Guyana Chronicle E-paper 09-09-2018

9th Septemeber, 2018

No.105378 No.105392

US$20M to end blackouts PAGE

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–– Guyana secures loan from Islamic Bank for major upgrade of power distribution

Women arrested, alcohol seized in nightclub raid 10 PAGE

Father 11 stabs son to death PAGE

A warrior to the bone! This Guyana Amazon Warrior fan was among thousands who came out in support of their team in the Caribbean Premier League match against the Jamaica Tallawahs at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara on Saturday (Adrian Narine photo) (See story on back page)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 9, 2018

Bringing back brewed coffee to Guyana A HEADY, distinctive fragrance drifts invitingly up to Louis Holder’s Liliendaal office. It’s the smell of coffee—but definitely not any ordinary kind.

The invigorating smell comes from an exquisite brand of locally-produced ground coffee. Its rich aroma exemplifies its intriguing story, one that interweaves long forgotten history with a man’s love for his country and his determination to succeed.

This unique brand of ground coffee is made from beans harvested in the Pomeroon region of Guyana’s interior for Amy’s Pomeroon Foods. Louis Holder is chief executive officer and, under his leadership, Amy’s has become one of the most resilient agro-processing businesses in the nation, holding on resolutely in the face of multiple challenges.

Holder knows a lot about coffee. And, in his view, coffee in Guyana has a rich history and a heritage that should be preserved.

“We did some research and found that our coffee grown here is the oldest coffee in the New World, having been introduced by the Dutch…the coffee you are getting today from the Pomeroon is basically the coffee that evolved from the original Typica [Arabica] variety that was introduced in 1721 by the Dutch,” he explained.

“Basically what happened to coffee is that by 1810, British Guiana was one of the largest exporters of coffee in the world having exported 22 million pounds that year.

But the Dutch grew Typica on low elevations, on the coastland of Guyana, whereas Typica favours high elevations. As a result of that, the

yields of the plant dropped,” Holder said.

Consequently, costs rose and it became increasingly difficult for coffee-plantation owners to sell their coffee at competitive prices on the world market. Over time, most switched to sugar and the coffee industry went into steep decline.

There was one exception—the Pomeroon- which became the last stronghold for local coffee growers, mainly because that region did not have large plots of flat land suitable for sugar cultivation.

Farmers continued to grow coffee in the Pomeroon long after the industry declined elsewhere. Most importantly, they continued to grow a unique breed of the Typica Arabica plant that is renowned for producing an exclusive type of ground coffee, one that is renowned

The unique brand of ground coffee made from beans harvested in the Pomeroon

for its unforgettable taste and exquisite aroma.

This holdout by Pomeroon coffee growers continued into this century, but farmers began to suffer heavy losses as demand declined and Guyanese turned more and more to instant coffee. Coffee growers then started to cut down their coffee plants.

JUST COULDN’T HAPPEN Holder feared that the unique cultivar of the Typica Arabica coffee plant would be lost forever, and along with it, one of the most sublime coffee flavours the world has ever known.

“I just couldn’t let that happen…” he said.

Holder set about laying the groundwork to start his own coffee business. His vision was clear and simple: produce an excellent quality product using the Pomeroon coffee cultivar with the objective of replacing five percent of the foreign coffee imports by the first year of operations. His business went into production in 2015.

Most manufacturers go through a two-step process to produce ground coffee, but Holder opted for the longer and costlier five-step process known as the “wet process” which develops the best flavor.

Coffee cherries —the fruit picked from the coffee tree—are put in a water-bath; defective ones float to the top and are removed; the rest are put in a ‘pulper’ to remove their thick skins. What remains is a parchment covered by mucilage (a sticky substance). The beans are

Louis Holder has over brewed coffee is put in another water-bath and “convenience”, because it after three days the mucican be made more easily lage, which contains sugars, and quickly. “Ground cofbreaks down into alcohol and fee will take a few minutes is removed through a process to brew, but the taste is the of agitation. real deal,” he explained.

Next, the parchment “That is the real taste of is sun-dried before being coffee,” he insisted, pointplaced into a ‘huller’ to reing out that Instant coffee move the shells, leaving is made by brewing coffee behind coffee green beans. which is then freeze-dried Using modern technology, and crystallised. “You lose the green beans are roasted all the flavour; you lose and ground into coffee granthe aroma; you lose a lot of ules at the Liliendaal plant. things,” he lamented.

To maximise flavour, Amy’s He believes it is unfortuCoffee aims for the granules nate that, in recent times, many to have a medium-dark roastGuyanese have lost their appreing profile. ciation for brewed coffee. That The more finely ground is why he thinks his campaign the coffee is, the more into ‘bring back brewed coffee’ tense the flavour, although is vitally important.

Amy’s produces coffee “Guyanese think cof‘grinds’ of varying degrees fee should taste like instant of coarseness, according to coffee and we have had to customers’ specifications. try to wean them off of inHolder is committed to stant by giving away 2000 pushing brewed coffee in French presses…” he said. the local market and mainHis company also gave away tains that top-notch coffee several 40-cup percolators houses worldwide do not free of charge to commercial consider instant coffee to customers and Government be real coffee.

Ministries and has been visiting these businesses and ADVANTAGE OF organisations to conduct free CONVENIENCE sample-tasting exercises.

In his view, the only Despite his efforts advantage instant coffee though, business has not made the inroads he expected and, in fact, has remained virtually stagnant from the time of production to now.

He started out with a conservative estimate that the business would penetrate the foreign imports market by five per cent by the end of the first year of production.

But three years later, Amy’s coffee is only at 2.2 per cent of foreign imports.

“I think the reason is the Guyanese public has a…conThe beans being roasted to produce a delicious cept of local products that it is one of low quality so they flavour of ground coffee have this preference for foreign imports. The problem with that is that our balance of trade is in the negative region.

This is not sustainable. This country cannot See page 3

US$20M to end blackouts

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 9, 2018

–– Guyana secures loan from Islamic Bank for major upgrade of power distribution

GUYANA has received approval from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for a loan of US$20M for the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Utility Upgrade Programme to effect a comprehensive turnaround of its electricity distribution.

This loan is the first sum to be disbursed from the resource envelope of US$900M that was extended to Guyana by the IsDB in 2017, a Ministry of Finance release said. Guyana has already benefitted

from two grants from the bank totalling more than US$500,000.

GPL has long been challenged by its inability to provide a reliable supply of electricity and suffers high levels of losses. This has been compounded by a rapid increase in demand for energy by residential and commercial users.

The GPL Utility Upgrade Programme is co-financed by the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Union, and upon completion, will

reduce losses, realise a more efficient and reliable service and deliver a better quality of electricity to households and commercial users.

The Utility Upgrade Programme is part of GPL’s Development and Expansion for the period 2014 to 2021, which aims to reduce overall losses in the power system, the Ministry of Finance release said.

The loan will facilitate rehabilitation of 153km of GPL’s medium voltage and low voltage network and 6,

941 smart meters, including the associated transformers, service lines and distribution boxes and rehabilitation and extension of two 69/13.8KV substations at Kingston and Vreed-enhoop, including equipment switchgear, power transformers, rerouting of circuits distribution feeders and cable connections.

It will also finance consultancy services for the preparation of designs and specifications for the sub-stations and the site supervision for the works

related to the Kingston and Vreed-en-Hoop substations, as well as support the existing project management unit by financing additional specialised engineers and technicians to reinforce the existing team. GPL is the executing agency for the project and will operate under the aegis of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan will sign the agreement with the IsDB on September 19, 2018 in Saudi Arabia. Since becoming a member of the bank,

Finance Minister Winston Jordan government has been aggressively pursuing projects that will increase Guyana’s infrastructure and optimise its productivity in the areas of agriculture, trade and competitiveness and human and rural development, having committed to the diversification of Guyana’s economy in preparation for first-oil in 2020.

Guyana became a member of the IsDB in 2017; the partnership was formalised with a mutual commitment to a five-year work programme.

Bringing back brewed ...

From page 2

continue with a negative balance of trade because it will lead to inflation, high interest rates and economy crashing. We need a concerted effort to promote local products,” he pointed out.

Holder noted that the United States of America enacted a buy local law since 1933 specifying that tax payers’ funds cannot be used to buy foreign products, making it imperative for Government expenditure to go towards the local products of that country.

He noted that the Unit-

ed States has also been putting tariffs on imports to make their locally produced goods more attractive.

SUPPORT LOCAL “I certainly recommend a law which promotes the use of taxpayers’ money for the procurement of local products. Once you have local products, the taxpayers’ money should not be used to buy foreign substitutes.”

Holder emphasized that unless there is legislation that causes tax payers’ funds to be spent only on local products, this will not happen.

“We have a good product…all the major coffee houses in Guyana use this product…” he said. “It means that this is a good product that they have stumbled on and it is reasonably priced… major hotels…use our coffee. But we cannot get the consumers, we haven’t found the consumers are onboard yet…” he added.

Furthermore, Holder is concerned that local products do not and will notget sufficiently prominent exposure on supermarket shelves.

Holder said he is also hoping to expand his op-

erations to produce chocolates. He already produces mocha, which is coffee flavoured with chocolate.

Moreover, he plans to introduce a powdered coconut milk to market alongside Amy’s Coffee. “We tried it and it makes an excellent flavor,” he said.

Another plan he has for the near future is to produce chocolate-flavoured coconut butter, similar in consistency to Nutella.

To convince Guyanese consumers that local products are of good quality and deserve support, he suggested

that Government and the private sector should launch a strong campaign to promote the ‘buy-local’ concept among Guyanese.

Holder said he participated in all of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association’s UncappeD exhibitions and finds it useful to introduce his product to the various regions.

Market Place UncappeD has so far been held in Regions Three and Four. The next UncappeD is slated for Region Six on October 28 at the Albion Community Centre Ground.

Even though Holder has not reached his production goals, he continues to stand strong as an agro processor, driven by his need to do something positive for his country. All of the company’s shareholders stand with him in this. “We see the challenges as temporary…these will be overcome,” Holder asserted.

His confidence is priceless.

It might decide the fate of an age-old industry, a patriotic agro-processing business —and a rare coffee plant.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 9, 2018

Syria war: Idlib rebels targeted by ‘fiercest raids in weeks’ (BBC) Syria and Russia have carried out their most intensive air raids in weeks on rebel positions in the northern province of Idlib, activists say.

They say strikes targeted eastern and southern parts of Idlib, as well as the bordering province of Hama.

It is the last major rebel-held area in Syria and government forces, backed by Russia, are poised to attack.

On Friday the leaders of Russia and Iran rejected calls for a truce despite fears of a humanitarian disaster.

On Saturday the UK-

based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a monitoring body, and the opposition-affiliated Idlib Media Centre said government helicopters had dropped 19 barrel bombs on targets in Idlib and northern Hama, and Russian warplanes had staged 68 strikes.

Up to 30,000 rebel and jihadist fighters are believed to be in Idlib.

But the vast majority of its residents are civilians. The UN says the region is home to some 2.9 million people, including a million children.

More than half of the

civilians have already been displaced.

What happened in Friday's summit?

At a meeting in Tehran between Russia, Iran and Turkey, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Turkey's calls for a truce in Idlib.

Mr Putin said Russia would continue its fight against "terrorists" there.

Turkey - which has long backed some rebel groups - fears a final assault will trigger another major refugee crisis on its southern border.

However, Russia and Iran said jihadist groups in Idlib must be wiped out.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani argued that "fighting terrorism in Idlib was an unavoidable part of the mission to restore peace and stability to Syria".

What are the concerns?

The UN fears a largescale offensive in Idlib will lead to a humanitarian di-

The strikes targeted an area where the rebels are making their last stand

saster.

On Thursday, the new US envoy for Syria, Jim Jeffrey, said the anticipated conflict would be a "reckless escalation", and that "there is lots of evidence that chemical weapons are being prepared."

He did not give details of the evidence he was referring to.

What do we know of recent chemical weapons use?

The Syrian government has denied ever using chemical weapons.

However, experts from the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have said government forces were behind an attack involving

the nerve agent Sarin on a rebel-held town in southern Idlib in April 2017 that killed more than 80 people.

The US state department warned on Monday that Washington would respond to any new chemical attacks by the Syrian government or its allies.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 9, 2018

Roget claims success

(Trinidad Newsday) DESPITE threats of legal action and termination from government, the day of rest and reflection was yesterday described as an “overwhelming success” by president general of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) Ancel Roget.

At a press conference at the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union on Wrightson Road, he praised participating workers for their support.

Roget reported that approximately 90 per cent of

Petrotrin’s staff stayed away from work, and roughly 68 per cent of the national workforce also stayed at home.

He said had it not been for government’s threats, there would have been a much larger portion of workers willing to participate.

Accusing Rowley of deliberately misleading the public, Roget also promised greater action as the OWTU seeks to mobilise it’s campaign against the government.

“We also recognise that we would have achieved even more success if it were

THANK YOU: Ancel Roget, president general of the OWTU, thanks workers who heeded the call of the Joint Trade Union Movement to stay away from work yesterday. PHOTO

BY ROGER JACOB

not for the brazen, frontal acts of intimidation coming from the government itself.

