Guyana chronicle e paper 06 02 2018

SATURDAY 2nd JUNE, 2018

No.105293

No hike in bus fares … Minibus union objects to arbitrary increases

… condemns drivers bullying colleagues

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Jordan sees positive 02 2018 outlook PAGE

…emphasises need for broadening of economic base

Church group 09 says no to gay pride parade PAGE

Big boost to port security … with US$8,000 donation of electronics to MARAD 08 PAGE

US Ambassador Perry Holloway handing over the port security identification equipment to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson at MARAD on Friday (Andrew Weekes Photo)

$650M for road works on Linden-Lethem/ Kwakwani roads 15 PAGE

‘Otisha’ charged with rape of boy PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2, 2018

Jordan sees positive 2018 outlook … emphasises need for broadening of economic base

WITH Guyana’s growth rate for this year pegged at 3.4 per cent, precisely .4 per cent below the budgeted 3.8 per cent, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has acknowledged that the country needs to strengthen its institutions, and broaden its economic base.

He made it clear that such a move is necessary for Guyana to build a resilient economy capable of withstanding both external and domestic shocks. “We are in various stages of preparation of pieces of legislation, which are aimed at guiding the management of oil revenues for the benefit of present and future generations,” the Guyanese minister told the gathering at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) held in Grenada.

He said Guyana’s robust performance is expected to continue into the medium-term, with anticipated oil production early 2020 contributing to a dramatic increase in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He told finance ministers of the region, along with officials of the CDB, that the country’s outlook for 2018 “is very positive” despite further declines

in the sugar industry.

This year, however, growth is expected to stand at 3.4 per cent with increased outputs in the rice, construction, manufacturing and services sectors.

Last year, Guyana’s economy recorded a growth rate of 2.1 per cent, reflecting improved performances in the forestry and rice sectors. However, contractions were witnessed in the sugar, construction and mining sectors. “We continue to strengthen public financial management, with significant improvements recorded in both revenue administration and the capital expenditure implementation ratio.

Further, we emphasised stimulating private sector activity in more structured ways, especially in light of the emergence of the oiland-gas sector with its transformational potential and developmental impact on the economy,” Jordan said at the recently-concluded meeting.

GLOBAL OUTPUT The finance minister pointed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s statement that global output grew by 3.7 per cent in 2017, and is expected to increase to 3.9 per cent this year, with growth being more broad-

based.

He opined that the upward trajectory as projected by the IMF “brings renewed hope for developing economies of the Caribbean”, of which many are still recovering from the effects of last year’s hurricane damage, high debt burdens, and declining living standards.

“Therefore, the time is opportune for such economies to implement structural and other reforms to anchor the recovery efforts, and to secure regional resilience and prosperity,” Jordan stated while highlighting Guyana’s financial posture.

He disclosed that Guyana has recently adopted a Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs) Framework, which provides a structured platform for the local and external private sector to meaningfully engage the government in achieving the national development agenda.

“The formulation of the PPP Framework for Guyana is as a result of my government’s proactive stance about obtaining value for every dollar invested, especially in the public sector investment programme (PSIP),” said Jordan, who noted, too, that as Guyana rapidly approaches oil-producer status and stands to benefit from massive inflows of new resources, the inclusiveness of all stakeholders in national development becomes a pressing imperative. The Guyanese finance minister suggested that it is time that the region begins to seriously consider the concepts of “building resilience” and “building back better”, in light of the catastrophic events which have affected the growth of small-island economies.

“We must objectively dissect our failures, including our less than robust systems; our poorly designed and built infrastructure that continues to collapse in the face of adversity; and our people who seem unprepared in face of the onslaught of Mother Nature.”

He continued: “We must develop focussed and sensible counter-strategies; we must continue to forge partnerships and synergies, and create stronger systems and governance structures to be better equipped to confront severe disasters.” In this vein, he applauded the CDB’s efforts in mobilising resources to assist hurricane-ravaged islands, while also lauding the Bank’s move to “ramp up” Technical Assistance Grants and other financing for improving institutional capacity, and strengthening systems for disaster risk reduction in the Region.

Jordan said Guyana has been able to tap into support from the Bank to mix its resources with those of the United Kingdom/Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF).

Through the UKCIF/CDB co-financing arrangement, Guyana has been able to expand the financial envelope to US$139M. This money will be used to realise waterfront renewal in Georgetown; upgrade the first phase of the much anticipated Linden to Lethem Highway; and construct a bridge across the Essequibo River at Kurupukari.

These projects, the finance minister disclosed, will be the impetus for the development of the country’s water transport

systems and linking the more developed coastal regions to the hinterland regions of Guyana. “We look forward with much optimism to their realisation,” he stated.

Additionally, Jordan noted that almost a year ago, the agreement for the 9th Cycle of the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) Programme was entered into. That agreement will see an estimated US$6.145M being spent on projects and activities that contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic growth. “This is an overarching goal of both my government and the Bank.

The suite of interventions is intended to reduce poverty in poor and rural communities; improve access to critically-needed services; and enhance the quality of life in remote and interior areas of Guyana,” the Finance Minister concluded.

BUILDING PARTNERSHIP Meanwhile, Jordan said there is a growing need for the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and member states to partner to maximize the impact of development resources geared at improving the livelihoods of the Region’s people.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan in a recent address at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) held in Grenada, stressed that with continued challenges of accessing concessional resources in the Region, it is becoming increas-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan ingly important for the Bank and Member States to partner.

“We must, collaboratively, seek ways and means to ensure increased productivity of public spending in our Member Countries. Whilst Guyana salutes the steps taken by the Bank to improve portfolio performance throughout the Region, including extensive training in Public Policy Analysis and Project Cycle Management, a microscopic examination into the regional dilemma of poor project implementation needs to be undertaken, with a view to laying out robust mechanisms towards improving project delivery,” Jordan said.

He also called for more “out of the box” thinking if the Bank is to maintain its commendable credit rating.

“All options need to be explored on ways to maintain this rating, including a careful study on the impact and implications of expanding the Bank’s membership,” he said while reaffirming Guyana’s resolve to deepen cooperation with the Bank and member countries.

No hike in bus fares

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2, 2018

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… Minibus union objects to arbitrary increases

… condemns drivers bullying colleagues

By Lisa Hamilton THE United Minibus Union (UMU) says it is against recent fare hikes by several minibus operators, and advises operators to adhere to the 2014 agreement until the body discusses a new structured price system with the relevant authorities.

Recent increases in fuel prices have resulted in protests from minibus operators of different routes, including the burning of tyres on the Coldingen Public Road on the East Cost Demerara. In a press meeting at the Critchlow Labour College on Friday, UMU President, Eon Andrews discussed the matter with several minibus operators plying the West and East Demerara routes.

The general complaint has been that the escalating fuel prices is causing a strain on the livelihood of hundreds of operators, as is the high cost of vehicle maintenance. As such, several minibuses have increased their fares.

ADHERE TO THE FARES In response to the issue, Andrews said that although the UMU must look out for its members, it cannot disregard commuters, as the transportation industry cannot survive without the support of its customers. As such, he made it clear that the body does not support recent fare hikes, or the gross overloading of minibus and obstructive protests meted out by some operators.

He presented civil negotiations with the authorities as a more fruitful alternative. “The Union is very concerned that there could be a frantic increase in minibus fares, which obviously would impact on the travelling public who happens to be the

poorer classes in our society who are already struggling to make ends meet,” Andrews said, adding: “It is not for the minibus industry and its members to just decide that they must and should raise fares. We think that

UMU President, Eon Andrews there must be discussions; things must be done in a very civil manner.”

He stated that minibus operators must adhere to the fare structure agreed upon in 2014 by the Union and the then Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.

Andrews says that the fare structure for each minibus must be visibly displayed on vehicles, and passengers should be wary of entering a minibus in its absence, lest they be subjected to paying exorbitant fares.

He also reminded those at the meeting that the pre-agreed seating capacity must be maintained. If order within the sector is not maintained, Andrews says, it is has the potential to result in “new levels of indiscipline that, over time, may be accepted as a norm.”

The UMI says, too, that it is only fair to acknowledge that a rise in fuel prices should not dictate a rise in fares, as minibuses require more than fuel to operate on a daily basis. As such, he says the government cannot be blamed for the high pric-

es of vehicle equipment, which is largely controlled by the decisions of private businesses.

Nonetheless, he said that the government can still position itself to assist stakeholders in the sector.

“The business sector, more or less, owns and controls the stores that the transportation sector engages in business for the maintenance of their vehicles... But, we are certain that the government can come up with a plan that will benefit all stakeholders in the transportation sector.”

OTHER CHALLENGES The current ‘free market’ system of the minibus industry also presents a longstanding challenge, which the representatives say results in vehicle overcrowding at the park, which only has a capacity to hold a limited amount of buses.

In addition to this, they say that several minibuses in operation are controlled by business persons who have no other agenda than to collect their share of returns at the end of the day.

This contributes to a lack of cooperation between minibus operators and the UMU, whereby Andrews says the majority participate in matters of the Union only when it serves their personal interest.

The UMU says that while an “exemplary relationship” is shared with the government, it is unsure which department it must approach to address the matter, as the Tourism Ministry’s Commerce Department has indicated tjat it no longer negotiates on matters of the Union.

Nonetheless, by next Tuesday, the UMI intends to write an official letter to the Ministry of Business requesting a formal meeting to discuss a structured price system and other pressing matters.

A copy of the fare structure agreed upon by the UMU Zone 32 back in 2014 (Photos by Adrian Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday June 2, 2018

‘Bouse’ on trial for manslaughter

– in December 2015 murder over ‘Puppy Tail’

By Jeune Bailey-VanKeric A FIGHT over a girl named ‘Puppy Tail’ has resulted in the death of Mark Simon, also known as Mark Layne, and Byron Robertson, called “Bouse”, facing trial for manslaughter.

The incident reportedly oc-

curred on December 27, 2015 in the vicinity of the Guinness Bar at Manchester Village, on the Corentyne.

Robertson, who was also indicted for unlawfully wounding Samuel Fraser on the same night that Simon met his demise, has pleaded not guilty to both offences, following his appear-

ance before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a mixed jury, and is represented by Defence Counsel Arun Gossai.

State Prosecutrix Tuanna Hardy, in her opening address, said there was a fight at a bar at Manchester, during which Mark Simon sustained a fatal wound to his thigh, and the peacemaker,

Samuel Fraser was injured.

An eyewitness, one Joshua Smith of Liverpool Village, gave evidence saying that it was customary for the “Guinness Bar” to host parties every Sunday at Manchester, and that he and his uncle, the late Mark Simon, and some friends were drinking at a table when the accused approached and an argument ensued.

Said Smith: “I did not know what the argument was about, but Byron Robertson left and went to the back of the bar; seconds later, Mark Simon followed.

“I cannot say what my uncle told him, but I saw Byron running away and returning with a cutlass in his hand.

“They argued; Byron fired a chop; he missed. They started to fight. Mark was on the ground; Byron was cuffing him.

“They got up; they armed themselves with cutlasses and were firing chops. Samuel Fraser and I took away the cutlasses, as we tried to part them. I got a cut on my forehead.

“They punched each other; they fell to the ground. There were two street lights illuminating in opposite directions. Byron was cuffing Mark.

“I saw a knife in Byron’s waist; Byron took it out and inflicted a ‘juk’ on Mark’s thigh.

I told my girlfriend to wrap

Mark’s foot to stop the bleeding.

On the way to the hospital, Mark was not moving. Kempton Gray had accompanied us.”

Questioned by Gossai, the defence counsel, about the veracity of his story, Smith replied that he had very good reason to lie to the police, but not to the magistrate.

He also denied allegations that his uncle, Mark Simon, was armed with a cutlass when he ran behind the accused, Byron, and that he, Smith, was not there when the incident occurred.

He, however, admitted that it was the first time he’d ever mentioned trying to part the fight.

