Guyana chronicle e paper 06 06 2018

WEDNESDAY 6th JUNE, 2018

PPP nailed No.105297

GECOM says Afro-Guyanese make up less than half of staff … Robeson Benn leads walkout from statutory meeting 03 PAGE

PAHO-WHO to lead mercury probe 12 PAGE

– gov't urges media to clarify first before going public

Single-use plastic 18 products ban closer PAGE

… private sector calls for feasibility study

227 local companies cashing in on Exxon 09 PAGE

GECOM commissioners, Vincent Alexander and Charles Corbin briefing members of the media in the secretariat’s compound after PPP-nominated commissioners broke up the statutory meeting on Tuesday (Samuel Maughn photo)

… Kaieteur News, Ram & McRae among companies

Exxon pumps over $10B into local companies PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

UG gets $4.6M grant from China for language lab

By Lisa Hamilton

UNIVERSITY of Guyana (UG) students are set to benefit from a fully-equipped Modern Language Laboratory, compliments of a G$4.6M grant from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

The laboratory, which is expected to be functional by the next academic year, will better equip students to learn several foreign languages.

These include Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Mandarin and French.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) towards this effort was signed by UG Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Planning and International Engagement Barbara Reynolds and Chinese Embassy Counsellor and Deputy of Chief of Mission Chen Xilai on Tuesday at the Office of the Vice-Chancellery, Turkeyen Campus.

The grant will be used to fund the acquisition of furniture, computers and headsets while the university has already identified a building which will accommodate the laboratory.

In brief remarks, Chen said the embassy is committed to working with UG to increase opportunities for Guyanese and to foster better China-Guyana relations.

“To invest in education is to invest in the future. The

Chinese Embassy Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission Chen Xilai (second left) and UG Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Planning and International Engagement Barbara Reynolds (second right) seal the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a handshake. Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities Claudette Austin and Dean of the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation Leyland Lucas look on (Delano Williams photo) University of Guyana is the cradle of Guyanese talents.

Many talents have received education here and we could see more in the future.

“So, for the embassy, we are very glad to contribute to the creation of a new language lab so as to provide more opportunities for the

students of Guyana to be more involved in international affairs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Reynolds said Guyana as the only English-speaking country in South America, must be able to prepare its citizens to be multilingual.

“A lot of our business is conducted in languages other than English. We want to interact with our neighbours, we want to welcome tourists to Guyana; we want to welcome investors to Guyana.

“For us to be able to do so effectively, we have to be able to have a high level of proficiency in another language to be able to represent Guyana well, to be able to negotiate effectively[and] to be able to negotiate with others,” she said.

The registrar of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) had said the body will looking to introduce Dutch into its curriculum, a move Guyana welcomes and will now prepare for, said Reynolds.

The language laboratory will also assist practitioners in the health sector to better communicate with patients from Latin America and further afield.

The university also intends to make it mandatory that all graduating students are conversant in at least one foreign language.

PPP nailed

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

GECOM says Afro-Guyanese make up less than half of staff … Robeson Benn leads walkout from statutory meeting

By Svetlana Marshall A Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) meeting, which was expected to discuss critical issues pertaining to the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), was abruptly adjourned on Tuesday as a result of a heated confrontation between the Chairman, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson and Commissioner Robeson Benn over the ethnic composition of the secretariat’s

days have been repeated by other senior PPP functionaries including former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon.

On Tuesday, when the meeting was called to order, it was the intention of the GECOM Chairman to address the inaccuracy in statements peddled by Benn in the public domain, before deciding on the appointment of a Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), and a plan of action for Local Government Elections slated for later

At the time, the Commission’s coalition representatives, Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman were present in addition to PPP Commissioners Bibi Shadick and Sase Gunraj. The meeting was subsequently adjourned.

When it subsequently resumed minutes later, Commissioner Benn was warned about his behavior, but this did not sit well with him. For a second time, the meeting was adjourned.

In the a press confer-

a problem with the ethnic balance at GECOM,” Alexander told reporters.

UNFORTUNATE Describing the event that occurred at the Secretariat on Tuesday as “unfortunate,” Alexander noted that the bickering between the Chairman and Commissioner Benn has been ongoing for some time.

“For some time now there has been an ongoing interaction, not the most pleasant, not the most diplomat-

GECOM Commissioners: Vincent Alexander (centre), Charles Corbin (right) and Desmond Trotman (left) speaking to reporters on Tuesday (Photo by Samuel Maughn) workforce.

At an event at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre in May, Benn, a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) representative on the Commission, alleged that the workforce of the Guyana Elections Commission Secretariat is dominated by Afro-Guyanese.

In fact, Benn went one step further and alleged that 90 per cent of the workforce is made-up of Afro Guyanese.

These sentiments in recent

this year.

Justice (Ret’d) Patterson reprimanded Commissioner Benn, noting that contrary to the information peddled by him, 46 per cent of the workforce comprises of Afro-Guyanese. Without hesitation, Commissioner Benn reportedly shouted “I disagree with you!”

The meeting, sources say, was reduced to a heated back and forth between the Chairman and the Commissioner.

ence in the compound of the GECOM’s Secretariat, Alexander, backed by Corbin and Trotman, said that Commissioner Benn was offered the opportunity to provide the evidence that would substantiate his claims but failed to do so.

“The Chairman challenged his (Benn’s) statistics. He could not provide evidential information in relation to the statistics but maintained that there was

ic, not the most acceptable between the Chairman and one of the commissioners, namely commissioner Benn,” he said.

He added that the issue gave rise to Tuesday’s impasse resulting in the meeting being adjourned at a time when critical decisions were on the table to be made. According to Alexander, prior to the adjournment, Justice (Ret’d) Patterson indicated that he would not allow the

Wismar access roads getting new look

THE access roads to several communities in Wismar, Linden, are benefitting from drainage works which fall under 2018 capital projects for the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

Residents expressed satisfaction that their communities are benefitting from the

budgetary allocation since last year the May/ June rains completely inundated their homes, resulting in much damage and losses.

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Orrin Gordon confirmed that funds are allocated for concrete drains to be done in First and Second Alley and

these have commenced, but the work has slowed due to the inclement weather.

The project costing millions of dollars was awarded to MB Construction. Contractor Michael Bond expressed delight that as a resident of Second Alley, he is happy to be executing the job.

“The construction of Second Alley drainage system, MB Construction Service is extremely honoured to be the one executing this project because it’s the street I was born and raised in, this project is personal,” he said.

This is also part of the RDC’s mission to have res-

Commissioner to continuously disrupt meetings of the Commission, and would only engage him when he is speaking to an issue on the flood.

“That led to an impasse and an exchange that caused the chairman to adjourn the meeting,” he added. He maintained that since Justice (Ret’d) Patterson took office as Chairman, there has been “this disconnect and sometimes disruptive interaction” particularly from Commissioner Benn.

While Alexander said he believes that the meeting should not have been adjourned and that the matter could have been handled differently, he said he understands the Chairman’s frustration.

Questioned what the ethnic composition of the secretariat is, Alexander made it clear that the GECOM Secretariat is not into hiring persons on the basis of race.

“I cannot say and I pose the question does GECOM in its recruitment ask people their ethnicity and on what basis can someone come to the percentage if we do not keep information on ethnicity, so I can’t answer the question,” he responded.

He noted that given the perceived concerns of Commissioner Benn, it is he, who should have made a proposition. “My point is, if he raises the matter, two things should happen, one he should present the evidence and on the other hand he himself should have a proposition as to how the matter should be addressed,” he said.

In a joint press statement, the PPP Commissioners told a different story. According to them, during the statutory meeting, Justice (Ret’d) Patterson in raising the issue surrounding the composition of the workforce of the secidents and contractors of the very communities execute projects within their capacities to do so. Gordon said he will make it his duty to make sure that the local contractors build their capacity to benefit from community projects so that the funds can be trickled down to the community level.

Resident of Second Alley, Petal Adams, said the drainage works will alleviate the flooding issues facing the alleys, the worse of which

GECOM Chairman Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson retariat prevented Commissioner Benn from justifying his position.

“In responding to the Chairman, Commissioner Benn attempted to justify his assertion and in doing so, pointed out that the perception was that the vast majority of the staff of the Commission were persons of one ethnic descent….

The Chairman prevented Commissioner Benn from defending his position and when challenged, adjourned the meeting for over half an hour,” the statement issued

by Benn, Gunraj and Shadick read.

They alleged that the Chairman although disputing Benn’s claim did not offer any evidence to substantiate his position. “Upon resumption, the Chairman announced that Commissioner Benn would not be recognized and therefore prevented from participating in the remainder of the meeting. We were therefore forced to walk out of the meeting,” the Commissioners said.

The next statutory meeting of the commission is next Tuesday. happened in 2017.

“I am happy that some attention came to us and the drains are doing, because we lost a lot last year and we were afraid that again this would happen so we are happy for the drains,” Adams said. Meanwhile, capital works for 2018 are ongoing as scheduled. Twenty-one projects have been awarded, while 18 tenders are open and waiting to be awarded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Jagdeo gets regular briefs from Exxon …as Min. Trotman refutes claims about withholding information

AT the request of the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman ExxonMobil has been providing updates and briefings to the Leader of the Opposition at his office and the ministry has rubbished claims by the PPP leader that government was withholding information from the public.

In a statement on Mon-

day Jagdeo said he had found it surprising that Exx-

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

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onMobil had been relaying information to the Coalition Government, on a quarterly basis, “given the reticence of the administration when it comes to keeping the Guyanese public informed of the developments in the oil and gas sector.”

H e a rg u e d t h a t t h e non-disclosure of the names of local companies engaged

by ExxonMobil has been the latest issue on which Minister Raphael Trotman has been called out on, despite calls by him and other members of civil society for this to be done, months ago. “Guyanese would recall that, last month, when

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asked about his failure to make the disclosure, Min-

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

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ister Trotman was flippant in saying that he ‘did not know why Exxon had not released the names’ of the local companies it engaged.

It is only over the past several days that Guyanese became aware that Minister Trotman was, in fact, in possession of the information. I feel firmly that his hiding behind the Chairman of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources is another excuse for not making the information public. It is a flimsy excuse and it exposes his reluctance to act. There is nothing stopping his release of the names of the local companies. I wish to repeat my call for the list of 309 local companies used

by ExxonMobil in 2017 and the 227 used during the first quarter of 2018 to be released.”

However, Trotman said Jagdeo’s claim that the government is operating in secrecy when it comes to developments in the oil and gas sector is unfounded and clearly made to score cheap political points.

Minister Trotman noted that there is evidence that the Government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources has been more open to sharing information, engaging citizens and accepting criticism than the previous administration. In this context, he points to the fact that all petroleum production contracts are now available for public scrutiny on the following websites: www. dpi.gov.gy and www.nre. gov.gy. This is the first time that these contracts would have been shared with the public despite them being signed before this administration came into office. “In January 2018, Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Raphael Trotman committed to releasing the contracts. That commitment has been honoured. Further, efforts are now underway to release major mining contracts,” Trotman said.

In addition to making the contracts available to the public, Trotman said the Ministry of Natural

Resources has conducted public outreaches throughout Guyana to inform residents of developments in the oil and gas and natural resources sector and these are ongoing. Each of these sessions was well attended and questions asked by residents were answered factually and honestly.

Additionally, the minister said in the process of developing a Local Content Policy, the Ministry of Natural Resources engaged a number of organisations including five Chambers of Commerce, the University of Guyana, other Ministries, professional associations and individuals. These engagements, he noted allowed persons the opportunity to make their contributions towards a Local Content Policy for the oil and gas sector. The second draft of the policy is now available for perusal by the public on the following websites: www. business.gov.gy and www. nre.gov.gy According to Trotman as further evidence of the government’s openness and willingness to share information, the records of the National Assembly will show that he and Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Brooms, have appeared before the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources on several occasions, and most recently on May 18, where he delivered a full and frank presentation that addressed at length, developments in the oil and gas sector. The Committee is chaired by PPP Member of Parliament Odinga Lumumba and includes Yvonne Pearson and Need Kumar, both of the PPP/C. Trotman said no suggestions were made at any appearances before this Committee that the ministry, or ministers, were withholding information in any way.

Instead, he said the ministers have been repeatedly complimented for their open and forthright presentations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

‘John Fernandes’ to service Saipem --as work on Liza Phase I progresses

By Navendra Seoraj

JOHN Fernandes Limited (JFL) has been contracted by one of ExxonMobil’s largest contractors, Saipem, to provide shorebased services for the Liza Phase I operation.

Saipem had put out a tender for the service for which JFL bid and eventually won, and that is to provide space for its shore-base operations, said ExxonMobil’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday.

The contract between the local company and Saipem encompasses the receipt, storage, handling and load-

out of line pipes and other project equipment, vessels and personnel for ExxonMobil’s Liza Phase I’s development in Guyana.

According to a recent report, the contract will take effect in October when the first set of pipes land at the Wieting and Richter wharf facility on upper Water Street which was rented and transformed into a shore-base facility by JFL. “This is the trickle effect of the new oil-and- gas industry,” Brasington said, adding: “We also have a shorebase contract with Muneshwers for Phase I; that is through GYSBI but it shows the trickle effect…

“The industry is here to stay, so a lot of people will

be getting contracts.”