Never before did we witness such a high level of intimidation coming from ministers, including the Prime Minister himself personally threatening to sue workers individually.

“We would have awoken the national psyche of the Trinidadian people and brought about a type of discussion that was asleep for quite some time. We will continue to provide the type of leadership and voice for workers.” Asked if he antic-

ipated backlash for workers who participated in yesterday’s day of rest and reflection, Roget said he expected the government to become increasingly aggressive as the trade unions begin to gain more momentum in the coming weeks.

Roget also said he was being cautious when announcing the OWTU’s initiatives and upcoming events as he sought to maintain some secrecy, but confirmed that he would make the announcement next Thursday.

Lawyer Francis supports Gonsalves’ CCJ call (Antigua Observer) Attorney at law, Ralph Francis has come out in support of the call by Vincentian prime minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves for Antiguans and Barbudans to vote positively for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the upcoming referendum.

“I have no difficulty with him …. I don’t see why anyone should have a difficulty in him putting forward his views on this matter in Antigua,” Francis said in a telephone contribution to the Voice of the People programme on OBSERVER Radio yesterday Francis stressed that he has the greatest respect for Dr. Gonsalves, whom he first saw when he came to an African Liberation celebration and was refused entry into the country. He said that his next encounter with Dr. Gonsalves was when he was reading law in England and Dr. Gonsalves was doing “his Bar” and they coincidentally met on three consecutive occasions and as president of the Afro Caribbean Society, he requested of Dr. Gonsalves to give a lecture to the society and Dr. Gonsalves readily agreed.

According to Francis, he introduced Dr. Gonsalves as the future prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the lecture, and his words turned out to be prophetic.

Francis said that he had been listening to the various views on radio and he is not impressed with any of the arguments proffered against Antigua and Barbuda making the CCJ the country’s final court of appeal so he thought it was time that he “jumped into the fray”.

He said that he was not concerned about the CCJ being able to dispense justice, rather, he is concerned about people’s emphasis on trust and “cleaning up our

yard first”.

Pointing out that the Privy Council is “our highest court”, Francis said that “we hear people speaking about all of the problems we have in our judicial system, the Magistrates Court, the High Court, and the Court of Appeal. He then asked, what has the Privy Council done to eradicate the problems that we have?” before answering, “Absolutely nothing.”

Pointing out that Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the CCJ by virtue of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, Francis noted that the country is committed to take legal matters to the CCJ. He, however, noted that, so far, Antigua and Barbuda has not been required to take any case to the CCJ. He further stated that he is aware that the CCJ has introduced and proposed programmes that have been beneficial to the court system of Antigua and Barbuda but he has not heard anyone mention that.

He added that he is not aware of anything that the Privy Council has done to improve the efficiency of the local court system.

The veteran lawyer also said: “The other thing is this

… we have less cases proportionately going from our Court of Appeal to the Privy Council, which is our highest court than the English have from their court of appeal to their highest court which is the U.K. Supreme Court.

Pointing out that many people have stated that Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica “are not a part of it”, Francis expressed frankly that when it comes to regional matters, those two countries are followers and not leaders.

“You will recall that it was Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica that mashed up the Federation. When there was a move afoot to get the islands coming together, how did that happen? It happened with Barrow, Bird and Burnham meeting here at Dickenson Bay and starting what today is CARICOM. We don’t need all of them.

“The fact of the matter, though, all of the parties to the Treaty of Chaguaramas, CARICOM, are members of the CCJ. He said that should one compare the English Court of Appeal and the cases that go to the UK Supreme Court with our Court of Appeal and cases that go to the

Privy Council, proportionately more cases that go to the UK Court of Appeal are overturned than cases that go from the OECS Court of Appeal to the Privy Council.

According to him the disparity is because “we get good judgments”.

He said that most people who are criticising the proposed move to the CCJ “have not a clue about what they speak”.

“Let me tell you, I haven’t heard anybody yet come and say how many cases go to our Court of Appeal. I know I have been hearing it said that in the last 30 years forty-seven cases went to the Privy Council. But what has not been said is a large or vast majority of those cases, judgment has been given for the eventual winner in either the High Court or the Court of Appeal. It’s no to say that everybody got it all wrong all the time. There are cases where both courts erred.

“But there was a time when the House of Lords, the highest court in England ruled that their decision that they made was cast in iron; they would never review their decision. But they came to a point where they realised that

even they made mistakes and they had to change the rule.”

He candidly opined that the question of trust “amounts to white people more trust worthy than black people, white people not going to be wrapped up by politicians, everything is wrong with black people … and we are too close to each other”.

To debunk those arguments, he gave the analogy of a family member providing fair and objective mediation between two disputing family members. “If you can do that within the family, okay, why would a judge find it difficult amongst people, even if he knows, who are not blood related to him? I just don’t understand that issue.”

Francis further compared the reservations expressed by many to the fear that children have of “jumbie” stories.

Pointing out that four countries, Guyana, Belize, Barbados and the Commonwealth of Dominica are members of the CCJ in its appellate jurisdiction, he asked: “Have you heard them say that jumbie really exists?”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 9, 2018

Owning a law school

LAST Friday, we reported that The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has requested certain information before it can approve the establishment of a law school here.

This announcement, notwithstanding the anxiety among many, is more optimistic than what was being said earlier by that regional body, that Guyana did not get permission to open its own law school.

Earlier this year as well, the Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) in its final report following a survey of legal education in CARICOM member states, recommended among other things, that law schools be established in Guyana, and two other Caribbean states.

“New law schools should be set up as soon as possible as part of Utech in Jamaica, UG in Guyana and possibly in Antigua and Barbuda, principally, but not exclusively, for the non-UWI LLB degree graduates, whose degrees are deemed by the council to meet the equivalency standard of the UWI LLB degree,” the report stated.

Additionally, the recommendations which stem from a survey conducted in Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, said the opening of additional law schools under the aegis of the CLE as is presently constituted will

not solve the problems facing law students across the Region.

According to the document, the establishment of additional regional law schools in the three jurisdictions under the CLE would provide an early mechanism for addressing the unsatisfied demand for access to practise law by the many persons who are holders of non-University of the West Indies (UWI) LLB degrees.

President David Granger, while acknowledging the contributions of the CLE to the development of jurisprudence in the Caribbean, told the council on Friday that it should seek new ways of improving access to and delivery of affordable legal education.

His call, coupled with the recommendation of the Canada-funded study, must not be ignored by the CLE, which many believe needs to move with greater alacrity on this issue. The Guyanese leader also urged the CLE to embrace new technologies to improve access to and delivery of affordable legal education in the Region, and that the council should ensure non-discriminatory admissions to regional law schools.

Presently, there are three law schools operating under the treaty that established the CLE, namely: The Hugh Wooding Law School, the Norman Manley Law School, and the Eugene Dupuch Law School.

The Guyana Govermment has signed a Memorandum of Un-

derstanding with the University College of the Caribbean and Law College of the Americas in a public-private partnership to establish a law school. This partnership will see the government owning a 30 per cent share and providing only the land to build the school (University of Guyana Turkeyen campus), while the private interest will cover all the costs and hold the remaining 70 per cent.

The proposed Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence (J.O.F) Haynes school -- named in honour of one of Guyana’s most famed and respected legal minds who served as Chancellor of the Judiciary -- is welcomed by most Guyanese.

Though Guyana does not possess the largest population in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), it plays a major role in establishing institutions in the body.

One such institution is the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which is expected to make decisions, guided by international laws and precedents and influenced by the Region’s cultural development.

In speaking about the necessity for the school, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, presented some of what may have influenced the government’s decision. This includes what is said to be more than 1000 graduates of the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Guyana, who are still unable to pursue the Legal Education Certificate. Upon successful completion

of this certificate, one can practise in the courts.

The issue of the quota system at the Hugh Wooding Law School where Guyana continues to churn out more LLB graduates than what is allotted, continues to adversely impact our graduates. Apparently, there has not been much success in arriving at an arrangement of mutual satisfaction on this issue.

In the meantime, the benefit that can be derived from the J.O.F Haynes Law School is that of preparing an increasing number of minds to help the society in pursuing a democratic path. While all may not practise in the courts, they can provide other critical services.

Some of these services include serving as researchers to prepare cases, refining arguments, and challenging opinions in influencing decisions that could bring about progressive changes for society.

On the other hand, there is a school of thought that there are too many lawyers relative to population size. With the many violations of laws and transgressing of citizens’ rights, the more trained in law and are prepared to fearlessly stand up in defence of it, such practice would bring about greater understanding and awareness among the wider society, including within the police force that has responsibility to serve and protect.

In the workplace, relationships between employer and employees have become more complex and require greater understanding and

application of laws, conventions, charters and agreements. Navigating these can be problematic, particularly where ignorance exists.

Institutions such as trade unions may require their leadership to be more au fait with the nuances of the law in aiding proper representation of their members.

Thus,the issue of having more lawyers is not only about representation in a court, but seeking to protect citizens’ rights, be it at home, in the workplace, or on the streets.

When established, the J.O.F Haynes Law School will be the fourth within CARICOM, and brings with it certain advantages. At the market level, Guyana will afford students comparatively lower tuition fees;housing and maintenance also will be lower relative to the other three countries where schools are. These factors will give Guyana a competitive advantage in attracting students even from outside of the Caribbean, who will wish to qualify to practise in the Region.

Though all of the above and more will percolate minds, by ordinary folk and within the corridors of influence and power, the school is being established and we can only hope that it will be realised soon.

As a people, domestic and regional, expectations will be held that the intellectual growth and development of the society can be fulfilled likewise, as our needed relationship within CARICOM and the member states.

I raise my voice in defence and support of the Rohingya people Dear Editor, MY heart goes out to the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar who are enduring horrible persecution at the hands of that country’s Bhuddist majority and it saddens me that every day, it seems, there is more news of Rohingya villages being burnt to the ground while men, women and children are routinely slaughtered, raped, tortured and turned into refugees fleeing for their lives.

News of what is happening to citizens of the world in Myanmar is deeply disturbing. But what makes it even more distressing to me is that this atrocity is taking place at a time when there are many enormously wealthy Muslim states in the world,

such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, The United Arab Emirates, etcetera and I am not hearing anything about what these rich states are doing to help the Rohingya people. In my opinion, they are not even an example to us in these far-off lands as Muslims and even to humanity. They seem lost in the perpetual love and lust for wealth, power and, sadly yes, women.

The insane brutality and bloodshed being inflicted on the Rohingya people are not an ordinary situation. The United Nations has called it a clear case of modern-day genocide and a textbook example of systematic ethnic cleansing. The Rohingya Muslims are fleeing by the hundreds of thousands to find safe places to live and practise

their faith, but it appears that they are not getting the type of support they desperately need. Bangladesh, despite its poverty, has accommodated them and yet again the rich so-called Muslim states do nothing to fight for their rights or give comfort to these sad souls and financial support to the Bangladesh Government. Children have been raped and brutalised,parents murdered before their eyes.

The hundreds of thousands have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh where they barely exist as a people with no citizenship. The Bangladeshi Government has offered them refuge, but they face new challenges as they are forced to live in refugee camps. There are reports that desperate refugees are being cruelly

exploited and they accept the abuse because they are terrified of being sent back to Myanmar.

Everyone knows that I have a burning passion for peace and justice and I am moved to reach out a helping hand to those who are victimised, underprivileged, less fortunate or those who simply find themselves in bad circumstances through no fault of their own. I also believe charity begins at home; that is why I am so hurt to see these souls as brothers and sisters in such a plight with seemingly nowhere to turn.

From what I can see, the entire world is failing the Rohingya people. The world needs to do a lot more, especially the ‘giants of Asia’: China, Japan, India and

Pakistan. In my humble opinion, powerful Asian nations can do a lot more to help the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees living precariously in their midst, and put political and military pressure on Myanmar to cease this crime against humanity.

This is a major human rights problem for the world. It is clear to me that Myanmar will not be in any position to take back the refugees anytime soon and it will be a huge, difficult and costly challenge to make logistical arrangements for their journey back. I believe the global community has to double or triple the pressure on Myanmar to guarantee their safe return, or resettle them somewhere Turn to page 7

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 9, 2018

Suicide prevention and care

Dear Editor,

FOUR years ago, the World Health Organisation reported that Guyana had the highest suicide rate in the world. As the country was sent in a panic over this surprising statistic, the Ministry of Public Health launched its “National Suicide Prevention Plan” and other organisations created campaigns geared toward providing help to persons affected by depression, suicidal thoughts, etc. However, this “surprise” shouldn’t be surprising at all. In our society, there aren’t many places that offer professional, reliable help. Yes, there are places, but are they available on every two corners like a rum shop? In addition to that, some environments hinder the expression of people. Sharing our bad feelings is often deemed as a form of weakness or as a vulnerable characteristic flaw that shouldn’t be tolerated. Building strength doesn’t mean taking away our vulnerabilities. Our vulnerabilities can make us stronger by acknowledging their existence.

