Guyana chronicle e paper 06 03 2018

3th JUNE, 2018

No.105294

NICIL issues US$150M bond ‌ to recapitalise GuySuCo

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Roundabout opens Monday

Round and round we go! The Kitty Roundabout which was recently completed will be officially commissioned on Monday (Adrian Narine photo)

Group launched to help fleeing Venezuelans 16 PAGE

Internet for Bonasika

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Fire destroys Non Pareil home

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 3, 2018

US$150M bond issued to recapitalise the GuySuCo

THE National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has issued a US$ 150M equivalent bond facility, arranged by Republic Bank Limited exclusively through its Investment Banking Division, a statement

from NICIL said.

Transaction attorney Devindra Kissoon of London House Chambers, a local law firm, was instrumental in the process. According to the statement, the bond will be issued in multiple tranches, with the first tranche of roughly G$17B or US$85M equivalent being issued to local investors on Friday, May 24, 2018.

“With the issue, NICIL becomes the first public issuer to raise debt in the local capital markets in over 10 years.

The bond is the largest ever bond facility arranged in Guyana and was oversubscribed by local investor on the first tranche,” the statement said.

According to NICIL, the proceeds of the bond will be used towards capital expenditure and general operations for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco). NICIL’s team, lead by Colvin Health-London, the Head of the Special Purpose Unit (SPU), secured the bond to recapitalise the GuySuCo’s operations.

Historically, cash-strapped GuySuCo struggled on its own to raise the funds needed to revamp its operations.

However, under the management of Heath-London, funding was secured through the stated-owned entity with the support of the Government of Guyana through a sovereign guarantee.

NICIL acts as a holding company for Government-owned minority and majority interests, property management which includes the acquisition, disposal and rental of Government owned properties.

In addition, NICIL monitors Government’s equity in other companies, engage in development projects and acts as agents for other Government agencies in the disposal of properties or management of companies.

NICIL expects to raise the remaining sum of US$65,000,000 within the next few months through a combination of local and regional investors. A targeted roadshow is expected to be launched within the coming weeks that will likely include investor briefings in Trinidad

and Jamaica Meanwhile, in an interview with Public Relations Officer (PRO) Wanita Huburn-Kisson, on her weekly programme Dollars and $ense, said the magnitude of such a bond transaction occurring here is unique.

LARGEST INVESTMENT “It is one of the largest financial investments in the Caribbean. What it does show is the confidence of investors to be able to lend money to Guyana with the hope of recouping,” Kissoon said.

The attorney disclosed that the bond was “oversubscribed” which meant there were persons who were ready to invest their money here on the strength of a government guarantee.

“That means well for all of us here, it certainly shows we have a credible country and economy,” Kissoon stated while noting that Guyana has forever long been known as a “rising star in the Caribbean”.

“It is extremely exciting because, generally speaking, this sort of thing in our conservative society hasn’t been done before and what it shows is how quickly we can raise revenue for the purpose of development,” the attorney added.

POSSIBILITIES ENDLESS He noted that the money will be used to operationalize Guysuco, but stressed that with such a major achievement, the possibilities are endless. Kissoon believes that once properly managed, Guyana can undergo massive infrastructural development in the blink of an eye.

The attorney explained that the majority of the subscription came from the Guyana market such as the National Insurance Scheme and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI). He noted that the benefit is a 4.75 per cent rate of return which represents a tax free bond.

“It all came from here,” he assured while explaining that such a bond is usually backed by hard assets. But in this case, the bond was raised solely in the strength of the government’s promise to repay.

Kissoon said there is great potential here to raise over US$1B easily for infrastructural projects. “It is a new way of thinking. It is not a manner of structured debt as in traditional mortgage, but it is purpose debt which is tied to a new opportunity for government to repay debt using valuable resources.”

The attorney stressed that if carefully managed, Guyana can have a booming economy far advanced of waiting for revenues to come in to pay back.

“There are many transactions we have not yet contemplated but Guyana is on the cusp of realising – from where we sit Guyana can come up to scratch with Trinidad and Jamaica – this transaction was 100 per cent home grown.

Every aspect was handled locally,” said Kissoon who noted that investors have great confidence in the local economy.

“Guyana is robust and strong and we have nowhere else to go but upward. People have put their money where their hopes are,” the London House Chambers attorney concluded.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 3, 2018

MPI rushes team to South Rupununi – to assess severity of damage to key bridge

THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) has dispatched a team to Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) following reports of the collapse of the Yamatwao Bridge in South Rupununi.

The ministry said on Saturday that the team has been tasked with assessing the severity of the damage to the bridge, and the cost of repairing it.

It says that based on reports it has gotten, the bridge collapsed when a flatbed truck carrying an excavator attempted to cross it.

“The overweight vehicle overextended the bridge’s capabilities, thereby causing the collapse,” the ministry said in a statement.

“This incident compounds the ministry’s call to road users within the hinterland to strictly adhere to weight limits, especially during the wet season, since non-adherence can lead to structural failures as demonstrated now.

The Yamatwao Bridge in South Rupununi which collapsed recently “This incident is not the first of its kind, and road users are reminded that they will be held accountable in instances of non-compliance

to weight limits,” it added.

The ministry made it clear that the collapse of bridges also affect communities, as it makes them im-

passable by cutting them off from the rest of the country.

As such, road users are reminded of their responsibilities to use the roadways

properly.

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

More than $650M from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC)’s 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 (GGDMA) and several miners and 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.

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

GRA seizes $6M worth of foreign liquor AN intelligence-led operation on Tuesday by the Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has resulted in a large quantity of uncustomed alcohol being confiscated at a location on the East Coast of Demerara.

According to the GRA, the haul, which included about 50 cases of assorted uncustomed foreign alcoholic beverages, has a revenue value of approximately $6M. One person was arrested and subsequently put on bail.

–– arrests one during East Coast bust The GRA said that it has been relentless in its pursuit of smugglers, acting in accordance with the law, and that once caught, perpetrators and their accomplices can be fined up to three times the value of the smuggled items, in addition to those being seized.

According to the revenue body, it will continue to put systems in place to ensure its enforcement activities are enhanced. “Assistance is always welcome from the

public as it relates to sharing information on incidents of corruption and illegal activities that are geared towards reducing the payment of the correct duties and taxes that ultimately deprives the State of revenue,” the GRA said.

Persons with information can utilise various methods of providing information to LEID by calling the Agency on telephone numbers 227-6060 or 227-8222, extensions 3201-3208.

The cache of foreign liquor which was seized by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 3, 2018

South China Sea dispute: Beijing attacks 'irresponsible' US comments (BBC) China has branded as "irresponsible" US comments that it is intimidating its neighbours with its military deployment in the South China Sea.

A top Chinese general said China had the right to deploy troops and weapons "on its own territory".

Earlier US Defence Secretary James Mattis said

Beijing's actions called into question its broader goals.

Six countries have competing claims in the sea, but China has backed its own with island-building and patrols.

Gen Mattis had made his critical comments at a security summit in Singapore.

Speaking at the same conference, China's Lt Gen He Lei said: "Any irresponsible comments from other countries cannot be accepted."

Gen He said Beijing's deployments were part of a policy of "national defence", adding: "They are for the purpose of avoiding being invaded by others.

"As long as it is on your own territory you can deploy the army and you can deploy weapons."

Gen He added: "We see any other country that tries to make noise about this as interfering in our internal affairs."

Gen Mattis said Beijing had deployed military hardware, including anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles and electronic jammers

A photograph from 2015 shows Chinese vessels around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands (Reuters)

to locations across the South China Sea. "Despite China's claims to the contrary, the placement of these weapon systems is tied directly to military use for the purposes of intimidation and coercion," he said.

"China's policy in the South China Sea stands in stark contrast to the openness that our strategy promotes, it calls into question China's broader goals."

Despite his criticism, Gen

Mattis added that the US would "continue to pursue a constructive, results-oriented relationship with China" with "co-operation whenever possible".

Last month China said it had for the first time landed bombers on Woody Island in the Paracel Islands, prompting US warnings that it was destabilising the region.

Woody Island, which China calls Yongxing, is also claimed by Vietnam and

Taiwan.

Gen Mattis was speaking just 10 days before President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore.

Gen Mattis said the issue of removing US troops from South Korea was "not on the table" and that "our objective remains the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula".

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 3, 2018

Cuba to begin constitutional reforms to formalise ‘opening-up’ (BBC) Presidential term limits and the legalisation of same-sex marriage are amongst reforms being proposed by Cuba's national assembly.

The intention is to constitutionally formalise the island's economic and social opening-up while maintaining

the "irrevocable nature of socialism".

Former President Raúl Castro will lead the potential reforms, President Miguel Diaz-Canel has announced.

Mr Díaz-Canel took over from Mr Castro as the country's leader in April.

The Castro brothers, first

Fidel and them Raul. ruled the country between 1959 and 2018.

Mr Díaz-Canel is an avowed socialist. In his inaugural address, he declared that there was "no room in Cuba for those who strive for the restoration of capitalism".

The last constitutional re-

form in 2002 decreed that the socialist character of the political system in Cuba was "irrevocable".

Most ordinary Cubans are keen to see what the parliament will decide on the island's economic and social future.

The BBC's Cuba correspondent, Will Grant, reports

that small business owners are hoping for Cuba's movement towards a more mixed economy, while LGBT rights activists are hopeful there will be an acceptance of changes to the concept of marriage as strictly between a man and a woman.

There is no timetable for the constitutional reforms to

take place and any reforms are likely to be gradual, our correspondent cautions.

In 2017, US President Donald Trump reimposed certain travel and trade restrictions eased by the Obama administration but did not reverse key diplomatic and commercial ties.

Brazil Petrobras oil boss Pedro Parente resigns amid protests speculation that Brazil may go back to its old fuel pricing policy of subsidies for those from low-income

Protesters blamed Mr Parente for rising costs, after the company stopped subsidising fuel prices for domestic consumers (AFP)

(BBC) The head of Brazil's oil giant Petrobras, Pedro Parente, has resigned, following a nationwide strike by lorry drivers that caused huge disruption.

The strike against diesel prices, which ended this week, caused major shortages in the country.

Many of the protesters blamed Mr Parente for rising costs, after the company stopped subsidising fuel prices for its domestic consumers.

However, Petrobras gave no specific reason for the resignation.

In his resignation letter

to President Michel Temer, Mr Parente said the strike challenged the pricing policy he had implemented.

Mr Parente said his role "as CEO had stopped being positive" and the government needed to consider "alternatives" to its pricing policy going forward, according to Reuters news agency.

Two years ago, former energy minister Mr Parente pegged the price of fuel in Brazil to international oil prices, which have since almost doubled.

After years of corruption scandals involving senior politicians and officials, his

policy had helped Petrobras recover its market value.

The oil giant is controlled by the Brazilian government and is regarded as one of the world's biggest oil companies.

In January, the company agreed to pay almost $3bn (£2.18bn) to settle a class action suit in the United States, after investors said their holdings were damaged by a corruption scan-

dal facing the firm.

Brazil's government had said it will not use Petrobras to subsidise fuel.

But the departure of Mr Parente has led to some

backgrounds.

Shares fell by more than 20% following his resignation on Friday.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 3, 2018

The hurricane relief charity match WATCHING this past week’s charity match between the West Indies and a World XI was a pleasure, and of course this was made even more special by the seventy-odd runs West Indies win. That the international cricketing brotherhood can come together despite the vast distances between home countries to support the victims of hurricane disaster in the Caribbean warms the heart, and speaks to the camaradery that cricket builds. It must have occurred to many after the match, however, that something has been going on that we may not yet realize.

What if told that at this moment, right now, we are in a golden age of West Indies cricket? That hardly seems a reasonable statement if one looks at our recent test and oneday international performances; does it? For decades the West Indies test team has struggled to reach anything near the success of its first golden age, in the 1970’s and 80’s.

