Guyana Chronicle E-paper 07-19-2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

THURSDAY

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19th July, 2018

No.105340

TOSHAOS GET NEW LEADER …tells gov’t ‘let’s work together’ Page 03

Newly elected Chairman of the National Toshaos Council, Nicholas Fredericks, says the new executive is ready to work with the government (Samuel Maughn photo)

Life Over 600 workers sentences needed at Albion Estate for child Rice exports up rapist Page 08

‘I want him go to jail…’ victim tells court Page 07

by 43%

Page 18

…new markets open, earnings pegged at $23.2B

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

Legal flaws big bugbear to Amerindian land titling …GL&SC calls for solutions-based dialogue

By Ariana Gordon SEVERAL legal and procedural challenges and flaws are affecting the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) from effectively conducting its land titling exercises.

Manager of the Commission's secretariat Durwin Humphrey told Toshaos from across the country Wednesday that there are many issues surrounding lands here, while adding that the existing issues are not new but have existed for decades.

“One example of that is when a village is being titled what has been practiced is issuing an absolute grant and including a clause called the ‘save and except clause’.

This creates a legal problem and a legal loophole, so what we have been advocating for is for proper investigations to be conducted prior to demarcation,” he explained.

Humphrey’s comments followed a number of concerns raised by Toshaos at the 12th Annual National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. He made it clear that there are lots of legislation which are relevant to Amerindian Land titling and those legislation must be followed.

“We have to have serious solutions-based dialogue.

The Amerindian Act of 2006 and State Lands acts – they are competing, so there are

issues where the Acts come together. There needs to be some sort of legislative cohesion which allows for the smooth and timely processing of titles,” Humphrey added while agreeing that there needs to be “lasting solutions.”

He did not deny the challenges faced by the Indigenous communities across the country as it relates to demarcation and land titling and declared that “the Commission is interested in ensuring that Amerindian land titles take place with the type of urgency that is required.”

Speaking with reporters after his brief presentation, the Manager of the Commission's secretariat reiterated that there remains several procedural and legal issues as it relates to Amerindian land titling which have to be ironed out. He stressed the need for “proper investigations” to be carried out prior to demarcation exercises.

This has been a constant complaint by the indigenous peoples. “The system is an imperfect one. We have an amalgamation of the Amerindian Act of 2006 and we have a reference made to the State Lands Act under which title is granted and together with that we have references to Acts like the Survey Special Provisions Act which creates some issues as it relates to demarcation of lands prior to the issuance of a title,” He explained.

Humphrey accepted that an investigation has to be launched in several commu-

nities including Santa Rosa, located in Region 1, as it relates to demarcation issues and the exclusion of communities. Such issues were raised by Sharon Atkinson, of the said village. “What we have been seeing more and more of is these issues where there were not proper investigations conducted, not through the fault of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, but basically because of an imperfection in the system that has been put in place,” the Manager stated while making it clear the issues affecting Santa Rosa Village also affect other communities.

He suggested that in order to fix what he described as an “imperfect system” there may need to be a revision of the law. Humphrey disclosed that legislative review is being looked at by his Commission. He said the review is not particularly targeting the Amerindian Act but laws related to land and land governance.

Additionally, Humphrey told reporters that another solution could be a Lands Commission of Inquiry. “I think that still is something that is on the table and I am not going to speak too much on that but I think we are starting where we can start, with a review of the legislation and we can put forward recommendations as to how things can improve,” he told Guyana Chronicle.

While there has been little improvement in some areas, much work is yet

to be done and according to GL&SC’s Manager, his office will be working with

the slothfulness of the entity in addressing issues facing his community. Henry ex-

Toshaos participating in a discourse on land demarcation and titling Wednesday (Samuel Maughn photo)

a few villages this year to resolve some outstanding matters.

“Conflict has plagued this entire situation for quite some time and we are not willing to support or countenance something like that,” he stated.

When asked whether his entity has the requisite human resources to adequately address the issues raised by the Toshaos, Humphrey said, “The issue is not the ‘people power’ as you are aware, land titling is an expensive activity and we are always ready and available to conduct land titling. We have a few villages which we will be addressing this year and so the issue is not our capacity.” He made it clear that the issue is more a legal and procedural one rather than one of lack of capacity.

SLOTHFULNESS Meanwhile, after the GL&SC presentation which lasted approximately 20 minutes, Toshao of Orealla, David Henry, questioned

plained that Orealla has had boundary issues since 2015 and from then to now, the village’s logging operations has been affected.

“GFC has a map different from what exists. Our boundary was established some 30 years ago—concrete polls are there- the GFC map is not reflecting what is on the ground. There is an overlapping situation,” the Toshao stated while calling for a “speedy solution to this”.

“I can’t see why any commission in Guyana must be so slow. Our communities are stagnated because of this sort of situations.

These conferences must not be just for the sake of having a conference, we want our issues to be resolved and very quickly,” the frustrated Toshao stated.

Similarly, Sharon Atkinson of Santa Rosa Village, remarked that the legislation governing Amerindian lands is 150 years old. She noted that the recent demarcations conducted across Region 1, particularly in

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the Moruca Sub-Region, has left many dissatisfied and excluded. “We have reports from various villages with overlaps, farmlands, camp sites, homes; in some cases people have become technically squatters…there needs to be an investigation. There is very flawed feedback on investigation; the majority of villages are feeling very insecure about their land tenure situation,” Atkinson declared.

She told the GL&SC that people are fed up of the situation. “We have been waiting and we are tired of waiting on, I think we have reached the extreme patient limit to have these issues resolved,” the frustrated woman said as she called for consultations among stakeholders.

Touch base with us Nicholas Frederick, Toshao of Shulinab village, Region 9 and newly elected Chairman of the NTC cautioned the GL&SC against entering villages in the South Rupununi to conduct surveys without informing the relevant village councils.

“We would like to recommend that you please touch base with the village councils informing them of the activities you are going to do and the locations. Just a matter of protocol--we need to strengthen our communication system,” said Fredericks.

Russian Dorrick, Toshao of Yupakari, Region 9, called on the Commission to process applications for land extensions speedily. “It takes a lot of time and yet there are more land leases given to major developments when we have already requested for this land,” he said while recommending that the NTC and GL&SC work closely with the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, the GGMC and the Guyana Forestry Commission.

Former Vice-Chairman of the NTC, Lenox Shuman, opined that the Commission has made a “disingenuous effort” to address land issues affecting the indigenous population. “My recommendation is that the incoming executive is given an opportunity and enough funding to engage GL&SC in seeking the way forward.” In response, Humphrey made it clear that the GL&SC has a “highly consultative” process in place which involves villages and neighbouring villages. “There are prior meetings that take place and the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs meet on this, minutes of the meeting are kept and agreements are signed. I am not sure where the issues are arising, but where they arise we have undertaken to address them,” Humphrey committed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

‘Let’s work together’ – new NTC chair tells government –Allicock pledges support, strengthened relationship

Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock as he addressed the gathering (Samuel Maughn photos)

By Alva Solomon NEWLY-elected chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Nicholas Fredericks says the new executive of the indigenous body is ready to work with the government over the next few years on various areas of development. And Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock reciprocated, saying that government will continue to work along with the indigenous body as both sides recognise the work of each other in furthering the development of the nation’s first people over the past three years.

The officials shared their views on Wednesday afternoon at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal following the elections of the new executive of the NTC. Fredericks was

surer /Secretary). Toshao of Baramita, Sharmain Rambajue; Toshao Colin Adrian of Moraikobai , Toshao Beverly Clenkian of St Cuthbert’s Mission; Toshao Carl Peneux of Orealla;Toshao Mario Hastings of Kako; Toshao Rickey Boyle of Kimbia; Toshao Elizabeth Romascindo of Bumbury Hill and Toshao Edward McGarrel of Chenpau are among the other members of the council.

Frederick told the gathering that “we have a lot of work ahead of us.” He said that the work of the new executive will be challenging and he noted that there will be occasions when members will not be able to see “eye to eye” as he urged them to be united in their decision-making. He called on the village representatives to hold the district councillors accountable and to ensure their work benefits the community.

Newly elected leader of the NTC, Nicolas Fredericks receives a head-dress from outgoing head, Joel Fredericks during the ceremonial handing over of the leadership of the body.

elected chairman unopposed as the 20-member executive appeared to have settled on his sole nomination when the elections commenced. The vice-chair position was eventually won by Paul Pierre, the former Regional Chairman of Region One (Barima/Waini) who served under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government in that portfolio.

Other members of the body are Russian Dorrick (Secretary), Marbel Thomas (Treasurer) and Loretta Feidtkou (Assistant Trea-

He said that the NTC has undertaken “a lot of work “in the hinterland including in Region One (Barima/Waini) , Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) , Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) and Region Nine (Upper Essequibo/Upper Takutu) over the years. He said mapping and land issues are topical issues which the body has had to deal with over the years.

“We have to realise that the leadership or being a Toshao is a very broad-base responsibility,” Fredericks

said. He said favouritism and having no fear or favour are also key attributes which the village leaders must maintain, even as he urged them to be humble in power and firm in deliberations.

Fredericks called on Minister Allicock and Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe to ensure both sides resolve whatever differences exist in a friendly and professional manner. He said over the past three years the NTC has had much “space” within which to operate, as he noted its ability to voice concern on issues affecting indigenous people. “Let us make

Paul Pierre, new vice-chair of the NTC.

preciation to the former executive and he expressed hope that those members continue to work for the rights of the nation’s indigenous people. He called on newly elected members to work in a transparent manner and to the benefit of the villagers.”Take on

NTC chair, Nicholas Fredericks interacts with indigenous leader “Rainforest” during the ceremonial handing over of the leadership of the NTC on Wednesday afternoon.

this NTC one that will move all the activities that have started under the previous NTC,” Fredericks urged, as the gathering applauded.

Minister Allicock told the gathering that government has been working with the NTC over the past three years. He said indeed there have been “hurdles” over the years but he noted that it was nothing which could not be dealt with by both sides. He said the ministry is prepared to give support to the new NTC as he congratulated the new members of the body.

Allicock expressed ap-

the responsibility and work for the people that you will represent,” he said. Allicock noted that they have been endowed with great responsibility by fellow leaders, noting that they have been entrusted with the mandate to further the rights of indigenous people. The annual NTC conference has seen government officials and the heads of state agencies interact with indigenous leaders on issues including land and demarcation matters, and the environment, among others. The conference will conclude on Friday.

Region One indigenous leaders applaud during the NTC elections on Wednesday afternoon.

Woman faced with six fraud charges at Gold Board A WOMAN on Wednesday appeared before a city magistrate after being slapped with six fraud charges.

The charges alleged that between February 1and April 30, 2017, at the Guyana Gold Board, Lot 168 Brickdam, Georgetown, while being employed as clerk or servant, Rosanna Ramnarine wilfully and with intent to defraud, falsified a document in possession of the board, that being payment invoice # 80782, purporting to show that Edward Hopkinson received a payment of $336,207 on March 21, 2017.

It was also alleged that between April 30 and June 20, 2017, at the Guyana Gold Board, Ramnarine falsified a document in possession of the Guyana Gold Board--a payment invoice #881475--purporting to show that Bryan Chase received a payment of $288,582 on May 30, 2017.

The court also heard that between April 30 and June 30, 2017, Ramnarine stole $288,583, utilising the power of the Board.

She is also accused of taking $336,207, using a

power of attorney.

The court heard too that between February 1 and April 30, 2017, with intent to defraud the Board, she conspired with person or persons unknown to forge Board payment invoice #80782, dated March 21, 2018.

And finally, it is alleged that between April 30, 2017 and June 30, 2017, with intent to defraud the Board, she conspired with a person or persons unknown to forge Board payment voucher #81475, dated May 30, 2017.

The 35-year-old woman, who resides at 46 Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, denied the charges read out to her in court by Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

Attorney Jed Vasconcellos who represented the woman applied for a reasonable sum of bail.

The police prosecutor had no objection to bail being granted but asked that conditions be attached.

Bail was granted in the sum of $50,000 on each charge.

The matter was adjourned for July 23, 2018.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 19, 2018

Charges against ‘airplane trio’ withdrawn CHARGES against Hutashan Ramsingh called “Shawn”, Wazim King and Nathan Hamilton were on Wednesday withdrawn by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack.

In a statement to the media, attorney Jerome Khan said the charges were withdrawn after he had argued that the charges were defective and a nullity, and were therefore incapable of being cured by amendment or otherwise.

Ramsingh, King and Hamilton were charged with the offence of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony under Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.

The trio was accused of conspiracy to facilitate the landing of an aircraft at an unauthorised port of entry located at Mandacaro Island, Savannah, Region Nine.

According to the charge, between August 10 and August 13, 2017, the men conspired with unknown persons to facilitate landing of the aircraft.

Meanwhile, after the charges were withdrawn by the DPP, new summary charges against the accused were filed under the Civil Aviation Act, Cap 53:01, and the men have been accused of unlawful establishment of an aerodrome at Mandacaro Islands, Region Nine.

The matter was heard at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court, Region Nine and Khan argued on a point of law that the Statement of Offence did not disclose any Statutory Offence of Conspiracy to commit a felony as alleged.

Citing authorities, the attorney also argued that it is not a felony to facilitate the illegal landing of an aircraft, whether at an authorised or

unauthorised port of entry.

As such, he contended that there can be no offence of Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.

He posited too that neither the provisions of the Civil Aviation Act nor the Immigration Act create any felony, as any offences under those acts are statutory offences which are neither felonies nor misdemeanors.