She believes that the companies that have been contracted so far have the capacity and enthusiasm to support ExxonMobil’s operations.

She also admitted that when the company first started explorations off-shore Guyana, they used Trinidad and Tobago for shore-based services because there was a 20 per cent chance, at best, that they would find oil.

CHANCE OF SUCCESS “When we first came to drill Liza I,” Brasington said, “the chance of success was 1 in 10 or 1 in 5 if you are really good; but we came here thinking that we had a 20 per cent chance at best.

“Normally, you drill a well and meet the commitment to the government, then you’re gone. But we found oil.”

After discovering oil, the company and its affiliates decided to turn their attention fully to Guyana because, according to her, it costs more to have a shore-base facility in Trinidad and Tobago.

Opportunities have since been opened for local companies to form partnerships with credible and recognised international organisations like Saipem.

Saipem’s website describes the company as the global leader in drilling services, as well as in the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of

their presence.

The accused said when he asked the men to remove from the location one of them came up to him with a pitchfork and he managed to push him off.

At this point, Jaisingh said he drew his gun when he saw another man from the group, who had a haversack (bag) drawing a handgun.

Jaisingh told the court he was afraid for his life and he discharged several rounds in the man’s direction causing some of them to run away into Old Road, Land of Canaan.

The accused stated that he saw one of the men lying on the ground and he got into his vehicle and drove to the Timehri Police Station where he made a report of what had transpired.

Jaisingh said he handed over his weapon and was placed in custody after he was told that two men were injured. He identified the men who were said to be injured as being present in the courtroom on Tuesday.

He said, “I never lashed nobody with a chair or beat nobody or gun-butt nobody.”

The judge will sum up the case this morning after which the 12-member jury will deliberate before arriving at a verdict.

Leading the State’s case is prosecutor Lisa Cave, who in her opening statement said that on November 4, 2014 at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, the accused Dereck Jaisingh allegedly attempted to

murder Sherwin Hamilton and Welton Edwards.

She related that Sherwin Hamilton, accompanied by his uncle Welton Edwards, had gone to visit the accused to find out why he had beaten his nephew, Raymond Hamilton. Without him saying a word the men were shot.

Hamilton received nine shots to his body while

Edwards was shot twice, Cave said. She added that the two men were taken to the hospital and treated after which the accused was indicted.

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

ExxonMobil Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington

pipelines and complex projects, onshore and offshore, in the oil-and-gas market.

“We have distinctive competences [sic] in operations in harsh environments, remote areas and deep water.

We provide a full range of services with contracts on an “EPC” and/or “EPCI” (“turnkey” basis) and we have distinctive capabilities and unique assets with highest technological content,” the

company says.

In 2017, the Italy-based company received a new engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract to develop the Liza field.

The contract was for sub-sea umbilical risers and flow lines (SURF) package of the proposed Liza project located nearly 120 miles offshore Guyana at a depth of 1,800m.

Accused admits drawing gun and discharging several rounds AS the 2014 Land of Canaan attempted murder trial is nearing its completion in the Georgetown High Court, the accused opted to give an unsworn statement from the box as he led his defence.

Dereck Jaisingh, on Tuesday told the court that he is a businessman of 89 Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, and resides at the address with his family - a wife and a young son.

Businessman Dereck Jaisingh (Photo courtesy of Stabroek News)

The licensed firearm holder said he operated a restaurant/bar and a trucking service at his premises and would have large sums of cash on hand.

He recalled that on November 2, 2014 at about 9:35pm he left home to drop off his sisters at Sarah Johanna, a neighbouring village. Jaisingh added that he returned home at about 11:50pm, exited his vehicle and went to open his gate when he noticed five `Negro’ men about five feet from him, causing him to become suspicious about

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Editorial

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Developing our regions PRESIDENT David Granger’s vision that each region must have a capital town is a very important first step to fully empower local government organs in the furtherance of this nation’s development.

President Granger’s philosophy is that Guyana’s development depends on strong regions, and that the development of the regions must be stimulated by ‘capital towns,’ each capable of providing the full gamut of quality public services. These include education, energy, law enforcement, health, housing, water, immigration, taxation and the registration of births and deaths and businesses.

Steadfast in this vision, in 2016 the administration upgraded three communities to townships. The three new towns – Bartica, Lethem and Mabaruma were added to the six existing towns-Anna Regina, Corriverton, New Amsterdam, Rose Hall, Linden and Georgetown-in the country.

Regional Government,

which falls under the Local Democratic Organs came into effect with the 1980 Guyana Constitution. The spirit and intent of establishing a regional system is to ensure that the people within the demarcated boundaries can manage their affairs and utilise the resources therein for their benefit and development.

With this establishment, the country was divided into 10 administrative regions and an examination will see that each region is known from specific resources.

For instance, Region Two is forested highland and low coastal plain and some hilly sand and clay; Region Four is mostly low coastal plain with small portions of hilly sand and clay, more inland; Region Seven has within it the forested highland and little hilly sand and clay. The other regions too comprise unique and common topographies and natural resources.

A careful look at the regions’ demarcation will see representation of our

geographic areas-hilly sand and clay, interior savannahs, low coastal plain, and highlands distributed, which suggests that the planners sought to ensure, where possible, that the nation’s natural resources are spread among the people, irrespective of regions.

Inevitably, this would have necessitated working within and across region(s), in competition and cooperation for the region’s welfare and by extension the benefit of the country as a whole.

Along with the diverse and distributive topography and national resources so too, were the people. While regions may have a predominance of one race or tribe, no region is homogeneous. This convergence of diverse groups in the same geographic space, with the responsibility to manage their affairs, would out of necessity cause them to recognise and appreciate, that their well-beings are intertwined and consequently it is in their interest to work with each other.

It would be myopic to

pretend putting diverse groups with shared historical experiences and which have not all been pleasant, that the regional system of self-government would automatically erase the unpleasant past and bring automatic forgiveness or trust.

However, it is reasonable to expect where persons, notwithstanding diversity and not-so-pleasant historical experiences, knowing that the development of one is hinged on the development of the other, would develop ways and means to work together, including building trust and avoiding and resolving conflicts.

Since the regional system was put in place, it is fair to say much has not been done within the last 36 years to strengthen it and allow the people within the regions, the needed autonomy to raise their own revenue and develop the region based on their plan. Outside of the rudimentary laws establishing the system, the system awaits legislations to allow it to function efficiently and effectively.

Since 1992, regional governments have become more diverse. It has been seen that leadership of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCS) are shared by different political parties or groups outside of the strongholds of the two major political parties, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic and the People’s National Congress Reform After 38 years, the Regional Government system is no longer new. By now it should have been up and running, already passed its teething phase, allowing the regions to work with each other on shared resources -- human and natural -- trading with each other and having their own tax system, which in itself lends for competition and incentives to do business or reside and executing an indigenous development

plan, not having to solely rely on central government.

And while central government will still play a role in aiding development of the people via national laws, policies, revenues and security and lending support to the regions through grants, the regions ought to by now have been allowed to raise and spend their money and provide needed services for the people in the communities.

It ought to be of concern to citizens that after 38 years in the system, to still have regional chairmen/women calling or relying on central government to provide money or relief for things within the regions under their responsibility. They were empowered by the laws to raise their own revenue and they could have done so themselves.

The Chief Justice ruling on the Judicial Review Act Dear Editor,

THERE seems to be propagating in Guyana’s Judiciary (and, ominously, even at the level of the Caribbean Court of Justice) a notion of judicial supremacy over the Executive on matters of government policy. It is wrong.It is unconstitutional.

It is inherent in our constitutionalism of elected governments, that any elected government is entitled to decide for itself what legislation (subject of course to any constitutional restraints) it wishes to promulgate for peace, order and good government. It is called executive prerogative or privilege.

And it comes into sharp focus when (like the events which have happened in the present Judicial Review Act commencement matter) there is a change of political party in government.

And just as how the PPP/C government was entitled in the exercise of its prerogative in

2010 to enact the Judicial Review Act 2010(JRA); and entitled to have omitted to bring it into operation; it is that very and identical constitutional prerogative which entitles the APNU+AFC Government to decide for itself (as a matter of sheer policy) if, and when, the PPP/C Government-enacted JRA will come into operation. By this simple constitutional test and logic, the ruling of the learned Chief Justice (ag) ordering the APNU+AFC Minister (the Honourable Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, S.C to bring the JRA into operation, must be plainly wrong.

Even accepting the learned Chief Justice’s reasoning that it is the “will of the people” that the JRA be brought into force (here I am relying on, and quoting from the GC report of Wednesday May 30, 2018 under the caption “Not so soon” exposes the sheer illogicality of the ruling. If the PPP/C government (and its then Minister of Legal Affairs –

Ramson, S.C) was representing the people’s will (which is not fixed or immutable) in causing to be enacted the JRA in 2010, then, surely, the people’s will implicitly and contemporaneously changed upon the change of government in 2015 upon the election of the APNU+AFC; and this APNU+AFC Government is, and must be seen, equally, as representing that changed will of the people when it’s Minister of Legal Affairs (Basil Williams, S.C), omits, as a considered policy decision, not to as yet, bring the JRA into operation.

It is simply a matter of equal treatment under the law; and even handedness by the judiciary towards all government.

Has an Orwellian disposition unwittingly crept into the judiciary so that the PPP/C government is viewed as more equal than a APNU+AFC government; so that where the PPP/C successive ministers of legal affairs were entitled to exercise their discretion/prerogative to have brought

the JRA into operation and each exercised that discretion by way of opting not to bring it into operation, the APNU+AFC “Minister” has no such right. How and why could this be? The principle of constitutional neutrality visà-vis all governments appear to have been ignored.

So, was there some distinguishing, differential factor? To answer this question articulately I turn now to the argument about the Rules of Court. It seems to me that that Rules of Court argument in distinguishing the PPP/C Minister’s non-commencement, from the APNU+AFC Minister’s, is wholly irrelevant and without merit. It obfuscates the real issue: is it within the constitutional power/prerogative of the new APNU+AFC Government to have a new and different legislative policy regarding the JRA? It seems to me that seen this way, there has been no greater nonsense argued by Anil Nandlall than that, since some complimentary Civil Procedure

Rules only came into place with effect from 6th day February 2017, it was only as of then, that the JRA was legally capable of being commenced, i.e. that the CPRs is a sine qua non for the JRA commencement. The learned attorney general has condignly dealt with that feeble, red-herring argument of Nandlall in his statement (as reported in the above GC article) that “the reference to “Rules of Court” in the Act [Section 3(1)] contemplated rules that were already in force (for the time being in force) as there was already provision in the law for claims for judicial review”. The learned AG is plainly right. And if authority were necessary, I would refer counsel to the case of Attorney General V. Jardim (Claude) [2003] 67 WIR 100 where Chancellor Bernard gave a vintage historical analysis of applicable “Rules” on matters of judicial review in Guyana, tracing back even to pre-Independence.

There is no empirical

evidence to suggest the inadequacy of those rules and practice for the operationality of the JRA, 2010. The inherent fallacy in Nandlall’s red-herring argument is this: the CPRs that came into force in 2017 has their genesis in rules that were drafted for discussion since 2002 (as Rules of the High Court prepared by former Chancellor Kenneth George and commissioned by the Carter Centre Guyana) Chancellor George could not have somehow, as if by Divine prescience, telescopically, materially anticipated that some seven to eight years later a JRA would be enacted; and in such anticipation, specifically make rules to cater for such JRA. The point here, is that the JRA was not the raison d etre for the new CPRs; their convergence is coincidental.

(To be continued) Regards Maxwell Edwards

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

City Council allowing vending on Stabroek Market tarmac Dear Editor, THE Mayor and City Council had made it clear that no vending or other related business will be allowed on

the tarmac in front of the Stabroek Market.

Lo and behold a caravan is now on that tarmac, day and night, selling various cooked food products.

The Stabroek Market

Constabulary is very concerned about this development but they are afraid to remove them since it is obvious that the persons there have the blessing of the City Hall hierarchy. It is my

Security guards still to benefit from increase Dear Editor, FRUSTRATION among the security employed by a private security service to provide security for government buildings throughout Region Four continues to grow, and they have become desperate in their efforts to get all those in authority to look into our matter.

By this we mean the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Education and the Minister of Labour. A security service operating from the Seaforth Street, Campbellville area had failed to pay us retroactive

from July 1, 2013 to October 31, 2013 and that is when the increase was made from $140 to $202. Again, since the minimum wage increase was made from January 1, 2017 we have not received a single cent of the increase.

However, we would be more than grateful if this matter could be investigated because whenever pay time comes around we hear the same old cry, that the Ministry of Education has not paid them the increase. So we would like to know what the Minister of Finance, along with the Minister of Labour meant when they mentioned (higher wages‌ Cabinet clears new minimum wage

for private sector).

Honourable Minister of Education we would welcome if you could have an investigation into our finance department, for not paying an increase to one of the two securities highlighted by the owner of RK Security via the bidding to date. They now come up with a colossal lie that they had bid for $355 while the others had bid for $255, a figure cleared by the Cabinet new minimum wage for private sector in order not to pay increase.

