Guyana chronicle e paper 06 14 2018

THURSDAY 14th June, 2018

No.105305

Poor past

…Alexander says Vishnu Persaud’s past performance sank him – Myers emerged the more qualified for top GECOM post

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Bandits arrested after robbery 11 PAGE

Serious crimes drop significantly 13 in Berbice – Commander Lyndon Alves PAGE

Guyana, Cuba seek enhanced ties 03 PAGE

President David Granger and Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Rogelio Sierra Diaz, during their engagement at State House on Wednesday (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

‘You’re out of order’

…Top cop slams magistrate for calling police jokers 05 PAGE

National schools curricula review under way 08 PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

Abel Seetaram sent to jail

THIRTY-SIX-year-old Councillor in Region Five

(Mahaica/Berbice) Abel Seetaram was on Wednes-

day jailed for 18 months for felonious wounding.

Abel Seetaram

Magistrate Rhondell Weaver imposed the custodial sentence on Seetaram following a probation officer’s report presented to her

at Fort Wellington Magistrates’ Court.

Seetaram had been found guilty of the offence of felonious wounding on May 31 last, but sentencing had been deferred pending the presentation of a probation report.

On Wednesday Magistrate Weaver noted that Seetaram had been before her in 2016 on traffic offences and then again in 2017 on summary offences and then now in 2018 on felonious wounding and he seemed to be moving from minor offences to major offences.

“I have taken all the facts into consideration and given your recent history of apparent graduation from minor to major offences, I have no other alternative but

to impose a custodial penalty,” she told Seetaram.

The charge of felonious wounding against Seetaram stemmed from a drunken brawl on January 21, 2018, when Seetaram of Lot 121 B Woodley Park Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), injured his cousin Netram Rabindranauth, 54, a vendor of Lot 64 A Woodley Park Village. Seetaram had pleaded not guilty to the charge but was found guilty after a summary trial. The case for the prosecution led by Police Prosecutor Racquel Mars, disclosed that he used a piece of wood to injure Rabindranauth during an altercation after a drinking spree.

Post-mortem report on prisoner prompts criminal investigation TWO weeks after Sean Thom called “Junior Dunn” was rushed to hospital for injuries he sustained during a jail fight, the police are now looking to turn the probe into what took place in his jail cell that faithful day into a criminal investigation.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Leslie James said statements would be taken from the prisoners who were around Thom when the fight took place.

Thom was rushed to the

Georgetown Public Hospital one day after the incident after he was found lying in his jail cell with a swollen face.

Earlier this week, he was pronounced dead after being hospitalised since May 27.

A post-mortem on his remains on Wednesday found that he died as a result of a fractured right cheek bone and hemorrhage due to a blunt trauma.

Commander James told Guyana Chronicle that at last three prisoners are assisting with the investigations as

they played some part in ensuring the prisoner was transported to the hospital on the day in question.

Added to that, the prison officer who reportedly walked into a cell area and saw the prisoner on the ground is expected to provide cops with a statement on the matter.

Police are looking to have a file on the matter prepared and ready to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions by next week.

On the night of the incident, Thom and another prisoner were involved in an altercation during which Thom was beaten by the other with a mopstick.

Thom, who was in prison for armed robbery, was committed to stand trial in the High Court for murder.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

Guyana, Cuba seek enhanced ties …health, environment for improved collaboration GUYANA and Cuba on Wednesday committed to enhancing relations between them through increased collaboration and cooperation in areas of healthcare, environmental conservation, disaster management and tourism.

The occasion was a meeting between President David Granger and Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Rogelio Sierra Diaz, who is currently on an official visit to Guyana. During the meeting held at State House, President Granger said since establishing diplomatic ties on December 8, 1972, Guyana and Cuba have enjoyed a strong friendship based on shared trust, respect and mutual understanding. The President also accepted an invitation from the President of Cuba, Mr. Miguel Diaz-Canel, to visit his country at a date to be determined.

“There is a large Cuban brigade here in Guyana and

there is substantial interaction through CELAC [Community of Latin American and Caribbean States] and other regional bodies, so we regard this not only as a continuation but a reaffirmation of our historic friendship. We will continue to collaborate. We have always supported Cuba and the removal of the blockade. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1972, we have witnessed the maturity of our relationship,” the Guyanese leader said.

In this regard, Minister Diaz said that the two governments are in discussions to see how best the health cooperation, which exists between the two countries, can be improved for mutual benefit. “We are happy to be present in Guyana in medical cooperation. We are in this position of making this arrangement more efficient in the interests of both of our nations and for this reason, both of the governments are

in contact to improve this arrangement. We are also in the position of strengthening the collaboration in whatever area you may have needs. I believe it is very important to remain united and work together,” the Cuban Deputy Minister said.

On this note, President Granger said that as Guyana forges ahead with the pursuit of a ‘green’ economy, the country is looking to establish cooperation in the areas of environmental protection and conservation and tourism. He noted that this level of cooperation is of vital importance to advancing Guyana’s green agenda and overall economic development.

“We would like to establish cooperation in tourism and environmental conservation. This is one of the areas that we have not been able to collaborate in. We welcome Cuban expertise and investment in Guyana to see our green tourism potential,”

Cuba’s Ambassador to Guyana, H.E Narciso Reinaldo Armador Soeorro, Prime Minister and First Vice-President, Moses Nagamotoo and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Rogelio Sierra Diaz (DPI photo)

19-year-old critical after ‘juking’war AS 19-year-old Anthony Bartholomew remains in a critical condition after being stabbed several times about the body on Lombard Street, Charlestown, last week, his 18-year-old alleged attacker was on Wednesday charged with attempted murder.

Ken Das appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that on June 9 at Lombard Street, he wounded Bartholomew with intent to commit murder.

Das, also a horse cart operator of Broad and Lombard Streets was unrepresented.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Gordon Mansfield told the court that both par-

ties lived in the same village.

According to reports, Bartholomew was standing on Lombard Street in the vicinity of the Charlestown Post Office, when he was confronted by the defendant and an argument ensued over a cellular phone.

This resulted in a fight, during which the 18-yearold is alleged to have stabbed the victim several times about his body with an ice pick.

He reportedly surrendered to police at the Ruimveldt Police Station after committing the act, while Bartholomew was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) in a serious condition.

Das was refused bail based upon the objection

Ken Das

raised by the prosecution on the grounds that the victim was still hospitalized. As such he was remanded to prison.

He was also placed under the supervision of a probation officer and the matter was adjourned until June 25.

President David Granger, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Rogelio Sierra Diaz and Cuba’s Ambassador to Guyana, H.E Narciso Reinaldo Armador Soeorro (MoTP photo)

he said.

The minister noted that Cuba is ready to lend whatever assistance it can in this area as they have already implemented stringent environmental conservation and protection measures and policies in their country, which could be used as a study for Guyana. “I can see the importance and value of the relations between Cuba and Guyana. We rejoice in the quality of relations between our two countries. These relations are not only historic but also based on trust. Cuba puts much emphasis on protecting the environment. Our policies have been implemented and are applied. Advancement in this area will be beneficial to both countries so we are willing to donate our experience to this matter,” Mr. Diaz said.

Following the meeting with President Granger, the Cuban minister called on Prime Minister and First Vice-President, Moses Nagamootoo. The prime minister warmly welcomed the Deputy Foreign Minister and his delegation which included Cuba’s Ambassador to Guyana, H.E Narciso Reinaldo Armador Soeorro. During the courtesy call, areas of mutual interest were discussed, including bilateral relations. Deputy Foreign Minister Diaz, on behalf of his country, thanked Prime Minister Nagamootoo for the continued friendship and bilateral relations between the countries.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo called for the strengthening of relations between the two countries through cultural exchanges, the flow of information and an exchange of journalists so that citizens in both countries can better appreciate the culture of the respective countries.

The Cuban minister also paid homage to the victims of the Cubana Air Disaster with the laying

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Rogelio, lays a wreath in memory of the victims of the Cubana Air Disaster at the Monument of the Victims of Terrorism at the University of Guyana campus (MoTP photo)

of a wreath at the Monument to the Victims of Terrorism at the University of Guyana campus.

He also paid a visit to the Centre for the Stimulation of Children, Adolescents and Youth with Special Educational Needs Associ-

ated with Disabilities at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). In 1972, Guyana led efforts by Caribbean states to break the diplomatic isolation of Cuba in this hemisphere; establishing diplomatic relations with that country.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday June 14, 2018

Poor past

…Alexander says Vishnu Persaud’s past performance sank him --Myers emerged the more qualified for top GECOM post

GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander

By Ariana Gordon FORMER Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Vishnu Persaud was rejected for rehiring on the grounds of his past performance, his alleged history of faking his qualifications to the commission and the fact that Roxanne Myers has “better qualifications”

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

than him, a top commissioner at the electoral body has said.

On Tuesday, GECOM’s Chairman, Justice (ret’d) James Patterson used his casting vote to appoint Myers to the post of DCEO following a split of votes across the commission.

“He [Justice Patterson] objected to Vishnu based on past performance, based on the other candidate hav-

Roxanne Myers, newly appointed GECOM DCEO, US Institute of Peace

ing better qualifications and based on the history of misrepresentation of qualifications to the commission,” longstanding commissioner Vincent Alexander told the Guyana Chronicle. This newspaper has been unable to independently verify this.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that at Tuesday’s statutory meeting, the votes were split evenly among the commissioners representing

Former GECOM DCEO, Vishnu Persaud

the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the government.

As such, Justice Patterson used his casting vote to appoint Myers who received an average of 72 points following an evaluation by four commissioners; two from both sides. Persaud had emerged with the highest score, that being 76 points.

The PPP is protesting the commission’s decision

to reject the rehiring of Persaud, who had been accused in the past of alleged corrupt practices, as its DCEO and says it will soon submit a formal complaint to the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC). However, speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday, long-serving Commissioner Vincent Alexander explained that the matter relative to the appointment of a DCEO did not start on Tuesday. He told this publication that the matter was dealt with about two weeks prior.

He said the opposition by government-nominated commissioners to the appointment of Persaud was made known two weeks ago. Alexander said that the decision of Justice Patterson arose because three commissioners supported the appointment of Persaud and the other three supported the appointment of Myers.

“It was left up to the chairman to cast his vote and he cast his vote in favour of Myers,” Alexander told the Guyana Chronicle. He accepted that Persaud did have the highest average score among the interviewees, but sought to explain the interviewing process.

The interviewers were opposition commissioners Bibi Shadick and Robeson Benn while Alexander and Desmond Trotman represented the government. “Having interviewed those persons, we put scores down. Vishnu

emerged with the highest average because the PPP scored him very high, we scored him average and therefore he emerged with the highest score,” Alexander said.

A recommendation was not made on who to appoint to the post, given that there was a split in votes. Initially, on the sub-committee, there was a two-two split and when the matter was placed before the commission, there was a three-three split, therefore leaving it up to the chairman to cast his vote.

“He [Justice Patterson] objected to Vishnu based on past performance, based on the other candidate having better qualifications and based on the history of misrepresentation of qualifications to the commission,” Alexander told the Guyana Chronicle. Alexander acknowledged the fact that both candidates, Persaud and Myers are the holders of masters degrees.

The PPP Tuesday expressed concerns about Persaud’s rejection, but in 2016, several allegations of corruption were levelled against him, though he had vehemently denied the claims.

“These issues did not take place yesterday,” Alexander asserted, while noting that “Vishnu’s past performance was questioned by a commissioner”. Tuesday, after walking out of the statutory meeting, PPP commissioners, at a press conference told Turn to page 5 ►

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‘You’re out of order’

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday June 14, 2018

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…Top cop slams magistrate for calling police jokers

…as alleged pirates make second court appearance

By Nafeeza Yahya Forty-three-year-old Primnauth Persaud, called Sinbad of Cromarty Village and Nakool Manohar, popularly known as ‘Fyah’ of Number 43 Village were on Wednesday both charged with two counts of murder for allegedly killing fishermen Mahesh Sarjoo and Tillacknauth Mohabir during a piracy attack in Suriname last month.

The men appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Springlands Magistrates’ Court where they were not required to plead to the indictable charge. The charge stated that between April 26 and May 3 at sea, they allegedly murdered Tillacknauth and Sarjoo during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

At the previous court hearing for Manohar, he was charged with the murder of Tillacknauth Mohabir. However at Wednesday’s hearing the charges were withdrawn and he was jointly charged with Persaud who is said to be the chief suspect. Given that the charges were withdrawn from Manohar and he is now jointly charged with Persaud and along with a change of date from 27th April to 26th April as well as

Commissioner of Police (ag), David Ramnarine

Primnauth Persaud called Sinbad

whether another suspect Alexander Denhearte was being jointly charged with the men, Magistrate Singh commented that the “police are acting like a bunch of jokers,” since it appeared they are uncertain as to what charges they want to institute.

Singh continued that “the court has to work as a balance and cannot take sides.”

On the first occasion, Manohar was charged with two counts of murder on the same charge sheet, but one was

Poor ...

the media that there appeared to be an assassination of Persaud’s character by some members of the commission.

Alexander in his own view does not agree with that contention, noting that the questioning of one’s past performance could not amount to character assassination.

He said in the case of Persaud, his Master’s Degree average stands at D, while Myers’ stands at B+. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

According to Alexander who has served on the commission for about 11 years, while Persaud secured the highest average score, it must be taken into account that Myers’ obtained better grades than Persaud.

“The scores… though he averaged higher, it was evidence that they corrupted the system at that point.”

PPP PLOY As it relates to allegations of discrimination on the basis of race, the government- nominated GECOM commissioner told the Guyana Chronicle that similar matters were raised in the past. “It is their trump card,” he said, noting, that there is no basis upon which the PPP commissioners can accuse the commission’s members of hiring primarily Afro-Guyanese. In fact, he disclosed that the recently appointed IT manager is Indo-Guyanese.