Moreover, Khan stated that the court had no jurisdiction to proceed to hear “an invalid charge, since the court derives its jurisdiction from the validity of the charge”. The trio subsequently pleaded guilty to unlawfully establishing an aerodrome and were fined $50,000 each.

In December 2017, the Guyana Chronicle had reported that after almost four months on the run, Ramsingh, the alleged mastermind behind the abandonment of

a Beach King Air aircraft near Santa Fe, Rupununi in August 2017 was remanded to prison.

Ramsingh had appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that between August 10 and August 13, 2017 at Mandacaro Island Savannah near Santa Fe, Lethem, he conspired with persons known and unknown to facilitate the illegal landing of an aircraft on an unauthorised port of entry.

The accused, after being arrested and released on $50,000 bail had fled the country out of fear for his life, his attorney had said.

The two other men, King and Hamilton, appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on September 15. They were charged with aiding and facilitating the illegal landing of an aircraft suspected to be involved in the trafficking of narcotics and firearm at an illegal port of entry.

A twin-engine aircraft bearing registration PR-IMG was discovered by the security forces mid-August, 2017 while police ranks were in the Santa Fe area, Rupununi, conducting a search when they stumbled upon over a dozen 10-gallon jars hidden in the bushes.

The party of policemen observed that a long strip of land had been cleared to make what looked like an

airstrip. As the ranks were leaving, they saw an aircraft circling the cleared area.

When they returned, they observed three men running from the plane after it had landed. The men managed to escape, but the aircraft was secured.

The lawmen upon searching the aircraft found a quantity of dry ration, medical supplies, gents clothing and footwear, two hand-held radios, flashlights, cellular phones and an identification card, among other items.

The discovery was made a week after soldiers had found another illegal airstrip, a chain saw, aviation fuel, 12 abandoned camps and several dug-out trenches in the same area.

White House struggles to contain political outcry over Trump-Putin summit The White House struggled on Wednesday to contain a political outcry and confusion over U.S. President Donald Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, denying Trump ever meant to say that Moscow was no longer targeting the United States.

Trump, facing uproar over his failure to confront Putin over Russia’s 2016 U.S. election meddling, adopted his usual defiant posture two days after their Helsinki summit and called his critics deranged. Asked by a journalist before a morning Cabinet meeting whether Russia was still targeting the United States, Trump looked at the reporter, shook his head and said, “No.” At a later briefing, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the president was saying “no” to answering questions, not to the question itself. U.S. intelligence officials have said Russia’s efforts to undermine elections are continuing and now target the Nov. 6 congressional races.

Sanders said Trump believes the threat from Russia to undermine those elections still exists.

Asked later in an inter-

US President, Donald Trump

view with CBS News whether he held Putin personally responsible for meddling in the 2016 election, Trump said he did. “Well, I would, because he’s in charge of the country. Just like I consider myself to be responsible for things that happen in this country,” he said.

The U.S. president said that in his talks with Putin, he was “very strong on the fact that we can’t have meddling, we can’t have any of that.” But Trump also appeared to question whether such statements would have an impact on Russia. “We’re also living in a grown-up world,” he said.

Sanders explanation of Trump’s “No” was the sec-

ond time since Monday’s summit that Trump and the White House have blamed a misstatement or misunderstanding for the furor over Russia. On Tuesday, Trump said he misspoke at a Helsinki news conference with Putin and that he accepted intelligence agency conclusions about Russian election meddling, although he hedged by deviating from his prepared notes to say “it could be other people also.

There’s a lot of people out there.”

Trump stunned the world on Monday by shying away from criticizing the Russian leader for Moscow’s actions to undermine the election, sparking bipartisan fury at home and prompting calls by some U.S. lawmakers for tougher sanctions and other actions to punish Russia.

Critics have accused Trump of siding with Russia over his own country by failing to criticize Moscow for what U.S. intelligence agencies last year described as Russia’s election interference in an attempt to sow discord, aid Trump’s candidacy and disparage Trump’s Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Putin has denied the allegations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

‘PSC again stalling meeting on container fees’ - Mayor Chase-Green

GEORGETOWN Mayor Patricia Chase-Green said she wants closure to the container fees issue that is to be ironed out by a tripartite committee, but that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) appears to be stalling the process again.

She told the media on Wednesday at her office that just recently after a meeting was held, all of the parties were in favour of another meeting that was fixed for July 11, 2018.

“Everyone present agreed July 11th was an appropriate time, only to be told by text message that the PSC could not make it because somebody had somewhere to go and what not. And that we would be informed as to when,” Chase-Green disclosed.

She added: “I find that very disturbing because

we need to bring this container fee issue to a close. I understand they [PSC] had elections, new presidents and all of that, but the work goes on and again we are stalled, waiting on a time.”

The PSC continues to be opposed to an increase in container fees, and a meeting held recently after many months to bring closure to the issue has failed to move the process forward in favour of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

The (M&CC) wants the fees to be increased from $5000 per container to at least $8,000 for a 20-foot container, and $10,000 for those that are either 40 or 45 feet in length.

The City Council has been complaining that the containers continue to severely damage city roads, leaving the municipality to

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green

foot the bill to have them repaired.

The $5000 per container was agreed to be paid in the interim before a decision could be taken by the tripartite committee, but approximately two years have gone by without any movement.

“The private sector has no intention of meeting with us, in my opinion,” ChaseGreen had said, adding that the commission keeps requesting meetings on dates they know are days on which statutory meetings are held.

“The private sector is not interested in meeting with this council or moving it forward in any way; two years now and the issue cannot be resolved. We’ve only been writing and writing and writing,” she said, adding: “Why is it that this council has to bend to the private sector each time? We started discussions on the issue, and suddenly it went off the road. But we must not hold much longer, because we’re continuing to see the deterioration of our roads.”

Big business owners are also continuing to take advantage of the City Council, Chase-Green observed, and thus closure ought to be

brought to the matter.

The mayor had also touched on the issue of huge, fuel-laden ‘bush trucks’ being parked in front of people’s premises. According to her, the City Council should no longer allow these trucks to pass Agricola and enter Georgetown because of the amount of damage they are causing to city streets.

Councillor Malcolm Ferreira had said: “People have to understand that a penalty is a penalty; it’s nothing you can just pick up US $12 or US $50 and pay off. They [businesses] could put it (their containers) on the road for 10 days and pull out $25,000 out their pocket easy, because they have $50M worth in the container.”

City Hall had decided to implement a $25,000 container fee, but this had attracted much flak from members of the business community and the PSC.

Heavy winds destroy Berbice homes while my daughter was upstairs. I was watching what was happening and see and hear the big crash and my daughter screaming, luckily, she wasn’t hurt,” he said.

The objects damaged his

Workers rebuilding the roof at the Inshanallys’ residence

TWO families of Number 77 Housing Scheme, East Berbice, Corentyne are counting their losses after heavy winds and intense rains ravaged their homes Tuesday afternoon.

Arman Inshanally of Lot 400, Forget Me Not Street, was in the process of rebuilding his roof and replacing several pieces of equipment damaged by the freak storm when the Guyana Chronicle visited his home late Wednesday afternoon.

He related that at around 14:00 hrs, it was raining heavily and during the storm, heavy winds came and blew off his entire roof.

“Nothing was left, the entire roof came out and with the rain, it flood the bottom flat and all the elec-

trical equipment damaged upstairs,” said Inshanally who estimated his losses at around $200,000.

He is hoping for assistance to get back on his feet.

A street away from the Inshanally family, members of the Hemraj family suffered a similar fate and are thankful to be alive.

The entire roof of the community playfield pavilion crashed into their home.

Dhanraj Hemraj of Lot 114 Sunflower Street said his family was at home when the destruction occurred.

According to him, he witnessed the terrifying sight of posts and zinc sheets being flung in the direction of his home.

“I was at the bottom house with my wife and son

verandah, shattered his glass sliding door, scattering pieces of broken glass throughout his house.

Hemraj is also appealing to the Regional Democratic Council for assistance to return

to some state of normalcy.

During the rain accompanied by heavy winds, many persons were forced to seek refuge as pieces debris were flying in all directions.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 19, 2018

Service for national defence THE issue of ethnic balancing in our armed forces has once again come to the fore with commentators in mainstream and social media voicing their opinions.

Intermittently, it has been a topic of discussion, particularly in the aftermath of the 1992 national elections that brought the PPP//C to power, when the question of the ethnic composition of, especially the national army, gained currency. Of course, constituents were encouraged to enlist for service, as part of an active political policy of the party. And even though there was the subsequent Disciplined Forces Commission that made a raft of recommendations with regard to the cultural needs of Indo-Guyanese who would want to become servicemen, the expected rush for enlist-

ment did not occur. As a matter of fact, it was reported that although there was some response, most of the recruits soon dropped out.

Guyana has a traditional pattern as far as enlistment in the country’s security forces is known: and this pre-dates our independence, which pattern of ethnic composition has continued on to now.

It is one where Afro-Guyanese have favoured the Public Service as a means of employment in deference to the medium of self-employment by Indo-Guyanese, who gravitated towards the more lucrative pattern of business and commerce, as a means of livelihood. This was the realisation that surfaced in the face of the low Indo-Guyanese response to joining the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), post-1992.

Thus, the accusations of ethnic discrimination against those Indo-Guyanese who applied to become members of the army, even to the point of discouraging such, cannot stand, since there is no evidence that supports such a perception.

One only has to refer to those initial Indo-Guyanese who became officers and went on to serve with distinction: Major-General Joe Singh, ret’d., former Chiefof-Staff; Lieutenant-Colonel Rohan Seopaul; Majors Vibert Budhoo, and Ishoof; Captain Kennard Ramphal, who served as a former ADC to the late President Arthur Chung, and others whose names cannot now be recalled. The fact that these named officers rose to their individual serving ranks, is because they answered the

call to duty as Guyanese, and not to the insular voice of race. They made the army and all Guyana proud, because of their service and loyalty to country.

And there are still high-ranking Indo-Guyanese officers within the GDF, with the current deputy chiefof-staff of such an ethnic background. Even the personnel of the Guyana Police Force, is representative of many Indo-Guyanese senior officers, so again, it is a bird that cannot fly.

Though one understands the complexities and challenges of our society, because our national army and law-enforcement agencies have stuck to their mandate of serving in the national interest. And in this regard, the GDF stands head and shoulders above all, no doubt

living up to its brand as the Peoples’ Army, which means serving the nation in any and every critical situation, whether air-dashing the seriously ill from distant areas--a well-known capability that saved many lives--or retrieving the bodies of citizens from crash sites, and in other tragic circumstances.

It must be emphasised that a nation’s armed forces is about the call to the ultimate form of duty that could ever be undertaken by any national institution. It is about service in defence of our sovereignty. This is a call to the highest form of patriotism, which has no cash value in terms of what is required of any citizen who answers such a call. It is a selfless understanding and commitment to country first, which no other consideration

must stand in the way of such a sacred acceptance of loyalty and duty to such an undertaking.

Therefore, a national army must not become the repository for those who wish to serve on the basis of such a dangerous platform of race and ethnicity; or satisfying any such criterion in the form of quotas, or becoming hostage to any such anti-national thinking. The mission of the army is too crucial, sacred, and central to the national well-being, to be entrusted to citizens of such a narrow mindset who aspire to its ranks. To the nation’s benefit, the GDF must be credited with continuing to stand aloof from such parochialism, while maintaining its professionalism.

To ‘hog’ the spotlight is not within the President’s character Dear Editor, I REFER to an editorial in another newspaper captioned ‘IMPORTANCE OF PRESS CONFERENCES,’ (KN, July 15), and The Freddie Kissoon column in that paper captioned, ‘Granger and Nagamootoo lack self-confidence,’ (KN, July 17).

I congratulate and thank Kaieteur News for publishing articles which many persons may construe to be critical of the actions and/or person of the Head of State, without fear of reprisal. In the nottoo-distant past, many an editor may have hesitated to allow such to be printed, for fear of a lawsuit or boycott or some other more personal act of retaliation. Isn’t movement towards democracy a beautiful thing? Isn’t the fact

of a free press a breath of fresh air?

The freedom to express opinions is a basic tenet of democracy. And the acceptance and consideration of constructive criticism by an elected representative of the people is the hallmark of an open, receptive, and responsive mind.

The editorial states that [in response to a question from a journalist], “To his credit, President Granger explained that he has been travelling a lot and so often is hard pressed to plan press conferences.” His Excellency, therefore, listened, considered, and responded.

On that occasion, President Granger also said, “My heart is in the right place.”

Let me state that I believe the concern expressed in the editorial and The Freddie

Kissoon Column is not without merit. I say this because I can put myself in the shoes of a journalist; journalists want more access to the President.

Editor, there are times when persons have said things which – on the face of it – I find offensive. At such times, I try to put myself in the shoes of the person making the criticism. On many occasions, I conclude that the criticism has merit, was well intended, and therefore, was constructive. Discerning the intent of the person is key.

Editor, I do not presume to speak for the President, but I do have an opinion of his character based on my interpretation of many of his writings, having listened to many of his public utterances, and analysis of his demeanour and statements during face-to- face interaction. I

believe that he is a sincere and honest man of integrity; he is committed to democratic principles and, pertinently, decentralisation, devolution, and delegation of authority, decision-making power, and responsibilities. To hoard the spotlight is not within his character.