Despite that belief occasionally “coming from a good place”, it

can cause isolation amongst other negatively impactful practices. As such, it is important for people to fully comprehend ways to be more vigilant, honest and express our willingness to help. Even though we can’t say the ideal phrases to a person in need, we can always offer a simple but potent comfort. “If I can’t help you, I will help you to get help”. That’s a tagline that ASPIRE Youth Network Guyana uses during its facilitative sessions with youth.

A common misconception is that suicide is selfish. Ultimately, none of us can see a person hurting mentally. We can see the physical symptoms that can accompany depression, but unless we are the prototype of Professor Xavier, we can’t see what others feel. However, we can acknowledge the warning signs of a person that may be sad or depressed. There are reasons why people say that statement.

People can say suicide is selfish to shift the blame on the person that died. Families and friends affected by the loss of their loved one can experience situational depression, substance abuse etc. Persons experiencing suicidal thoughts can experience distorted thinking due

to their overwhelming feelings of depression, emotional detachment from their loved ones, despair etc.

This distorted thinking can prevent persons from perceiving reality.

As reality can be interpreted in a number of ways, depression can serve as an influencing factor in how a person perceives himself/ herself in the lives of their family or friends. All of that being said, how can we prevent suicide? Some people remind the person of their vibrant life and its possibilities or they talk about the effect their death can have on their family. However, an approach like this isn’t effective, since it doesn’t address the problem.

Depression usually occurs for a number of reasons. I prefer to not list reasons, since I believe that a person’s sadness or depressive symptoms cannot be categorised by which is the most severe.

In relation to suicide, the Criminal Offences Act contains a deeply flawed law. Section 96 contains the following excerpt. “Everyone who attempts to commit suicide shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and liable to imprisonment for two years.” Now that fact is surprising.

Weirdly enough, this particular section doesn’t take any consid-

eration in providing professional help to persons who have survived a suicide attempt. After a suicide attempt, a person will need a strong support system that can ensure that their life doesn’t feel as hopeless as it did before. Furthermore, there can be a sense of disapproval from the persons who would have been ultimately affected by this suicidal attempt. This shame or guilt felt by the friends and family of the survivor can cause them to try to make things better. This can be positive or negative, depending on the course of action taken. A negative course of action would be informing the person of the “mistake” they would have committed if they had died.

A positive course of action would be listening to what the person says or doesn’t say. Afterward, you can provide an infinite amount of support through advocating the importance of taking care of their mental health and sharing information on places to go for professional help.

It must be noted that the survivor’s family or counsellor would need to know what caused them to commit suicide in the first place. Once you are fully aware of what might have transpired, you can think of different methods that can aid them in

I raise my voice in defence and support ... safe. Or the rich Arab Muslim countries can purchase an island and resettle them while building industries and farms. They forget that the greatest thing they can do is build a new Islamic country which may save their souls.

I always tell it as I see it, no matter who does not like what I say. Therefore, while I blame the Bhuddist terrorists and government of Myanmar, I also blame the powerful nations in Asia and the world at large for the genocide of the Rohingya people. I think it is pertinent for me to blame the Muslim leaders, Muslim scholars, Muslim Sheiks and rich Muslim countries for not doing enough to help their brothers and sisters, to help humanity, and moreso, those who practise their faith as they wish.

Why can’t their fellow Muslims use the abundant blessings bestowed upon them by the Almighty, their intellect, their ingenuity, their resourcefulness, their riches etc. to allocate or buy an island as I said above, or some appropriate tract of land to set up an enclave for these people? Why can’t they come together and set up camps for them and give them food, shelter and job opportunities? They can set up schools for the children, counselling for the inflict-

ed and damaged children, men and women. These super rich Arab countries and other powerful ones can always find monies for wars and more wars, destabilisation of governments and clandestine behaviour in the world. Warplanes cost between US$10,000,000 to US$100,000, 000 each. Just imagine what these monies can do to alleviate the suffering of the world. .These are stateless people. Why can’t they create a little state for these people and give them the start-up resources to get back on their feet? Why can’t they help them to start over somewhere where they will never be

treated as slaves, servants or second- class citizens; somewhere where they can live as peaceful Muslims live -- in dignity? If they are moved to attempt to help the Rohingya Muslims, I hope these rich Arab states will not do so in an exploitative way, because there are many reports of abuses of migrant workers who have travelled to these states in search of a better life.

I call on the Muslim community to come together and plan how best we can help our brothers and sisters who are in such extreme distress.

They deserve no less than our best.

I do not talk about a prob-

lem without trying to be part of the solution, so my door is open to discuss with fellow Muslims and persons of all faiths, colours and creeds who, like me, love peace and justice, to see how we can help the suffering commu-

having a healthy recovery.

For this article, I’ve remained stable. However, there are days when I don’t feel like this. Sometimes, I can feel like I’m invisible and just “going through the motions.” I’ve noticed that I am not the only person who feels like this. Perhaps, you have felt or are currently feeling something like that. I can’t see who you are and I may never have the chance to know you. The real you. Not the person you pretend to be at work, to your friends or on social media. The person you view yourself as. We may not know each other, but we should always remember that we aren’t alone. Our experiences can make us feel far more connected than blood. I hope that you have a strong support system as I do. If you don’t have one, you can send a message ASPIRE Youth Network Facebook Page. We are a group of young people who also have good and bad days. If we can’t help you, we will help you to get help.

Regards, Juliana Lopes, ASPIRE Youth Network Guyana

From page 6

nity in Myanmar. Let us talk together, pray together in divine guidance and mercy as we embark on this most noble and holy mission.

Before I close I must call on the United Nations, Europe and North America

to institute charges against those culpable, including Aung San Suu Kyi and the 13 generals identified by Amnesty International.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Snr.

8

IN THE GREEN CORNER

THE opposition leader has maximised the grievances of teachers into a “crisis.”

He tried to stoke the strike by telling a section of the media that the teachers’ demands were “legitimate.” He seemed unaware that the week-long protest was over, and he was left with the proverbial gasoline in his hand.

The morbid expectation that the teachers’ strike would be the forerunner to a general shut-down of the country turned into resentment. One of the opposition’s Peepers (KN September 8) claimed that union leaders have been “outfoxed” and “outsmarted” by the government. Resentment gave way to bewilderment, with the Peeper asking why did union leaders wear “green-coloured T-shirts” when they met with government officials for the agreement to proceed towards arbitration.

Out of bitterness, detractors would impute betrayal on the part of these leaders who, just days before, were hailed as fighters on a righteous crusade.

GENUINE GRIEVANCES No one ever doubted that teachers had genuine grievances, and though only a small section of the teaching staff actually went on strike, civil society was generally in sympathy with teachers. For two weeks some teachers stayed home.

Pockets of them, mainly in Linden, protested on the streets, waxing lyrical, “Dey wuk we like a donkey, and pay we like a junkie…”

No one was arrested. No one was harassed. No one was shot. That was unlike the sordid and bloody episodes in Linden a few years back, when peaceful protesters were shot, and three killed; and on the Essequibo Coast when rice farmers were tear-gassed, and hauled before the court.

The action of the teachers fell under provisions of both the Labour Act and, more particularly, an agreement made in 1983 that governs settlement of disputes. It provides for stages in the dispute-resolution process: settlement, conciliation and arbitration.

Both the teachers’ union and the Department of Labour have concluded that conciliation has failed, and opted for arbitration, at which stage a decision on the issues would be final and binding. During the arbitration period, there would be, on the part of the union, no strike, stoppage of work, goslow, boycott or picketing.

On the part of the Ministry of Education, there would be no recrimination, loss of pay, no lock-outs or interference with the arbitration process.

NOBLE PROFESSION When I wrote my column “Burden and Benefit” last week, I did so with a heavy heart.

Both Sita and I have been teachers, giving together some 50 years of service to the “noble profession.” But I also read with a troubled mind a statement by a union leader that teachers were given a better deal under the previous PPP government.

For the record, the coalition government gave teachers an unprecedented scale of salary increases, ranging in 2016 between 10 to 6%, and in 2017 between 8 to 6%. The lowest

paid teachers received the higher percentage increases.

Under the Jagdeo presidency, when the economy was in the red, an across-the-board “full and final” 7% was paid for 2005. The standard, miserly, “band you waist” 5% was allowed for all succeeding years between 2006 and 2015.

Having given those increases as indicated above for 2016 and 2017, and explaining that it could not afford anything better at this time, the coalition government placed on the table an offer of $710M for increase in salaries for 2018. In addition, it made available $200M for “de-bunching” to rectify anomalies in salary scales.

NON-SALARIED PACKAGE The APNU+AFC Government committed to improve, even marginally, the non-salaried status quo and conditions of employment, as follows:1. Improved Monthly Qualifications Allowances: (a) Certificate in Education $ 4,000. (b) Diploma Education $ 6,000. (c) Master’s Degree $10,000. (d) Doctoral Degree $30,000.

2. Clothing Allowance: $8,000 from the new school year 2018/2019.

3. Whitley Council Allowance: To be paid in June of the year of entitlement. Teachers will continue to receive Whitley Council Leave and Allowance every four years.

4. Annual Leave: In addition to the customary Easter, August and Xmas breaks, principals and deputy principals of Technical Trade/ Craft Institutions are granted one month’s leave during the students’ vacation.

5. Duty Free Concession: Teachers will be granted duty-free concessions per year in keeping with the agreed categories and eligibility criteria.

This includes duty-free concessions for motor vehicles and ATV mountain bikes. Scholarships: Thirty teachers will continue to receive scholarships for a period of four years at the University of Guyana. An additional 20 scholarships will be granted to teachers to pursue science at the University of Guyana.

6. Hinterland Benefits: The policy will be enforced to ensure that teachers and their families who serve in the interior are given, once per

SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 9, 2018

year, a return fare to the coastland.

7. Housing Fund: The Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers Union to mutually agree on a mechanism for implementation of the Housing Revolving Fund, which was first promised by the former government, and could have accumulated some $200 million over the years that it was not disbursed.

8. Remote Area Incentives: Teachers in hinterland areas (Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine) received 80% increase. The 2017 rates of $5000 and $7,000 were increased to $9000 and $12000 respectively.

MARKED IMPROVEMENTS Apart from the allowances, there have been marked improvements in the teaching sector, which include major overhauls of school buildings and facilities.

Monthly stipends for students at the Cyril Potter College and Linden Pre-Service centres. These have been increased in 2018 by 73% for Resident, and 53% for non-Resident trainees. The stipends were increased from an average $5,300 to $9,000 (Resident), and to $11,000 (Non-Resident).

Since taking office, the new government has distributed a total of 9,213 laptop computers to teachers, and more than 5,500 teachers have been trained in Basic Computer Literacy by the ICT Unit of the Ministry of Education. Additionally, 84 secondary schools, 89 primary schools, 21 tertiary education, training and skills-building institutions and nine technical/ vocational training schools have been connected to the e-Government network and provided with free access to the internet. Further, some 120 ICT Hubs have been established, and both teachers and students can access internet free of cost.

The union should justifiably feel betrayed that not a cent has been disbursed by the former government under the Housing Revolving Fund, and that the promise of 100 house lots each year for teachers was not kept. However, there is no evidence to sustain the argument that things were better off for teachers under the former government, unless the statement asserting that was intended as a subtle political message to the government folks in green to do better for its constituency.

This, of course, is a horse of a different colour, which the opposition leader would find difficult to flog as he nibbles away, like a rodent on crumbs, at small issues.

Guyanese companies invited to attend India Chem

GUYANESE companies have been invited to attend the 10th edition of India Chem from 4-6 October, 2018 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, NSE Complex, Goregaon, Mumbai, India.

According to President of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce, Halim Khan, the Indian Chemical Industry contributes 3.4 per cent of the global chemical industry.

“It is ranked 14th in exports and eighth in imports of chemical (excluding pharmaceutical products) globally. India Chem 2018

will showcase government policy for sustained growth in the sector and will provide a platform for investors, both domestic and international, and other stakeholders to interact and forge alliances. At the same time, the international exhibition will enable manufacturers to showcase the latest products, machinery, equipment and technologies,” Khan noted.

He said that the event is expected to have over 300 Indian and international exhibitors, while attracting over 20,000 business visitors from India and abroad.

Underscoring that the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, the Government of India in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is organising the event. Khan said China, Japan, Iran, Germany, Turkey, Spain, UK, the USA and Vietnam among others are expected to participate in India Chem 2018.

Khan explained that the chemical industry in India is a diversified industry, covering more than 80,000 commercial products. The chemical industry is the

mainstay of industrial and agricultural development of the country and provides building blocks for several downstream industries such as textiles, papers, paints, soaps, detergents, pharmaceuticals and varnish, among others.

Concurrently, he explained that an International Exhibition and Conclave on Pumps, Valves and Process Equipment will also take place.

“The Exhibition and Conclave on Pumps, Valves & Process Equipment will provide exposure to various manufacturers and will

showcase their capabilities and services. The parallel exhibition, India Chem 2018, will add on networking with Indian chemical, petrochemical and oil and gas sectors, which are the major customer bases for pumps and valves manufacturers.

