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Fighting poverty through education

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Not economically feasible No. 105032

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

â€“â€“ Dr Thomas warns against pouring money into beleaguered sugar industry

Hurricane Irma lashes Florida west coast

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Guyana to help those battered by Irma Page 3

Pensioner crushed by two cars Page 5

Nalvan Buchhan

Farmer beaten to death with torchlight Page 3

A vehicle passes downed palm trees in Miami as the centre of Hurricane Irma has hit mainland Florida, just south of Naples, amid warnings of storm surges as high as 15ft (4.5m), the BBC has reported (GETTY IMAGE taken from the BBC)

IDB diverts US$30M to Sophia road network upgrade

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Fighting poverty through education –– poor young man on mission to improve lot of his family By Nafeeza Yahya

BORN to parents with hearing and speaking disabilities, Mahendra Phagwah has suffered for most part of his life but vows to rise above his circumstances and make a name for himself, while supporting his parents and sister who is 16 years old. Determination, hard work and a helping hand from a few has helped this young man along his way as he continues to strive towards achieving his goal. Despite both his parents being unable to earn a decent wage due to their disabilities, they saw the need for him to receive an education and insisted he attended school. In 2009, Pagwah then a student of Sheet Anchor Primary School sat the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), gaining 484 marks, placing him among the school’s top five and earning a place at the New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS). Unlike his hometown school where he walked to school, being awarded a place at NAMS meant he had to travel daily via public transportation. This placed extra strain on his family’s already limited financial resources and they were forced to transfer him to the Berbice High School and with a donated bicycle, Pagwah rode to school merrily. The approximately 1520 minutes trip from his home to school made him soaked in perspiration and being unable to purchase proper deodorant among many other things, he was subjected to bullying by

his peers which hurt him to this day. “Many nights I went to bed late and had little or nothing to go to school with the next day. My friends were well-off and had the best bag and books. I had to use whatever little I had and because I was seen as different from the others, I was bullied in one way or

es, he was determined to be different and refused to speak creoles, a decision that made his friends laugh at him more since they felt he wanted to be different and pretend to be better than them. This only made things worse for him. “I was somehow viewed as different from

to school and he could not attend school regularly. This, coupled with the bullying, he felt he had enough and despite wanting to continue, he decided to drop out of school in Fourth Form in 2014. Pagwah started working as an assistant at the NDC and felt good being able to earn his own money but he

Mahendra Phagwah (left) with his parents and sister Priya (right) the other. I remember clearly days of riding and when I reached to school, I would smell because I didn’t have the best deodorant and some of my friends would make their faces and I felt conscious of those around me. Many had the best lunch and I had bare rice and curry in my bowl. I would see classmate well-off with money to spend and I would cry silently inside,” he told Guyana Chronicle. Despite his circumstanc-

my other friends in the way I talk, walk and carry myself and thus I was bullied at a lot even by those close to me. I was laughed, mocked and even pushed around and many days I wanted to get hit by a car for I felt I was worth nothing at all,” he said. ILLNESS After a brief illness, Pagwah was diagnosed with a heart condition that forced him to stop riding

realised he would never be much without an education and certainly did not want to become an alcoholic like his dad. He decided to try and re-enter the formal education system but was having a difficult time; however, he managed to convince a teacher Devi (only name given) of JC Chandisingh Secondary school to petition the Ministry of Education on his behalf to give him a second chance and

things went in his favour. He however still found it difficult to attend school since he now had to travel all the way to the Corentyne from Number Two Village, Canje. His story found the ears of Mohabir Persaud, a philanthropist, who was in the process of setting up a foundation to help students in similar situation like Pagwah. Persaud gave the young man the first scholarship of the MMP Foundation of Excellence. With the scholarship, Pagwah was able to attend school regularly, get all his books and transportation, as well as Internet bill sponsored by the Foundation and sat 13 subjects at CSEC. At age 20, Pagwah collected his CSEC results a few weeks ago and received passes in all 13 subjects. He is now doing evening courses in Computer Science at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) and has completed the first semester for an online degree in Public Health. JOB HUNTING The young man is currently job hunting to support his education, provide for his family and to ensure his sister does not suffer as he did on his early journey to receive an education. While still on the road to success, he has become a role-model for many and those who know of his story regularly invite him to speak to others in similar circumstances. Pagwah credits his success thus far to God, his parents, the MMP foundation and relatives.

“I owe my success first and most importantly to God, since without Him I could not make it this far. Many days when I thought of giving up and ending it all, God gave me hope that everything will be okay one day. Secondly, my parents; even though my dad drank many nights and made me go to bed late in the nights, he still however tried his best even though he was helpless at many times and most of all, my mom since from the first day, my mom has never given up on me and she did whatever she had to do to make sure I took my education. My mom did chores for people so that I could have attended school and to my sister, she always supported me and have always been a shoulder to rest on. I also owe thanks to the MMP Foundation for their scholarship that exhausted recently and to my family and friends who supported me.” His focus is to break the shackles, enabling a better life for his family. “My main aim in life is to rise above the level of poverty and make a better life for me and my family and to be able to one day help out someone who was in the same position as me. I hope to one day study to become a medical doctor but for now, I have to take care of my parents since they now depend on me for a daily bread, and as such, I am hoping to start a business soon and raise a GoFundMe account so that I can have a ‘pushstart’ in life. Through this business, my family will have an income after I leave to go and further my studies,” Phagwah said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Not economically feasible

–– Dr Thomas warns against pouring money into beleaguered sugar industry

By Alexis Rodney THE proposition that funds coming out of the promising oil and gas sector be used to further subsidise the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) runs contrary to any sound economic plan and would only thrust the country further into financial distress, economist Dr. Clive Thomas has said. With the coming of oil and the vast economic prospects it brings, there is some hope that a percentage of the reserves could be used to back the sugar industry, eventually pulling it out of its financial and production woes. But Dr. Thomas, speaking to the Guyana Chronicle recently, said the idea is not economically feasible. In fact, he said government needs to focus

Economist Dr Clive Thomas heavily on its initial plan of allowing the sugar sector to make itself viable. The opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) continues to bash government over its decision to scale down the operations of the sugar industry and open more avenues for production. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at a re-

cent gathering with sugar workers at Enterprise Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD), opined that the downsizing of the industry would leave tens of thousands jobless, as opposed to just about 1000 that will be afforded jobs from the oil sector. He said the number of employment opportunities that will come out of oil cannot be compared to what is being lost within the sugar industry. To this end, he said that sugar workers will not benefit from the oil sector. Former President Donald Ramotar had said recently too that closing the sugar industry to accommodate the oil sector is nothing more than a colossal mistake. MUST PROVE ITSELF Dr. Thomas said an industry that cannot

prove its viability should not be furnished with public money. “Why would you put public money in that industry? Why would you throw good money after bad money?” the economist asked. He said government has already made some “bad decisions” with sugar in the past. This includes the Skeldon factory; an project government believes remains a “white elephant.” “We should not be repeating those mistakes. The aim is to make sugar as profitable and viable as it can, but not to continue subsidising it, and certainly not to transfer wealth from other sectors including taxpayers or whoever else would be expecting to get benefits coming out of the oil wealth, to an industry that is declining,”

he said. Thomas said what government should do is focus on industries that have proven viability that could open up new sectors and new opportunities for the population that fit more into the modern scheme of things. SOCIAL PROTECTION Asked if there was any way the funds coming out of oil could be used to cushion the effects of the downsizing, Dr. Thomas said government will have to make a decision on how it will handle the revenues. Some of it he said, may definitely go towards welfare, to bolster the bad events of the economy and the citizens. That, he said, is called social protection. “Sugar workers will definitely benefit from

that”, he said. In the long run, Dr Thomas said in order to make oil worthwhile, oil funds must be invested in areas that would yield returns and make themselves sustainable, not to “perpetually drain the economy.” He again said he would prefer that sugar be allowed to prove itself viable through diversification, before giving any promises that come 2020 government would bail out the industry. “That would be a very bad decision and send a very bad signal,” he told this publication. When actual production commences in 2020 by U.S. oil and gas exploration company Exxon Mobil, based on the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), Guyana will benefit from 50 per cent of the oil profits and 2 per cent of royalties.

Guyana to help those battered by Irma

THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) will today meet with Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Head of the Civil Defence Commission Chabilall Ramsarup to craft a plan to help Caribbean islands affected by Hurricane Irma. The meeting will take place in the boardroom of the PSC’s Waterloo Street office. On Thursday, during a post-Cabinet press briefing, Harmon told reporters that government stands ready to lend technical and other

forms of support to affected countries. He said the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has already sent out Situation Reports (SITREPS) to all its member states, but thus far there has been no direct request for assistance as need assessments are being completed. President David Granger has since committed Guyana’s support for Caribbean states which have been ravaged by Hurricane Irma, even

as the international community mobilises its response to the disaster. In a statement on Thursday, Government said it stands in solidarity with the people of the hurricane-ravaged territories of the Caribbean and President Granger expressed condolences to his colleague heads of government and residents of affected states and to the relatives of those who lost their lives as a result of the storm. The Category Five storm devastated Antigua’s sister

‘Passengers’ hijack minibus, dump conductress on highway THE police are investigating the hijacking of a green “pitbull” minibus BTT 8951 by two “passengers” at the Craig bus shed, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Saturday. Reports indicate that the 51-year-old driver filled the route 42 minibus with passengers at the Georgetown Park and had dropped off all of them except two, one of whom requested to stop at the Craig bus shed. After being dropped off at the shed,

the “passenger” went around to the driver, placed a knife to his neck and relieved him of a cell phone and cash, while ordering him out of the bus. The second “passenger” who was inside the bus then pointed a gun to the conductress’s neck as the bus pulled off, heading in a southern direction. The conductress was eventually put off at Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, unharmed.

isle Barbuda and also ravaged St Maarten, leaving insurmountable damage to property and loss of life. Irma has also affected Puerto Rico, Cuba and Haiti as well as Florida. Irma quickly evolved from a Category Two to a Category Five hurricane after having developed off the Coast of Africa in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. The devastating storm broke meteorological equipment in Cuba, despite the fact that it has weakened to a