Regards Name Provided

belief that the owner of that business could be found from among the power brokers at City Hall. Otherwise to the Stabroek Market tarmac, the same can be said of the

Roxanne Burnham playfield and people are just fronting for them. As a certain mayor like to say “Selling on Stabroek Market tarmac is a No,No! May God help the

small vendors.

Eon Andrews President Guyana Market Vendors Union

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

China to hold Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit THE 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit will be held from June 9 to 10 this year in Qingdao, a coastal city in China’s Shandong Province, the Chinese Embassy here said.

The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation, the

creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China) by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. It was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism. The Repub-

lic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan joined the organisation in 2017.

The SCO’s main goals are: strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states; promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as

in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.

Proceeding from the Shanghai Spirit, the SCO pursues its internal policy based on the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultations, respect for cultural diversity, and a desire for common development, while its external policy is conducted in accordance with the principles of non-alignment, non-targeting any third country, and openness.

The Heads of State Council (HSC) is the supreme decision-making body in the SCO. It meets once a year and adopts decisions and guidelines on all important matters of the organisation. The

SCO Heads of Government Council (HGC) meets once a year to discuss the organisation’s multilateral cooperation strategy and priority areas, to resolve current important economic and other cooperation issues, and also to approve the organisation’s annual budget.

The SCO’s official languages are Russian and Chinese.

According to the embassy, the 18th SCO summit will be chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Leaders of SCO member states and observer states, as well as chiefs of various international organisations will attend the summit. It is the second major diplomatic event China is going to host in 2018, following the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in April.

Xi will exchange views on the current and future development of the SCO, cooperation in all areas under the new situation, as well as on major international and regional issues, with leaders of the other seven member states,

Chinese President Xi Jinping four observer states and chiefs of the international organisations. Xi will sign the Qingdao Declaration and a dozen agreements on security and economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges with leaders of other member states, according to Wang.

The President will also invite foreign delegates to a welcoming banquet and a display of fireworks and lights.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

227 local companies cashing in on Exxon … Kaieteur News, Ram & McRae among companies

SOME 227 Guyanese owned companies have been benefitting from ExxonMobil’s business here, the Department of Public Information said in a release.

Among the companies is Kaieteur News, which has been executing an unrelenting daily anti-Oil & Gas campaign. The DPI also singled out Ram &

McRae, which is owned by vocal Oil and Gas critic Christopher Ram, as well as Guyana Times and Sleep In Hotel.

According to the DPI, these companies and some individuals, as well, have been providing a wide range of products and services to the oil giant. Among the dozens of services provided are

fabrication, transportation, accommodation, graphic design, catering, legal services, security services, accounting and auditing and media services.

In addition, there are 27 CARICOM-owned companies, 15 of which are registered in Guyana that are also engaged by ExxonMobil. Another 42 foreign-owned com-

panies, 20 of which are registered in this country do business with ExxonMobil Guyana. The Government of Guyana, last Friday, released to the Natural Resources Committee of the Na-

tional Assembly, the list of 227 local companies which ExxonMobil has been doing business with for the first quarter of 2018. This is in addition to some 309 Guyanese-owned companies which ExxonMobil and its contractors engaged in 2017.

Dozens of CARICOM and foreign-owned companies which employ hundreds of Guyanese have also been providing goods, products and services to ExxonMobil and their contractors.

The vast majority of the companies which are benefitting most from

ExxonMobil’s business comprise of Guyanese small businesses. It is clear that the trickledown effect is that thousands of Guyanese who are either employed or connected to these companies directly are benefitting from ExxonMobil’s presence in Guyana. ExxonMobil is required to submit to the government, on a quarterly basis, the list of companies it engages.

ExxonMobil has been meeting its obligation to submit the quarterly lists to government since the commencement of their operations in Guyana.

(DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

RUSAL to pay businessman US$250,000 to settle dredging dispute THE Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) last week issued an order settling the matter of Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. v Haresh Narine Sugrim in a dispute valued at nearly US$1M. The CCJ heard the case on April 19, 2018 and during the hearing the judges urged the parties, before the close of the proceedings, to make every effort to come to an agreement.

A mere four weeks later, the Court was informed that both parties had reached an agreement where the Bauxite Company would pay the

sum of US$250,000 to Mr Sugrim. A consent order, which sets down formally what each side has agreed to, was issued by the CCJ on May 28, 2018, the CCJ said in a release.

The appellant, the Bauxite Company of Guyana, had entered into an agreement with Mr Sugrim to perform dredging works at Aroiama and Kwakwani in the Berbice River to clear those areas of the river of sediment. The agreement provided for the respondent to clear approximately 15,000 cubic yards of sediment from the river.

However, while the agreement prescribed a specific method known as ‘barge displacement calibration’ to measure the amount of material that was dredged and removed from the river, it did not state whose responsibility it was, to calibrate the barges.

Mr Sugrim subsequently submitted invoices which totalled US$992,123 based on 105,545 cubic yards of sediment being dredged and removed from the river. Both sum claimed in the invoices and the amount of sediment that was dredged were rejected by the Bauxite Company.

The High Court in Guyana ruled in favour of Mr Sugrim who was granted the amount claimed in the invoices. However, the Court of Appeal, while agreeing with the general approach employed by the High Court in assessing the amount due to Mr. Sugrim, reduced this amount by 20%. Both parties appealed to the CCJ as they were dissatisfied with the ruling of the Court of Appeal.

During the hearing of the matter before the CCJ, members of the bench repeatedly expressed the view that the nature of the dispute readily

lent itself to mediation. The Court observed during the hearing that it was virtually impossible to arrive at a sum with any degree of mathematical certainty and advised the parties that, should a formal judgment be issued in the case, it would more than likely be met with great disfavour by one side.

Additionally, the court gave an undertaking to reserve delivery of its judgment for six weeks, from the date of the hearing, to provide the parties with sufficient opportunity to explore mediation.

It was also agreed that each party would pay its own costs in the proceedings before the CCJ, as well as in the proceedings in the courts below. The Court expressed deep appreciation to the parties for what it deemed to be a mature and sensible approach to the resolution of this matter.

The Bauxite Company of Guyana was represented

by Mr Edward A. Luckhoo, SC and Mr Andrew M.F. Pollard,, SC. Mr Sugrim was represented by Mr Chandrapratesh V. Satram.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Exxon pumps over $10B into local companies

OIL giant ExxonMobil has pumped over G$10B into the local economy for 2017 and the first quarter of 2018. This was revealed in the company’s quarterly reports.

Caterers, IT specialists, machinists and graphic designers are among the 227 locally-owned companies benefitting from the activities of ExxonMobil in Guyana in 2018.

In the 1st quarter of 2018, ExxonMobil’s activities utilised 262 suppliers registered in Guyana, 227 of which are Guyanese-owned. Thirty-five are foreign-owned or CARICOM suppliers registered locally. A massive GY$2.8B has been spent with Guyanese suppliers from January to March

this year.

And the Exxon Impact is not limited to large corporations. In fact, the majority of the suppliers listed are categorised as small businesses. For example, there are 15 catering/restaurant companies, two small bottled water providers, several machinists and four graphic design firms.

All of the daily newspapers are selling advertising space to ExxonMobil and its affiliates. From medical services, trucking to security to real estate rentals the whole spectrum of the Guyanese private sector is becoming a vital part of an industry that will see the nation’s GDP double in the next few years.

It was a point made

in a statement last week

by ExxonMobil’s Senior Director, Public & Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington: “We take building local content seriously and have demonstrated that through action and capacity building. We want Guyanese suppliers to be a part of the industry.

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, ExxonMobil’s affiliate in Guyana, and its contractors continue to expand local content efforts through supplier utilisation.”

In 2017, ExxonMobil Guyana and its contractors together utilised 348 Guyanese registered suppliers spending a total of $8B. 309 of those companies are Guyanese owned. (DPI)

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Driver knocks down traffic officer POLICE are on the hunt for a driver who committed a “hit and run” on a police constable who was on Monday afternoon performing traffic duties in the vicinity of Regent and King Streets, Georgetown.

The culprit has been identified as a South Ruimveldt driver of a silver/grey car, PTT 7447.

The injured constable was identified as Dominique Johnson who is attached to the Brickdam Police Station’s Traffic Department.

Reports indicate that Johnson was performing traffic duties in uniform at the intersection while the driver of the vehicle was proceeding north on the western side of King Street. The driver was reportedly directed to stop by the constable, and as

such, he did.

However, as the rank was in the process of walking towards the motorcar, the driver allegedly drove off at a fast rate of speed, hitting Johnson, who reportedly fell onto the bonnet of the car.

With Johnson still spread-eagled on the bonnet, the driver continued in a northerly direction on King Street before he turned west on to North Road, causing the constable to fall onto the northern parapet of the road.

The driver then drove away.

The injured traffic policeman was picked up by public-spirited persons in a conscious state and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was treated for his injuries and subsequently discharged.

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Gov’t confirms...

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

PAHO-WHO to lead GGMC mercury probe

By Rabindra Rooplall

PAHO-WHO will have two teams in Guyana to investigate media reports of the recent deaths of four Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) workers.

This was confirmed by Ministers of Natural Resources and Public Health, Raphael Trotman and Volda Lawrence respectively at a press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency on Tuesday.

Senior officials of the Ministries of Public Health and Natural Resources also met Tuesday to discuss ways in which to manage the situation and investigations into the matter.

The deceased GGMC staffers are: Dwayne De

––urges media to clarify first before going public

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence during Tuesday’s press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency (Delano Williams photo)

Jonge (ranger), Latchman Chiti (surveyor), Leroy Green (carpenter) and Clement Proffit (lab technician).

Trotman said that in order to restore worker and public confidence, the government and GGMC will cover whatever cost is attached to bringing in the PAHO-WHO investigating team.

“We will need the support of the miners. It is not the government; it is not the GGMC or the Guyana Gold Board,” Trotman said.

“It is the miners that use mercury, and there are people who import mercury illegally to support the trade.

“The President himself is committed to seeing the eradication of mercury and its use in Guyana.”

GOVERNMENT’S POSITION Noting that the government’s position is that no expense will be spared to ensure that the wellbeing of all workers and everyone who comes into contact with mercury comes under the scope, Minister Trotman said people who may have been put at risk, whether knowingly or unknowingly, will also be included in the probe.

“The GPHC and other regional hospitals will now have to develop the methods and protocols in dealing with this. This is not just a matter of mercury, but one of a national issue,” he said, adding: “There is no evidence to say that someone has died as a result of mercury poisoning, but at the same time, we are not ignoring any possibility.”

He said that all data that has been generated over the last decade will be shared with the investigating teams, as the Chief Medical Officer has confirmed that mercury-related matters have been ongoing for over a decade.

Trotman said that the cleanup that was done at the GGMC compound will be reviewed to see if it was in compliance with international standards, and will be certified by both local and international agencies.

Minister Lawrence was more interested in what gets out in the public domain by way of the media, saying that speculative information without proper

documentation is dangerous, and that saying that the cause of death of one of the GGMC staff who’d died was mercuric poisoning during the amalgaming process was irresponsible.

CONSULT FIRST That said, she called on the media to first consult with the Ministry of Public Health on sensitive matters before going public with information.

She said that the ministry will be collaborating with sister agencies to ensure that technical skills that are needed for an investigation into the gaps and challenges are found.

She said, too, that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the US government (OSHA) has been engaged to assist with the investigations, and that the PAHO-WHO team will set the stage for the other investigators. The government, she said, will be reviewing protocols and standards to ensure that all is done to ensure workers are comfortable.

The minister said that the database will be checked for patterns to ascertain what would have happened over the years in terms of the levels of mercury workers may have been exposed to.

“We are going to review all levels to ensure we operate on an international standard,” she said.

Further, Minister Lawrence said that the Public Health Board will be garnering information from the pathologist and have a second review.

In April, the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) ceased burning raw gold at the GGMC’s Brickdam complex due to health and safety concerns, and outsourced the job to one of its licenced dealers.

There has since been continuous testing and treatment for the presence of mercury, cleaning of the compound and equipment and fast-tracking arrangements for relocation of the GGB’s facilities and staff.

The government has committed to eradicating the use of mercury in mining. It signed and ratified the Minamata Convention for the eradication of the use of mercury in mining in October 2013.

Dead Souls

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

By Ronald Austin Jr

ON April 7th 1837, Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish author, published ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’. This is a short tale that details the story of two weavers who were summoned by an Emperor to create new suits for the Emperor’s official duties.

The weavers came up with a grand tailoring scheme and claimed they will create suits that are invisible only to those who were unfit for their positions, stupid or incompetent.

When the so called suits were completed, the vain Emperor paraded in front of his supplicants with ‘new clothes/ new suits’ and nobody attempted to inform the leader that he was not wearing any clothes. Succumbing to the Weavers’ trick, no lip moved in fear of being labelled as unfit, stupid or incompetent. It was a child who shouted “But he isn’t wearing anything at all”. This story has been translated into many languages and the title is an idiom for something widely accepted due to the refusal of persons to challenge or criticise due to the panic of upsetting their leader. In other words, the famous question is ‘who will tell the Emperor he has no clothes? Those who cannot muster the strength to speak truth to power are dead souls.