The exhibition will feature pumps, valves, and process equipment from sectors such as production, transportation and processing of oil and gas; water supply sanitation; shipbuilding etc,” the Region Three private sector official noted.

Region Three Chamber of Commerce President Halim Khan

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 9, 2018

Education is the bridge

THIS week saw the confluence of a few events which underline the need for Guyanese to be forward thinking and united as the oil economy rushes closer and closer.

To the casual observer, the teachers’ strike, the pending Memorandum of Understanding with Trinidad and Tobago and regional talks about the CSME are unconnected events, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Our government is now carefully navigating the tricky waters of maintaining regional friendships, while safeguarding local workers and entrepreneurial interests, lest Guyanese are shipwrecked by Caribbean integration.

What does the teachers’ strike have to do with Caribbean integration? Let us not forget that Guyana is reputed to have the highest rate of brain drain in the world, and that the CSME guarantees

access to living and working in Guyana if Caribbean citizens are skilled workers.

This means, put simply, that there is a large Caribbean workforce with easy access to Guyanese jobs as the economy grows, potentially crowding out local employment. These anxieties are mirrored as we move closer to Trinidad and Tobago, which of course already has considerable experience supporting an oil and gas industry, rightfully concerning local businesses.

Unless Guyanese are willing to pull a shocking move on a Trumpian scale, and pull out of the CSME, what this means is that we need to find an effective way to guarantee Guyanese jobs and business growth while maintaining local allegiances. The only realistic ways to do this are through effective local content provisions and massive spending on education. Guyanese are

now tasked with playing an intense game of catch up; our Trinidadian peers, in particular, posing the greatest competitive threat.

It is against this backdrop that I reiterate the importance of teachers maintaining good relations with the administration, as they are likely to be the biggest beneficiary of the aggressive education spending that must come if Guyanese are to compete with their Caribbean siblings. We can simply not afford to continue with only 2.3 per cent of our population having bachelor’s degrees, when over half of Trinidadian students enter tertiary education. The Trinidadians are coming, my fellow Guyanese. The government is massaging this complex dynamic, but we do increasingly need to plan for the Guyanese education system of the future.

This situation reminds me somewhat of Caesar

crossing the Rhone River in pursuit of marauding Germans. The wide river had never been bridged before, and a huge number of Germans had massed on the opposite shore, a threatening presence containing the spread of Roman influence. Needless to say, Caesar crossed that river, building one of the engineering marvels of the ancient world, a wide bridge 1000 feet across, that took only 10 days to construct. The Germans were so shocked that they fled, and Caesar was able to cross and easily secure the Roman Empire’s northern border.

I believe a push on this scale is needed in education, to act as a bridge between the Guyana of old and the wealthy country we will with fortitude become. This can come in many forms, but stipends for students, which compensate Guyanese for going back to school

to get Math and English CSEC passes, or encourage attendance at technical schools and the University of Guyana will help us urgently fill classrooms and in a few short years, build the appropriate workforce.

The very teachers who are now striking can be hired in government night schools to help train Guyanese in critical subjects, providing them substantial additional incomes and further demonstrating how much we value educators.

We cannot afford to do nothing, as of course the consequences of inaction are dire. Without an aggressive push into education, the crime rate will likely skyrocket as inequality grows, not just between fellow Guyanese, but Guyanese and these new Caribbean migrants. Even further, it is important that Guyanese recognise that, unlike Barbados, Trinidad or even Ja-

maica, Guyana is certainly big enough to accommodate a huge influx of Caribbean citizens. We cannot claim overcrowding as a defence, and are thus even more vulnerable to unchecked migration.

But the answer, Guyanese, is not to entirely turn away from our Caribbean siblings. We will, in the short term, need their skills to help drive economic growth. The key is for us not to let a temporary accommodation turn into permanent inequality, with Guyanese once again at the bottom of the ladder.

Education will make us more competitive, can be used as a means of wealth redistribution and is fundamentally about uplifting Guyanese, so they can live their best life.

We will build this Caribbean Region together because we are a family, but it is our local responsibility to ensure that Guyanese lead the way.

Mabaruma residents provide lands for Venezuelan migrants

By Alva Solomon THOUGH in unfamiliar territory, indigenous Venezuelan migrants at Mabaruma have been offered parcels of land by residents on which to resettle.

The Warrau population of approximately 103 persons have been camping out at Khan’s Hill, a small, sparsely populated community outside the North West District town.

Some have also settled at White Water village close to the border with Venezuela.

Leomie Willis, the community development officer attached to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, has been busy tending to the migrants. She told the Guyana Chronicle that having lived among the tribe in Venezuela, she is familiar with their way of life.

She also told the Guyana Chronicle that lands have been given to the group by the village leader at Khan’s Hill, Ernest Santiago for the group to adopt.

“I also learnt that Mr. Monty Broomes [Mabaruma businessman] gave them a piece of place behind the Mabaruma Compound, closer

Community Development Officer, Leomie Willis to the water,” she added. She said the migrants have been leaving Khan’s Hill by foot, walking for several miles to the Aruka River to fish.

“Close to the water is good for them because it will be better for them to fish,” Willis, who was on her way to provide fish and other food stuff to the migrants, told the Guyana Chronicle.

Willis, who played a piv-

otal role in the migrants settling at Khan’s Hill, said the migrants were medically examined and according to her, within the group are several persons who are willing to earn a living “trying to help themselves.” However, she said some are still dependent on the authorities to feed and clothe them.

At the business community of Kumaka, the migrants can be seen searching for odd jobs even as residents of the area provide assistance in whatever way possible. Other Venezuelan nationals have been working and setting up small businesses such as stalls at Kumaka. It was noted by residents that a number of Venezuelans of Guyanese heritage have returned to the area.

The Guyana Government has been distributing food items and other supplies to assist the migrants through various organisations such as the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

This past week the CDC visited Mabaruma and with the assistance of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force and the Regional Democratic Council of

Khan’s Hill, an area at Mabaruma close to the solar farm where the migrants have settled Region One (Barima/Waini), conducted a distribution exercise to assist the migrants.

CDC Head, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, told the Guyana Chronicle that 46 non-food hampers and 36 food hampers were distributed to the migrants at Khan’s Hill outside Mabaruma as well as at White Water Village and Gajah landing near the indigenous village.

The food hampers were distributed to the CDC by DeSinco Trading while the

International Organisation for Migration (IOM) also provided hampers.

Craig said a new group of migrants entered White Water village this past week and the CDC has advised the Ministry of Public Health to conduct normal screening procedures, including vaccinations. He said another relief exercise if planned for the region in the new week.

Meanwhile, Willis said the authorities at Mabaru-

ma have expressed concern about the incidence of prostitution which she noted has been observed and linked to the migrants at Kumaka.

She said that the migrants have been informed by the regional authorities about the act, noting that the otherwise peaceful communities within the sub-region are mindful of prostitution and the negative impact, including health impacts, which it brings.

‘It is ridiculous’

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 9, 2018

–– Nagamootoo rubbishes Jagdeo’s suggestion of letting UN manage local elections

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has rubbished Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo’s suggestion of contracting the local elections out to international bodies like the United Nations (UN).

“It is ridiculous. The constitution provides for the manner in which elections should be conducted and there are laws like the Representation of People’s Act which guide the conduct of the elections,” said Nagamootoo in an invited comment on Saturday.

The prime minister said that except for the “half-hearted” complaint about the General Elections in 2015, there have been no other complaints about irregular elections since 1992.

International organisations like the UN, Commonwealth, United Kingdom (UK)’s Parliamentary

group, Carter Center and so forth have been observing the local elections since 1992.

“That has been the pattern across the globe… it has been applicable since 1992 and for the last five elections we had since then,” said Nagamootoo.

Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo

He believes that there is no merit to what Jagdeo said because Guyana boasts a multi-party parliamentary democracy.

“He is trying to portray that the country is under some military or totalitarian rule which is an insult to Guyana,” said the prime minister.

Jagdeo however believes that the conduct of elections should be something on the table during his discussions with President David Granger.

“Maybe we should contract this out… for instance we could get the UN because I think we can do it far cheaper than when we consider the sums of money that GECOM spends,” said Jagdeo during a press conference at his Church Street Office on Thursday.

The assistance of international bodies, he said,

would allow for credible elections with just oversight from Guyanese. “Guyanese would not be involved in the architecture but the machinery… that way we could agree to a credible list… this is just a suggestion and it could be a model but we need to discuss these things,” said Jagdeo.

Guyana has been using a model which was established by the Carter Center.

In its report on the 2001 elections, the Carter Center noted that the Carter Formula which was critical to the success of the breakthrough transitional elections in 1992 has allowed, in subsequent elections, party interests to interfere with effective electoral administration.

The Carter Centre, following the 2001 elections, had stated: “In advance of future elections, Guyana should

consider reforms that would reduce the politicised composition of GECOM and move toward an Electoral Management Body (EMB) with a structure, composition and operations that are more consistent with international good practices and obligations, thus ensuring the independence and impartiality of the EMB.” The centre had made similar observations in the 2006 and 2015 elections.

Additionally, the Commonwealth Secretariat, on the same issue, had recommended that “strong consideration should be given to ending the practice of having political appointees as members of GECOM.” President Granger in endorsing calls for GECOM to be reformed went one step further and added that commissioners should be appointed by the National Assembly.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo At a recent press conference at the Ministry of the Presidency, the President told reporters that the Carter Formula, which is in use, has “exhausted its usefulness.”

Venezuelan women arrested in nightclub raid

SIX Venezuelan women were arrested along with the female manager of Avis Lounge and Nightclub, located at Lot 61 Rosignal Public Road, West Coast Berbice after police and GRA enforcement officers swooped down on the establishment minutes to midnight on Friday.

Reports indicate that the six female foreign nationals

are suspected to be victims of Trafficking in Persons (TIPs).

The law enforcement officials also seized an assortment of unaccustomed goods (beverage) from the premises. Police statistics recorded 41 alleged TIPs cases in 2014; 51 in 2015, 98 in 2016; and 50 in 2017.

Although there has been some level of success in

tackling this issue, Guyana this year maintained its Tier 1 status.

According to Coordinator of the Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (TIPs) Oliver Profitt, being able to secure successful prosecutions is one of the major challenges for the authorities.

In most cases, the victims would have families back at home, and would need their support in order to stay through the process.

If they do not have the support, then it is more than

likely they would return to their home country and the cases are left unsolved.

In the United States’ State Department Trafficking in Persons 2017 Report, Guyana has been described as a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour in mining, agriculture, forestry, domestic service and shops.

The report stated that for the past five years, women and children from Guyana,

Brazil, The Dominican Republic, Suriname, and Venezuela have been subjected to sex trafficking in mining communities in the interior as well as in urban areas.

The US had recommended that Guyana provide additional protection for victims to enable them to testify against traffickers in a way that minimises re-traumatisation; record the number of cases reported to the trafficking hotline; promote a rapid investigative and victim assistance response; and provide training for dip-

lomatic personnel on human trafficking.

Recommendations were also made to have funding of specialised victim services; vigorously investigate and prosecute sex and labour trafficking cases; train law enforcement, judicial officials and frontline responders – especially those working outside the capital – on victim identification and referral procedures; and finalise the written identification procedures to better guide law enforcement officials.

Some of the beverages, for which taxes were not paid, that were seized

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 9, 2018

‘I am a Caribbean citizen’ –– President Granger tells Barbados meeting

GUYANA’s President David Granger has issued a message of deepened economic cooperation and collaboration among CARICOM neighbours and breaking down immigration barriers for true, free movement of regional peoples.

Against a backdrop of oil discoveries of a potential five billion barrels in Guyana, surpassing that of Trinidad and Tobago and reportedly set to net the country an average US$1 million per day when extraction begins in 2020, the Guyanese leader spoke to his nationals resident in Barbados, but addressed Barbadians and the entire Region as he made clear all are invited to jointly explore the mineral- rich CARICOM territory.

“We have to start thinking regional rather than thinking island,” he said to dozens of Guyanese in the courtyard of the Guyana Consulate, Harbour View House, Highgate Park, Collymore Rock.

“I’m encouraging you Guyanese in the diaspora, I’m encouraging Barbadians and Jamaicans and people from all over the . . .

Caribbean to show interest in the investment possibilities in Guyana, so that we could not only promote Guyanese manufacturing industry, but we could all get wealthy, we could all get rich,” he said.

“We have to get rid of this xenophobia, this feeling that this is Jamaican, this is Antiguan,” he said, and added, “I think we’re coming out of an era in which because of the changes in populations, people realise

that migration, free movement, the ability of workers, hair dressers, and architects to move around freely is a good thing.”

Granger, who flew back to Georgetown on Thursday night, was in Barbados for a CARICOM Single Market and Economy

to explain his travelling is so limited this year that he will miss the UN General Assembly, but favoured the meeting with Mottley.

“Listening to Mia Mottley, listening to everything we discussed yesterday, I think we are seeing the light at the end of that dark period of harassment that some people have to undergo,” he said.