Category Four storm. Meanwhile, Hurricane Jose, a Category Four hurricane, is also being monitored as experts say it is headed towards the eastern Caribbean already ravaged by Irma. Hurricane warnings have been issued to the islands of St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy, while tropical storm warnings have been issued for Barbuda, Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the British Virgin Islands, St. Thomas,

St. John and Antigua

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

Farmer beaten to death with torchlight POLICE are hunting for a 30-yearold male suspect in connection with the murder of farmer Menie Xavier, 49, of Karaudarnau Village, South Rupununi on September 8, in the same village. Police said that Xavier and the suspect were imbibing when an argument

ensued during which the suspect armed himself with a torchlight and gave the victim a severe beating about his head and body, resulting in his demise. The body is currently at the Lethem Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination as investigations continue.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Hurricane Irma lashes Florida west coast

The centre of Hurricane Irma has hit mainland Florida, just south of Naples, amid warnings of storm surges as high as 15ft (4.5m). Irma made landfall on Marco Island off Florida’s west coast with winds of up to 105mph (169km/h) but has since been downgraded to a category two storm. More than 2.5 million homes in the state are without power, and parts of the city of Miami are under water. Three storm-related deaths have been reported in Florida. In its latest update at 00:00 GMT Monday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said

that Irma was now moving northwards near the city of Fort Myers. Irma has already devastated parts of the Caribbean, killing at least 28 people. Some 6.3 million people in Florida had been told to evacuate. President Donald Trump has approved a major disaster declaration and emergency federal aid for Florida. He described the hurricane as a “big monster”, praising the federal agencies involved with the storm and saying he would go to the state “very soon”. “We may have been a little bit lucky in that it went on the west, and it may not have been quite as disruptive, but we’re going to see,

it’s going to play out over the next five or six hours,” Trump added. The storm hit Marco Island at 15:35 local time (19:35 GMT). It is now losing strength, but is expected to remain a hurricane at least until Monday morning, the NHC said. “On the forecast track, the eye of Irma should move near or over the west coast of the Florida Peninsula through Monday morning. “Irma should then move inland over northern Florida and south-western Georgia Monday afternoon.” The NHC earlier tweeted that people in the area of Naples and

Marco Island should move away from the coast as storm surges of up to 15ft were possible. There has been some flooding in the centre of Naples but it is believed to be fresh water. There is dead calm and people have been out on the streets, but the storm surge is expected to come later. The storm is now heading for the Tampa Bay area, with a population of about three million. The region has not been hit by a major hurricane since 1921. The NHC said that although the storm was set to weaken further it would remain a hurricane at least into Monday. (BBC)

Hurricane forces cutback on St. Kitts-Nevis independence celebrations BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Sept 10, CMC – The St. Kitts-Nevis government says it is reviewing the activities planned to commemorate the Federation’s 34th anniversary of political independence from Britain as a result of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma last week and the threat of further storms impacting the country. Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris said that his administration took the decision to curtail the number of activities that was part of the originally publicised calendar. The activities affected are between the period September 9 -20.

He said among the activities affected are the Appreciation Service for Sanitation Workers scheduled for Sunday, September 10, while the visits to schools by government ministers, which were slated to commence on Monday, are now cancelled. “However, students can still look forward to the annual Schools’ Patriotic Programme and Treat, as that event will take place as planned on Monday, September 18th,” Harris said noting that the Prime Minister’s Independence Lecture Series and the St. Kitts Nevis Defence Force Flag Raising Ceremony planned for Mon-

day have been cancelled. The National Fruit Day and the re-opening ceremony for the National ICT Centre, originally scheduled for September 12, have been postponed until further notice. He said the Zonal Prayer Service, which is planned for Tuesday has now been converted into a National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer, as the nation seeks to unite, rebuild and acknowledge God’s providence following the passage of these storms. “The Independence State Service is still slated for Sunday, September 17th at the Charleston Methodist Church.

The Annual National Heroes Day ceremony will go ahead as planned at our historic National Heroes Park on Saturday, September 16th; the Independence Day Parade at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium and the ensuing Toast at Camp Springfield, which are slated for Tuesday, September 19th, will be executed as originally planned,” he added. St. Kitts-Nevis, which became an independent country on September 19, 1967, is observing the 34th anniversary under the theme “Youth, Vision, Integrity – Securing Our Nation’s Prosperity”.

PM to receive report on how Barbadians view island 50 years after independence BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sept 10, CMC – The Barbados government is to receive a report on Tuesday outlining what citizens want to reclaim, retain or discard, in keeping with the questions posed by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart last year during this island’s 50th anniversary of political independence from Britain. “Barbados At 50: The Barbados National Values Assessment 2016 Report, was undertaken by the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies and will be presented to Stuart during an Evening of Appreciation, on Tuesday. The report is expected to inform government of the views of the population in relation to where “we are as a people at this juncture of our 50th anniversary as an independent nation.” Stuart has said he is eagerly looking forward to

receiving the report and having a national dialogue on where the country should go, particularly in light of several recent incidents among young people that have led to concern by Barbadians, and generated widespread discussion. “It is my hope that this important research would be the platform for a series of in-depth studies that would inform our policy formulation, development and implementation over the next 50 years and beyond,” he said. In January last year, Stuart had asked Barbadians “What are those features of Barbadian life that we have lost and that we need to reclaim? What are those features of Barbadian life that we have not lost and need to retain? and What are those features of Barbadian life we have not lost but we have to try and discard as quickly as possible?

Jamaica farmers to grow medicinal plants on mined-out lands KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sept 10, CMC – The Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) has signed an agreement with an international nutraceutical and pharmaceutical company, to grow medicinal plants on mined-out bauxite lands. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Timeless Herbal Care, the JBI will provide technical training for farmers in the growing of the crops. The farmers are required to sell the yield at market value to Timeless Herbal Care, which will extract the medicinal contents for the various markets that they serve. The plants to be cultivated are guinea hen weed, moringa, black castor bean, and medical cannabis. Transport and Mining Minister Mike Henry, welcomed the partnership, saying it will offer major economic benefits for the farmers. He noted that the crops targeted under the initiative are

in high demand world-wide, because the “nutraceutical value is immense. “We must now move with urgency to capitalise on what is truly ours,” he said, noting that the farmers will be taught new skills, so that they can produce the plants to internationally accepted standards. Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Olivia Grange, said that the project will create a new source of revenue and jobs from the growing, reaping, and export of nutraceuticals. She said that there are buyers in Canada who are waiting for products from Timeless Herbal Care, whose chief executive officer, Courtney Betty, said the initiative is about working with communities, establishing international partnerships and “developing Jamaica’s natural plants, which are so valuable.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Pensioner crushed by two cars

THE police are investigating a fatal accident which claimed the life of 64-year-old Nalvan Buchhan called “Baccru” of Tain Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice, on Sunday. According to reports, around 19:00 hrs, Buchan was making his way home after purchasing food when he was struck down on the Tain Public Road by a white car which was driven away from the scene.

Minutes later, while lying on the road, he was run over by another car, which also fled the scene. According to an eyewitness, she heard an impact and upon investigation, she saw a driver exiting a white car and was looking around. The person then returned to his car and sped off. “Me hear one loud sound and when me watch out on the road me see a

car stop and a man come out and go in front where something was on the road that look like a man. He then go back in the car and I thought he gone and get help to move the person, but he just jump in and drive away full speed. So me come out and start fuh walk towards the person and then wan next car just run over he and did not stop, but me nah get fuh see cause was blackout

and the street lights did deh off,” the eyewitness said. When the Guyana Chronicle arrived at the scene around 19:20 hrs, the body of Buchan was still on the road in a pool of blood as police tried to control curious residents and motorists from contaminating the scene. A black plastic bag with a food box was found a

few feet away. Bachan was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital by public-spirited residents and was pronounced dead on arrival. Meanwhile, Ana Dwarka, the victim’s sister said based on information she received, if the first driver that hit her brother had rendered assistance, he might have survived, since she is of the view that he was still alive when he was run over by the second vehicle.

At the victim’s home, his mother wept inconsolably and had to be supported by relatives. The Guyana Chronicle has learnt that Buchan was involved in an accident a few years ago. He leaves to mourn his daughter and other relatives. The victim’s body was badly mangled and bore injuries to the head and was bleeding through the ears, nose and mouth.

Electrician dies in Meten-Meer-Zorg accident A 21-YEAR-OLD electrician has died and his girlfriend is injured after their motorcycle crashed into a forklift parked on the Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD) Public Road on Sunday. Dead in the accident which occurred around 02:30hrs is Kevin Richard Singh of 73 Halley Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown. His girlfriend, who was the pillion rider, has been identified as Verna Wells of the North West District. The mother of three is in a critical state at the Georgetown Pubic Hospital. Police investigations revealed that the couple

was heading in the direction of Georgetown along the northern carriageway on motorcycle CH8732 when they collided with a fork lift number 890337, which was parked on the edge of the road. After the collision, the couple ended up on the northern grass parapet. Public -spirited citizens rushed the duo, who were both unconscious, to the nearby Leonora Cottage Hospital where they were treated and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Singh succumbed to his injuries hour later. Police have launched an investigation to the accident.

Dead: Kevin Singh The motorcycle that crashed into the forklift (Rabindra Rooplall photo)

Man hospitalised with suspected gunshot wounds

Monday , September 11th , 2017 08:30 hrs Tuesday, September 12th, 2017 09:30 hrs Wednesday, September 13th , 2017 10:30 hrs

A 25-year-old miner of Kwakwani, Region 10, was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex Sunday afternoon with suspected gunshot wounds. In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, acting Divisional Commander in Linden, Anthony Vanderhyden, said police were informed of an incident that took place along Five Miles, Ituni Access Road around 15:15hrs on Sunday. Commander Vanderhyden said based on the story told by the miner, Andre Couchman, he was walking along the trail when he heard a loud explosion. The 25-year-old miner reportedly told the police that after hearing the explosion, he felt a burning sensation to the lower part of his back.

He was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex by passersby. Commander Vanderhyden said Couchman has “two impressions” to the lower back and investigators are checking with medical personnel at the hospital to confirm if they are gunshot wounds. Meanwhile, a number of Couchman’s relatives were seen waiting outside of the Emergency Room at the hospital. “We have nothing to say, we are just concerned about his health,” a relative of the injured man told this newspaper, while the others watched from afar. The investigation into the suspected shooting is ongoing.

Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Understanding our history

WHETHER we were brought here wrongfully or by choice, Guyana is now home. In order to make home function most effectively, we have to ensure it is preserved and protected so that our values and legacies can be passed on. In this case it is not a matter of race or its past experiences, it is about making the best of what we have in ensuring our preservation, longevity and development. One of the biggest issues regarding the future is that we are not good at preserving history. Without knowing our past, we have no control shaping our future, since it will be shaped by disasters rather than by ambition and planning. We are living based on what can go wrong, not what we want our future to be. We are in the self-preservation mode, i.e., we are concerned only about the here and now, which blurs our interpreta-

tion and understanding of the most important things such as family, community, culture, and country. Unless we learn how to value what we have, we can never have more. We have lost track of our identity and adopted other identities without understanding the fundamental core principles of the civilisations we want to emulate. We have to learn not only to adopt the looks of other societies, but also the fundamentals underpinning how and why they function. Western civilisation, especially the USA and Britain, are built in such a way that hundreds of years hence the foundations and principles will pass on from generation to generation. Conversely, as a culture we look at things that if they are no longer in use they no longer have value, unlike Western civilization where even if something is not in use, it is preserved as a representation

of the past and the ability to overcome. For instance, the Vreeden-Hoop stelling represents a key means of commerce and transportation in earlier times. With the advent of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, speed boats, and other modes of transportation, we no longer see the value and have appreciation for what was. This is a sign of failing to preserve our legacy, which in turn will make us lose our identity. A legacy defines a people, without that we have no history, which means we never existed. We have to begin thinking beyond ourselves and survival instinct and put ourselves in the future generation, who might want to know who we were and what we represented. Guyana being the only English-speaking country in South America or governed by Great Britain has a larger responsibility to carry on

Guyana’s legacy. We have an important role to play in preserving the diversity in cultures from those who dared to venture, by choice or not, Guyana’s way. Ours is an eclectic identity that needs to be preserved for future generations. There are few countries in the world that share so diverse or deep roots from different periods and parts of the world. Different world powers saw the value in Guyana and tried countering it in different ways. The Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, French, British, all of these nations have left footprints that should be everlasting, but are being lost in the misunderstanding of their values. The Dutch showed us how to protect a society below sea level by designing the irrigation and waterway systems. The British lead us into the industrialisation age from the technology of

mining bauxite, gold, etc., to building places such as Bartica, barges to move products from the canefields, and bridging the three counties, making it one united nation. Things were built purposefully and mindful of the atmospheric and physical environments. Homes were built where heat, rain and moisture were properly vented, on stilts and with steps in the event of flood or natural disasters, casualties would be minimised, and life could go on. Today, things are being built with

no recognition for the environment or future planning. We need to pay that kind of attention to our past, so we understand better in which direction to go in the future. Guyana now has a blank canvas in the Information Age to shape its own future. No longer does it take a world power to do it for us, and it needs to be said that the next generation is not looking for information, they are looking for examples of what Guyana can become. (Reprinted)

Some burning questions Dear Editor,

I CAREFULLY read a curious article in the Guyana Chronicle September 5, 2017 under the caption, “Dismiss the charges”... PSC orders Top Cop to dismiss DPP - recommended charges against officers. According to the missive, in a letter dated July 14, 2017 and addressed to Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, Chairman of the PSC, Omesh Satyanand said, “The Police Service Commission has reviewed a list of disciplinary matters at interviews held and has recommended that the following disciplinary matters should be dismissed, i.e. no charge should be instituted against the officers.” The chairman listed the officers, their ranks, the nature of the matters, when the incidents

occurred and the DPP’s recommendations. Officers and inspectors mentioned in the report were given a respite. This long list of alleged defaulters leaves me with the impression that there are not only reports of indiscipline at the apex of management in the force, but at its heart-the middle management. However, corrective action can be taken through fit and proper disciplinary procedures. I perused the report several times. They were more questions than answers and the more I find out the less I know. Here are some burning questions: was the order that no charge should be instituted against the officers and inspectors a decision of the chairman or the PSC as a whole? Were the interviews con-

ducted when the PSC was fully constituted, or they were done solely by the chairman or with himself and two other members of the commission present? Some of the beneficiaries of the altruistic decision of the chairman spoke about the one-and-one interviews they had with him. Are there any written records of the proceedings? Were the persons summoned by the PSC or they went of their own volition? Were the investigations into the alleged breaches of discipline so poorly done that the investigators did not adduce enough evidence to establish even a simple disciplinary charge into the 20 alleged acts of misconduct committed by 17 officers and inspectors? Were the stories told by the accusers inherently incredible? Were the alleged breaches of discipline so frivolous and vex-

atious that they were quickly dashed under the chairman’s No Action red carpet? Is it a fact that the chairman has a better understanding and appreciation of legal issues than the DPP and or the chairman of the PCA, who is an, honourable and distinguished retired Chancellor of the Judiciary? Why is it so easy for the chairman to blatantly disregard the recommendations of the DPP and the chairman of the PCA by just conducting interviews. Certainly, interviewing commanders and other senior officers is not in keeping with best practice, transparency or is the best method to dispose of disciplinary matters that had legal inputs from the DPP and the PCA. But, what about those long outstanding disciplinary matters that for years have been slow marching between the police and the PSC? They are

hampering the promotions of several hard-working ranks who could have been punished and by now qualify for promotion because they would have had a clean slate. To have disciplinary matters pending for over five years and using them to bar ranks from promotion is an abuse of due process. Why did the PSC abandon its well established and successful disciplinary procedures, that is to say the appointment of tribunals to enquire into disciplinary matters and for the tribunals to submit their resume of proceedings to the PSC for action to be taken as that competent disciplinary authority deems fit? The chairman cannot complain, because over the past two years the commission has appointed several tribunals. Through the pro-active efforts of the police administration, they all delivered

the goods in good time. Why that extraordinary action taken by the chairman to nolle pros the matters? Is it a one-man commission? Was there or is there an ulterior motive? Disciplinary action must be swift, certain and appropriate if it is be effective. Justice delayed is justice denied. Justice must not only be done but must appear to be done. The action taken by the chairman falls well within the ambit of a travesty of justice. Hopefully for the GPF, there will be positive and transparent changes in dealing with alleged breaches of discipline under the Police (Discipline) Act Chapter 17:01. Yours respectfully, CLINTON CONWAY Assistant Commissioner of Police (retired)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Awareness critical in fight against suicide -- Minister Cummings

Mental Health Unit officer Tashia James doing an awareness session with this family on Sunday at the Seawall Bandstand (Samuel Maughn Photo)

AWARENESS and sensitisation about mental health are critical in fighting suicide, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Dr. Karen Cummings, has said. Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle at a concert held at the Seawall Bandstand, Kingston, Geogetown, in observance of World Suicide Prevention Day held under the theme, “Take a minute, change a life,” the minister said suicide is everybody’s business. “It takes many sectors to come together to stamp out an issue and suicide is an issue,” she said. The World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2012 reported that Guyana with a suicide rate of 44.2 deaths per every 100,000 persons had the highest suicide rate in the world. This figure in 2015 dropped to 30.6 deaths per every 100,000 persons.

“We definitely want to reduce where we are on the [global suicide rates’] list; in fact, we want to come off of that list entirely,” she stressed and related that strengthening local awareness through campaigns has been the strategy used to tackle the issue. And the recently estab-

lished Mental Health Unit has been vital in this regard, the minister said. But Mental Health Unit officer Tashia James, said more staff are needed for the unit to function optimally. She explained that there are few officers like her who are directly responsible for awareness and sensitization,

Some of the persons at the Indian Action Committee (IAC)’s suicide prevention programme at the Better Hope Community Centre Ground on Sunday (Samuel Maughn Photo)

but there are a host of social workers and psychologists who strive to assist persons suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts. Raising awareness has not only been done to reduce stigma, but also to educate persons on how to identify signs of depression in others. With the global sui-

cide rates, according to the WHO, reaching more than 800,000 people and more than 25 times that amount (or 20,000,000 people) attempting suicide, there is definitely need for a greater focus on mental health. The Indian Action Committee (IAC) also held a suicide-prevention day exercise at the Better Hope

Community Centre ground, East Coast Demerara (ECD), in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day, 2017. Speakers from the Ministry of Public Health and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) spoke extensively on the subject as a small gathering listened attentively.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Gov't willing to help Guyanese affected by storms that have been badly affected by providing supplies for the coping and rehabilitative processes, as well as other technical assistance. This assurance came as he reflected that Guyana had received foreign assistance before when battling its own disasters. Cognisant of this, the government and people of

–– prime minister assures By Vishani Ragobeer PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has suggested that Guyanese living in the diaspora could return home, even temporarily, in light of the tragic bout of natural disasters, assuring that government is willing to extend a helping hand. In his weekly column “My Turn,” published in the Sunday Chronicle, the prime minister expressed these sentiments, affirming Guyana’s commitment to render assistance to those being affected

by Hurricanes Irma and Jose. He noted that there will naturally be worry over the fate of dear ones in the path of Hurricanes Irma and Jose. “But as a nation, we can hold out the promise that Guyana could help in some ways to ease the pain and cushion the losses.” Since there are many Guyanese living abroad, the prime minister said, “We also have to reach out to the many Guyanese who may want to return to their homeland, even temporarily, until the nightmare is over.”

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo The prime minister has also reaffirmed President David Granger’s commitment that Guyana will be a “good neighbour” to those countries

Guyana not only bear the civic responsibility of taking care of its own, but of others as well, the prime minister said. Guyana has been helping Venezuelans in light of a measles outbreak in that country, even though Venezuela has been making invalid claims to Guyana’s territory.

Nagamootoo warned that with the advent of intense climate change even Guyana, with its “idle boast” of being in a hurricane and earthquake-free haven, will not be spared from the stark possibilities of natural disasters. He also observed that “tail-lashes” from itinerary storms in Regions One, Five and Eight have flattened houses and rising water levels are always perilous to the nation.