If one were to put oneself in the shoes of such a man, it would be easy to understand his actions. In his mind, I believe, he knows that there are systems in place to disseminate information and facilitate interactions between the free press and the administration while he devotes his efforts to fixing the mess that he inherited from the previous regime. The President mentioned the emerging oil sector, domestic security, and foreign relations. Having said that, I iterate, that the

President having noted the concern expressed by the press, has responded.

With regard to Freddie’s analysis, the conclusion of which is expressed in the caption of the column, it is incorrect. While space does not permit a thorough deconstruction, I say that no person on earth has ever attained the office of Head of State or Head of Government in the absence of self-confidence.

Finally, interestingly, Leader of the Opposition Mr Bharrat Jagdeo jumped into the fray at his last press conference. Considering his words, and putting oneself in his shoes, one doubts that his intent was to constructively criticise. Incidentally, he can afford daily press conferences, if he wants, at which he can oppose for the sake of opposing, because he has

nothing else to do.

Mr Jagdeo said that President Granger is racking up travel-miles, mismanaging the sugar sector, and presiding over a failed domestic security apparatus. May I remind Mr Jagdeo that President Granger did not build an expensive, malfunctioning white elephant at Skeldon; the President has never been accused of colluding with drug lords nor the creation of killing squads; and he has never been known to travel abroad to meet with operators of educational institutions, many of them having dubious reputations, in order to give away Guyana’s patrimony – including land – in exchange for worthless honorary doctorates.

Regards Mark DaCosta

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 19, 2018

Life sentences for child rapist ‘I want him go to jail…’ victim tells court

AN unremorseful Navindra Badal, 46, was on Wednesday afternoon sentenced to life imprisonment for two counts of rape of a child under age 16 years old in the Sexual Offences Court by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in the Demerara High Court.

After several hours of deliberations by a mixed 12-member jury, they arrived at the unanimous guilty verdicts.

The foreman told the court that they found the accused guilty of both counts of rape which took place in the county of Demerara.

According to the indict-

ment presented by the State, on the 1st count, the accused, between July 1 and 31, 2016, engaged in sexual penetration of a child under age 16 and on the 2nd count, the accused, between August 14 and 15, 2016, engaged in sexual penetration of a child under age 16.

Sentencing In handing down the sentence, the judge told the court that she took into consideration certain facts such as the age of the victim who was only nine years old when she was violated, and it was a repeat offence which has left the victim emotionally

scarred for life, and that the accused, who is known to the victim, violated his position of trust.

Justice Sewnarine-Beharry added that the sentence was geared towards sending a strong message to sexual offenders that the court would not condone such acts on children.

The judge said for the 1st count she sentenced the convict to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole before serving 45 years and for the 2nd count, she also sentenced him to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole before serving 45 years. The sentences will

run consecutively.

The convict, who appeared to be shell-shocked, was mumbling under his breath before he was led away to jail while his relatives were seen crying in the courtroom after his sentencing.

Defence attorney Maxwell McKay said the accused was on bail and never spent a day in jail before his conviction and had no priors.

Victim Impact Statement Counsellor attached to Child Link Guyana Inc. Celeste Mullin told the court that she prepared a statement on behalf of the victim which

Navindra Badal

she read in open court on Wednesday before the convict was sentenced.

She related that the child felt sad with what ‘Uncle Ravi’ did to her and started to steal things from her mother to keep friends and didn’t seem to be normal since.

Mullin added that the victim said she really felt fond

of the accused before the incidents because they used to play and go to the shop but that feeling changed after he did bad things to her.

The victim in the statement said: “I want him to go to jail for what he did to me.”

The state was represented

by Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt.

In defence of Minister Broomes Dear Editor I n m y p ro f e s s i o n a l analysis and opinion, the recent incident that o c c u r re d b e t w e e n t h e business premises security Guard, the Minister ’s d r i v e r- b o d y g u a r d t h e Government Minister (VIP) at the restaurant located at Providence parking/ no parking designated area is being overblown and should have been de-escalated from a customer care standpoint by the business security if he had done a quick assessment.

Some points to consider:

The security guard mishandled the situation by allowing it to escalate in his attempt to deny the Minister a parking privilege exception. The standard has been that Government Ministers drivers-bodyguards have joint services law enforcement background and are considered special constables.

Once they identified themselves as Government security detail especially when the Minister is present in the vehicle and it was confirmed the security guard should have stepped back and stand down My understanding is, the

request was for the Minister’s vehicle to access and temporarily stop in an area of the business premises not designated for parking, but her vehicle was not impeding the entrance nor exit of the parking lot. Exceptions and reasonable accommodation are made for VIP’s and Political figures all the time, just ask the business owner if the Minister should have been allowed to park in the spot ?

The security guard should have been able to easily recognise the Minister or ask, why do you need to park here? supposed she had a semiemergency or needed to move

Hima Das memorable 400m under 20 win

Dear Editor,

BREATHLESS for a moment, I was to witness one of sports (track & Field) historic moment with India’s Hima Das’s memorable 400m under-20 win at the just concluded IAAF UNDER 20 CHAMPIONSHIPS TAMPERE,FINLAND 2018 which just came to a close a few days ago.

For as long as I can recall, I have followed sports of many disciplines internationally and Team USA has always been a favourite of mine over the years. However, when needs be, credit

is given to non-American athletes for their accomplishments.

Hima Das of India has just qualified for such an accolade for creating history. I hope to witness her more in competition as we go forward.

It was always common knowledge that Indian athletes could never rub shoulders with the rest of the world in Track and Field, but India has now proven to the entire universe that it is a myth and they have just taken command as a leader in their own right. I hope India now has a master plan in store for their track sports

and we will witness more of India qualifying for the sprints. This should also be an eye opener for potential Track and Field athletes of Guyana and the competition has just opened up wider.

Her strategy for the win was awesome. I have always said that the 400 metres is a killer race and matters not if you have speed or you are a strong runner, always keep something in the tank just after the final turn in that event as you make the home straight to the finish line.

Regards Trevor Pemberton

to safety.

Parking in the most convenient spots has always been a contentious issue in most parts of the world and that’s why there is a ticketing and or tow system, but Security guards must never be involved in escalations with any Minister or Political figures. The Minister may

have temporarily lost her composure in frustration, but the security guard should have shown more care and consideration, at best the driver would have committed in a parking infraction.

I can say a lot more but the conclusion is, ask the business owners if they want the guards getting into fights with this

level of customer that pose no risk but just want a little special treatment to park, bottom line is no security guard should be challenging a Minister of the Government and their personal security detail to that extent Regards Ronald Thompson

MoE responds to Guyana Times article on alleged abuse of autistic child Dear Editor

THE Ministry of Education has taken note of an article published on page 12 in the Guyana Times newspaper on Wednesday, July 18th, 2018 under the headline, “Autistic child allegedly abused by teachers at school.”

Noting the severity of the allegations in the article, an investigation was done. It was revealed that the matter was already brought to the attention of the Ministry of Education and it was addressed through a meeting of Special Education Needs Officers, Welfare Officers, and teachers of the David Rose Special School, inclusive of the Head Teacher and the parent of the child

along with a representative of the Guyana Teachers Union held on Monday June 11th, 2018.

Following that fruitful engagement, it was agreed that the school will have the parent at the school once per week to work along with teachers and to become acquainted with the intervention strategies elaborated to her child.

The hope is that this will foster a better teacherparent relationship. Also, the teachers will have an opportunity to become aware of the parent’s strategies for dealing with her child.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, s t a f f development sessions will be held with teachers of the school on building teacherparent relationships. The child’s parent and teachers

were all made aware of their roles and responsibilities in this process.

It was concluded that the incident with the glue gun was an accident and not as a result of any deliberate wrongdoing of the teacher.

The teachers were cautioned about being even more careful when using these kinds of equipment around pupils.

The Ministry of Education takes very seriously its responsibility to educate the nation. Further, the Ministry will never condone any behaviour that puts the nation’s children in harm’s way and will ensure that the school is a very safe space for our future leaders.

Regards Ministry of Education

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

Land lease approved for NTC

By Ariana Gordon

THE Guyana Lands and Surveys (GL&SC) on Wednesday announced that the plot of land identified for the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Secretariat can now be occupied by the said Council as a 50-year lease has been approved.

Durwin Humphrey, Manager of the Commission’s secretariat, speaking after a brief presentation made by his office at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, told reporters that the GL&SC has expedited the request of the NTC to have the land available.

“There has been a lease available for the longest while for the NTC,” he said when questioned by reporters. Humphrey said complaints by members of the NTC including its past Chairman, Joel Fredericks, may have been voiced due to a lack of knowledge of the

Durwin Humphrey, Manager of the GL&SC Secretariat (Samuel Maughn photo)

processes involved. “This is why we encourage dialogue and communication rather than grandstanding.

The lease is available; the NTC has requested a transport and according to the laws of Guyana, there are certain processes that are required to convert a lease to a transport. While we have completed the process of the lease which is fully within the ambit of the Commission, the process of the

transport lies outside of the Commission,” the manager explained.

He noted that while the GL&SC is facilitating the process to ensure the NTC has the transport to the land, that process falls directly under the Deeds Registry.

“There is nothing that is preventing the NTC from moving ahead with the occupation of that land because the lease is an indefeasible title. They can go, construct and proceed with whatever is required while the other parts are being processed,” Humphrey added while reminding that the lease is renewable once there is beneficial occupation of the land.

In response, Fredericks told reporters that it was only Wednesday morning that he was in communication with Michael Hutson, Manager-Land Administration on the matter. He said it was during that discourse that Hutson committed to having “the lease document presented to the NTC on Fri-

day.” “I accepted that with the understanding that is the process that it would need to go through to have the absolute title – I am comfortable with that,” said the past president of the NTC. He thanked President David Granger for assisting

NTC Conference being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, Fredericks accused the headof-state of making failed promises to the indigenous peoples of Guyana.

During his presentation,

Past Chairman of the NTC, Joel Fredericks, speaks with the media on Wednesday (Samuel Maughn photo)

the NTC with not only securing the plot of land but for ensuring the process was fast-tracked. On Monday during the opening of the

he noted that the NTC is yet to receive documentation from the authorities for the land. “I would like to say thanks to his Excellency

President David Granger because in my opening remarks on Monday I did mention the issue with the document for the land. So this is good news,” declared Fredericks, who served as Chairman of the NTC for three years.

Meanwhile, when asked by the Guyana Chronicle how soon the NTC intends to begin the construction of its secretariat, Fredericks said it is awaiting a review of a proposal submitted through the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs to the Chinese government. In August 2017, President David Granger turned the sod for the construction of the NTC Secretariat at Sophia, which fulfilled a promise and demonstrated the administration’s commitment to ensuring good governance of indigenous peoples’ affairs. The Indigenous leaders, during the 2016 NTC conference, had requested a plot of land from the Government to construct its long-awaited Secretariat.

Over 600 workers needed at Albion Estate

THE management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is calling on the Albion community and surrounding areas to fill the vacancies for 600-plus sugar workers ahead of the 2nd crop for the year 2018. The

call comes as GuySuCo’s management unveiled their projections on Tuesday evening at a community outreach meeting.

The meeting held at the Albion Sports Complex saw several stakeholders and

members of the community in attendance, as the upper echelons of the Albion Estate and GuySuCo set a target of 38,106 tons of sugar for the second crop at the East Berbice- Corentyne estate.

Albion Estate, which has

over G$9 Billion turnover annually, is the highest-producing estate in the country with over 3400 employees and as the government and GuySuCo seek a new approach, those figures are expected to increase significantly. In his address, the manager (ag) Vemen Walter highlighted that the lack of consistent attendance coupled with nine strikes accounted for 442.1 tonnes lost as the estate came 1,466 tons shy of the first crop target of 19,698 tons.

Walter explained that while strikes played a major role in the deficit, other factors such as low yield per hectare, climatic conditions, etc also contributed to the estate falling short. In spite of this, he is optimistic that the estate can hit the targets for the second crop as attendance for the first crop was promising.

Based on statistics provided to this publication, the estate recorded an overall 75% attendance for the first crop, the highest since the year 2016. The strikes accounted for over 1,903 man days lost or $5,230,963 in revenue that would have gone to the workers had they worked.

Albion estate plans to start the harvest for the second crop on the 3rd of August and expects to achieve the target by harvesting some 6,813 hectares of cane. The estate is also seeking to lower its tonnes of cane/tons of sugar conversion to 10.85. These targets according to the man-

The Albion Estate is in search of over 600 sugar workers

ager are achievable with cooperation from all stakeholders. “As stakeholders it is our responsibility to give our best to the Albion/ Port Mourant estate, so that the estate can continue to make its sterling contribution to the community, the county of Berbice and Guyana as a whole.”

Addressing the vacancies, Walter urged the community to help get those interested to go to the estate and get registered, noting that the bulk of vacancies needed to be filled are in the areas of planting, harvesting and spray hands, while a smaller percentage are required in the factory and other areas.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan, who was also present, expressed surprise at the high number of vacancies despite the closure of the Skeldon and Rose Hall Estates as the government seeks to put GuySuCo into a new, profitable direction.

Armogan in his address highlighted the need for productivity at every level in order

to achieve the set goals and also called on management to work closer with workers.

He said the time has come to work a different system of management and employee relations, whereby workers would have more say in the management of the industry, in the setting of targets and become an integral part of the entity.