What is the opposite of a dead soul? Someone who can speak truth to power. What is speaking truth to power? This means believing deeply in what you say and fighting every day to have that heard. It might not be popular, it requires testicular fortitude in any context and it is an undertaking that is invariably avoided by the majority due to the consequences of ruffling feathers or rocking the proverbial boat.

This could range from being a feisty debater in meetings or in any decision making context or simply telling your boss the reality of the situation. Few would opt to do this based on the jitters of losing their jobs or falling out of favour with those who wield power. Those who conduct themselves with integrity and professionalism always can become part of that rear respected coterie of individuals who are the opposite of silent bobble heads. Make yourself extremely resourceful, knowledgeable, professional and honest that even though your opinions might make the Emperor/Empress uncomfortable, he/she cannot function without your service because you are extremely critical to the survival of the empire or the organisation. It must be noted, this scenario most likely plays out under authoritarian or dictatorial leadership.

People choose to be dead souls because speaking truth

Region Four drainage system ready for May/June rains WITH the clearing of canals and installation of three new pumps along the East Coast Demerara, the regional authorities continue to ensure the drainage systems remain functional during the imminent rainy season.

Chairperson of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Region Four, Genevieve Allen said, “Because the lower East Coast Demerara is prone to flooding during the rainy season, the installation of those drainage pumps will help to alleviate the inundation that is experienced by the residents.”

In addition, the Regional Chairperson explained the new drainage systems will protect historically floodprone areas such as Barnwell. “With the construction of the new sluice at Herstelling on the East Bank, the new housing areas … Mocha, Barnwell North, at the back of Mocha, the new housing areas at the back of Providence and Perseverance … those communities will be protected,” Allen added.

Since coming into office the current administration has undertaken several measures to mitigate the effects of climate change on the low-lying coastland.

According to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) CEO Frederick Flatts, the installation of larger than normal irrigation pumps is in keeping with efforts to increase the rate at which waters are drained from coastal communities. (DPI)

to power is dangerous in some situations. While it is indeed fraught with dangers, there are long term benefits. The likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Fidel Castro, Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X and many other revolutionaries did this and suffered. Of course, these noble humans completed their task in a much larger context but the principles being advocated in this column are best exemplified by the aforementioned larger than life individuals. They refused to remain silent and as a consequence, their legacies are eternal.

In her magnus opus, ‘The March of Folly’ Barbara Tuchman documents silly decisions that resulted in massive historical disasters due to the fact that basic common sense warnings were ignored. She referred to this occurrence as the march of folly. While this book does not speak directly to what is being contended here, the idea of refusing to yield to the vocal and uncomfortable voices by powerful leaders in history, is an undercurrent in her writing. Hence the need to reference.

Further, it was Pope Alexander VI who warned a group of Cardinals that “The most grievous danger for any Pope lies in the fact that encompassed as he is by flatters, he never

hears the truth about his own person and ends by not wishing to hear it”. The smart thinking leader will embrace the unfettered voice that offers wise counsel. However, this is often not the case, the dead soul is loved by a megalomaniac leader.

They bring adulation and admiration, they feed the ego of the Emperor. In one of my favorite movies, ‘The Last King of Scotland’, a dramatised ‘biography’ of the crazy dictator, Idi Amin, the following conversation ensued between Amin and his Scottish Advisor: Idi Amin: “I want you to tell me what to do!”

Carrigan (Advisor): “You want me to tell you what to do?”

Idi Amin: “Yes, you are my advisor. You are the only one I can trust in here. You should have told me not to throw the Asians out in the first place!”

Carrigan: ‘I did!”

Idi Amin: ‘But you did not persuade me, Nicholas. You did not persuade me!”

The above exchange demonstrates the consequences of not accepting critical advice and by logical continuum, it shows the mistake of leadership being surrounded by dead souls.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

CJIA check-in area to open soon

THE testing period at the newly-refurbished check-in area at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is winding down and authorities there are pushing for full access to this part of the facility before weekend.

Officials had said some weeks ago that testing of

the redesigned area was ongoing and had hoped then that more passengers would be able to access the facility once all went well with the checks.

However, the Guyana Chronicle was told that some minor shortcomings needed to be corrected before the facility could be used at full capacity.

As it stands, the check-in area is only being used by some passengers as part of the tests.

Among the areas being monitored are space constraint, the operation of electronical and other types of equipment, flight information system, paging system and the cooling system, among others.

This publication was told that so far it was found that the available cooling system is inadequate and corridors may not be wide enough. “We have identified these issues and they are being addressed,” a senior airport staff said.

While the check-in space is expected to be available for full use by passengers, “that does not mean it has been officially handed over,” a source said.

Several passengers using the airport had the opportunity to experience the newly established check-in area.

A senior airport official had said the operational readiness of the facility

was what was needed to be tested in various parts of the airport, ahead of its December opening.

“We are currently doing tests on one airline to see if the facility, all the workers, electronics and everything is functioning.

And if all goes well, it could be opened by this weekend,” the official had said.

It was mentioned that more than 10 check-in desks would be opened when testing is completed. A parliamentary tour was hosted by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson last month where senior government personnel and other officials had a preview of

the new facility, as the construction work comes nearer to completion.

The new-look CJIA airport takes into consideration additional space for aircraft parking and a longer runway for takeoff and landing, given the appeal for larger commercial liners in particular to land here.

The facility caters for easier flight access with its two passenger boarding bridges, and larger passenger arrival and departure capacity, among other features.

It is anticipated that passengers should be able to access CJIA’s new arrival terminal later this month.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

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Gov’t to upgrade Bonasika Health Centre –– as president promised to improve all riverine health facilities

IN order to bring relief to the riverine community of Bonasika, the government will be investing in the development of the Lower Bonasika Health Centre.

This is according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who, on a recent visit to the Region Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands) community, addressed various concerns that were brought to his attention by health workers attached to the centre.

In addressing one of those concerns, which is the need for a speedboat specially assigned to the centre, Minister Harmon said that a businessman has expressed an interest

in donating two boats to the government to be used as they see fit, and that based on certain recommendations, he will try to get one for the community.

He promised Bonasika residents that he will pass on their other health-related concerns to Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence, as President David Granger, at the just-concluded Health Expo, would have noted that the entire health system needs to be based on community health services.

“So that at the level of the community, the best health services will be provided, and therefore no person should go beyond a five-

The Bonasika Health Centre

Minister Harmon; REO Denis Jaikaran, and Bonasika Health Centre staff Dooknie Ramsamoog in discussion (Adrian Narine Photo) kilometer range for them to be able to find a Dooknie Ramsamoog also raised with the suitable health service,” Harmon said, adding: minister the issue of residents being given an “Because these communities are far- opportunity to elevate themselves, especially flung, that means that we have to equip their if they dedicate their lives to serving the health facilities with all of the facilities of a community. small hospital.”

“We would be grateful for opportunities Noting that the foregoing idea is President to be sent for training, because, for me, I Granger’s, Minister Harmon said it will also would spend the rest of my life serving my be the focus of the Ministry of Public Health. community,” Ramsamoog said.

He told the villagers that whatever other Regional Executive Officer (REO) concerns they may have can be dealt with and Denis Jaikaran said that gasoline is givresolved at a regional level, as the REO will en every month by the region to every be facilitating those meetings. community to assist with transportation Besides the need for the health centre arrangements of workers to execute their to have a boat at its disposal, health worker duties.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Pres. Granger says time to act to beat plastic pollution THE Cooperative Republic of Guyana joins with the rest of the world in observing World Environment Day 2018, which was observed on Tuesday.

This day, the most important day in the UN’s calendar of events dealing with the environment, is an opportunity for nations and peoples around the world to recommit to practical policies and sustained action to promote

global environmental security, President David Granger said in a message.

“I urged greater environment responsibility on the part of all in my address to the High Level Segment Opening of the 3rd Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly held in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2017. I noted that a clean environment is an entitlement of all and an elemental

President David Granger

principle of environmental security.”

According to him this year’s theme - “Beating Plastic Pollution” - reminds us that the indiscriminate and insanitary dumping of single-use plastics and other non-biodegradable substances threatens the health of citizens and the food they consume.

President Granger said plastic pollution represents

a serious challenge to Guyana’s environmental security.

Plastic pollution is dangerous. It has contributed to congested drainage systems; resulted in flooding and insanitary conditions; depleted aquatic life and contaminated creeks, rivers, freshwater supplies and waters used for drinking, bathing, fishing and washing.

He said Guyana is on the way to becoming a

‘Green State’. It is developing policies aimed at protecting the environment by reducing, and eventually eliminating, plastic pollution. “Guyanese, everywhere, can help beat plastic pollution by curtailing their use of single use plastics, disposing of plastics responsibly and switching to environmentally friendly alternatives. “Now is the time to act!”

Police presence critical to keeping the peace --in vulnerable hinterland communities

By Lisa Hamilton

A RECENT study on indigenous women and children in Guyana has revealed that in those hinterland communities labelled among the most vulnerable, there is precious little or virtually no police presence.

The study, which was done by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs in collaboration with UNICEF, comes with an Action Plan for the rectifying of the issues.

What it has found is that while under normal circumstances, the police is considered the go-to person in cases of violence and misconduct, in many indigenous communities, this is simply not the case.

The document has revealed that of the 12 villages targetted in the survey, only four had some semblance of police presence, while the two that did not have the

luxury of having any such presence formed community policing groups to help keep the peace and maintain some sort of law and order.

The four villages found to have a police presence are Baramita, Santa Rosa, Orealla and Aishalton, while the two with community policing groups are River’s View and St. Ignatius. Among those with neither police presence nor community policing groups are Chinoweng, Paramakatoi and Moraikobai.

What is interesting about the report is that the researchers found that in cases where there is no law enforcement, the village headman, also called the Toshao, and the Village Council assume the role of authority, but are not always able to handle all criminal and domestic matters.

And this is simply because of their lack of training in either dispute or conflict resolution, and their lack of

the requisite knowledge of the country’s laws and confidentiality issues.

On the subject of policing groups, the researchers state in the document: “The community policing groups are informal, and not fully prepared to handle some cases, thus increasing their own vulnerabilities as a community.

“The policing groups are generally poorly trained, and some lack the equipment that can help them in patrolling and addressing cases in the community.”

This, they feel, does not bode well for those communities the study shows are plagued with alarming cases of domestic and sexual abuse, incest, child labour and trafficking among others.

According to some of the statistics released in the report, between 2013 and 2015, one in every four victims of trafficking identified in Guyana was an indigenous person, while 35 per cent of

indigenous children between the ages of five and 11 were involved in some sort of economic activity.

DEEP-ROOTED CHALLENGES Another interesting finding that came out of the report is that having a police presence may not necessarily resolve some of the issues plaguing some of the communities at reference, as in many instances, cases of sexual violence against women are not reported to the authorities but are rather settled between the perpetrator and the victim’s family or with the Village Council.

In recounting her story, one woman is quoted as saying: “I went to the police station one night after being chased by a male in the community, but it was not helpful.

“I have heard so many stories of people going to the police station to make a

report and nothing came out of it and the police just forget about it.

“What I have noticed is that the village members, uncles, aunties, Village Council members can help you to deal with problems that you have in the community more than the police.”

Law enforcement, on the other hand, have a different take on the matter, as they are saying that while they may hear of such incidents while on patrol, those matters are hardly ever formally brought to their attention.

There is also a matter of differences of opinion between Toshao or Village Council and the police as to who has authority and who doesn’t.

As one policeman is quoted in the report as saying: “When certain families got problems or they do something unlawful, the Toshao believes that he can take things into his own hands and the police ain’t got no say in it.

‘Can’t reuse it, refuse it!’

By Navendra Seoraj

THROWING away items like plastic bags could be detrimental to the environment as has been proven by environmentalists time and again, so persons are being urged to desist from utilising items that cannot be reused.

“If you cannot reuse it, refuse it,” was the message that was touted at a World Environment Day conference organised by the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown on Tuesday.

Guyana joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Environment Day 2018, but although it was a celebration, the messages clearly highlighted the danger that the environment is in because of pollution caused by humans.

The melodious songs, precise poems and dramatic

skits performed by students of various schools were tiny messages of a large problem that continues to plague the environment. That problem was made known in the theme for World Environment Day, “Beating plastic pollution”.

PLASTIC POLLUTION Plastic pollution is defined as the accumulation of plastic products in the environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, or humans.

According to General Medical Officer (GMO), Dr. Suzette Reynolds, 13 million tonnes of plastic finds its way into the ocean each year.

“The plastic endangers our aquatic life, so this year’s theme is a call to immediately phase out the use of plastic and find sustainable alternatives,” she said.

The government recently

announced that single-use plastic bags will soon be banned.

The environment needs to be saved, Dr. Reynolds said,

imploring persons to clean their environment and do the best they can to promote a healthy, clean and green Guy-

--environmentalists urge in universal message to mark World Environment Day

ana.

A representative of the Ministry of Education echoed much the same sentiments as

Some of the students who went all out to depict the effects of plastic pollution on the environment (Samuel Maughn photo)

“What the Council needs to understand is that they have to look after the welfare of the village, and we got our responsibility to uphold the laws, regulations and so on of Guyana.”