One critical after Loo Creek accident By Naomi Marshall A 34-year-old woman is listed as critical in the Linden Hospital Complex following an accident at Loo Creek on the Soesdyke-linden Highway on Sunday. The woman has been identified as Cindy Moore of 141 D’Andrade Street, Newtown Kitty, Georgetown. Acting Divisional Commander Anthony Vanderhyden told the Guyana Chronicle that the accident occurred around 18:30hrs. At the time, the ve-

hicle which was proceeding to Georgetown had a total of six occupants including the driver, Cartlon Ferrel, 29, and a sixyear-old child, all of whom reside at 141 D’Andrade Street, Newtown, Kitty. Commander Vanderhyden said based on information received, the rear right wheel of the motor vehicle PTT 5964 blew out, causing the vehicle to topple several times before coming to a halt in the vicinity of Loo Creek. Five of the occupants, including the six-year-old

The scene of the accident at Loo Creek, Soesdyke-Linden Highway

child, were rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex where Moore was listed as critical. When the Guyana Chronicle visited the hospital, doctors and nurses were attending to the injured. Meanwhile, at the scene, traffic ranks were seen inspecting the wreckage. The passenger who remained at the scene told this newspaper that he was seated at the back of the vehicle when it started toppling. “I was going and sleep when I see the car start toppling before we run off the road,” the young man said, noting that his “Uncle Carlton” was driving at the time. “It was me, meh uncle, meh cousin, meh aunty, another aunty and meh brother. They gone to the hospital,” he said. The young man said he had journeyed to Linden with his other relatives to paint a house belonging to his aunt and was heading back to Georgetown when the accident occurred.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Land preparation continues for town houses, duplexes

THE clearing of additional land within the vicinity of Perseverance, East Bank Demerar, has commenced as government rolls out its version of housing solutions for the country. More than 60 acres of what was once canefield land, is being prepared for domestic dwelling. This is according to CH&PA Project Manager Kennard Dazzle, who told the Guyana Chronicle that the clearing rep-

resents the first phase of work to be done. The location, along the informally known “Red Road,” is less than two kilometres outside of Perseverance. It is said to be a proposed site for the first set of town houses on the East Bank. Along with those homes, duplexes, and other low and middle-income houses are also slated to be built. At the infrastructure stage, road networking of crush and

run or white sand mix, as well as amenities such as water and other facilities will be installed. The CH&PA announced in July that it engaged contractors for the construction of 40 additional duplexes at Perseverance. Different models of the more foreign-styled accommodation were displayed for the first time at Perseverance during the government’s inaugural housing solutions model village exhibition earlier this year. The CH&PA related that

CDEMA steps up hurricane relief efforts RELIEF efforts for the countries affected by Hurricane Irma in the Eastern Caribbean have been stepped up following the passage of Hurricane Jose out of the area. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency’s (CDEMA) advance team, is operating out of its staging post in Antigua, which was largely unaffected by the hurricanes. The advance team, consisting of the CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU), Rapid Needs Assessment Team (RNAT), CARICOM Operational Support Team (COST), and the CARICOM Disaster Assessment Coordination team, have been deployed to the British Virgin Islands and

Anguilla, having gone into Barbuda late last week. Barbuda, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands suffered serious damage by Hurricane Irma. CDEMA’s Rapid Assessment team, from its staging post in Jamaica, is scheduled to arrive in the Turks and Caicos Islands later today, Sunday 10 September. The agency has also been in contact with Haiti, which has also suffered damage during

the passage of Hurricane Irma. Latest information from the Governor of the British Virgin Islands indicates that five people have been confirmed dead. Barbuda, Anguilla and Haiti each suffered one fatality. Eleven deaths have also been reported in the French territories of St Barthelemy and St Martin, as well as the Dutch territory of Saint Maarten.

A section of the land at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara being cleared construction of these homes is being rolled out in Regions Two, Three, Five, Six, Seven and 10. The housing agency had grappled with issues facing existing housing projects inherited from the previous administration, while trying to work out what they said were better

homeowner-friendly housing solutions. They claimed that housing schemes in many parts of the regions lacked amenities and infrastructure. Many, for example, the more recently built Turn-key homes were also marred by poor construction and the use of inferior materials.

More than $100M was spent on repairs to these buildings. According to the CH&PA, townhouses and duplexes are more economical on the government’s part as they allow housing of more families and bring some uniformity to the community.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Children who steal SCHOOL is back and my, those children do look smart as they make their way to school. New backpacks, white ribbons, pleated skirts, new trousers or short pants and brand new school shirts and school badges. If only the same attention to detail was invested with regard to the minds of the children. If only parents took

the same time and effort to ensure that their children were growing up on the right path with the correct morals and values and they spent just a little more time talking to and being there for them. Then everything on the outside would truly reflect what the inner intention is or should be, which is for parents to enable, guide and nurture children to

reach their fullest potential. What a big responsibility parents have and the moment they lapse or fail to ‘pull a child up’ on any type of unsavory behaviour it could send the wrong message to the child. So parents have to be attentive -- good listeners and observers and they can’t keep overlooking traits and behaviours in children that are

unacceptable. A classic example is: STEALING Taking something that does not belong to you is stealing. It makes no difference how you twist or turn it. When a child steals anything, whether it is money, a phone, a toy, a pencil, based on how the parents react when the theft is revealed to them, will basically tell the child whether what he/she did was totally wrong or partially acceptable. So if you see your child with anything that is not theirs, enquire where they got if from and if needs be, make them take it back. Most parents would beat their child for stealing, (mainly out of shame), but the main question is, why would a child steal in the first place? And would beating really deter the child from stealing again? If the child’s parents’ family members or siblings steal too and the only thing wrong through the child’s eyes is the fact that he/she got caught, then someone has a valuable lesson to teach that child before it’s too late. Children should be taught, if you want something, ask for it, you can only be told ‘yes’

or ‘no;’ either way you did the right thing in asking. There are several people in the lockups right now who started out exactly the same way and their parents never carried out their moral obligation by teaching them that stealing is a very low and despicable act. Parents must teach children that there are consequences to their actions and even if you steal and get away with it today, chances are you will get caught tomorrow. Stealing is one of those things that always goes against you in the long run, because it is totally wrong. Children who steal should be punished: they can be made to do hard work or something of value could be confiscated from them for a period of time. If they like playing outside, they should be ‘grounded’ for a week. They should be made to return whatever they took and made to explain to their parents and the victim why stealing in wrong, in their own words. Children are smart and they know how to play with words in order to get around adults, they can make stealing sound as if it were an accident

or a total misunderstanding. Some children have their parents’ and caregivers’ psyche down to a ‘t,’ with adults believing the child’s every word. But bad traits must be exposed as such and not be left to fester: parents need to stay one step ahead of their children to keep them on track. As a parent ask yourself this question, what type of adult do you want your child to grow into? I am sure you would not want your child to become a notorious criminal; that is why you must correct your child now, while you still can. Spending that extra special time nurturing and guiding him/her meaningfully and showing and sharing a mutual respect will enhance good communication between parent and child, which is the ideal platform for teaching. Only when children are well informed can they make good decisions and choices. If you are concerned about a child you can ring the CPA hotline 227-0979 or email childcaregy@gmail.com A message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

IDB diverts US$30M to Sophia road network upgrade

THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has given the go ahead for the diversion of some U.S. $30 million to the Ministry of Communities’ Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) from the Mandela / Sherriff street expansion project for the reformulation of the “Road Network Upgrade and Expansion Programme.”

B fields. The proposed works to be carried out include road construction, upgrades to community grounds and buildings, the installation of street lights, construction of sidewalks and providing subsidies for the construction of core home and home improvement projects. The communities to benefit are Pattensen/Tur-

The CHPA was represented at the consultation by Community Development Officer, Gladwin Charles; Senior Community Development Officer, Donell Bess-Bascom; and Engineer, Randolph Hunte. Addressing residents Bess-Bascom explained that CHPA is finalising the reformulation of the road networks upgrade and rehabilitation programme

quirements and the CHPA intensified community development approach, Bess-Bascom said consultations with the beneficiaries are always of utmost importance. She said the CHPA is seeking to have all persons involved in the implementation of the project. Engineer Randolph Hunte spoke extensively on the targetted

CHPA Engineer, Randolph Hunte, addressing residents of A and B Fields Sophia on Sunday

The gathering at the consultation held at the Sophia Primary School The project will earmark a series of infrastructure and developmental projects in several communities in North and South Sophia. On Sunday, officials from the CHPA held a consultation at the Sophia Primary School, which saw the attendance and participation of residents of A and

keyen (Section B), Turkeyen (Section C and D), Section “C” Cummings Lodge (Cummings Park), Block E Sophia (Farmers group), Block “X” Liliendaal (Section A), Block “F” Sophia, Plum Park and Block “R” Sophia, areas that were once squatting settlements that were later regularised.

from funds from the Mandela/Sherriff road project which has been experiencing some challenges. She said government and the IDB made a decision to reformulate the programme and use some of the original funds to have some housing development done. As part of the IDB re-

infrastructural development within the community. He explained that the programme focuses on the rehabilitation and construction of new roads, some 17 Kilometers or 55,000 feet of roads in the community. While some of the main access roads were recently rehabilitated by the Min-

istry pf Public Infrastructure, Hunte explained that the CHPA project will be seeking to build a “more holistic community” by providing all the basic facilities regularised communities should have. “These include quality roads, quality drainage, street lighting, street walks, playgrounds and assisting with home improvement.” He said the consultation is being done to ensure that before the actual designs are confirmed, community members are made aware of the programme. It also opens the door for residents to visit the sites during the execution of works. Meanwhile, explaining the operation of the project, particularly the home improvement subsidy, Senior

Community Development Officer, Donell Bess-Bascom, noted that not every resident falling under that category will be able to benefit. She said it is only for families or persons who, because of their economic challenges, are unable to improve their homes. The consultation was welcomed with open-arms by residents who took the opportunity to raise several “burning issues” with the housing officials. These include the lack of drainage and irrigation, which they said are entirely responsible for the constant flooding in the communities. They are also calling on government to prioritise the cleaning of the main access drain.