“We have to look at the history of what has happened before, if we stick to the old ways then we will get the old targets. New practices in the field , crop husbandry method, the time has come for us to appeal to the conscience of the workers to up their productivity and that is what is lacking in Guysuco… It’s a question of productivity… if each person can up his or her productivity, then at the end of the day your expenses will be less...so the cost of unit will also be less… unless your cost per unit comes down, we will continue to be in a state of uncertainty.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

Corps of wardens joins fight against TIP

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

By Rabindra Rooplall POOR and developing countries face the consequences of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) as the uneducated, powerless and poor are faced with physical, sexual, and emotional violence and exploitation at the hands of traffickers.

This is according to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan who addressed the commencement of a two-day training course for the Corps of Wardens at the Police Training Centre, Camp Street, Georgetown, on Wednesday.

The Corps of Wardens is a law-enforcement unit tasked with the monitoring and enforcement of order in the mining industry. Some 45 wardens were certified last year as supernumerary constables.

“People are trafficked in the millions in the world today and the trade is taking off to the extent of trillions of dollars and poorer and developing countries constitute the bulk from where people are trafficked, because educational levels are low and some are very gullible,” Minister Ramjattan explained.

He said the overall perspective of law enforcement in relation to the natural resource sector and the hinter-

land was not previously understood in its grand totality, as it was compartmentalised.

He said with enhanced training, the Corps of Wardens will be able to enhance the fight against TIP. Adding that TIP is modern-day slavery, Minister Ramjattan said it is an extraordinary, brutal crime against humanity, since it exploits persons for sexual purposes, labour and the sale of body parts, among others.

“Innocent people are sometimes knocked in the head and when they are unconscious they are disembowelled just for the kidney, heart and other body parts which are sold for thousands of US dollars to people in wealthy countries that need those parts,” he said.

Underscoring that children are sold much more easily because of the poverty- stricken nature under which they are snatched, Minister Ramjattan said in many cases parents are fooled and duped into propositions that their children will be offered a better life somewhere else and boys and girls are handed over freely.

He said the UN and major world organisations want to see an end to it for obvious reasons, because in a modern and civilised world there must not be any form

of slavery.

NO SOFTY, SOFTY APPROACH “We must criminalise such activity with very serious sentences, ensuring that we have the investigative capacity, ensuring that the people in the country are publicly aware of these kinds of crimes. It is necessary that at the local level, we do what we are doing and enhance the training of those who have the capacity,” he explained.

He explained that human resource development is paramount and the developed countries have reached that stage, because their citizens have the capacity to be multi-disciplinary. As such, that distinguishes the developed from the developing countries.

The Public Security Minister said Guyana’s fight against TIP has seen it maintaining its Tier One status in the US Department of State’s TIP report for 2017.

“These businessmen involved in TIP know their way around, but we have to sharpen up because if we want to have a happier society, we must never compromise the principles and law to the extent that even if the businessman is your partner or your friend, you must speak out against them because these are the little rogue elements in our society that are causing the huge problems we have,” the minister told the gathering.

Meanwhile, Director of Compliance at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Derrick Lawrence, said the role of the Corps of Wardens is too important to be left out in the fight against TIP, since the wardens’ presence in the natural resource sector is too significant not to participate.

He explained that participants will be educated on how they can play their part in the fight against TIP and to assist the many agencies represented on the ministerial task force on trafficking.

“No one person, no one ministry, no one agency can bring about the end of trafficking, but we all must

stay committed to fighting the cause while patrolling the natural resources sector,” Lawrence said.

Chief Executive Officer of the Indigenous Peoples’ Commission, Neil Bacchus, said the training course will focus on issues that regard

the nature and crime of TIP, functions of the task force, services available locally and how to identify victims and best practices for TIP. He said persons will also learn how to create a network of information among frontline officers and other

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stakeholders in different regions of Guyana, who may come into contact with potential cases of TIP, while garnering information to make the task force more effective and efficient in its operations.

A section of the Corps of Wardens who will benefit from the TIP training

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

Get behind the oil-and-gas sector …Nigel Hughes calls for better management of resources

GUYANA must do more to effectively manage its resources with the coming of oil, Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes said, warning that the country should not repeat the mistakes of the past.

Hughes, who sits as a Director on the Board of Directors of the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA), addressed Amerindian Leaders at the Arthur Chung Conven-

tion Centre on Tuesday on the budding oil-and-gas industry.

Hughes said that Guyanese at all strata of society must become oil smart by either positioning themselves to operate effectively within the oil-and-gas industry or become educated on the developments in the upcoming sector. Only an educated population, he said, would be able successfully guide the decision-making

to deliver and we have failed to manage the resources,” he said.

process. “We have to build capacity by making sure that we train the geologists, we train the economists, we train the oil experts,” he told the Indigenous leaders.

In acknowledging that training of Guyanese in various disciplines relative to the oil-and-as sector would take time, Hughes underscored the importance of having the government hire independent

Attorney Nigel Hughes

experts to give critical support in the meantime so as to ensure that the country gets its fair share when oil production starts in March 2020. He noted while there was a Presidential Adviser on the Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal, his contract has ended.

According to him it was poor negotiating and lack of proper advice that led to Guyana agreeing to receive 2 per cent royalty and 50 per cent of profits when it renegotiated the Petroleum Sharing Agreement (PSA) in 2006 with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited – a subsidiary of U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil.

He noted that when the agreement was originally negotiated and signed in 1999, the then government agreed to a one per cent royalty. “At that time we didn’t know how much oil we had, we never found oil, and that is what they negotiated to attract development,” he justified.

Hughes argued, however, that when the PSA was renegotiated in 2016, the current government had sufficient information that could have resulted in the country receiving a better deal.

“In 2016 after they had found oil in 2015, after they knew we had 1.4 billion barrels, those of you who could remember, you would remember the big announcement was they renegotiated a production sharing agreement with 100% increase. That sounds impressive, you get 100% increase, you are very impressed but if you are moving from one to two it is a real waste of time…

The reality was, when we renegotiated that as a country with Exxon we were fully aware of the fact that we have

more than 1.4 billion barrels of oil in the ground, and all our negotiators could get was 2%,” Hughes said.

The A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government has maintained that Guyana in addition to the 2 per cent royalty will receive 50 per cent of the profits as an equal partner. Additionally, Guyanese are expected to benefit from “preferential treatment” in the provision of goods, materials and sub-contractual arrangements with ExxonMobil’s petroleum operations here, in keeping with Article 18 of the Agreement. Even ahead of 2020, Guyanese at the individual and corporate levels have been conducting business with ExxonMobil and its subsidiary.

BUILD CAPACITY That aside, Hughes doubted the country’s current ability to manage the massive amount of oil revenues it will receive when it starts pumping for oil, and as such further reiterated the need to build capacity.

He said history would show that after 52 years of becoming an independent nation, Guyana has not been able to manage its resources to the benefit of its people, noting that no single person or organisation should be blamed but Guyanese as a collective.

“If you ask yourself after 50 years, Guyana with all the gold it has, with all the raw metals it has, with all the bauxite and now with all the oil it has, why are we not ahead of the rest of the Caribbean, rather than competing with Haiti in terms of economic figures to be at the bottom…at the end of the day it is us, we have failed

GOV'T LAYING THE STRUCTURE The APNU+AFC Government is presently putting the necessary administrative and legislative frameworks in place to ensure the effective and efficient management of the oil-and-gas industry. President David Granger has assured that by the end of August the Department of Energy would be established. A 10-point plan has been crafted to ensure the Department of Energy, which will fall under the Ministry of the Presidency, is effectively positioned to manage the potentially massive and transformative emergent petroleum sector.

The plan is aimed at ensuring that matters such as organisational structure, legislation and capacity-building measures are effectively addressed as Guyana works toward developing a world-class oil-and-gas industry.

The President said his government is open to recruiting technical experts locally, regionally and internationally through a highly competitive and transparent process to attract the most qualified and experienced professionals available.

Presently, the government is working assiduously to put legislative and regulatory frameworks in place, such as the crafting of the Petroleum Bill and a Sovereign Wealth Fund, to safeguard the oil-andgas industry. Ahead of first-oil in 2020, the Work Bank in June approved a US$35M Development Policy Credit to strengthen Guyana’s financial sector and fiscal-management capabilities. In excess of 3.7 billion oil-equivalent barrels have been discovered in eight reservoirs: Liza, Payara, Liza Deep, Snoek, Turbot, Ranger, Pacora and most recently Longtail-1, and the World Bank wants to ensure that the country is well equipped to transform its oil wealth into human capital.

Presently, nearly one in four people in Guyana live in poverty, however, experts estimate that GDP will surge when commercial production of newly discovered oil and gas begins. In response, the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government has embarked on a series of reforms to diversify the economy and turn oil windfalls into human development and sustainable growth in the long term.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

Region Five announces plans for its RACE

THE Administration of Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) has announced that it will be rolling out a twoday Regional Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition (RACE) in September.

Regional Executive Officer Mr. Ovid Morrison made the announcement during the week and disclosed that the venue will be the playground at Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice and the dates for a two-day event would be September 28 and 29th next.

As in other RACE events which have taken place in other Administrative Regions to date, it is aimed at showcasing the wide range of agricultural and commercial products made within Region Five.

The exhibitors will include commercial businesses, crops and livestock farmers, agro processors and other entrepreneurs who reflect the economic diversity of the Region. The event will also

seek to help young people to understand the advantages of farming at a scientific level and help take the economic prospects of the Region to another level, he said.

Morrison said that a Committee of Regional Officers had been formed to organize the event and, given the huge input that agriculture from Region Five is putting into the national economy, its RACE can be expected to be a memorable one.

The programme on Friday, September 28th will be preceded on the same day by the launch of the Region Five model farm and agriculture learning centre at Fort Wellington which has been under development over the past four months. He said that more precise details on the upcoming events will be released as the plans and arrangements are developed and concretised.

Pistol, revolver retrieved in separate arrests

The .32 revolver retrieved in Dennis Street, Sophia

POLICE ranks on a mobile patrol in Diamond on Wednesday chased a vehicle which had collected a suspicious-looking man in front of the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and found a .32 pistol after arresting the driver and occupant.

Press Officer Jairam Ramlakhan said the vehicle which was on the western

side of the road facing north, upon seeing the police, sped away. The ranks gave chase and subsequently intercepted the vehicle and arrested the driver and occupant.

An unlicensed .32 pistol with 12 live matching rounds which the driver threw out of the vehicle were immediately retrieved.

The driver, of James Street, Albouystown and the occupant who is a security guard of Perry Street, Tucville, have been taken into custody and are assisting the police with their investigation. The vehicle has since been lodged.

Meanwhile, around 19:20hrs Tuesday evening, ranks of the Police Force’s Narcotics Branch acting on information , promptly proceeded to a location at Dennis Street, Sophia and arrested a 25-year-old male resident with an unlicensed .32 revolver without ammunition.

The .32 pistol with 12 live matching rounds that was thrown out of the car

Regional Executive Officer Mr. Ovid Morrison (centre) and other members of the Regional Organising Committee for its RACE in September at the announcement earlier this week

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

No easy way out

– police who crashed state vehicles made to pay for damage

Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine

THE Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force has increased its strength by 125 ranks while the traffic department was boosted with 89 ranks in less than a year, acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine said.

The top cop was at the time speaking at the Force’s 179th Anniversary Award ceremony on Wednesday, when over two dozen police ranks

and support elements were recognised for their contributions to law and order.

The special constabulary was also increased by 351 ranks over the last two years.

Ramnarine also said the force recorded a steady decline in complaints against its members. Common complaints include neglect of duty, assault, wrongful arrest, sexual harassment, corrupt practices, police harassment and fraudu-

lent conversion.

“A preliminary analysis suggests that improved and increased supervision, swift and condign action by the senior

and therefore we must conduct ourselves a lot better than we do.”

As such, the acting top cop urged ranks to be more

Public Relations Officer Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan hands over an incentive and award to a rank who performed exceptionally well in ‘F’ Division

leadership of the force, severe punishment, support through speedy and timely legal advice and some degree of reluctance on the part of complainants are the main reasons for this significant decline in complaints,” the top cop said.

Ramnarine also noted that ranks who were at fault in vehicular accidents were also penalised.

“In six months this year, there were 18 occasions where members of the force driving force vehicles were involved in accidents where they were responsible for causing that accident and the damage amounting to some $2,394,000. They have been made to repay, or to pay for the cost of that damage. Some 10 ranks have already completed payments and others have some more time to pay,” he said.

Reminding the officers of the oath they took upon joining the force, Ramnarine said, “We wear the uniform. We have had training and learning

responsible on the roadways while executing their duties.

The force, he said, will no longer tolerate irresponsible behaviour from ranks who continue to breach road rules and called on officers to set examples through good private and public conduct when using the roadways.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Ramnarine stated that of the 44 murders reported for the first half of 2018, 36 of them have been solved.

He reiterated the force’s commitment to serve and protect and called on ranks to use their good judgement.

“Let us continue faithfully.

The future is promising. Let us give our best, let us remain unmoved and not be distracted by adverse criticism. Let us strive to conduct ourselves beyond reproach,” he said.

In 1990, the force paid out 824,000 in cash incentives to awardees. This amount has since grown to over $19M this year.

Cops say man fatally stabbed drinking partner A NORTH West District (NWD) resident was on Wednesday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a manslaughter charge after allegedly fatally stabbing his drinking partner with a broken glass bottle.

Junior Abrams called ' Black Boy", 32, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on July 14 at the Kumaka Water Front, NWD, he unlawfully killed Elroy Marks He was remanded to prison until August 20 when his matter will be

called at the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court.

According to reports, the incident occurred in the middle of a drinking spree on July 14. The police reported that the victim and suspect, who were known to each other, were imbibing at a shop when an argument ensued and escalated into a fight, during which the suspect allegedly broke a bottle and stabbed the victim to the neck.