According to UNICEF, the next step is to ensure that these and other matters are addressed, and that the multi-sector Action Plan is implemented to narrow exiting gaps, especially for women and children.

The study’s findings will also be shared with such relevant authorities as the Ministries of Social Protection, Education, Health and Security as a guide when addressing the issues to which they pertain.

Ministers of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and Valerie Garrido-Lowe have stated that the government is committed to narrowing the country’s equity gap, and will continue its work to reduce challenges faced among indigenous communities.

Dr Reynolds in that persons need to do their bit individually instead of waiting for the government to keep the environment safe, protected and clean.

The representative believes that the onus is on the citizens to get on board and clean the environment.

“Undoubtedly, there are some things that the government can do to ensure the protection like running awareness campaigns in schools and creating programmes that are geared at empowering individuals to make smart choices and save the environment,” she said.

The ministry has so far encouraged the formation of environmental clubs and is in the process of drafting a “Safe School Policy” that would train students to respect their environment.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

UG minibus operators fret -- following road markings by City Hall

By Lisa Hamilton

A MOVE by City Hall to make road markings on the University of Guyana (UG)-Industry bus park, giving Industry operators first preference to passengers, has drawn criticisms from UG operators and the United Minibus Union (UMU).

At the UG-Industry Park on Tuesday morning, UMU President Eon Andrews, Industry minibus operators and other UMU representatives gathered to discuss the matter with the media.

gan when busses from the Vryheid’s Lust Park were invited over to the UG-Industry Park following a shortage of UG busses.

The UMU still needed to fulfill its contractual arrangement to provide transportation to the university.

The UMU president said the Industry minibus operators in question were all once a part of the union’s UG arrangement but were terminated after they were found in breach of the Subcontract Agreement Code of Conduct.

The Code of Conduct includes a number of rules

UMU Branch Chairman of UG Transport Service Mark De Lima points to the end of the road marking separated as ‘Industry Only’ (Delano Williams photo)

The arrangement made with City Hall resulted in the road marking ‘Industry only’ being placed at the front of the line of the UG-Industry park for which the Industry bus operators are paying a monthly $3,500 fee for exclusive occupation.

This was done after Industry bus operators complained to City Hall that they were at the losing end of the previous first-come-firstserved system.

They say that the UG-Industry busses, which are more in number, take passengers from both areas, leaving none to the operators heading only to Industry.

However, Andrews said he is unsure whether this move by City Hall is legal as he was told by a Ministry of Public Infrastructure representative that the ministry, in conjunction with the police, is the only body with authority to place road markings on the park which is government property.

Present on the park on Tuesday was the ministry’s Senior Projects Engineer Kester Hinds who said he was there only to observe and to get an understanding of the situation.

Andrews further explained that the conflict be-

and regulations such as no driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol; uniformity at all times; no loud music; no indecent language; no passenger favouritism and more.

Back in 2013, bus drivers from the UG branch became the first group of minibus operatives to wear zone uniforms which include green jerseys and caps bearing the union’s logo.

well uniformed being treated like a step child. Then you have the delinquents, they’re just talking about who they’re going to kill and who they’re going to shoot,” he said.

He added: “I am concerned that City Hall always seems to be involved in contentious issues. I think they have enough on their plate for them to get involved in this but I hope that the pull factor is not this $3,500 to whom it goes because we sent persons in there. Our secretary and nobody is saying that they know anything about this. The constabulary, the engineer department, nobody is acknowledging this, so who is the person they’re paying this $3,500 to?”

Meanwhile, UMU Branch Chairman of UG Transport Service Mark De Lima said the Industry minibus operators practice racism and other forms of discrimination.

“We’re a part of a Code of Conduct, we have obligations to meet in a positive manner but we’re being victimised… the union is calling for justice. You cannot mark-up no street, it’s illegal,” De Lima said.

Andrews said although Town Clerk Royston King would have met with the Industry bus operators to make the arrangement, he refuses to meet with the UMU. “He doesn’t want to reach with us. We’ve made attempts as a union to speak with him [Royston King], he doesn’t reach with us,” Andrews said.

Industry bus operator Toolsie Ramkissoon

BEWILDERED Andrews said he is bewildered as to why the City Council would step in to create confusion where there was previously order.

“I don’t understand how you can have a well-arranged disciplined form of persons,

On the other hand, several Industry minibus operators who were terminated from the union due to misconduct were eager to tell this newspaper their side of the story.

ARRANGEMENT NECESSARY One Industry bus oper-

Public Infrastructure Ministry, Senior Projects Engineer Kester Hinds (centre) listens to these Police officers and representatives of the United Minibus Union on Tuesday (Delano Williams photo)

ator Toolsie Ramkissoon, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the arrangement with City Hall was necessary to ensure Industry bus operators have a fair chance at earning a living.

“The UG busses full very fast. When we move one time they move three times. The Industry [bus operators] are few; it’s a

little area with 16 busses working. So when you meet up into the line now, we have no passengers,” Ramkissoon said.

As such, he said a group of representatives met with the town clerk and mayor a few weeks ago and received confirmation that City Hall would proceed with the marking of a special area for

Industry bus operators only.

The operators also say that they are willing to work along with the union but were thrown out by the chairman and had their UG bus stickers removed for “simple things”.

City Hall has since told this newspaper that the town clerk will be issued a statement on the matter.

Berbice ranch hand found dead HARRINARINE Samaroo called “Ding”, 51, was found dead aback of his employer’s cattle ranch at New Forest Follow Up, East Canje , Berbice hours after a fellow employee reported an incident to ranks at the Reliance Police Station on Sunday.

The employee, Fredrick Bascom, remains in police custody up to press time.

It was revealed that Samaroo, who also functions as a labourer and cook and Fredrick, 28, who acts as owner of the 500 acres ranch, are employed by Debbie Rangadoo , formerly of John’s ,Port Mourant, Corentyne.

Rangadoo now resides in Canada.

Following the incident on Sunday, Fredrick reported that he lying in a hammock with his back facing the entrance on the lower flat of the two storied wooden and zinc building when he felt a lash on his left hand.

Then he heard what sounded like two gun shots.

Seconds before he heard a voice calling “Freddy, Freddy”.

It was dark and as a result, he jumped through a southern window, before fleeing the savannah until he got to his home at Reliance Settlement,

where he told his parents what occurred before reporting the incident at a nearby police station.

Cedric Bascom, father of Fredrick, told Guyana Chronicle that on Monday, he had accompanied the police to the scene of the crime where he saw the deceased next to a newly-constructed bathroom area next to the cow pen fence.

Harrinarine Samaroo, called “Ding”

“His feet was in the air and his neck on the ground. It appear as though he break he neck. Me observed a packet of cigarette with one missing,

nearby. I saw Ding had what appeared to be a gunshot wound under his neck and aback his head. Injuries were also seen on his left ear,” recalled Cedric.

He also said the section of the newly-erected chain link fence behind the ranch house was trampled and believes it was there the perpetrator entered the ranch.

Guyana Chronicle was informed that there are several ranches in the area and incidents of theft are reported regularly. Only a few months ago, a spear was placed to Samaroo’s throat. The matter was reported to the police and Samaroo settled for an out of court settlement.

At the home of Samaroo’s bedridden mother Chanderdai Punya and his four sisters, there were questions and reflections on Samaroo who lived most of his life on cattle ranches.

Punya, who is also blind, said her son last visited her on Mother’s Day. The incident has left her sorrowful as both of her sons have died at the hands of others. Samaroo’s brother died in Suriname years ago and his mother did not get a chance to see his remains.

Samaroo was not married and has no children.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Single-use plastic products ban closer … Private sector calls for feasibility study

THE local private sector is calling for a feasibility study to be conducted before the implementation of a ban on single-use plastic products here, as the Department of Environment kicked off a ‘National Conversation on Single-Use Plastics’ at the Herdmanston Lodge.

Private Sector Representative Ramesh Dookhoo, in his presentation, from

Department of Environment Stakeholder Management Coordinator, Aretha Forde the outset objected to the logo: “If you can’t reuse it, refuse it,” explaining that such a movement would “hurt” businesses that use plastic bottles in particular.

He noted that manufacturers in Guyana are guided by the laws, and regulations established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Environment permits, he noted, cost millions of dollars yearly. Dookhoo used the platform to call for a feasibility study to be conducted, contending that the answer

is not to ban plastic bottles but rather to manage the use of plastic bottles, that there should be renewed efforts to recycle plastics that take five-10 years to biodegrade.

A white paper prepared by the Department of Environment on the proposed ban was presented in May to Cabinet, and, according to reports coming out of that meeting, the paper was well received.

On Tuesday, in commemoration of World Environment Day, which was observed under the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, the Department of Environment, in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a ‘National Conversation on Single-Use Plastics’ at the Herdmanston Lodge, where members of the Government and Private Sectors were given a sneak peek of the proposed ban.

It is estimated that more than 8.3 billion tonnes of virgin plastic have been produced to date. According to Science Magazine, if current production and waste management trends continue, roughly 12 billion tonnes of plastic waste will be in landfills or the natural environment by 2050 and the negative impacts of such pollution are already being felt.

It is estimated that 86 per cent of all sea turtle species, 44 per cent of all seabird species and 43 per cent of all marine mammal species are being affected.

Some 500 billion plastic bags are used on a yearly basis, with one million sold every day and 20,000 every second. To ensure Guyana plays its part by assisting with the reduction of plastic pollution worldwide, the

Mayor and City Council (M&CC) Director of Solid Waste, Walter Narine Department of Environment is proposing a ban on the importation, manufacture, sale and use of single-use plastic bags and other single-use plastic products including plastic plates, cups, and utensils.

“The Institute for European Environmental Policy defines single-use plastic as any disposal plastic item which is designed to be used only once; but for the purpose of the proposed ban we further added that single-use plastic products are those that are less than 35 microns thick, they are made of polyethylene, they are environmentally persistent and have low to no recycling potential,” the Department of Environment Stakeholder Management Coordinator Aretha Forde explained.

FOSSIL FUELS In justifying the proposed ban, Forde explained that single-use plastic products are made from fossil , which act as a detriment to the environ-

ment, adding that they leave a huge carbon footprint.

“They are environmentally persistent, only a fraction of single-use plastic can be recycled and of course when not disposed of properly they leach harmful chemicals which can then cause disruptions in body function and of course they pollute our oceans killing more than 100,000 marine animals every year,” she further explained.

Zooming closer to home, Forde said in the Municipality of Georgetown alone, 180 tonnes of solid waste is generated daily with single-use plastic products accounting for 10 per cent of the waste stream. While a white paper on the proposed ban has been presented to Cabinet, Forde said it simply set the foundation for National Consultations of which the National Conversation is just the start.

Subsequent to the consultations, the regulation would be drafted allowing for the development of standards and alternatives, the inclusion of proposed fiscal incentives and imposition of environmental levy before the ban takes effect.

Already there are a number of eco-friendly alterna-

tives to single-use plastic products such as the use and sale of cloth bags, bamboo utensils and paper plates and/ or boxes. It was noted that while the department has already engaged a number of supermarkets, the discussion would be taken to the marketplaces.

In addition to the proposed ban, Forde disclosed that an invitation was extended by UN Environment Programme for Guyana to sign unto the Clean Seas Campaign.

In addition to the presentation by Forde, the National Conversation also took the form of a panel discussion. The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) Director of Solid Waste, Walter Narine, urged both the public and private sectors to become the vehicles of change as he, like Forde, painted a vivid picture of the dangers the indiscriminate use of single-use plastic have on society.

“Single-use plastics are used so widely, there is a massive island of plastic three times the size of France currently floating between California and Hawaii. It gets worse, 83 per cent of our tap water contains these particles and its toxic chemicals

can be found in our blood stream,” Narine explained, adding that these plastics are threatening the world’s ecosystem.

“Earth is not a single-use plastic planet, and your action, my actions can make a difference,” he said, calling on all Guyanese to endorse the proposed ban.

IMPACT ON MARINE LIFE Conservationist and Head of Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society Annette Arjoon-Martins, who also sat as a panellist, said she experienced firsthand the negative impact plastic pollution has had on marine life, during her 20 years of work at Shell Beach.

Arjoon-Martins said when she started working at Shell Beach 20 years ago; coconut husk was the single debris that was a major concern due to the problems it caused for the turtles.

However, she said plastic pollution some years later became a major problem with many sea turtles dying as a result.

Sea turtles, she explained, at times mistakenly take plastics for jelly fish.

A section of those present at the ‘National Conversation on Single-Use Plastics’ at the Herdmanston Lodge on Tuesday (Photos by Delano Williams)

Soesdyke businesswoman hit with 3 charges A 38-YEAR-OLD Soesdyke businesswoman, who escaped from the Timehri Police Station after being arrested for allegedly trafficking marijuana and the sale of unlicensed liquor, was on Tuesday charged.

Shanaz Mohammed of Back Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and denied the three charges.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that on May 6 at Soesdyke she had 478 grammes of cannabis in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.

It is further alleged that on the same day she sold and offered for sale rum without having a liquor licence.

The court further heard that on May 8 when she was taken to the Timehri Police Station on the two criminal charges she

escaped from police custody.

The woman’s attorney Stanley Moore told the court, that his client was the mother of four and the drugs were not found in her possession.