“Everybody supported his candidacy… they gave him 100 out of 100. We gave nobody zero, the first commissioner to put 100 for any candidate was Bibi Shadick and that was in relation to the IT guy who is Indian,” Alexander explained.

In response to the PPP’s indication that it will lodge a

Nakool Manohar

struck out and he was eventually charged with the murder of Tiliknauth Mohabir alone.

The comments made by the magistrate however did not sit well with senior officials of the force, who feel his comments were “insulting and reckless and should have never been uttered.”

However, in a strongly worded statement, Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine lauded his team for going above and beyond the call of duty in conduct-

ing their investigations with due diligence under difficult circumstances and being able to bring those responsible before the courts and upgraded the charges based on legal advice. “It seems quite clear that the magistrate probably has an axe to grind against the team of investigators and maybe other police officers,” Ramnarine said.

He added:” this can be reasonably deduced from the fact that he was subsequently removed from presiding over

a very high-profile matter of murder in which the very investigators were involved.

I can only conclude that his unfortunate and reckless utterances [are] intended to malign these hardworking police officers and our legal advisers are as a result of his youthfulness, inexperience and being unschooled,” the commissioner said Emotional scenes Meanwhile, outside of the court the scene was emotional as many relatives of the fishermen who were killed attended the hearing.

The eldest sister of Mahesh Sarjoo, Artie Sarjoo travelled from neighbouring Suriname to attend the hearing as she pleads for justice for her brother who was brutally murdered. “We were very close and went through a lot after our parents died and to lose him in that manner is hard. Since this incident I am very worried and all I can think about is getting justice for him”.

Sarjoo’s body was handed over to the family and he was laid to rest on Saturday last. Tarmattie Ibrahim, wife of Denesh Persaud “Vicky”, was in tears as she held her two children who are now left without their father when she saw the two main accused exiting the court. Additionally, 75-year-old Doris Harrihar travelled from East Canje to Springlands to get a glimpse of the men allegedly responsible for the death of her grandson Ralph Couchman, called “Burnham,” whom she said was her main source of assistance. In tears, she said two days before he left for Suriname he promised her to always take care of her.

“The pain that I feel is like part of my life is missing, me and he was good. I had a good relationship with him.” The men were remanded and are to return on June 26th for report and fixtures.

way how things are going they are going to be badly beaten, so this is why they are trying to prepare the ground work to say we were saying this before the elections and now look what has happened. It is all a ploy as far as I am concerned,” said Harmon.

Back in 2016, it was alleged that despite having a public relations officer (PRO) at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Persaud while serving as DCEO carried out some of that officer’s duties during the last elections. Sources within the commission had told the Guyana Chronicle that Persaud took charge of all Civic and Voter Education responsibilities, despite their falling within the ambit of the PRO. However, Persaud had denied those allegations.

In 2014, Persaud while appointed as DCEO, wrote and signed documents as the en-

tity’s public relations officer.

Additionally, it was alleged that Persaud was a major stakeholder in TroyTec Video Production, owned and managed by Troy Christopher and operated out of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. According to sources, Persaud’s alleged handpicking of TroyTech Video Productions more than 95 per cent of the time from 2011 to 2016, to produce infomercials and related materials for the General, Regional and Local Government Elections as well as the continuous registration process, suggests that Persaud has a substantial stake in Christopher’s business.

However, the former DCEO has continuously rejected the allegations of corruption levelled against him and maintains that the selection of TroyTech Video Production over the years was done in a transparent manner.

From page 4► complaint to the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), Alexander said the ERC once in receipt of a formal complaint from the PPP commissioners must do its work.

“The ERC will do its work and when called upon we will provide the reasons why we made our decision, if the ERC asks us to do so… I am not surprised by the complaints and allegations being made by the PPP commissioners, this is nothing new,” Alexander reasoned.

Meanwhile, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, speaking with the Guyana Chronicle outside of his government and party portfolios said as a citizen he is concerned about the allegations being levelled against the chairman of GECOM. He described the allegations as “ridiculous” and called on the opposition to provide a proper explanation for its “charade”.

“I am not going to speak on behalf of the party [PNC] but I would say as a citizen I think it is ridiculous. These people were not employed over the last three years. They were there during the period of time the PPP was in office.

Why are they waiting now when they are out of office to start levelling these complaints?” asked Harmon in relation to the accusations of racial bias.

SETTING THE STAGE He said the PPP felt that the existing machinery at GECOM has been working well over the years, but is suddenly objecting to same.

“As soon as they lose an election they are trying to discredit it. To me, it is all part of a ploy by the PPP to create the conditions for when they lose. It is basically starting to cry wolf before they lose the elections. They know that the

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday June 14, 2018

Don’t disregard the warnings THERE is an international tussle between believers and non-believers of science, which could pose setbacks when the latter hold positions to influence decision-making.

The Science Council’s relatable definition says, “Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world, following a systematic methodology based on evidence.”

There is no denying that scientific approaches in understanding events are not always correct. People can readily highlight opinion polls that ran afoul in predicting, meteorologists getting the weather wrong, and so forth.

However, these are insufficient evidence of science’s failure, falling within the element of human error, methodology used, or marginal errors as allowed in data analyses.

In spite of inherent and evidential deficiencies in science, its application in guiding decision-making pays dividends.

For instance, population censuses, which follow scientific methodology, present frameworks for Government and other stakeholders to plan development, based on demography, interests, needs and so forth. The application reduces haphazard approaches to planning, minimises/eliminates wastage, makes best use of limited resources, and reach the targeted groups.

The people having evolved, thanks to science, no longer view the earth as flat with the danger of falling off should they travel to the end. This evident discovery has enhanced human interaction, travel, trade and development, although all have not been to the mutual benefit of those involved.

Scientific understanding of the universe, including the environment, has not only empowered man to engage in

space exploration, but also to improve our air, water and land travels. Research/studies have made once life-threatening diseases curable or treatable, thereby adding value to life and living. Understanding of the human make-up, food choices, and their nutritional values add benefit to the quality of life we can enjoy.

If science is appreciated for aiding better understanding of the world, increasing opportunities and comfort derive from its knowledge; science should not have to fight for its relevancy in forewarning us that the planet is under threat and requires behavioural changes to ensure survival, health and longevity.

To disregard the warning in the presence of unpredictable weather patterns, extinction of animals, and disappearance of the glaciers, flora and fauna is befuddling. The 2016 United Nations’ Climate Change Agreement was not arrived at because world leaders wanted to congregate, agree to modification of developmental approaches, or more developed countries wanting to throw support behind the lesser developed in achieving carbon credits; it came through scientific work done over extended periods, that included capturing environmental trends.

Science is not stupid in forewarning that increasing carbon emissions will disrupt the ecosystem and by extension man’s well-being. At the most basic, since early childhood schooling, the inter-relationship between man and the environment was established.

Man’s dependency on plants for oxygen and plants on man for carbon dioxide formed part of elementary learning, to be built on as science evolves, not discharged

in single-minded pursuit of employment and economic opportunities.

For behind such pursuit quality of life depreciates, as in the instance of underground coal-mining where pollution adversely impacts the respiratory, nervous and cardiovascular systems. Though science has found signs of life on other planets, none is found to allow man easy transfer to live.

Disregarding years of work by scientists and accumulated body of knowledge, which withstood intense scrutiny and continue to so do, is deigned to make the world a less habitable place for man’s existence. Science’s evidence is not a hoax, fluke or similar dismissive ascription. It is real and ought to inform and guide decision-making. The UN Climate Agreement remains vital to environmental protection and man’s survival.

Data acquired through scientific bodies aided the work of the internationally recognised Environmental Protection Agency which played a vital role in concretising the agreement. The work of such institutions remains critical in guiding other important global decisions and until science proves otherwise, the adage ‘leave well alone’ remains applicable.

Tired of the saintly remaking of Dr. Rodney’s image Dear EditorJUNE 13th marked 38 years since Dr. Walter Rodney’s death.

There will be conversations of the goodness of this man, what he fought for and wanted for Guyana and Guyanese, presented more to refashion an image that is contrary to his actual praxis. Dr. David Hinds, one of the leading promoters of this re-making, has been doing exactly that over the last two Sundays in his Kaieteur News' column.

Though Dr. Rodney proudly proclaimed his Marxist belief, an ideology that also advocates forceful overthrow of governments, some Rodneyites would want it to be believed he did not support such thinking and action. In his last Sunday column, Dr. Hinds made use of the term “political violence” to address Dr. Rodney’s praxis,

but did not delve into the subject.

In the meantime, society has the benefit of Dr. Rodney’s praxis on this subject from one of his closest confidants and only co-leader, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine.

In 2010 Dr. Roopnaraine said “We [the WPA] were accumulating weapons…we were accumulating equipment of various kinds. A certain amount of that was coming from the military” ('WPA has been accumulating weapons prior to Rodney’s death’-SN: September 19, 2010). He also publicly said the party was responsible for burning down the Ministry of Mobilisation and National Development during the People’s National Congress (PNC) government.

If there was no belief in violence, why was such action practised during and under Dr. Rodney’s direct leadership? Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr. through non-violent measures created political tsunamis that resulted in the transformation of their societies, though regrettably their lives were snuffed out through violence. These men were fighting systems that were of the most oppressive- colonialism and denial of civil rights. In Guyana it was political rivalry for the control of government, aided by propaganda (fake news) to justify forceful removal from and entry into office.

It is said Dr. Rodney “rejected the superficial unity embraced by the PPP and the PNC, such as ethnic tokenism and multi-ethnic rhetoric” (Hinds, KN: 10 June 2018).

Yet this remains the identity of the WPA. Dr. Roopnaraine retains the record of being the only East Indian in the party’s co-leadership structure. The African record is held by Bro. Eusi Kawayana and Drs. Clive Thomas and Rodney.

The WPA remains the only party presenting itself as a major force that never held an election to elect its leadership, who have all been anointed/appointed. This gives rise to doubt that the party truly believes in electoral democracy and can make genuine claim it fought for it on a national scale.

The oft-repeated Dr. Rodney's interest in “multi-ethnicity” is tied only to East Indians and Africans --their presence and role in the body politic and leadership. Consequently, it is reasonable to ask if the role of other races mattered or conclude they never mattered to him.

Marxism also believes in a closed society which would have implications for private media ownership. How does this juxtapose with our present state, started

by President Desmond Hoyte, living in an open society and the

private sector having a role in media? What would have been Dr. Rodney’s position given his hardcore ideological persuasion and which by the West's standards he was deemed among the most extreme of the politicians of his time, with Mr. Forbes Burnham seen as the least?

Society is still to be told by the WPA of Dr. Rodney’s PPP upbringing/association and where his parents and siblings remained.

How has this shaped his life and what was/were his reasons for leaving, if he ever did leave?

Dr. Hinds argued (KN, 3 June 2018) that Dr. Rodney represents the best of us. What does this mean? Does this take into consideration his academic brilliance and pursuits which are goals every parent/family holds?

Turn to page 7 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday June 14, 2018

Hypocrisy and political convenience Dear Editor ONE of the ugliest pieces of dishonesty which has been peddled in some sections of the private media has been a resort to the bogey of rigged elections. This came to the fore, with the appointment of Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The inference from such statements were quite clear, and unmistakable – that only an Indo-Guyanese chairman will guarantee against any attempt at rigging; but that an African-Guyanese presence, increases such a likelihood.

There are serious contradictions in this perception, sadly influenced by our historical political circumstances, but more so by the deep ethnic fault lines. It is indeed true that the PPP/C had been clearly comfortable with the

former chairman, who had administered the GECOM electoral machinery for a reported 18 years. There was never a cause for concern, since the PPP/C continued to win elections; and they did so with a significant presence of Afro-Guyanese support staff.

But suddenly, with the slippage of the PPP/C in the 2011 elections, when although it retained the presidency, it lost control of the legislature – there were claims of rigging. This was obviously the public anguish of a party that could not accept the fact that its dominance of the national electoral poll had been finally broken. Ironically though, it was at this same electoral exercise, that the then chief election officer had been caught deliberately manipulating the poll statistics results that would have given the PPP/C a one-seat majority in the

National Assembly, rather than that seat going to the combined opposition parties as it eventually did, based on the natural results.

This, in every respect, was indeed a very serious criminal act committed by the Chief Elections Officer, Gocool Boodhoo. Editor, I am quite certain that this incident would have been known to the then PPP/C; but it never became public until Commissioner Vincent Alexander, who had observed and had the malpractice corrected, made a public disclosure.

For an act that had been so glaring, and serious, the Stabroek News that had resurrected the issue of rigged elections in an opinion piece was deafeningly silent. And so was Ralph Ramkarran, who in his most recent Sunday column mentioned the “… controversy over employment

at GECOM.” This was in reference to his prior statements about past rigged elections in the said column. A missive in which Hydar Ally, another PPP/C defender is alluding to the presence of the new GECOM chairman, as the cause of its current problems.

What an empty, if not malicious claim without grounds.

Both these PPP/C lights are disgustingly convenient, as they seek to skip, hop, and dance away from the fact that Dr. Steve Surujbally, the then GECOM chairman became the target for much vilification since he upheld his professionalism and integrity of office, by casting his vote to remove Boodhoo. Both Ramkarran and Ally ought to be asked, why their party did not instruct their representative commissioners to support their counterparts in a combined vote to remove

Boodhoo. But instead, it took the casting of Surujbally’s vote to effect what was only natural in the circumstances Editor, we all know what the cabal in Robb Street did to Dr. Surujbally – they literally hounded him out of office.

Where was the condemnation from both Ramkarran and Ally, as their party sought to blame the former chairman for all kinds of fictional reasons which caused them to lose an election which results were fair and transparent?

It was the same hypocritical line taken by one of these two columnists on the Justice Review Act Silence all the years, although it was assented to by the then executive in 2010, but now seeking to speak since it has become the responsibility of the current government. How can one really not be very

critical of these frequent public voices, especially the more senior of the two, who although have had to quit his PPP/C party because of his stated disagreement with its pervasive corruption, still seems unsure whether he had done the right thing.