Going for many years without a test series loss, that team is renowned as one of the most dominant by the standards of any sport, much so cricket.

Now our test side only seems to regularly defeat teams like Bangladesh (which has improved much of late), losing most recently to New Zealand. To add insult to injury, we were largely undone by short-pitched fast bowling, long our trademark and a pillar of our success in the 70’s and 80’s.

Finally, note that our one-day team has fallen so low that not only did we not automatically qualify for the next World Cup, but we were made to work hard to succeed in the qualifying

tournament featuring associate members of the ICC. And yet, we are in a golden age that will, perhaps, only really be appreciated after it has passed. The West Indies T20 team is clearly the best in the world, and has probably been the best for at least the last six years, when we first lifted the ICC T20 World Cup. Since then, we have lifted the trophy once more in the three tournaments held since, becoming the only side to do so twice in the competition’s history. Further, one could argue that the only reason we didn’t win the trophy in the tournament between our two wins was due to bad luck, as the match was rained out. The then captain Darren Sammy even remarked that “God” hadn’t wanted us to win.

It is important to note that these achievements stand tall as cricketing wonders because, unlike test cricket or even one day cricket where the better team does not often lose, T20s are very unpredictable, where a good performance by one or two players can quickly swing a match beyond recovery.

Witness Marlon Samuels’ fifty in our first tournament victory, where only a few overs dominating the then finest T20 fast bowler, Lasith Malinga, propelled our side beyond the Sri Lankans. Consistency in T20s is very hard to come by.

We can be so consistent, however, because if avid followers of the game pause and really think about it, the West Indies senior team sports probably six or seven players who would make it into any World XI. That means that more than half, almost two thirds of the very best players are West Indian, even though there are nine full cricketing nations and

many more gaining full membership. How many sports feature such a high concentration of top players in one team? It is no wonder then that a World XI was beaten by over seventy runs, which amounts to a thrashing by T20 standards.

I want to point to another critical parallel between the last golden age and this one, in which commentators have related that our test players played significant cricket for overseas first class teams. This allowed them to hone their skills, and much the same, our current players can be found in almost every team of every T20 tournament held the world over. Young Guyanese Kemo Paul must be congratulated for being picked in this most elite side last week, and we must certainly hope that he will be able to similarly participate in these international tournaments.

As supporters of West Indies cricket, I believe we should not just focus on the team’s failures, but celebrate their many successes. T20 is still very new when compared to other formats of the game and thus lacks some degree of prestige, but gradually attitudes are changing. The charity match played last week, to my mind, not only served to raise much-needed funds for disaster victims, but it acted as a definitive illustration of what the Caribbean has achieved. That kind of pride and confidence can do the whole Caribbean a lot of good.

Nandlall is a stranger to truth Dear Editor, THE poet Marmion once wrote, ‘oh what tangle web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.’ It is with some amount of trepidation that I read with interest a missive written by the learned Anil Nandlall, former Attorney General.

Mr. Nandlall has always been a stranger to the truth and has sought to, in a subtle way, dispense small doses of his poisonous cocktail to the reading public.

In his opinion piece on May 19, 2018, in the Inews edition, he attempted to identify the State Assets Recovery Agency, SARA, as one of the many ‘unruly horses’. This is so far from reality. He tries to make a case that the director and deputy are unsuited for the position; giving a myriad of misin-

formed reasons.

The fact of the matter is that progress has been made and is being made by the SARA, and this is according to the many media reports. Surely, this is so different from the insipid mouthing of my friend Anil. My own little research has found that this agency has its genesis through a United Nation’s Convention against corruption of which Guyana became a signatory [in] 2003 and was ratified in 2008. Worldwide, people generally are moving to stamp out this scourge; however, Mr. Nandlall seems bent on trying to discredit the efforts of the new administration, by his attempts at sullying the character of Dr. Thomas and his deputy, Mr. Retemeyer and by extension SARA. The tactic of this attorney-at-law is nothing new, given his bedrock. What is obvious is

that this gentleman will stop at nothing to spread mischief.

History has recorded him as using his then office as Attorney General to make violent threats against a media outlet; making sexual innuendoes on his uncle’s behalf to the extent that his then ministerial colleague, Ms. Priya Manickchand has been quoted as saying “I was shocked at what he said and expressed to him how offended and disappointed I was at his remarks”; utilizing state funds for family use among other infractions. Certainly, he cannot walk in the footsteps of those that held that prestigious office, the likes of Dr. Fenton Ramsahoye, Sir Shridat Ramphal, Dr. Mohammed Shahabuddin, Bernard De Santos, to name a few. Now it’s this same person who wants to behave as messenger of truth.

His track record does not speak to integrity, however, but it’s this soul that points dirty fingers at a renowned economist who now heads SARA. The current wave in my country is that of moving to create a society free from corruption and this move must not be hindered by these pontificators; as a nation we have to guard against such moves that are inimical to the growth and development of our beautiful Guyana. I believe the current trajectory of this country makes wise that we keep focussed, not to be sidetracked easily and reject out of hand any attempt to stymie the gains made so far.

Regards Shirool Chand

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 3, 2018

Women must work together to overcome adversity … First Lady tells Presbyterian Women’s Convention In her address, Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth expressed similar sentiments.

She encouraged the women to embrace one of the hallmarks of the Presbyterian Church in Guyana, which is its service to those who are suffering.

“How can our faith be separate from who we are called to be? … Friends, we are called to be witnesses.

We cannot turn a blind eye to suffering. It is through empowerment from the Holy Spirit that we can embrace the diversities … among ourselves,” she said.

Meanwhile, Elder Cheryl Sampson of St Luke’s

First Lady Sandra Granger gestures as she makes a point. From left, Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth and Rev. Maureen Massiah at the Fifth Annual Women’s Convention of the Presbyterian Church in Guyana (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

FIRST Lady Sandra Granger on Saturday encouraged women to stand united in their faith and to strengthen and support each other through times of adversity, adding that throughout history women have played important roles in the creation of more equal societies.

The First Lady delivered these remarks at the Fifth Annual Women’s Convention of the Presbyterian Church in Guyana, which was held at the Umana Yana in Kingston, Georgetown.

Fifty women from Pres-

byterian parishes across the country assembled at the venue for the Convention and to observe 200 years of Presbyterianism in Guyana.

The Convention is being held under the theme “Called to witness by the power of the Holy Spirit”.

The First Lady said that from time immemorial women have had to fight inequality in order to establish themselves as equal members in society.

“Thinking back on the history of the human race, I doubt there was a time when the lives of women have pro-

ceeded without outfalls and potholes. The times in which we now live are particularly challenging for women, more so for women of faith,” she said.

Despite this, she added that women have questioned and sometimes overturned the perception and the status of women, their role in society and their relationship with their families, communities and countries. “We can stand up for and defend our position on the important matters that affect our daily lives and the lives of those we hold dear.”

Gays march with pride

These members of the gay community strike a pose for Guyana Chronicle photographer, Delano Williams, at Parade Ground on Saturday

FLAMBOYANT hairstyles, costumes mimicking carnival, the flying of rainbow flags and chants of “equal rights and justice”, “LGBT rights are human rights… LGBT people are human beings” were some of the slogans that characterised Guyana’s first pride parade.

The parade, said to be the first in the English-speaking Caribbean, was slated to begin at 15:30hrs, but got started at

approximately 16:45hrs due to some delays, but saw hundreds of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons assemble at Parade Ground before walking south on Carmichael Street under police escort and turning east into Church Street, South into Vlissengen Road and then culminating at Square of the Revolution just after sunset.

Parish, said that she hoped that the event would foster greater unity in the church and inspire greater works of service. “This activity, today, will enrich us to be more loving together, today and in Christ,” she said.

At the close of the event, Elder Donnette Ritchie presented tokens of appreciation to the First Lady and to Rev. Sheerattan-Bisnauth.

The programme also featured two steelpan renditions from Oceana O’Dean and a solo performance by Janessa Harris. There was also an exhibition of craft and value-added products, made by the parishioners.

The event was moderated

by Rev. Maureen Massiah, who has responsibility for St

Andrew’s Kirk, the St Thomas and St Stephen’s parishes in Georgetown.

Parishioners from sanctuaries in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three), Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four) and East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) also attended the event.

These included Rev. Claudia Johnson and brethren from the St Saviour’s Presbyterian Church of Auchlyne, Corentyne; Rev. Cicely Crawford and brethren from the Edinburgh Parish in East Bank Berbice, Rev. Charlotte Halley and brethren from St Peter’s Parish in Mahaicony, among others. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 3, 2018

AND ROUND AND ROUNDABOUT WE GO!

TOMORROW, the new Kitty Roundabout will be officially opened. It will introduce the latest new feature to traffic control on our increasingly crowded approaches to the Capital City. I will be there, waving my Guyana Flag in cautious celebration.

For years, we had to navigate past an empty barrel, or an old tyre or just a wallaba stump that was stuck in the middle of that busy intersection to guide traffic. The traffic island invariably did not function. As the traffic literally crawled, drivers had to adopt the mandatory rules of looking right, left, ahead and sideways.

I am pleased that the Coalition Government has found a remedy for the eye-sore at this intersection by converting the junction into a roundabout. Though this is not the only roundabout in Guyana, critics are eager to damn the project as only an expensive, public relations display or a Coalition “show-off”.

Some condemn the Roundabout as a curse and predict ominous happenings at what they conjure up as the seawall slaughterhouse of commuters and pedestrians.

PERSISTENT FEAR That said, there is, however, one persistent fear of abuse by motorists, especially privately-owned passengers mini-buses which are invariably described by many Guyanese as the “midnight assassins”. We urge that they exercise their duty of care, and that they slow down, stop, look around and proceed with caution at this roundabout.

These negative views to which I referred are going to hover over the Kitty Roundabout long after we cut the proverbial ribbons tomorrow, and let the interminable, twisting traffic into the giant circle. As this happens, I find appropriate the lyrics of Chubby Checker, “and round and round and up and down we go…” as the Kitty Roundabout comes into operation.

Earlier, a similar pall of uncertainty and scepticism had greeted innovations from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. Almost as soon as we came to office, Carifesta Avenue was restructured to put in place a divider with street lamps to better regulate the two-way traffic that had featured periodic, head-on collisions and other accidents.

INDEPENDENCE ARCHES Then, the government erected two splendid Independence Arches over the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara highways.

These vertical beauties delineate the perimeters of the Capital at Agricola and Industry. As they went up majestically, the usual fuss-makers griped over the temporary traffic congestion. And they also groaned when D’urban Park was excavated and rebuilt to give Guyana an improvised amphitheatre in what has been for too long an urban jungle.

The grand but incomplete D’urban Park, where my father’s champion horse, Bright Steel, once attained glory, today accommodates the largest number of spectators in a single

space. It also houses the National Flag that could be seen from far distances, for the many who see and feel pride. A handful continue to belly-ache from issues and non-issues over the costs of the Park and, the latest griping, over the colour of the flag, a corner of which was patched with a strip of green cloth to cover the tattered, but existing green, tail-piece.

When our Flag was spanking new, during the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, the political Opposition disrespected it as the symbol of our nationhood by staging a lacklustre walkout from the Park after demanding VIP seating!

I mention the flag issue just to show that our three-year young government would come under fire for anything we do, especially if what we do is correct, impressive and better yet, spectacular.

CONSTRUCTIVE OBSERVATIONS However, we need to heed some of the sober and otherwise constructive observations about potential mis-use of the Kitty Roundabout, where real dangers lurk, especially at nights. The good news is that Guyanese motorists already have experience in the use of roundabouts.