According to police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield on the day in question ranks from the Timehri Police Station acting on information went to Mohammed’s home.

Mansfield noted that

the drugs were found in a black plastic bag which was hidden behind a freezer in the living room.

During the search the ranks noticed a quantity of liquor and inquired if she had a licence for the sale of the rum but the woman did not have the documents.

And, when Mohammed was arrested and taken to the police station at Timehri on May 6, she escaped two days

Remanded: Shanaz Mohammed

later. She was rearrested recently.

Magistrate Isaac-Marcus remanded Mohammed to prison on the drug trafficking and escaping from police custody charges, but on the charge of selling the liquor without a licence, she was granted bail in the sum of $70,000.

Mohamed will remain jailed until her next court appearance on June 19.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Fifth witness takes stand in ‘teacher’ murder case

THE fifth witness on Tuesday took to the witness stand before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman as the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the death of secondary schoolteacher Kescia Branche, continued.

A 47-year-old taxi driver, Matthew Munroe, who it is alleged committed the crime is charged with her murder. On Thursday, Hubert Thomas, a civilian witness and Police Inspector Nigel Stephen testified. The matter continues today, June 6.

Branche, a mother of one, who resided in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, was last seen on November 4, 2017, when she left for a night out with friends.

However, she was found in an unconscious state in the vicinity of Princes Street and Louisa Row the following day. Her left leg was broken and there was evidence that she had sustained multiple head injuries.

The Richard Ishmael Secondary School teacher died at the Georgetown Public Hospital two days after being found battered. A post-mortem indicated that she died as a result of brain hemorrhage.

During the investigation, three suspects who were being questioned regarding the

death of Branche were released. The father of Branche’s three-year-old son was released on November 14 and placed on station bail, along with two police constables. The two ranks were later charged departmentally for neglect of duty, consuming intoxicating liquor while on duty, improperly entering licensed premises and acting in a manner likely to bring discredit to the reputation of the Force.

At the time of the trio’s release, the police were seeking to contact a taxi driver whose cell phone number appeared repeatedly on Branche’s mobile device.

The taxi driver’s car was impounded at the Brickdam Police Station, subsequent to his reported departure from the country, after Branche was found in an unconscious state. Investigators are of the opinion that the driver may have been the last person to see the teacher alive.

When arrested, the taxi driver claimed that his car was involved in an accident after he drove into a pothole, but according to a police report, the damage to the car is consistent with the injuries Branche received.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

New ‘Golden Jaguars’ head coach arrives tomorrow MICHAEL Johnson, the new head coach of the Senior Men’s National football team, will arrive in Guyana tomorrow to meet the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) along with football stakeholders and to visit the new FIFA-funded GFF National Training Centre currently under construction at Providence.

The 44-year-old Johnson, a former Jamaica international and English Premier League and Championship player, is the highest qualified national coach in the history of the Golden Jag-

uars, with a UEFA Pro Licence and the League Managers Association Diploma in Football Management. His references for the role included former England Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Premier League and the English Football Association.

“We look forward to hosting Michael this week as we introduce him to the local football fraternity and immediately get to work on taking the performances of our national team to the next level,” said GFF president Wayne

Forde.

“Michael’s appointment is a big statement of intent, and sends a strong signal to our players and to our regional opponents. It also speaks volumes about the visible progress we are making in rebuilding the image of football in Guyana, and in developing the game,” Forde opined Johnson’s first competitive game in charge will be a home fixture against Barbados in the CONCACAF Nations League qualifiers on September 8, as Guyana

seek to reach their first-ever CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament in 2019.

The all-weather National Training Centre pitch at Providence – part of Guyana’s first dedicated, national facility for football, funded by the FIFA Forward Programme – is on schedule to be completed in time to host national squad preparations for that match.

Johnson will also visit the Leonora Track and Field Centre tomorrow, which has staged recent CONCACAF international matches.

Windies begin quest

test at Queen’s Park Oval.

“We had a reasonable year in 2017. We probably didn’t end the year the way we would have liked but we won a few Test matches and we won a Test series as well so for us it’s about continuing in that same vein, getting some momentum early in the year here and carrying it to the back end of the year.”

West Indies’ Test form has been dismal in recent years though they have been some bright sparks, albeit sporadic.

They have won just four of 17 Tests inside the last two years, with a single series win – a 1-0 verdict over minnows Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last November.

Faced with a strong Sri Lanka side over the next few weeks, Holder said it was crucial the Windies started the series strong, instead of having to play from behind.

“Obviously it is something we really need to address. It is something that has crept into West Indies cricket over the last few years; we tend to play catch-up cricket,” the all-rounder pointed out.

“So it’s a matter for us to start the series well, do the

basics and try not to get results-oriented up front. I try to deal with the process and what we need to do in order to get a win. To do that, we need to perform in all three departments.”

As has been the policy over the last two years, selectors have stuck with the core of the squad, with Kraigg Brathwaite, Shai Hope and Roston Chase set to lead the side’s batting, with Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach spearheading the bowling attack.

Jahmar Hamilton is the lone uncapped player in the 13-man squad with veteran opener Devon Smith recalled following a three-year break.

And with memorable Test wins over the last year, Holder believes the squad is beginning to show more consistency.

“I think we’re moving in that direction. If you look back at the year, we have played a lot of top teams and we’ve won Test matches against every top side that we’ve played,” he explained.

“It’s just a case for us to string together more collective efforts, more often than not.

I stress to the guys to do the

small things over a longer period of time. We’ve done good things over a short period of time but it is being a lot more consistent for the duration of the game.

“We tend to falter and lose games in probably a session, at a particular period in the game. Those are some of the things we just need to negate. I think if we do that we will be in a lot better stead going forward into the year.”

SQUADS: WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Miguel Cummins, Shimron Hetmyer, Kieran Powell, Kieran Roach, Jahmar Hamilton, Devon Smith.

SRI LANKA – Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Mahela Udawatte, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Gamage, Kasun Rajitha, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.

...

Continued from back page

Rose to captain ...

(Kobras), Travis Belgrave (Eagles), and Domair Gladstone (Ravens) in Barbados.

Junior Hercules will be the head coach for the team as they look to make a clean sweep over their ‘Bajan’ counterparts from June 8 to 10, at the Sir Garfield Sports Complex. GABF president Nigel Hinds will manage the team with Dennis Clarke as his assistant.

At a press conference at Palm Court last evening, Hinds told the gathering of media and other basketball stakeholders, that the trip to Barbados is self-funded and the Federation saw the American Racing Tips Delware Park Race 1 Teodoro Race 2 Nerve Line Race 3 Cape Town Treasure Race 4 Lil Moresummertime Race 5 Singingsinstilettos Race 6 The Catmancan Race 7 I Just wanna Win Race 8 Finding Perfection Race 9 Blue Strike South Africa Racing Tips Scottsville 08:35 hrs Isingamoya 09:10 hrs Shiek’s Storm 09:50 hrs Meryl

Continued from back page

series necessary to help boost Guyana’s chances of the tournament in Suriname.

According to Hinds, the players selected were from a pool of the best players available locally. He added that the GABF has confidence in the players named (for Barbados) that they will give a good account of themselves in the ‘Land of the Flying Fish’.

The last time Guyana played in Barbados was at the 2000 CBC tournament which was then named the CARICOM basketball championship. With Lugard Mohan as captain, Guyana finished third at the tournament; their second

third-place finish having also finished third in the inaugural CBC tournament held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

While the women would have won the tournament in 1996 (Trinidad and Tobago), the men’s best placing was second in 1994 tournament in Guyana.

At the CBC tournament in Suriname, the Guyanese Men are in Group A, with hosts and rivals Suriname, St Lucia, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines while Group B comprises Barbados, Bermuda, Antigua & Barbuda, Haiti and Montserrat.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

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E

NGLAND always have an excuse for not winning the World Cup. Their best players were injured, they didn’t practise penalties enough, and the opposition used their hands instead of their feet, etc, etc, ad nauseam.

In 2010, it was the match officials who were to blame.

During England’s roundof-16 match with Germany, Frank Lampard chipped the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area, the ball clipping the underside of the crossbar, bouncing down and then rearing up to hit the crossbar once more before Manuel Neuer gathered it in his arms.

Lampard raised his arm in triumph and then discovered to his horror that the goal had not been given, the referee oblivious to the fact that the well-judged lob had landed a good yard over the line. For once, England really had been hard done by.

Inevitably, the clamour to introduce goal-line technology got louder and louder.

It just couldn’t be right that a team were not awarded a legitimate goal, could it?

England went to the 2010 World Cup with high hopes.

They’d qualified for the tournament with ease, winning nine of their ten matches and only losing once their place in South Africa had been secured.

What was particularly impressive about this England side, however, was their prowess in front of goal; they notched six in one qualifying game, five in another two, four a couple of times and three on another two occasions.

Days to go …

What if Frank Lampard’s ‘Goal’ had counted in 2010?

Indeed, no other European nation scored more goals in qualifying for the World Cup than England. Although some of the much fabled ‘golden generation’ had been put out to pasture, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Cole and John Terry were still very much in their prime.

sadly, that was as good as it would ever get. As the game neared half-time, Robert Green fumbled a shot from Clint Dempsey, allowing the ball to bounce off his hands and trundle over the line before he could halt its progress.

A 1-1 draw with the USA was hardly a disaster, but it was followed by a drab 0-0

meant a round of 16 tie with Germany, while the group winners faced the much less onerous prospect of Ghana.

England had made life hard for themselves and it didn’t take Germany long to make them regret it.

Goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski put them 2-0 in front after half

than to chase the game in the second-half, conceding twice more from merciless counter-attacks as they desperately laid siege to the German goal. The result was another step forward for Germany as they marched towards eventual dominance of the world game, while it was yet an-

Frank Lampard vs Germany: still one of the most outrageous moments in FIFA World Cup history.

In addition, England also had one of the world’s finest managers in Fabio Capello; a coach whose CV was burnished with gold. It really did seem like all the pieces were in place.

If there were good grounds to be optimistic about England’s chances, then Gerrard’s goal after only four minutes in their opening game against the USA seemed to justify them. But,

draw with Algeria and a lacklustre 1-0 victory over Slovenia; performances poor enough to dishearten even the most optimistic of England fans. The draw had been kind to England, allocating them to a first-round group that they should have won without too much difficulty.

Instead, they finished second on goal difference behind the USA; an outcome that

an hour of play, though a header from Matthew Upson five minutes later gave England hope.

Then came Lampard’s ‘goal’; a moment that could have given his side belief but resulted only in despair.

If England had gone in level at half-time then who knows what could have happened next.

As it was, Capello’s side had no alternative other

other stumble for the English as they failed to arrest their inexorable decline. But what the game will probably be remembered for most of all was the referee’s colossal blunder.

L a m p a r d ’s i n f a m o u s ‘goal’ turned out to be an important landmark in the history of football for it helped to change hearts and minds, persuading the game’s authorities that the introduction of

goal-line technology was long overdue. And now, following in its wake, is VAR, which will be used at a World Cup for the first time this summer.

Depending on your opinion about the use of technology in football, Lampard’s ‘goal’ was either a great epiphany, or the event that led to the opening of Pandora’s Box. And who is to say that football’s seemingly insatiable quest for fairness will end with the introduction of VAR. The system will undoubtedly remedy many of football’s injustices, but it will never be able to correct them all. So, what will come next?

A grand jury of experts deliberating over crucial incidents, and not allowing the game to proceed, until they have issued a unanimous verdict?

That may lead to fairer outcomes, but it isn’t football.

For some reason, football fans appear to be increasingly unable to accept that the result of a match can depend, even in part, on luck. But why shouldn’t it? Outrageous offside decisions, dubious dismissals and ghost goals are woven into the fabric of the game.

Football is not a contest of pure skill in which chance has been eliminated.

It is not chess, nor should it attempt to be. Football is the beautiful game because it mirrors life and, as we all know, life is not always fair.

Football needs its mistakes and injustices, for they are part of its inimitable appeal.

The real question is not whether we should use this or that technology, but whether we should preserve a role for fortune in football.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

BCCC pleased to be awarded

by Berbice Cricket Board

Marvan Prashad (left) receives his BCB award for most outstanding Under-15 Player-of-the-Year from Shabeer Baksh, president of BCCC

By Colin Bynoe

BLAIRMONT Centre Cricket Club (BCCC) hails its recognition from the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) for being the Most Improved Club at recent BCB Awards ceremony.

The club was resuscitated on May 26, 2010 with elections being held. Under Shabeer Baksh’s astute leadership the BCCC has grown from strength to strength with its main focus on youths, community and sports development.

President of BCB, Hilbert Foster, noted that the BCCC performed well during the period the board was implementing such an award, “Blairmont Cricket Club is being ranked among the best clubs in Berbice with Albion, Rose Hall Young and Sports Club (RHTYSC)

and Young Warriors all producing numerous numbers of players for Berbice and Guyana,” Foster declared.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, Baksh shared, “From 2015-2017, the club went beyond the call of duty to ensure its members continue to play cricket although there was a struggle in Berbice cricket.

“The only Board game the club had played within this period was one 1st Division match when we defeated West Berbice, and four (4) second division games with the club being the winners of the Zone A in West Berbice,” he noted.