The witness confessed telling the lower court that he did not know where about his body his uncle was injured.

He also admitted that the fight was over a young lady in their neighbourhood called “Puppy tail”, and swore what he was saying was the truth.

In his evidence, Detective Constable Corwin Mitchel recalled that after putting the allegation of murder to the accused while he was a discharged patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital, Robertson, under caution, replied: “Sir, me ain’t know nothing; somebody chop he.” This he did moments before he was escorted to the Whim Police Station.

The plainclothes policeman

recalled, too, that at the time he’d visited the hospital, Robertson had lacerations on his back, left knee and head. His left foot was also in a cast.

He further testified that when the allegation of murder was put to the accused on December 30, 2015, the police had not yet completed their investigations.

Another sleuth, Detective Sergeant Michael Peters noted that after contacting the accused at the Whim Station, he recalled hearing Robertson say: “I did not chop Simon; it was Simon who chopped me with a cutlass on my head, my eyes, my back and my left foot.”

But when questioned by Gossai, this same Peters said he could not recall who was the investigation rank. All that he remembers, he said, was that when the investigation began, he got the distinct impression that it had to do with the double murder of Mark Simon and Kempton Gray.

He also recalled witnessing the post-mortem examination on Simon and not Gray, although he had seen the latter’s body lying at the New Amsterdam mortuary.

The autopsy was conducted

by Dr Vivikanand Brijmohan, who reported that the cause of death was shock and haemorrhage along with a stab wound to the thigh.

Meanwhile, Woman Detective Deslyn Whyte took photographic exposures of items found at the scene, which included a pair of black- andwhite sneakers, a red top, a black camouflage cap, a stainless steel knife with black handle, and a grey gent’s vest.

The knife, she said, was not tested for fingerprints.

Another witness, one Alice Simon, mother of the deceased, recalled seeing her son at around 14:00hrs on that fateful day as he rode past her house on his bicycle.

Hours later, amidst pouring rain, she was told the dreadful news, but could do little about it at the time, because of the weather.

The following day, after travelling to the New Amsterdam Hospital, she saw the motionless body of her son in an icebox at the mortuary, where she later identified his remains to the Government pathologist Dr Brijmohan.

Simon told the jury, too, that she knew the accused since childhood, and that he and her son were always at war over girls.

The trial is continuing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday June 2, 2018

‘Otisha’ on rape charge

A WELL-KNOWN sex worker on Friday appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly on an alleged rape charge.

The court heard that on December 24, 2017 at Station Street, Kitty, Otis Pearson known as "Otisha" was engaged in a sexual penetration

of a child under the age of 16.

He was not required to plead.

The prosecutor had no objection to bail but under the conditions that the defendant lodges his passport with the court and that he reports every Friday to the Brickdam Police Station.

Bail was granted by Mag-

istrate Leron Daly in the sum of $300,000 and the matter was adjourned for July 19, 2018 when Pearson will make an appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Pearson was in March this year arrested, after accusations were leveled against him in relation to having sexual re-

lations with under-aged boys.

The Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) had assisted the police in the probe and a file was compiled and sent to the DPP Chambers for legal advice.

CC&PA’s Director Ann Green who had conducted interviews said that the alleged

GGMC confirms deaths of staff

A SENIOR functionary of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has confirmed the deaths of four staff members but has urged that the public await official reports before arriving at conclusions.

Since February, four persons, Mr. Dwayne De Jonge, a ranger; Mr. Latchman Chiti, a surveyor; Mr. Leroy Green, a carpenter and Mr. Clement Proffit, a lab technician, succumbed to illnesses.

It is being speculated that the illness is linked to mercury poisoning, but the GGMC has cautioned against hasty conclusions, although saying that it could be assumed that the illnesses from which the persons reportedly died are all consistent with mercury contamination and the effects it has on one’s organs.

An observer close to the GGMC said that while it is the Guyana Gold Board whose laboratory is located inside the GGMC Upper Brickdam compound, none of the Gold Board’s staff seems seriously affected.

“These are all GGMC people

and most of them work in the fields…” the source said.

Meanwhile, the People Progressive Party PPP in a statement on Friday expressed concern at the deaths of the four GGMC staffers.

“The deaths of these staffers, who were documented to have been affected by mercury poisoning, makes it clear that every effort must be made to ensure that working conditions are safe,” said the PPP statement.

Noting that the issue was not a political one, the PPP said it will support the Government of Guyana “to ensure that every effort is made to guarantee the health and safety of our people.” The party called for immediate action by the relevant authorities, including the management of the GGMC and the Ministry of Public Health, “to ensure the occupational health and safety standards are in place and the welfare of all staff and citizens are protected.”

In a response following our inquiries, the Ministry of Natural Resources in a press release said, along with other

government agencies, it is already responding to the mercury situation and that no effort or expense would be spared to protect workers.

According to the release, the government has been “working assiduously” with, and through several ministries and agencies including, the EPA and Ministry of Social Protection, “to ensure that the current issues are resolved to the satisfaction of the workers.”

“The Ministry of Natural Resources… wishes to place on record that no official or formal report of this matter has been received about these deaths being mercury related.

The Ministry of Natural Resources will await a report to this effect from the GGMC and will again engage the workers about any grievances that may exist,” the statement said.

The Ministry noted that “there is simply no existing empirical data which establishes that mercury is responsible for the deaths of miners and GGMC workers in recent times. However, efforts are already in train to scientifi-

Man charged with Enmore murder

LAST Sunday signalled the end of the road for an Enmore man who was on the run for 18 years after allegedly murdering another man,and on Friday he was charged with the crime.

Deonarine Bhikari appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on East Coast Demerara, charged with the murder of Daniel Singh.

The man was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on May 27, 2000, he murdered Daniel Singh at Hope West, Enmore, East Coast Demerara in the East Demerara Magisterial District.

Bhikari, now 53, was at the time he allegedly committed the murder in his 30s. He reportedly murdered Singh as Singh’s children watched and screamed for help. Relatives of the deceased were in court to witness the proceedings.

Singh’s son, who was at the court on Friday, told the media that he

was happy to see the man who murdered his father appear in court, and that the entire family is very confident that justice will finally be

served after 18 long years of waiting. So at this point, they are not too bothered waiting another few years for justice to be fully served.

Saturday, June 02, 2018 – 5:00 & 6;30 hrs Sunday, June 03, 2018 – 5:00 & 6;30 hrs

victims are under the age 16.

Pearson had been very vocal on social media and was reported as saying during a television interview that he “has a young boy for every day of the week.”

But Pearson has claimed that the statement was misinterpreted and he denied

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having sexual relations with “little boys.” He was accompanied by SASOD leader Joel Simpson when he made the denial.

However, a photograph later appeared with him (Pearson) in the company of a young boy.

…MNR reiterates that there has been no official report on the matter

cally establish whether there is such a link.”

The release said that the GGMC is a decades old institution and that the use of mercury has been ongoing for decades in mining.

“Miners and workers of the

GGMC and the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) have for many years been exposed to mercury at various levels, and times both in the hinterland and in the city because of its widespread use in the amalgamation of gold,” it said.

In April, the Guyana Gold Board ceased burning gold at its Brickdam laboratory. Plans are said to be in train to relocate not only the laboratory but the entire GGB operations to a suitable location.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday June 2, 2018

Focus on children and youths timely IN his 52nd Independence address to the nation, President David Granger touched on the historical movement to Independence and the national achievements over the last half-a-century, at the same time glancing into the future. But the main focus of the President's address was on children and youth and the Flag Raising ceremony was dedicated to them.

The President's address was not only unique but it was creative and refreshing and awakened the nation to think about the upbringing of children into men and women who would bring pride and joy to their families and be an asset to the nation. The President remarked: "Children are our future ... We need to bequeath to them much more than we inherited from our own parents". He then went on to mention some of the positive things Independence had brought to children and young people: The education system had been vastly expanded with new schools and free primary and secondary education and the establishment of the University of Guyana. School feeding programmes were introduced and children helped to get to school by buses, bicycles and boats. The health system had also been vastly improved and expanded with regional hospitals, improved child care, health centres, free medicines, all leading to the reduced incidence of child mortality. The tenor of the President's address pointed the way to parents and elders responsible for bringing up children.

They will have to learn the art of parenting, a skill which parents of two generations ago had perfected.

In the first place, parents must realise that children are not small adults. Children and adults are very different.

Children have to go through a number of stages before they evolve into adults and each stage has its own characteristic, which if not understood and properly dealt with could

damage the child for a life-time. There are two of the most important and well-known stages we will mention. Up to the age of about 12, the child is still much of a baby. The child needs tolerance, love and understanding. He/she must never be frustrated and adults who find fun in frustrating children should desist from so doing. He/she must be encouraged to read rather than looking at television and parental guidance and help in school work is necessary. If the child does badly in his school work parents should never humiliate him/her but try to find out what problems the child may be encountering and try to help.

Children in these very early years need to be fed properly and good protein intake helps in brain development.

Many parents, especially from working class families, allow their children to consume large amounts of sugar which is not helpful to growth and development. One of the things parents should always keep in mind is that food from fastfood outlets, usually known as "junk food" is neither good for themselves or their children. If one visits the fast-food shops at weekends or during the school holidays, one would see parents and their young children eating such "junk food".

In disciplining children, many parents shout at them or hit them for minor lapses and one could see this happening on the buses and other public places. Many parents beat their children mercilessly, not only hurting the child physically but doing irreparable violence to his/her mind and psyche.

This tradition of savage beatings, some sociologists posit, has come down from slavery when all punishments were harsh and violent. Parents must learn to refrain from hitting or beating their children and should use other methods of discipline.

The second stage of the child's development is between the ages of 14 and 18. This is the stage of adolescence. It is

one of the most difficult times for the child as well as for parents. Owing to certain physical changes which are occurring to the body of the adolescent, the child sometimes acts like an adult and sometimes like a child. Parents have to be extraordinarily understanding and tolerant of their adolescent children since the child's future hangs on these years. Many a child has turned out to be a successful student and later a member of the learned professions, whilst others have turned out to be flaneurs or even criminals as a result of their treatment in adolescence.

Adolescence is a time of puberty and parents have to be very conscious of this and accord their children protection, advice and surveillance. This is especially needed among working class children and particularly girls.

The economic socialisation of children is badly needed in Guyana. The work of youth groups and the schools could be of help but parents would be the most effective. Though the parents themselves may not be economically socialised, they could use those who are better off in the society as examples for their children.

Children should be taught to save, pointing out the value of forgoing today's consumption for tomorrow's betterment. Or in shopping, they should be taught to look at prices and compare them so that they would be able to get the best value for money. Or children must know that living in a rented apartment is not an inevitability they must know that they could build or purchase their own homes and the concept of a mortgage should be explained to them. The President's focusing on children and youth is therefore both timely and evergreen.

Am I being discriminated against by NIS? Dear Editor, MY husband died on July 14, 1990. Our union produced a daughter who was 11 years of age at the time of his death.

My husband had made in excess of 1000 contributions to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) by the time he died. Being ignorant of NIS, I did not make a claim for survivor’s benefit until November 2016, 26 years after my husband’s death. This was as a result of the social assistance I collected from the Ministry of

Social Protection being stopped, and being informed by officers from the said ministry that I am entitled to survivor’s pension from NIS. My claim for survivor’s pension was denied by NIS which informed that, the time for claiming the benefit had passed.

I appealed the decision contending that my claim should not have been disallowed in its entirety but disqualified for the period from the date of my husband’s death to six months before the claim was made. They

just stated, I am advised, is the practice and law pertaining to the late submission of claims for survivor’s pension. My appeal was heard at the NIS Leonora Office on May 22, 2018 and disallowed by the Chairman, NIS Appeal Tribunal. He introduced new facts for disallowing my claim, erroneously stating that because of my age, 37 years, at my husband’s death that only my daughter who is now 39 years of age was entitled to a survivor’s benefit and that would have been for up to her attaining

16 years of age. I now have to appeal the Tribunal Chairman’s decision to the National Insurance Commissioner.