In fact, the Granger-Mottley bilateral talks went so far beyond the CARICOM meeting,

A section of the gathering at the meeting at the Guyana Consulate, Harbour View House, Highgate Park, Collymore Rock (Barbados Today photo) (CSME) meeting called Wednesday by Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

The Government of Barbados is the CARICOM-designated lead nation responsible for pushing the CSME. “I made a special effort to come because if there is one thing Guyanese want to hear about is hassle-free movement of people in the Caribbean,” said Granger, who went on

that the prime minister was unable to attend a University of the West Indies 70th anniversary function that evening.

While Granger expressed the all-CARICOM embracing view on exploitation of his country’s resources and other opportunities, he noted that lingering matters of travel restrictions for his citizens and others remain a bugbear.

His meeting with Mottley produced results in this area, he suggested.

“I think she is committed. I think she is sincere and it will bring an end to the stigmatisation of Guyanese, Jamaicans and of Haitians, that helped to keep the community apart, and at the same time helped to strangle this whole movement towards the Single Market and Economy.”

He added: “We have to think Caribbean, people must be able to move freely from country [to country] just as you move from parish to parish.

“I believe in Mia Mottley. I’ve seen a clear indication that she wants to solve this problem of movement of persons and she wants to get the Caribbean Single Market and Economy going.”

In his message that Guyana with its imminent oil boom is open to all of CARICOM, he said: “The rising river lifts all the boats.”

Granger noted that owing to the economic and political crisis in neighbouring Venezuela, many nationals of that country have fled to Guyana, where government is providing areas to reside along with support services, including medical care.

“If we can do that much for the Bolivarian Venezuelans, how much more can we do for the Barbadians, Antiguans and Barbudans?

“I am a Caribbean citizen. I think for Ms Mottley it is the same. She is a Caribbean citizen.

And that is where we are moving to, because we have the land space, but what we do not have in some areas is the capital, and the expertise.” (Barbados Today)

Businessman found with cannabis, illegal gun

A BUSINESSMAN of Pearl Public Road, East Bank Demerara, who allegedly drew a handgun and threatened to shoot two police ranks who attempted to arrest him on Friday afternoon, has been arrested.

Reports indicate that the incident occurred at Puruni Landing, Region Seven.

On Saturday morning at about 08:00hrs, a police team, inclusive of the ranks who were threatened, returned to Puruni on two ATVs and spotted the suspect on a motorcycle and

signalled him to stop.

The businessman reportedly drove into one of the ATVs and fractured his left leg. He was promptly arrested and a search of his person revealed an unlicensed.38 Special Ruger Revolver with three live rounds.

A haversack the suspect had also contained 137 grams of cannabis.

The 33-year-old businessman has since been admitted a patient at the Bartica Hospital under guard. Police are investigating the incident.

The seized gun with live rounds

Father stabs son to death

A YOUNG man of Enmore, East Coast Demerara, was stabbed to death on Saturday night by his father, who is said to be an alcoholic.

The dead young man has been identified as “Kevin”, a joiner by profession.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the father and son were involved

in an argument and during the heated exchange, the father stabbed his son in the abdomen with a louvre pane.

After being stabbed, the son reportedly ran to his mother and collapsed and died in her arms.

The father has since been arrested and police has launched an investigation into the incident.

The cannabis that was found on the businessman

The house where the incident occurred

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 9, 2018

Attorney general claims shifting of goalpost – as CLE requests more information on law school

–– says establishing treaty does not cater for joint ventures

By Svetlana Marshall

committee meeting in January and we are hoping that we will be able to put a firm submission that has been agreed to in principle by the two sub-committees of the Council and the Government of Guyana to the Executive Committee Meeting in January of 2019,” Armour said.

But the CLE’s interpretation of the treaty on Saturday did not sit well with Guyana’s Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, who has been at the forefront of the drive to establish a law school here.

ventures.

The Guyana Government has proposed to build a Law School here through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the Law School of the Americas (LCA) and the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) but Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Reginald Armour said such a model is not likely to receive the approval of the Council.

“At the moment, I don’t see that a joint venture agreement can be presented for approval to Council within the treaty,” Armour told reporters, after more than six hours of deliberation on day two of the 50th Meeting of the CLE at the Guyana Marriott.

He said Article 1, Section 3 (b) of the Treaty establishing the CLE is very clear.

That section of the treaty states that Council is mandated “to establish, equip and maintain law schools, one in Jamaica, one in Trinidad and

Tobago, and in such other territories as the Council may from time to time determine, for the purpose of providing post-graduate professional legal training.”

Maintaining that the treaty is clear, the CLE Chairman said: “So the concept of other persons forming a law school and bringing them to the Council for approval doesn’t fit within the treaty and that is one of the points we have made to the attorney general, that his government needs to reconsider in terms of the proposal that has been brought to us so far.”

Armour said it is not for the CLE to decide whether Guyana keeps its partners or not but admitted that a proposal by the Government of Guyana alone may likely remove many of the obstacles in the way.

“I can’t speak for the government but certainly that might fit more squarely into the terms of our treaty…. We can only operate within our treaty. We don’t have the liberty to operate outside of our treaty. If the treaty is to say something other than what it says now, that’s for the heads of government to amend,” he told reporters.

The CLE has asked Guyana and its joint venture partners to revise the feasibility study it submitted on July 4, 2018 for the proposed law school. As it is now, the feasibility study is reportedly not in compliance with the treaty that established the CLE, and the Council is awaiting additional information.

“When we receive that (additional information), the sub-committees would then have to meet – our sub-committee and the government’s sub-committee, and we will determine after that in terms of the work that needs to be done,” Armour said.

There is an Executive Committee Meeting of the Council in January 2019 and it is the hope of the CLE Chairman that progress is made by then.

“We have an executive

partners were asked to provide additional information on the quality assurance and the curriculum, in addition to information on the joint venture.

According to Minister Williams, the issue with the curriculum is very minute, explaining that it is just a matter of adopting the Hugh Wooding Law School’s curriculum. The partners have also agreed to furnish the CLE with the requisite information on the quality assurance.

On the third issue – the joint venture, the Attorney General told reporters that it is a matter of interpretation.

He said after outlining the Chairman of the Council guidelines for the feasibility of Legal Education study, the CLE has now taken Reginald Armour issue with the model which the Government of Guyana duct of the feasibility study, intends to use to establish its Guyana was given five pil- own law school.

Minister Williams said lars which it was expected that it was only Saturday, to address.

Those pillars are: faculty, during the meeting, he learnt equipment, remuneration, that if the school is built by curriculum, and quality as- Guyana, the CLE would have surance in its quest to estab- to assume full control of the facility nonetheless. lish the school.

“What they were explainSubsequent to the submission of the feasibility ing to me is that the law study on July 4, 2018, the school, even if the Guyana CLE raised a number of con- Government builds it, they cerns on the study done and [CLE] would have to take requested additional informa- it over and equip it and evtion. At a meeting this past erything and run it. In other week with a sub-committee words, they will be operating of the CLE, Guyana and its like the owners of it.”

“I was totally unaware of that of that type of arrangement. The arrangement we contemplated is a PPP – a Private Public Partnership where the partners obviously are looking for profit but the Government of Guyana has the majority ownership,” the Attorney General explained.

From all indications, he said the goalpost has been shifted.

“We are saying to them, they can’t shift the goal post in terms of Guyana’s position of a feasibility study,” he posited.

RESIDENTS of Annai, North Rupununi, Region Nine, are calling on the authorities to address cattle rustling in the community, which they contend is becoming a norm.

“Villagers are suffering, especially those that are venturing into doing hard work to maintain the families and ensuring good comfort and

provisions,” a resident noted on Saturday.

“We humbly asking for more intelligence and effective police actions to bring some sort of assurance to the villagers in that area, because if no action is taken, we fear this will continue,” he said.

An official at the Aranaputa /Buro Buro Neighbourhood Democratic Council

(NDC) told the Guyana Chronicle that the act has been occurring for years.

“We are not getting any justice from the police,” the official said, noting that the cattle rustlers, many of whom live within the villages which make up Annai, as well as neighbouring villages are “smart.” He said they would often cut out the brands from

this newspaper that they are unsure if many persons will embark on the venture.

“Reports are there, evidence is and even photos of animals missing, but nothing is being done,” a resident noted.

An NDC official at Aranaputa told the Chronicle that several reports were made to Annai and Lethem

DELIBERATIONS on the establishment of the proposed JOF Haynes Law School here took a drastic turn on Saturday when the Council of Legal Education (CLE) informed Guyana that the treaty, under which the CLE was established, does not cater for joint

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams

SHIFTING OF GOALPOST Shortly after exiting the meeting, the Attorney General told reporters that the goalpost has been shifted.

He said prior to the con-

An artist's impression of the JOF Haynes Law School proposed for Guyana

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD While stating that the additional information would be provided to the Council soonest, he admitted that Guyana and its partners, at the level of the sub-committee, would have to return to the drawing board and determine how to move forward given this new development.

The committee comprises the Attorney General Basil Williams, Justice Duke Pollard, Justice Claudette Singh, the Solicitor General Kim Kyte, the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Guyanese Honorary Consul Indera Persaud who is a Board Director of the UCC, and LCA Chairman Courtney Wynter.

“We will have to make

that decision, the partners would have to discuss that,” the Attorney General said.

But despite the challenges in establishing the law school here, he said the ground work has commenced.

“We have acquired the land at UG. We have a plan for the building and the land has been surveyed and basically we were waiting for the go ahead to start embarking on the construction of the law school, that is how far we have reached,” Minister Williams noted while maintaining that Guyana and its partners have conformed to the five pillars placed on the table by the CLE. Presently, there are three law schools operating under the treaty that established the CLE, namely the Hugh Wooding Law School, the Norman Manley Law School, and the Eugene Dupuch Law School.

Guyana played a pivotal role in the Council’s establishment in 1970, with the agreement being signed here in Georgetown.

The country is a founding member of the Council, together with CARICOM Member States Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago along with the University of the West Indies and the University of Guyana.

‘Smart’ cattle rustlers giving Annai farmers headaches the cows and discard them.

“So even if the police find the cow, they cannot prosecute,” he added.

Another resident, a businessman, noted that “all cattle ranchers are frustrated right now.” He said the issue is not encouraging to farmers.

Annai is expected to undertake livestock development projects, but residents told

police stations and a letter was sent to the police commander, but nothing has been done to address the matter.

Residents reported that the rustlers have also stolen motorcycles from residents as recent as Saturday night.

“It is not easy at all,” a resident said, as he called on the police to act on their reports.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 9, 2018

‘No society loses if citizens are educated’ –– says prime minister, acknowledges improved local academic performance

THE value of society is multiplied when persons are educated, said Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, as he spoke extensively about the importance of literacy during the celebration of World Literacy Day 2018.

Education is believed to be the key to success, but in order to get educated persons must be literate. In an effort to ensure that persons are aware of literacy, the aim of World Literacy Day was structured to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.

“It makes you better, it makes you brighter, it makes you more valuable… books and literacy will guide you through life… books are the source of light, the fountain of light showing you the direction you should take,” said Nagamootoo during his remarks at the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC)’ World Literacy Day workshop at the Grand Coastal Hotel on Saturday.

He referred to a study which was conducted in Europe, where researchers found that one in every 15-year-olds is not literate. Added to that, studies found that over 700 million people, worldwide, are not literate.

In light of those figures, Nagamootoo said the only way to make people literate is to encourage reading from an early age.

“I want to encourage parents to talk to their children to help to build their vocabulary, grammar and their communication skills from an early age,” he said, adding that the resources are available at libraries and now even in their homes, because of the technological advancement over the years.

Despite the need to inculcate literacy, the prime minister acknowledged the improvement in local academic performance, noting that young people are doing better in their studies. His observation was based on performance at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations and the Caribbean Second-

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (centre) is flanked by UNICEF’s Resident Representative, Sylvie Fouet (his left), RCC Chairperson, Aleema Nasir and students at the Grand Coastal Hotel (Delano Williams photo) ary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

The performances however did not shift the thoughts of Chairperson of the RCC, Aleema Nasir, who believes that at the primary and secondary levels, children must nurture and love the inclination to read.

“We realised that critical to any education will be the imperative of literacy... the ability to read, comprehend, compute, analyse, evaluate and communicate…it must be nurtured from the earliest age,” said Nasir.

The RCC chairperson said the commission will continue to emphasise the importance of literacy, which is vital to the education and empowerment of children.

As part of its commitment, the RCC included high school students in the workshop, which included an interactive examination of all aspects of literacy.

The United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) Resident Representative, Sylvie Fouet, lauded the RCC’s effort, noting that it is important to improving the quality of education and empowering young people.

She believes that efforts should also be directed at reducing the number of school dropouts. Although 75 per cent of the population have access to secondary education, she said that the others who do not attend or drop out of school need to be sensitised too.

“We need to look at reintegrating maybe teen mothers or children in contact with the law, into the school system or vocational system…Literacy prevents young people from coming into contact with the law,” she said.