For years, whilst I was in private practice as an attorney, my office was perched over the less celebrated roundabout at the St George’s Cathedral. I also had an oblique view of the roundabout at the Bank of Guyana/Cenotaph square. There are also roundabouts in Lethem, Bartica and at the junction of the Soesdyke-Linden highway.

Already, we have lost too many precious lives on our roads. The fatality figures for 2018 show that 38 persons have perished in road carnages, mostly due to speeding and drunk-driving.

Except for the Soesdyke junction which claimed many lives, the other roundabouts account for occasional fender-bender accidents, mostly when mini-buses would suddenly pull over or come to a dead-stop to pick-up or drop off passengers.

Few fatalities have been recorded at these roundabouts, and effective policing is needed to keep them this way, especially through robust education of new or young drivers. The latter would find access to the roundabout tricky, and they are advised to go online to learn lessons on how to approach and use it safely.

UNIVERSAL INTERNET ACCESS Today, at long last, access to the internet in Guyana is becoming universal. To date, 119 ICT community hubs have been established across the country, the latest in Black Bush Polder and at Blairmont.

Even remote communities and schools in areas of our indigenous people have been provided with free internet access, including Aishalton, Annai, Bartica, Bamia, Baramita, Iwokrama, Lethem, Linden, Mabaruma, Mahdia, Masekenari, Matthew’s Ridge, Orealla, Paramakatoi, Port Kaituma, Santa Rosa and Waramadong.

All 113 secondary schools now possess computer laboratories and enjoy access to the internet. Computer (styled “tablets”) have been distributed to 2010 students and 109 teachers in pilot schools in four administrative regions. Some ten thousand laptop computers were distributed under the One Laptop per Teacher Programme, launched on World Teachers’ Day on 5th October 2016.

Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes remarked recently that the ICT hubs are a boost to the education sector, allowing students to complete research in a safe and comfortable place.

She disclosed that in a few weeks, CXC and Grade Six Assessment applications and curriculum guides will be loaded on the computers in the ICT hubs. Also, Government services including application for passports and birth certificates, will be online.

OPEN GOVERNANCE The ICT progress forms part of national data management and open governance platforms which Guyana has embraced since the Coalition took office.

Today, I embrace my APNU+AFC Coalition colleagues, David Patterson and Catherine Hughes, two of our young, talented, energetic and visionary Ministers, for pioneering these projects, as well as many others that are helping to shore-up public infrastructures and telecommunication in Guyana.

I invite readers and those present at the Kitty Roundabout ceremony tomorrow to inject into the proceedings a mood of optimism. In the lyrics of Chubby Checker: “Come on everybody, clap your hands! Awww, you looking good!”

'XX' motor vehicle series soon THE registration of the motor vehicle series “XX” will soon commence in keeping with the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act. According to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), in accordance with the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act Chapter 51:02, a motor vehicle registration series elapses after 9,999 vehicles have been registered by the Licence Revenue Office

under that series.

“In his capacity as chief licensing officer, the Commissioner General of the GRA, Mr Godfrey Statia, has given his approval for the new ‘XX’ series to be introduced,” the GRA said in a release.

The revenue body is reminding motor vehicle owners that the Motor Vehicle Licence expires on the registration anniversary of the vehicle.

Vehicle licences can be renewed at GRA’s headquarters or any of GRA’s branch offices. However, when the registration for a vehicle has to be amended, for example, transfer of ownership, change of colour, change of intended use, etc, the vehicle must be physically examined by the Licence Revenue Office of the GRA before registration is issued.

New registrations and change of motor

vehicle registrations are all done at GRA’s Headquarters, 200-201 Camp Street, South Cummingsburg. The examination process will be undertaken at the Smyth Street office or any GRA Regional Branch Office.

Persons who require additional information can call GRA Licence Revenue Office on 227-6060, extensions 1025-6 or Tax Advisory Services Section on extensions 1201 -1204.

Courage to Innovate

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 3, 2018

WALKING one lazy Sunday along the famous Venice Beach boardwalk, in Los Angeles, I once stumbled across a rather comical store called: “The Weed Doctor.” Its sheepishly smiling employees were wearing bright green jumpsuits, the obligatory Caucasian guy with his hair in dreadlocks standing at the fore to welcome customers. For a moment I was taken back at how brazenly they seemed to be advertising their wares.

What’s more, every surface of the storefront seemed to have been plastered with stickers in the shape of cannabis leaves, giving the store the look of a giant, bright green bush. I couldn’t help but shake my head and laugh--this relaxed attitude was typical of California, and while not always appropriate, there’s something I think we can learn from that highly prosperous state as we debate marijuana legislation.

Californians are very forgiving. They recognize that not everyone has had the same opportunities to succeed, that failure is an important component of success and that everything should thus be taken with a grain of

salt. I think much of the public outcry at sentences handed down for marijuana possession comes from the same place within Guyanese.

We need to build off of this same sympathy until we have a culture that forgives failure a bit more, and therefore encourages us to be brave enough to innovate.

While we must surely understand that there should be caution about marijuana’s risks, can’t we find a better approach than harsh sentencing? As I mentioned in my previous column, I believe weed zones are an excellent answer to the legalization impasse.

Put simply, zones would be four square block areas in economically depressed communities in which it is legal to buy, sell, carry and consume marijuana. This is a fresh innovation I believe we must find the courage to explore.

Last week I listed many direct benefits of such zones, from the scale and ease of taxation to the many jobs it would create. Now I want to list the indirect benefits that are highly likely to stem from this approach, and to do so I believe we need to return to that same lazy Sunday afternoon on the boardwalk of that famous American city.

The Venice boardwalk is renowned for its art and culture displays, from giant murals of impressionist artist, Vincent Van Gough’s finest paintings to reggae and hip-hop musicians performing every few paces. I was particularly impressed by a young violinist who seemed tireless in her passion, for some reason art, and in particular creativity, seem to flow from environments friendly to cannabis. It is my expectation that local weed zones will become artistic havens, producing wonders Guyana’s art community has yet to behold.

Further, it often follows that tourism walks hand-in-hand with art. Surely, there will be a sharp rise in tourism due to those interested in the plant, but as our art scene begins to grow and grow in step, I can already imagine the cumulative effect this will have.

Tourists will not only be more likely to purchase our swiftly developing art, they will be likely to spread the word to their friends and family back home, amplifying the word of mouth we benefit from and further increasing tourism.

Finally, I want to turn your attention to a

not often discussed but vital point. When we do begin to reap the benefits of oil revenue, and higher paying jobs beckon, won’t there be a significant gap between what our largely uneducated population can offer and what is required? I suspect many foreign citizens, from as close as Trinidad and Tobago, will enter Guyana to fill positions, leaving the masses, who don’t have even CSEC qualifications, out in the cold. Might this not lead to inequality, and as a result crime?

Opportunities to create jobs like those in these weed zones are vital because they provide the type of low skill, high wage jobs that our population will surely crave. This will go a long way toward reducing economic inequality, and therefore lowering the likelihood of the onset of chronic crime in the oil economy. It may not seem like it at first, but the real benefit weed zones offer is hope for the hopeless.

Not even oil can save those with few options, of which there are far too many in Guyana. What’s required is the courage to give these Guyanese hope, the courage to innovate.

Yakusari gets ICT hub

BLACK Bush Polder, East Berbice Corentyne is the most recent community in the country to benefit from an ICT hub and villages Yakusari and Johanna are already buzzing with activities.

Black Bush Polder, known as the bread basket of Region Six, is without landline and DSL services.

Few people have data plans on their cell phone and when word spread that they will be connected to the Internet for free via an ICT hub provided by the government, they could not contain their excitement.

Old and young alike came out to the Yakusari Community Centre last Friday as the government handed over the 10 laptop computers and connected them to the Internet via the hub which was set up two weeks ago.

Minister of Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, on Friday visited the community to officially commission the ICT hub at the Yakusari Training Centre, Black Bush Polder, East Berbice, Corentyne.

During her address, she spoke of the immense opportunities available from the Internet and highlighted the “real possibilities” the Internet provides. Noting that Guyana is behind when it

These students receive a computer from Yakusari Community Centre Chairman Mohabir Ramnauth as Minister of Telecommunications Cathy Hughes look on comes to technology, the telecommunications minister said her ministry has taken the challenge and the race is on to bridge the technology gap.

She said Guyanese need to quickly get with the programme as she projects within the next 10 years at least 70 per cent of jobs globally will depend on computer skills.

“I want to tell you, times have changed, jobs are different, you don’t have to go to somebody’s office and sit

down and they pay you. This is where the Internet offers you great learning and entrepreneurial benefits. We are going to put Internet at the post offices, hospitals, health centres, all the agencies that provide government services around your community.

“We will put Internet there not only in the schools and ICT hubs but in all those places … it makes it easier so by next year you may be able to do the entire process online. There are

going to be 200 services that all our citizens need, By the end of next year you will be able to access these services online where you can get it done from home.”

LINKING SERVICES She noted the opportunities to be gained from linking services with various agencies and how at the community level it can benefit ordinary persons.

“For women, we want to give them opportunity to

showcase their products to the world by having access to the Internet and promoting such through social media network. Whatever small business you are involved in, these will be mediums to showcase their products which give you access to markets throughout the country and further afield. So the Internet gives you a wide range of people to connect to showcase your products.

“For the older people we want to continue learning and for the younger people there are many free online courses that you can take advantage of.” She further explained that through forward thinking and partnerships with committed volunteers the Ministry is quickly connecting the entire country and urged the residents to make the best of the facility and the opportunities that are available to catch up.

“The first thing we did was to put Internet in over 100 high schools throughout Guyana, then we decided on the Internet hubs so people in communities who don’t have access to the Internet will still have an option. We are at 123 hubs at the moment, and the most are in Region Six which has 17, Region Five which has seven, with hope for expansion.”

The project is made possible through the Ministry of Telecommunications after residents approached the office of the Prime Minister in Region Six for computers to set up IT classes at the Yakusari community Centre.

Gobin Harbhajan, the PM’s representative decided to investigate further and made contact with the Ministry of Telecommunications.

“After they told me they don’t have landline or Internet access, I said, what’s the point of having computers if you can’t have access to the Internet? So I contacted the relevant agencies and the honourable minister who committed to make it happen.”

The rest quickly fell into place as the office of the PM and the Ministry of Telecommunications, through the National Data Management Authority, worked hand-inhand to get the hub up and running. The community centre was hooked up as well as the nearby Yakusari and Johanna Primary Schools Also present were members of the private sector, the PM Regional Representative Gobin Harbhajan, Chairman of National Data Management Authority, Floyd Levi, residents and students of Black Bush Polder.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 3, 2018

Understanding Energy: What can oil money buy?

LAST week, Understanding Energy tackled the biggest question in the minds of many Guyanese: how much revenue we will get and when.

But a bigger question remains: the question of what this money can do for Guyana.

The answer will have a real and tangible impact on the lives of every Guyanese person.

This money is no longer an abstract.

Come 2020 the government will be getting oil revenues every year starting around US300M and rising annually to as much as US$1B by 2025 from the Liza Phase 1 development. Phase 2, and a now mentioned third development, will only multiply these revenue streams higher.

WHAT CAN THIS MONEY BUY? To illustrate, we’ll look at what past projects in Guyana have cost, what future projects might look like, and explain what other countries did right when they encountered this kind of wealth.

The 2018 government budget includes US$7.2M (G$1.5B) for hinterland road

rehabilitation and continuing work on the Linden-Lethem road. The total cost for Phase 1 of that road is expected to be around $15M. That’s about 1/20th of expected government oil revenues in year one.

Building a new bridge across the Demerara is expected to cost approximately US$170M total - about half of the government’s first year oil revenues.