However, I am advised there hasn’t been a commissioner for over 12 years and who must be appointed by the President. I am a poor 65-year-old Amerindian widow who has no source of income and depend on my daughter for my upkeep. As a consequence, I appeal to any concerned person or association to represent my case in the absence of a National Insurance

Commissioner and my inability to seek justice in the Supreme Court.

With the taking away of my social security assistance, the disallowance of my claim by the GM, NIS and my appeal to the Tribunal being disallowed, I am inclined to believe I have been identified for “special” treatment and which appears to be discriminatory.

Regards Ismay Lake

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday June 2, 2018

There’s a difference between reasonable criticism and blindness Dear Editor, What is the questioning and commentary about there being two GUYSUCO boards really about? Does anyone really care that these procedural issues will clearly shortly be resolved?

These sort of idle speculations, under the guise of good governance and oversight, only serve to distract from the progress being made in restructuring the sugar industry.

Despite all the negative

coverage and the plays on sympathy, the industry is being saved from itself. How could we expect a corporation producing sugar at three times the world price to continue? Maybe the truth is that we had decided just to ignore the problem. Of course, it then became too large for us to sustain from the public finances so a change needed to happen, one way or another.

I wouldn't be drawn into the little reports that hide the big changes that will eventually lead to a

more sustainable situation.

Privatisation of some of the unproductive estates should turn them around in time and much better than that, we can expect this emphasis on reform to mean oil money would be used well if the coalition returns to office come 2020. There's a difference between reasonable criticism and blindness to the context around required reform.

Regards Anjanie Mohabir

Audit and investigations vindicated Dear Editor, IF what has been carried in Guyana Chronicle “Paying the right price…some Pradoville homeowners contacting SARA in a bid to settle’’, is indeed authentic, then the lies and numerous dishonest attempts of the opposition Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), of accusing the government of witch-hunting their former senior potentates, with the political motive brand attached are ab-

solutely LIES! Editor, those former officials who are reported to have been visiting SARA’s office recently, with the view of settling their individual matters are intelligent enough to know the following: That they had broken the law, which meant that their transactions entered into with their former administration have been illegal, and that it makes them liable for prosecution.

Indeed, it is coming to crunch time and nobody wants to be embarrassed,

despite all the shameless narrative bleated by Bharat Jagdeo ever so often about the nature of the charges, and of their validity.

This turn of events, even if it did not take place, has further vindicated the audit, and the subsequent law enforcement investigations that would have followed.

By their own actions, these PPP/C members have admitted culpability.

Regards Dillon Goring

Citizens Report is confused Dear Editor,

AN article about the costs of the Venezuelan case at the ICC was published in the Citizens Report that needs some adjusting.

After all, how can it make sense that there is "suspicion" about the use of the Exxon bonus for the court case, when that was precisely what the administration said the funds were for?

Really what we should think is that this represents

just the opposite of suspicious financial activity by a government. As the senior ministers said at the time the funds would be made available for the casethat is exactly what was done. Rather than scrounge around desperately for millions of USD our needs were well taken care of by level-headed planning.

Further, while the costs may be high we can seldom complain about this. This represents the smallest sacrifice when we

consider what we have to lose. We need to support the national efforts to make secure our borders and guarantee the future for all further generations of Guyanese. Idle talk that raises baseless suspicions does our nation no good, and we expect to see better, than that from those commenting on the national interest.

Yours Malcolm Marshall

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Big boost to port security

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2, 2018

… with US$8,000 donation of electronics to MARAD

U.S AMBASSADOR Perry Holloway has handed over close to US $8,000 in electronics and associated supplies to the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), for the implementation of a port security identification card programme.

The electronics and associated supplies were handed over to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, in the presence of Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson, and MARAD Director General Claudette Rogers, at MARAD’s Battery Road office.

Ambassador Holloway said the establishment of a port security identification card programme would complement the marked improvements made by MARAD, with technical support from the US. “In August 2014, after five capacity-building events and four-quarterly facility visits by U.S. experts, including the U.S Coast Guard, Guyana made a significant improvement in its overall port security performance score, increasing its performance to a score of 84 per cent compliance in just one year, up from the previous score of 58 per cent compliance,” Ambassador Hollo-

way explained.

To facilitate those capacity-building events and visits, the U.S invested well over US $100,000, and the US Ambassador said he is pleased with the results, as he offered commendation to MARAD’s staff for capitalising on the opportunity. He said without their dedication, Guyana would not have been able to achieve such a dramatic improvement in its port security performance.

The port security identification card programme will add to the existing system, the US Ambassador reiterated.

“This ID card programme will allow MARAD to have greater governmental oversight on who is allowed access to the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code compliant facilities in Guyana. Once the equipment is installed, Guyana will have a port facility identification card programme similar to that used in the United States,” Ambassador Holloway explained.

The system is being implemented at a time when Guyana is gearing up for its first oil production in 2020 –a move which is expected to increase traffic at ports, not only as a result of the Oil and Gas Sector, but other industries that would benefit.

But whether it’s Oil and Gas or

The electronics and associated supplies handed over to MARAD by the US Embassy for the implementation of a port security identification card programme. (Adrian Narine photo) the rice industry, Ambassador Holloway said that the ID card programme will give MARAD a better oversight. “…I am sure with this equipment and continued training, along with the commitment of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Guyana will continue to improve its performance scores and the people of Guyana will benefit,” he posited.

Ambassador Holloway said the U.S remains committed to Guyana and will continue to work with the Guyanese Government to make the country a more secure, prosperous, and inclusive place for all Guyanese.

Minister Patterson, while expressing gratitude to the US Government for its timely assistance, explained that Guyana adopted the Interna-

tional Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code in 2004 as a result of the terrorist attack in 2001.

Since then MARAD, which has responsibility for the implementation of the code, has been taking critical steps to improve security standards at various port facility.

“In 2014 a team from the Maritime Administration

Department paid a reciprocal visit to the US Coast Guard in Louisiana where they benefitted from the US Transportation Workers Identification Card system called TWIC, and held discussions as to how the Maritime Administration can implement such a system at the port facility,” Minister Patterson explained.

He noted that the card which will be used by port facilities in Guyana will be known as Port Security Access Card (PSAC).

Alluding to the machine donated by the US Embassy, the public infrastructure minister further explained that it will be used to produce the identification cards for employees working at port facilities and reduce the security checks for other stakeholders who frequent the port facilities.

“The card will also improve the security standards at port facilities in terms of access control,” he added.

Persons desirous of becoming a Port Security Officer will be required to complete four modules of raining – ISPS Security, First AID, Security Communication and Skill at Arms.

It is expected that MARAD will conduct awareness programmes with owners and operations of the various port facilities before implementation.

‘Health Expo’ serves as an eyeopener

–– particularly for schoolchildren undecided about career path

HUNDREDS of children of various ages and schools across the country descended Friday on the Sophia Exhibition Centre to hear and see what Health Expo 2018 had to offer in terms of a career in the health sector.

According to Judy Hopkinson, one of the many teachers accompanying the children to the fair, 25 pupils from Enterprise Primary attended the exposition, and from what they’ve been saying, she is convinced that their little outing was not in vain.

The group of three to five-yearolds, she said, would have seen many different things and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, since the event was educational.

Jason Anthony of Josel Educational Institute said he was intrigued by what he’s learnt, as he has gained a lot of

knowledge about the health sector and its services.

An exhibitor from Eco-Atlantic International Investment Inc., Shemar Alleyne told the Guyana Chronicle that their booth is all about taking care of your body the healthy way, by using all organic products.

He said that all the products are sourced from the US, and retailed locally at an affordable cost, so that Guyanese would get to know the product and be more health-conscious about what they use.

Coordinator of the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), Ramona Doorgen said their presence at the exposition is to bring awareness on the safe use of our roads.

She related that road safety is a serious health issue, and when there are

deaths and injuries, it puts a burden on our health system.

At Massay Distribution and its sister company, Massay Gas, Brand Coordinator Nirvana Thakur was on hand to promote their pharmaceutical and personal care products.

She stated that their booth is geared towards the promotion of its beauty and health products, and that so far, the response has been overwhelming.

Dr. Ertehisa Hamilton told this newspaper that their role at the Health Expo 2018 is to educate the general public about the services they provide, and where those services can be accessed.

Over at the Rehab Services booth, Desia Wray was present to provide her expertise as a Rehab Assistant in Speech and Language Therapy where

some of the products used were on display.

And, manning one of the booths of the Ministry of Public Health was Nurse Nicole Dawson, who told the Guyana Chronicle that her being there was to talk about health and wellness, as it relates to senior citizens, pregnant women, mothers and adolescents.

She noted that they provide night sessions for both genders, and breast examination for women.

Launched Wednesday amidst calls for citizens to lead healthier lives and under the theme, “Reaching for a better life with good health”, Health Expo 2018 saw the hosting of a number of seminars and workshops for participants as well as a series of continuing medical education sessions for medical practitioners.

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Church group says no to gay pride parade

THE Georgetown Ministers Fellowship (GMF) says it is strongly against the ‘Gay Pride Parade’, to be held today, and further calls for the Government to shun this event along with the legalisation of homosexuality.

The Pride Parade is being hosted by a coalition of LGBT Rights organisations and forms part of the body’s LGBT Pride Festival 2018. It will see a coalition of LGBT Rights organisations hosting daily activities such as film festivals, inter-faith sessions, sport activities and health fairs and will run from May

march, and certainly, not to enact any legislation to legalise homosexuality,” the statement said.

WHY NOW When pressed by the media as to why the GMF chose this period to speak out on the matter and what of its voice during other social ills in society such as domestic violence, rape, sexual misconduct by minsters and more, this response was given: “The reason for our speaking out on this matter with such urgency at this time is not because we are

been allowed to advance … the results have been a loss of rights to people of faith, people of decency, God-fearing people, a loss to freedom of speech,” said Valeria Liam, Member of the GMF. “The Gay Pride Parade is about the expression of sexuality. Our constitution has given some guidelines and has legal boundaries regarding matters of sexual expression … the law does not allow for crossdressing, the law does not allow for the activities which are normal in a Gay Pride Parade,” said Pastor. Marlon Hestick, GMF Member.

Members of the Georgetown Ministers’ Fellowship (GMF) at the Full Gospel Annex 27 to June 3.

However, the GMF in a meeting with the media on Friday at the Full Gospel Annex, denounced the LGBT community for seeking to “impose their demands and prejudices upon others” and for “pressuring the Government” to amend laws.

They predicted that the parade will be a public show of homosexual practices still unlawful in Guyana and called on the Government to step in to protect “the fundamental values that the majority of Guyanese cherish”.

“Tomorrow’s gay march, if it were to go ahead, would be another sad day for Guyana. Given the corruptive and destructive nature of homosexuality, it would be a dark day in our nation’s history; a blemish on the social fabric of the Republic.

“We, the ministers and leaders, as well as the hundreds of thousands of people we represent, call upon the government not to support the gay pride

in favour or support of all the other wrongs and tragic atrocities that are going on in the nation against men and women, domestic violence and such things. We are very much against this and this is preached from the pulpit… “… but the thing about the homosexual agenda that urges us to speak out on it loudly is that in countries where the LGBT agenda has

However, when the parade was likened to recent marches for the legalisation of marijuana, still illegal in Guyana, the body declined to provide a statement on the matter in favour of the topic at hand.

NO DISCRIMINATION Members of the GMF are also contesting that their stance on the rebuk-

ing on the Pride Parade is not on the basis of discrimination as it simply seeks to preserve its right to say that homosexuality is wrong.

The members gave examples of periods where they have reached out to the LGBT community as well as other vulnerable groups in society, fulfilling their mandate to help those most in need.