The United Nations (UN) as part of its plans will be initiating a Young People’s Agenda on September 24, 2018.

The agenda will seek to find ways of ensuring that young people stay in school, are trained and are employable by 2030.

A section of attendees at the workshop on Saturday (Delano Williams photo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 9, 2018

Hindu priestesses breaking the mould

MANY Hindu rituals are usually performed by male priests; however, two women in Region Three are breaking the traditional notions of the priesthood.

Dhanrajie Haimraj of Windsor Forest on the West Coast of Demerara, a humble Pandita (Hindu priestess) is one of this year’s recipients of the National Medal of Service Award.

Haimraj is attached to the Windsor Forest Arya Samaj and is the only female on the West Coast of Demerara who performs all the rituals pertaining to the Hinduism faith, including weddings, funerals, sanskaars.

Baidwantie Shiwnandan Balgobin Pandita Haimraj is a strong advocate of discipline, female education, vegetarianism and a dress code for attending the mandir.

She has become well-known and is now a household name in many parts of the country, especially on the West Coast of Demerara.

During visits to the United States, Pandita Haimraj has received requests to officiate at Havans as well.

Born in 1964, Haimraj, fondly known as “Dolly”, is the 11th of 12 siblings – nine girls and three boys -- to parents Liloutie and Ramotar Rodwell.

Culture, discipline, moral education, respect and love were some of the founding principles instilled in Hamiraj by her parents.

During her pursuit of an academic education, Hindi school and mandir activities also formed an integral part of her upbringing.

Married at age 20, to a budding Arya Samajist Priest, Haimraj, the union produced three children Vidya, Amrita and Subhash. The hunger for learning and service to humanity did not subside, even with the additional responsibilities of marriage and caring for children. Dhanrajie was engaged in several IDCE courses: Business Administration, C.B.R Courses – Caring for People with Disabilities, Wings on Words Programmes at School of the Nations, seminars, conferences and more importantly, religious camps with Dr. Satish Prakash, Missionary of the Arya Samaj USA. Along with her children, Haimraj attended camps all over the country, where she was trained to perform Hindu rituals, sanskaars and recitation from the religious texts. She also has flourishing boutiques at home and also within the marketplaces of Leonora and

Parika.

Being a spiritual person, she embraces that “contentment is the highest bliss” and as such, she works to keep her family together and happy by teaching them both spiritual and academic values.

TRAGEDY In 2003, her family experienced one of the greatest tragedies in their lives. Her eldest child, Vidyawatie, passed away.

A former top student of St. Rose’s High School, Vidyawatie was excelling at the University of Guyana at that time. Months passed and with the outpouring of love and support from her family, villagers and members of the Windsor Forest Arya Samaj, where Vidya was a prominent member, transformation, determination and searching for answers through scriptures took precedence in the life of Pandita Dhanrajie Haimraj.

She emerged from the tragedy as a powerful source of comfort to all, especially to those who have experienced similar losses.

Haimraj consoled thousands, giving them peace of mind, and engaged in tutoring children in Hindi Classes, Ramayana Chantings, Vedas and Bhagavad Gita. The pandita, along with her sister-in-law Indrowtie Buchana, who is also a pandita of the Gurukula in the USA, initiated a programme called “Arya Vidya Baal Divas” – A day set aside for children to showcase their knowledge and talent in the memory of her daughter. December 9 this year will mark 15 years since its existence; every year it features over 40 students and certificates and trophies are awarded at the end of every programme.

Like her colleague Pandita Haimraj, Hindu Spiritual Leader Baidwantie Shiwnandan Balgobin is also a Medal of Service recipient.

Born in April 1969 at Belle Plaine, Wakenaam, the 12 of 13 children, Balgobin completed her secondary education at the Essequibo Islands Secondary School and later began working at the institution as a typist clerk. She has worked there for the past 26 years and remains dedicated to her duties.

Pandita Balgobin was married in 1987 and is the mother of two children. Unfortunately, her husband passed away and she has been a widow since 2012.

REMARKABLE Her religious achievements as a Hindu priestess are remarkable.

At the age of six, she began attending the Belle Plaine Mandir, where she took Hindi classes and wrote all the levels of Hindi examinations and passed with distinctions. At age 23, she was offered a scholarship to go to India and further her studies in Hindi, but did not take up the offer because of family commitments. She opted to remain on the island and teach Hindi to the children.

After marrying, she moved to Melville, Wakenaam and began attending the Melville Mandir in 1988. There, she served as secretary, treasurer and is now the sitting president of the mandir. She has been the president for just over 12 years.

Dedicated to her calling, she has an outstanding record for her community involvement, especially in organising Phagwah and Diwali Melas, Indian Arrival Day celebrations and the famous annual motorcade which is eagerly anticipated by the entire island.

Baidwantie Shiwnandan Balgobin manages a mandir with over 200 dedicated devotees of Dharm and enjoys being a mentor to the younger generation. She believes in the motto, “Action thy duty, reward not thy concern.”

As the recipient of a national award, she expressed her gratitude to her country for recognising her contribution to society.

(DPI)

Dhanrajie Haimraj performing a Hindu wedding

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 9, 2018

Exhibitors tell of mixed fortunes this year –– as Heritage Village returns to Sophia

By Michel Outridge

IT wasn’t business as usual for some exhibitors at the Whirlwind

Heritage Village at Sophia this year, owing to a poor turn out and fewer buyers.

Exhibitor Iris Callis-

tro of “The Real T’ing” business from Callistro Bay at Kabakaburi on the Upper Pomeroon River, who trades in such items

as cassava bread, farine, casareep, piwari, potato wine, wild meat and art and craft, told the Guyana Chronicle that having expended money to get to the location, she did not get the sales she had expected because not many people visited.

She explained that the reason sales may have been bad is because most people had the same commodities on sale.

She said that by comparison, the place was crowded last year, and business was booming.

She’s already planned that come next year, she’d be doing things a bit differently; for instance, she’ll be bringing different types of craft, perhaps made

from coconut, cotton and clay, in order to draw more sales, as she wants her products to be unique.

Meanwhile, the maker of all Amerindian wines, Jennifer Nearso, said that last year was better for her in terms of sales. She stated that she was selling her wines reasonably cheap, like $400, $500 and $1000 per bottle as usual, but people just were not buying.

However, Jason Brandon of Bamboo Craft had a different story to tell, since he managed to rack up some sales and meet quite a few people who were interested in his pieces.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that next year he is coming back “bigger and better.”

Booths such as Rave Designs, which specialises in hand-crafted jewellery and accessories, had many interesting creations which attracted some sales.

Deborah Mathias said business wasn’t as expected, but she was pleased to be a part of the event nevertheless.

Some exhibitors from several far-flung areas of Guyana were notably absent from this year’s exhibition, but there were also some newcomers, and the turn out from Moraikobai and Georgetown was outstanding.

They had all Amerindian wines and foods on sale at the many booths at the Sophia Exhibition Site this week.

Iris Callistro, better known as “The Craft Lady”

It was wine galore at Jennifer Nearso’s stall at the Sophia Exhibition Site (Photos

by Adrian Narine)

SUNDAY CHRONICLE September 9, 2018

Albouystown, Charlestown youths benefit from literacy outreach

CHILDREN of the Albouystown and Charlestown communities in Georgetown on Saturday benefited from an outreach programme in observance of International Literacy Day at the Carmel Secondary School.

The Ministry of Education and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) National Commission collaborated to make the

pressure. Phillips also advised the youths that they should embrace education, since it will positively impact their lives.

Delivering the feature address was Secretary-General of the National Commission for UNESCO in Guyana, Patrice LaFleur. She said International Literacy Day is held to ensure citizens are aware of the importance of reading.

According to LaFleur, the theme focuses

A young lad improving his painting skills at the Literacy Day activities (DPI photo) event a possibility.

Regional Literacy Coordinator Collete Horatio congratulated the parents and students who attended the event.

She informed them that International Literacy Day is commemorated on September 8 each year and focuses on developing listening, speaking and reading skills.

The theme for International Literacy Day 2018 is “Literacy and Skills Development.”

Speaking to the children also was 14-yearold Youth Ambassador, Kezia Phillips, who encouraged other youths like herself to avoid peer

on youths and adults within the framework of life-long learning.

“The theme speaks to all of us. It speaks to children and adults, both male and female. When we speak about skills, the focus is on knowledge and the competencies for career choices.

In Guyana, we want to ensure that every boy and every girl has access to education and can move from one level to the next. We have to ensure that we keep our children in school,” said LaFleur.

There are many challenges, she said, pointing out that the nature of jobs is chang-

ing because of globalisation. On that note, she urged parents to ensure that their children learn new skills that are aligned to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) (DPI)

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A volunteer interacting with children of Albouystown and Charlestown on Saturday (DPI photo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 9, 2018

Taylor, Powell hand Tallawahs clinical win

By Rajiv Bisnauth ROSS Taylor and Rovman Powell, were the chief architects in ensuring the Jamaica Tallawahs script an easy eight-wicket win over the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Hero Caribbean Premier League game last evening at the National Stadium, Providence.

On a surface ideal for batting, both Taylor and Powell struck unbeaten half-centuries, and were too strong for the hosts to handle in a third-wicket unbroken stand of 114 runs.

The target of 174 was not less, but the condition of the pitch was in favour of the batsmen. Overall, the Tallawahs was a better side with its batsmen in better control of the situation and both Taylor (60) and Powell (55), knocks were add-ons for the visitors.

In the end, the visitors won the chase with 11 balls to spare, and moved up to the second spot in the points table.

Earlier, the Amazon

Warriors omitted Captain Rayad Emrit, whose performance and captaincy came under serious scrutiny. Led

by Chris Green, the Warriors brought in Keemo Paul for Emrit, while Veerasammy Permual came in for Romario Shepherd, who was surprisingly left out.

Asked to bat first, Jason Mohammed top-scored, notching up his first 50 of the season, 54 off 33 deliveries, but it could safely say it was a collective effort from their batsmen, as they scored 101 in the final 10 overs of the innings.

The Warriors found themselves in a tricky position at 18-1 with opener Luke Ronchi dismissed to a soft dismissal, off Oshane Thomas, but that did not stop his opening partner, Cameron Delport from playing his natural game, and got the Warriors off to a decent start.

Joined by Shimron Hetmyer, the South African Delport punished some poor deliveries from the Tallawahs’ bowlers as he looked

to be aggressive against anything loose.

However, after hitting five fours and a six in his 23ball, 34, Delport made good contact on a slog sweep, but didn't get the required elevation, and was caught

by Powell at long-on, who timed his jump perfectly for a one-handed catch, off leg-spinner Samuel Badree, at 60-2, at the end of the eight overs.

Hetmyer collaborated with Mohammed to score 61 for the third-wicket. The partnership, which lasted 7.2 overs, did not only give the pair the perfect platform to launch, but set their team up for a strong total, courtesy also of Chadwick Walton's (16-ball 25),cameo towards the end.

The left-hander, Hetymer, made 48 off 41 balls with four fours and a six before he was taken at deep mid-wicket off debutant Ish Sodhi. In total disrespect to the rules of the game, Hetymer threw his bat in anger.

However, Hetymer’s

dismissal did not suck the momentum out of the home team's innings, as Mohammed, who struck five fours and three sixes and Walton (2x4, 2x6), launched a counter attack, and played a flurry of shots at the back end of the innings.

After a brisk start, where Glenn Phillips made a 17-ball 27 and Johnson Charles 25 off 19 balls, Imran Tahir accounted for both the openers in the space of 14 balls.

The leg-spinner got the better of both batsmen with his trademark googlies, but Ross Taylor and Rovman Powell, then played their part to perfection, and the visitors were well in the game at the half-way stage of the second innings, at 82-2.

The duo then fired in a blaze-of-boundary hitting, and went on, undeterred until the end. The Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders clash this evening in the final preliminary game.

Osaka claims U.S. Open title after Serena meltdown

By Steve Keating

NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - Naomi Osaka became Japan’s first-ever Grand Slam champion after she thumped Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4 in a controversial U.S. Open final yesterday, with the American suffering a meltdown after she was handed a code violation for on-court coaching.

With Osaka in control of the match after taking the first set, Portuguese chair umpire Carlos Ramos sent Williams into a rage when he handed the 23-time Grand Slam champion a code violation in the second game of the second set after he spotted Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou making some hand signals from the player’s box.

A string of bad behaviour followed from Williams and she went on to incur a point penalty for smashing her racquet before being slapped with a game penalty at 4-3 down, after she launched into a verbal attack against Ramos, accusing him of being “a liar” and “a thief for stealing a point from me”.

The game penalty put Osaka 5-3 up and the 20-year-old Japanese kept her cool to pull off a historic win.

That coaching warning ignited the first outburst from Williams, who screamed at Ramos that she was a mother and would never cheat, adding that she would rather lose.

Order seemed to be restored when Williams finally broke Osaka for the first time to go up 3-1, but things quickly slid out of control when the Japanese 20th seed broke back, prompting the former world number one to smash her racquet and Ramos to issue the point penalty.