The victim was rushed to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital in an unconscious state and succumbed to the injury.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

City’s Chief Constable reports spike in robberies

Chief Constable Andrew Foo speaking with reporters on Wednesday

CHIEF Constable of the City Constabulary Department in the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) Andrew Foo has reported that there has been a spike in robberies in areas such as Stabroek, Avenue of the Republic and Regent Street, which has been observed over the past two to three months. Just recently, there were about three robberies in one day outside City Hall.

As such, he said it is necessary that the council places more emphasis on the police department and move towards rehabilitating the training facility on Water Street.

A lot of foreigners are being targeted, Foo noted, because criminals realise that these individuals often leave the country without lodging any official reports. “So they are made soft targets,” Foo noted at a press conference at City Hall Wednesday.

He said what is also worrying and of concern is the fact that the perpetrators of these robberies are not old characters known to the constabulary.

Foo believes that not enough emphasis is being placed on security by the City Council.

But Mayor Patricia Chase-Green in an interview, told reporters that she was surprised at Foo’s statement that enough was not being done for the department.

“Over the years, we have been looking at that department. Yes, there are some shortfalls, but there are some managerial problems also that regardless of how much money you pour into the constabulary, you still would not get the required results, if we have managerial deficiencies,” she said.

Chase-Green added that the entire constabulary needs upgrading. “If you look at it and are being realistic, we have not been able to get as much as we ought to be getting out of the constabulary.”

Although credit has to be given for the work the department has been doing, she said there has to be more coming out of them. “If they

put their hearts and hands fully into it and I don’t think all of them…has been that committed in putting in that amount of work.”

She said she was hearing for the first time from the media that there has been a spike in robberies. “And if there is an increase, the chief constable must say what his plans are.

It’s not for the council; it’s for the chief constable to put in place a plan to ensure that wherever there is an increase in crime, he has adequate security. What he has to do is bring his plan to the council.”

NEW UNIFORM Meanwhile, the City Constabulary, currently hosting a week of activities to mark its 181st anniversary, has changed its officers’ uniforms from all-over black, to a blue top and black bottom.

The change, effected at a church service last Sunday to kick off the celebration, is valued at $6M, although some aspects of the new uniform are still to be achieved.

Foo told reporters that the uniform was changed because of a number of complaints that the black ones attracted and retained much heat.

He explained, too, that the previous uniform quickly became discoloured and resulted in a number of health-related issues such as skin rashes and so forth.

Officers were able to communicate their preference regarding the new uniform and the new one picked was of a better quality material.

Meanwhile, the week of activities includes a fitness walk from the University of Guyana to City Hall, a feeding programme at a children’s home, a day of sports at the East Ruimveldt playfield and a Bar-B-Que social for members of the constabulary.

Foo said the events all had to be kept on a small scale because of the financial constraints of the City Council.

According to the chief constable, the constabulary is currently understaffed by

more than 100 officers. It currently has 191 uniformed officers and 70 auxiliary security guards.

Due to the lack of resources, foot and vehicular patrols have been limited and have not been in keeping with what is expected of the department, Foo noted. He said he is still hoping that the numbers on staff will be increased, because he believes that the presence of uniformed personnel in the streets would reduce robberies and other criminal activities.

Two constabulary officers in their new uniforms

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

Gov’t working to strengthen immigration policy …dismisses Haitians voting claims

THE Guyana Government on Wednesday said it was fully committed to the building of democratic principles and sees an effective immigration policy as an integral aspect of good governance, even as it rebuffed claims of Haitians being allowed here for voting purposes.

“Let me use this opportunity to once again reiterate that this government is fully committed to the building of our democratic principles, that we see immigration policy

as an integral aspect of good governance, that unlike the previous administration we will not use this route to enhance our capability to secure votes, since we are certain that the electorate is intelligent enough to see the changes we have instituted since being granted the opportunity to serve the people of Guyana,” Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix said in a statement in response to an article in the Kaieteur News titled, “Felix dodges another parliamentary

meeting to explain unaccounted Haitians, Cubans.”

Describing the article as “wholly fallacious and unsubstantiated,” Minister Felix said it suggests that as Minister of Citizenship, he has been attempting to avoid investigation into what appears to be unaccounted numbers of migrants in the country.

“First, let me establish for the record that there is an established procedure and protocol for Parliamentary Sectoral Committee atten-

dance and the headline of the article is in direct contravention to the fourth paragraph that clearly indicates that the committee has been provided with dates for said meeting from which one has been selected. As a government minister, while I would never undervalue the importance of such meetings, I must also underscore that my day-today duties must of necessity take precedence,” Felix said.

He said his concern in this matter is not so much the presentation of the facts, clearly reliant on statistical evidence, but on the tone that is being

Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix

promulgated by a writer “who at no time took the opportunity to speak with me as to what may have been the reasons for the numbers and with no attempt on their part to make any other suggestion, than that the department and by extension the government is using this method to secure votes.”

According to the minister, responsible journalism is critical “if we are to build our fledgling democracy and the media through its exercise of free speech hold the power to create both good and bad outcomes, dependent on their being lax with the truth. This government had evidenced its commitment to press freedom and we will not stand by and see this freedom used irresponsibly by those with hidden agendas.”

POROUS BORDERS Felix added that all Guyanese are aware of the size of the country, “the porous nature of our borders, the paucity of our human-resource capacity to man these borders, and the ingenuity of those who would contravene our immigration laws. My job as Minister of Citizenship is to search constantly for solutions to these issues within the ambit of my department’s mandate and the limitations already mentioned.”

Late last month, Felix had rejected said insinuations that the present administration is allowing thousands of Haitians and Cubans to remain in Guyana and gain citizenship, so that they can vote at the upcoming 2020 General and Regional Elections. Speaking with reporters during a break at a sitting of the National Assembly, Felix declared that such a suggestion is “utter and complete nonsense.”

He explained that figures provided recently by his office to the parliamentary committee on foreign relations have given a factual breakdown on the number of persons who arrived here as opposed to those who left legally. He said that it is just unfortunate that the remainder cannot be accounted for. According to data provided by

the Ministry of Citizenship to the bipartisan parliamentary foreign relations committee, there are no departure records to show for some 7,255 of the 44,747 Cubans who arrived here in 2017. Also, of the 22,520 persons who came between January and April this year, some 6,170 have not departed through recognised ports of exit; neither have some 17,615 of the lot who came between 2013 to April 2018.

In the case of Haitians, the records show an increasing number of them arriving here, but not departing through established ports of entry and exit. Of the 3,515 who came in 2017, only 291 left, according to departure records. As for this year, between January and April, just 85 of the 1,238 who came officially left these shores. As a result of this, there are some 4,377 Haitians unaccounted for between 2017 and 2018.

Notwithstanding this, Minister Felix was quick to point out that it can be presumed that those who are unaccounted for through immigration records might have exited Guyana via “leakages”, in its porous borders to the south and east by way of Brazil and Suriname, respectively. Felix sought to remind that for years, efforts have been made to clamp down on the eastern border, but without success. “People can enter and leave from any backyard in the Corentyne,” the minister said, while noting that law- enforcement officials are only able to operate on land, given jurisdictional issues related to the Corentyne River.

“In order not to aggravate the situation, we operate on land,” Felix said, adding:“For me to tell you that I can’t account for how the foreigners leave Guyana is partly true and partly untrue, because those two openings exist.”

He said that had those 4,377 Haitians who are unaccounted for through official means been in Guyana, they would have been easily identifiable, given their sheer numbers and the fact that they speak French.

The minister, who was once a commissioner of police, expressed much disappointment with the utterances made by chair of the foreign relations committee, Gail Teixeira. Noting that Teixeira, who previously served as a home affairs minister, is aware of the challenges that exist vis-à-vis the country’s porous borders, Minister Felix said: “For Ms. Teixeira to be writing the way she did is extremely surprising.

To me, she is crying wolf in a crowded cinema, and the only thing that would do is cause injury to those who want to escape the law.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 19, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

NATIONAL T0SHAOS COUNCIL

Toshaos participating in the v Convention Centre to elect th

Outgoing NTC Chairman head dress on the incomin

ELECTIONS

2018

Nicholas Fredericks emerged Chairman of the National Toshaos' Council (NTC) when the council's triennial elections were held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre on Wednesday. The elections, which were deemed, “Free and Fair� resulted in the composition of a new executive that includes Indigenous Leaders from all 10 administrative regions. In keeping with the tradition, the leadership of the council was handed over during a sacred ceremony.

Below are photos depicting various scenes from the elections and the religious ceremony.

Vice President and Minister addressing the newly elected

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

Newly elected Chairman of the National Toshaos' Council, Nicholas Fredericks, delivering his inaugural speech minutes after winning the elections

voting exercise at the Arthur Chung he new Executive of the National Toshaos'

n Joel Fredericks placing a traditional ng Chairman, Nicholas Fredericks

The outgoing executives of the NTC initiating the handing-over ceremony at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre. Leading the procession was the outgoing Chairman Joel Fredericks Incoming Chairman of the NTC Nicholas Fredericks and another Indigenous Leader discussing the signiďŹ cance of the feather which symbolizes their communication with the spirit.

Outgoing NTC Chairman Joel Fredericks imploring the incoming Chairman, Nicholas Fredericks to listen to the voices of his people, and work to address the challenges facing them.

Some of the Indigenous leaders who witnessed the traditional handing over of leadership within the NTC.

r of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Sydney Allicock d Executive of the NTC.

Photos by Samuel Maughn

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CDC delivers millions in relief food supplies to Kwakwani THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has delivered a significant portion of the food items that had been set aside for 300 residents of Kwakwani who are still suffering from flooding (CDC). The remainder of the food is expected to arrive by plane on Thursday and Friday. Distribution of the food items to residents is expected to commence on Friday.

This is according to

Regional Vice-Chairman Elroy Adolph, who is currently in Kwakwani overseeing the mobilisation and distribution process from the community level.

Director-General of the CDC, Lt. Col. Kester Craig is overseeing from the level of the CDC. Each family will receive rice, oil, flour, sugar, canned food, detergents, potatoes, o n i o n s , g a r l i c , b u t t e r, biscuits, peas, etc. The residents had earlier received

cleaning agents and utensils.

Disappointingly however, the water that was receding slowly earlier in the week, has reportedly risen on Tuesday as a result of heavy rainfall. “Right now it gone back to about 8 ½ feet, because of the rainfall we got,” said Mr Adolph.

In previous years, the water took weeks, even months to completely recede, at one time, even in the month of September. This year’s flood was described as one of the

worst.

Earlier in the week, the residents expressed their appreciation to the CDC for promptly responding to their call for help.

Resident Mavis Lewis said that the items distributed are what the people need right now, given the intensity of the flood. “I think all the residents are glad to get the stuff. The [CDC] was prompt and we appreciate that very much,” Lewis told the Guyana Chronicle.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thurday, July 19, 2018

-water level rises

Food items that were mobilised by the CDC that started to arrive in Kwakwani.

Resident Cort Simeon said he believes that the CDC would have responded even faster if they were made aware of the almost twoweek old situation earlier from the authorities within Kwakwani. He is however appreciative for the speedy response from the CDC officials.

The residents are more grateful for the food items because the cost-of-living has increased tremendously since the flooding started. Prices in the shops have spiralled and transportation costs for residents to access these items have also increased.

Many subsistence farms from which the residents also sourced food were

inundated. The communities that are directly affected are Waterfront, Lamp Island, Aroima and Ginger Island.

These communities are located in close proximity to the Upper Berbice River that borders Kwakwani.

Resident Carla Cole said that the situation is a strenuous one, since money is not circulating. “Because they know that is the only way we can get in an out, they exploiting the situation terribly, you have to find so much money to get out, then so much money in the shop, because once transportation gone up, everything else will go up, this is the hardest part,” she related.

Rice exports up by 43% …new markets open, earnings pegged at $23.2B AS the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) wraps up its 2018 first crop, results from January to June show an export volume increase of 87,000 tonnes as compared to the same period last year.

This was revealed by the General Manager, Nizam Hassan. “When we look at the figures compared to the first half of 2017, we saw first that the total volume that has been exported is 290,000 tonnes which is 43 per cent more than the 203,000 tonnes that was exported during the first half of 2017,” Hassan said. The increase has so far earned the country GYD$23.

2Billion (US$111Million) this year against the value of the export for the first half of 2017 which was GYD$16.

1Billion (US$77Million).

The general manager attributed the increase to the determination of rice producers and millers to meet production targets and more

so Guyana’s access to new markets, particularly in Latin America. “We’ve seen some significant increases in some of the blocs, for example, exports to Latin America jumped by 215 percent. In the first half of 2017, we did 64,000 tonnes as against 202,000+ tonnes in the first half of 2018.”

Standing out for exports was Mexico and Cuba, taking a total of 133,000 tonnes--45,000 and 88,000-respectively. Both countries did not take during the January to June exports of 2017. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo facilitated access to the Mexico market. The above mentioned comes as approximately 99 per cent of the country’s rice lands cultivated having been harvested.

For the first crop of 2018, approximately 508,000 tonnes of paddy have been produced, equivalent to 330,000 tonnes of rice.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

High Court stays misconduct charges against Singh, Brassington CHIEF Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire on Tuesday granted an interim stay of proceedings in the misconduct in public office charge case against former Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and former head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington for the sale of Sanata Textiles to Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. The duo via their attorney Sase Gunraj filed an urgent application at the High Court which called on the chief justice to stay the proceedings pending hearing and determination of an application for judicial review of the decision to institute criminal charges against them.