Of course, it is his right to support the party of his choice; even if it is the same party from which he had walked away. He is even at liberty to opine on whatever issue he feels needs be, in the interest of that party. However, being inconsistent, by facts of omission, opens him to accusations of being convenient, hence a stranger to the truth. Such hypocrisy does not add anything of value to the national conversation.

Regards Troy Garraway

There was discontent in Vishnu Persaud’s handling of voter education exercise Dear Editor PERMIT me space in your newspaper to comment on an issue, which if not handled properly by GECOM, could become an unnecessary issue about race and alleged discrimination.

On the face of it, the PPP commissioners at GECOM could perhaps be genuinely forgiven for believing that

Vishnu Persaud’s race had played the greatest part in him not being selected as the deputy chief elections officer, a post I am aware he had held for a number of years during the Steve Surujbally era.

But from what I know, there had been much discontent with his handling of voter education exercises and programmes during the time Mr. Persaud had worked both

as the deputy chief and as the public relations insider at GECOM. He was the one responsible for voter education and could have done a better job while he was at it. I think that commissioners who had been in place for a while would have noted questions about his performance and leaned towards voting against him as they did. They also might have briefed Chairman Mr. James

From page 6►

Tired of the saintly ...

Dr. Rodney was fortunate to win scholarships to higher educational pursuits, though it must not be ignored he was of the time when education was not universal and girls and the poor were left behind. Does the best refer to the political? On this Dr. Rodney can claim “groundings” with the dispossessed in Jamaica and the Jamaica government deeming him a threat to the society, resulting in him being persona non grata. Tanzania also found this “groundings” undesirable. Locally, Dr. Rodney wanted to form a ‘national front government’ that excluded the PNC, which meant the party’s supporters, members and leaders. How na-

tional is this or representing the best of us?

The saintly remaking of Dr. Rodney’s image has to explain the above. Having the “belief” of his ‘goodness’ or anything for that matter absent validation/corroboration will not suffice. It could also be said given Dr. Rodney’s academic acclaim he would have valued the integrity route to validating the ‘saint theory,’ as against making up stories to support it. True academics find the non-academic approaches to proving any theory discomfiting.

Regards Minette Bacchus

Patterson about this, hence the fact that he threw in his casting vote to settle the issue.

I therefore sincerely hope that a way could be found to indicate to the general public that there are issues other than race pertaining to Mr. Persaud not getting the nod from the three PNC commissioners and the chairman. I make a case for responsible handling of this

issue, because this proverbial albatross of race which hangs around the neck of the Guyanese society, needs no more fuel to ignite racial insecurities and anxieties. Given his vast experience and familiarity with operations at GECOM, I make a bold suggestion for him to be retained in a consultative capacity, given the enormous level of preparations required for

local government elections and the general one in 2020.

He could do no harm if he is so retained and such a move on the part of those at the agency could help to ease lingering suspicions about the motive for not picking him.

Regards Winston Mars

Where is the solar farm Movie Towne’s Chin promised UG?

Dear Editor

IT is with some consternation that one reads that Movie Towne investor Derek Chin is complaining about having to wait six weeks for a connection from GPL. After all, he signed an MOU with the University of Guyana to set up a solar farm that would not only power the cinema complex, but also the UG campus by December 2017. No need for GPL right? To date there is no sign of this nor any plans for him to build a new housing complex for students. Beware the investor with empty promises.

And while he complains about delays of months, the same Chin said in 2011, the

entire cinema complex is expected to be completed in under two years, most likely in 2013. That was a full five years ago. Could he give us a reason why he waited so long to start construction?

The sad part is that the sale of the land to Chin has in fact cost the government some $1.5B, since NICIL sold part of it to Chin for $187M in 2011, only for them to be successfully sued by the actual owners Toolsie Persaud Ltd for $1.7B. This is another example of how crony capitalist deals under the PPP/C are coming back to cost the taxpayer.

Regards Earl Hamilton

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

National schools curricula review under way – greater attention to be placed on ICT and Guyana as an oil-producing nation

By Svetlana Marshall THE Education Ministry has initiated the process of developing a framework for the review of the country’s schools curricula spanning nursery to lower secondary.

The move, which is deemed necessary, will result in more emphasis being placed on the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the classroom, in addition to the inclusion of Guyana as an oil-producing nation for subjects such as Social Studies and Geography.

Presently, senior education officials, with support from external experts in the field of curriculum development, are pitching recommendations for the development of the Framework for Curriculum Revision at an ongoing consultative workshop at the Ramada Princess Hotel.

During the opening ceremony of the workshop on Wednesday, Education Minister Nicolette Henry alluded to the fact that Guyana’s last extensive curriculum reform was done in 1976.

At this stage of the country’s development, Minister Henry said it is critical for Guyana to have a well-thought-out and modern school curriculum. Though the first draft of the revised curriculum could take more than 18 months before it is put together, the Education Ministry, under the watch of Minister Henry, is already placing greater emphasis on ICT. “This year, I took a policy decision to leapfrog Guyana’s education system and instruct that we begin the transition process of including at least 30 per cent of our programme budget to reflect ICT and modern thinking that is new and different, and in some instances it means doing old things using different methodology,” Minister Henry told the senior education officials.

In this day and age, the education minister said it is important for young people to be taught more than just the traditional skills, such as literacy and numeracy.

Though important, these skills, she emphasised, must be complemented by skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity.

“Children cognitive, social and emotional abilities must be brought to bearing [sic] in developing their breadth of skills.

Our schools should create fertile environments where ideas can be tested, critical understandings developed, questioning is encouraged, learning occurs utilising all the senses, and imaginations are allowed to soar.

These environments should be nurtured by teachers who are innovative, not afraid to teach to children’s strengths; be it through the use of technology as they are tech natives, or making classroom adaptations to accommodate the unique learning needs of

and as such when the oil and gas Industry was referenced to in text schools and in schools curriculum, countries such as Venezuela and Trinidad were more than often referred to as oil-producing nations.

Education Minister Nicolette Henry

a child with a disability,” she added.

It is her view that a robust curriculum is one that does not operate in content silos, but one that highlights and encourages subject integration.

CXC Senior Assistant Registrar (ret’d), Dr. Gordon Harewood

in the school system, and therefore this session, should not be treated lightly,” the CEO said. He emphasised that the time has come for real change in the country and it is important that educators be the agents of change.

Heading the consultancy team assisting with the development of the framework, is Dr. Jeffrey Orr, Dean of Education of St. Francis Xavier University. He is assisted

by Dr. Joanne Tompkins, Professor of Education, St. Francis Xavier University; Dr. Gregory Mackinnon, Professor of Education, Acadia University; Dr. Gordon Harewood, Senior Assistant Registrar (retd), Caribbean Examinations Council; Beth Charlton, Assistant Professor (retd), Mount St. Vincent University; and Dr. Ingrid Robinson, Assistant Professor of Education, St. Francis Xavier University.

In offering brief remarks, Dr. Harewood, a Guyanese based in Barbados, said 15 to 20 years ago, no one had a clue that Guyana would become an oil-producing country,

NECESSARY Weighing in on the issue, Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson said the revision of the curriculum is necessary for the country to be on par with international standards.

“In the context of Guyana, there is need for change. There must be change, if we are going to be relevant, if we are going to be in line with what the international standards are, it is necessary that we have our curriculum review,” Hutson said.

It was explained that the development of an effective curriculum is a multi-step, ongoing cycle that ranges from evaluating the existing programme to designing and improving the programmes.

The CEO urged the education officials that as they take on this important project, they consider the children who operate at various levels within the education system, adding that the existing gaps should be closed in the process to ensure children reach their potential.

“Our children, if they are going to be relevant to our society and if they are going to impact change, they have to have the capacity to do so, and you know what, we are the persons who are expected Senior education officials during the opening ceremony of the consultative workshop on Development of to impact change in the Framework for Curriculum Revision, which falls under the Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project lives of our children (Adrian Narine photo)

Gun, drugs found in Albouystown raid ALERT ranks from the police ‘A’ Division on Wednesday carried out a search on a group of men in Albouystown and netted a quantity of marijuana and one illegal firearm.

Commander of the division, Leslie James, told the

EXCITING TIMES Today, though challenging, it is an exciting time for the country, said Dr. Harewood.

“Guyana is going to change significantly and we as educators must move with that change, and as far as possible, ahead of that change and prepare students… who are now in nursery school to live in a Guyana where that change is happening every day,” he posited.

Ahead of the opening of the workshop, Dr. Harewood said the team made observations of Guyana’s education sector and made several observations.

“We saw examples of good things happening. We saw documented evidence of good things in the system in Guyana.

We’re not here to tell you we have all the answers… we are here to embrace and to acknowledge, and to incorporate all the good things that are being done,” he told the education officials.

However, Dr. Harewood noted that there is room for improvement.

“Of course, we also saw areas where we felt, okay maybe with a little tweaking and maybe a lot of tweaking, and support, and materials, and facilities, and professional development, things could be better. So we want to share ideas with you, and to hear ideas from you,” he added.

According to him, the process of revising the curriculum creates a great opportunity for educators to be a part of the change.

The consultative workshop will conclude on Friday when it is expected that a preliminary curriculum will be developed, and a pedagogical approach established for curriculum enhancement in Guyana.

Guyana Chronicle that the ranks were on their regular patrol activities when they observed the men acting in a suspicious manner. The ranks decided to carry out a search on them and it was there that they found that the men had in their posses-

sion the illegal substance and an illegal weapon. They were all promptly arrested and are being processed for court.

Up to late Wednesday, the police were still trying to ascertain if the weapon which was found on the

men was at any point used in the commission of any other offence. The police in ‘A’ Division have ramped up their stop-and-search exercises in accordance with their posture of ensuring that illegal weapons, drugs and persons with criminal

intent are removed from the streets.

They have also been receiving the support of the public in this regard, as many of the operations in which the police are able to gain successes come from the intelligence they gather as a result of information shared with them by members of the public. It was also commu-

nicated to this publication recently by the police commissioner acting that the improved 911 system and the vehicular assets given to the force last year by the People’s Republic of China have been assisting the police tremendously in its crime-fighting capabilities and have also boosted their response time and effectiveness.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

‘Persons must be trained to map their villages’ – APA’s Michael McGarrell AMERINDIAN People’s Association (APA) Geographic System Information (GIS) Specialist and Forest Policy Officer, Michael McGarrell, said if villagers are trained to map their villages many of the challenges encountered in the demarcation process under the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) Project, would be erased.

With funds from the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) under the government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, the Amerindian Land Titling Project was launched in October 2013 to fast track the Amerindian Land Titling process in Guyana within a three-year time frame, but come October, 2018, another extension will be sought.

Within the three-year time frame, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, now known as the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, was expected to issue land titles and complete the demarcation process for all Amerindian villages that submitted requests, including those that requested extensions; strengthen existing mechanisms to deal with unresolved land issues; and improve the communication and outreach efforts. However, the ministry was unable to meet the October 2015 deadline.

It was in 2015, prior to the May 11 General and Regional Elections, that an Amerindian Village was last issued a land title, and though the title which was issued to Karisparu was done under the Amerindian Land Titling Project, today there exist major demarcation issues between Karisparu and its neighbor, Chenapau.

McGarrell, in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, explained that though the Amerindian Land Titling Project is expected to be executed in accordance with the principles of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), when Karisparu was demarcated, the department spearheading the project did so without consulting the neighbouring village.

“There is so [much] red tape in terms of dealing with the land issues…The issue of Chenapau and Karisparu for example…Karisparu was demarcated, but there was no consultation with Chenapau,” McGarrell pointed out. Now, according to him, half of

Chenapau’s population lives in Karisparu-titled land.

“So this has caused a lot of problems with communities as well, because now I am living on your titled land but I am from Chenapau,” he further posited.

McGarrell said to prevent similar occurrences in the future, the Amerindian Land Titling Department should follow the guidelines closely, and in doing do consult with villages before proceeding with the demarcation of lands.

He is also of the belief that villagers should be trained to aid in the process, contending that errors made by surveyors from the city, have resulted in further disputes.

“One of the issues and problems with the Land Titling Project is that it requires certified land surveyors to do the surveying, but the issue with that is that many times surveyors from Georgetown when they go, they don’t want to walk through that swamp, they don’t want to walk over that mountain, it is too much. So what do we do, okay let’s mark a spot here and then we are going to mark another spot, then we draw a straight line, cutting out peoples’ land,” McGarrell opined.

He emphasised that if villagers are trained to map their villages, then the project would be executed at a faster rate and with more precision.

Chairman of the National Toshaos Council, Joel Fredericks, in commenting on the Amerindian Land Titling Project said millions of dollars are being utilised, but little progress is being seen under the project.

Only 26 percent of the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) Project has been achieved to date, with US$2.5M or 25 percent of the US$10.7M budgeted for the project expended.

“We are not pleased,” Fredericks told this newspaper, while questioning the use of the financial resources when little progress is being seen. On visits to villages, Fredericks said the NTC is oftentimes questioned about the process of demarcation.

Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock, has assured the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources that by October 2018, four villages will be

completely demarcated.

Minister Allicock had explained to reporters that the issue of political division was among challenges hindering smooth execution of the project.

“There was political divide in our communities which I have never seen.

It was never something I

would have expected across the country, but it was very, very divided, and that was a big hindrance to us moving forward,” Minister Allicock had explained.

He noted that some villages were and in some cases uneasy, due to the manner in which they were treated in the past.

“We had to say to them that this is your community, you need to understand that we need to have village improvement plans which will allow you to understand your entire boundary, your entire resources and it would be better for your planning,” the Indigenous Affairs Minister

said. He noted that it is important to get the buy-in from villagers, based on the fact that the majority of the adult population in Amerindian villages across the country have requested that the project be done based on the principles of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

‘We have a second chance to get it right’ – Minister Trotman THE countdown to Guyana’s ‘first-oil’ production set for March 2020 is well under way, ExxonMobil reaffirmed on Tuesday and the government has between now and then to get things right regarding its preparedness.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, related these sentiments at the commemoration reception of the Liza Phase 1 development campaign hosted at the Cara Lodge on Tuesday.