That brought another tirade from Williams which was followed by a game penalty, bringing a shower of jeers from the packed stadium and another explosive outburst from the teary American.

Later Mouratoglou admitted he had been trying to coach Williams from the stands with some hand signals but accused Osaka’s coach Sascha Bajin of doing the same.

“I am honest. I was coaching,” said Mouratoglou.

“I don’t think she looked one time.

“Sascha was coaching every point too.”

The controversial finish cast a cloud over what should have been Osaka’s shining moment.

Standing on the podium waiting to be handed her trophy and a winner’s cheque for $3.8 million, Osaka heard only boos as an angry crowd took out their frustration on Ramos, who stood to the side.

“I know everyone was cheering for her and I’m sorry it had to end like this,” said Osaka. “I just want to say thank you for watching the match.”

“It was always my dream to play Serena in the U.S. Open final … I’m really grateful I was able to play with you.”

The result prevented Williams from winning a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 9, 2018

Buttler, Broad, Anderson & Stokes star for England on day two

By Saikat Chatterjee LONDON, England (Reuters) - James Anderson and Ben Stokes struck crucial blows yesterday as England capitalised on a fine rearguard half-century by Jos Buttler to leave India struggling after the second day of the fifth and final Test at The Oval.

Buttler scored 89 and put on 98 with Stuart Broad for the ninth wicket as the home side recovered from 198-7 after day one to 332 all out.

India then slumped to 174-6 in reply. Anderson took two quick wickets as the tourists faltered from 101-2 to 103-4, before Stokes matched him, his two victims including India’s captain and kingpin Virat Kohli for 49.

He also removed Rishabh Pant late on, Alastair

Cook, playing in his final Test, pouching the edge for his 13th catch of the series, an England record.

England have already built up an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series after victory in Southampton last week.

Anderson made the key breakthroughs after tea, grabbing the wicket of the well-set Cheteshwar Pujara, the hero of India’s first innings in the fourth Test, and then following that up with the wicket of vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane.

Kohli, however, who has had a prolific tour, was scoring at a healthy rate and was nearing his half-century when all-rounder Stokes induced him to edge to second slip in a rare lapse of concentration.

England’s fightback had been launched by But-

Preparation for Prime Minister T20 Cup 2 heats up

KL Rahul lost his shoe looking for a single.

(Getty Images)

tler in the morning.

Jasprit Bumrah struck early for India by trapping Adil Rashid lbw to leave the hosts tottering on 214-8.

Broad, however, grafted his way to 38 to thwart the visitors during his partnership with Buttler which ended when the fast bowler, having batted more than an hour

the likes of Richard Persaud, Raymond Harper, Dharam Persaud, Peter Persaud, Mohamed Rafeek and Ron Ramnauth.

In an invited comment, Hardyal expressed confidence of winning, adding that, once his players stick to the basics of the game, the title will definitely be with the Regal Masters.

Hardyal, a passionate softball enthusiast and promoter, also said that today’s game serves as preparation for major assignments scheduled for later this year.

On the other hand, Rafeek of RR Masters indicated that while Regal Masters are a formidable unit, the team that plays better on the day will come out successful.

According to the organisers, added entertainment will be provided off the field, including cheerleaders.

Prizes will be given to both teams and outstanding players. Play will start at 09:30hrs.

ENGLAND 1st innings o/n 198 for 7 Alastair Cook b Jasprit Bumrah 71 Keaton Jennings c Lokesh Rahul b Ravindra Jadeja 23 Moeen Ali c Rishabh Pant b Ishant Sharma 50 Joe Root lbw Jasprit Bumrah 0 Jonny Bairstow c Rishabh Pant b Ishant Sharma 0 Ben Stokes lbw Ravindra Jadeja 11 Jos Buttler c Ajinkya Rahane b Ravindra Jadeja 89 Sam Curran c Rishabh Pant b Ishant Sharma 0 Adil Rashid lbw Jasprit Bumrah 15 Stuart Broad c Lokesh Rahul b Ravindra Jadeja 38 James Anderson not out 0 Extras: (b-26, lb-9) 35 Total: (all out, 122.0 overs) 332 Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-133, 3-133, 4-134, 5-171, 6-177, 7-181, 8-214, 9-312.

Bowling: Jasprit Bumrah 30-9–83-3, Ishant Sharma 31-12-62-3, Hanuma Vihari 1-0-1-0, Mohammed Shami 30-772-0, Ravindra Jadeja 30-0-79-4..

INDIA 1st innings Lokesh Rahul b Sam Curran 37 Shikhar Dhawan lbw Stuart Broad 3 Cheteshwar Pujara c Jonny Bairstow b James Anderson 37 Virat Kohli c Joe Root b Ben Stokes 49 Ajinkya Rahane c Alastair Cook b James Anderson 0 Hanuma Vihari not out 25 Rishabh Pant c Alastair Cook b Ben Stokes 5 Ravindra Jadeja not out 8 Extras: (b-4, lb-6) 10 Total: (six wkts, 51.0 overs) 174 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-70, 3-101, 4-103, 5-154, 6-160.

Bowling: James Anderson 11-3-20-2, Stuart Broad 11-3-25-1, Ben Stokes 111-44-2, Sam Curran 10-1-46-1, Moeen Ali 8-0-29-0.

Spain start Enrique reign with win in England

… Regal Masters, RR Masters clash today at Everest WITH the second edition of the Prime Minister T20 Softball Cup 2 billed for October 19-21, at least two teams will have a chance to experiment on their team make-up and at the same time have that additional preparation ahead of the much-talked about three-day tournament.

Today, Regal Masters and RR Masters will clash in the final of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. (GSCL)/Crown Mining Supply, Ink Plus and Elegant Jewellery and Pawn Shop final at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

It is expected that a fierce battle will ensue between the two teams, since both teams boast a number of leading Over40 players in the city.

Regal Masters, led

by Mahendra Hardyal, will include Mohendra Arjune, Eon Abel, Mahase Chunilall, Troy Kippins, David Harper and Eric Thomas while RR Masters will look to

and a half, was finally dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja to make it 312-9.

Broad played and missed numerous times, with Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah getting the ball to swing in chilly and slightly overcast conditions, before he fell to a brilliant diving catch by Lokesh Rahul at long on.

Buttler, England’s most successful batsman of the summer, was happy to milk the bowling for singles while also striking some lovely shots on either side of the wicket, including six boundaries and two sixes before he was the last man out.

Scoreboard

England’s Marcus Rashford scores their first goal past Spain’s David De Gea at Wembley Stadium in London.

(REUTERS/Darren Staples)

By Martyn Herman LONDON, England (Reuters) - Spain began a new era under Luis Enrique in impressive fashion as they came from a goal down to outplay England in a 2-1 win in their Nations League opener, at Wembley Stadium yesterday.

Eight weeks after their memorable World Cup run was ended by Croatia in the semi-finals, the optimism sweeping England looked justified as Marcus Rashford opened the scoring after 11 minutes.

But Spain, featuring only five of the players that started their last-16 World Cup penalty shootout defeat by Russia, hit back before halftime through Saul Niguez and

Rodrigo.

The second half was overshadowed by a nasty-looking injury sustained by England left back Luke Shaw who needed lengthy treatment after a clash of heads.

Spain threatened to stretch their lead as they dominated possession but England finished strongly with Rashford wasting a great chance to equalise when he fired straight at David de Gea then having a goal by substitute Danny Welbeck disallowed deep into stoppage time.

England’s defeat was their first in their last 25 competitive fixtures at Wembley.

England and Spain will also face World Cup runners-up

Croatia in League A Group 4 of the UEFA’s new tournament designed to add spice to the international calendar.

There was an expectant mood in the 81 000 crowd as the game kicked off following the presentation of the World Cup Golden Boot trophy to home captain Harry Kane by England’s popular coach Gareth Southgate.

England responded to go ahead in the 11th minute with a goal of stunning quality and one which spoke volumes for the brand of football Southgate is trying to establish.

Playing out from the back rather than hoofing clear, England worked the ball to Kane who then found the marauding Shaw on the left and his pass was perfect for Rashford to slot past his Manchester United team mate De Gea. The home fans were still buzzing about the opener when Spain levelled two minutes later after a flowing move of their own - Saul Niguez shooting past Jordan Pickford after Thiago Alcantara’s neat cut back.

Niguez began to pin back the hosts.

England began to chase shadows and when Kieran Trippier dived in to foul Mar-

cos Alonso in the 32nd minute, the resulting free kick by Alcantara caught the home defence napping as Rodrigo stole in at the near post to guide home.

De Gea produced an acrobatic save to dent Rashford a second goal shortly afterwards but Spain ended the half on top.

England were forced into a change early on in the second half after a sickening clash of heads left Shaw needing seven minutes of treatment by a posse of medics before being carried off the pitch on a stretcher. Danny Rose came on to replace him.

The incident silenced the crowd and seemed to distract the hosts whose sloppiness invited Spanish pressure.

England weathered the storm though and with Spain content to sit back, they pressed late on for an equaliser and should have had one when Welbeck rolled home after De Gea’s fumble only to be harshly penalised for fouling the keeper.

There was much to ponder for Southgate who has now seen his side lose three matches in a row against Croatia, Belgium and now Spain - proof they are still a work in progress.

25

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 9, 2018

Tridents bow out of CPL after suffering seventh straight defeat PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The Barbados Tridents bowed out of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in humiliating fashion, as they suffered a seventh straight defeat at the hands of the Trinbago Knight Riders here at the Queens Park Oval, Friday night.

In a clash of two teams heading in opposite directions, the Knight Riders strengthened their stronghold at the top of the table with a nine-run win over the hapless Tridents,

to complete their sixth straight victory.

Having been asked to bat first by the Tridents, the home side posted a formidable 180 for five, from their 20 overs, thanks mainly to a brisk half-century by Denesh Ramdin.

Fawad Ahmed then delivered a masterful spell of leg-break bowling on his way to capturing three wickets, as the Tridents were limited to 171 for five in their 20 overs.

The Knight Riders were given a blistering start by Chris Lynn

and Colin Munro, as the duo added 35 runs inside the first three overs.

When fast-bowler Chemar Holder got rid of Lynn with a pinpoint yorker for a well-played 29 runs from just 10 balls, Ramdin joined Munro at the crease and proceeded to take the game away from the Tridents.

The pair added 75 in eight overs, with Ramdin being the main aggressor. He belted Roston Chase for two fours and six in the fourth over, before turning his

The Trinbago Knight Riders notched their sixth straight victory by defeating the Barbados Tridents.

attention to Tridents captain Jason Holder two overs later, smashing him for two boundaries.

But once Ramdin was eventually dismissed for 51 from 31 balls, laced with five fours and two sixes, with the score 117 for three in the 12th over, the Knight Riders’ run rate slowed down.

It took a late cameo from captain Dwayne Bravo, who hit three fours and two sixes in scoring 33 from 20 balls, to help

push the Knight Riders up to their eventual total.

Introduced into the attack in the fifth over, Ahmed struck with his first delivery, bowling Tion Webster with a googly. He also used the same delivery to bowl Sunny Sohal, and then tricked a charging Shai Hope into playing down the wrong line to have him stumped as the Tridents slipped to 92 for three in the 12th over.

A 50-run partnership between

Stalemates in both games on third night of Limacol football action DRAWN encounters were the order of the third night of action in the third annual Limacol round-robin knockout football tournament on Friday evening.

At the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue, the event started on time with the first match of the double-header.

In that first game of the evening, GFC and Camptown FC played to a one-goal stalemate with LaVaughn Enniss opening the scoring early for the GFC side.

His second-minute goal set the tone of the match with the opposition seeking the equaliser.

Eventually, they levelled things up through Oziel Small’s goal in the 23rd minute and from there the fight for the decisive goal began.

There were several chances for both sides.

They had clear-cut chances but squandered them and at the final whistle there was nothing to separate them.

The second game was an almost carbon copy of the first with Grove Hi-Tech scoring first, through Denzel Crawford, five minutes into the second half Christopher Williams’ 75th minute strike then evened the score for Santos.

Games will continue tomorrow from 18.00hrs with Grove Hi-Tech up against Bea- GFC (blue and white) drew their encounter against Camptown FC (orange and white) on cons while Camptown play Riddim Squad at Friday evening at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue. (Adrian Narine photo) 20:00hrs.

Nicholas Pooran who smashed 44 from 32 balls and Jason Holder who made 21, then brought the Tridents within striking distance of earning just their third win of the tournament.

Following Pooran’s dismissal, the visitors required 39 from three overs. However, Holder holed out to long-off soon after, leaving Chase and Shamar Springer to get an unlikely 24 runs from the final over.

Six races carded for Ryan Crawford Turf Club horse race meet THE Ryan Crawford Turf Club will stage a six-race meet on September 23 at the club’s race track, Alness, Corentyne, Berbice, beginning at noon.

The feature event on the day’s card is open to horses classified `H’ and Lower over a distance of 1200m and carries a first prize of $300 000 and a trophy.