The respondents are Richard Frank, Detective Inspector of Police; Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine; Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan; and Director

of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack.

Dr. Singh and Brassington called for review of the decision by Frank, the commissioner of police and the DPP to institute charges against them, while seeking an order of prohibition against the chief magistrate to prevent her from hearing and considering the said proceedings.

The application referred to case jackets numbered 7766/7767 of 2018 where the duo was jointly charged with the common law offence of misconduct in public office. Dr. Singh and Brassington were both charged with recklessly selling to Queens Atlantic Investment Inc., Sanata Textiles Complex totalling 18.871 acres for $697, 864, 800 between October and December 2010 when the property was valued at $1, 042, 403, 500.

Former Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh

The matter was scheduled to be heard on July 26, 2018, before the chief magistrate.

Attorney representing Dr. Singh and Brassington, Sase Gunraj, argued that the legal basis on which the aforesaid stay was requested mirrored those previously raised in case jackets 4915/4916 of 2018, 4917/4918 of 2018 and

Former head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington

4919/4920 of 2018. Those proceedings were stayed by way of an interim injunction made by Justice Franklyn Holder on May 21, 2018.

On May 8, Dr. Singh and Brassington were jointly charged with three counts of misconduct in public office,

contrary to the public law.

The first charge alleged that on Monday, December 28, 2009 by way of an agreement of sale and purchase “acted recklessly” when they sold to National Hardware Guyana Limited, lands amounting to 103.88 acres, property of the state for the sum of $598, 659, 398 (VAT -exclusive) without first having procured a valuation of the said property from a competent valuation officer.

The second charge alleges that the duo on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 by way of agreement of sale and purchase “without due diligence” sold to Scady Business Corporation, land located at Liliendaal, ECD, amounting to 4,700 acres, also the property of the state for the sum of $150,000,000, knowing that the said property was valued at $340,000,000 by Rodrigues Architects As-

sociate.

The final charge alleges that the former finance minister and former NICIL CEO on Saturday, May 14, 2011 by way of agreement of sale and purchase “acted recklessly” when they sold to Multi-Cinemas Guyana Inc. 10, 002 acres of land located at Turkeyen, ECD, property of the state for the sum of $185, 037,000 without first having procured a valuation of the said property from a competent valuation officer.

They were released on $3M each.

Meanwhile, the chief justice in her assessment merged the said cases and will hand down her decision on the matter on July 30, 2018.

The state was represented by Assistant Solicitor-General Beverley Bishop-Cheddie and State Counsel Utieka John and Coleen Liverpool.

State closes case in Atlantic Gardens execution-style murder As the “execution-style” murder case of Atlantic Gardens resident Patricia Sanasie is almost at an end, the State, after presenting a handful of witnesses, closed its case on Wednesday in the Demerara High Court before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a mixed 12-member jury.

A voir dire (a trial within a trial) was held on Wednes-

day.

The accused is expected to lead his defence after which both the defence and the state will make closing submissions on Friday at 1:30pm in Court 7.

According to the state, it is alleged that on January 12, 2015 at Atlantic Gardens, Patricia Sanasie was murdered by the accused Richard Stanton.

As the indictment was presented on Monday, the accused pleaded not guilty.

He is being represented by defence attorney Mark Waldron.

In presenting the state’s case, Tiffini Lyken told the court that about 06:45hrs on January 12, 2015, tragedy struck Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara, in front of the home of the victim, Pa-

tricia Sanasie.

As she exited her car to open her gate, leaving her daughter inside the car , another car came up from which the accused exited and shot her five times. He then walked back to the car which

then sped off.

The mortally injured woman was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

State Prosecutor Tiffini Lyken said that on January

14, 2015, Dr. Nehaul Singh performed a post-mortem and gave the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds.

She related that the police conducted an investigation and the accused was charged for the offence.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

Local private sector invited to Havana fair

President of the Region Three chamber, Halim Khan

TRADE relations between Guyana and Cuba are on a new high as local businesses are being asked to sign up for the Havana International Fair (FIHAV) set for October 29 to November 2nd at the ExpoCuba fairground, Havana.

According to President of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce, Halim Khan, the event is the largest annual multi-sector trade fair in Cuba.

The 35th edition of FIHAV took place on October 30-November 3rd, 2017, in an area of over 20, 000 square metres distributed in 25 separate pavilions in the ExpoCuba fairground.

Khan said Cuban buyers rarely issue call for bids, terms of reference or purchase orders. They select a small group of companies, often on an informal basis, whom they approach individually. Cuban buyers use FIHAV as part of their pre-selection process.

He said established companies in Cuba know the importance of maintaining visibility and regular contact with their network of customers.

“Participating at FIHAV re-affirms loyalty and continued interest in the Cuban market, thereby strengthening existing contacts and establishing new ones,” the chamber president said.

He continued: “Cuba is a country with immense market potential, but competition is rising quickly. The absence of American competition from many sectors is not expected to last much longer and other countries from South America, Europe, and Asia are aggressively pursuing unique market opportunities. Participation to [sic] FIHAV allows organisations to get their foot in the door and start developing key relationships with Cuban buyers.”

Adding that for five days exhibitors, businessmen and specialists of all sectors of the Cuban economy will converge at the fair's headquarters, Khan said this creates a favourable climate for the development of business meetings,and rounds of business seminars and conferences, among other activities.

Stole two batteries – 3 months in jail A 43-year-old man was on Wednesday sentenced to three months’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to a simple larceny charge.

The charge alleged that between July 13 and July 14, 2018, at Independence Boulevard, Albouystown, Shawn Peters stole two batteries valued $ 64,000, property of Nazim Bishop.

The man, who is employed at a wash bay, pleaded guilty to the charge that was read out to him in court by the magistrate.

He told the court that he

sold a battery and collected $ 5,000 as an advance.

The magistrate asked him why he did it and he replied: "I have a nice girl child. Anything I’ll do for my daughter. I don't really want to do these things but I know my daughter have to get milk and pampers.”

The man asked the magistrate to be lenient with him when passing sentence.

After giving his explanation, he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by Magistrate Fabayo Azore

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday July 19, 2018

Submissions handed over in Bisram murder case

Faiyaz Narinedatt

Overseas-based Guyanese, Marcus Bisram

Three of the five murder accused; Radesh Motie, Harri Paul Parsram and Niran Yacoob

THE defence attorneys for the five men who are before the Springlands Magistrate’s Court for the murder of Berbice carpenter, Faiyaz Narinedat, on Wednesday handed over their submissions to the court.

Undergoing a Preliminary Inquiry for allegedly murdering Narinedatt between October 31 and November 1, 2016, at Number 70 Village, Berbice, are Orlando Dickie, Radesh Motie, Diodath Datt, Harri Paul Parsram, and Niran Yacoob.

The matter is being presided over by Magistrate Charlyn Artiga.

Overseas-based Guyanese Marcus Bisram, 28, was charged in absentia also for the murder of Narinedatt.

He is currently in the United States before a New York Judge facing extradition proceedings.

On Wednesday, defence attorneys Bernard DaSliva, Sanjeev Datadin and Siand Dhurjon handed over their submissions to the court and the matter was adjourned until August 8 for special prosecutor Stacy Gooding to reply.

Police had initially labelled the case as a ‘hit and run’ accident, but Narinedatt’s relatives had always been adamant that ‘the accident’was staged by persons known to them.

Reports alleged that

after beating the man, the men placed the lifeless body into the trunk of a car and dumped it on the public road. They then drove over it to make it appear as an accident.

It is alleged also that the murder stemmed from a sexual advance made by the host of the party towards Nariendatt. This publication understands from a source that Narinedatt was urinating when the US-based businessman approached him and tried to touch his private parts. Narinedatt became upset and accosted the businessman by slapping him twice. The businessman then reportedly ordered one of his bodyguards to “get rid of him,” and that he (businessman) “will deal with it.”

Meanwhile, Bisram’s mother and sister are currently on trial before a senior magistrate at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Shinella Indarally, 45, and Mary Anne Lionel, 25, both of Lot 171 Section ‘B’ No 71 Village, Corentyne, were charged for deliberately attempting to obstruct the course of justice.

It was reported that they offered a police corporal $4 million to release the five men who were detained for the murder of Narinedatt, and to cease efforts to apprehend Bisram.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 19, 2018

CWI hails ‘appeal’...

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has trumpeted the continued attractiveness of the region’s cricket brand, after signing an 18-month commercial deal with global online betting company, Betway.

The deal was initiated during the ongoing Home Series between West Indies and Bangladesh and will see the

FROM BACK PAGE company serve as CWI’s official betting partner until the end of next year.

“Cricket is the heartbeat of the Caribbean and the announcement of a second major international partnership within a six-week period underlines the appeal of West Indian cricket both in the Caribbean and worldwide,” said CWI’s commercial and marketing director, Dominic Warne.

Only last month, CWI announced luxury hotel chain, Sandals Resorts, as the major commercial sponsors of West Indies cricket, in a two-year deal which will run until December, 2020.

Sandals replaced telecommunications giant Digicel with whom CWI had terminated its deal a week earlier, with a year still to run on the contract. Warne, an Englishman who joined CWI last October, said the Betway deal would add value to the board’s mission of player development.

“With Betway also supporting our integrity and player education programme, the partnership enables CWI to strengthen the guidance and support offered to our professional cricketers as they build their careers at home in the Caribbean and on the global stage,” he said.

Betway’s chief executive, Anthony Werkman, said the new partnership was a strategic one for the company. “We are always looking to enhance and grow the Betway brand and that’s exactly what we have done by partnering with Cricket West Indies,” he explained.

“We are making huge investments across a widerange of sports and are sure that this partnership will prove to be a successful one.

We are really looking forward to all the action.”

The West Indies cricket brand has taken somewhat of a hit in recent years with the declining on-the-field performances. Once World champions, the Caribbean side now languish in the nether regions of the ICC rankings in all formats.

Their 2-0 series win over Bangladesh last weekend saw them climb back to eighth in Tests but they still lie ninth in One-Day Internationals and seventh in Twenty20s, though they are reigning World champions.

For the first time in their history last March, the Windies were forced to enter a qualifying tournament with the likes of minnows Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and United Arab Emirates, in order to reach the finals for the 50-overs ICC World Cup.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 19, 2018

GFF Elite League...

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League will benefit from significant capacity-building partnerships as a direct result of a three-day visit by president Wayne Forde to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (July 6-8), where he met with the respective presidents of Vasco da Gama and Botafogo FR football clubs.

This initiative will see the introduction of an elite referees programme, a player exchange programme, and the recruitment of a Coach Instructor to build capacity among the elite coaches and coaches across the country.

“Over the couple of weeks, we will be formalising some relationships that will see an elite referees programme being introduced which is a key programme I’d like to commence,” Forde said following his trip.

The programme will see referees’ courses for males and females, exchange programmes, and local match officials’ exposure to professional football in Brazil.

According to the GFF boss, the ‘Federation’ will also be looking at “bringing

FROM BACK PAGE

Pakistan thrash Zimbabwe to secure ODI series win

players at the developmental/ transitional level in some of the professional clubs and maybe some of the lower divisions to play within the Elite League and taking some of our U-20 players to the Brazilian clubs.”

“I’m trying to get as many as 30 U-20 players into Brazil. The goal is to get around 30 U-20 Guyanese players playing in Brazil first and foremost, and secondly bringing good Brazilian talent and professionalism into the training and playing set up of the Elite League,” Forde noted.

Additionally, Forde said coach education and development is a key pillar of the GFF, which will also be prioritised, since the GFF will be hiring a Brazilian Coaching Education Instructor to work with the coaches within the Elite League, in particular, and other coaches around the country.

Apart from these concrete measures, Forde also discussed other developmental opportunities with the presidents of the two leading football clubs in Brazil.

FAHEEM Ashraf took five wickets for Pakistan as a dominant nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe sealed a straightforward one-day international series win.

Pakistan had already secured two comfortable victories in the series, but they humiliated the hosts in this third match as Faheem’s first international five-for ended Zimbabwe’s innings after just over 25 overs.

His figures of 5-22 led the way, while Junaid Khan moved onto 99 ODI wickets with a pair, as Pakistan were set a simple target of 68.

Fakhar Zaman was again the tourists’ main man and his 43, off just 24 balls, secured his side an unassailable 3-0 series lead.

Hamilton Masakadza’s half-century had allowed Zimbabwe to post a more respectable score last time out, but he contributed to a dismal start as, following Prince Masvaure’s dismissal, the captain went to Junaid.

While Shariff and Juma are still relatively inexperienced in the world of chess tournaments, both have demonstrated rapid growth.

Additionally, while the girls are in Barbados, they will receive critical training and guidance from the Barbados National Coach and International Chess Master, Terry Farley.

Countries participating in the tournament include Guyana, Mexico, Aruba, Haiti, Guatemala, Bahamas, Jamaica, El Salvador, Barbados, Netherland Antilles, Nicaragua, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, British Virgin Islands, Suriname, Panama, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, US Virgin Islands, Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana, Honduras, Antigua and Barbuda, Martinique and Guadeloupe.

THE crème de la crème of Guyana’s race-walkers will be in action on Sunday (July 29) as the Cavaliers Sports and Tour Club (CSTC) stages its 10K pre-Emancipation Day race walk around the outer circuit of the East Ruimveldt Community Centre from 06:30hrs.

Trophies, medals and other lucrative prizes will be at stake in the male and female (seniors), juniors, veterans and differently-abled categories.