City Hall reduces garbage collection in some areas By Telesha Ramnarine THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is finding it increasingly difficult to cover garbage collection on its own in Georgetown and now wants to reduce collections in some quarters due to overwhelmingly high amounts of waste from residents. After its two main contractors – Purans Disposal Services and Cevons Waste Management – pulled their services early in August, the M&CC had boasted that this new development has ‘opened their eyes’ to the possibility of providing the

same services competently on their own, and that the money saved could be paid to the contractors to cover heavy, outstanding debts. But Head of Solid Waste Management, Walter Narine, told the Chronicle on Sunday that areas such as Charlestown, Albouystown, Wortmanville and Werk-en-Rust, are producing significantly more waste than others and that twice-weekly clearance will have to be changed to once weekly. However, residents of Charlestown and Albouystown have confirmed to the Guyana Chronicle that they are hardly getting even

the once-per-week clearance. “We put out our barrels and leave them there for days and then we just take them back inside when we are tired of waiting,” a resident of St. Stephens Street, Charlestown said on condition of anonymity. Narine is saying that the above-mentioned areas are producing approximately 26 tonnes of refuse weekly, as compared to the other groups in Georgetown that produce about eight to 12 tonnes weekly. “Because they are producing this amount of See page 12

City Hall is finding it increasingly difficult to cover garbage collection on its own in Georgetown and now wants to have reduced collections in some quarters, due to overwhelmingly high amounts of waste from residents

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Several arrested in marijuana bust

SEVERAL persons were arrested early Sunday morning in connection with the alleged discovery of 34 kilogrammes of marijuana, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) said. The anti-drug agency said the marijuana was found in a house at the corner of Camp and Norton Streets, Georgetown. CANU said its agents uncovered bulk parcels of suspected marijuana contained in two barrels and two boxes. Only, recently the

Guyana Police Force in two intelligence-led operations arrested four males following the seizure of a quantity of narcotics. The busts, which unearthed cannabis as well as cocaine, took place at Parika, East Bank Essequibo and subsequently at New Amsterdam, Berbice. According to the police, a sting operation was conducted, during which the ranks went to a house at Tucber Park, New Amsterdam and discovered nine taped parcels of compressed marijuana,

amounting to a total of 4.5 kilograms. Three men were subsequently arrested. Meanwhile, around 03:30hrs at Parika Seadam, police conducted a search of a shop on Tuesday morning in the presence of the 47-year-old owner. During the search, the ranks found a quantity of cocaine pellets inside a hammock, in which the proprietor was seen resting. The drug amounted to some 31.3 grams. Farmer beaten to death with torchlight

The building at Camp and Norton Streets where the 34 Kilogrammes of marijuana was found (CANU Photo)

Exhibits of some of the suspected marijuana found at the house at the corner of Camp and Norton Streets, Georgetown (CANU Photo)

Two barrels recovered containing suspected marijuana (CANU Photo)

City Hall reduces garbage collection ... From page 11

refuse, we had Puran’s clearing them twice weekly, but because of our limited resources, we cannot give two clearances per week; rather, only one. The residents could assist M&CC by reducing the amount of waste they produce,” Narine offered. He observed that the M&CC is under strain

to cover areas that feature many tenement yards and reiterated the need for them to reduce the amount of waste that they generate. Significantly, though, the areas to soon see a reduced collection have a great number of tenement yards. Town Clerk Royston King last week said the M&CC is looking forward to opening new talks

with the contractors and setting up new conditions, especially since the contracts are up for review in October. The contracts, which feature a review clause, remain in force until 2020. City Hall, through its Solid Waste Management Department, has undertaken to provide garbage collection and disposal services throughout

Georgetown, with assistance from a few small contractors. But King has subsequently reported that the trucks and other equipment belonging to M&CC are very old and have never been subjected to this type of pressure before, since the municipality had been depending on the contractors. “They’re now being put to the test,” King of-

fered, and this, he said, is affecting the way the M&CC is collecting the city’s waste. According to King, the M&CC is now moving to procure trucks from overseas, so that it can eventually cover 60 per cent of garbage collection and divide the remaining 40 per cent between contractors. “While we have been

paying and building private contractors, improving their capacity, we have neglected our own capacity, so we really have limited capacity to do what we’re doing. So we must re-think our operations and build our capacity; and so if we hire contractors, they will not be doing the bulk of the work,” King said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Golden Grove man died of smoke inhalation – autopsy finds

Dead: Sean Prince

Sledgehammer bandits rob Ready Mix Concrete Ready Mix Concrete Limited at 69-72 Eccles Industrial Site, East Bank Demerara was robbed after three armed bandits smashed a concrete wall to gain entry into a safe which they opened with a welding torch on Sunday. The robbery occurred around 02:30- 03:00hrs and the bandits escaped after an exchange of gun fire, with an undisclosed amount of cash. According to reports, the bandits used a sledgehammer to smash a three feet long by four feet wide hole in the concrete fence of the company. The men also smashed another hole with similar

dimension on the lower flat of the building, where they gained access to reach the vault. Police confirmed that the armed bandits pounced upon the two watchmen, both in their late 70s and held them at gunpoint, after which they proceeded to a section of the two story-building and removed the cash from a safe. Armed personnel from a contracted security service responded to an alarm from the said building and confronted the suspects. There was an exchange of gunfire between the two sides, but the suspects managed to flee the scene.

The sledgehammer which was used to gain access into the building

SEAN Prince, 39, of Lot 67 Sideline Dam, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, who perished after fire consumed his home on Thursday, died as a result of smoke inhalation. This is according to a post-mortem performed by Government

Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, who indicated that he did not find anything on the remains t o suggest foul play. However, a cousin of the deceased remains in police custody and is assisting with the investigation. The father of one s h a r e d t h e 3 5 x 4 0 g u t-

ted two-storey wooden and concrete building with his cousin Devon Prince. His cousin, who lived in the lower flat, was taken into police custody even as investigator suspect foul play. Reports indicate that the fire of unknown or igin started at 01:10hrs Thursday morning in

the upper flat where Sean Prince lived. Sean used to work with his father’s shipping company Prince’s Shipping -- located in Muneshwers Building on Main Street, Georgetown. He was described by friends as an exceptional and kind person.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Fear a hindrance to progress -- says Sir George Alleyne, calls on regional universities to reverse trend

DIRECTOR Emeritus of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and former Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Sir George Alleyne, has called on the universities of the Region to make a substantial and significant contribution in diminishing the fear that hinders progress. “I believe it is possible to address and diminish it [fear] through the collective thinking of informed citizens and that universities of the Region can make a substantial and significant contribution,” Sir Alleyne said as he addressed his distinguished audience. Sir Alleyne at time was lecturing on the “The Multiversity Universities of the Caribbean” at the Turkeyen Campus during the University of Guyana Vice-Chancellor’s Renaissance Lecture, the fourth of its kind. The former Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, who also served as the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean, said he was stimulated and intrigued by President David Granger’s take on the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) during the recently

concluded CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Grenada. The President had referred to fear and lack of trust as being two critical factors hindering progress of the CSME. Though he has attended many such meetings, Sir Alleyne said it was the first time he heard such a sharp position on the state of Caribbean integration. He posited that fear and lack of trust have prevented Caribbean countries from putting in place many of the laudable plans they had developed. Sir Alleyne submitted that if the Region were to make significant progress in keeping with the Treaty of Chaguaramas and the subsequent accord, it must eliminate fear. “I say citizens because I do not believe this task should be left to our leaders alone; and I do believe that your President’s affirmation is worth exploring in a university context,” he posited The renowned Barbadian scholar said while fear is good it can be a barrier to development. “Fear is good… but fear can also be a liability as it prevents us taking steps into the unknown and perhaps sometimes makes us

Distinguished Caribbean public servant Sir George Alleyne

impotent for realisation of good potential,” Sir Alleyne explained. According to him, the fear in the individual translates into institutional or national fear and leaders often interpret the fear of their constituents and act accordingly. He argued that it is lack of trust that often increases the fear of making risky decisions, noting that in the case of countries in the regional arrangement, it is the fear of loss and not only the consequence of action that stymies

Sir George Alleyne greeting Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence in the presence of Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings

progress. Sir Alleyne posited that the Caribbean universities must play a leading role in generating the trust needed to move the Region forward. “It is the universities and other parts of civil society that have that critical and fundamental role in developing and fomenting that regional

identity and citizenship,” Sir Alleyne noted. The Vice Chancellor’s Renaissance lecture series is intended to enhance the image of the University of Guyana. The discussions have a broad focus which links Guyana to the wider world, while bringing the knowledge of the wider world to Guyana.

The lecture was attended by UG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith; Public; Health Minister, Volda Lawrence; Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings; and PAHO/WHO Country Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow among others.

Guyana-Cuba Cultural Agreement to be revitalised GUYANA and Cuba are working to revitalise the current Guyana-Cuba Cultural Agreement signed on September 19, 2015 by former Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine and former Minister Julian Toledo Gonzalez (from Cuba). In a recent interview with Guyana Chronicle, Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed, described the agreement as “wide ranging” and said it seeks to broaden and deepen cultural norms, beliefs and prospects between the two countries. He disclosed that on August 25, he met with Cuban Minister of Culture, Abel Prieto, his Deputy Minister, Fernando Rojas and Sadia Brooks, Head of the Latin American and Caribbean Division in the Ministry of Culture. “In a spirit of friendship and cooperation we have agreed to be realistic and to identify specific areas which could benefit our two coun-

tries,” Ambassador Majeed told Guyana Chronicle. He explained that among the things agreed upon is the promotion of and the participation in the Annual Havana Book Fair to be held in February 2018. This year, Guyana was the only CARICOM Member State to participate in the Havana Book Fair. Guyana was greatly assisted by Dr. Mark Kirton, Director, Institute of International Affairs at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, who donated several volumes of various publications. “In February 2018, we intend to do far better so as to promote Guyana’s vital interests,” the ambassador stated, while noting that from his embassy’s perspective, the Havana Steelband which was birthed under former President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham some 42 years ago, has been resuscitated. With assistance from

Nand Persaud and Company Limited, new uniforms have been provided to the 15-member band, which has been renamed the HavanaKaribee Steel Orchestra. Nand Persaud and Company Limited has also committed to providing new equipment, including a modern nine-piece drum set – and additional professional training for band members. “My embassy has adopted a young Cuban dance troupe, the Ballet de Television that has already performed for us on two occasions. I am confident that Distribution Services Limited (DSL) or Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) will help us to provide the wherewithal that would increase the professional development of this dance troupe,” he added. That aside, Ambassador Majeed intends to establish a Guyana House of Culture, in Havana, Cuba and he has already indication the support from Fly Jamaica’s resident

Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed

representative in Cuba, Lindbergh Smith. Guyana and Cuba established full diplomatic relations from mid-1972 and the country’s relationship over the years has strengthened not only bilaterally but also through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In fact, in 2005, the Cultural Cooperation Agreement was signed between CAR-

ICOM and the Republic of Cuba. That agreement which was signed on December 8, 2005 in Barbados sought to, among other things, promote cultural exchange among CARICOM member states through events such as the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA), and the Caribbean Festival of Santiago de Cuba to name a few. The Cultural Cooperation

Agreement also provided for support to be given for the exchange of commercial, promotional and heritage exhibitions among relevant cultural institutions, whether or not an event is being held in their country. “They shall also provide support for the exchange of art publications, magazines and catalogues, as well as of other materials related to visual arts,” the agreement stated. Additionally, the agreement focused on the exchange of information on matters related to the preservation of musical heritage, research along with the promotion of international music festivals. Another aspect of the Cultural Cooperation Agreement focused on the sharing of experiences in publishing, especially in the field of literary publications and the implementation of co-publishing and translation projects.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Cooper’s stunning cameo... From backpage

including maestro Chris Gayle, whose acquisition in the off-season was for this exact purpose. Gayle made one from seven balls before Javon Searles had him caught at backward point in the second over to signal it would be a tough night for visitors, whose chances dipped dramatically when the same bowler had

Pakistani Mohammad Hafeez caught at mid-off in the fourth over and young batting tyro Evin Lewis was lbw to Sunil Narine in the eighth over. Patriots were 37 for three and Cooper started his claims for the Player-of-the-Match prize with the wickets of Brandon King and Devon Thomas in successive overs, as the visitors stumbled to 65 for five in

the 13th over. Brathwaite came to the wicket and put on 49 with Carter for the sixth wicket and collected 23 from the final over with Mohammad Nabi to give the Patriots a respectable, if not impregnable total. Left-arm fast bowler Cottrell gave the Pats a brilliant start to their defence, when he cleaned up Sunil Narine and Dwayne Bravo in the space of three balls in the

second over. Colin Munro got TKR moving before he was caught at longoff to become the first of two wickets for Hafeez. His dismissal triggered a slump that saw five wickets fall for 42 in the space of 48 deliveries before Cooper came to burst Patriots’ bubble in an unbroken stand of 46 with Ramdin.

Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup officially launched By Rajiv Bisnauth WITH the full support of Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo, Guyana’s Premier Softball Tournament “Prime Minister’s T20 Cup” was officially launched yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club Pavilion. The organisers, the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. announced that, the event will see a large number of teams participating, both locally and internationally, as well as a Caribbean atmosphere throughout the three-day event. Set for October 27, 28 and 29, cricket enthusiasts will definitely see softball in a new dispensation. At the impressive launching Nagamootoo in delivering the feature address, told the gathering that it gives him great pleasure and honor to be identified with the tournament, since softball actually is a growing area of the sport internationally. The Prime Minister noted that the tournament, should not just be a game, rather it must be intended to build that sentiment of playing together, sharing together, and competing on the basis of talent. To this end, Nagamootoo pledges his Ministry’s initial support of $300,000, which will go towards new talents coming out from the tournament. The Prime Minister was quick to identify that, while much can be done in the area of sports locally, there had been too many distractions in the past, which eventually tempted people who are otherwise very talented to drift away into unwholesome activities. “So I am very pleased that we

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now have what was the Ministry or the Department of Sport, Youth and Culture been shifted, and realign to the Ministry of Social Cohesion, because it is possible that we can promote greater interpersonal, inter-ethnic cooperation in Guyana. “If we include in our daily lives interaction in the area of sport, interaction in the area of culture, interaction in being friendly, and not antagonist as people are easily prone to do in Guyana, because we have a very divisive society politically, and we allow that sometime to flow into other areas of our lives, and so we want to use sports and culture, in particular to help to promote social cohesion, the level of greater cooperation among all our peoples”, the Prime Minister echoed. He urged all participants to use the tournament to promote a symbol of a better Guyana. Meanwhile, President of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. Ian John in his remarks pointed out that the initiative to run-off a tournament of this magnitude was long overdue. “Since the conclusion of the GT&T 10/10 tournament, we at the GSCL taught it wise to run something of this magnitude, owing to the fact that so much talent came out from that tournament, but we were confronted with a number of constrains, nevertheless it’s here, and it will be here on annually,” John said. The tournament will be played in two categories, the Masters and All Stars, and entry is open to any number of teams interested to be a part of the tournament.

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To date a number teams locally have confirmed their participation. To add some international flavor to the event, Toronto Cup Masters Softball cricket tournament 2017 winners SVC Mafia and New York Hustlers, along with New York President’s X1 and Tri-State Masters, have confirmed their participation as well. Players must be over the age of 45 in order to play in the Masters category, while the All Stars format is open to all ages. Teams registering for the Over45 category must submit photo identification, preferably valid passports for every member of their 15-man squad. The Over-45 category will make the champions $500 000 richer while in the All Stars category the winning team will collect $600 000. While, the entrance is free, the organising committee is urging participating teams to have their team properly uniformed with colour clothing, since the tournament will be played with while balls. Registration forms can be uplifted from Regal Stationery and Computer Centre. 13, Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown or any member of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. Also present at the ceremony was Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, representatives of three major sponsors of Banks DIH Limited, Hero MotoCorp Ltd (Guyana Representative), and Regal Stationery and Computer Centre. Cricket commentator and Public Relations Officer of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. Inderjeet Persaud moved the vote of thanks.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Royals upstage Raiders 98 – 72 to remain unbeaten -Double-header on tonight in Open League Championship By Joe Chapman

MAINTAINING their imperious form, and yet again led by their fabulous core players, Victory Valley Royals topped the points standing with a perfect 12 points after a 98-72 demolition of Retrieve Raiders, while Bankers Trust Falcons gained their second win beating Block 22 Flames 63-57 Friday night. The following night Amelia’s Ward Jets closed out the first round with a 68-46 win against Christianburg Pistons at the MSC Hard Court, as the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) organized Mackenzie Sports Club Open League Championship continued. Royals ended with six wins to be unbeaten while Half Mile Bulls who lost their only game versus the Royals, is in second spot on 11 points from five wins and one loss; third are Jets with four wins and two losses for 10 points, Raiders are next on nine points from three wins and three losses and Falcons ended with eight points after two wins and four losses.

Harold Adams

Orlando Glasgow

They are followed by Flames with seven points from one win and five defeats as Pistons are in the cellar position after losing their six games in this seven team championship. Meanwhile, Orlando Glasgow continued to lead the Royals with 31 points in that match against Raiders, who at one point seemed in with a chance when the scores read 1716 and then 43-36 at half time, favouring the Royals. But things went against them (Raiders) as the third quarter ended with Royals up 64-49 and

finally Royals coasted to a 98-72 win. Harold Adams maintained his good scoring form with 19 points, Chris Williams had 15 and the supporting players this time were Trevor Profit and Marlon Pollydore who each netted 11 points. Neil Marks scored 18 points and Keon Cameron 16 while substitute Darwin Lovell supported with 13 in the losing cause. Meanwhile the Bulls maintained their strong position to contest the final round of play and challenge the Royals for

Chris Williams

the league championship entering round two, as young Akini Wilson and Donnel Benjamin presented them with 19 and 18 point performances in their 6846 victory against Christianburg Pistons. For the Pistons A. Innis and Mark Louis were their best payers with 14 and 12 points respectively. Two more games in the second round matches are set for tonight at the MSC hard court. At 18:30hrs Royals are down to play Falcons and at 20:30hrs Raiders face Jets.

India recall pacemen Umesh and Shami for Australia ODIs

MUMBAI, (Reuters) India have recalled fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav for the first three one-day internationals against Australia while they continue to rest their frontline spinners. Yadav and Shami were part of the Test squad which blanked Sri Lanka 3-0 but were rested from the subsequent five-match ODI series, which the tourists also swept. Fast bowler Shardul Thakur, who played two matches in the series and took a single wicket, was dropped from the 16-man squad for the series against Australia. The hosts will, however, continue to be without off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and

left-arm tweaker Ravindra Jadeja for the first three of five matches against Steve Smith’s side. Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will be India’s spinners as the Virat Kohli-led side continues to build toward the 50over World Cup in 2019 in England and Wales. “The team for the three ODIs against Australia has been selected in line with the rotation policy of the Board and accordingly R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested,” India’s chief selector MSK Prasad said in a statement. “The team’s performance during the Sri Lanka tour was outstanding

Umesh Yadar

and players like Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal, who performed very well, are being given an extended run and this will in turn supplement our approach,

to build a strong reserve strength, as we prepare for forthcoming tours.” India and Australia will play five ODIs and three T20 matches during their limited-overs series, starting with the first 50-over clash in Chennai on Sept 17. Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami (Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by Nick Mulvenney)

Sri Lanka set to return to Lahore next month for T20 (REUTERS) - Sri Lanka will return to Lahore for a Twenty20 international at the end of October, eight years after gunmen attacked a bus carrying its players in the Pakistan city. Apart from a short visit by Zimbabwe in 2015, Pakistan has been starved of international cricket since the 2009 attack in which six security staff and two civilians were killed and six of Sri Lanka’s players were wounded. Subject to security clearance, Sri Lanka will play Pakistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Oct. 29 in the final fixture of a three-match T20 series. The first two will be played in Pakistan’s adopted United Arab Emirates ‘home’ after a two-test series starting in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 28 and five one-day internationals. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has also given its backing to a World XI, led by South Africa skip-

per Faf du Plessis, playing a three-match T20 series in Lahore from Tuesday in a bid to help revive international cricket in the country. The second Test in Dubai starting Oct. 6 will be Sri Lanka’s first daynight match in the longest format. ITINERARY Tests Sept. 28-Oct. 2, first test, Abu Dhabi Oct. 6-10, second test (day-night), Dubai ODIs Oct. 13, first ODI, Dubai Oct. 16, second ODI, Abu Dhabi Oct. 18, third ODI, Abu Dhabi Oct. 24, fourth ODI, Sharjah Oct. 23, fifth ODI, Sharjah T20I Oct. 26, first T20I, Abu Dhabi Oct. 27, second T20I, Abu Dhabi Oct. 29, third T20I, Lahore