On a smaller scale the amounts are even more striking: the US$1.6M it cost to build St Rose’s High School in Georgetown would be just one tenth of one percent of 2025 revenues and the total cost of building the Linden Hospital Complex comes in at less than a single percent. So, for example, we could build 1,000 brand new high schools with the revenue just in 2025 alone.

That should give you some idea of the scale of money at play here.

Some of Guyana’s most optimistic priorities are now not only feasible, but relatively affordable. From a state-of-the-art deep-water port to storm-resistant sea walls to new hydropower projects and a natural gas fired

power plant, the government will soon be in a position to make substantial investments to improve Guyanese lives.

Which investments are the worthiest is a question for government ministers and their constituents. But it’s also a question worth looking outward to answer.

The World Bank and IMF have long highlighted countries that have “done it right” when it comes to spending resource revenues.

The World Bank’s independent evaluation group recently looked at other resource-rich countries like Bolivia and Kazakhstan and found that two key factors in success were 1) economic diversification through funding growth and employment in the non-extractive sectors and 2) ensuring that the benefits of economic growth and revenues are widely shared within society - contributing to human development, poverty reduction, and environmental sustainability.

Botswana is also often held up as a “case study” for good investments in its people. In 1965 its gross domestic product per capita (a

measure of economic wealth per person per year) was less than US$76 - a third of what Guyana’s was at the time.

Now, after 50 years of diamond mining, that number is almost double Guyana’s at more than $7,000 per person. And its life expectancy is the seventh highest in Sub-Saharan Africa and higher than South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia and dozens of other larger and richer countries. Its adult literacy rate has increased by 30 percent since 1990, according to UNICEF. This isn’t an accident. Botswana managed its money well and invested in its people by building schools, infrastructure, and hospitals and tried to ensure fair access to them for its people.

They still have many problems, but Botswana, Bolivia, Kazakhstan and other countries can all offer lessons and examples of how to do resource management right.

Many opportunities await us, but Guyana must pick and choose the best development projects and strategies.

Brother of VC, cop take stand in 2014 attempted murder trial GREGORY Hamilton took the stand on Friday as the 2014 Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara attempted murder trial continues in the Demerara High Court before Justice Sandil Kissoon and a 12-member jury.

The witness is the brother of one of the virtual complainants (Sherwin Hamilton) who was shot and injured on November 2, 2014 at Land of Canaan when the accused allegedly opened fire on him and his uncle, Welton Edwards.

Gregory Hamilton told the court he was aroused from his sleep at about 12:10am on the night in question by his relatives who told him ‘something’.

He added that he ran to the public road where he saw his brother, Sherwin Hamilton lying on the ground with what appears to be gunshot wounds to his body.

Hamilton said he along

with a police officer, Rawle King, placed the injured Sherwin Hamilton in a car and took him to the Diamond Hospital.

The witness stated that he was driving and when they got to the medical institution, they were told that no doctor was on duty.

However, their car was out of fuel and they then put Sherwin Hamilton in another vehicle in which the policeman King drove them to the GPHC where he was admitted for treatment.

Taking the stand next was Detective Constable Rawle King who told the court that he was on duty at the Timehri Police Station where he received a call about a shooting incident at Land of Canaan in which two males were injured.

The cop added that he and two other ranks went to the scene and upon approaching, he noticed a man lying on the western parapet of the public

road.

King said on closer inspection, he noticed that the male was “Lazzo” (Welton Edwards) and observed two dark spots on his lower body.

The cop testified that he was assisted by someone with the light from a cellphone and realised that the man appeared to have received gunshot wounds.

He told the court that the man’s eyes were blinking and he was breathing, after which he was told ‘something’ and went to Old Road, Land of Canaan, a short distance away.

There he observed a male lying on the ground, crying out for pain. He then raised up the man’s jersey and saw what appeared to be gunshot wounds; he later learnt that the man was Sherwin Hamilton.

King said there was a blood trail on Old Road, Land of Canaan and he asked for assistance and placed the injured Sherwin Hamilton in a car

and took him to the Diamond Hospital.

The cop related that they were told there was no doctor on duty. At the same time he saw the injured Welton Edwards there too.

The witness said Sherwin Hamilton did not receive any further injuries while on the way to the GPHC where he was admitted for medical attention.

King said that on December 2, 2014, he went to the GPHC registry where he uplifted two medical certificates in favour of Sherwin Hamilton and Welton Edwards and, as instructed, he took them to the Grove Police Station after making copies.

He lodged same with the Officer-in-Charge of CID and he made an entry in the property book.

At this point in the trial the state made an application for the medical certificates to be shown to the witness, who identified same and the

application was granted by the trial judge for it to be marked, tendered and admitted as evidence in the trial.

King told the court that Lance Corporal Singh was in charge of the investigation, but after it was discovered that he and the accused appeared to be friends and were seen conversing in the CID office at Timehri, the matter was handed over to Sergeant Henry.

The probe was then handled by Sergeant Henry who went with King to the Chinese restaurant to take a statement from the owner who allegedly refused to cooperate.

The state’s case is being led by Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt while the defence counsel is Nigel Hughes.

Lisa Cave, who in her opening statement, said that on November 4, 2014, at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, the accused Dereck Jaisingh attempted to murder

Sherwin Hamilton and Welton Edwards.

She related that Sherwin Hamilton, accompanied by his uncle, Welton Edwards, decided to visit the accused to ask him why he had beaten his nephew, Raymond Hamilton and without warning, they were shot.

Sherwin Hamilton received nine shots to his body while his uncle, Welton Edwards, was shot twice, Cave said.

The prosecutor stated that the duo were taken to the hospital and were treated after which the accused was charged.

Cave said the men were not robbers and they were unarmed when they went to enquire why the accused had beaten their relative, since they had no problems.

The matter continues before Justice Sandil Kissoon and more witnesses are expected to testify.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 3, 2018

Non Pareil fire leaves five homeless

By Michel Outridge

A FAMILY of five were rendered homeless after fire, suspected to be electrical in origin, consumed their two-storey, Lot 360 Block 12, Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara concrete house, Friday night.

Speaking to Guyana Chronicle on behalf of the displaced family, Reshma Singh said no one was at home at the time of the fire.

She related that the family were at their business place at Lot 100 Gandhi Street, Enter-

prise, East Coast Demerara, when they received a telephone call from a neighbour, stating that their house was on fire.

Singh added that it was before 09:00hrs and by the time the occupants arrived on the scene, the building was engulfed in flames. Nothing was saved in the blaze.

The woman reported that shortly before the blaze, the area had experienced a power outage and when the light came on, neighbours saw “fire” running from the electrical wire to the now gutted

The burnt-out shop in the lower flat of the building

house.

Singh related that the fire started in the upper-flat of the house. All electrical appliances were off at the time of the fire.

Hanoman Singh, who owns the home, could not bear the sight of all his worldly possessions being destroyed and rode off on a bicycle. He was found in a semi-conscious state at the Botanical Gardens on Saturday morning and was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was receiving treatment up to press time.

His condition was said to be stable.

The house was renovated about three years ago and the lower flat housed a shop which was fully stocked and was expected to be opened soon.

The family of five had been residing at the location for the past 23 years and said that they are unsure what they will do next since they did not get to save anything from the building.

Though neighbours promptly summoned the Guyana Fire Service on noticing the fire, the two fire tenders that arrived on the scene, reportedly did not have water and had to source water from nearby canals.

However, the fire-fighters still managed to contain the fire from spreading to houses nearby.

The displaced family told Guyana Chronicle that they spent the night in a relative’s vehicle and are still trying to come to terms with their losses which are in the millions.

What remains of the house after the fire on Friday night (Michel Outridge photos)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 3, 2018

Minister Harmon hails advent of ICT at Bonasika … sees it as bringing community in line with gov’t development plan

By Rabindra Rooplall BY making Information Communication Technology (ICT) available in classrooms all across the country, the promotion of science and communication technology within the education sector is a key pillar of the government’s development agenda.

This is according to Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who officially commissioned a new computer lab on Saturday at the Lower Bonasika Primary School in Region Three

Regional Executive Officer, Denis Jaikarran (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands).

Minister Harmon said

that the head of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), under the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, will be dispatching a team from the schools’ Internet connectivity programme to Bonasika within the next two weeks to get the school, with its population of 85 pupils, connected.

Harmon, in his feature address, said that the government is aware that the rapid and sustainable development of Guyana in the shortest possible time requires the active involvement of all citizens

Minister of State Joseph Harmon and children of the Lower Bonasika Primary School in their new computer lab (Adrian Narine photos)

A Bonasika Primary School pupil performing a dance as Minister Harmon and president of Region Three Private Sector Association, Radesh Rameshwar, look on

in a united cohesive and collective effort.

As such, he is urging that everyone, including those in central government, regional administration, the Region Three private sector association and residents, get on board to help promote development at Bonasika.

He commended the region’s private sector body for contributing the computers and related accessories to the development of the children of the community, as it will certainly help as well as complement the government’s ongoing programme, through the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications and the NDMA to modernise the education sector.

He said that by making ICT available in classrooms all across the country, it will aid in the development of smart classrooms, virtual classrooms, computer laboratories in schools and e-libraries for distance education and e-learning.

Turning his attention to the National Endowment for Science and Technology (NEST), which was launched by President David Granger in 2017, Minister Harmon said that the programme at reference is aimed at boosting sci-

ence and technology laboratories in schools across the country, and that 13 schools have so far benefitted from a Presidential Grant of $1M each for the development of their computer and science laboratories.

Quoting the President, Minister Harmon said: “Science is not a side show; it is essential to our country’s development … I have been actively promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and I encourage schools, students and teachers to pay more attention to the STEM subjects which will help young people to become innovative, and equip themselves with the skills needed to contribute to the nation’s development.”

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Denis Jaikarran said there have been tremendous improvements in Region Three, and that many projects were done in the riverine areas to enhance the lives of members of those communities.

He said that the many contributions of the private sector show that there has been tremendous growth in the region, hence their ability to fulfil their corporate social responsibilities.

The REO called on the community to care and

protect the donation as it will aid in their collective development with the coming on stream soon of Internet connection.

President of Region Three Private Sector Association, Radesh Rameshwar, urged both pupils and teachers to make full use of the computer lab, as it will help tremendously in their empowerment.

He said: “We chose this area because we feel that not much attention has been paid to this far-flung area.

“We will also be looking at other far-flung areas, and we want the communities to know that they are not forgotten.”

Rameshwar told residents it was not the last they were seeing of him, as he will be returning in August with 1000 schoolbags for the children.

“I can promise that we will be returning to Bonasika to distribute some of those bags for the new school opening in September,” he told a cheering gathering.

He also announced that in August there will be a grand prize-giving ceremony for those students in Region Three who would have done well at the Grade Six, CXC and CAPE examinations.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 3, 2018

UG re-connecting with past students … launching first of several alumni associations

By Alva Solomon

WITH a host of former students citing the institution’s importance as the catalyst behind Guyana’s progression, the University of Guyana (UG) Alumni Association was unveiled on Friday evening.

The association was the first of its kind at Turkeyen and in the coming months various chapters are expected to be launched

He said it is a “huge mistake” on the part of UG to have lost track of most of its graduates. He said that this must be remedied in the future of the university while preserving its heritage and identify.

Prof. Danns, who taught at UG for more than two decades, commended the administration of the nation’s leading tertiary institution for re-connecting with its alumni.

“It’s going to bring a lot of resources to this university,” he said of the benefits of the alumni body.

According to Prof. Danns, the university has educated the political and administrative nucleus of Guyana, noting that it has educated the luminaries in the traditional system including the doctors, nurses, chemists, and teachers among others.

“This university has educated numerous managers in the private sector,” Prof.

Danns noted.

He said, too, that the university has also educated the current and past Executive Presidents of Guyana, and Cabinet ministers, among others.

