900 and 67:6 at 1000. Those numbers were enough to make the Guyanese the top Caribbean shooters at the Pairs event.

England’s Parag Patel and David Luckman copped gold with 584 points and 61 Vs; Chris Watson and Gareth Morris of Wales took silver with 582 points and 58 Vs, while Scotland’s Alexander Walker and Ian Shaw won bronze with 582 points and 49 Vs. Brathwaite and Goodluck will be in action again today when day one of the Queen’s Prize Individual competition is contested.

Demerara’s captain Bhaskar Yadram celebrates upon reaching his century. (Delano Williams photos) Under-19 Inter-county tournament continues today at the Lusignan and Everest grounds from 10:00hrs.

Billings cashes in as CSK complete thrilling chase to down KKR CHENNAI Super Kings (CSK) recorded a thrilling five-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their first home game in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2015.

Back playing at the MA Chidambaram Stadium after serving a two-year suspension following links to a 2013 corruption

A day of mixed fortunes for Guyana at Commonwealth Games

sixes off the bowling of fellow West Indian Dwayne Bravo - including three in a row at the start of the penultimate over - but ran out of deliveries to reach three figures for the second time in the shortest format.

ELEMENTARY FOR WATSON Chennai capitalised on the powerplay overs in their reply, Shane Watson making 42 from 19 deliveries as 75 runs came from the opening six overs.

Opening partner Ambati Rayudu contributed 39 and MS Dhoni made 25, yet it was Billings who provided some much-needed impetus down the home straight.

The England international hit five sixes and a pair of fours before holing out, off compatriot Tom Curran (2-39), leaving the score on 184-5 and CSK needing 19 from eight.

Bravo, Super Kings' hero in their last-ball triumph over Mumbai Indians in the season opener, started the final over with a six before Jadeja followed suit, taking seamer Vinay Kumar the distance down the ground, to secure victory.

TRACK AND FIELD South American gold medallist, Winston George, had a tough outing in the 200 metres, finishing fourth in Heat Seven with a time of 21.19s, which was not good enough to advance to the next round.

This will bring to an end, George’s participation at the Games after he was also unable to get into the final of the Men’s 400m by finishing seventh in the semi-final with a time of 47.25s.

Meanwhile, Natricia Hooper finished eighth in the Women’s triple jump final with a personal best (PB) distance of 13.15 metres. Hooper, who is a CARIFTA triple jump gold medallist, will also end her performance with the jump at the Games.

Hooper’s older sister, Natrena, was also a part of the event and finished 11th with a season’s best of 12.62 metres. However, Natrena will also compete in the Women’s high jump final later this week.

Emmanuel Archibald had a tough outing in the Men’s long jump, recording a leap of 7.24 metres to finish ninth in the Men’s Group ‘B’ qualifying round.

Guyana has a few more chances to vie for medals with Leslain Baird in the Men’s javelin final, Troy Doris in the Men’s triple jump final and (Natrena) Hooper to compete in the Women’s high jump final. All three events are scheduled for April 14.

Commonwealth Games

Caribbean athletes sweep three gold medals on day six see story on page 34

From left: Silver medallist Jamaica's Hansle Parchment, gold medallist Jamaica's Ronald Levy and bronze medallist Australia's Nicholas Hough pose on the podium after the athletics men's 110m hurdles final during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Grenada’s Lindon Victor celebrates with the national flag after copping the men’s decathlon.

Jamaica’s Kimberly Williams holds her national flag as she celebrates winning the triple jump final. (Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)

Yadram’s superb unbeaten 260 puts Demerara in strong position on day one see story on page 39

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Bhaskar Yadram

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018