However, they claim too that homosexuals are using such activities as a “strategy of gaining sympathy by claiming discrimination” and are also being propelled by international organisations with similar agendas.

They also spoke to the matter of members of the general Christian society who have shown support for the LGBT community in their previously held parade, stating: “In any body you will find a minority who will opt to do something different … but we represent hundreds of thousands of people who oppose the LGBTQ lifestyles and plans and covert agenda because we know that it is inimical to the development of our societies,” said Apostle Alim Mursalin.

When asked what the body plans to do to fix the situation, the members presented “health, healing and hope” along with prayer, public engagement and the adherence to public policy as possible remedies.

This is the second anniversary of the Pride Festival first held in 2017 to mark the formation of the LGBT organisations in Guyana.

Other supporting members of the Georgetown Ministers’ Fellowship (GMF) (Photos by Adrian Narine)

8 cheques were not honoured –– $800,000 bail

A 32-YEAR-OLD businessman on Friday appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on a series of fraud-related matters.

Jason Aaron of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara denied all of the eight charges and was released on $100,000 bail on each count.

The charges alleged that Aaron on May 16 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, forged the power-of-attorney of Raymond Austin.

The court heard that on October 14, 2017 at Eccles, EBD, he obtained the sum of $50,000 from Keron Kasiawan by promising that he had money in his account at the Bank of Baroda to honour the cheque, knowing same to be false.

He was further Jason Aaron charged with obtaining the following: $50,000 on October 8, 2017; $26,260 on October 28, 2017; $20,000 on October 11, 2017; $40,000 on October 27, 2017; $20,000 on October 18, 2017 and $30,000 on October 23, 2017 promising that he had the respective monies in his account at the Bank of Baroda.

Police Prosecutor Arwin Moore made no objection to bail but told the court that the virtual complainant operates a supermarket in Eccles and on the dates mentioned in the charge, Arron made purchases during the month of October 2017 and used cheques.

However at the end of the month, the Bank of Baroda contacted Kasiawan and informed him that Arron’s account did not have any money to support the cheques.

The magistrate released Arron on a total of $800,000 bail and adjourned the matter to June 5.

‘Hungry’ man will get food for a year A 23-YEAR-OLD Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident was on Friday afternoon sentenced to one year in jail on a break and enter charge by acting chief magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.

Khemraj Ramgobin admitted that on May 29 at Wismar, Linden, he broke and entered the home of Anthony Lieu-ken-pen.

According to reports, on the day in question the man while armed with a cutlass broke down the door to the home of Lieu-ken-pen.

However, two of the Lieu-ken-pen children were home and they raised an Khemraj Ramgobin alarm resulting in Ramgobin’s arrest.

The unrepresented man told the court “I was really hungry and I was calling really long…but I didn’t get to go inside far.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2, 2018

CDB records strong growth in 2017 THE Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) recorded strong growth and exceeded targets in approvals and disbursements in 2017.

According to CDB President Dr. Warren Smith, these were highlights in the banks 2017 annual report. “The Bank was able to respond quickly and meaningfully to the various setbacks and the challenges that Borrowing Member Countries faced during the year.

With this level of support, CDB was able to maintain its position as a leading source of long-term development financing and capacity-building in the Caribbean,” Smith said.

In 2017, the Bank approved capital loans and technical assistance interventions totaling US$ 364 million, an increase of 18 per cent compared with 2016. Disbursements to its Borrowing Member Countries rose by 13 per

cent to US$233 million during the year. The report also details CDB’s economic outlook and review for the Caribbean Region. The Bank reports that in 2017, on average, there was an overall uptick in economic growth of 0.5 per cent in BMCs, led by a rebound in oil prices, and supported by buoyant tourism and construction activities.

“Fiscal balances remained weak in most cases; and public sector debt continued to be worryingly high in many BMCs,” according to the review. The Bank forecasts that the regional economy will grow by 1.8 per cent in 2018 due to anticipated improvements in global economic growth, with risks tilted to the downside. “Mitigating these risks will require improved resilience on many levels.

Macroeconomic stability, increased competitiveness, improved human development, and

environmental preparedness are conditions that are necessary to improve resilience, and ensure sustainable and inclusive growth and development,” the report notes.

In the newly-released publication, CDB also reports on its project performance across several sectors including environmental sustainability in which the institution provided Emergency Relief Grants totaling US$800,000 to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) following the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

In renewable energy and energy efficiency the report said the bank CDB continued to promote its streetlight retrofitting programme, encouraging BMCs to undertake network-wide replacement and sustainable disposal of inefficient high-pressure sodium

lamps with LED lamps. In 2017, loans were approved for streetlight retrofitting in Jamaica and Suriname; and the implementation of similar projects in Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines advanced. When these projects are fully implemented, savings of at least 50 per cent in streetlight energy consumption, system-wide, are expected. Concerning regional cooperation and integration, the bank completed the implementation of 28 projects under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy and the Economic Partnership Agreement Standby Facilities.

Total disbursements in 2017 were US$1.4 million. The release of the Annual Report coincides with the Annual Meeting of the Bank’s Board of Governors, the theme of which is “resilience”. (CMC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2, 2018

$650M for road works on Linden-Lethem/Kwakwani roads

MAINTENANCE works on the Mabura, Kwakwani and Lethem roads are expected to commence within weeks, Ministry of Natural Resources announced on Friday.

More than $650M from Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s (GGMC) coffers has been set aside to facilitate the road projects which are critical to miners and forest operators in the gold, diamond and timber industries. The multi-million-dollar projects are being executed by the Natural Resources Ministry with funding from GGMC, and technical assistance from the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry explained that on May 3, 2018 a total of six road contracts valued at over $650M were awarded to various contractors for the maintenance of the Rockstone-Mabura, Kurupukari-Annai-Lethem and the Linden-Ituni-Kwakwani roads. This is in addition to a previous contract awarded to JR Ranch for the Manari Bridge approach realignment in Region 9, Rupununi valued at $83,003, 620.

“The roads were identified following discussions with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association and several miners and

Though the Ituni-Kwakwani road underwent repairs in April, it is now back in a deplorable condition. Several sections of the road, which stretches from Linden to Ituni to Kwakwani, are almost impassable. According to drivers plying the route, the situation has now gone from bad to worse.

In the past, it took residents approximately two hours from Linden to Kwakwani but the journey is now four to five hours long. Ituni and Kwakwani are located in Sub-region 2 of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

However, the Natural Resources Ministry has assured that the rehabilitation of the Linden-Ituni-Kwakwani Road will recommence at the end of the May-June rainy season.

GGMC through the Natural Resources Ministry awarded contracts for the repairs to the road to International Imports and Supplies to the tune of $239.7M. The contractor has reportedly mobilised his equipment at the site. Marking out of the road has commenced.

“The Linden-Kwakwani road is an important conduit for forest operators and repairs will also benefit the residents of these two communities and those along the corridor including the residents of Ituni and Aroaima.

In this photo, which was taken Wednesday May 30, 2018, passengers are disembarking a minibus, after it was stuck in a pool of water. They were heading to Kwakwani from Linden

In this photo, which was taken last Saturday, a driver, who plies the Linden-Ituni-Kwakwani route on a daily basis, walks into a large pool of water to determine the best part to drive. forest operators who had explained that the condition of the roads was hindering their production efforts and costing more to move supplies in and out of the interior,” the Natural Resources Ministry explained.

Persons living along the Berbice River will also benefit. The works include ditching, excavating, section repairs of soft spot and filling with laterite,” the Ministry explained.

Region 10 A Partnership for National

Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Representative in the National Assembly Jermaine Figueira told Guyana Chronicle that Government is fully aware of the challenges facing commuters who have little or no choice but to ensure the treacherous journey on the Linden-Ituni-Kwakwani road. However, he, like the Natural Resources Ministry, said that the heavy and constant showers are stalling the multimillion dollar project which will bring much relief to residents.

Once the project recommences, Figueira is urging residents along the route to monitor the works closely to ensure that the project is executed in keeping with the scope of works.

“I would like to encourage the people of Kwakwani that they should be integrally involved in the process to ensure that the contractor honours the contractual arrangement.

They need to be the ears and the eyes on the ground because they are the ones who suffer as a result of the deplorable state of the road,” the APNU+AFC MP said.

Also in Region 10, maintenance of the Rockstone-Mabura Road should commence at the end of the rainy season. A $140.4M contract was awarded to MMC Inc. for this project.

Meanwhile, maintenance of the Annai to Lethem Road is expected to commence in the first week of this month pending facilitating weather. The contract for that project was awarded to D&R Construction and Machin-

ery Rental on May 3, 2018 to the tune of $139.3M. “The contractor has submitted all bonds and the mobilisation advance is being processed,” the ministry noted, adding that the contract for the continuing section of the road from Annai to Kurupukari was awarded on the same date to MMC Inc. Work was scheduled to commence in the final week of May. The ministry said too that the realignment of the Manari Bridge approach is also expected to start at the end of the rainy season. An $83M contract was awarded to JR Ranch for this project. This realignment has become necessary following several accidents and a promise made by government to intervene to preserve lives and limbs.

In his 2018 National Budget speech, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, had said that his ministry plans to work with the public infrastructure ministry to improve the intricate road network in the six mining districts. Approximately $2B has been earmarked for repairs under this initiative.

The joint initiative of the GGMC, ministries of Natural Resources and Public Infrastructure, to maintain and rehabilitate the roads, is aimed at providing the physical infrastructure necessary for these operators to maintain production in the extractive industries and residents are urged to monitor the works in their communities and to make reports on the progress or lack thereof.

Taxi driver freed of ‘causing death’

DUE to the lack of evidence, a 77-year-old taxi driver was on Friday freed by Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman

of the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

John Haynes, of Second Street, Alexander Vil-

lage, Georgetown, was on trial for driving his motor car HC 184, in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of Morris

Jeffrey on February 10 at Brickdam, Georgetown.

He was represented by attorney-at-law Adrian Thomas and the matter was

prosecuted by Police Corporal Shawn Gonsalves.

According to reports, on the day in question, Haynes struck down Jef-

fery who at the time was crossing the Brickdam Public Road in the vicinity of the St. Stanislaus College.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday June 2, 2018

Exxon and partners visit Banks DIH

REPRESENTATIVES of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), an affiliate of U.S. oil-and-gas giant, ExxonMobil met with the hierarchy of Banks DIH Limited and its subsidiary company, Citizens Bank Guyana Inc., on May 28, 2018 for a tour and “mutual discussions”.

According to a statement issued by the local beverage company on Friday, the EEPGL delegation, headed

by ExxonMobil’s Country Manager Rod Henson, met with the Chairman and Executive Directors of Banks DIH Limited and Citizens Bank. Henson was joined

by Director of Government Affairs, Carlton James.

The Banks DIH Limited team included its Chairman, Clifford Reis, Chairman/

Managing Director; George McDonald, Co-Managing Director/Marketing Director; Michael Pereira, Operations Director; Mohamed Shabir Hussein, Engineering Services Director; and Eton Chester, Managing Director of Citizens Bank Guyana Inc. Monday’s meeting was preceded by a tour of the Thirst Park operations, followed by “a Luncheon meeting at which matters of mutual interest were discussed”.

According to the statement, EEPGL’s representatives “expressed great satisfaction with both the tour and the mutual discussions with the management team of the Company and thanked the Chairman and Directors for hosting the EPPGL delegation.”

Chairman and Managing Director of Banks DIH Clifford Reis shakes hands with Rod Henson, ExxonMobil’s Country Manager in the presence of officials from both entities. (Banks DIH photo)

Witness recounts how he came to be maimed – as trial in 2014 Land of Canaan attempted murder continues

AS the trial in the attempted murder back in 2014 that left him scarred for life continued Thursday at the Georgetown High Court, eyewitness Welton Edwards took the stand, with the aid of a walker.