“These leaders all owe much to UG, without the education and training they received here at UG it is doubtful they would have risen to such positions of prominence and prestige,” he said.

According to Prof. Danns, a few of the

shortfalls which the university has been encountering over the years, such as resource deprivation, may be as a result of the lack of a well-organised alumni.

Among his suggestions for the body, Prof. Danns noted that the alumni association should immediately register as a notfor-profit voluntary association, consistent with the university statutes and the laws of Guyana.

He also noted that a membership campaign should be launched to recruit “every living UG graduate and enrol them as alumni”.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement, Prof.

Paloma Mohamed, told the gathering that the launch was one of several with the expressed goal of re-connecting with past students.

She said the Berbice Chapter Alumni, New York (at the end of July), the Toronto Chapter (July 18), and London are among the other chapters which are expected to be launched this year.

The initiative was lauded by former students, including former president of the University of Guyana Students Society (UGSS) Sherod Duncan, who noted that UG has a special place in his heart. He also said in his capacity as General Manager of

Former UGSS president Sherod Duncan as he addressed the gathering the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), he is committed to ensure students gain practical work experience on attachments.

“I am UG-born, raised and proud,” he said to a round of applause from those gathered.

Prof. Ken Danns as he addressed the gathering (Delano Williams photos) as the university moves to re-connect with graduates and past faculty staff of the institution.

At a simple ceremony to mark the occasion at the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT) at the Turkeyen Campus, feature speaker, Prof. George Ken Danns told the gathering of current and past students that the body has been long overdue, as he cited the importance of the university’s alumni in supporting the educational mission of the university.

“The thousands of graduates of the UG are starved of an alumni association,” he said, as he noted that any graduate would be happy to give back to the university, noting that many have been waiting for decades to do so.

Members of the head table. From left: VC, Prof. Ivelaw Griffith; past student Sara Bharrat; Deputy VC, Prof. Paloma Mohamed; Major General (ret’d) Joe Singhand Prof. Ken Danns

Bandits rob D'Urban Street businessman TWO bandits escaped with over $1.5M in cash and valuables after robbing a 65-year-old businessman recently at his home on D'Urban Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown.

Reports indicate that the businessman was standing by his kitchen door looking at a contractor who was build-

ing a shed in his yard.

He recalled seeing a man, armed with a gun, entering his yard and walking towards him. As such, he immediately moved to the eastern access door of his home, where he was confronted by a second gunman.

The businessman and the carpenter

were huddled together in his shop by the two suspects, who commanded them to lie on the ground.

Reports indicate that one of the perpetrators forced open a drawer in the shop and took $1.5M in cash and a quantity of Digicel and GTT phone cards. His partner then went about

searching through cardboard boxes for items of value.

They subsequently made good their escape before police arrived at the scene.

Police have launched an investigation into the matter and are reviewing CCTV footage of the area.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 3, 2018

Group launched to help fleeing Venezuelans

By Alva Solomon

SEVERAL civic and faithbased organisations have partnered to launch the Venezuela Support Group

(VSG), a body which will provide advice and assistance to Venezuelans seeking refuge here from the deprivations and insecurity currently gripping their

homeland.

According to a release, the initial focus of the VSG will be on ensuring Venezuelans arriving here receive information and assistance to

Several representatives of civic and faith-based organisations during a meeting with Venezuelan group representatives recently secure valid visas to remain in Guyana and are not ex-

ploited financially or abused in other ways.

The eight civic and faithbased organisations which are the founding members of the group are the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA), the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the Guyana Institute for Transparency Inc (GITI), Moray House Trust, Policy Forum Guyana, Red Thread, Roman Catholic Diocese of Guyana and the Ursuline Sisters in Guyana.

The VSG is in the process of establishing offices made available by the Catholic Church in the compound opposite the Catholic Cathedral on Brickdam, Georgetown. The work of the VSG is being supported in the initial phase by the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) which is in the process of establishing a permanent presence in Guyana.

The release suggests that some consideration has been given to permit Venezuelans in Guyana to regularise their situation on the basis of possession of an Identification Card rather than a passport.

“Although, to date, there has been no formal announcement by the Government of Guyana on the matter, we welcome this development in general as protecting Venezuelans against exposure to detention, fines and deportation,” the group noted.

It added that this move would also align Guyana with the recent appeal made by the UNHCR for neighbouring countries to adopt flexible arrangements of this nature.

The VSG group said in pursuit of its aim, it has requested meetings with the Minister of Citizenship in order to brief the ministry of the VSG’s aims and to establish liaison arrangements with the Ministry.

The body said that previously, member organisations of the VSG have publicly expressed their concerns about the humanitarian aspect of the ongoing crisis in Venezuela in press releases, panel discussions and in communications with various ministries.

Concerns of the grouping have been shaped by several considerations, including distinguishing humanitarian obligations to the Venezuelan people from political factors that currently influence both the internal crisis in that country and what it deems Caricom Secretariat’s reluctance to date to formulate specific advice to member states on how to respond to that crisis.

It addition, it suggested devising a flexible, evidence-based rather than speculative response appropriate to the relatively small numbers of Venezuelans currently in Guyana.

The VSG also pointed to moves to respect the fact that Venezuelans in Guyana have documented their wish not to seek formal refugee status but to seek temporary renewable visas that allow them to earn money while in Guyana.

The VSG said that it will support the smooth implementation of any new regulations and related policy guidelines through several activities, including the provision of advice and, where necessary, accompaniment in the process of regularising the Venezuelan nationals in Guyana.

It addition, it stated that it would support Venezuelans in need of assistance to contact family or other persons as well as making known social and welfare services which may be accessible to Venezuelans with special needs.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 3, 2018

President expresses condolences to family of ‘Mighty Rebel’ PRESIDENT David Granger has extended heartfelt sympathy to the relatives of Geofrey Elmenton Phillips, popularly known as the “Mighty Rebel”, who passed away on Thursday, May 31, 2018.

Born on November 7, 1945, Phillips, who has made a sterling con-

tribution to the arts with decades of delivering thought provoking social commentary through the calypso art form, is considered by many Guyanese to be the King of Calypso.

He won the Calypso Monarch Competition six times and was runner up on nine occasions. The

Mighty Rebel won his six crowns for the popular “Second hand Man” in 1988, “Dessie You Wrong” (1993), “Political Lie” (1997), “Ask de President” (2001), “Is We Put You Deh” (2007) and “All Awe Know De Man” (2010).

Known for his commitment to ensuring that the art of calypso was

passed on to younger generations, Phillips was also instrumental in the establishment of a Drama Group and Steel Orchestra at Wales Sugar Estate.

President Granger extends heartfelt sympathy to his wife, Juliette

Statia-Phillips and his 10 children, Geofrey, Lawrence, Trevor, Owen, Keith, Oreen, Evadnie, Glenfield, Rawn and Raelene as well as other relatives and friends.

(Ministry of the Presidency)

The late Geofrey Elmenton Phillips, popularly known as “Mighty Rebel”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 3, 2018

UG honours first Deputy VC, Prof. Harold Drayton

By Shirley Thomas

THE University of Guyana (UG) is currently mourning the loss of its first Deputy Vice Chancellor (VC), Professor Harold A. Drayton who died on Sunday, March 11, 2018, in Gaithersburg Maryland, United States of America.

On the occasion of the passing of this distinguished academician, who was instrumental in the establishment of the University of Guyana (UG), the university on May 23 last, held a Solemn Assembly to honour his memory and celebrate the contributions of Prof. Drayton to university education in Guyana.

The venue was the George

University of Guyana’s Solemn Assembly at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre, in memory of Prof. Harold A. Drayton, First Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university. (Photos by Adrian Narine)

Walcott Lecture Theatre on the University’s Turkeyen Campus.

Leading the Programme was Dr Nigel Gravesande, Registrar; Call to Order was done by Major General (ret’d) Joseph Singh after which one minute of silence was observed in his honour Among other items on a packed agenda were: The Homily by Prof. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, CCH, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Guyana; a Poem - Looking at your Hands, by Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mr Calvin Bernard; Reflections by Prof. Ken Danns; Father Malcolm Rodrigues SJ; and Dr Vonna-Lou Drayton, wife of the late distinguished professor. Prof.

Emerita Joycelynne Loncke offered a choice musical rendition, Song without Words.

Acknowledging the erstwhile contributions of the late, great First Deputy Vice Chancellor, VC Ivelaw Griffith, on this solemn occasion, made the announcement that UG is moving to memorialise the legacy of Prof. Drayton in several ways, one of which is to name and identify an edifice in his honour.

The Vice-Chancellor said that the university has already begun the process to do this and will, in time, announce the edifice and hold a symbolic renaming - perhaps on the date of his birth, August 20. Prof. Griffith said the university owes it to Prof.

Drayton and others who continue to do good works.

He said that not only was Prof. Drayton part of a team with a dream for soaring the university to great heights, but a key member of the ‘Let’s Do It’ team, and one who laboured in the vineyard of the UG. Reflecting on conditions that prevailed on the university campus in the early 60s and the difficulties faced by lecturers and students alike, to secure spots (accommodation) in classrooms on the campus before others, Prof.

Griffith acknowledged that nevertheless, there was a pioneer gaiety. “The spirit of camaraderie and sharing among staff and among students was evident and Deputy Vice Chancellor Drayton constituted a key element in that pioneering mix,” he recalled.

Describing the University in 1963 as an act of faith, Prof. Griffith conceded that faith without works is dead and said that this is where Dr Drayton’s faith came alive.

TEAM PLAYER Meanwhile, Ken Danns, in his opening sentences, lauded Prof. Harold Drayton’s contribution to the University of Guyana, eulogising him as an exam-

ple of a true son of the soil and activist committed to social justice; a scientist, a lecturer, an academic administrator who placed the foundation for the development of UG and later became its first Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice Principal.

Noting that the University of Guyana is fully homegrown he acknowledged that Prof. Drayton was the pioneer/founder of the uniquely indigenous institution - the first university reputed at the time, as being the only ‘Higher Educational Institution’ in all the English-speaking territories of Africa, Asia and the Caribbean created by colonial people.

He credited this outstanding academician with a passion for the university and the students he nurtured, as ‘a servant-leader and a team-player,” but one who never consciously sought to stand out from the crowd.

To this end, he submitted: “Dr. Drayton stood out from the crowd and should be honoured because he was a pioneer from creation in the institutionalisation of UG. He should be loved because he was a classy and charismatic scholar, giving his best to his students. He gave his best to the university and to his family.”

He portrayed Prof. Drayton as one who was, and modelled what a university professor should be. He likened him to a symbol of knowledge and a figure of authority.

Prof. Danns admitted that it was under Prof. Drayton’s s tutelage that he had learnt to think critically, adding that it has stayed with him since. It was here that he purposed in his heart that he, too, would become a university professor … and in time, that dream was realised.

Concluding on a sombre note, Prof. Danns declared: “Celebrating Dr Harold Drayton here today, is remembering our noble past and humble origin at the university; our pioneering role and uniqueness at the indigenous institution of higher education in the world. Harold Drayton epitomised what excellent scholarship is.”

ALWAYS HELPFUL Meanwhile, Father Malcolm Rodrigues SJ eulogised Prof. Drayton as one with an abiding interest in offering help to students needing help.

“I must say that my memory of him is of a person who always made himself available to help those students who needed help – whether they were doing a labour or were having difficulties with the sciences, he See page 19

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 3, 2018

UG honours first ...

From page 18

would go over and be at their disposal.”

“I will definitely miss him and he will be missed by the students since he was trying to keep them at a certain level of intellectualism. In a real sense I think his memory will live on in that way,” Father Rodrigues concluded.