Those desirous of participating must be at the starting line at 06:00hrs.

The coordinator of the CSTC, Jennifer Major, has stressed the need for more participation in the sport and more sponsorship if the discipline is to be further developed and expanded.

She emphasised that the sport is gradually progressing both competitively and leisurely but the major problem is sponsorship.

Cavaliers preEmancipation Day race walk set for Shariff, Juma... months, preparing them for July 29 TWO emerging female the competition.

FROM BACK PAGE

talents in the sport of chess will make history when they represent Guyana at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Women’s Chess Championship in Barbados, this month end.

Fourteen-year-old Sasha Shariff and 12-yearold Chelsea Juma will be the first females ever to represent Guyana at the CAC Championships, which runs from July 27 to August 3.

Shariff and Juma both represented Guyana recently at the CARIFTA Chess Championship in Suriname. Shariff, who will also represent Guyana at the Chess Olympiad in Georgia, USA in September, is counting on her experience to help her perform well at the CAC Championship.

Meanwhile, National Chess coach Wendell Meusa has been working with the young ladies for about two

Faheem Ashraf tookfive for 22.

Tarisai Musakanda soon followed as Junaid edged closer towards a century of wickets, before Peter Moor, another half-centurion in the second match, bowed out, too, for Faheem’s first wicket.

Faheem took the next two

wickets as Zimbabwe scraped past their lowest ever total of 35 and he soon completed the job by removing Richard Ngarava’s off stump.

A comfortable chase hit a rocky start when Imam-ulHaq was caught behind off Blessing Muzarabani’s open-

ing delivery, but it was all one-way traffic from then on.

Babar Azam joined Fakhar and they required less than 10 overs to reach 69-1, with the final two overs bringing seven fours that eased Pakistan to victory.

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 19, 2018

Mourinho hopes World Cup winner Tendulkar joins forces with Middlesex to Pogba ‘understands why he was good’

Red Devils midfielder Pogba scored as France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final.final

MANCHESTER United manager Jose Mourinho says he hopes World Cup winner Paul Pogba “understands why he was very good” during the tournament.

Red Devils midfielder Pogba scored as France beat Croatia 4-2 in the final to win the World Cup for the second time. Mourinho said the

25-year-old was “absolutely brilliant” in Les Bleus’ final three matches in Russia.

“It’s about him understanding why he was so good, especially in the second part of the competition,” he said.

“I think that’s the point, about his performance level and his contribution to a winning team.”

Pogba joined United for

a then world record £89m in August 2016, but fell out of favour at times during the 2017-18 campaign.

He was left out of the starting line-up for both legs of United’s Champions League last-16 defeat by Sevilla.

After France’s victory on Sunday, former United defender Rio Ferdinand said it was “down to Jose to unlock this Pogba we saw at the World Cup because he was responsible, he stood up to a lot of hard tests in midfield, and was a talisman for this team”.

While the Red Devils have travelled to the United States for their pre-season tour, Pogba is resting after his exploits in Russia.

Mourinho, speaking in Los Angeles, said: “I did with Paul what I did with all my players.

“I sent a nice message

before the World Cup and during it I did not disturb anyone. They needed to focus on the job for their national team.

“After the World Cup I sent a different message than to the other guys because he won the competition.”

Meanwhile, Mourinho said goalkeeper David de Gea, midfielder Nemanja Matic and new signing Fred are due to link up with the squad next week. Forward Alexis Sanchez has missed the start of the tour as he has been unable to get a visa.

“He’s very sad. It’s not good for him or me, not good for anyone,” said Mourinho.

“There is no-one to blame - the club is making an effort. I have to respect the US authorities in their process of selection of visas.”(BBC Sport)

Thomas takes yellow jersey by winning Tour de France stage 11 B R I TA I N ’ S G e r a i n t Thomas became the Tour de France’s overall leader with an impressive victory on stage 11.

Team Sky rider Thomas attacked with six kilometres left on a frenetic final climb up La Rosiere, to finish 20 seconds ahead of teammate Chris Froome and second-placed Tom Dumoulin.

Belgium’s Greg van Avermaet, who had led since the third stage, was well down the field in the main peloton.

Thomas leads the race overall from Froome by one minute 25 seconds.

However, Britain’s Mark Cavendish, who has been unable to add to his 30 stage wins in this year’s edition of the race, is out of the Tour after finishing outside the stage’s time limit.

The 33-year-old was eliminated, along with German Marcel Kittel and Australian Mark Renshaw.

However, Thomas, who was two minutes 22 seconds behind Van Avermaet in the overall standings at the start of the day, rarely looked like faltering towards the end of the 108.5km stage, which again demonstrated the strength of Team Sky in the mountains.

It was Geraint Thomas’ second Tour de France stage win after he had clinched last year’s curtain-raising time trial.

Mark Cavendish finishes one hour and five minutes adrift of stage winner Thomas.

Thomas bridged a gap of more than 90 seconds to deny Spain’s Mikel Nieve his first stage win on the tour and powered away from a group containing four-time champion Froome and Movistar’s Nairo Quintana.

It was a finale that demonstrated the delicate politics of Team Sky’s ongoing twopronged approach to the general classification.

When Thomas launched an attack off the front of the peloton with five kilometres to go, Froome - his Sky colleague and four-time Tour de France champion waited for another rider to

follow rather than lead the chase himself and potentially aid a rival team.

After a delay, Dan Martin’s attack gave Froome a wheel to follow, but Thomas responded with a second spurt off the back of Dumoulin to take victory.

Not only did Thomas’ win secure yellow but, with a time bonus on the line, it also extended his advantage over Froome by 26 seconds.

With another taxing stage to come tomorrow, the two Sky riders may soon find themselves unable to avoid direct conflict.

More than two years have passed since Cavendish celebrated his fourth stage win of the 2016 Tour de France by crossing the line in Villars-les-Dombes

with the appropriate number of fingers held aloft.

He has not won another since.

Given the emergence of new sprint rivals such as Fernando Gaviria and the continued excellence of current green jersey holder Peter Sagan, Cavendish’s pursuit of the individual record of 34 Tour de France stage wins, set by Belgian legend Eddy Merckx, seems increasingly difficult.

After being forced out of last year’s race with a broken shoulder, he has looked tentative and off the pace in the various sprint opportunities so far in this edition.

His failure to tough out an admittedly taxing stage will damage his Grand Tour status further. (BBC Sport)

launch academy

Sachin Tendulkar

MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - Retired India batting great Sachin Tendulkar has joined forces with Middlesex Cricket to launch an academy for budding male and female cricketers.

The academy will provide training for children between the ages of nine and 14 years, through a curriculum developed by the coaches at the county and Tendulkar, who is the world’s leading run-scorer in both Tests and one-day internationals.

“I am delighted to be partnering with Middlesex Cricket on this new venture,” Tendulkar, who

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retired in 2013 with more than 34 000 international runs to his name, said in a statement.

“The objective is to produce not only good cricketers but also good global citizens of the future.

“Through this association, Middlesex and I are focused on providing the very best in cricket education, as much as possible, for our students.”

M e rc h a n t Ta y l o r ’s School in Northwood will host the Tendulkar Middlesex Global Academy’s first cricket camp from August 6 to 9.

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29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 19, 2018

‘Bliney’ has devoted more than half his life to softball cricket

By Frederick Halley DURING my recent visit to Guyana, occasioned by the death of my mother-inlaw, I met with Patrick Edwards, considered a simple and ordinary Guyanese by many, but in his own little way, he has been carving a name for himself in the softball arena.

Edwards, popularly known as ‘Bliney’ has been involved in softball cricket for close to 30 years, the last 25 years as an umpire while prior to that he was an active player.

In an exclusive interview at the Everest Cricket Club, Edwards spoke of his love for cricket, how he got the name ‘Bliney’ and his continued involvement in umpiring, among other things.

According to Edwards, prior to 1992, he led Young Guns softball cricket team in matches organised by the-then Guyana Soft-

ball Cricket Association (GSCA), which was one of the forerunners of the sport in those days. However, when several of his players migrated, he found it very difficult to put a competitive team together.

Encouraged by the late Mervyn Bagot, a stalwart umpire in those days and also by former Test umpire, Eddie Nicholls, and Kenneth Kingston, Edwards turned his attention to umpiring and hasn’t missed many softball games since his debut appearance in 1992.

Edwards, who has shied away from the hardball version despite urgings from the same individuals, cited work commitments as his main reasons. What is also significant, he pointed out is he has never attempted any umpiring exams despite keeping abreast with the laws of the game.

Quizzed on how he got the sobriquet ‘Bliney’, Edwards disclosed with a

Patrick ‘Bliney’ Edwards

chuckle, that most players in the softball arena are of the opinion that the name has to do with his perceived inability to see properly when giving what they consider “right’ decisions.

Edwards, however, explained that it all started during a street game in Middle Road, La Penitence, when in attempting to take a catch, he ended up in a near-

by trench, fully drenched in mud. This prompted one of the opposing players to yell out, “look a blind man fall in the trench and still tek the catch.” The name ‘Bliney’ stuck ever since and according to him, he’s sure over 95 per cent of the current softball players aren’t aware how the name originated.

Touching on the current state of softball as compared to the 90s, Edwards opined that it was more competitive and added to that, there were far more teams involved with matches being played both mornings and afternoons.

Edwards also recalled that there were two categories, the major and minor leagues where teams competed mainly for trophies unlike currently where cash incentives play a major part in tournaments. He also alluded to the fact that there were far more venues - abuse as is evident these days wasn’t as

prevalent.

According to ‘Bliney,’ players were also very respectful to umpires.

Considered one of the premier softball umpires in Guyana, Edwards has stood alongside the likes of Nicholls, senior umpires Gavin D’Aguiar, Trevor Whitney and the late Bagot among others.

Among the “big” games he has officiated in are Inter-county tournaments, an international between Guyana and Barbados, Guyana Softball Cup matches and the inaugural Prime Minister Cup tournament.

Edwards believes he has a satisfactory relationship with most players in the softball arena and pointed out that being the number one softball umpire in Guyana, “he never took sides and calls it as he sees it”.

Edwards disclosed that when he’s not involved in umpiring, his pastime is bak-

ing and he supplies a few grocery outlets with bread, cakes and pastries, albeit on a small scale, operating direct from his home.

Prior to that, he worked at Chuck Wagon Bakery as a supervisor, an entity owned by the late Oliver Hinckson.

He also served for five years as a Shift Captain at Professional Guard Service (PGS) before quitting the job.

A product of Carmel RC, the 60-year-old Edwards was forced to quit school at an early age after his father became very ill and died at the age of 46, At 13, he became the sole breadwinner of the family, being the eldest of three.

So, after some 47 years in the workforce, Edwards believes “it’s time to relax and enjoy life” but he has no intention of quitting umpiring in the near future as according to him, “the love for the game of softball is unending”.

Ambris, Campbell fifties on final Marsh interested in Australia leadership roles day earn Windies A a draw

Sunil Ambris … struck an unbeaten half-century.

LONDON, (CMC) – Sunil Ambris and John Campbell stroked lively half-centuries as West Indies A earned a draw against English County Surrey on the final day of their first class tour match here Wednesday.

Left to survive two sessions after the hosts declared at lunch with a lead of 361, Windies A safely navigated the afternoon at the Oval to end on 194 for three in their second innings.

Test batsman Sunil Ambris sent the selectors another reminder of his quality with an unbeaten 63 while opener Campbell struck 55.

Vishaul Singh chipped in with 26, opener Chandra-

paul Hemraj got 23 while wicketkeeper Devon Thomas finished 22 not out.

Surrey had earlier added 111 in the first session as they converted their overnight 62 for one into 173 for four declared in their second innings.

Ryan Patel, unbeaten on 30 at the start, top-scored with 48 as he extended his second wicket stand with Mark Stoneman (44) to 79.

He put on exactly 50 for the third wicket with Will Jacks who made 47.

Speedster Odean Smith was the most successful bowler with two for 15, also accounting for Patel to a catch at the wicket.

Windies A then made a

lively start to their run chase, with Campbell and Hemraj putting on 79 for the first wicket.

Campbell struck six fours and a six off 70 balls while fellow left-hander Hemraj counted two fours in a 39-ball innings.

Nineteen-year-old off-spinner Amar Virdi got the breakthrough when Campbell drove loosely to cover and Hemraj followed in the next over without addition to the score, lbw to one from seamer Stuart Meaker which kept slightly low.

Ambris put on a further 48 with left-hander Vishaul Singh who scored 26 from 46 deliveries, as together they steadied the innings.

The right-handed Ambris, already with a hundred on tour, faced 99 balls in just under 2-1/4 hours and counted eight fours and a six.

When Vishaul played down the wrong line and lost his off-stump to South African fast bowler Morne Morkel, Ambris found another ally in Thomas to post a further 67 in an unbroken fourth wicket partnership.

MITCHELL Marsh has put himself forward for a leadership role with Australia as the team attempt to plug the gaps left by Steve Smith and David Warner.

Smith and Warner, along with Cameron Bancroft, were handed lengthy bans

by Cricket Australia for their involvement in the side’s ball-tampering scandal earlier this year.

While Smith, the former captain, and Warner, the former vice-captain, could yet return to play for their country, they will not be considered for leadership positions.

So with Australia still without a Test vice-captain and a permanent one-day international skipper, Marsh - Western Australia’s captain - is hopeful he can be considered, even at the age of 26.