The matter was being heard before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury, and required Edwards giving a detailed as possible account of what transpired on the night of November 2, 2014 at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

Edwards, who has lost the ability to walk on his own, told the court that on the night in question, he was shot twice by the accused, Dereck Jaisingh, at around 22:20h.

He told the court that he

still resides at Land of Canaan, where, in 2014, he operated a nightspot cum bar and grocery in a building he shared with his wife and children.

Edwards recalled that he had just done closing up for the night when he heard his nephew, Sherwin Hamilton, calling out for “Lazzo”, “Lazzo”, which is his call-name.

The witness said that from the tone of his nephew’s voice, he knew straightaway that something was not right.

The boy was also trying to tell him something, but he couldn’t make out what it was.

On venturing outside to see what the matter was, Edwards said he didn’t see anything untowards at first, until

he saw his nephew coming from the back of his mother’s house and telling him that someone was beating up his brother, Raymond Hamilton.

With that, Edwards said, he lost no time in accompanying his nephew to where the altercation was taking place, this being the Land of Canaan Public Road.

And no sooner had they gotten there than the nephew, pointing to the accused, said, “Look de man!”

According to Edwards, the accused, Jaisingh, was standing on the road by a “lantern post” near a Chinese Restaurant, so he could make him out very clearly, since the place was adequately lit.

Edwards recalled that as his nephew was walking

Other investors had planes IT IS apparently nothing new for foreign companies, who have invested in Guyana, to acquire their own air transport to ease the financial burden that travelling to and from interior operating sites poses.

A number of foreign investors have been receiving the hammer by sectors under the notion of protecting local content involvement.

Canadian mining company, Guyana Goldfields, has been the latest investor whose operation has been questioned about its loyalty to local involvement. This was made an issue when the gold company, working its Region

Nine’s Aurora location, decided to purchase its own Twin Otter aircraft to help cushion the billions of dollars in airfare likely to be racked up during the company’s life here.

Some aircraft operators and even pilots have however come in defence of the company’s aviation decision calling it “practical and business savvy”, while others have seen it as a shutting out of local business and a failure to develop local content.

This apparently was not the same tune being sung when foreign companies, seeking natural resources and providing services to both private and state, were allowed to acquire

towards Jaisingh, the latter whipped out a gun and fired about 10 to 11 shots at him.

He told the court that everything happened so suddenly, he momentarily became transfixed; he was so afraid he couldn’t move.

Then, as he turned to walk away, he felt this burning sensation in the “small” of his back. And when he put his hand to the spot, he not only realised he was bleeding, but his belly felt like it was churning up inside him.

And as he bent down, he saw the accused pointing the gun in his direction.

The witness said that in spite of all the pain he was in, he had the presence of mind to ask his assailant, “Me and you had a problem?”

But the accused’s only response was to fire another shot at him, catching him again in the lower back.

And as he fell, Edwards said, he felt a shadow come over him, and looking up, he saw the accused standing there with the gun trained on him. And without missing a beat, the man squeezed the trigger twice, but fortunately, he had run out of ammunition.

After that, Edwards said, he lost consciousness, so he could not say what happened next.

The state is being led

by Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt, while the defence counsel is Nigel Hughes.

Leading the state’s case, Prosecutor Cave, said in her opening statement that

on the night in question, the accused Dereck Jaisingh had allegedly attempted to murder Sherwin Hamilton and Welton Edwards, when all the men wanted to do was to ask him what beef he had with their relative that he had to beat him up.

For their pains, the prosecutor said, Sherwin Hamilton took nine bullets, and his uncle two. Both men were subsequently hospitalised, while the gunman was indicted.

Cave said the men were not robbers; that they were unarmed when they went to enquire why the accused had beaten their relative since they had hitherto had no beef.

The matter continues in the Georgetown High Court.

their own planes in the past.

As recent as 2013, a small single engine Cessna aircraft which crashed had landed on an elderly woman’s house in Sparendaam on the East Coast of Demerara, killing all its passengers. It was operated for and by foreign investors.

That same year another plane had crashed. It was also being operated for and by foreign investors exploring for uranium here. In the 80s, the defunct Home Oil of Canada did likewise exploring onshore oil and gas in the Karanambo-Rupununi area.

A Beechcraft King Air was also hired for low lev-

el surveillance over the Mazaruni and Cuyuni Rivers and currently foreign operators are providing helicopter service to ExxonMobil.

“There were no complaints about those operations, so what is the real complaint against Goldfields,” one pilot questioned.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that over the years, investors operating in the interior have had air transport to be a major part of their operations. Local operators would have benefitted from those investments, but like any “smart” operator, companies will cut cost to grow their

profit and maintain a balanced operation.

Guyana Goldfields said that the purchase of its Twin Otter was strictly for economic reasons. The mining company said it was raking up a hefty flight bill that would have eventually had an adverse effect on its operations.

In a full page advertisement, Goldfields said it had expended over one billion dollars between Air Services Limited (ASL), Trans Guyana Airways, Roraima Airways and Wings Aviation in three years.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday June 2, 2018

Guyana joins ACP-EU Council

– in search of Cotonou successor AFRICAN, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) members on Friday agreed to a draft negotiating mandate as a group, as well as to seek a legally-binding arrangement with the European Union (EU) that builds on the existing Cotonou Agreement which is set to expire in 2020.

The Cotonou Agreement is aimed at the reduction and eventual eradication of poverty while contributing to sustainable development, and to the gradual integration of ACP countries into the world economy. The Agreement also speaks to the fight against impunity and promotion of criminal justice through the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The new agreement is expected to take into account the issues of middle-income countries, small-island developing states (SIDS), least developed countries (LDCs) and landlocked developing

countries (LLDCs). Guyana joined members of the ACP and the EU for the 43rd Session of the ACP-EU Joint Council to further discuss post-Cotonou negotiations.

The meeting was held in Togo, West Africa.

In a statement to the media, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, subject Minister Carl Greenidge participated in talks focussed primarily on diversity, while exploring a number of areas, including a joint ACP-EU declaration on climate change and migration.

Greenidge, who has been appointed Deputy Chief Negotiator to the Central Negotiating Group (CNG), raised a number of issues of importance to the ACP. Those issues included the 15th Joint Ministerial Trade Committee meeting held in Brussels, Belgium last year, as well as the as the problems of middle-income states and instruments that would be of use to assist them.

With the Cotonou Agreement set to expire in 2020, the organisation is looking towards post-Cotonou negotiations, which will be led and guided by a CNG. Guyana and Jamaica will represent the Caribbean region on this body. Minister Greenidge first served as a member of the Negotiating Troika for Lomé III in 1983 when he was Guyana’s Finance Minister.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, the Foreign Affairs Minister led a team to Lomé, Togo, West Africa for the 107th Session of (ACP) Council of Ministers held from May 28 to 30. During that session, the ACP Group examined means of revitalising both the organisation as well as its relations with the EU. In 1975, the Georgetown Agreement, aptly named for being signed in Guyana’s capital, gave birth to the ACP Group, which brought countries from three distinct

Ministers of the 79 ACP Member States at the 107th Session of the Council of Ministers (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

regions together to focus on trade, cultural cooperation and socio-economic development among other common interests. Presently, the ACP Group is looking to

amend the founding agreement to better equip the organszation to engage with other countries and bodies in the international arena.

Concurrently, in 1975, the

Court dismisses PPP quartet’s applications – for disclosure of GRDB audit report

CHIEF Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire, SC, on Thursday dismissed applications made by several PPP officials to declare that the failure of the prosecution to disclose a copy of the forensic audit report on the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), which formed the basis for investigations carried out by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), was in violation of their Constitutional rights.

The applicants were: Badrie Persaud, Prema Ramanah-Roopnarine, Jagnarine Singh, and Nigel Dharmalall. The forensic audit report was prepared by Nigel Hinds, Forensic Auditor, and according to the quartet, the non-disclosure of same constituted a violation of Article 144 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and more particularly, their right to be afforded facilities for the preparation of their defence and other protections of the law secured under, and guaranteed by, the said Article 144.

In their Fixed Date applications, Persaud, Ramanah-Roopnarine, Singh and Dharamlall also called for an order for a permanent stay of proceedings, quashing, vacating or

setting aside the charges of Fraudulent Omission, contrary to Section 104 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01 for which the Applicants were charged.

The applications of the quartet were identical, and all called for the same reliefs. They contended that they were charged on May 19, 2017 with five counts of Fraudulent Omission, and placed on $500,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan. The matter was later transferred to Magistrate Leron Daly, where the Administration of Justice Act was applied, and the parties opted to pursue summary trials and pleaded not guilty.

The quartet, along with Dharamkumar Seeraj and Ricky Ramraj, all denied that in 2011, they omitted to enter some $52M in the GRDB ledger. They also denied that they omitted to enter a sum of $77.3M into the said ledger. Other charges read that between the years 2014 and 2015, the sums of $130M, $9.7M and $145M were respectively omitted from the GRDB register. They pleaded not guilty to these charges as well.

The applicants contended that they were later served with some 18 statements by the prosecution, and

despite each of the prosecution’s witnesses commencing their testimony by referring to the pendency of a Forensic Audit Report on the GRDB by Nigel Hinds, they were never served with any, despite repeated requests and orders on the SOCU prosecutors to produce same.

The Applicants also alleged that the non-disclosure of the forensic audit report constituted a violation of their right to a fair trial, and the right to be afforded all fair and reasonable facilities for the preparation of their defence. They further contended that the Forensic Audit report is integral to the prosecution’s case, and therefore equally integral to the preparation of their defence and cross-examination of prosecution witnesses.

However, in response, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, represented

by Principal Legal Adviser, Oneka Archer-Caulder and State Counsel Collene Liverpool, countered that the charges laid against the Applicants were not made pursuant to the Forensic Audit report, but rather only caused an investigation to be launched; and it was upon the information unearthed during that investigation that the Applicants were

charged.

As such, the Attorney-General’s Chambers argued that the forensic audit report was not an integral part of the prosecution’s case, and, accordingly, the Applicants were not prejudiced in the preparation of their defence. Further, the State’s attorneys argued that the Applicants were served with 18 statements and exhibits, which formed the bases of the prosecution’s case, and therefore anything outside of those statements would be irrelevant to assist the Applicant’s in the preparation of their defence.

As a result of the evidence put forward by the state, the Chief Justice (ag) considered the claims by the applicants to be misconceived.

Meanwhile, in the case of Badrie Persaud, the court ruled that since the charge against him had not yet commenced in the Magistrate’s court, his applications for disclosure and stay were premature. All applications were dismissed. Singh and Dharmalall were represented by Attorney Glenn Hanoman, while Persaud and Ramanah-Roopnarine were represented by Attorney Sase Gunraj.

ACP entered into a trade and aid partnership with the EU under the Lomé Convention, which was replaced by the Cotonou Agreement in 2000.

‘Break-and-enter’ accused gets a year in jail A MAN was Friday sentenced to one-year imprisonment by Magistrate Leron Daly after pleading guilty to a break-andenter charge.

It was alleged that on May 31, 2018 at Pike Street, Kitty, Junior Luther broke and entered the storeroom of Suzette Grant and stole one bicycle valued $8,000; two computer speakers valued $12,000; nine pairs of shoes valued $ 200,000 and other articles valued $30,000 - total value of $268,000.

Luther who has no fixed place of abode pleaded guilty to the charge that was read to him in court.

According to the facts that were presented in court by the police prosecutor Sanj Singh, on the day in question the complainant secured her place and went to work. Later in the day, Grant received a phone call from her neighbour telling her that the accused had broken and entered her home. The neighbour alerted the police and their quick response resulted in the accused being apprehended as he was walking with a black garbage bag in which he had the stolen articles inside.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2, 2018

Adviser confirms minor surgeries still being done at NOH

THE National Ophthalmology Hospital (NOH) is once again at the centre of concern in Region Six, as the People’s Progressive Party-led Regional Administration seeks to discredit the Regional health services director concerning the operations of the facility, stating that patients were being turned back as no check-ups or surgeries were being offered.