Baksh also mentioned that BCCC organised matches with a number of other clubs namely: Cold Fusion (Zeelugt), Port Mourant, Young Warriors, Albion, Bush Lot United, Lusigiuan, Rose Hall Youth and Sports, Skeldon, Kendell’s

PARIS, France (Reuters) When he qualified for the last eight at the French Open, Marco Cecchinato said it was the happiest day of his life.

He might want to re-assess, after he downed 12-time major winner Novak Djokovic yesterday to become the first Italian man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final in 40 years.

Cecchinato cruised through the opening set as Djokovic was suffering from neck pain before the Serbian fought back after the loss of the second.

His opponent, however, was the stronger in an epic fourth-set tiebreak, prevailing 6-3, 7-6(4), 1-6, 7-6(11) on his fourth match point after more than three hours of high-octane tennis.

The last Italian man to take part in a major semi-final was Corrado Barazzutti at the 1978 French Open.

The unseeded Cecchinato,

who broke down in tears after the match, next faces Austrian Dominic Thiem for a place in Sunday’s final.

“Are you sure I’m not dreaming?” Cecchinato, who was suspended for match-fixing in 2016 before being cleared on a technicality, told a courtside interviewer. “I understand nothing.”

“He held his nerves amazingly well in important moments,” said 2016 Roland Garros champion Djokovic, on the comeback trail after an injury-hit year.

World number 72 Cecchinato, the lowest ranked player to reach the last four in Paris since Andrei Medvedev in 1999, took early control of the match as he moved 4-1 and a break up, with 20th seed Djokovic calling in the trainer for treatment on a sore neck.

Prompted by the chair umpire to restart after the changeover, a nervous Djokovic

LeBRON James warned the Cleveland Cavaliers not to feel comfortable back in Ohio tonight, after falling 2-0 down to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

James had 29 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds in game two at Oracle Centre on Sunday but it was not enough for Cleveland to avoid a 122103 loss, with some stunning three-point shooting from Stephen Curry blowing them away in the final quarter.

BCCC and Guyana Under-19 player, Javed Karim, receives the People’s Choice Award for Junior Role Model Cricketer-of-the-Year from Attorney-at- Law Arudranauth Gossai.

Union, D Edward, Tucber Park, Shieldstown, Cotton Tree, Jai Hind, and Chesney at all level to ensure its members keep active.

In addition, the BCCC boasts 10 active teams, Under-13, Under-15 A and B, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21, 2nd Division A and B, 1st Division and an Over-40 team.

On top of that, Blairmont Centre Cricket Club also partnered with the Guyana Umpires Association in a fundraiser that assisted umpires to attend a seminar in Jamaica last July.

Additionally the club held cricket clinics during the Easter break, summer break and Christmas period.

An Award Ceremony was also held to inspire cricketers.

Recognition was given

to individuals who served in cricket and education while the works of the club extended to supporting community members who are less fortunate.

At the BCB Awards ceremony, Javed Karim, Guyana Under-19 opening batsman, and BCCC member, was named Junior Role Model Cricketer-of-the-Year while National Under-15 captain Marvan Prashad was named most outstanding Under-15 Player-of-the-Year.

The BCCC would like to show some appreciation to its sponsors such as Banks DIH, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, Republic Bank, Hand-in-Hand, New Building Society, Berbice Bridge Company, Baksh Travel Service, Green’s Massive, Big B’s Restaurant and Region 5 Chamber of Commerce and others.

World number 72 Cecchinato downs Djokovic

By Julien Pretot

Cavs can’t get comfortable in Ohio - LeBron James

snapped: “You have to take into consideration that he (Cecchinato) walked in 15 seconds early. Relax a little bit.”

second set started.

They traded breaks early before Cecchinato saved three set points at 6-5 to force a see-

Italy’s Marco Cecchinato celebrates winning his quarter-final match against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.

(REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)

Cecchinato stayed composed and bagged the set with an unreturnable serve, Djokovic getting more treatment on his neck before the

saw tiebreak. Cecchinato led 3-1 then found himself trailing 4-3 before pocketing the remaining points.

And Djokovic woke up,

LeBron James

The Cavs trailed 2-0 against the Warriors before going on to win the championship series in 2016, but James insists they need to stay on the edge.

“At the end of the day, we have a game three to play,” he told a post-match news conference.

“We’ve got an opportunity to go home and we’ve

played some really good basketball on our floor.

“But that shouldn’t give us any comfort. We should still be uncomfortable with the series, as we were in game one and as we were tonight.

“Just because we’re going home doesn’t mean we can relax. This is the last team in the world you want to relax against.”

After a record nine three-pointers in a Finals match from Curry, James urged the Cavs to remember they can only control what they do on the court.

“Every shot he takes that goes in; he has the business of making them.

That’s what he does. So we shouldn’t be surprised or deflated by it,” he said. “(We need to) take the ball out, move it forward, and try and execute on the other end.”

The four-time MVP added he does not get caught up in claims there is too much pressure on him to lead the Cavs to success.

“The odds have been stacked up against me since I was an adolescent,” said James.

“I put our team in a position to win a championship, to compete for a championship. “ T h a t ’s m y j o b .

That’s my responsibility.

That’s my obligation, and I need to continue to do that, which I will.”

…. first Italian man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final in 40 years blazing through the third set as Cecchinato looked out of sorts.

The beginning of the fourth set, which Cecchinato started 15-0 down after receiving a penalty for “unsportsmanlike conduct”, confirmed that impression and the Sicilian quickly trailed 5-2.

POP-CORN TENNIS But Cecchinato had not given up, yet, and he broke back for 5-4 to force a memorable tiebreak.

There were set points, and match points, as the Court Suzanne Lenglen crowd enjoyed some pop-corn tennis.

Cecchinato opened up a 6-5 lead for his first match point. He hit a superb forehand down the line but Djokovic stretched himself for a lunging backhand volley that gave him a crosscourt winner, and a chance to fight a few other points.

The Serbian reached for a drop shot to get a set point, this

time. There were two more set points at 8-7 and 9-8, both coolly saved by Cecchinato, who never panicked in spite of his lack of Grand Slam experience.

Inexperienced, maybe, but certainly not a newbie on clay, Cecchinato slid perfectly and had Djokovic guessing about the direction his balls would take, waiting until the last fraction of a second to decide on his angles.

A jaw-dropping forehand wrong-footed the Serbian and Cecchinato had a second match point saved by Djokovic on serve. It was 10-10, and it was not over yet.

Djokovic saved a third match point, but he served and volleyed on the fourth and Cecchinato’s backhand return flew past him and bounced within the limits of the court.

Cecchinato fell on his back and cried before regaining his chair with his red eyes full of tears.

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Yaya Toure says Guardiola ‘often has problems with Africans’

MANCHESTER City boss Pep Guardiola “often has problems with Africans”, says ex-Blues midfielder Yaya Toure.

The Ivorian, who left City in May after eight years at the club, says he wants to “break the myth” about Guardiola, whom he describes as “jealous”.

“Maybe we Africans are not always treated by some in the same way as others,” said Toure in an interview with France Football.

Premier League champions City have declined to comment on Toure’s views.

Before his departure, the club named one of their training pitches after him and un-

veiled a mosaic of him at their training complex.

This summer they are set

from Leicester City.

Toure, an Ivory Coast international, played for

Yaya Toure (left) started one league game during the 2017-2018 season.

to sign France-born Algeria international Riyad Mahrez

Guardiola at Barcelona for two seasons until he was sold

ECB mulls residency rule changes THE English Cricket Board (ECB) is considering an adjustment to its residency qualification requirements which would allow Barbados-born player Jofra Archer to represent England by the 2019 World Cup. The 23-year-old Archer, a former Windies youth player, has expressed a desire to represent the country of his father’s birth but up until now has been stymied by its residency rules.

Under the previous regulations the all-rounder, who moved to the country after he turned 18, would have to serve a seven-year qualification peri-

Jofra Archer made a name for himself in Australia’s Big Bash League.

od and be living in the UK for 210 days a year, which would mean he would not be eligible to play for England until 2022.

… Jofra Archer could represent

According to the Times, however, the ECB could be looking to change regulations to match the ICC’s four-year qualifying period or rule on the player’s circumstances with a discretionary decision.

Archer, who was born and raised in Barbados, became the Caribbean’s most expensive player after being sold to the Rajasthan Royals for £800,000 at this year’s Premier League auction after making a name for himself in the Big Bash League.

A ruling in his favour would also see the player eligible for next year’s Ashes series.

Mayweather regains title as world’s top-earning athlete UNITED States boxer Floyd Mayweather has regained his title in the Forbes rankings of the world’s top 100 earning athletes.

He earned a $275M (£205M) for his boxing match in August against UFC star Conor McGregor, who is number four on the US business magazine’s list.

Cristiano Ronaldo - top for the past two years - drops to third, with Lionel Messi edging him out of second place.

There are no women on the list, after the previous sole entrant, Serena Williams, dropped out of the chart.

The top 100 athletes earned a total of $3.8B, up 23% from last year, Forbes said.

F1 driver Lewis Hamilton is the top Briton at number 12 with $51M. Mayweather - one of whose nicknames is Money - saw his sports earnings added to by $10M from

lists of top-earning athletes have long been testosterone heavy; but there has always been at least one female athlete, and as many as three, who qualified since the list was expanded to at least 50 names in 2010. Not this year.”

Floyd “Money” Mayweather

endorsements.

“Boxing’s biggest night of 2017 helped Mayweather and McGregor earn nearly $400M combined,” said Kurt Badenhausen, senior editor at Forbes Media.

“But basketball players dominate the top 100 overall thanks to a soaring salary cap triggered by the NBA’s $24B TV contract.”

He added: “Forbes’

THE TOP 10 Floyd Mayweather - boxing ($285M) Lionel Messi - football ($111M) Cristiano Ronaldo - football ($108M) Conor McGregor - mixed martial arts ($99M) Neymar - football ($90M) LeBron James - basketball ($85,5M) Roger Federer - tennis ($77.2M) Stephen Curry - basketball ($76.9m) Matt Ryan - American football ($67.3M) Matthew Stafford - American football ($59.5M). (BBC Sport)

to City in 2010 for £24M. He won six major trophies in England but started just one Premier League game in City’s latest title-winning campaign their final home fixture of the season against Brighton.

Prior to that game, Guardiola said: “Yaya came here at the start of the journey.

Where we are now is because of what he has done.

“The Brighton game we will give him what he deserves, one of the most beautiful farewells a player can receive.”

Toure completed 86 minutes against Brighton, having

featured for 142 minutes in the league prior to that this season.

He believes that was “not down to physics”, saying he sought data from the club’s trainers to compare himself to younger players.

Guardiola won six league titles as a player at Barcelona and has added a further seven as a manager during spells with the Catalan club, Bayern Munich and City.

Toure said: “I do not know why but I have the impression that he was jealous, he took me for a rival. As if I made him a little shade.

“He was cruel to me. I

came to wonder if it was not because of my colour.

“I am not the first to talk about these differences in treatment. In Barca, some have also asked the question.

“When we realise he often has problems with Africans wherever he goes, I ask myself questions.

“I want to be the one who breaks the myth of Guardiola.”

Toure started 22 league games under Guardiola in the 2016-17 season, and says he was asked to stay for another year, but then used sparingly. (BBC Sport)

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Canada-based Guyanese Heyliger’ Gordon get Global T20 nods … All-rounder Jacobs also to turn out for Vancouver Knights

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada - Former Guyana youth player Dilon Heyliger is super excited to be included in the Montreal Tigers lineup for the inaugural Global T20 Canada tournament, set to bowl off here on June 28.

In an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport, the Essequibian-born Heyliger, who represented Guyana at both the Under-15 and Under-19 levels, pointed out that he’s dedicating his inclusion in the Montreal Tigers squad to the Cinderella County, where his fledgling cricketing career started.

Heyliger was part of the Canadian national team who vied for supremacy in World Cricket League Division 2 tournament, held in Namibia last February. The team, however, failed narrowly to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier which was held in Zimbabwe the following

Steven Jacobs Jeremy Gordon

Heyliger, a current Canadian national player, is one of three Guyanese who were selected in Sunday’s draft the others being fast bowler Jeremy Gordon who recently made his return to competitive cricket after a one-year exile and off-spinning all-rounder Steven Jacobs.

While Gordon also plies his trade in Canada, Joseph plays most of his cricket in his homeland, Guyana, and has been a regular member of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team up to last season.

According to Heyliger, his determination to reach the top also played a big part as, first of all, he had set his sights firmly on representing Canada at the international level and had worked assiduously towards that realisation.

In a previous interview, Heyliger had expressed that his aspiration was to represent Team Canada and ensure the Canadian cricket team gets a higher ranking at the international level; and also to ensure more supporters come out to watch the sport.

Dilon Heyliger

month. An elated Heyliger had declared then that his dream was to compete in the 2019 World Cup. Meanwhile, 31-year-old Gordon, who migrated to Canada in 2006 and was a permanent fixture in his adopted country’s side in all formats of the game up to 2015, will be donning colours for Vancouver Knights which will include West Indies powerhouse Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Evin Lewis and Chadwick Walton.