Other events listed for the day are a 1200m race for animals classified `J’ and Lower for a winning prize of $160 000 and a trophy, a 1000m race for two-year-old maidens and the race has a first prize of $100 000 and a trophy; `L1’ and Lower classified animals will contest a 1200m race that carries a first prize of $100 000 and a trophy.

There will also be a 1200m race for horses classified `L2’ and Lower and $70 000 will be on offer for the winner. `L3’ and Lower classified animals will also contest a `1200m event and the winner will be rewarded with $50 000 and a trophy.

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 9, 2018

GHB Developmental Outdoor Leagues

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

GCC, Saints, Bingo Spartans continue winning ways

THE Georgetown Cricket Club’s (GCC) male and female teams continued their winning ways while Bingo Spartans also recorded victory when play continued yesterday in the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Developmental Outdoor Leagues at Saint Stanislaus ground on Carifesta Avenue.

The Bingo Spartans faced Saints in their U-19 Ladies clash and promptly routed them 6-1 with leading goalscorer Abosaide Cadogan netting a brace. She was supported by Alana Cheung who also netted twice with Paige Fernandes and Sarah Klautky grabbing a goal each.

In their second encounter of the day, the Spartans needled the same opponents (Saints), this time in a 2nd Division match as Alana Cheung scored the winning goal.

Pizza Hut GCC took on Woodpecker Hikers in a 2nd Division Ladies match and hardly broke a sweat beating them 5-2 to grab

valuable points.

The main antagonist for Pizza Hut was Carina Muller, who scored twice and received support from Sandy Roopnarine, Vanessa Pires and Sarah Klautky who netted one each respectively.

Meanwhile the GCC Her-ricanes gained a walkover win as their St Joseph rivals were a no-show. They were awarded three goals and maximum points.

In the men’s action, GCC Pitbulls mauled North Ruimveldt (NR) Multilateral 9-0 with national player Kareem McKenzie showing no mercy, as he netted five goals.

He was backed up by Meshach Sargeant who had a brace, while Rahim Oliver and Samuel Woodroffe scored a goal apiece.

Action continues today at the same venue.

GBBC’s `Young Guns – The Proving Ground’ five-fight card

Charles, Williamson confident ahead of pro debuts later this month AFTER prolific amateur boxing careers, Delon Charles and Joel Williamson are both confident of victories, come September 22, when they make their professional debuts on the Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s (GBBC) five-fight card dubbed `Young Guns – The Proving Ground’ at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Charles will face Terrence Adams in a four-round featherweight contest, while Williamson will come up against Anson Green in a four-round junior welterweight bout.

Both Green and Adams are no strangers to the ring as Green has already fought eight professional bouts, winning just two and losing the others, while Adams won his professional debut contest. So it will be interesting to see the outcome of their debuts in the `square jungle’ without vests and headgear.

The 29-year-old Charles, an employee of Guyana National Bureau of Standards, started his boxing career in the late 90s and over the years as an amateur has shown tremendous improvement which has prompted him to enter the professional life and, like his manager/coach Clive Atwell, aims to become Guyana’s next world champion.

Charles, who works out at the Ricola Boxing Gym, Agri-

cola, East Bank Demerara, said he is very confident of winning his debut fight as a professional and he is enjoying the drills he is being put through by Atwell and is training hard to eventually win easily.

On the other hand, Williamson, a Caribbean Amateur gold medallist who has fought and won over 70 fights in the amateur ranks, is looking forward to September 22 to start his professional career on a winning note.

The 21-year-old orthodox fighter is beaming with confidence and feels no pressure as he gets ready for his professional career.

Williamson said while he knows it will be different from an amateur fight, it will surely be a special moment for him.

He acknowledged that he will be nervous but he knows what he has to do. He promised that his opponent, Green, will not go the distance (four rounds).

The feature bout on September 22 brings together Guyana’s Derick Richmond and Barbados’ Keithland King in a six-round middleweight contest.

The other fights on the card will see Rewinna David tackle Ansilla Norville in a fourround female bantamweight contest and James Moore take on Romeo Norville in a fourround cruiserweight fight.

(Sunday September 09, 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)

A GCC Pitbull player (in blue) vies for possession with a NR Multilateral player. (Delano Williams photo)

Usual suspects into finals of Viva Water ‘Slammer Jammer’ table tennis tourney

Action in the Boys’ U-13 category.

(Delano Williams photo)

A FAIR-SIZE crowd of supporters and parents were treated to thrilling encounters on day one of the Titans Table Tennis Club (TTTC)-organised Viva Water ‘Slammer Jammer’ Juniors tournament.

Action was seen in the Under-9 Open, Boys and Girls as well as U-13 and U-15 categories.

Jasmine Billingy and Malachi Moore have booked their spots in the U-9 Open final after defeating their opponents in the semi-finals.

Billingy got past Samara Sukhai beating her in sets of 11-6, 9-11, 11-3 while Moore saw off Chase Outar in sets of 11-3, 11-1. Billingy and Moore will face off in the final today.

Over in the Girls’ U-13 category, Thuraia Thomas and Nkechi McRae dis-

patched their respective opponents to set up what will be a thrilling encounter today. Thomas beat Rosanna Saunders in straight sets of 11-1, 11-4 while McRae got past Samara Sukhai in similar fashion with 11-8, 12-10.

Dhanesh Persaud upset Colin Wong in their Boys’ U-15 semi-final and will face Isaiah Layne in the final today. Wong and Persaud treated the crowd to a five-set thriller which read 11-7, 119, 10-12, 6-11, 14-12 while Layne beat Krystian Sahadeo to book his spot in the final.

Action continues today in the U-15 categories and all finals will be played at 12:00hrs while the group stage of the U-15 competition starts at 09:00hrs at the Marian Academy auditorium.

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 49 matches (2) Colin Munro (TKR) Today’s Quiz: (1) How many persons have now led the Patriots in CPL games?

(2) H o w m a n y c e n turies were scored in the inaugural CPL? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

CONCACAF Nations League

Big wins for French Guiana, Belize and St Lucia ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – There was a goal-fest in the second round of matches in the CONCACAF Nations League, with a total of 12 goals scored in the three matches played on Friday.

French Guiana trounced Anguilla 5-0, St Lucia thrashed Antigua 3-0 and Belize completely outplayed The Bahamas on their way to a 4-0 victory.

The results were a stark contrast from Thursday’s opening round matches which saw Guyana draw 2-2 with Barbados and Suriname and Dominica battle to a goalless draw.

French Guiana were led to victory by firsthalf goals from Lauritin Jean-Eudes in the 15th minute, Joffrey Torvic in the 29th and Alex Eric’s 38th-minute strike, as they took a commanding 3-0 lead.

Thomas Issorat (55th minute) and Warren Rino’s goal in the 83rd minute ensured there would be no comeback for Anguilla.

Krishawn Lopez came on as a substitute to score a brace as the Belize Jag-

uars started the competition with a comfortable win at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan.

Deon McCauley scored the first goal for Belize in the 40th minute, before an own goal by Jonathan Miller in the 44th doubled the lead.

Early in the second half, McCauley missed an opportunity to get another goal from a penalty which was awarded after he was taken down inside the penalty area.

However, Lopez scored two late goals to secure victory for Belize.

Antigua were not able to use the home crowd to their advantage, as they failed to score against St Lucia.

Goals from Pernal Williams (50th), Andrus Remy (67th) and Jevick McFarlane in the 90th minute, however, ensured that the visitors left the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium with full three points.

27

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, September 9, 2018

Lara, Lloyd back Windies Women to repeat as T20 champions NEW YORK, USA (CMC) – West Indies legends Brian Lara and Clive Lloyd are backing the West Indies Women to defend their ICC Women’s World T20 title when the competition bowls off in the Caribbean on November 9.

In the last tournament in 2016, the Windies women defeated Australia by eight wickets to claim their first-ever title.

Speaking at a recent gala to mark part of the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy tour, the two former West Indies captains both said they believed the regional team had the quality of players to repeat as champions.

“This will be a special tournament for the team and for all the people of the West Indies. I’m thrilled that we are hosting another world event in our side of the world – that last one was in 2010 – so it’s great to see the cricket world focusing on the Caribbean again,” Lara said.

“I remember the celebration we had back in 2016 when the Under-19s won the World Cup, the Ladies won the World T20 and the Men won the T20 as well.

We had a great run on all levels of the game and I believe they can pull it off again.”

Olympic great Johnson recovering from ‘mini stroke’

Michael Johnson

(REUTERS) - Michael Johnson is recovering from a ‘mini stroke’, the Olympic champion and former world record-holder said on Twitter yesterday but expects to make a full recovery.

“Last week I rather surprisingly suffered what’s known as a Transient Ischemic Attack or mini stroke,” the 50-year-old American tweeted.

“The good news is I’m back at home with my family, cleared of any ... issues and have already made great progress on my road to a full recovery.”

Johnson became the first man to win both the 200 and 400 metres at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics then captured gold in the 400m four years later in Sydney.

His 200m world record of 19.32 seconds stood for 12 years until 2008 when it was broken by Jamaica’s Usain Bolt with 19.30 seconds. Bolt lowered it again to 19.19 at the 2009 world championships.

Johnson’s 400m world record of 43.18 stood for 17 years until South African Wayde van Niekerk lowered it to 43.03 in the 2016 Olympic final.

Lloyd said it would be extremely special if the Windies could lift the trophy in front of their home crowd.

“This will be a wonderful tournament and we hope to see the best players in the women’s game show what they are capable of. I was there back in 2016 when we won both events (women’s and men’s) and it was a really great occasion.

“The West Indies have paid very close attention to their preparation again, this time around, with camps focusing on specific areas where they need in order to win again. I can see them doing very well. I want to wish Stafanie Taylor and her team all the best. It’s always great to win for the first time, but it would be superb to defend the title on home soil,” Lloyd maintained.

The event will be the sixth edition of the ICC Women’s World T20 and the second time it is being hosted in the Caribbean. The tournament will feature the best 10 teams in the world. Defending champions Windies Women are in Group A along with Bangladesh, England, South Africa and Sri Lanka, while Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand and Pakistan form Group B.

Both Clive Lloyd (left) and Brian Lara believe Windies Women can repeat as World T20 champions.

Powerful Miller-Uibo backstretch hands Americas team 4x100 glory TEAM Americas took a decisive victory in the women’s 4x100m relay, the penultimate event of the first day of action at the IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava 2018.

Angela Tenorio got the baton rolling, edging Team Europe’s lead-off runner Kristal Awauah to hand a narrow lead to Bahamian 200/400m standout Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

The tall Bahamian padded the lead noticeably down the backstretch, passing onward to Jenna Prandini who pow-

ered around the bend to where Vitoria Cristina Rosa awaited.

After a safe hand-off, the Brazilian cruised through to the finish unchallenged in 42.11, easily fending off Team Europe anchor, the continent’s 100 and 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith.

“We had a short time to put the relay together and practice but I was mentally prepared to adjust,” said Tenorio, the 100 and 200mm silver medallist at last month’s Ibero-American Games.

I’m proud of the team, everyone did a great job and we

added more important points for Team America,” added Miller-Uibo, who will race in the 200m on Sunday.

Awauah, Imani Lansiquot, Bianca Williams and Asher-Smith clocked 42.55 for second with the Asia Pacific quartet of Kong Lingwei, Wei Yonglie, Ge Mangi and Yuan Qugi next in 42.93.

Disaster struck for Team Africa after anchor Marie-Josee Ta Lou, the 100m winner earlier in the afternoon, dropping the baton after a successful exchange from Tobi Amusan.

Vitoria Cristina Rosa looks on following victory in the Women’s 4x100 Metre Relay during day 1 of the IAAF Continental Cup at Mestsky Stadium on Saturday in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

GOA backs GFF’s Nations League hosting THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has benefited from a generous monetary donation of $400 000, courtesy of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).

The donation, made last Wednesday, was a contribution towards the CONCACAF Nations League – Guyana vs Barbados match – held on September 6 at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

Receiving on behalf of the GFF was its Social Media Officer, Keeran Williams, who expressed gratitude to the GFF’s longstanding partner for the timely contribution, which assisted with costs related to the execution of the match.

The match ended on a 2-2 score line with a goal apiece from Trayon Bobb in the 46th minute and Neil Danns in the 78th minute. Barbados’ lone scorer had a brace in the 65th and 73rd minutes.

Guyana’s next match is against the Turks and Caicos in October, which will be the first of two Golden Jaguars’ away matches. French Guiana will host Guyana in November and Guyana will play their final qualifier against Belize in March 2019 in Guyana.

Taylor, Powell hand

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Tallawahs clinical win Imran Tahir in his trademark celebration after the wicket of Glenn Phillips (Adrian Narine photos)

Ross Taylor and Rovman Powell shared in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 114

Osaka claims U.S. Open title after Serena meltdown 23 PAGE

Naomi Osaka of Japan kisses the U.S. Open trophy after beating Serena Williams of the USA in the women’s final on day 13 of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, NY, USA; (Mandatory Credit: Robert DeutschUSA TODAY Sports)

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2018