This claim was disputed by Alex Foster, the Focal Point Coordinator and Adviser to the Minister of Public Health, who said that minor surgeries and screening were being conducted daily at the facility.

Dennis Deroop, Regional Chairman (ag) Region Six, on Thursday morning called out the regional health services director for what he deems inaccurate reports about the operations of the NOH, based on an article that was carried by some sections of the media.

Deroop, told the media he has been getting conflicting reports from persons who turned up to use the facilities of the hospital only to be turned back, They claim that no operations or procedures were being performed, contrary to what the Regional Health Director Jevaugh Stephens has told the regional administration and what was published in the media.

As a result, Deroop said he decided to

make an impromptu visit to the facility early Thursday morning to ascertain what was taking place. He was allowed to tour the Port Mourant Hospital but when he asked to tour the NOH he was told he needed to wait until a representative from the Ministry of Health was present and he was asked to wait. He waited for a while and after no one showed up he decided to speak with the media, air his concerns and leave.

“We are seeing a continuous behaviour of the health services director misleading the regional administration and I think this RDC will have to make a decision on it, to recommend disciplinary actions be taken against him for misleading us and providing us with inaccurate reports” Deroop said.

He continued that they have had several issues in the past where the information reaching the administration and what is provided by the health services director differs. That is cause for concern. He further questioned the reason he was not allowed to tour the other section of the facility.

Alex Foster, the Focal Point Coordinator for the Ministry of Public Health, who went to the facility to meet with Deroop, has since disputed the claims, noting that over 70 surgeries were done between January and April and that the

facility was open where minor operations are conducted daily.

He further said, “The major surgeries can be conducted but we (Ministry of Public Health) decided that in order to provide a more responsive and better quality service to the thousands of patients we have scheduled for major surgeries we should upgrade the facilities.

“When we started we realised a lot more work was done and a decision was made to do a comprehensive overhaul of the entire hospital because we expect it to be for the first time fully utilised over three shifts” He stated that the works were ongoing and while he would love for it to be completed by the end of next week he would await official confirmation from the four teams working around the clock on the different areas to let him know it is completed.

“We are hoping it is going to be finished by next week but I will not give you that date since work keeps getting added to the load. For example the AC was not working. Now that we fixed it we have to replace the widows to allow it to function effectively. The water filtration system is being done, the kitchen was upgraded.

They are all being done to cater for the patients’ needs.”

Foster confirmed that a lot of hard work and resources were put into the facility and due to bad publicity, because of a misunderstanding, all the good work gets overlooked and this was very disheartening to the staff who had been giving a lot more that what was asked of them.

“Our staff at the hospital have been doing a great job and they were advised as per the public service rule not to speak to the media or allow the media into the facility for the protection of the patients.

“They have to be commended for that and I am sorry I did not get to meet Mr Deroop so I could have addressed his concerns personally, but I want to make it clear, minor operations are being done but not major surgeries where the patient has to use the recovery room or stay in for recovery at the hospital at the moment” Foster said also that due to the public’s renewed trust for the quality of health care being provided there had been an increase in patients being seen at the hospital.

“We are getting over 100 patients daily at the hospital. When we took over it was like a ghost town. At Skeldon we

have between 1,300 and 1,500 more patients for the first quarter of the year.

This is testimony of the level of service we have been providing.”

CONTRACT OF HOSPITAL Earlier Foster in speaking with reporters offered some explanations as to the background of the hospital noting that the issues with that led to the non-performance of major surgeries for the past three years was something that was inherited contrary to what most people believe.

“In 2015 that contract expired and since then I have been asking to see that contract so we can know what was in and what wasn’t in. We cannot find the contract so we don’t know what was in the details and when we are asking for a renewal of that contract we can only negotiate to a point of strength on behalf of the people that we represent if we know what was in the last contract rather than being told by different people this was in the contract or that was in the contract. We need to be told in black and white and then get a guideline to where we are going, so people are trying to blame the present system. The present system inherited the problem.”

He noted that despite the issues surrounding the contract, credit must be given to the regional administration which kept the facility going.

“This is a national hospital so this was supposed to come directly under the ministry of public health. The regional health services now are supposed to have overall responsibilities but because it is a national institution then it’s supposed to be centralised in decision-making.

“Credit must be given where it is due and the regional administration deserves credit, it has been spending money to ensure that the ophthalmology hospital continues to run and do what we can do but for the capital items there is no budget at the regional level for the hospital.”

Foster is confident that when the upgrading is completed, the facility will be fully functional at international standards for which it was built and will be able to provide all supporting services, such as meals, recovery, pharmaceutical and laboratory, among others.

He noted that there was a backlog of over 2,000 cases for major surgeries that are awaiting the completion of the upgrading.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2, 2018

GFF receives high praise...

FROM BACK PAGE

The CONCACAF endorsement follows public support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, as the GFF seeks to restore the image of football, reform and stabilise its governance, and to invest in developing the game in all regions.

GFF president Wayne Forde also met FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura on Tuesday during the inauguration of the FIFA Caribbean office in Barbados,

No Real Madrid clause for Pochettino (BBC) - TOTTENHAM manager Mauricio Pochettino’s new contract does not contain a clause allowing him to leave for Real Madrid.

The 46-year-old Argentine, who signed a five-year extension with the Premier League side last week, is the early favourite to replace Zinedine Zidane.

Zidane stepped down on Thursday after leading Real to a third consecutive Champions League title.

Pochettino is not believed to have agreed anything in writing or verbally with Spurs about joining Real.

The former Southampton boss is in Barcelona for the launch of his new book and said he was “happy” in north London.

In comments to Madrid-based newspaper Marca about being linked with Real, he added: “I take it naturally, it does not affect me at all.

“I renewed recently for five years. I am very happy with my current team, I enjoy the day to day, I am happy, but you never know what can happen.”

to discuss future funding for football development projects. Guyana’s first national football training centre is due to be completed at Providence in the coming weeks.

Under the FIFA Forward programme, fully compliant national member associations have access to US$5M every four-year cycle for football development and running costs.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Friday June 01, 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. Rishabh Pant-128* (DD) 2. Ankit Rajpoot-5/14 (Kings) Today’s Quiz: 1. What was the highest individual score in the IPL 2018 final?

2. What were the best bowling figures in the IPL 2018 final?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2 , 2018

12 Days to go …

Italy’s Greatest Servant Buffon

The Ageless Gianluigi AS World Cup football fans filled the stadiums of Italy during the summer of 1990, the country’s children flooded onto the streets.

The evenings were spent watching their heroes; the days were devoted to re-enacting their exploits.

For some, it was still Marco Tardelli’s immortalised scream of passion which captured their imagination; for others, it was the new hero, Salvatore Schillaci.

For one fresh-faced 12-year-old, it was neither an Italian nor a goalscorer. He was inspired by the heroics of Cameroon goalkeeper Thomas N’Kono, racing off his line to deny Argentina in that famous upset that opened the tournament. The son of a shot putter and a discus thrower, his heritage was the first hint that he might be better with his hands than his feet.

When he joined Parma’s academy the following year, it was as a midfielder. Just four years later, the 17-year-old, now a goalkeeper, opened his hotel door to find himself face to face with Parma’s greatest ever manager, Nevio Scala.

If that reply seems mature and composed beyond the years of the one giving it, it was nothing compared to his performance the following day. Buffon made two brilliant saves to deny George Weah and Roberto Baggio as Parma held AC Milan to a 0-0 draw.

There’s a reason why the average age of goalkeepers is much higher than outfield players. It is a position which demands experience and strength of character like no other. To put that pressure on the shoulders of a 17-year-old could have been both costly and cruel.

But Buffon is never a man for whom age has mattered. He was Parma’s regular first choice goalkeeper before his 19th birthday. At the age of 21, he helped I Gialloblu to a double of UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia. And he was only 23 when Juventus forked out €52M to bring him to Turin in 2001. Seventeen years later, he is still the most expensive goalkeeper ever.

His agelessness remains miraculous. Where once he showed the mental strength of a much more experienced player, he now boasts the physicality of one much younger. His decline, if there has been one, has been unnoticeable. He once joked about playing until the age of 65, but it really doesn’t seem too farfetched now.

Yet it would be wrong to say that Buffon is flawless. True, there are still times when he seems to be the same man he was on his debut – calm, unfazed by anything, a picture of placid composure.

But often he is fuelled by rage, claiming that he “would rather tear my ligaments than make a mistake like that” after a rare error against Lecce in 2012.

Michael Oliver can also attest to the ferocity of Buffon’s anger after his furious reaction to the award of a last-minute penalty in April’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

His relentless quest for perfection has sometimes come at the detriment of his mental health. He sought professional help for depression in 2003, feeling that his “mind belonged to somebody else.” He has been

staunch in his opposition to medicine, driven by the de.sire to be “the architect of my own destiny”.

He was nearly the architect of his own downfall in 2006 when he was accused of illegal betting as part of the Calciopoli scandal that struck Italian football.

Buffon cooperated with the investigation and the charges were dropped, but Juventus were not so lucky – found guilty, they were relegated to Serie B for the first time in their history.

It was then that Buffon would prove the quality which has come to define him more than any other: Loyalty. Fabio Cannavaro, Lilian Thuram and Zlatan Ibrahimovic left the sinking ship, but Buffon stood by his Old Lady until she returned to her former glories.

Juventus are now on the longest title-winning streak in Italian history, and Buffon’s dedication through the dark days makes it all the sweeter.

Buffon is currently ninth in the list of all-time appearance makers in world football, having played his 1000th career game last March. An impressive 176 of those have come for Italy in an international career spanning 21 years. Buffon is one of only three players to have travelled to five World Cups, playing at four of them.

As Italy headed into the 2006 World Cup, the national game was in disarray, but their defence was a picture of organisation. A formidable back four boasting the likes of Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta and Gianluca Zambrotta repelled all comers. On the rare occasions when they were breached, Buffon was almost unstoppable between the posts.

In the final, he made crucial interventions to deny Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane. Buffon didn’t save any penalties in the shootout, but David Trezeguet’s spot kick hit the crossbar before Fabio Grosso converted the winner. Cannavaro was awarded the Golden Ball but Italy’s defensive record was a testament to their entire back line, including Buffon.

In conceding just twice at the tournament, Buffon helped Italy set a new record for the fewest goals conceded by a World Cup-winning nation. Iker Casillas – Buffon’s biggest rival and one of his greatest admirers – matched the achievement four years later with Spain.

The European Championship is one of two major honours Buffon never won. The other, famously, is the Champions League, despite playing in three finals. He has cited this as the reason why he has not yet retired, even as he leaves Juventus after 17 years. If rumours of a move to Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain are to be believed, perhaps his dream isn’t over yet.

So much has changed for goalkeepers since Buffon set out on his road to greatness. To be a number one these days you are expected to be able to pass, tackle and dribble like an outfield player. Gone are the days when shot-stopping and drop kicks were all that mattered.

Buffon claims that “there are fewer and fewer great goalkeepers” for this reason. He is one of a dying breed, in this sense and in many others.

“He has transcended club rivalry to become a player respected by all, loved by millions, and regarded by many as the greatest ever goalkeeper. And he’s made it all look as simple as the answer he gave to Nevio Scala those many years ago.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2, 2018

England on top after paceman strike down Pakistan

(REUTERS) - ENGLAND ended the first day of the second Test against Pakistan at Headingley yesterday in a strong position, bowling out the tourists for 174 before reaching 106 for two by the close.

Having lost the first Test at Lord’s by nine wickets, England trail the second by 68 runs with eight wickets remaining and skipper Joe Root looking well set on 29 not out.

Root will have been disappointed, however, to have lost opener Alastair Cook for 46 late in the final session with the left-hander attempting to pull a short ball from Hasan Ali but gloving the ball to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

Keaton Jennings had helped put on a 53-run opening partnership with Cook before getting an outside edge on a delivery from Faheem Ashraf that was snaffled up by Sarfraz.