Meanwhile, widow of the Prof. Harold Drayton, Dr Vonna-Lou Drayton, amidst pain of loss of a wonderful husband, mustered up strength and courage, declaring with a sense of pride: “The creation of UG has been the crowning glory of Harry’s career and our presence today shows that we did prosper and prevail.”

Dr. Lou Drayton noted that generations of Guyanese (including herself), have undoubtedly benefitted from the presence of the university and many more will continue to do so. And even though he left in 1972 to toil on distant shores, his love for UG and the joy he felt on the evening of Tuesday October 1, 1963 during the inaugural meeting, resonated throughout his life.”

Prof. Harold Drayton, his wife said, continued to make significant contributions to UG, especially the Faculty of Health Sciences. “He had a passion for humanity and a real better world,” she said, adding, “My husband Harry did not just exist, he lived life to the fullest. Those who knew him personally can attest to the exuberance with which he embraced life to the very end.”

On May 24, the couple would have celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary. Said Dr Vonna-Lou Drayton, “His passing has left a deep void, but the joyful memories of our life together are very comforting. Harry was a good man and a wonderful husband and I am a better person for sharing the past 20 years with him.

Dr Lou Drayton thanked the University of Guyana community for embracing and supporting her and family.

OBITUARY Dr Drayton, born on August 20, 1929 in Georgetown, British Guiana, was educated at Queen’s College in Guyana and at the University of Edinburgh where he completed a doctorate on cancer virology, while serving as the first President of the Federation of West Indian Student Unions of the United Kingdom.

He began his distinguished career as a high school teacher in Grenada and Jamaica in the late 1950s. In 1962 he became a lecturer in Zoology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana when he was recruited by Dr Cheddi Jagan, then Prime Minister of British Guiana, to establish the country’s first university.

He graduated with a BSc (Honours) in 1958 and a PhD. in 1960 from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. His doctoral research in the Biological Sciences focused on the properties of Cancer Inducing viruses.

He studied and worked overseas for a number of years but on December 31, 1962, at the invitation of Dr Cheddi B. Jagan he returned to what was then British Guiana, to assist in establishing UG. In October 1963 when the UG was opened, Dr Drayton became the first Guyanese to sit on the administration of the University of Guyana when he was appointed as the first Deputy Vice Chancellor.

Dr Drayton also served the University in the capacity of Head of the Biology Department and his initiatives there, such as training of medical technologists, among others would subsequently evolve that department into a full faculty of Health Sciences for the training of health care professionals.

He was head of the University’s Biology Department from 1963 to 1972. During this tenure he introduced curriculum in Social Biology, Caribbean Health Sciences and training for public health professionals.

That was widely adopted across the region.

Dr Drayton also served as a Caribbean Regional Adviser in Human Resources Development for the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) in Barbados, and was Director for the Centre for International Health for the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Throughout his career he served as an adviser, consultant and advocate to UG and Guyana’s Ministry of Health and was a consultant to the Caribbean Community Secretariat.

Dr Drayton is survived by his wife, Dr Vonna-Lou Caleb Drayton, an Epidemiologist and Public Health Specialist at Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington D.C. his daughter Ms Alison Drayton (Falzon) and other relatives.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 3, 2018

England batsmen pile pressure to avoid series loss SCOREBOARD

Dom Bess falls edging to slip. (Getty Images)

(REUTERS) - EVERY England batsmen contributed but not one reached a half-century, as Joe Root’s side ratcheted up the pressure on Pakistan in the second Test to lead by 128 at the end of a rain-affected second day at Headingley yesterday.

By the late close, England had reached 302 for seven with Jos Buttler (34) and Sam Curran (16) still at the crease.

After the morning session was lost to the weather, England mixed watchful defence with occasional attack to increase their stranglehold on the game and further their chances of levelling the two-Test series.

Their batsmen were heavily criticised for lack of application during their

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nine-wicket first-Test defeat, but looked much more impressive in Leeds, building a strong platform from which their bowlers can attack today.

The only thing lacking from England’s point of view was an individual score of note as Root (45), Dominic Bess (49), Dawid Malan (28), Jonny Bairstow (21) and then Buttler all kept the scoreboard ticking over without anyone threatening three figures.

Resuming on 106 for two when the rain relented, England showed their aggressive intentions by taking 21 in the first three overs, a flow of runs helped by some sloppy fielding from the visitors.

Root was first to go, edging a ball aimed across him by Mohammad Amir after adding 16 to his overnight score.

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Malan also played himself in before departing to Amir’s first ball after tea while, at the other end, 20-year-old nightwatchman Bess fell one run short of his second successive Test half-century when he edged to slip.

With plenty of cloud overhead and the floodlights on, conditions were never easy and even the dashing Bairstow and Buttler failed to dominate.

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PAKISTAN 1st innings 174 ENGLAND 1st innings Alastair Cook c Sarfraz Ahmed b Hasan Ali 46 Keaton Jennings c Sarfraz Ahmed b Faheem Ashraf 29 Joe Root c Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Amir 45 Dom Bess c Asad Shafiq b Shadab Khan 49 Dawid Malan c Haris Sohail b Mohammad Amir 28 Jonny Bairstow c Sarfraz Ahmed b Faheem Ashraf 21 Jos Buttler not put 34 Chris Woakes c Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Abbas 17 Sam Curran not out 16 Extras: (b-8, lb-9) 17 Total: (96.0 overs) 302-7 Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-104, 3-138, 4-200, 5-212, 6-260, 7-285.

Bowling: Mohammad Amir 21-4-64-2, Mohammad Abbas 22-8-60-1, Hasan Ali 19-4-68-1, Faheem Ashraf 17-4-43-2, Shadab Khan 17-2-50-1.

England lead Pakistan by 128 runs with 3 wickets intact

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Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the result of the first ENG/PAK match of the current Test series?

(2) Who was the lone debutant of the ENG/PAK first Test?

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 3, 2018

11 Days to go

Rooney, Ronaldo and the English need for a scapegoat in 2006 ENGLAND were supposed to win the World Cup in 2006. It really is that simple. David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen represented a world-class Golden Generation steeped in talent that today's England setup can only dream of.

Sven Goran Eriksson's team had cruised through qualifying without breaking a sweat - only an away draw in Austria on match day one and a freak defeat by Northern Ireland later on in the process detracted from an otherwise 100% record built on solid foundations.

At that time, the Three Lions had been in a good place to do well internationally for a number of years.

The 2002 World Cup was a big 'what if' for England.

Beckham was still recovering from a broken metatarsal suffered just weeks earlier, while a rapidly emerging Gerrard missed the tournament completely, as did usual starting right back Gary Neville.

England beat Argentina in a famous grudge match thanks to a Beckham penalty, but with a fully fit and full-strength squad they

might have won the group instead of picking up draws against Sweden and Nigeria to finish second.

As it was, even losing a quarter-final against eventual champions Brazil could have been different, especially after Owen gave England a first-half lead. Struggling for fitness, the usually incredibly committed Beckham jumped out of a challenge in the build-up to Brazil's equaliser, while Ronaldinho's winner came from a set piece. Whether he meant to lob David Seaman or not - he always claims he did - it was a freak goal.

Two years later at Euro 2004, it was more heartbreak after what felt like another near miss for England. A late collapse saw France steal a 2-1 opening win in the group stage after a fine English performance and a missed penalty from Beckham, while there was little trouble in seeing off both Switzerland and Croatia in the remaining group games to progress.

In those two games, Wayne Rooney emerged as England's new superstar. The 18-year-old looked unplayable and his loss to injury early in the quarter-final against Portugal,

when England were winning, killed the team's buoyancy.

Portugal equalised in the dying stages, before both

back in Europe, more specifically Germany, after being played in the heat and humidity of East Asia

teams scored in extra-time and a penalty shootout that was only ever going to end one way.

40 years on from Bobby Moore lifting the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley, 2006, had to be when England's crushing silverware drought at long last came to an end. It just had to.

The timing was excellent. The World Cup was

four years previously. Gerrard was back, Neville was back, Beckham was fully fit, Rooney was two years older and wiser - or so it seemed - while the rest of the squad was in a rare perfect state of having lots of experience without being old.

The only problem was that Rooney, like Beckham in 2002, was nursing a metatarsal injury that he'd cruelly suffered less than six weeks before England's opening game; and, just as in 2004, Rooney's injury badly hurt England again.

With Rooney left out, a single own goal in the third minute from Paraguay's Carlos Gamarra was enough for victory in the opening game.

The young talisman eventually appeared from the bench in the second game against Caribbean newcomers Trinidad & Tobago, but England were sluggish and only late goals from Peter Crouch and Gerrard spared embarrassment.

Rooney then started the final game against Sweden, lasting only 69 minutes.

Owen was also stretchered off just moments after kickoff, after damaging knee ligaments - that moment was arguably the beginning of the end for Owen as he was never the same again.

England drew the game 2-2 after twice giving up the lead. Despite looking so laboured over the course of their three fixtures, England

had finished top of Group B and progressed to the knockout rounds.

Ecuador were the opposition in the last 16, the first game in which Rooney was able to complete 90 minutes.

A free kick from Beckham provided the only goal and the Three Lions held on for the win, although the reviews were hardly glowing.

At least England were through. There was even room for optimism as Rooney had started to show flashes of his best deep into the second half against the South Americans. And with Portugal, who were to be without suspended midfielders Deco and Costinha after red cards in their last16 win, to follow there was also a chance for the perfect revenge after Euro 2004.

Unfortunately for England, Beckham had to be withdrawn due to an ankle injury shortly after halftime, then came the flashpoint that has come to define the 2006 World Cup from an English perspective. After a frustrating hour and a frustrating tournament, Rooney snapped.

Fighting for the ball with Ricardo Carvalho, who had fallen to the floor in the contest, the 20-year-old stamped on his opponent? The Portugal defender writhed in pain, prompting his teammates to come rushing in to petition the referee Horacio Elizondo, under whose nose the whole thing had just happened.

Among the Portuguese players was Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney's friend and Manchester United colleague. As Ronaldo pleaded with Elizondo, presumably to take strong action, Rooney took exception and pushed his club mate away.

After calming the situation, the referee reached for his back pocket and produced a red card. From there, England were up against it, but managed to hold on for the final half-hour of the 90 minutes and through extra-time.

However, another penalty shootout meant another Portugal win and another painful exit.

What later became apparent is that as Rooney trudged off, Ronaldo looked over to the side-line and

directed a clear wink towards the Portuguese bench.

To say there was outrage among England fans is an understatement. Upon seeing the footage, seething BBC pundit Alan Shearer urged Rooney to 'put one on Ronaldo' when they met at pre-season back at club level.

Ronaldo wasn't a popular figure in England anyway, a perceived show pony with a reputation for diving, and a Manchester United player on top of it all. After so many years of hurt, English fans had loved a scapegoat on which to pin their heartbreak - it was infamously Beckham in 1998 - and Ronaldo and underhand Portuguese tactics had become just that for 2006.

Rooney was naive and immature, but England had of course been cheated. Portugal/Ronaldo was the reason the Golden Generation were out of the World Cup. It had nothing to do with the fact that England had been struggling throughout the tournament, that they lacked ideas and ingenuity against a Portuguese side far from their best in the opening hour of the quarter final, that referee Elizondo would have brandished a red card regardless of Ronaldo's interference, or that England had dreadfully scored only one of their four penalties in the shootout that followed.

What about the distractions of the ridiculous WAG circus?

Ultimately, England only had themselves to blame. It wasn't only about Rooney and a single flashpoint in one minute of one game.

The Golden Generation had badly underperformed over several games and it put too much pressure on an individual who wasn't able to cope with it.

Perhaps because England were in such a strong position before the World Cup in 2006, the need for a scapegoat to justify the failings at yet another international competition was felt even more.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 3, 2018

Is Mike Archer the real ‘pen for hire?’