It was attended by Ministers of Government, ExxonMobil heads, members of the international community and representatives of the private sector.

There, ExxonMobil Development Company Vice-President Lisa Waters told the gathering that following a successful first year of the company’s development project, the Liza Destiny FPSO is on schedule to deliver first- oil offshore.

“The Noble Bob Douglas drillship recently started drilling the Liza development

wells. We just visited it yesterday, it’s a great operation and they’re making great progress and we’re on track for first-oil in March of 2020,” she said.

Walters said the company’s exploration programme has been “extremely successful,” noting the estimated total of more than $3.2 B recoverable oil- equivalent barrels from just a portion of the Stabroek Block.

She reiterated the company’s dedication to working with the government and citizens for the best possible outcome in the country.

“We’re committed to working together for the long term and we continue to look forward to working together with the people and Government of Guyana, creating new opportunities, unlocking revenue and improving standards of living,” she said.

‘A second chance’ Meanwhile, Minister Trotman announced that as Guyana approaches its destiny for potential greatness, each stakeholder involved must remain focused on creating a

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman at the commemoration reception of the Liza Phase 1 development campaign on Tuesday (Delano Williams photo)

better life for all Guyanese.

“Today, I believe, we have a second chance, a jubilee opportunity to get it right.

Guyana has waited 50-plus years to remove the negative labels such as ‘third world’, ‘backward’, ‘underdeveloped’ and ‘developing’.

“With the blessings that

have been revealed and are now within our grasp, we propose to develop a modern, peaceful and cohesive state.

One in which every man, woman and child, without exception, without reservation and without any form of discrimination is able to enjoy the full and equal benefits of

the bounty we are about to be bestowed,” he said.

At the same time, Trotman said that the government respects the rights of persons who disagree with their strategies, but asserted that ExxonMobil must be permitted the same rights and obligations as any other company.

“ExxonMobil, a company that has been in Guyana since 1999, has the same or very similar contractual terms as was Anadarko, CGX, Repsol, Ratio, Eco Atlantic and Mid Atlantic, to name a few.

“In that regard, they will enjoy the same rights and obligations as every other company that has been contracted by the government to explore and develop our hydrocarbons,” he said.

Brief remarks came too from Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, who lauded the partnership between the government and ExxonMobil, one which he said is aimed at becoming a long-term relationship.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil’s Country Manager, Rod Henson, said that the celebration marks a significant milestone in the company’s partnership with Guyana, which

has resulted in the growth of local business capacity and investments into the economy.

Some of the accomplishments he noted were the creation of some 585 new jobs for Guyanese; 52 per cent of the projects’ workforce represented by Guyanese and over G$2.8B spent on local suppliers in the first quarter of 2018.

He also highlighted the 227 Guyanese-owned companies benefiting from the company’s operations and the establishment of the Centre for Local Business Development ,where local firms can strengthen their competitiveness.

“It truly is my sincere honour and privilege to work here in Guyana on this project, I’m very proud to be part of the team and be part of this venture that I know will bring so many benefits to the country,” Henson said.

A year ago in June 2017, ExxonMobil was issued a production licence by the Ministry of Natural Resources to begin the Liza Phase 1 development project, while the company had announced its first oil find in Guyana in 2015.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

Bandits arrested after robbery

45-year-old Jerrold Gouveia

Suspect

Suspect

THREE men were Wednesday morning captured by the police with loot after they robbed a supermarket located on the Grove, East Bank Demerara, Public Road.

The men gained entry to the business premises via the back entrance of the property and through a window where they removed the grill work sometime around 04:00hrs on Wednesday. According to reports, the Chinese nationals who operate the supermarket were asleep at the time, but their security guard who was stationed outside of the building, heard movements and voices inside the store and telephoned the police who responded promptly.

However, before the police arrived at the location, the men had by then tied up the security guard and took away

his mobile phone. Reports are that the guard could not have made contact with the operators of the supermarket who were in the upper flat of the building, as he had no communication contact with them. Added to that, there is also a language barrier between himself and his employer.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Commander of ‘A’ Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Leslie James DSM, indicated that his ranks received the call about the robbery sometime around 04:30hrs. He said that the entire ordeal was caught on the CCTV surveillance setup inside of the store and that is expected to be used to prosecute the suspects. Those arrested are: 27-year-old Ryan Banister of Sea Dam, Herstelling; 33-year-old Roy Smith of Sea

Dam, Herstelling and 45-year -old Jerrold Gouveia of Covent Garden also on the East Bank of Demerara. The police are of the view that Gouveia was the mastermind behind the crime.

Among other things, the police recovered a handgun, a small amount of cash which was taken from the store and a quantity of phone cards and some documents, which belong to owners of the establishment. Banister told the police that a .38 revolver which was found in their possession belongs to him.

The serial number for the weapon was also intact. All three of the men are said to be unemployed, according to what the police have been able to gather. The police are processing the men for court.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

Work is for adults AS the Ministry of Social Protection strives to stamp out child labour in Guyana, Minister within the Ministry, Keith Scott, has stressed that children need to be in school instead of working to provide for their families.

Scores of children, members of the Guyana Police Force and staffers from the ministry marched on Wednesday morning from the Ministry of Social Protection’s office on Cornhill Street, Georgetown to D’Urban Park.

The march was held in observance of World Day Against Child Labour which was commemorated on June 12.

“When you’re young, that’s the time to play. Therefore, you must know that anybody who seeks to deprive you of that is guilty of not only taking away your innocence, but making you a victim of underdevelopment,” Minister Scott told the children assembled at D’Urban Park.

He said engaging in child labour denies them the chance to develop their skills and can result in them becoming physically stunted or mentally disabled.

“Work is for adults,” he stressed

thusiastic” and would not necessarily be cognisant of the perils associated with certain types of work.

While the ministry is currently engaged in measures to develop a national policy against child labour, Scott sought to relate the role youths have to play in ensuring that they do not become trapped in the cycle of child labour.

– says Minister Scott in observance of World Day Against Child Labour

To this end, he encouraged the youths to develop their skills and suggested they joined clubs. By joining clubs, youths are poised to become “beacons” for Guyana to the rest of the world.

“There’s nothing that you want to be that you can’t be,” Scott said, adding: “You have gotta be given that opportunity not only to play but

to get an education.”

“When I was at school, I learned one thing, stay in school as long as possible because, once you begin to work, you have to work for the rest of your lives.

You the youths are the future.

I am only here to temporarily remind you that you have the greatest potential,” he said.

Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott, reminding the youths that they are the future (Samuel Maughn photo)

even as he noted that many young people are forced to work because of poverty.

“Poverty is one of the reasons why child labour will flourish.

Eighty-eight per cent of children engaged in child labour are there because of poverty [and] 13 per cent are because of parents pressuring them to work,” he said.

While child labour denies children their right to education, it may also place them in harm’s way.

According to the minister, children are more susceptible to work-related accidents since they are more “en-

Scores of persons marched against child labour from the Ministry of Social Protection’s office on Cornhill Street to D’Urban Park (Samuel Maughn photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

Need for expert evidence Serious crimes drop significantly to assist court in GBTI/SOCU in Berbice – Commander Lyndon Alves trial – Chief Magistrate

By Jeune Bailey Van Keric

CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday commenced, and completed a voir dire (a trial within a trial) to determine whether forensic financial analyst Sherronie James could be deemed an expert to give evidence in the trial against eight directors of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI).

Those on trial are: GBTI directors, Edward A Beharry, Suresh Beharry, Kathryn Eytle-McLean, Richard Isava, Carlton James and Basil Mahadeo; its chairman Robin Stoby and acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaleeza Shaw.

They are jointly charged with failing to comply with a production order issued by acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire. The accused being placed before the courts resulted from an on-going Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) investigation into the US$500M

fraud at the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

The chief magistrate during her ruling to commence the voir dire noted that there was a need for expert evidence to assist the court in the matter.

Magistrate McLennan noted that the voir dire was to ascertain whether Sherronie James could be deemed an expert to give her evidence on key aspects of the case.

James wasted no time and submitted five certificates in areas such as money laundering and forensic financial analysis. She was then cross-examined by defence counsel Nigel Hughes, Steven Fraser and Edward Luckhoo.

The matter was adjourned until June 19 for defence counsel and SOCU prosecutor Patrice Henry to give submissions to the court.

The eight directors are

jointly charged with failing to comply with a production order issued by the acting chief justice and served by a marshal of the High Court, ordering them to produce certain named documents within seven days to SOCU head, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sydney James.

It is alleged that they contravened the order without reasonable cause.

SOCU, as part of its probe into the fraud case, had moved to the court to obtain an order instructing GBTI to produce all the required documents to aid in the investigation.

Under tough anti-money laundering laws, once court orders are granted, financial institutions are reportedly bound to provide information. In this case, the monies are not from private accounts, but rather from the U.S. dollar and other accounts of GRDB, a state entity.

SERIOUS crimes in Berbice have dropped 41 per cent but incidents of statutory rape have increased by 35 per cent during the periods January 1 to May 31, Divisional Commander Assistant Commissioner Lyndon Alves has reported.

Among the categories of crimes which recorded reductions when compared to the corresponding period in 2017 were murder (50 per cent), robbery under arms, in which instruments other that firearms were used (67 per cent), robbery (50 per cent), robbery with violence (44 per cent), larceny from the person (50 per cent), break and enter and larceny (64 per cent) and burglary (14 per cent).

Robbery under arms in which firearms were used increased by 23 per cent, and during the period examined, a five-year-old nursery school pupil and an 85-year-old bedridden widow were raped in the Ancient County.

Commander Alves attributed the decrease in the crime rate to effective, intelligence-led operations which were a result of information

being shared by the public, as well as roadblocks and regular stop-and-search exercises being carried out at specific locations.

Aside from these, there were 16 fatalities from 15 accidents, Commander Alves noted and expressed concerns over this rising trend that is eroding Guyana’s human capital.

Serious accidents recorded a 20 per cent increase, damage accidents a 35 per cent increase and minor accidents an 11 per cent reduction.

During the period under review, six pedestrians and four pedal cyclists were killed on the Berbice roadways.

“What is worrying, is that pedal cyclists [sic] which is a poor man’s mode of transportation, have not been complying with the relevant regulations. It is observed that 90 per cent of the cyclist [sic] is not fitted with lights, nor reflectors. Also, the riders prefer dark-coloured clothing at night,” the commander observed.

Alves is appealing to the public to desist from riding their bicycles without the requisite fittings, including brakes and light-coloured clothing.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has been engaged to reactivate non-functioning lights in a bid to reduce traffic incidents in the Berbice division.

Another worrying trend in the division is the increase of speeding and driving under the influence in which 4068 and 224 cases were recorded respectively.

“This is worrying. It tells us that both young men and women are driving under the influence. A special operation targeting persons during specific times of the night will be held as we recognise that persons leaving their place of employment will stop to consume a beer or two or a quantity, then they leave those locations to find their way home after 10 pm. And, there are persons riding motorcycles without the required safety helmets,” he observed Other major issues faced by the Traffic Department are derelict vehicles parked along the Corentyne Highway, even though discussions were made between the owners and the police to have those vehicles removed, along with unregistered grain carts.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

Woman who fell from car died from blunt trauma to head – autopsy THE post-mortem report on the death of 19-year-old front desk employee at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Sasia Adams, has revealed that her cause of death was blunt trauma to the head, consistent with a fall.

This is according to Divisional Commander Leslie James, who spoke with the Chronicle at his office on

Wednesday. Additionally, a release from the Guyana Police Force also confirmed this bit and attributed the report’s findings to an examination done by the government pathologist.

On Sunday, the young lady was rushed to a private city hospital by her boyfriend. There he claimed that she had jumped out of a

moving car he was driving, while the young lady who was still conscious when she arrived, told health workers that she fell at home. The police found the developments to be strange as both were giving conflicting reports and the young man who is said to be 21 years old was taken into custody, where he remained until late

last evening.

Reports are that the police were looking to secure an extension of his detention period, as his 72 hours holding time was expected to expire last evening.

According to information reaching the Guyana Chronicle, the two might have had a fight in the car and it was during that misunderstanding that something strange happened.

While some are suggesting that the young lady attempted to jump from a moving car, there are those

who are suggesting that she might have been pushed.

The police were up to yesterday putting arrangements in place to return to the location on Lamaha Street where the incident took place. The Chronicle was also informed prior that already efforts were being made to review CCTV footage from the surrounding areas.

A medical practitioner who first interacted with the young lady on the night she was taken to the hospital is also expected to provide the police

with a statement, as it was that health worker the young lady told that she fell and hit her head while at home. It is unclear if the police visited the home of the young lady to verify that story, but we were informed that checks would be made inside the car the young man was driving at the time, to ascertain if there were any signs of a struggle. The circumstances surrounding this death slightly mirrors that of Monica Reece and of recent, Kescia Branch.

Father and son charged with Stabroek Market murder DAYS after 22-yearold Richmond Noel was stabbed and killed near the Stabroek Market, a father and son were on Wednesday charged at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court with his murder.

Timothy McKenzie, 21 and his father, 55-year-old James McKenzie, both minibus operators and of Kitty, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for the capital offence.

Particulars of the charge are that on June 4 at Stabroek Market they murdered Noel.

Both men were represented by attorney-at-law Stanley Moore.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield disclosed to the court that the police file was still incomplete. The matter is adjourned until June 29 and the men were remanded to prison.

According to police re-

James McKenzie

Timothy McKenzie

ports, Noel and Timothy are known to each other.

However they had a misunderstanding after Timothy reportedly assaulted Noel’s sister.