Gordon, who also repre-

sented Guyana at the Under-19 level in 2005-2006, made his Guyana first class debut at the Albion Community Centre ground against the Leeward Islands in January 2007 and has played two other matches for his homeland.

Gordon, who previously played for Brampton Masters in the Toronto and District Elite competition, turned out last weekend for Vikings in the Super-9 tournament and despite his yearlong layoff, showed glimpses of speed versus opponents Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club.

Gordon made his ODI debut for Canada against Scotland in July 2012 and played his first T20 game versus Ireland in Abu Dhabi in November 2013. His maiden first class game was against Netherlands at the Maple Leaf ground in Toronto in August, 2013 while his last T20 match was against Kenya in Sharjah in November 2013.

Gordon has captured 23 wickets in five first class matches at an average of 21.08 with six for 43 being his best.

He also has taken six scalps in five ODIs and 15 in 13 T20s.

The Global T20 Canada season will run from June 28 to July 15 and feature six teams. Five squads were chosen at Sunday’s draft while the sixth - an All-Stars side comprising Caribbean players exclusively - will be announced shortly.

Khan spins Afghanistan to T20 series win RASHID Khan said he simply did what is expected of him after his fourfor helped Afghanistan secure an historic Twenty20 international series win over Bangladesh.

The spinner took the key wickets of captain Shakib Al Hasan (3), Tamim Iqbal (43), Mosaddek Hossain (0) and Soumya Sarkar (3) to reduce Bangladesh from 93-4 to 108-8.

Bangladesh recovered somewhat to reach 134-8, but Afghanistan reached the target of 135 with seven balls to spare, thanks largely to Samiullah Shenwari’s 49 off 41 balls.

The result sees Afghanistan take an unassailable 2-0 lead in threematch series, in which all matches are being held at Dehradun in India, clinching a first T20I bi-

Rashid Khan was named man-of-the match after figures of 4-12.

lateral series win over a side other than Zimbabwe.

Khan was named manof-the-match after posting figures of 4-12 but somewhat downplayed his contributions, saying: “This is what the team expects, I try to do my best in all departments.

“I used to bowl after 11 overs earlier, this is the plan given to me, to bowl in the middle and end overs.

“I was mentally ready, wanted to bowl in the good length areas. It was crucial, wickets of Shakib, Tamim, Mosaddek and Soumya. They are key players, we know how good they are, so we wanted to keep things simple and focus on the basics.”

The series finale takes place tomorrow. (Omnisport)

TTFA president John-Williams could face no-confidence vote TRINIDAD and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams could face a vote of no-confidence in the wake of an adjourned Emergency General Meeting (EGM) earlier last week.

TTFA president David John-Williams

According to reports, officials of the TTFA have become frustrated with the lack of answers regarding the financial state of affairs with the Home of Football which is currently under construction in Balmain, Couva.

One issue is it is claimed that despite repeated requests from the TTFA membership and

board, neither John-Williams nor general secre t a r y J u s t i n L a t a py-George has presented contracts for works at the Home of Football project.

The EGM on Wednesday was called with not enough board members present by the appointed time, but John-Williams would have missed the meeting in any case after submitting a medical exemption.

The situation has left several members, some, who believe the meeting was called off in haste, disgruntled, and claimed a motion could be moved against John-Williams his second vice-president Ewing Davis and Joanne Salazar, the third vice-president when the reconvened EGM takes place on June 13.

If the vote is successful it could put the TTFA in a position to be directly run by FIFA, who could then implement a normalisation committee.

(SportsMax)

Upper Demerara Schools Relay Championships set for today THE Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) District 10 Upper Demerara Branch Sports Committee’s Relay Championships will start this morning at 11:00hrs at the Wisburg Secondary School ground.

The Relay Championships which were first held in 2014 will see participation of several primary and secondary schools across Linden in several age categories starting from Under-8 to the Open.

Sports Chairperson of the branch, Mrs Carmen Small, said that the event will be used to raise funds for athletes who will be attending the CUT Championships later this year, and the winning school will be representing District 10 at the National Relay Championship.

Mackenzie High School are the current national relay champions and they will be up against the Christianburg Wismar Secondary, New Silvercity Secondary, Wisburg Secondary, Harmony Secondary, Linden Foundation Secondary and the Linden Technical Institute.

Primary schools who will be contesting are: One Mile, Watooka Day, Regma, St Aidan’s, Christianburg, and Coomacka Mines.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday June 06, 2018)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to Monday’s quiz: (1) 17 Tests (SL 8; WI 3; DRAWS 6) (2) Arjuna Ranatunga & Ritchie Richardson (Moratuwa, 1993) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first WI to score a Test hundred against SL? (2) Who is the first SL to score a Test hundred against the WI? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Sandals Resorts replaces Digicel as Windies team sponsor ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Luxury hotel chain, Sandals Resorts, has replaced Digicel as the major commercial sponsor of West Indies cricket, in a two-year deal which will run until December, 2020.

In a partnership announced yesterday, the Caribbean brand will sponsor all West Indies representative teams from Under-15s through to the senior men’s and women’s squads.

Sandals will also serve as kit sponsor and will also have major stadium branding and broadcast sponsorship.

C r i c k e t We s t I n d i e s (CWI) chief executive, Johnny Grave, hailed the new partnership, noting that both Sandals and CWI shared similar regional objectives.

“Windies cricket is the heartbeat of the Caribbean and we’re thrilled to partner with such a prestigious international brand as Sandals, which is also synonymous with promoting the best of the Caribbean to the world,” the Englishman said.

“Sandals shares our determination to strengthen and grow cricket across the

region, as well as harnessing cricket’s power to drive economic investment and tourism.”

“Sandals Resorts’ investment will not only help fuel the game at all levels within the Caribbean but will enable us to

of cricket within the region.”

Sandals sponsored the Hurricane Relief Twenty20 at Lord’s, which saw West

West Indies celebrate a wicket during the Hurricane Relief Twenty20 against the ICC World XI last week, in their first match with Sandals kit branding.

He added: “This announcement comes at an exciting time for CWI, as we have just embarked on an ambitious new five-year strategic plan.

achieve our strategic objectives.

“We are thrilled that Sandals have agreed to partner us once again and that they are re-invigorating their support

Indies face an ICC World XI last Thursday, to raise funds to rebuild stadiums in the Caribbean which were damaged by the passage of hurricanes Irma and

Maria last September.

In the past, Sandals has sponsored the domestic 50-over championship and has also sponsored West Indies away tours.

Sandals chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart said there was a natural synergy between the company and West Indies cricket.

“Our relationship with West Indies cricket is not a new one, having sponsored tours to the UK in 1995, 2000 and 2004, and we have now deepened our support for the Windies with this sponsorship, which will cover all upcoming tours including the World Cup until the end of 2020,” said Stewart.

“We have absolutely loved our association with West Indies cricket over the years, and we look forward with great enthusiasm to this latest partnership, which started with a win against the ICC World XI in the hurricane relief fund-raising match at Lord’s on May 31.

“We look forward to the Windies continuing their win-

ning ways in the series against Sri Lanka, and the others to come.”

He continued: “Sandals believes in the collective power of our Caribbean people, which has been at the heart of our success as the world’s leading all-inclusive company for 22 consecutive years.

“Similarly, the Windies have been one of the most important institutions in fostering regional unity and pride.

Sandals and West Indies cricket are two of the most successful indigenous brands to have come out of the Caribbean, which makes this partnership a natural fit, and we are proud to work alongside CWI once more.”

The announcement comes just a week after CWI announced they were ending their long-term association with telecommunications giant Digicel, with a year still left on the deal.

That commercial partnership lasted 13 years and followed on from a similar long-term deal with Digicel’s rivals, Cable and Wireless.

Favoured Justify draws the rail for Belmont

… but good news in the coming days, says CPL

Guyana National Stadium is only venue not listed in CPL 2018 fixtures

Guyana National Stadium

Mike Smith aboard Justify crosses the finish line to win the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, May 5. (Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)

By Stephan Sookram THE Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) announced fixtures yesterday with one notable absentee from the host venues - the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The biggest party in sport as it is dubbed by the marketing committee is set to begin on Wednesday August 8 in Trinidad and Tobago and while all the other venues have match days, Guyana is not listed.among them There are seven fixtures with venues to be announced, five of which include the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW).

The first is GAW versus St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on August 9 with another, two days later, when GAW take on St Lucia Stars as well as one on August 12 where GAW play Barbados Tridents.

Just under a month later on September 8 and 9, GAW play the Jamaica Tallawahs and then Trinbago Knight Riders meet at unnamed venues.

The two play-off matches are also set for venues to be confirmed on September 11 and 12.

The other regular host countries already have their fixture dates and locations with Jamaica set to host two matches on August 14 & 15.

Trinidad and Tobago has three matches between August 8 and 11 and two matches on September 5 and 6 as well as the semifinal and final on September 14 and 16 while Barbados has four matches between August 25 and September 2.

The United States has three matches between August 18 and 22 while St Lucia hosts five matches between August 16 and 25 while St Kitts has five matches between August 28 and Sep-

tember 4.

Head of PR and Communications for the CPL, Peter Miller, confirmed the fixtures but stated that there is nothing to be worried about.

He said, “We are just waiting for all the boxes to be ticked as far as location is concerned, so as things stand at the moment, it is still to be determined as far as venue is concerned, but there should be good news in the next couple of days.”

“I’m sure it will be the good news that you would expect to hear,” he continued.

Meanwhile, in a release, CPL’s Chief Operations Officer, Pete Russell, said: “Moving the tournament between seven nation states always represents a huge logistical challenge and I would like to thank our operations team for pulling it all together for another year.”

By Frank Pingue (REUTERS) - Justify will come out of the No. 1 post position in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes where the undefeated chestnut colt will try to become only the second winner of U.S. thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown since 1978.

Justify was installed as a 4-5 morning line favourite during a draw that was held yesterday at the home of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets.

The chestnut son of Scat Daddy needs a victory in the 1-1/2 mile (2.4 km) race to become the 13th Triple Crown winner and first since American Pharoah in 2015 to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

Ridden by Mike Smith

and trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Justify has only run five races in his career and will be tested by some fresher horses in the Belmont Stakes, which has often ended the dreams of many Triple Crown hopefuls.

“I never do like to draw the rail, but my horses seem to live in it,” said Baffert who trained the most recent Triple Crown winner. “I just feel that, I think most importantly, the horse is doing well. We have it. We can’t change it. So we’ll just deal with it.”

Justify will line up with nine horses to his right as part of a field that includes five horses he beat during a rain-soaked Kentucky Derby and two he beat at a wet and foggy Preakness Stakes.

Hofburg, who is trained

by William I Mott and ridden

by Irad Ortiz, drew the fourth post and is the second choice at 9-2.

Preakness runner-up Bravazo, the only other horse besides Justify who will be competing in each leg of the Triple Crown, and Vino Rosso were both installed at 8-1 while the rest of the field is 12-1 or longer.

T h e D Wa y n e L u kas-trained Bravazo, who finished a half-length behind Justify at the Preakness, will break from the third post while John Velazquez, a two-time Belmont Stakes winner, will be aboard Vino Rosso in the eighth post.

Showers are expected in Elmont New York, where the race for 3-year-old thoroughbreds is scheduled to start at 18:37hrs ET (2237 GMT) on Saturday.

Rose to captain National basketball team in Barbados … GABF announces team for three-game series

By Rawle Toney EIGHTEEN-year-old point guard Stanton Rose was named captain of Guyana’s senior men’s national team, who will wing out on Friday morning for their three-game series in a warm-up ahead of the June 24-30 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships in neighbouring Suriname.

Rose, the leading point guard for national club champi-

ons Bounty Colts, will become the youngest player to ever captain the country’s national team when he leads Anthony Moe (Ravens), Shaine Webster (Colts), Timothy Thompson (Colts), Harold Adams (Royals), Orlan Glasgow (Royals), Chris Williams (Royals), Kevon Wiggins (USA), Dominic Vincente (Ravens), Nikkoli Smiths (Guardians), Travis Burnett

Turn to page 26

New ‘Golden Jaguars’ head coach arrives tomorrow

Some members of the National basketball team who will be heading to Barbados this weekend for a three-game series.

First Test at Queen’s Park Oval See Page 26

New Golden Jaguars head coach Michael Johnson

Windies begin quest to keep strong home record against Sri Lanka

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – West Indies begin their quest to keep their strong home record against Sri Lanka intact, when they face the unpredictable Asian side in the opening Test of the three-match series here today.

In three previous tours of the Caribbean, Sri Lanka are yet to win a series, losing two and drawing one. Overall, they have won just one Test, lost three and drawn two, reflecting their dismal record on regional soil.

However, the last time the two sides met in Sri Lanka, the hosts easily swept

the two-Test series and with West Indies decimated by New Zealand in their last Test series seven months ago, the visitors will believe now is a good a time as any to break their Caribbean jinx.

Captain Jason Holder said his side would be looking to turn the page on the recent poor results and enter the series with a positive approach.

“We can’t go into the series thinking negatively,” Holder told reporters ahead of the con-

Turn to page 26

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Leading opener Kraigg Brathwaite (right) chats with emerging left-hander Shimron Hetmyer during a training session ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2018