FIRST of all let me admit to my readers that I do not know Mike Archer, it could very well be my good friend Frederick Kissoon, fpr whom I have a lot of respect, but let’s suppose it’s he (I sincerely doubt it) he will most definitely forgive me I know him well.

Mike Archer seems to be the same individual, who everyone thinks does not exist, but rather is someone else using a pen name to disguise the real author.

Whatever the truth is in relation to whether the name is authentic or invented, I am responding to the letter written on May 16, 2018 in the Guyana Chronicle under the caption ‘Guyana football never witnessed this transformation’ attributed to that name.

First of all, I have repeatedly challenged my critics to show evidence of my being a hired pen and they’ve all failed to do so which means that making such an accusation is entirely false and malicious at best.

However, I’m prepared, especially with so much time on my hands, to answer individuals such as Mr Archer via the same medium he uses and not threaten court action as was done to me in the past.

If we are to enlighten our readers about the state of affairs as it relates to local football then let us do so in a decent, respectful and factual manner which will help all and sundry to better understand the reality of the situation.

Just for the sake of identity, was it the same Mr Archer, who penned a letter in the Stabroek News of (05.10.17) captioned “Urling’s criticism of GFF unconscionable?”

Right there you see who is the hired pen since at no time has he ever shown himself to be independent, but rather appears to have a really warm relationship with President Wayne Forde. So much for the hired pen finger-pointing.

His missive was met with a retort from one Lester Sealey writing in the Guyana Chronicle of November 12, 2017 under the caption: Has Mike Archer assumed the role of GFF apologist?

In that letter, the writer said, “Editor, it’s anyone’s guess why Archer would descend to a “clogged-up and overflowing gutter” to publicly highlight Urling’s name appearing on a List of Candidates for the PPP/C, in the 2015 National and Regional Elections! Isn’t that the individual’s constitutional, democratic and fundamental right? Or, is Archer implying that German’s Restaurant should be boycotted, albeit the Kashif and Shanghai Annual K.O. Tournament, from 2011 and onwards?

What a downright shame for Archer’s mental state of pettiness”.

Let me now get to several charges he made against me starting with what he referred to as “baseless attacks of Guyana’s football development programme”.

He listed the following programmes as a guide for the Federation’s success and they include: a nationwide grassroots development programme, supported by a Brand partner; a nationwide U-15 Boys League supported by a Brand partner; a nationwide U-17 Boys League supported by a Brand partner; introduction of the Nation’s first academy programme with 13 academy training centres (ATC) spread across Guyana and supported

by a Brand partner; the nation’s first female development academy where the best young girls are coached on a weekly basis; a network of 36 fulltime employed licensed coaches working within the ATC; winning Guyana’s first-ever Regional Youth Tournament; building Guyana’s first National Training Centre after 30 years of failed attempts; introducing structured football development programmes throughout the hinterland communities; breaking continental barriers by taking the Golden Jaguars to Indonesia; registering one of the best showing at the 2017 CONCACAF U-15 Boys Championship, in addition to visits by high-ranking FIFA/CONCACAF officials.

Editor, while I concede all the above are important ingredients for the development of the sport, let Mr Archer say whether they’ve been able to transfer those assets and programmes into improving the image and fortune of the sport, since many of the Elite teams, service providers and many other entities are owed large sums of moneys.

I AWAIT HIS RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION. Secondly, he referred to me as a “common ‘street hustler’ armed with a pen and a plan to influence public opinion, while also thinking that his tournament be given preferential treatment, irrespective of the physical and security risks to Guyana’s elite players and the ethical position taken by the GFF and FIFA, that no one company or organiser has a monopoly on third party, organised football tournaments.”

Mr Archer, nothing is fundamentally wrong with being a street hustler, providing it is done legally and within the ambit of the law so there should be no shame in that.

Just remember there are many different types of hustlers some in offices and some on the streets; so just be careful about your criticisms before your words come back to haunt you.

Some may be working aggressively and determinedly, especially to advance his or her career, while others may be described as petty criminals or prostitutes for your information and guidance.

For someone without a criminal background and certainly without a previous conviction this may serve as a guide to which ‘hustler’ I am.

In reference to my thinking that my tournament should have preferential treatment I would ask that you check with the president or any of his executives to find out whether or not I have advocated or even insinuated such, before you make such pronouncements.

All the time you are putting your integrity on the line Mr Archer, and that is a primary component to preserve if you are going to attack others who place much value on such.

Just check the facts and be careful what you say.

On the question of being supportive of the Federation’s performance over a period, what is wrong with my being critical of their work of late, Mr Archer?

You know what it shows, it simply illustrates that I’m an individual thinker and am not predisposed or even afraid to be slandered for speaking the truth.

Let me say for the records, I have always been sympathetic to officials who put the sport and the athlete first. They usually get more than enough credit from me, personally, but I’m equally hardhearted to those who are falsehearted and self-absorbed.

I have been consistent in my portrayal of what I stand for. You just have to Google my work over the fourteen years that I spent with the Kaieteur News.

The Federation and Mr Forde are not the only sports administrators I’ve criticised during my stint in the media and this can be easily verified, but when the time comes for praise to be given I’ve never shirked from doing so.

Just Google KNews of January 24, 2018 under the caption - GOA’s gesture could not have been timelier.

This is an organisation that had incurred the wrath of my observations over a prolonged period and we had our exchanges, but when it came to offering credit when it was due I did so.

Mr Archer mentioned that “his opinion seems to be grotesquely tainted by financial interests and less about upholding the integrity of the sport and well-being of our elite players”.

Once again, Mr Archer, your claim cannot stand scrutiny since I’ve only been involved in one promotion since leaving the media in June, 2017 so for me to be tainted by financial interests is totally unfounded and definitely inaccurate.

Do your research; it is the only pathway to maintaining your integrity. I know that you are hurt by my constructive criticisms, but the only avenue to avoid such inspections is to advise the Federation to be more truthful and accommodating to varied views.

Let me give the readers a classic example of the Federation, which Mr Archer represents, CONTEMPT FOR DISSENTING VIEWS Imagine my friend from Stabroek News Duncan Saul was not invited to the recently staged Awards Ceremony.

Saul has been unchallenged in his coverage of the sport over the 10 administrative regions of this beautiful land of Guyana and in my opinion should have won the print media award in a canter, but because he has been critical of the Federation’s performance lately, he was given the cold-shoulder.

That course of action was downright petty and because of that deed one is forced to conclude that no amount of visits and photo-ops will be enough to rectify the bad image that the sport enjoys.

Individuals have got to rise above the pettiness and act more mature and smarter.

There is another much bigger example to highlight, but I will leave that for another exchange with Mr Archer.

I’ve repeatedly stated, football promotion will never define me. I have other abilities as well and the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I have not had cause to beg anyone or even be a bother to anyone since I left my job just under twelve months ago.

Mr Archer, I urge you to fix your gaze on

those who are afraid to lose the perks that go with the office and those who’re covertly pressurising the corporate community.

Mr Archer went on to say that “Welch is agonising and howling in the wilderness, Guyana has never witnessed the transformational football development strategy being implemented by the Wayne Forde-led administration.

Well, Mr Archer, at least I can safely say that the Federation and you are among the ones agonising and howling; even though, according to you, it is occurring in the wilderness, it is being heard.

Who hears it is what matters, Mr Archer, because you are the ones who could make the change, but this is if the desire is there.

He further stated that “it seems to me that the GFF is committed to the well-being of its regional member associations, players, coaches, referees, technical development team and administrators first, above business practices that seek to profit a few while undermining football development.

The above is unadulterated hypocrisy and needs to be exposed for what it’s worth.

We have allegations of sexual misconduct levelled at high-ranking members of the Federation and Referees Council, in some instances for over one year and it was not until this writer and Saul threatened to expose it further that the president acquiesced to setting up a Commission of Inquiry.

We have not heard anything about the CoI’s progress since it commenced work.

The Mexico-switched game scandal remains unsolved and many reasons are being tendered for the Federation’s reluctance to carry through with the investigations, after publicly promising to do so following a General Council’s mandate.

This is the same General Council that has been offered the luxury to work independently and for the good of the game.

What a mockery! With a Federation that is usually in cash-strapped truss, wouldn’t it be sensible to investigate the lingering outrage to ascertain whether or not there was any wrongdoing.

Mr Archer, I implore you to read your President’s response to an interview with the media which was published on June 9, 2017.

Here is an excerpt from that interview: “While I respect the former president’s (Franklin Wilson) views, I’m obligated to respect the mandate of the members, who happen to be the highest decision-making body (for football) in the country. And every member that was represented at the Congress voted, and it was actually a unanimous decision to pursue an investigation”.

Not dissimilar to my course of action, the president seems to have altered his position on the Mexico investigation as well, but his came in less than one year.

I advise that you be balanced in your thinking and appraisal of the GFF, before you are rendered a minion.

Like my former Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris says, ‘Talk half, lef half’.

Yours truly Rawle Welch

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 3, 2018

National hockey teams aiming for glory at CAC

… GHB optimistic despite setbacks

By Michelangelo Jacobus WITH an eye on the fast approaching July 19 commencement of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) has already begun preparations with men and women’s national teams.

However, the preparations are facing a number of challenges as were highlighted by GHB president Philip Fernandes in an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport.

The GHB boss revealed; “We have been facing some great challenges with preparation for the CAC games as the rain has been most uncooperative. The rainy season has forced a suspension of all hockey tournaments and has limited the opportunities for our teams to train. The national gymnasium is only available twice per week for hockey and on many occasions even those days are

filled with other activities which prevent our national teams from training.”

He further pointed out that while it has been disappointing for the players and coaching staff, they remain optimistic as they continue to use whatever little time is available for training.

Fernandes reiterated; “This issue further highlights the desperate need for Guyana to install an artificial grass hockey pitch where its national teams can train and compete on a regular basis, similarly to other countries in the region.”

TEAM PROGRESS In relation to the national teams, more specifically the men’s team, Fernandes noted that they (GHB) are “now benefitting from the investment made over the past four years of exposing young players and which has been the main objective of the men’s coach Robert Fernandes.

This means that there is a strong crop of young legs competing for places on the male team with a good level of performance and fitness.”

However; Fernandes explained that the women are at a different stage in their cycle having just lost several senior players to retirement.

“There are a good crop of juniors vying for selection, many of whom have little or no international experience. New women’s national coach, Damon Woodroffe, will be challenged to mould a unit of seasoned players with the youth and exuberance of the newcomers.”

KEY AREAS OF FOCUS Robert Fernandes, who has been at the helm of the men’s side for several years now, is once again in charge of the side.

It helps that Robert knows his players well and they in turn are familiar with what the coach expects and the system that he prefers.

The men’s training has been focused recently on defensive structure, double-teaming, timing of offensive leads and the changing of structure dynamically in offence.

Meanwhile the women’s national coach is Damon Woodroffe who is new to the national programme. The GHB boss noted; “Damon has been introducing his own style of hockey to the squad and has been focusing a lot on leads and offensive movement along with making decisions under pressure.

The squad has also been developing their build-up game from the defensive line to midfield and having match practices whenever possible.”

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR In addressing players to keep an eye on, Fernandes identified a couple of players he thinks will be key in Barranquilla.

“It is always difficult to single out individuals in a team sport, especially when the final selection has not yet been done, since the performance of some players is heavily dependent on those

around them.”

“However, based on past performances I would be surprised not to see good performances from Jamarj Assanah and Robert France in the attack and veteran Dwayne Scott in defence for the Guyana men.”

“The women have unfortunately lost the services of young skilful forward Aliyah Gordon, who is out with injury, but will no doubt benefit from the presence of 2018 National Sportswoman-of-the-Year, Marzana Fiedtkou, veteran defender Ulrica Sutherland and Pan Am All-star goalkeeper Alysa Xavier.”