On the day in question around 13:30 hrs in the vicinity of Cornhill Street, Stabroek, the two men had a heated confrontation in which Timothy armed with a knife approached the victim and reportedly dealt him a

single stab to the left side of his chest.

Timothy, it is claimed, was given the knife to confront Noel.

The victim collapsed to the ground and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in an unconscious state where he was examined by a doctor. Noel died while undergoing treatment for the wound.

Young man goes berserk in chief magistrate’s court A 21-year-old Diamond, East Bank Demerara resident went berserk Wednesday morning at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, assaulting several police officers after hearing that he was being remanded to prison on an attempt murder charge.

Akeem Lammy appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the charge which read that on June 10 at Norton Street, Georgetown, he wounded Johnny Ramadeen with intent to commit murder.

Lammy had indicated to

the court that he was frustrated because he was living on the streets and wanted to commit suicide.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that on the day in question, there was an argument between the two men, when Lammy armed himself with a piece of wood and dealt the victim several lashes about his head.

Mansfield told the court that Ramadeen was hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital with a fractured skull.

The magistrate after hearing the court facts remanded the unrepresented man to prison until June 25.

As an officer approached Lammy to place the handcuffs on his hands while in the prisoner’s dock, the man managed to assault the officer causing him to receive injuries.

“Yall kill me cause is long now I struggling,” Lammy shouted to the police as he dealt him several kicks and cuffs about his body.

At that point Lammy’s sister found herself in the prisoner’s dock, preventing the officers from controlling the situation. Other officers came to their colleagues’ aid, escorted the woman outside and managed to control the prisoner.

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World Cup facts and stats

by Rawle Toney

THE 21st edition of football’s biggest tournament is finally here and the excitement is beginning to spread across Guyana as the 32 finalists prepare to take Russia by storm in the prestigious competition where they will attempt to write their names into the history books.

Let’s take a look at the history of the World Cup as well as some of the record holders, compliments of Banks DIH.

WHAT IS THE WORLD CUP?

The FIFA World Cup is an international football tournament featuring the senior national teams from around the globe. It was first launched in 1930 and takes place every four years.

Teams under FIFA’s umbrella are eligible to compete and they must qualify for the final stage of the tournament, with qualification rounds divided according to their confederation’s affiliation.

Apart from 1942 and 1946, when it was disrupted by the Second World War, the World Cup has run continuously since its inception.

HOW MANY TEAMS COMPETE IN THE WORLD CUP?

The current format of the World Cup sees 32 finalists take part in the competition but that was not always the case and, indeed, will not always be.

Just 13 teams competed in the first World Cup and that number expanded to 16 from 1934 to 1978 (with some exceptions).

In 1982, the World Cup expanded to include eight more teams, bringing the total number of participants to 24.

The format we are familiar with today - 32 teams - was first introduced in the 1998 World Cup in France.

That is set to change, however, with FIFA confirming that the 2026 World Cup will feature 48 finalists - a remarkable increase of 16 teams.

WHO WON THE FIRST WORLD CUP?

The first World Cup in 1930 was hosted and won by Uruguay. It was markedly different to the tournament that we know today in that it was an invitational and it featured just 13 teams, seven of which came from South America.

Four teams from Europe participated, with Mexico and the United States completing the line-up.

The final, which was held at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario, was an all-South American affair as hosts Uruguay took on Argentina.

Uruguay won the inaugural World Cup thanks to a 4-2 victory in front of over 68 000 fans.

WHO HAVE WON THE MOST WORLD CUPS?

Only eight countries have won the World Cup since its founding in 1930 and Brazil are the most successful, having been crowned champions on five occasions.

The nation that spawned talents such as Pele, Ronaldo and Romario won the World Cup for the first time in 1958 before also coming out on top in 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.

Italy and current holders Germany have each won the World Cup four times (though Germany won it three times as West Germany), Argentina and Uruguay have both won it twice.

England, France and Spain have all won the World Cup on one occasion.

WHO IS THE WORLD CUP’S ALL-TIME TOP GOALSCORER?

The all-time top scorer in the history of the World Cup is Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals for Germany over the course of four tournaments.

Former Brazil star Ronaldo follows with 15 goals in three tournaments, while Gerd Muller scored 14 in just two tournaments.

Comparatively, Germany and Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller has played in just two World Cups, but he has registered 10 goals, making him the only active player with such a tally.

WHO HAS THE MOST WORLD CUP APPEARANCES?

Germany midfielder Lothar Matthaus holds the record for most World Cup appearances having played in 25 games over a remarkable five tournaments (spanning 20 years).

Matthaus is closely followed by his compatriot Miroslav Klose, with Italy legend Paolo Maldini rounding out the top three.

Diego Maradona played in four World Cups and made 21 appearances, while Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning captain Cafu and Germany’s 2014 leader Philipp Lahm each played 20 times.

WORLD CUP TROPHY

The winners of the World Cup are awarded the unmistakable gold FIFA World Cup trophy. Introduced at the 1974 World Cup, it was designed by Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga and is made of 18-karat gold with a malachite base.

The trophy is 36.8 centimetres tall (14.5 inches) and it weighs 6.175 kilograms (13.61 pounds).

WHAT IS THE JULES RIMET TROPHY?

‘King’ Pele

As mentioned, the current World Cup trophy was first introduced in 1974 and a different prize was awarded to the tournament victors prior to that.

From 1930 to 1970, the trophy given to the World Cup winners was the Jules Rimet Cup and it was quite different to Gazzaniga’s subsequent design.

French sculptor Abel Lafleur was commissioned by FIFA to design the trophy and he produced a famous product that became the emblem of the early World Cups.

The trophy, which was named ‘Victory’, featured the Greek goddess for victory, Nike, holding an octagonal cup above her head.

It was made out of gold-plated sterling silver and featured a marble base (which was replaced by lapis lazuli in 1954).

‘Victory’ was renamed the Jules Rimet Cup in 1946 in honour of former FIFA president Jules Rimet, who played a key role in the establishment of the tournament.

In keeping with original World Cup rules, Brazil were allowed to keep the trophy when they won the tournament for the third time in 1970. However, it was stolen in 1983 and has never been found.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday June 14, 2018

‘Warlock’ murder trial…

Mother testifies seeing son in gutter SEVERAL witnesses, including the mother of the deceased, testified in the Demerara High Court before Justice Sandil Kissoon as the murder trial into an incident that happened back in 2015 in ‘Warlock,’ East Ruimveldt, opened on Wednesday.

On trial is Delon Henry, called “Nasty Man,” who is indicted for the September 29, 2015 alleged murder of Dexter Griffith at ‘Warlock’ in East Ruimveldt. The accused pleaded not guilty and is being represented by defence attorney Adrian Thompson, while the state is being led by Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt.

In presenting the state’s case, Cave told the court that on the day in question the accused shot and murdered the deceased Griffith at ‘Warlock.’ It was then the first witness, Lavern Griffith, the mother of the deceased took the stand as she recalled how her loved one met his demise.

The witness said in 2015 her son was residing at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, but on weekdays he would visit her home at Lot 465 East Ruimveldt, where he took his daughter to school and would go to work as a mason. In her evidence-in-chief, she related that it was about 15:30hrs when she was sitting by her gate watching the deceased playing football at the ‘Back Circle’ which was close by.

Griffith stated after the game had ended, the deceased went to her house for a bath

The accused Delon Henry at the Demerara High Court on Wednesday.

and as he was about to come out, someone called him out and he left the house and went to the nearby ‘Warlock’ area.

Shortly after, the witness added that she went to get her son, because his daughter was crying and while in a conversation with him a man called “Gun Butt” came up to them on a motorcycle and asked for ‘Delon’ and he rode off. Griffith pointed out that she left Dexter sitting and was walking towards her home, when just by her gate she heard what sounded like gunshots.

The woman said she saw a lot of people running but did not see her son and she enquired about him from his children’s mother, when she screamed out saying “Is Dexter.” At this point in her testimony, Griffith began to cry as she related how she went to the scene and saw her son lying in a gutter by a fence after which he was taken to Georgetown Public Hospital.

The witness added that she was present at the GPHC mortuary on October 2, 2015, where she identified the body of her son after which a post-mortem was performed.

She was later at his burial at Le Repentir Cemetery on October 7, 2015.

Corporal Rawle Bacchus then took the stand and testified that in September 2015, he was attached to the CID at East La Penitence Police Station and relative to a report of an alleged murder committed on Dexter Griffith, he conducted a probe. He told the court that he witnessed the post-mortem (PM) done by Dr. Nehaul Singh and was also at the burial.

Brother of the deceased, Trayon Griffith, also testified that he was present when his sibling’s body was identified for the PM and was present at his interment. The state is expected to call 13 witnesses and the case will continue today (Thursday) at 09:00hrs.

Row over nightclub glass led to death THE mother of Collis DeAbreu who was shot and killed outside the Blue Iguana nightclub in 2003, testified on Wednesday when the preliminary inquiry (PI) into her son’s murder continued.

Mark Lowchee, called Marc Lee is on remand for the September 21, 2003 murder of DeAbreu at Fifth and Light Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown. Lowchee is partly handicapped due to a stroke to his left side and he uses a cane for assistance.

The PI is being presided over by City Magistrate Leron Daly with evidence being led by Police Prosecutor Richard Harris. On

Mark Lowchee called Marc Lee

Wednesday, Joan De Abreu took to the witness stand and gave evidence. The matter has been adjourned until July 14.

According to reports, on the day in question there was a misunderstanding between the accused and the owner of the night club over a glass belonging to the Blue Iguana.

It is further alleged that the accused pulled out a gun and discharged several rounds in the vicinity of the nightclub, hitting De Abreu to the chest and injuring other patrons.

DeAbreu was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital and was pronounced dead upon arrival.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday June 14, 2018

Still many empty stalls at East Ruimveldt Market

ALTHOUGH the East Ruimveldt Market remains operational, Constituency Councillor Trichria Richards has observed that many are hesitant about going into the market because of the deplorable conditions existing there.

Describing it as the only drive-through market in the Caribbean, Richards told the Guyana Chronicle that funds have already been set aside for various repairs and that the tendering process is what is now holding up the project.

The market will be repaired with funds from a government subvention to the tune of $24M, and the

roads inside are expected to be done in partnership with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

According to Richards, the market needs to be re-fenced and gates have to be installed, so that the facility can be closed at a particular time each day.

Further, the constabulary and revenue offices, which are in a deplorable state at the moment, also have to be repaired, along with the sanitary block.

The market houses more than 50 vendors but many of the stalls are empty at the moment because drivers especially hesitate to use the roads inside.

Councillors earlier this year voted that the $24M subvention from the Ministry of Communities be used for rehabilitation of the market, which is in addition to the $200M allocated in the national budget for the City Council.

Councillors voted 13 in favour of the proposal to use the funds on the marketplace, while seven voted against, and one councillor abstained from the vote.

The East Ruimveldt Market, located on Vlissengen Road and East Ruimveldt Front Road, was built by the City Council in 1978.

The market housed

approximately 200 vending stalls, three public restrooms, and a City Constabulary office and was said to have been attracting 2,000 customers daily.

In 2016, repairs to the market’s main entrance commenced, which allowed for easier access to vehicular traffic.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had paid a visit late last year to the constituency to look at drainage issues affecting the area.

There, Councillor Richards requested financial help for upgrading the market and the ministry subsequently wrote the City Council asking that some of the subvention money be allocated to works there.

Councillor Trichria Richards

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Decomposed body of ex-convict found

THE badly decomposed body of an ex-convict was discovered in an abandoned house at Savannah Park Housing Scheme, just before midday on Wednesday .

Leroy Hopkinson, who was last seen alive on Saturday, was discovered face downwards in the unfurnished living room of a oneflat building where he had moved into some months ago.

A neighbour, Dominique Calderia, had reported a stench which was emanating from the building, but had

initially thought it was a dead four-footed animal.

But, on awakening on Wednesday morning the stench became unbearable resulting in checks, the discovery and a subsequent report to the Central Police Station where ranks responded promptly .

But, because of the state of decomposition, the body is currently lying in a box at the Stanleytown Cemetery where a post-mortem will be conducted shortly.

Meanwhile, according to the police, the now deceased Hopkinson was a

specialist in break and enter and larceny offences.

H e w a s a l s o charged and convicted with robbery committed on M. Ali Supermarket in New Amsterdam in 2015 and in 2014, while employed as a municipal garbage collector robbed Barbara Ramdeo, another town council employee of $37,000 which represented a weekly ‘box hand’ that was earlier collected from several persons..

Four arrested for shooting at GRA officers

Ravindra Ramdeo

Stephon Motielal

Trevor Motielal

THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), with the assistance of the Guyana Police Force, apprehended four persons in connection with the shooting of GRA’s Law Enforcement and Investigation (LEID) Officers at Beehive, East Coast Demerara.

Those arrested are Ravin-

dra Ramdeo of Lot 217 Section D Non Pariel, ECD, Stephon Motielal and Trevor Motielal of Lot 30 Green Field, Bee Hive, ECD and Andrew Motielal of Lot 11 – 12 Helena, Mahaica.

On Thursday, June 7, 2018, three LEID officers were the target of gunfire during an

anti-smuggling operation in Beehive, East Cost Demerara.

Two of the officers sustained injuries and were subsequently treated at a private hospital.

The perpetrators are expected to appear in court shortly to answer to a number of charges.

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Pomeroon drowning: six-year-old died from asphyxiation THE autopsy conducted on the remains of sixyear-old Ramesh Khan revealed that he died as a result of Asphyxiation due to drowning. The autopsy was conducted on Wednesday afternoon by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh at the Suddie Mortuary. It was witnessed by Khan’s uncle, Suresh Narine.

The body was found Tuesday night in the vicinity of Abrams Creek, Upper Pomeroon, Region Two. Divers, who had earlier

launched a search for him, were successful in finding the body. It was retrieved around the Abrams Creek, Upper Pomeroon, a short distance from where he had reportedly drowned.