“I’m still young when it comes to my leadership but, where we’re at at the moment, there’s going to be a few young leaders,” and Marsh, who will lead Australia A against India, told his country’s official website.

I can, so I can be the best captain I can be Captaining the Australia A se-

Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh

ries in India I don’t see as a dress rehearsal for me, but I see it as a great opportunity to captain in those conditions.

“I’ve captained in Australia and at the WACA, where fast bowlers are used a lot more, so they’re different conditions. This is an opportunity to work on my captaincy around spin, setting fields around the bat those sort of things.

“I’ll work as much with the spinners and learn as much as for Western Australia and be the best leader I can be in Australian cricket.”

While Marsh is interested in the ODI role - “You’d be silly not to,. if the opportunity arose, I’d certainly grab

it,” he said - he is also willing to adapt as a vice-captain to Tim Paine with the Test side.

“I think, as a vice-captain, you’ve got to be the best person you can be for your skipper, give them your full support and be a shoulder to lean on,” Marsh said.

“And around the group, be the same person. That’s one thing I’ve learned about leadership is to not to change the reason you get appointed in the first place. You’ve become a leader because of the person you are, so I won’t change much.

“If those things come, they come. But I’m not focused on if I’m going to have vice-captain next to my name.”

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 19, 2018

Sponsorship on board for Roy Fredericks Floodlight Cup BLAIRMONT Centre Cricket Club (BCCC) has gained meaningful support from the business community for the Roy Fredericks Floodlight Cup ‘REVOLUTION’ which is fixed for Saturday at the Albion Sports Complex.

Throwing their support for the 2018 edition of the Roy Fredericks Floodlight Cup are: Republic Bank Ltd, Shelton Construction Firm, Arshad Jewellery & Electronics, Imran Barber Shop, Kebbie’s Graphic Mind Art, A. Ally & Son’s, Innovation 360,The Region 5 Chamber

of Commerce & Industry, Universal DVD and Solutions, Gavin’s Fashion World, Unicell, Imran & Daughter General Store, Hamid’s General Store, Poonai’s Pharmacy, Rosehall Youth and Sports Club, Ameer Ishmael Chicken Farm, Rite Choice Supermarket and Big B’s – Baksh Restaurant are all on board supporting this event which has been the major fundraiser for the BCCC for the last three years.

The day’s activity is expected to begin at 09:00hrs with seven teams doing battle for the title of the Roy

Republic Bank Limited representative presents sponsorship cheque to president of the BCCC, Shabeer Baksh.

Fredericks Cup 2018. Twotime defending champions Blairmont Blazers will be hard-pressed to retain their

crown.

Blairmont Blazers are expected to face stiff challenges from teams such

as Albion Cricket Club, Demerara Cricket Club, Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, Port Mourant Cricket Club, Young Warriors and Upper Corentyne Cricket Association.

Guyanese-born West Indies cricket commentator, Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira, who has over 40 years of regional and international experience in Sports analysis, will be gracing this event with his presence and international commentator Inderjeet Persaud will be sharing live commentary segments with Perreira.

In addition to cricket, there will be several added attractions such as dominoes competition, volleyball, tassa drumming, lighted bails, spectators bowl off, spectator catch, cartoon characters walk around and more.

For more information persons can contact assistant secretary of the BCCC, Ameer Rahim, on 626-2563.

The BCCC is encouraging persons to come out in full support for their team, as they use this event for the development of youths and the community. (Colin Bynoe Jr)

Pant in India squad for England Tests, Saha ruled out

Rishbah Pant has been include3d as the second wicketkeeper in India’s Test squad.

MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - Rishabh Pant has been included as the second wicketkeeper in an 18-man India squad for the first three Tests of the five-match series against England after

regular starter Wriddhiman Saha failed to recover from a left thumb injury.

Saha picked up the problem playing in the domestic Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 tournamen - an

injury that also ruled him out of a one-off Test against Afghanistan last month.

The 20-year-old Pant, who has played four T20 internationals for India, is renowned for his swashbuckling batting and will be the second-choice keeper behind Dinesh Karthik in the squad named yesterday.

The Virat Kohli-led side will also be without Jasprit Bumrah for the opening Test at Edgbaston from August 1 after the paceman injured his thumb in a T20 match against Ireland last month.

“Jasprit Bumrah, who has been included in the squad,

will be available for selection from the second Test onwards based on his fitness,” the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said in a statement.

Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar aggravated a lower-back condition in the third one-day international against England at Headingley on Tuesday and was missing from the squad.

“His condition is being assessed by the BCCI medical team and a call on his inclusion in the Test squad will be made soon,” the statement added.

The India selectors met in Leeds to pick the squad, which also contains three

spin bowlers.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was included alongside frontline slow bowlers Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja after a strong showing in the limited-overs matches against England, a series the hosts won 2-1.

There was no place for Rohit Sharma, who scored two hundreds against England in the limited-overs matches, however, with the selectors preferring Karnataka batsman Karun Nair over him for a middle-order spot.

Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul were the three opening bats-

men in the squad, though the latter came in at number three against Afghanistan, pushing Cheteshwar Pujara down a spot in the absence of a rested Kohli.

Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Karun Nair, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur.

BCB names selection committees for sub-associations THE executive of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) met recently and named the selection committees for

each sub-association, and at the same time discussed a range of issues.

The West Berbice se-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thurday July 19, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & Cummings Electrical Company Ltd. 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) WI vs PAK, 1977 (2) WI vs NZ, 1985 Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the result of the recent WI/BANG Test Series?

(2) Who was voted Man of the Series at the end of the recent WI/BANG Test encounter?

Answer in tomorrow's issue

lection committee would be headed by David Black and includes Glenroy Fordyce, Javed Saywack, Shabeer Baksh and Dhanraj Ganesh.

Former cricket coach Albert Smith will head the selection committee for Lower Corentyne/New Amsterdam franchise and will be supported by Julian Moore, Balram Samaroo, Tremayne Smartt and Michael Newland.

Collis Butts, son of former Guyana and West Indies off-spinner Clyde Butts, will head the process to select the Upper Corentyne team with Orvin Mangru, Leslie Solomon, Lakeram Latchman and Junior Blair.

The BCB has also

named a list of persons who should be considered for appointment as manag-

Andre Percival

ers and coaches. They are: Winston Smith, Balram Samaroo, Andre Percival,

Tremayne Smartt, Albert Smith, Qwesi Maltay, Lateram Latchman, Neil Rudder, Ameer Rahaman, David Black, Philbert Wilburg and Michael Newland.

The appointment of the committees was possible, after first division clubs had expressed disappointment over the selection of teams that participated in the last Guyana Cricket Board’s franchise tournaments.

Teams for the Upper Corentyne, Lower Corentyne/New Amsterdam and West Berbice franchises were done mostly by one individual who was selected by the organisers.

Clubs like Blairmont, Police, Rose Hall Canje,

Albion, Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and Upper Corentyne were left in the cold about team selection, while players were disciplined without any fair process. Players also complained about not receiving their full financial stipends after the completion of the tournaments.

Meanwhile, BCB president Hilbert Foster noted that the board would equally represent every club, official and player in Berbice. He noted that the appointment of the selection committees is part of the board’s effort to make the process more transparent, fair and as broad-based as possible.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 19, 2018

Clarke, Campbell congratulated by Fitness Express’ McDonald THE duo of Fitness Express athletes, Kerwin Clarke and Emmerson Campbell were congratulated by the CEO of the entity, Jamie McDonald after retaining their bodybuilding and physique titles respectively, at the just concluded National Senior Championships over the past weekend.

McDonald, who is a longstanding and staunch sup-

porter of the bodybuilding and fitness disciplines in the ‘Land of Many Waters’, was pleased with the performances of the two standout musclemen.

With the backing of the leading local supplement and gym equipment supplier, Clarke, a five-time national champion and Campbell, a three-time national champ will move on to represent Guyana next week in Mex-

ico.

The pair, along with other members of the national team, will be competing at the annual CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships.

Clarke grabbed gold at the last edition while Campbell earned a silver medal.

Both athletes thanked McDonald for his support and vowed to do their best at the international fixture.

Fitness Express athletes, Kerwin Clarke and Emmerson Campbell were lauded by the CEO of the entity, Jamie McDonald, for winning the bodybuilding and physique titles at the just concluded National Senior Championships.

ECB chairman throws weight behind ‘colossus’ King in immigration battle

West Indies 1979 World Cup winner Collis King

LONDON, England (CMC) – E n g l a n d a n d Wa l e s Cricket Board chairman, Colin Graves, has waded into the controversy surrounding great former West Indies batsman Collis King’s deportation from Britain, offering to lend his assistance to ensure the “colossus” was able to return and continue his contribution to English cricket.

King, who starred in the 1979 World Cup final with an astonishing half-century,

was forced to return home to his native Barbados four months ago after immigration officials denied his application for a spousal visa.

Though he had spent the last 44 years plying his trade here as a professional cricketer and coach, King was told he application needed to be submitted from Barbados instead of England. He was subsequently given two weeks to leave the country.

King, who has been in Barbados since awaiting word on his application in

order to be reunited with his British wife, said he even had his passport confiscated on departing England, with the document only returned on landing in Barbados.

Graves told the Daily Telegraph newspaper here he was willing to lend his support to the 67-year-old in a personal capacity, in an attempt to have the former Windies star resume his career.

The ECB official has had a long-running friendship

with King, having served as chairman of Dunnington Cricket Club in Yorkshire, where the veteran cricketer spent two decades as a pro.

“I have known him for 25 years and he has played in and around Yorkshire, and the amount of coaching he has done with kids and schools has been fabulous,” Graves explained.

“He has really promoted kids’ cricket and developed and coached players. It is not like he has just turned up, played and left. He has been part of the community wherever he has been.

“I know Dunnington did not have a junior section before he went to play for them. He started it up and now they have 70-80 kids and he is still coaching now.

That is where he has been a big asset.

“He has never been a drain on anybody. He has never drawn benefits and he is so fit and active I doubt he has ever used the NHS.” He continued: “I was staggered that his application was thrown out without any further investigation.

Someone just looked at it and said, ‘On your bike’ and he was out. Nobody seemed to bother to look at it. It was cold and that is what upset

me. They did not look at the individual; it was just another number on a file.

“From a cricket point of view in Yorkshire he has been a colossus. He is known around all the clubs and we will do everything we can from a cricket point of view because he is helping with what we are trying to achieve in the recreational game.”

King said he had sought the help of the British High Commission while in Barbados but no help was forthcoming.

The UK Home Office here said it did not comment on individual cases.

King played only nine Tests and 18 ODIs but came to prominence in the 1979 World Cup final with a scintillating 86 off 66 balls, in a 139-run, fifth-wicket stand with Sir Vivian Richards (138 not out).

The partnership formed the basis of the Windies’ second successive World Cup triumph – a 92-run win over England – and wrote King’s name into global cricket folklore.

King went on to play league cricket as well as to represent counties like Glamorgan and Worcestershire. Up until recently when

he decided to spend more time with his wife, he spent the summers in England and the remainder of the year in Barbados.

Describing King as a “cricket ambassador”, Graves said his contribution to the leagues had been invaluable.

“He is one of the most genuine blokes you could ever come across. He is very sociable. He can handle himself in all situations,” Graves asserted.

“He is very loyal; whoever he gets to know or team he plays for he is totally loyal to them. He is a cricket ambassador. You put him in a cricket community, he is like a honeypot. He attracts the bees.

“If you look at his record in league cricket it is phenomenal. The good he has created over the years with people playing with and against him has lifted the whole league.

“He is not a taker. He is someone who wants to put things back in. He turns up, spends time at the clubhouse, socialising with people. He would play midweek matches and Sunday matches. He was totally committed to whatever he was doing.”

32

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, July 19, 2018

GFF Elite League to benefit from capacity-building initiatives with Brazilian professional clubs

PAGE

27

… Forde wraps up successful trip to Brazil

GFF president Wayne Forde holds a light discussion at the Engenhão Estádio Nilton Santos Botafogo FR Stadium during his visit to Brazil.

Shariff, Juma set to CWI hails make history at CAC ‘appeal’ of Chess Championships 27 brand after PAGE

penning Betway deal PAGE

CWI’s Commercial and Marketing Director, Dominic Warne.

26

CPL tickets go on sale from today TICKET sales for the Guyana Amazon Warriors first three (3) home matches of the Hero CPL will commence today at the CPL Guyana Office, located at 238 Camp and Quamina Streets, Georgetown.

Tickets can be purchased from 08:00hrs to 17:00hrs on weekdays and from 09:00hrs to 13:00hrs on

Saturdays. Tickets for this year’s CPL matches are as follows: RED AND GREEN STANDS G$5 000 ORANGE STAND - G$3 000 GRASS MOUND - G$2 500 There have been numerous enquiries regarding the sale of tickets for the CPL games and with this in

Chelsea Juma

Sasha Shariff

mind fans and cricket enthusiasts are advised to make early purchases so as to avoid the rush as we get closer to match days.

The first three home matches scheduled to be played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence are as follows: Thursday August 9 – Guyana

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

Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts Patriots at 18:00hrs Saturday August 11 – Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Lucia Stars at 16:00hrs Sunday August 12 – Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Barbados Tridents at 18:00hrs Please note that from today, only tickets for the first three matches, scheduled for

the August, 9, 11, 12, 2018, will be available.

Ticket sales for matches scheduled for September 8 and 9 will be announced later.

For further information on ticketing, please feel free to contact the CPL Guyana office on 2315344 and 231-2035 and on e-mail – cplguyana@ gmail.com THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018