PODIUM FINISH TARGET While the GHB and national teams’ objective is always to have a podium finish at the CAC games, it has never been achieved and it continues to be a challenge for Guyana.

However, Fernandes pointed out; “We have experienced good success with both the men and women against most of the competing teams in the competition

and so if we can get our teams to perform to their best, it is achievable.”

“The women are placed in a pool with fellow Caribbean counterparts Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica. We are familiar with these teams and players and this gives us an opportunity to prepare well for their strengths. The success in the pool round can therefore come down to who analyse their opposition best and prepare for what is anticipated.”

The Guyana men find themselves in a group with the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Mexico. The Guyanese men would be most familiar with Jamaica, having played them late last year in the CAC qualifiers and the two nations have a similar style.

The Dominican Republic will be sure to bring their usual tough, physical game and can prove difficult opponents as will Mexico who add their own Latin flair.

The CAC Games are set for July 19-August 3 at the main venue, Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Nurse, McKinnon denied ‘Golden Jaguars’ head coach Job

By Rawle Toney THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is yet to name a head coach for the Senior Men’s National football team (Golden Jaguars), but at least we know two applicants who did not get the job – former national captains Christopher Nurse and Kayode McKinnon.

“We decided to submit an application based on conversations I’ve had with senior executives in FIFA and CONCACAF who championed the notion of countries giving their young people opportunities in coaching,” Nurse told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview, after receiving an email from the GFF, stating that his joint application with McKinnon was rejected.

“When I saw the job specifications I did not contemplate applying. In fact, I was surprised at the high specifications, based on the financial restraints the federation has when it comes to finances.

The job specification asked for Pro Licences coaches and those are a premium and demand six figures salaries and we cannot afford that in Guyana football.

“We lack facilities and a pro league. A six-figure coach

would be madness … the always candid Nurse stressed.

“We received acknowledgment of the receipt of the application. Then there was nothing for six weeks until a follow-up email came to say we were not being considered.

By this time rumours had already begun to speculate of the federation reaching out to overseas managers, enticing them to apply despite the deadline being closed already.”

Nurse’s résumé includes US Soccer B Coaching Licence. He holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Applied Sports Therapy, Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) National Diploma in Sport Studies, Sports Business Institute of Barcelona course in Football Management & Marketing, FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine, Open University course in the Business of Football and an FA Course in Talent Identification and Long Term Player Development.

McKinnon, the 38-yearold who turned out 60 times for the ‘Golden Jaguars’, holds a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and United States Soccer Federation (USSF) ‘B’ Licences and a National

Kayode McKinnon

Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Level 5 Diploma (2015).

Both players, who shared equally, every historical moment with the Golden Jaguars, are active coaches in the USA and the United Kingdom; taking up the career after wrapping up their professional playing careers.

Nurse, who last played at Sutton United FC in England’s National League before hanging up his cleats, told Chronicle Sport that having watched former New England Revolution defensive midfield player, Shalrie Joseph, take charge of Grenada’s national programme as head coach and doing so without a lot of senior coaching experience, he

was “inspired that players in a similar position to mine and Kayode’s were being given a chance to lead their country.”

“The GFF vision is 2026 World Cup. So the coach needs time to develop and grow; a coach using Guyana as a stepping stone for one or two years looking for something bigger is not going to benefit that 2026 vision. I thought everything was aligning perfectly to give two -minded coaches an opportunity,” Nurse opined.

Nurse, 34, further noted, “It would also demonstrate a career path after playing, to other Guyanese players, and give them more hope to pursue their coaching badges in the twilight of their playing days. I reached out to Mr Forde via email; we had not corresponded for years after a long impasse over financial disputes on behalf of the players.”

“For both of us the greatest achievement would be to coach the country we both captained for so long. I believe the Federation has a technical review committee.

I imagine that is inclusive of the technical director, who myself, neither Kayode, ever had a conversation with, so how could a decision be made

Christopher Nurse

that we were not suitable to lead the same country we gave so much to as players?”

Asked if he’s bitter for not being considered for the job, the former Puerto Rico FC defensive midfield player reasoned that: “It’s not a problem that the federation chose to go in another direction. What’s concerning is that two former national captains with suitable qualifications when compared to other coaches in the Caribbean region did not even get an interview for the job.”

Nurse believes that the job specification eliminated all Guyanese coaches and the job should first seek to employ a national of Guyana, since it is the Guyana National team.

There will be an element of pride and patriotism.

Despite the snub, Nurse said he intends to “support the national programme and wish the best for the players and despite the setback remains committed to helping develop the youth and elevating the way we think and operate around football, both on and off the field in Guyana. I believe that Guyanese football is on the border of a huge transition if we can manage this period of time effectively.”

“Primarily the infighting has to cease and we have to come together as bright minds with a collective purpose to grow and develop football for the next generation and not merely seek to increase our own personal wealth and enhance our CVs,” Nurse reasoned.

Samuel Cox, the current Golden Jaguars captain, joined the growing list of players who are preparing for life after the ‘beautiful game’, when he received his UEFA ‘A’ coaching licence, thus becoming one of the youngest in the Caribbean to move one step closer to the acclaimed UEFA Pro-Licences.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, June 3, 2018

Immense competition for spots in Guyana Jaguars set-up - Adams

By Rajiv Bisnauth

LEFT-arm spinner Anthony Adams believes that the dominant streak by the Guyana Jaguars has created immense competition for spots in the senior set-up.

Adams has had modest returns in his First-Class debut last year, where he went wicket-less in an almost mute display, but remains one of the country’s leading spinners.

However, for Adams to slot into the national side, as a permanent fixture, will always be a difficult task, taking into consideration the availability of spinners at the Jaguars’ disposal.

West Indies spinners Devendra Bishoo and

Veerasammy Permaul being the front-line bowlers and their Albion teammate Gudakesh Motie joining the fray soon after and dominating mean Adams’ chances are certainly limited.

But while the 25-year-old is fully aware of the situation that confronts him, he is not prepared to give up easily.

In fact the Essequibian expressed his disappointment at not being a part of the Guyana Jaguars squad for the 2018/2019 Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional Four-day championship.

“Yea, it’s a bit disappointing not to get in, but at the same time it is not an easy task to get into the franchise, because of the role I play

GBTI Open to serve off June 22 THE Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) recently renewed its sponsorship commitment to the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) for the game’s local governing body’s biggest championship on its calendar - the 2018 GBTI Open.

This year’s tournament is scheduled to commence on June 22 and will see the country’s top juniors, seniors and veterans fiercely vie for the coveted titles.

At the bank’s headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown, the sponsorship cheque was handed over to GLTA’s vice-president Cristy Campbell, in the presence of recently elected president Samuel Barakat, vice-president Robin Singh, secretary Molly Hassan and committee member Illeana Boodoo.

Nadia De Abreu, Marketing and Communications Officer of GBTI High Street branch; Pamela Binda, Public Relations and Marketing Manager of GBTI, and other staff of the bank were also present. The bank stated its commitment towards the growth of the sport and pledged its continued support.

Barakat further extended gratitude to the bank for their support, not only for this tournament but also for those throughout the year.

The GBTI Open started in the 1980s, but due to measures beyond control, it was halted. The tournament restarted in 2010 and the GLTA reported that it has grown bigger every year.

According to the GLTA, the GBTI in Bel Air offered its facility to be used for high-performance training by top junior and senior players in Guyana.

as a left-arm spinner. There are two men currently in the set-up, who have been doing well for Guyana, so definitely it will always be difficult for me,” Adams reckoned.

Dubbed the most prolific left-arm spin bowler from Essequibo, Adams said he is prepared to continue the hard work and dedication.

“Age is on my side so I have a lot of cricket to play, so I will continue to work hard and wait for my opportunity again,” he expressed.

Adams broke into the national set-up after taking 52 wickets in seven matches and second only to Motie’s 61 in last year’s Jaguars Franchise League Three-day tournament. His performance single-handedly gave Essequibo

its first-ever Three-day title in just the second year of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Jaguars are the defending champions of the PCL Regional Four-day championship, having won every title since the competition began in 2014/2015.

This season the local franchise has drafted in West Indies Under-19 players Tevin Imlach and Javier Spencer as the newcomers.

Spencer and Jamaican off-spinner Ramaal Lewis are the overseas players in the squad, while Guyanese all-rounders Christopher Barnwell, Akshaya Persaud and Imlach complete the quota of five players who were picked at the Player Draft in

Anthony Adams

Antigua last month.

The 10 players retained by the Guyana Jaguars from the last season are Veerasammy Permaul, Leon Johnson, Vishaul Singh, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Motie, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Keon Joseph, Anthony Bramble, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd.

All-rounders Raymon Reifer and Keemo Paul, batsman Shimron Hetmyer and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, who are all now cen-

trally contracted by Cricket West Indies (CWI), are available on Pay for Play, as is veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

The Four-day championship scheduled for later this calendar year will commence after the Regional 50-over competition since the West Indies are preparing for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2019.

Shemar’s Trucking Service on board Champion of Champions Dominoes … Tournament commences today

Managing Director of Shemar’s Trucking Service, Duean Boston (right), hands over the cheque to Mark Wiltshire.

SHEMAR’S Trucking Service and Boston Pawn Shop were the latest entities to offer support to the Champion of Champions dominoes tournament which is being organised by senior Organising Secretary of the Georgetown Dominoes Association (GDA) Mark ‘Jumbie’ Wiltshire.

Yesterday, during a sim-

ple ceremony at the company’s headquarters on D’Urban Street, Lodge, Managing Director Duean Boston handed over a cheque for an undisclosed sum to Wiltshire.

Wiltshire, shortly after thanking the sponsor for his support, disclosed that the tournament will see teams, who finished first and second in competitions this year, battle invited teams from the three

counties in Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo.

He revealed over $300 000 in prize moneys and trophies will be up for grabs with the winning team set to receive $175 000 and a trophy, while the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers will take home $75 000, $35 000 and $20 000 respectively, along with trophies.

Entrance fee is $12 000 per team which must be paid on or before the start of play.

The top female player and the Most Valuable Player will receive $5 000 respectively.

Wiltshire added that all prizes are guaranteed and interested teams can contact him on 665-5855.

Among the teams anticipated to participate are: Gold is Money, All Seasons, Mix Up, Spartans, Rage, Providence, Gangster, C7, C6, Thunder, Phantom, R&R, Turning Point, Masters, Gold Star, Angels and OPKO. The invited teams are: Orange Walk, NIS, East Taxi Service, Sun Flower Hotel out of Essequibo, Rockets, Players, Uprising, Mark Fitness Gym, Yhip’s Bakery, Lippy Lotto from Bartica, Golden Masters, Beacons, Medi Care, Geology & Mines Commission, CARICOM, Lil Boys and Lion.

Some of the other sponsors include Dynasty Sports Club, All Seasons Racing Service, Tony’s Jewellery, CBB&L Import & Export, R&F Wholesale Depot and Southland International Inc. Double-six time is 14:00hrs at R&R Sports Bar situated at 76 Meadow Brook Gardens and food and drinks will be on sale throughout the day.

Kayode McKinnon

Nurse, McKinnon denied ‘Golden Jaguars’ head coach job

National hockey teams aiming for glory at CAC

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26 Christopher Nurse

GBTI Open to 27 serve off June 22 PAGE

… GHB optimistic despite setbacks PAGE

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Marzana Fiedtkou will be a key player for the Women’s team at the CAC Games in July.

Immense competition for spots in Guyana Jaguars set-up - Adams

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27

GBTI’s Public Relations and Marketing Manager, Pamela Binda, (left) hands over the bank’s sponsorship cheque to GLTA vice-president Cristy Campbell.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 03, 2018