Pakistan were dismissed before tea after Stuart Broad ripped through their upper order with a fine spell that was the perfect answer to critics who have questioned his place in the team.

Pakistan, were 79 for

Sarfraz Ahmed was bowled by James Anderson, England v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Headingley, yesterday. (Getty Images)

seven at one stage and had Shadab Khan to thank for helping them to a more respectable total thanks to a lively 56 and a 43-run ninthwicket partnership with Hasan Ali. After winning the toss in Leeds and opting to bat, Pakistan lost Imam ul-Haq for a duck when he was caught by captain Joe Root at third slip on the last ball of Broad’s first stint following a maiden over from James Anderson.

Imam could have gone four balls earlier when he was given lbw but the decision was overturned on review

with tracking showing the delivery was going over the stumps.

Broad got his second, and 50th Test wicket against Pakistan, when Azhar Ali was trapped lbw to leave Pakistan reeling on 17 for two.

FIRST BOWL Sam Curran, the 19-yearold replacing injured allrounder Ben Stokes, had his first bowl in Test cricket before the recalled Chris Woakes removed Haris Sohail (28) with the ball nicked into the hands of Dawid Malan.

Pakistan were at 49-3 with Usman Salahuddin making his Test debut at number five, but England chalked up another wicket before the break with Asad Shafiq (27) caught by Cook off Woakes with the score at 62-4.

Cook was playing a record 154th consecutive Test, overtaking former Australia captain Allan Border as the player with the most Tests in a row.

After lunch, Anderson, finding a fuller length than in the morning, bowled Sarfraz Ahmed then had Ashraf while Broad picked up his

SCORE BOARD

PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS Azhar Ali lbw Stuart Broad Imam ul-Haq c Joe Root b Stuart Broad Haris Sohail c Dawid Malan b Chris Woakes Asad Shafiq c Alastair Cook b Chris Woakes Usman Salahuddin lbw Stuart Broad Sarfraz Ahmed b James Anderson Shadab Khan c Keaton Jennings b Sam Curran Faheem Ashraf lbw James Anderson Mohammad Amir c Jonny Bairstow b James Anderson Hasan Ali c & b Chris Woakes Mohammad Abbas not out Extras: (lb-5) Total: (all out, 48.1 overs) Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-17, 3-49, 4-62, 5-78, 6-78, 7-79, 8-113, 9-156.

Bowling: James Anderson 15-6-43-3, Stuart Broad 15-6-38-3, Chris Woakes 11-1-55-3, Sam Curran 7.1-0-33-1.

2 0 28 27 4 14 56 0 13 24 1 5 174

ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS Alastair Cook c Sarfraz Ahmed b Hasan Ali 46 Keaton Jennings c Sarfraz Ahmed b Faheem Ashraf 29 Joe Root not out 29 Dom Bess not out 0 Extras: (lb-2) 2 Total: (2 wkts, 37.0 overs) 106 Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-104.

Bowling: Mohammad Amir 10-1-37-0, Mohammad Abbas 9-4-22-0, Hasan Ali 8-2-24-1, Faheem Ashraf 7-2-16-1, Shadab Khan 3-0-5-0. third wicket as he removed Usman Salahuddin lbw.

Mohammed Amir was next to go - unwisely chasing a wide Anderson delivery and edging to Johnny Bairstow before the aggressive effort from Shadab and Hasan frustrated England’s attempt to quickly deal with the tail.

Shadab’s 56 off 52 balls included 10 fours before he was caught at mid-wicket

by Keaton Jennings to give

left-arm seamer Curran his maiden Test wicket.

Anderson, Broad and Chris Woakes all finished with three wickets.

England need a win to avoid a third consecutive Test series defeat, following their loss inside four days at Lord’s.

A draw or a win for Pakistan would be the visitors’ first series victory in England for 22 years.

World Cup 2026: Morocco to face joint United States, Mexico & Canada bid BBC - MOROCCO’S bid to host the 2026 World Cup has passed a Fifa inspection - but is deemed “high risk” in three areas.

The North African country will compete with a joint United States, Canada and Mexico bid in a vote on 13 June.

Morocco scored 2.7 out of five in Fifa’s test while the joint bid scored four, with no “high risk” areas.

Fifa said of the 14 stadiums submitted by Morocco, nine were yet to be built and the remaining five “require significant renovation or upgrading”.

Only two of the 14 stadiums were deemed to have “sufficient levels of accommodation” resulting in a second “high risk” conclusion.

A third area of analysis accommodation and

transport combined - was also deemed “high risk”.

However, Fifa’s taskforce said it had obtained “enforceable government guarantees” which state the 12 host cities in Morocco will have a sufficient number of hotel rooms by 2026.

The North American bid did not contain any high risk elements but had three medium risk measures -

government support, human rights and labour standards, and organising costs.

In analysing the human rights aspect of the bid, it was concluded new entry regulations being proposed by the US could damage “discrimination-free entry” to the country.

World football’s governing body could have disqualified Morocco had the bid scored less than two

overall.

Both candidates now have to be approved at a meeting on 10 June before a vote of the 207 Fifa members three days later.

Morocco has said it needs to spend almost $16bn (£12bn) on infrastructure for what will be the first 48team World Cup, while the North American bid does not require any tournamentspecific building work.

Morocco has unsuccessfully bid four times before, in 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010, the latter occasion being when South Africa became the first African nation to host the World Cup. The United States hosted the tournament in 1994 and bid unsuccessfully for 2022, while Mexico staged the 1970 and 1986 tournaments.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2 , 2018

James sports dependency Warriors clinch game one against Cavaliers on cannabis (BBC) - TAKE cannabis or retire? That’s the dilemma for the NFL running back who says he needs the drug to continue playing American football.

Mike James, a 27-yearold free agent, believes he has become the first player to ask the league for permission to use cannabis, submitting a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for the drug.

It was rejected in May because he could not indisputably prove he

suffered chronic pain, but conversations with the National Football League remain ongoing and James remains hopeful of a longterm solution.

“Submitting the TUE was a huge risk. I may have sacrificed my career to do it,” the running back tells BBC Sport.

“But for me there was no running from it anymore. I’m in a position to be able to do something myself, to give me back my life, and help the players in the league.”

Former NBA champion Matt Barnes told BBC Sport on Thursday that cannabis use is “widespread” in the NBA. But what is the situation in the NFL? How did James get into using cannabis? And will his TUE ever be granted?

James was a sixthround pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013, but things turned sour for the-then 22-year-old when he needed surgery for a broken ankle in his rookie season.

Then came the chronic pain and an addiction to painkillers.

(CBSSPORTS.COM) THE time we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived.

The NBA Finals tipped off on Thursday night with Game 1 between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, and it was a thriller.

After a bizarre final few possessions, which saw a charge call on Kevin Durant reversed, and J.R. Smith not knowing the score, the game went to overtime, and the Warriors pulled away for a 124-114 win.

The first half was entertaining and well played as both teams shot over 50 percent from the field. And in what likely was a surprise to most people, the

game was tied at the break.

And the Cavs actually would have led were it not for a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer by Steph Curry.

The second half was just as even. Although it started out with the Warriors looking like they would go on one of their typical third-quarter takeovers, the Cavaliers were able to withstand the pressure thanks to the efforts of LeBron James.

Even though the Warriors entered the fourth quarter with a six-point lead, it certainly didn’t feel like the game was over, as it often does following third quarters involving the Warriors.

The fourth quarter was back and

forth, as the two teams traded baskets right down to the wire.

In the end, the game went to overtime after a bizarre final few seconds that saw Smith try to dribble out the clock despite the fact that the game was tied.

The Warriors then pulled away in OT, winning 124-114. The final few seconds were marred by a Tristan Thompson ejection, which led to a minor scuffle.

LeBron James finished with 51 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Steph Curry led the Warriors with 29 points, while Draymond Green added 13 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, five steals and three blocks.

GCB/DMLAS/NSC/NSSCL

Anna Regina Multilateral lift Essequibo District Championship title

Kamesh Lall and Sheldon Charles ANNA Regina Multilateral School have taken the Essequibo District title of the Guyana Cricket Board/ Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited/ National Sport Commission/ National Secondary Schools Cricket League.

By virtue of beating Essequibo Islands Secondary of Wakenaam by 51 runs at the Imam Bacchus ground, they have advanced to the semi-final of the Inter-school phase of the tournament.

Anna Regina, having won the toss, decided to bat.

However, the visiting team of Essequibo Islands were equally buoyant, having won the District that covers the region of Bartica, Wakenaam, Leguan and East Bank Essequibo.

The Essequibo Islands team

who appeared well prepared for the contest, exhibited great team work ethics in the field, which was aptly demonstrated through their accurate bowling and excellent fielding.

Nevertheless, Anna Regina’s opening pair of Kamesh Lall and national youth player Sheldon Charles demonstrated resilience to rally their team to 76 without loss at the end of their allotted overs.

In reply, Essequibo Islands were restricted to 25-5 off their allotted overs with Davindra Hamraj, 12, the only batsman to reach double figures.

Bowling for Anna Regina Multilateral, Badesh Parsatom grabbed two wickets, while there was one wicket each for Raphael David, Lance Roberts and Kamesh Lall.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2, 2018

Blackwood, Reifer included in West Indies-A Tri-Nation

Jermaine Blackwood is in West Indies-A squad for a TriNations series in England.

(CMC) - TEST batsman Jermaine Blackwood and all-rounder Raymon Reifer have been named in a West Indies-A squad for a TriNations Series in England later this month, as selectors continue to fine-tune their plans for next year’s World Cup. The 26-year-old Blackwood, who played the last of his two One-Day Internationals nearly three years ago, was recently dropped from the Test squad to face Sri Lanka starting next week.

He was included in the 13-

man CWI President’s XI squad for the ongoing three-day tour match against Sri Lanka in Trinidad but has not played.

Blackwood was in good nick for Windies-A earlier this year, scoring two half-centuries in a three-match one-day series against England Lions in Antigua.

Reifer, currently campaigning in the Sri Lanka tour game, played his only Test against New Zealand last December. A steady leftarm seamer and lower order batsman, the 27-year-old is yet to play an ODI.

UDFA/Osmond Cummings Memorial Under-20 takes place today

By Joe Chapman THE stage is set for this year’s Osmond Cummings Under-20 football championship, where 10 clubs from the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) will be involved from today at the Bayrock Community Centre ground.

The tournament, which is being sponsored by former national striker, United States-based Nigel ‘Mice’ Cummings, kicks off with a double-header.

From 14:00hrs, Amelia’s Ward Panthers take on Hi Stars and at 16:00hrs Milerock challenge Blueberry Hill United.

Matches continue tomorrow when Eagles United and Winners Connection lock horns and Botofago and Net Rockers clash in the feature

encounter.

Osmond Cummings was a football player with the Wismar club Botofago and was a major force behind his younger brother Nigel becoming a national player.

The tournament is held in Osmond’s memory.

The ten clubs affiliated to the UDFA are bracketed into two groups.

Group A comprises Amelia’s Ward Panthers, Hi Stars, Eagles United, Winners Connection and Topp XX while Group B has Milerock, Blueberry Hill United, Silver Shattas, Net Rockers and Botofago.

The top two clubs from each group will advance to the final four.

The championship will have a break for the FIFA World Cup then it is expected to conclude in August.

Sunil Ambris, meanwhile, has the chance to continue his comeback with his inclusion.

He made his ODI debut on last September’s tour of England before making his Test debut against the Black Caps three months later, where he broke his arm in the second Test.

He made a return to competitive cricket in the ongoing tour game and is one of four players in the A-squad with Test experience, with left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican also named.

All-rounder Rovman Powell and Jason Mohammed, both fixtures in the ODI side, are

joined by 20-year-old speedster Keemo Paul in the squad, which also sees the return of veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Devon Thomas.