Police, along with divers and relatives, escorted the body to the Oscar Joseph Hospital in Charity where doctors pronounced him dead. His body is presently at the Suddie Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Ramesh Khan, a grade one student of Abrams

Creek, fell into a creek near his school --Abrams Creek Primary--in the Upper Pomeroon, Region Two, on June 12. He was reportedly last seen playing with his friend around 11:40hrs.

According to the friend, she and the boy were playing when he told her that his feet had mud and he was going to wash them at the edge of the creek.

The friend related that shortly after she turned around to look for him, only to see his two hands up in the air in the creek.

He then went under the water. The pupil said she began to scream aloud and the teachers responded but could not locate the child.

Parents of the child, Revve-

ka and Doodnauth Khan of Abrams Creek, were too distraught to speak when this newspaper contacted them. They said that they were at home when

they received a call from a teacher, stating that their son is feared drowned. The deceased is survived by his parents and his 2-year-old sister.

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World Cup 2018 football Showpiece set to begin in Russia THE 2018 FIFA World Cup gets under way today when hosts Russia face Saudi Arabia, following an opening ceremony at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

Football’s showpiece event features 32 teams, including holders Germany, competing in 64 games over 32 days.

The 21st edition will be played out in 12 stadiums, across 11 cities, spread over 1 800 miles.

England, winners in 1966, are the only team from the home nations to qualify and start against Tunisia on June 18.

Germany, who defeated Argentina in the 2014 final, are looking to become the first team to win backto-back World Cups since 1962, while Brazil seek a record-extending sixth world title.

The month-long tournament is expected to attract one and a half million fans to Russia and an estimated global television audience of over three billion viewers.

There are eight groups, each containing four teams, with the top two advancing to the last 16. The final takes place at the 81 000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium on July 15 (16:00hrs BST).

WHO WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP? World Cup holders Germany, five-time winners Brazil, Euro 2016 winners Portugal, 2014 runners-up Argentina,

Belgium, Poland and 1998 winners France are among the eight seeded teams.

Hosts Russia are also seeded, even though they are the tournament’s lowest-placed team - 70th - in FIFA’s world rankings.

England, who have won only one of their past eight World Cup matches, are unseeded, as are 2010 champions Spain.

Germany have reached at least the semi-finals in each of the past four editions of the competition and, after being the only team to progress through European qualifying with a 100% record, are expected to be in the shake-up again. They are in Group F with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea.

“Germany will be hunted like never before,” said head coach Joachim Low. “Only we, as world champions, have anything to lose.”

HOW CAN YOU PREDICT WHO IS GOING TO WIN THE WORLD CUP? Brazil are the only nation to have appeared at every single World Cup but they have not won the tournament since 2002, while you have to go back to 1958 to the last time they won it on European soil.

Yet the Brazilians will fancy their chances, particularly as Neymar, who cost a world record £200M when he moved from Barcelona to Paris St-Germain in August 2017, has returned to action

after a broken foot.

WHO ARE THE NEW BOYS? Panama and Iceland will be competing at their first World Cup, which is held every four years.

With a population of approximately 335 000 people, Iceland are the smallest nation ever to qualify.

They will hope to repeat their exploits of two years ago, when they lit up Euro 2016 by reaching the quarter-finals in their first appearance at a major tournament, humiliating England en route.

Iceland’s first game in Russia is against 2014 runners-up Argentina on June 16.

A national holiday was declared in Panama after they qualified for the World Cup for the first time.

The Central American country - 55th in FIFA’S world rankings - boasts an experienced coach in Hernan Dario Gomez, who was in charge of his native Colombia at the 1998 World Cup and Ecuador at the 2002 edition.

There are several teams back on the world stage after lengthy absences.

Peru return to the finals for the first time since 1982, while north African nations Egypt and Morocco are back for the first time in 28 and 20 years respectively.

WILL AN AFRICAN TEAM REACH SEMI-FINALS FOR FIRST TIME?

However, there are some

notable absentees.

Four-time winners Italy, South American champions Chile and African champions Cameroon all failed to qualify.

The Netherlands, runners-up in 2010, also missed out while the United States are absent for the first time since 1986.

REFEREES TO GET VAR HELP

Video assistant referees (VAR) will be making a debut at the World Cup. The technology will be used to help officials avoid making potentially match-deciding mistakes when it comes to such important issues as awarding goals, penalties or red cards.

VAR has been trialled in some domestic English cup games this season, and has been used in Germany and Italy.

“We wanted to give the referees tools so they can make better decisions, and in the World Cup some very important decisions are made,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“It’s not possible that in 2018 everyone in their living room knows a few seconds after the play whether a referee has made a mistake and the referee doesn’t.”

VAR was first used at the Club World Cup in December 2016, and trialled in the 2017 Confederations Cup. (BBC Sport)

Guyana is on the right side of history - GFF president

By Rawle Toney

WAYNE Forde, president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), told Chronicle Sport that “Guyana is on the right side of history,” after

the Joint Bid, presented by the USA, Mexico and Canada, found favour with the FIFA Congress over Morocco, for the rights to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The ‘Joint Bid’ secured 67% (134) of the votes required, while Morocco picked up a total of 65 votes when the FIFA Congress, for the first time, cast their votes via ‘open ballots’.

According to Forde, he was pleased to play his part in the bid being won by the members of his affiliated confederation, since he addressed the 33rd CONCACAF Ordinary Congress in Moscow and made a pitch for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) in particular, to rally behind the USA, Mexico and Canada bid.

“On June 11, 2018, I was given an opportunity to address the CONCACAF Congress and make a commanding case for the United Bid, I am very proud of playing a small but significant role in this histor-

ical decision,” Forde said. at the Congress, which focused on inclusive growth through competitions expansion and core development efforts.

While it will be the first time Canada will be hosting a Men’s World Cup, the USA will see the most-watched and lucrative sporting event make a return after hosting it in 1994, and Mexico will be hosting the sporting spectacle for the third time (1970, 1986).

“It’s just good manners, if you’re at home, you look after home,” Forde had told this publication prior to his departure to Russia, when asked about his support for the Joint Bid. “If we’re (joint bid) successful in bringing it into our confederation then it’s going to be the most profitable World Cup in the history of FIFA World Cups.

“It’s projected to garner somewhere around $11.5B to $12.5B in profit, so why would we not want to do that.

Of course we would want

to see some of that revenue invested particularly in infrastructure in Guyana; so of course I’ll be supporting the joint bid of North America,” Forde firmly stated.

The 2026 World Cup will be the first time FIFA’s flagship tournament will be hosted by three countries. However, the majority of games are proposed to be played in the USA, where only 20 matches will be shared equally between Mexico and Canada and the other 80 being played in the USA, including the finals at the 84,953-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey; home of NFL franchises New York Giants and the New York Jets.

Yesterday’s congress marked the first time FIFA had given their members a chance to decide on the hosting rights for the World Cup. It was reported that the USA funded US$6M of the US$8M cost for the bid for the FIFA World Cup which is projected to make approximately US$11B in profit.

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U.S. promises to be very different World Cup host from 1994

By Simon Evans MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) - The World Cup will return to the United States, 32 years after the groundbreaking first tournament in the country, and organisers are promising a very different experience for fans travelling to the country.

The United States, together with Mexico and Canada, won the right to host the 2026 tournament in a FIFA vote yesterday in Moscow, beating African rivals Morocco.

While Mexico has a lengthy football history with a long-established domestic league and has hosted the World Cup twice before - in 1970 and 1986 - the United States is still viewed as an emerging soccer nation.

The 1994 World Cup in the U.S. set surviving records for attendance figures thanks to the large, mostly NFL, stadiums that were used, but those who travelled to the tournament noted that the local populations were often not fully informed about the sport.

That will not be the case in eight years’ time.

Two years after the 1994 tournament, Major League Soccer was launched and the competition has subsequently grown to 23 teams, with clubs in all regions of the country and Canada.

The U.S national team failed to qualify for Russia 2018, which begins today, but that was a major surprise for a country that had appeared in every tournament since 1990, reaching the quarter-finals in 2002.

Perhaps most crucially, Americans are no longer isolated from the world game and thousands of them watch Europe’s Champions League and England’s Premier League, developing knowledge of the sport and its greatest talents.

American Sunil Gulati, a FIFA vice-president and until recently the president of the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), was involved in the 1994 tournament and says visitors in 2026 will find a much more informed public.

“I don’t think there is

any doubt that the American public is far more soccer literate whether that is because of the World Cup (in 1994) or the presence of MLS or the presence of international soccer on

Paulinho is one of the few survivors from Brazil’s humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany.

put the past to one side,” he said.

Brazil start their tournament against Switzerland on Sunday in Rostov-on-Don (19:00 BST) before playing their second Group E game five days later in Saint Petersburg against Costa Rica (13:00).

They round off the group campaign in Moscow against Serbia on 27 June (19:00).

Memories of the 7-1 defeat to Germany, when they conceded five goals in the opening half an hour, haunt

part is great,” he added.

The current USSF president Carlos Cordeiro believes the 2026 World Cup will be a “lightning rod” for soccer in the United States.

“It will become sort of

An aerial view of MetLife Stadium during the national anthem with a 100-yard American Flag before the start of the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the New York Jets, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. September 11, 2016 (Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo)

Brazil have learned from their 2014 humiliation says Paulinho

BRAZIL have learned lessons from their humiliating World Cup exit four years ago and are in better shape for Russia, says midfielder Paulinho.

The five-time world champions suffered an embarrassing 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany in front of their own fans in Belo Horizonte in 2014.

Barcelona player Paulinho, 29, is one of the few survivors from that game to have made the squad for Russia.

“What we have done is

television and the changes in technology and social media that facilitate all of that,” he told Reuters.

“People are far more literate, far more knowledgeable and far more engaged. That

Brazil fans.

Luiz Felipe Scolari, who oversaw that humiliating defeat, has gone - with Tite leading Brazil in Russia.

“We have greater confidence,” said former Tottenham player Paulinho.

“From the way things are going for the Brazil team at the moment, it is clear that confidence is better.

“Brazil are better prepared in a number of ways.

That is just part of football.

In four years you learn a lot of things.”

transformational for the sport as kids who are now 8-, 10-, 12-year-olds can all dream of potentially playing for a national team,” he said.

Former NBA executive Philippe Moggio, now the general secretary of CONCACAF, the regional soccer confederation that includes the U.S, Mexico and Canada as well as Central American and Caribbean nations, believes yesterday’s decision will lead to a massive boost for the game in the U.S. “I think the ‘94 World Cup demonstrated what a World Cup can do for soccer in the United States. I think in the next eight years you are going to see tremendous growth in terms not only of talent but from a fan-perspective,” he said.

“The passion you are going to see for that World Cup, you combine it with the passion that historically has existed in Mexico; the way Canada is growing, you are going to see a very different environment, a very different experience for visiting fans,” he said

Spain sack manager Julen Lopetegui two days before first match SPAIN have sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui after he was named the new Real Madrid boss, two days before their opening World Cup match with Portugal.

Real Madrid announced on Tuesday that Lopetegui would succeed Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu on a three-year deal.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said it had dismissed the 51-year-old because the negotiation occurred “without any information to the RFEF”.

Spain sporting director Fernando Hierro will take charge for the World Cup. The former Real Madrid and Bolton Wanderers defender is in his second spell as sporting director, having returned to the role in November 2017, six years after leaving the position.

The tournament starts today in Russia.

RFEF president Luis Rubiales, who was told of Lopetegui’s new role with Real five minutes before it was announced, said he had found himself in “a very difficult situation”.

Julen Lopetegui was named Spain boss in 2016 and was unbeaten during his time in charge.

“I know there’s going to be criticism whatever I do,” he added.

“I’m sure this will, in time, make us stronger. I admire Julen very much, I respect him very much. He seems a top trainer and that makes it harder to make the decision.

“You can’t do things this way, two or three days before the World Cup. We have been compelled to make this decision.”

Lopetegui became Spain manager in 2016 following Vicente del Bosque’s retirement, and remained unbeaten through his reign.

Spain won 14 of 20 games with Lopetegui in

charge, drawing the remaining six.

According to reports in Spain, Rubiales was incensed when he discovered Lopetegui had agreed a deal with Madrid.

He left a FIFA Congress meeting in Moscow early in order to return to Spain’s base in Krasnodar.

It has been claimed senior players - including captain Sergio Ramos - fought for Lopetegui to remain in charge for the duration of the World Cup. Spain begin their World Cup campaign against Portugal tomorrow in a match live on BBC One (19:00hrs BST kick-off). (BBC Sport)

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

England hold off Aussies spirited comeback to win first ODI LONDON, England (Reuters) - Australia made a stuttering start to coach Justin Langer’s tenure as they lost by three wickets to England in the opening match of the one-day series at The Oval yesterday.

Only Glenn Maxwell impressed as Australia batted first, scoring 62 as the touring side lost regular wickets and were bowled out for a mediocre 214 in the 47th over.

scandal that engulfed Australian cricket this year and cost Steve Smith the captaincy.

Coach Darren Lehmann stood down after the Test series in South Africa and Langer’s new-look Australian batting line-up made an inauspicious start.

Travis Head chased a wide out-swinger from Willey and edged to Jonny Bairstow for a routine slip catch and Aaron Finch struck a

keeper Jos Buttler having scored 22.

Maxwell, who struck a 52-ball half-century, shared an 84-run stand with Ashton Agar for the sixth wicket to raise Australian hopes of a challenging total.

But Maxwell top-edged Liam Plunkett to deep square leg where Bairstow took the simplest of catches and Agar was plumb lbw to Rashid before Plunkett and Wood

Kiwi teenager sets ODI batting world record

mopped up the tail.

Billy Stanlake bowled Jason Roy for a duck in England’s reply and when Bairstow was caught on the boundary England were 38 for three.

Morgan and Root put England in total control before the hosts stumbled over the line.

The second match of the five-game series is in Cardiff on Saturday.