Mourinho says Man Utd failed to evolve under predecessors (REUTERS) - Manchester United failed to progress under the leadership of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal following the departure of Alex Ferguson in 2013, according to the club’s current manager Jose Mourinho. United, who enjoyed a triumphant era under Ferguson, struggled in the transition after the Scottish manager left Old Trafford following the annexation of their 20th and most recent Premier League title. “There was an evolution in the other clubs; there was no evolution in this club. In all the areas that make a team successful I think we stopped in time,” Mourinho told the Sunday Times in an interview. “That was quite an empty period in this club with no evolution in areas that are important,” added the man who has taken United back to the top of the Premier League early in the new season. David Moyes replaced Ferguson but was sacked after 10 months following poor league results and the team’s exit from domestic cup competitions and the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Dutchman Van Gaal took

Jose Mourinho

over but was replaced with Mourinho after two seasons as United failed to challenge for the Premier League title and did not qualify for the 2016-17 Champions League. “Of course, in the first season I was trying to improve (this)... That’s why I fought hard for trophies,” said Mourinho who won England’s League Cup and Europe’s second-tier trophy, the Europa League, in his first season. “And that’s why I prefer a Europa League victory than a third or fourth spot in the championship. Because the best way to accelerate the process is to do the process winning ... Because winning gets you smiles.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

Leopold Street installed as favourites after crushing Mocha

- Sizzling semi-finals predicted tomorrow night WHO can stop the resurgent Leopold Street is the ‘million dollar’ question being asked by most pundits after witnessing them reproduce a crushing display, this time against the previously unbeaten Mocha who they defeated 4-1 to set up a semifinal date with Future Stars tomorrow evening, at the National Gymnasium. Playing in the second game of the quarter-finals on the exciting inaugural Guinness Cage/Three Peat Promotions Indoor Championship on Saturday night, Leopold Street, led by their in-form Captain Okanie Fraser and the skillful Omallo Williams, who both netted a brace they outmuscled a strong Mocha team with consummate ease to leave the bookmakers with no choice, but to install them as firm favourites to lift the title. However, the most impressive performance of the night must go to Ol Skool Ballers who continued to show no fear for any opponent as was demonstrated in their hard fought 2-0 triumph over another previously undefeated team in Albouystown ‘A’ who

many felt were on the cusp of producing their best results in many years. Joel McGarrell and the diminutive and prolific Roy Cassou had other ideas as they set up victory with solitary strikes to book a date with the experienced Back Circle squad that has moved into contention almost unnoticed.

In the other quarter-final matchup, Future Stars, one of the more electrifying teams in the championship scraped past North Ruimveldt in fortuitous circumstances following a Jermaine Beckles strike that ricochet off the backboard, before slamming onto the feet of defender Gerald Gritten and landing in the goal. Up until then it was a

entertain the fans come tomorrow night. Over $800,000 in prize monies and trophies will be up for grabs with the winner set to receive $400,000 and the championship trophy, while second, third and fourth place finishers will take home $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 along with trophies respectively.

Commission, Windjammer International Hotel & Cuisine, Woodpecker Trophies & Sport, Y.K Investments & Pawn Shop, Henry Chase, Jai Signs, Trophy Stall of Bourda Market, John Fernandes Ltd, E-Networks Inc and the Bike Shop of Robb Street. Meanwhile, the Organisers are extending thanks to the sponsors, fans and ranks of the Guyana Police Force for their support throughout the championship. The night’s full results are seen below: Game-1 Albouystown-A-0 vs Ol Skool Ballers-2 Joel McGarrell-35th Roy Cassou-36th Game-2 Leopold Street-4 vs Mocha-1 Leopold Street Scorers

Quarter-final action in the inaugural Guinness Cage football tournament at the National Gymnasium.

Back Circle made it to the last four after coming from behind twice, before winning a penalty shootout against a strong West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ unit.

closely fought contest with the outcome hard to predict. The fans had their monies worth and all four semi-finalists Captains are promising to lift their game even further to

Apart from Banks DIH under its Guinness brand the other sponsors are: Star Party Rentals, Faye Joseph, Claude Geddes Recreational Sports Club, National Sports

Okanie Fraser-4th and 17th Omallo Williams-28th and 34th Mocha Scorer Amos Ramsay-6th Game-3 Back Circle-2 vs Gold is Money-2 Back Circle won 2-1 on penalty kicks Back Circle Scorer Stephon McLean-14th and 17th Gold is Money Scorers Jamal Haynes-8th Jamal Pedro-10th Game-4 North Ruimveldt-0 vs Future Stars-1 Jermaine Beckles-14th Semi-finals matchups: Ol Skool Ballers vs Back Circle Future Stars vs Leopold Street

Moses wins DeSinco Trading Degree feature 35-lap cycle race in National Park

Darren Bravo and Gayle on Test radar, but others ‘not interested’

JASON Holder has played down the prospect of “big name” West Indies players re-joining the Test team, stating “we have the best of the lot right now.” With Cricket West Indies having recently relaxed their selection criteria and offered an amnesty to those players who have chosen to play in T20 leagues, it had been presumed the likes of Sunil Narine, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard (who has never played Test cricket) might come into consideration ahead of series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand. But Holder, West Indies’ captain, suggested that, apart from Bravo and perhaps Gayle, he “didn’t think there’s anybody interested in playing Test cricket that we can call upon.” “Darren Bravo is a guy who has done well for us in the recent past,” Holder said. “But apart from Darren I don’t think there’s anybody else who’s interested in playing Test cricket that we can really call upon or the so-called big names people are looking for. “Chris has probably hinted that he would like to play if he’s fit enough. He’s always said he would like to play. I spoke to him a while back. We would love to have a guy like Chris in our side. He brings a lot.

“But apart from those two players I don’t think there’s anybody else we can really look to.” While Bravo’s return would appear close to automatic - Kyle Hope failed to take his chance in England, averaging just 6.83 batting at No. 3 in the series –

Darren Bravo

Holder described himself as “extremely proud” of the performance of his young team and hinted that he would be reluctant to see too many of them replaced. Shane Dowrich, who averaged 4.80 and struggled with the gloves, might also come under pressure from the likes of Denesh Ramdin. “I think we’ve got the best of the lot [playing] right now,” he said. “I’m really, really happy with this squad to be honest. I enjoy playing cricket with this squad and I enjoy leading this squad. I wouldn’t trade this squad for the world.” Speaking after being beaten in the deciding Test against

England at Lord’s, Holder was encouraged with the way his side had pushed for what would have been a shock series victory. “I’m extremely proud, can’t really fault the guys for effort,” he said. “We’ve still got a lot of room for improvement, still got a long way to go before we can get consistent performances. That said, not a bad tour of England, could have been better, obviously, but I’m still very proud. “The credit must go to the bowlers. After the Headingley Test match we asked for another big effort. The way we came out here first innings and bowled, I think at the start of the match if you said we’d have got England for 190, we’d have taken that.” While the bowling was consistently challenging after the aberration of Edgbaston, West Indies’ win at Headingley in the second Test - their first in England for 17 years - was built on the batting performances of Shai Hope, who scored hundreds in each innings, and Kraigg Brathwaite. Holder said he wanted the team to build on what they had started in their next two tours, in Zimbabwe next month and then New Zealand. “For a first tour here for many of us, I still think it’s a hell of an achievement and fight we put up,” Holder said. “Hope-

fully we can learn from this, we have New Zealand at the end of the year which could be similar conditions and similar type of bowlers, so it should be good chance to take what we’ve learned here into that series. But first we’ve got Zimbabwe, in a few weeks time, so hopefully we can really kick on from there. “Obviously Shai was outstanding in this entire series and we must not forget Kraigg’s contribution as well, he really did a hell of a job, especially at Headingley. Unfortunately we didn’t get more batsmen to carry on, lots of us got starts but didn’t carry on, and we let ourselves down with our fielding, probably this entire series. We dropped quite a few chances and gave good players two opportunities to bat, and in international cricket they’ll make you pay for it. “I think we’ve shown improvement. When we sit down and critique each series, we just try to look for improvement. We’ve definitely shown that, especially in our bowling, improving our consistency there ... But hopefully guys can gain a lot of confidence form this series against a world-class side and top-class bowling unit. To be able to achieve something in this series speaks a lot.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

Team Alanis’ Kemuel Moses (left) accepts his winner’s trophy and prize money from a representative of DeSinco Trading at the National Park on Saturday.

TEAM Alanis’ Kemuel Moses returned one hour 13 minutes four seconds in winning the feature 35-lap event of the DeSinco Trading sponsored 11-race cycle programme in the National Park on Saturday. According to reports, Moses’ time for the event is the best ever recorded for the 35lap race in the 42-year history of any National Park cycle programme. The 17th annual DeSinco sponsored event under its many brands saw Moses and his team mate Silvio Inniss breaking away from the field late in the race and coming for the finish, Innis was first to jump, but Moses responded and brushed past Innis near the line to win the event. Last year’s winner Michael Anthony was off the local cycle scene due to his competing in French Guiana for most of the 2017 season outsprinted the peloton to finish third, while

Alonzo Ambrose, Raul Leal and Shaquel Agard occupied the fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively. Of the eight prime prizes that were up on offer, Agard won three, while Leal took two. Ambrose, Inniss and Jamal John won one each. The other winners on Saturday include Curtis Dey (juvenile 10-lap), Junior Niles (veterans under 50 five-lap), Kennard Lovell (veterans over 50 years five-lap), Jonathan Ramschuit (boys 12-14 years three-lap), Nicholas Nirmol boys and girls 1214 years three-lap), Gerard Barrington (boys 6-9 years old two laps), Nigel Jacobs (mountain bikers five laps) and Michael Mckay (BMX boys 9-12 years old three laps. (Caption) Team Alanis’ Kemuel Moses (left) accepts his winning trophy and prize money from a representative of DeSinco Trading at the National Park on Saturday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 11, 2017