The 28-year-old Thomas has played 23 ODIs but has not represented West Indies in five years. He, however, struck an impressive unbeaten hundred in the Super50 Championship last February.

Highly-regarded 20-yearold Barbadian pacers Dominic Drakes and Chemar Holder have also got the nod.

“As we look ahead to preparing for the 2019 ICC World Cup, the panel has

included a mix of current ODI players and also some exciting young fast bowlers who are part of the fast-bowling camp ongoing in Antigua,” chief selector Courtney Browne said.

“Sunil Ambris is also returning from injury. The panel is looking forward to also identifying any talent that can be part of the 2019 ICC World Cup squad.”

West Indies-A play warmup one-day matches against Warwickshire on June 17 and Worcestershire two days later, before opening their Tri-Nations campaign against England Lions on June 23.

The tournament, which also involves India A, runs from June 22 to July 2, with the final set for the Oval.

Mohammed will lead the side while former West Indies captain Floyd Reifer continues as head coach.

SQUAD – Jason Mohammed (captain), Sunil Ambris, Jermaine Blackwood, Rahkeem Cornwall, Dominic Drakes, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Chemar Holder, Andre McCarthy, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Raymon Reifer, Devon Thomas, Oshane Thomas, Jomel Warrican.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2 , 2018

Region Two cricket officials’ Rain pushes back class set for June 5 opening of ExxonMobil U-14 football THE inclement weather has delayed the commencement of the inaugural ExxonMobil/Pepsi U-14 Boys and Girls football tournament, set to begin today.

The tournament will now start next Saturday according to organisers, who had released the fixtures yesterday in anticipation of the start.

The organisers, Petra Organisation contended that the fixtures remain the same with Tutorial opening against Buxton Youth Development.

Marian Academy will play Uitvlugt, Dolphin Secondary will face Ann’s Grove, Bishops’ High will meet Annandale, Carmel will oppose Vergenoegen and New Campbellville will clash with Brickdam.

In the second half of the day, Tucville will challenge Queenstown Secondary, Chase will play St John’s, North Ruimveldt Multi will take on School of the Nations, East Ruimveldt will face St George’s and Kingstown confront South Ruimveldt Play will take place at the Ministry of Education ground.

During a recent briefing, Petra codirector Troy Mendonca noted that with the smaller number of female teams, their competition would not start until the third week of action.

In the interval, he said, the Guyana Football Federation has offered to do coaching courses for the female teams and their coaches in an attempt to enhance that aspect.

The cricket umpires course is set to begin on June 5.

By Indrawattie Natram CRICKETERS, captains, coaches and sport personalities living in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) will be given the opportunity to enhance their cricketing skills when the Guyana Cricket Umpire Council (GCUC) offers free cricket umpiring classes.

Classes will commence June 5 at the Essequibo Cricket Board Hostel, Anna Regina from 16:00hrs and

will continue every Tuesday.

According to president of the Guyana Cricket Umpire Council, Shannon Crawford, the course is open to new and aspiring cricket umpires, current and practising cricket umpires, inactive cricket umpires, cricketers, captains, coaches, cricket administrators, journalists and sports personalities.

Crawford will be conducting the courses. He said Essequibo is in need of such courses, given that other regions are ahead in

this regard. He is therefore appealing to all young persons to make use of the opportunity.

At the end of the classes, participants will be given the opportunity to write the 2018 West Indies Cricket Umpires (Preliminary Examination) and those who are successful will be awarded certificates.

Persons who are interested in registering for the courses can contact Mr Crawford on 666-9868 or on email standtonford@ yahoo.com.

Coaching Programme for Upper Corentyne cricketers ALL young cricketers in the Upper Corentyne area are asked to take note that the Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching Programme will be held this weekend.

The venue is Skeldon Community Centre ground

from 09:30hrs to 14:00hrs daily. The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is requesting each selected player to walk with his/her cricket gear and at the same time be properly attired in track pants and white T-shirt.

Level 3 coach Winston Smith and two other coaches will conduct the two-day clinic and players selected by the UCCA are asked to report to Skeldon ground by 09:00hrs.

Lunch and snacks will be provided.

Cornwall rises to the occasion...

The 25-year-old has been in decent form this year, getting good starts in the West Indies-A series against England Lions and plundering two hundreds during the Regional Super50.

Off-spinners Akila Dananjaya (3-46) and Dilruwan Perera (3-50) finished with three wickets apiece while seamer Lahiru Kumara (3-47) was also

among the wickets.

Armed with a lead of 156, Sri Lanka enjoyed more valuable batting practice ahead of next week’s start of the first Test, with openers Kusal Mendis hitting an unbeaten 60 and Kusal Perera, 50.

Mendis, who got a first-ball ‘duck’ in the first innings, belted five fours and a six in an innings that required 113 deliveries in just over 2-1/4

FROM PAGE 31 hours.

He added 95 for the first wicket with Perera who made his second halfcentury of the match, facing 54 balls and notching seven fours and a six in a breezy innings.

Sri Lanka will now turn their attention to the first Test against West Indies which bowls off next Wednesday at Queen’s Park Oval.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2, 2018

FIH coach Shiv Jagday to conduct hockey clinics in Guyana INETRNATIONAL Hockey Federation (FIH) hockey coach Shiv Jagday is set to visit Guyana from June 3 to 15, to conduct two weeks of hockey training for coaches, nationals and junior players.

The popular coach learned his hockey in his native India but has coached at the international level in both the USA and Canada.

Shiv has been conducting clinics and coaching teams for the past 40 years.

After a successful stint in the 1980s as Canada’s national men’s coach, where he led Canada to their most successful international period of two Olympic appearances, two World Cups and two Pan American gold medals, Jagday branched out into developmental coaching worldwide.

His first such assignment was to Guyana in 1988 at the invitation of then president

of the Guyana Hockey Board of Control, Chris Fernandes.

Coach Shiv visited Guyana on several subsequent occasions in the 1980s and was instrumental in the development of the sport during that period.

In 2017, however, Shiv offered his services once again to Guyana and conducted a course similar to the upcoming one which was well received.

Apart from his clinics in the USA and Canada, Shiv now spends his time in Melbourne, Australia and Punjab India where he has helped to establish a regional training institute that has seen nine players from Punjab selected for the current Indian national team.

The schedule for this visit will include both theory and practical sessions and will involve fine-tuning of the male and female national teams who are preparing for the CAC games in July.

Shiv Jagday instructs junior players at Bourda in 2017.

Forty boys and 30 girls between the ages of 13 and 19 will attend the junior sessions while 30 coaches

are also expected to benefit.

President of the GHB, Philip Fernandes, once a student of Jagday during

his early visits, expressed great excitement and anticipation. He indicated that hockey always gets a

welcome boost whenever Jagday visits that leaves an indelible mark on local hockey.

Grand Coastal Hotel Golf Cornwall rises to the occasion as Classic on tomorrow West Indies draw tour match

Flashback! Secretary of the Lusignan Golf Club, Rabindranath Persaud, collects the sponsorship cheque from Grand Coastal CEO Mr Kevin Daby. PRO of the LGC, Guy Griffith, shares the moment.

BASED on the improved drainage conditions at the Lusignan Golf Club, officials have confirmed that the Grand Coastal Hotel Golf Classic will tee-off tomorrow from 08:30hrs.

The much-anticipated tournament was billed for April but was postponed due to the inclement weather.

The Grand Coastal Classic tournament is open to all golfers in Guyana (members and non-members) who

feel that they can take on the challenge of the ‘Green Anaconda’ as the Lusignan Golf Club is proposed to be branded.

Non-members who are welcome to participate are required to pay a nominal tournament fee which covers the green fee, lunch and a caddie for the 18-hole tournament.

Non-members can make contact with the Club at 220-5660 or 668-7419 to receive information on how to register to play in this

tournament.

Up for grabs in this weekend’s tournament are prizes for 1st to 4th Best Net scores, the Best Gross score, a Longest Drive (off a designated tee-box), and the Nearest to a designated Pin. (The flagpole placed in the hole on the Green is called a Pin.) Once again, the public is invited to freely witness this tournament and enjoy the ambience of the improved Lusignan Golf Course.

(CMC) – All-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall continued to press his case for senior selection with a polished unbeaten halfcentury as the three-day tour match against Sri Lanka ended in a tame draw here yesterday.

Resuming the final day at the Brian Lara Stadium on 223 for seven, the CWI President’s XI were dismissed for 272 in their first innings, with Cornwall converting his overnight 23 to 54.

Jomel Warrican failed to add to his overnight eight, when he was lbw to fast bowler Lahiru Kumara off the second ball of the day.

However, Cornwall propped up the innings, adding 47 for the ninth wicket with Miguel Cummins who scored 10.

All told, the right-handed Cornwall faced 84 balls in nearly two hours at the crease, striking seven fours.

TURN TO PAGE 30

SCORE BOARD

SRI LANKA 1st innings 428 PRESIDENT’S XI 1st innings (o/n 223 for seven) J. Campbell lbw b D Perera K. Powell run-out S. Brooks c Mathews b Dananjaya S. Ambris b Kumara V. Singh c Kumara b Dananjaya J. Hamilton b Dananjaya R. Reifer lbw b Kumara R. Cornwall not out J. Warrican lbw b Kumara M. Cummins lbw b D Perera K. Joseph b D Perera Extras: (b-3, lb-11, nb-5) Total: (all out, 77 overs) 272 Fall of wickets: 1-98, 2-146, 3-164, 4-183, 5-184, 6-188, 7-192, 8-223, 9-270.

Bowling: Gamage 13-2-58-0, Rajitha 9-0-41-0, D. Perera 19-2-50-3, Kumara 12-4-47-3, Dananjaya 20-2-46-3, Mendis 4-0-16-0.

62 60 29 14 12 4 0 54 8 10 0 19

SRI LANKA 2ndiInnings K. Mendis not out 60 K. Perera ret. out 50 R. Silva not out 22 Extras: (lb-1, nb-2) 3 Total: (1 wkt, 33 overs) 135 Fall of wicket: 1-95.

Bowling: Cummins 5-1-25-0, Reifer 6-0-33-0, Joseph 5-1-22-0, Warrican 5-1-17-0, Cornwall 4-2-4-0, Singh 4-0-16-0, Campbell 3-0-12-0, Powell 1-0-5-0.

Result: Match drawn.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, June 2 , 2018

Sheltez Tennis Club hosts successful junior Independence tournament

THE Sheltez Tennis Club successfully hosted its Homesafe Security junior Independence tournament recently as part of its youth programme.

The event featured competition at the U-12, U-14 and U-18 tournaments while a proposed category for U-10 was shelved due to the lack of players.

Details in a subsequent edition

Cornwall rises to the occasion as West Indies draw tour match PAGE

31

Rahkeem Cornwall struck an unbeaten 54.

The participants of the recently concluded Homesafe Security junior Independence tournament

GFF receives high praise from CONCACAF for football reform THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is among the first CONCACAF member associations to approve its financial statements and has made significant strides in reforming and rebuilding football, according to senior CONCACAF official Howard McIntosh.

McIntosh, senior manager of ONE CONCACAF and Caribbean projects and a

former FIFA Development Officer for the region, was in Guyana to observe the 2018 GFF Congress.

“I am happy to hear and see the tremendous strides that football in Guyana has made,” McIntosh told delegates at the Congress, adding that “what we want to see is professionalism in football, and that starts with the administration off the field. You must be one of the first CONCACAF member associations

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

that have actually approved your financial statements.”

The GFF Congress approved the administration’s financial statements on Monday, after the GFF achieved full compliance status with FIFA. This status means the GFF can now access full FIFA funding which had been restricted due to issues dating back to previous administrations.

“You need to be

Howard McIntosh

proud of the transition that has been made.

I can tell you it is a significant improvement,” McIntosh said. “I want to congratulate all of you for the work you are doing.”

CONTINUE ON PAGE 25 SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2018