SCOREBOARD

Eoin Morgan

England, humbled by Scotland on Sunday, made a meal of reaching the low target, however, and when top scorer Eoin Morgan (69), Jos Buttler and Joe Root (50) fell in the space of three overs the hosts were wobbling on 163 for six.

David Willey eased England home, finishing the match off with a booming six.

Sheets of sandpaper with “4” and “6” printed on them were handed out on the approaches to the Oval - a reminder of the ball-tampering

couple of boundaries before a rash drive at Moeen Ali sent an easy catch to backward point.

Shaun Marsh looked in good nick for his 24 before Moeen got one past his outside edge, the ball striking the top of off-stump to leave Australia on 52 for three.

Captain Tim Paine’s rash reverse sweep off Moeen went straight to Mark Wood at backward point for 12.

Australia tried to raise the tempo and Marcus Stoinis lofted a six off of Adil Rashid only to nudge one behind to

AUSTRALIA innings Aaron Finch c Mark Wood b Moeen Ali

19 Travis Head c Jonny Bairstow b David Willey

5 Shaun Marsh b Moeen Ali

24 Marcus Stoinis c Jos Buttler b Adil Rashid

22 Tim Paine c Mark Wood b Moeen Ali

12 Glenn Maxwell c Jonny Bairstow b Liam Plunkett 62 Ashton Agar lbw Adil Rashid

40 Michael Neser c Joe Root b Liam Plunkett

6 Andrew Tye c Jos Buttler b Liam Plunkett

19 Kane Richardson c Joe Root b Mark Wood

1 Billy Stanlake not out

0 Extras: (w-4)

4 Total: (all out, 47.0 overs)

214 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-47, 3-52, 4-70, 5-90, 6-174 l, 7-193, 8-197, 9-208.

Bowling: Mark Wood 8-1-32-1 (w-1), David Willey 8-0-41-1, Moeen Ali 10-1-43-3, Adil Rashid 10-0-36-2 (w-1), Liam Plunkett 8-0-42-3 (w-1).

ENGLAND innings Jason Roy b Billy Stanlake

0 Jonny Bairstow c Travis Head b Kane Richardson 28 Alex Hales lbw Michael Neser

5 Joe Root c Tim Paine b Billy Stanlake

50 Eoin Morgan c Tim Paine b Andrew Tye

69 Jos Buttler c Kane Richardson b Andrew Tye

9 Moeen Ali c (sub) b Michael Neser

17 David Willey not out

35 Liam Plunkett not out

3 Extras: (w-2)

2 Total: (seven wkts, 44.0 overs)

218 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-23, 3-38, 4-153, 5-163, 6-163, 7-197.

Bowling: Billy Stanlake 10-1-44-2, Michael Neser 8-1-46-2, Kane Richardson 9-1-49-1, Andrew Tye 10-1-42-2 (w-2), Ashton Agar 5-0-28-0, Glenn Maxwell 2-0-9-0.

Hemraj ready for English conditions

By Rajiv Bisnauth FOURTEEN West Indies-A team players will showcase their talents when they participate in a Tri-Nation series with India and hosts England Lions, as Cricket West Indies (CWI) continues to place great emphasis on the A-team programme.

The tour, according to CWI, aims at giving players international experience and to ensure that “players have the best possible preparation along the pathway to becoming an elite athlete.

Guyanese Keemo Paul and Chandrapaul Hemraj are a part of the squad, which departed the Caribbean last week.

For Hemraj, the 24-yearold accepts that touring England and the conditions there are always problematic for batsmen.

However, he told Chronicle Sport that he is definitely up for the challenge.

“It’s definitely would be challenging, I will try to adapt as quickly as possible, believe

in myself, back my talent and ability to perform,” he said.

Hemraj was also one of four debutants called to the Windies-A team earlier in the year, where the Caribbean side comprehensively beat the England Lions. Unfortunately for Hemraj he was ruled out following a hamstring injury after the first game of the threematch series in Antigua.

maiden West Indies-A call-up.

He was Guyana Jaguars leading run-scorer in the Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day tournament. His contribution was vital to Jaguars winning the title for the fourth year in succession.

Hemraj, who had left the game in 2014 after playing first-class cricket, on the back of his West Indies Under-19

Chandrapaul Hemraj during one of the West Indies A squad training session in England

That was a major setback for the left-hander, who has been enjoying a productive time with the bat prior to his

… backs himself to perform

performances, returned to score 623 runs from 10 regional games this season.

Among those 623 runs were

five 50s, the batsman getting out for 90 on one occasion.

Hemraj also had good returns in the Super50 Festival that followed, scoring 227 runs from nine games, with two fifties, the highest of which was 80.

Following those performances, Hemraj was one of those successful drafts for this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Hemraj has gone to the St Lucia Stars, the franchise dishing out US$5 000 for his services.

Meanwhile, the one-day series in England includes a double round robin with a final and will run from June 17 to July 2. Before that there will be two warm-up matches.

The 14-man squad reads: Jason Mohammed – captain, Sunil Ambris, Jermaine Blackwood, Rahkeem Cornwall, Dominic Drakes, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Chemar Holder, Andre McCarthy, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Raymon Reifer, Devon Thomas, Oshane Thomas and Jomel Warrican.

Amelia Kerr

NEW ZEALAND teenager Amelia Kerr set a new world batting record in women’s one-day cricket with her unbeaten 232 against Ireland in Dublin.

Kerr, 17, broke the record total during the third match of the series, a few days after the White Ferns scored 490-4 cricket’s highest-ever ODI total.

The Wellington player, whose average was 29, scored 31 fours and two sixes.

Kerr then took 5-17 with the ball as Ireland were bowled out for 135, chasing a huge 441 to win.

Australia’s Belinda Clark had held the record - 229* against Denmark in 1997, three years before Kerr was born.

Kerr’s 232* is the third highest score in ODI cricket history.

India men’s player Rohit Sharma is at the top of the pile with his 264 scored against Sri Lanka in 2014, with the unbeaten 237 made by New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, against West Indies in 2015, holding second spot.

HIGHEST SCORES IN WOMEN’S ODIS Amelia Kerr (New Zealand) 232* v Ireland, 13 June 2018 Belinda Clark (Australia) 229* v Denmark, 16 December 1997 Deepti Sharma (India) 188 v Ireland, 15 May 2017 Chamari Atapattu (Sri Lanka) 178* v Australia, 29 June 2017 Charlotte Edwards (England) 173* v Ireland, December 16, 1997. (BBC Sport)

Scotland suffer second T20 defeat by Pakistan SCOTLAND suffered a second T20 defeat by Pakistan in successive days, as they were bowled out for 82 chasing 167 for victory in Edinburgh.

Shoaib Malik’s unbeaten 49 off 22 balls propelled Pakistan to 166-6 in their 20 overs, Fakhar Zaman (33) and Ahmed Shehzad (24) also weighing in.

The Scots, who lost by 48 runs on Tuesday, succumbed swiftly as they lost wickets at regular intervals.

Only Calum MacLeod (25) and Richie Berrington (20) mustered resistance.

Usman Shinwari removed both Scottish openers, George Munsey (0) and captain Kyle Coetzer (1), cheaply, while the impressive Faheem Ashraf took 3-5 off 2.4 overs.

Dylan Budge, Safyaan Sharif and Mark Watt were all run-out as the visitors cleaned up with more than five overs to spare.

The two T20 defeats followed Scotland’s memorable first one-day win over England on Sunday.

Scotland head to the Netherlands today for a Tri-Series tournament which will see them play two games against the hosts and two more against Ireland. (BBC Sport)

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

USA, Mexico &, Canada to host 2026 World Cup

By Simon Evans, Mitch Phillips MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) - The United States, Mexico and Canada will jointly host the 2026 World Cup, overwhelmingly winning a vote by soccer’s world governing body yesterday, even though U.S. President Donald Trump has frayed relations with his neighbours and others during his 18 months in office.

Trump has called for a wall to be built on the U.S. southern border to be paid for by Mexico as part of a tougher immigration policy, just days ago personally criticising Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over a trade dispute.

U.S. Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro suggested to reporters on a conference call after yesterday’s vote at FIFA’s Congress in Moscow that bringing the three countries together was more of a challenge than any Trump effect in overcoming the challenge from the competing bid from Morocco.

“If you stop and appreciate for a second just the vast number of assurances, guarantees that we had to get from all three governments working together, that is a massive undertaking for one nation, let alone three nations,” Cordeiro said. “So if there were any complexity here it was three nations working together which just raised the difficulty of getting stuff done.”

The North Americans pledged their tournament would generate an $11 billion profit for FIFA - greater than any previous World Cup finals - a financial shot in the arm for world soccer’s governing body, which has been rocked by a corruption and bribery scandal ensnaring top officials.

Morocco, which has now failed in five bids to host the

World Cup, said its tournament would make $5 billion.

Trump praised the outcome on Twitter as the result of “a great deal of hard work”. Mexican President Enrique Pena

tries’ economies together and which Trump has said should be scrapped.

Although it will be the first World Cup to be hosted by three countries, most matches will be

president has regularly assailed world leaders, including allies like Germany’s Angela Merkel and France’s Emmanuel Macron for “ripping” America off over trade.

ations who attend Congress were given a vote.

The United States, Canada and Mexico were all expected to qualify automatically for the tournament, as has been the

FIFA president Gianni Infantino (R) poses with officials after the announcement that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, during the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow, Russia yesterday.

(REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin)

Nieto tweeted “We did it!” and Trudeau also took to Twitter to say: “Congratulations to everyone who worked hard on this bid – it’s going to be a great tournament!”

Under Trump, relations between the United States, Canada and Mexico have plumbed new lows thanks to disputes in the renegotiation of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, known as NAFTA, a $1.1 trillion trade pact that ties the three coun-

played in the United States. As part of the bid, Trump pledged that those travelling to the United States for the tournament would not be subjected to stringent visa restrictions.

Even if Trump were to be elected for a second four-year term in 2020 he would not be president when the World Cup kicks off in 2026.

Trump had earlier warned that countries voting against the North American bid would suffer consequences in trade deals. The

GCUSA ‘Continuous Education’ seminar set for June 24 THE Georgetown Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (GCUSA) will host a ‘Continuous Umpiring Education’ Seminar for all current and aspiring umpires on June 24.

The seminar will be held at the Local Government Union Hall (Woolford Avenue) and will be faciliRegional first-class umtated by Regional first-class pire Ryan Banwarie will be umpires Ryan Banwarie a facilitator at the seminar.

and Shannon Crawford. In addition, Guyana Jaguars skipper Leon Johnson and Regional match referee Reon King will be present to address the participants.

For more information and registration, interested persons are asked to contact Bro. Rutherford at 622-6969. Snacks will be provided and the seminar runs from 10:00hrs to 14:00hrs.

EXPANDED TOURNAMENT The North American bid collected 134 votes to the 65 for Morocco. One Congress member voted for “neither bid”.

Both bids were given a last chance to make their case with 15-minute presentations in front of the Congress at the Moscow Expocentre.

Under FIFA’s new system for choosing the host, all eligible national football feder-

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tradition for all World Cup host nations. The U.S. previously hosted the World Cup in 1994 and Mexico staged it in 1970 and 1986. Canada has never staged a men’s World Cup, but hosted the women’s tournament in 2015.

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Soccer’s Cordeiro told reporters.

“We believe this event will become a lightning rod ... transformational for the sport as kids who are now 8-, 10-, 12-yearolds can all dream of potentially playing for a national team,” Cordeiro said.

The 2026 finals will be the first expanded tournament featuring 48 teams, up from the current 32-team event which begins in Russia today.

Of the 80 games, 60 will be played in the United States with 10 each in Canada and Mexico. The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, home to the National Football League’s New York Giants and New York Jets.

Ten of the eventual 16 chosen venues for the tournament will be in the United States with Mexico and Canada having three venues each.

A U.S. bid lost out eight years ago in the vote for the 2022 World Cup. The last time FIFA voted on World Cup hosting rights was in 2010, the decision then rested with the former executive committee which chose Russia to host the 2018 finals and Qatar for 2022.

Several members of that committee were later banned from the sport after they were caught up in the corruption scandal that engulfed world football’s governing body in 2015.

The Moroccan bid had expected a closer result and some of their backers felt they had been let down by potential allies.

“Of course, it’s really sad because we were counting on our friends, the countries that are close to us, that are long-time friends. And today they betrayed us,” Moroccan Olympic champion runner Hicham El Guerrouj, who was active with the bid team, told Reuters.

The result is seen as a boost for FIFA president Gianni Infantino who, while he maintained neutrality during the campaign, was known to be keen to see the first expanded World Cup being held in North America.

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30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

CWI launches Women’s Patron Programme in Kingston WITH just over 150 days to the start of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Championship in the West Indies, Cricket West Indies officially launched its Women’s Patron Programme in Kingston yesterday.

The five women - Yaneek Page, Dahlia Harris, Sandra Glasgow, Pat Garel and Ann-Marie Vaz have “pledged their support” for the upcoming stand-alone event. Director of Sales, Jamaica Pegasus, Prudence Simpson, was a special guest.

Tournament Director, Jennifer Nero, offered the charge to the five women on their roles with regard to supporting the November 9-24 event to be held in Guyana, St Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda.

She has sought the support of the women to support the game of cricket by encouraging other young women to play, encourage fans to attend the matches and build on a programme that will become a legacy for women in Cricket and sport in the wider Caribbean.

Harris, a noted Jamaican playwright, said the meeting highlighted how the ICC Women’s World Cup could be a glorious opportunity for the region.

“For me the meeting

underscored the immense potential of the women’s version of the game not just for the West Indies but globally, and the fact that it will be coming to the West Indies is just a great opportunity for the region to showcase itself and for us as a region to also

am encouraging every single man, woman, boy, girl. We talk about glory days of West Indies cricket, the women are here with the glory and we are here to support them.”

Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dave Cameron, in his brief re-

Guyana stun T&T; Barbados, Jamaica win again

the six territories across the region. The hope is to have at least 30 women from all backgrounds and industries.

The full list should be ready by the end of summer with at least two months prior to the start of the Championship.

Guyana’s Shemaine Campbelle strikes an unbeaten 44 from 42 balls to hurt Trinidad and Tobago.

Dahlia Harris (front left) sees the ICC Women’s World T20 Championships as an opportunity to showcase the Caribbean.

celebrate all that our women have been doing and will continue to do,” Harris said.

“Our own Stafanie Taylor is a major part of our Windies Women’s success and the meeting was about our commitment to promote the event, to promote the women and to garner support, so I

marks, thanked the women for their support and “urged them to support the wider programme by continuing to support women in sport and build on what exists for sustainability.”

CWI will take the programme around the region and will engage women in

The women will attend a few of the matches in the Windies Women Championship now on and ends on June 24. Jamaica and Barbados have so far won two games, TT one and the other teams have not yet scored a point. (SportsMax)

National Men’s hockey team to lock horns with T&T this weekend

THE Guyana National Men’s hockey team will depart home shores tomorrow for the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago where they will face that country’s National team as they continue to step up their preparations for the fast approaching Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Barranquilla, Colombia from July 17 to August 3.

The players have been undergoing intense preparations for about four months and are in prime physical condition. They have been bolstered by the presence of International Hockey Federation (FIH) coach Shiv Jagday, who has been in Guyana over the last week working on a more psychological aspect of the game and fine-tuning their tactical nous.

Windies Women’s championship T20 Blast

Guyana’s squad boasts the likes of young defender Kareem McKenzie, midfielder Jamarj Assanah, veteran defender Dwain Scott

and the ever dangerous striker Robert France.

This weekend will see three matches played against the top-ranked T&T side

Robert France will be leading Guyana’s charge in Trinidad and Tobago over the weekend

who will present a great challenge for the Guyanese men. It will also provide coach Robert Fernandes with a sort of measuring stick to gauge the progress of his charges while it will afford the players with much-needed game time on the artificial turf.

The 20-member squad that travels to Trinidad is as follows: Jerazeno Bell, Jamarj Assanah, Aroydy Branford, Leon Bacchus, Hilton Chester, Rayon Branford, Marvin Dannett, Edmond Chinian, Jason DeSantos, Robert France, Randy Hope, Christopher LowKoon, Kareem McKenzie, Mark Sargeant, Meshach Sargeant, Melroy Scotland, Dwayne Scott, Andrew Stewart, Steven Xavier and David Williams.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Barbados and Jamaica notched their second straight victories but Guyana stunned title-holders Trinidad and Tobago, in the second round of the Windies Women’s Championship T20 Blast on Tuesday.

Playing at Sabina Park, Barbados easily chased down a paltry target of 83, to beat Leeward Islands by 10 wickets under lights while at Kensington Park, the hosts overhauled a target of 86 to defeat Windward Islands by eight wickets.

In the earlier game played at Sabina Park, however, Guyana rebounded from their opening defeat to Jamaica, to chase down 65 and upset T&T by seven wickets.

Sent in,, T&T could muster only 64 for eight from their 20 overs, with Shania Abdool finishing on 31 not out from 42 deliveries, as her side suffered a batting meltdown.

West Indies off-spinner Anisa Mohammed was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 10 not out.

Right-arm pacer Erva Giddings, who last represented West Indies two years ago, finished with three for six while seamer Akaze Thompson (2-7) and off-spinner Plaffiana Millington (214) picked up two wickets apiece.

In reply, Guyana were in trouble at 36 for three but recovered superbly to reach their target with more than five overs left in the innings, thanks mainly to West Indies player Shemaine Campbelle.

She struck an unbeaten 44 from 42 balls, counting four fours and a pair of sixes, and dominating a 34-run unbroken fourth-wicket stand with Katana Mentore (one not out).

In the second match of the double-header, Barbados restricted the Leewards to 82 for eight off their 20 overs with opener Terez Parker the highest scorer with 17, as sharp medium pacer Deandra Dottin wrecked the innings with three for eight.

Ace Windies opener Hayley Matthews led her side’s reply stroking seven fours in an unbeaten 42 off 26 deliveries while Danielle Small hit 30 not out from 28 balls with five fours.

Jamaica were similarly clinical in their execution, restricting the Windwards to 85 for six with veteran Juliana Nero top-scoring with 27 from 38 deliveries.

Chedean Nation used her medium pace to good effect to snare four for 20.

West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor then lashed an unbeaten 36 from 35 balls with three boundaries, to see her side safely home.

The third round bowls off today with Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago clashing at Chedwin Park, Jamaica meeting the Leewards at Kensington Park and the Windwards and Guyana doing battle in a night affair at Sabina Park.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday June 14, 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 TUESDAY’S QUIZ:

(1) (2)

WI won by 226 runs Shane Dowrich (WI)

TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) Where and when did SL play their inaugural Test?

(2) Where and when did the WI play their first ever Test?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, June 14, 2018

Second Test at Darren Sammy Cricket Ground

Confident Windies chasing first series win over Sri Lanka GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – West Indies are poised for their first series win over a higher-ranked nation in six years but will be wary of a wounded Sri Lanka, when they clash in the second Test at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground starting here today.

The Windies’ last series win over a major nation came when they swept New Zealand 2-0 in the Caribbean back in 2012. Since then, their only successes have come against minnows Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

However, following their emphatic 226-run victory in the opening Test in Port of Spain last weekend, the Windies are now well-placed to turn the screws on Sri Lanka, and captain Jason Holder said the opening win had given his side a massive boost of confidence.

“The mood is pretty good. All the guys are upbeat about the occasion.

We won a series last year against Zimbabwe, we won a few Test matches last year against numerous oppositions. This is another oppor-

tunity for us to win a series,” the all-rounder said on the eve of the Test.

“We have two matches to close the series out. I would like ideally to close it out in this game but I’ve told the guys not to focus on the result.

West Indies surprised many with their crushing win at Queen’s Park Oval, outplaying Sri Lanka throughout. They chalked up an imposing first innings total of 414 for eight declared, and used aggressive fast bowling and then

West Indies captain Jason Holder

“We need to focus on the process and focus on what we need to do to win the Test match, and that’s individuals accepting their roles and performing – just carrying out their particular roles.

He added: “And if we string together that as a collective unit then we’ll get the results we’re looking for.”

spin on Sunday’s final day to bundle out the tourists cheaply twice.

The victory handed West Indies precious momentum while putting immense pressure on Sri Lanka, who are yet to win a series in the Caribbean in three previous attempts.

Holder pointed out it was now important to keep the

Bolt: I’m an Argentina fan, we have a good chance

Mathews returning home for personal reasons and fast bowler Lahiru Gamage forced out of the series with a fractured finger.

West Indies, in contrast, have no such concerns and Holder said their preparation revolved around light work, especially with the workload involved in the opening Test. “(It was) not too intensive.

It (training session) was mainly just to top up. The guys just stipulated to the coaches exactly what they wanted to do leading up to this second Test match,” Holder said.

“Obviously we had a reasonable workload in the first Test match so it was basically trying to maintain the guys throughout the entire series.

“It is a quick turnaround between games and obviously we’ve got a quick turnaround between series

with Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in Group D – look for a first World Cup crown since 1986.

“For me, I’m an Argentina fan,” the eight-time Olympic champion said.

“I think we have a good chance if we play good, then we should have a good chance of making the finals and even winning.

“I’m looking forward to just watching the World Cup and seeing the great teams.”

Bolt expects to see plenty of goals in Russia, saying the

tournament promised to be one of the best ever.

“Brazil? I’ve seen Neymar’s back. He’s scored two goals since he’s been back,” the sprinting great said.

“He’s proving that he’s one of the best and this is why I’ve told people that this World Cup will be one of the best World Cups.

“It will be very competitive and I think there’s going to be a lot of goals this year so I’m just going to enjoy it, just like you guys.” (SportsMax)

against Bangladesh (next month). All that must be taken into account. We just try to top us and get what we need out of the practice sessions.”

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

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

Holder urges batsmen to convert starts G R O S I S L E T, S t L u cia (CMC) – Captain Jason Holder has warned his batsmen about their failure to convert starts into hundreds, as West Indies seek to improve their batting even further in the second Test against Sri Lanka.

It’s just a matter of converting a few more of these starts and making a big first-innings total.

Having said that, we did get to a reasonable first-innings total in excess of 400 runs, which is remarkable.

“It’s just about maintaining that throughout the se-

Kieran Powell

Lionel Messi

USAIN Bolt will be supporting Argentina at the World Cup and the Olympic great believes Lionel Messi can lead the nation to glory.

Argentina are considered among the contenders in Russia despite struggling through qualifying, although the likes of Brazil, Spain, Germany and France are more fancied to win the showpiece event.

Speaking Tuesday, Bolt said he would be supporting Messi and his teammates as Argentina – drawn

pressure on Sri Lanka with strong, consistent all-round cricket over the next few days.

“It is very good to start the series well. It’s been a downfall of ours in the past, not being able to start the series well and playing catch-up cricket,” Holder explained.

“But we’re out front here in this series and it’s just for us to try and keep our foot on the accelerator right now.

“The guys are pretty focused, I’m really pleased with the two days preparation that we’ve had and all things going well, we just need to be consistent in all three departments and once we do that, we should beat Sri Lanka again.”

Neither team had much time to regroup, with a quick turnaround time between the first two Tests. In the interim, the Sri Lankans have suffered two blows with Angelo

In the opening Test at Queen’s Park Oval last week, Shai Hope (44), Holder (40), Roston Chase (38) and Kieran Powell (38) all got in but it was only wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich with 125, at number six, who managed to carry on to three figures.

“That is something we spoke about after the first Test match,” Holder said here yesterday.

“Quite a few of our batsmen got starts but none really kicked on. We really don’t want that to be a trend starting inside the dressing room, so it is something we need to address now.

It was still good to see they can actually get starts.

ries. We always speak about putting up a good first-innings total and it’s good to see we got 400 runs in the first innings of the last Test match.”

West Indies amassed 414 for eight declared in their first innings, and then knocked over Sri Lanka cheaply for 185 and 226, to come away with a crushing 226-run victory, with nearly two sessions to spare.

And though both the pace and spin attacks proved incisive, Holder said there was room for improvement in the bowling department as well.

“In the first innings we had quite a few extras with many of them being five wides and four byes and

those kinds of things, so we just want to eliminate that,” the all-rounder pointed out.

“I always speak about building pressure. The best way to get wickets is by applying pressure from both ends.

It can’t be an individual effort where one bowler is building pressure and somebody is leaking it from the next end. It doesn’t really create a good atmosphere in what we’re looking to do as a bowling unit.

“Hopefully our bowlers can continue to work in tandem. I felt the spinners went really well in the last Test match as well, so if needs be, in these conditions, hopefully our spinners can come in and build pressure as well.”

West Indies entered the last Test with four seamers and a specialist spinner in leg-break bowler Devendra Bishoo, and with part-time off-spinner Roston Chase as support.

Holder believes the combination has given Windies a well-balanced attack going forward.

“We always speak about getting 20 wickets; and I think, that the bowling combination we have gives us variety,” Holder noted.

“We’ve got four seamers and two front-line spinners and obviously Kraigg (Brathwaite) who can bowl a few overs as well. So I guess we’ve got the variety there and it’s great to see that the guys can put their hands up on any given occasion and do the job for the team.”

World Cup 2018 football Showpiece set to begin in Russia See Page 26

The trophy every team will be playing for in Russia (Credit): World Cup trophy

CONCACAF hails successful World Cup bid as ‘monumental victory’ MOSCOW, Russia (CMC) – Continental governing body CONCACAF has labelled FIFA’s decision to award the region the 2026 World Cup, as a “monumental victory” for the confederation.

FIFA, football’s world governing body, announced yesterday that it had accepted the joint bid by United States, Canada and Mexico, to host the showpiece.

Members voted overwhelmingly 134-65 against Morocco’s bid, in a move that will see the World Cup return to the CONCACAF region for the first time since 1994.

CONCACAF governs football in North, Central America and the Caribbean, with the 31-member Caribbean Football Union a part of the bloc.

“We are very excited and humbled that the FIFA Member Associations have entrusted the CONCACAF region with the honour of hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup in its new extended format,” the confederation said in a statement.

“This is a monumental vic-

tory for the CONCACAF family, as the United Bid exemplified the strong collaboration, beyond politics and business that currently exists in our region.

“We would like to thank all the member associations who supported the United Bid, which can now test the effectiveness of a multi-nation hosting model for fulfilling the requirements of an expanded FIFA World Cup format, opening the doors for other nations in the future to come together to bid for this honour.”

The 2026 showpiece will feature an expanded format, bumped to 48 teams from 32, following a unanimous decision by FIFA last January. There will be 80 matches played instead of 64, with a preliminary group featuring 16 groups of three.

Two of the nations involved in the joint bid – the United States and Mexico – have both staged World Cups in the past. The US put on the 1994 event while Mexico hosted tournaments in 1970 and 1986.

Canada, meanwhile, who

Guyana is on the right side of history - GFF president

have made a lone appearance at the World Cup back in 1986, will host the tournament for the first time.

“We would also like to congratulate the member associations of Canada, Mexico and the United States, as well as the United Bid team, for winning the bid for the CONCACAF region,” CONCACAF said.

“Over the next eight years, CONCACAF and its member associations will continue to support our three host countries and FIFA as they prepare to host the world’s largest sporting competition, and welcome 48 teams alongside their millions of fans.

We will all also work together to leverage this opportunity as a platform to accelerate the development of football in our own region, with the potential to bring positive social impact through football, as well as breaking records of attendance and revenue that will contribute to the sustainability of our game.”

The 2022 World Cup will be staged in the Gulf state of Qatar.

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See Page 26

GFF president Wayne Forde

THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2018