GBA postpones high-level meeting due to Hurricane Irma A meeting, organised by Steve Ninvalle, president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), which would’ve brought together, the warring factions of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and regional boxing boards’ officials, was postponed, due to the devastating Hurricane Irma. The meeting, which was scheduled for the Racquet Centre yesterday, will now be held on October 14. In an email dispatched to the officials of AIBA and the rest of the Caribbean boxing heads, Ninvalle said “we continue to pray for our dear Colleagues, friends and people of the various Countries hit by hurricane Irma or those still in its path. We have already seen the damage to St Maarten, Antigua and Barbuda and the other islands. It is also my understanding from weather reports that the Caribbean will

be hit by another Storm (Jose) this weekend.” “Caribbean Airlines has already cancelled more than twenty flights to Caribbean destinations and there will be more flight disruptions. It is my humble opinion at this time, that in light of the present circumstances, that our meeting in Guyana be postponed to a date to be fixed in October, when our Caribbean colleagues affected by these forces of nature would have been able to assess their situation and take care of the needs of love ones, family and friends” Ninvalle, who also sits as an Executive Committee Member of AIBA, stated “I find it only apposite that at this time the priority must be on the safety and health of every member of this beloved family. Our people of the Caribbean need our support now more than ever, even so, much more

important than our boxing needs. I do hope that as my colleagues, you are in agreement with me on this. One Goal, One Voice, One Caribbean”

GBA president Steve Ninvalle

D o m i n i c a ’s E r i c k s o n Lewis lauded the decision to postpone the meeting, adding “Dominica support this move

and wish our Caribbean family God’s protection during this very difficult time. You are all in our prayers.” Similar sentiments were echoed by Grenada’s Ralph James and other regional boxing associations presidents as they all applaud the meeting being put on hold until all invited can attend.… , Ninvalle is chartering a course that could very well determine the way forward for the sport of boxing following the recent events at AIBA AIBA’s embattled president Wu Ching-Kuo, who sits at the helm of the sport, since 2006, has found himself in a power-struggle with the majority of his executive committee members who have joined forces to establish a temporary administration. Wu, according to reports, have since called the move something similar to a ‘mil-

itary coup’, with the group citing that the Taiwanese is placing AIBA in peril, given the fact that the sport is facing bankruptcy. It is alleged that AIBA is not in a position to repay debts totaling 15 million Swiss francs (13 million euros); something Wu has since denied and even confirmed through several media reports that AIBA’s finances are ‘healthy’. Led by Italian Franco Falcinelli and Pat Fiacco of Canada, several executive committee members have signed a document in attempt to force Wu to step down through the Swiss courts. However, the court ruled and rejected their request, claiming the aggrieved group will have to wait for a proper hearing this month. AIBA will host their Extraordinary Congress in Dubai

in November and it is said that national federations will vote on whether to have Wu removed from the helm. After July’s Executive Committee meeting in Moscow, an Interim Management Committee (IMC) was put in place, headed by the Italian Falcinelli who seems to be running the affairs of AIBA but this has been refuted by Wu who has put in motion a legal challenge. It was reported that Wu claims he is being targeted because of his attempt to reform the AIBA and specifically singled out former executive director Ho Kim of South Korea for seeking “revenge” after his ousting over allegations of financial wrongdoing. Wu insists he is “the legitimate president” and said he had written to IOC chief Thomas Bach to explain the situation, pinning Ho as a main plotter.

Panthers destroy Police 67 – 7 on opening day of Bounty Farm 15’s tournament Essequibo beat West

Lloyd Anderson (#14), goes airborne for a catch, which he eventually turned into a try against the Police.

AFTER dismantling the rest of Guyana’s rugby teams to win back-to-back Sevens tournaments, Panthers turned their

attention to the Bounty Farm 15’s tournament, where they opened with 67 – 7 against the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

laying at the National Park, Panthers sent a warning to the rest of Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) that they intend to dom-

inate the game’s longer format, as they eased to a 27 – 0 lead at half time against the Police team, compliments of Osei McKenzie, Rondell McArthur and Lancelot Adonis. However, in the second half, Akeemo James slipped through a crack in Panthers’ seemingly air-tight defence to score his team’s lone try in the match, while Daniel De Abreu made good the conversion. Lloyd Anderson tallied 18 points in the game, scoring most of them in the second half and helped the Panthers to score 40 points. Daniel Anderson who was the team’s second highest scorer on the day, putting in three tries (15 points), was also pivotal in the Panthers’ devastating run. Meanwhile, yesterday’s game between Yamaha Caribs and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was postponed to a date to be determined by the GFRU, due to a ‘no show’ by officials. The Bounty Farm 15’s tournament will conclude on November 12. The tournament will see five teams playing two rounds of matches. (Rawle Toney)

Berbice by 309 runs

SET 374 runs to win their second round Jaguars Franchise League 3-day tournament, West Berbice collapsed to a 309-run defeat at the hands of Essequibo yesterday at the Bush Lot ground. Essequibo continued their dominant form, with a second consecutive win, dismantling the hosts for just 65 in 22.1 overs. Only Javid Karim (20) and Arthley Bailey (12), managed to reach double figures in a disastrous batting display from the hosts. Bowling for Essequibo, left-arm spinner Anthony Adams claimed 5-12 to complement his first

innings figures of 5-35. Earlier, Essequibo declared their second innings at 322-8. Anthony Adams completed a stunning innings of 137, with ten fours and six sixes. Mark Williams retired hurt on 71. Adrian Dutchin (5-90), was the most successful bowler for the hosts. Essequibo winning target was also built on a first innings lead of 51. Meanwhile, Upper Corentyne and East Coast played to a draw at Port Mourant. However, no scores were made available between the game against East Bank and West Demerara at Tuschen.

Nadal wins his third US Open and 16th Grand Slam title RAFAEL Nadal won his third US Open and 16th Grand Slam title with a one-sided victory over South Africa’s Kevin Anderson in New York. The world number one powered to a 6-3 6-3 6-4 victory in Sunday’s final at Flushing Meadows. The Spaniard, 31, has now won two Slams in the same year for the first time since 2013, having won the French Open in June. “It’s just unbelievable what happened this year,” said Nadal. “After a couple of years with some troubles, injuries, sometimes playing not good - since the beginning of the

season it has been very, very emotional.” The US Open was the last Grand Slam where he was working alongside his uncle Toni, with Carlos Moya taking sole charge of coaching from 2018. “I can’t thank him enough for all the things he did for me,” Nadal said of his uncle. “Probably without him I would never be playing tennis and it’s great I had somebody like him pushing me all the time.” The result means this year’s major titles are shared between Nadal, at the French and US Opens, and Roger Federer, at the Australian

Open and Wimbledon. Federer remains at the top of the men’s all-time Grand Slam list with 19 titles, three ahead of Nadal, who has now won 10 French titles, three US, two Wimbledon and one Australian.

Rafael Nadal beat Kevin Anderson in straight sets 6-3 6-3 6-4 for his third US Open title Credit: Getty Images North America

Nadal went into the final with a 4-0 head-to-head record against Anderson, and he dominated once again. The 2010 and 2013 champion lost just 15 points on serve in the entire match, did not face a break point and won all 16 points he finished at the net. It was a ruthless demolition job by a man playing his 23rd Grand Slam final, up against an opponent in his first. Anderson, 31, was the tallest player ever to feature in a Grand Slam final at 6ft 8in, and with a tournament-leading 114 aces was always going to rely on his serve to get a foothold in the match.

The signs were not good, therefore, when he had to fight through six deuces in his second and third service games as Nadal pressed hard. Anderson clearly felt the need to play to his limits from the outset, attacking the net more than normal to try to keep the points short, but it brought mixed results at best. The pressure told in game seven when the South African pulled a forehand into the tramlines facing a sixth break point. Nadal would break again to seal the set with a wonderful backhand drop volley, and Anderson ended the set with just eight winners from 19 trips to the net.

`Anderson made 23 unforced errors in the first set compared with five from Nadal The second set followed a similar pattern, with Nadal again untroubled on serve and this time making the breakthrough in game six with some sharp volleying. By the time he whipped a forehand cross-court winner to take a two-set lead, Nadal had lost just seven points in nine service games. A wild Anderson forehand on break point at the start of the third hastened the end of the contest, and Nadal would clinch the title on his second match point with a clinical serve-volley.(BBC Sport)

GBA postpones high-level meeting due to Hurricane Irma Page 23

Cooper’s stunning cameo handsTrinbago CPL title TAROUBA, Trinidad, (CMC) –A 14-ball blitzkrieg from hometown boy Kevon Cooper gave Trinbago Knight Riders the final push for an incredible, three-wicket, come-from-behind victory that spoiled St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ dream of a maiden Caribbean Premier League title on Saturday. Cooper, later named Playerof-the-Match, waylaid Sheldon Cottrell and Ben Hilfenhaus in spectacular fashion in the closing stages of the Final before a packed Brian Lara Cricket Academy to drive the Knight Riders over the finish line with an over remaining. The Patriots seemed to have one hand on the title when they reduced TKR to 90 for seven and the home team still needing 28 from the final 13 deliveries, but Cooper gave cogent proof that where there is life, there is hope, to ensure that Dwayne Bravo’s side clinch the trophy for a second time. He started a sequence of seven balls that changed the outcome of the match with a six over extra cover off the final delivery of the 18th over, bowled by Cottrell. A single for Denesh Ramdin off the first delivery of the following over from Hilfenhaus got

Trinbago Knight Riders celebrate their capture of the 2017 Caribbean Premier League title on Saturday night.

Nadal wins his third US Open and 16th Grand Slam title

him back on strike and the retired Australia fast bowler bowled two wides outside off-stump to leave the Knight Riders needing 19 from 11 balls. Cooper was restricted to two from the next delivery from Hilfenhaus thanks to Mohammad Nabi’s diving stop at mid-wicket, but the next ball was a gift for the Trinbago all-rounder — a full toss — and he smashed it over cover for a boundary that was also signalled as a no-ball. Cooper slashed the free-hit over backward point for another boundary and he made it a hat-trick of boundaries when he slammed Hilfenhaus again over the leg-side before Ramdin creeped TKR over the line with a single two balls later in a dramatic finish. Earlier, batting again proved the undoing of the Patriots, after they were put in to bat on an easypaced pitch. West Indies Twenty20 captain Carlos Brathwaite hit the top score of 30, batting at seven, and his left-handed cousin and fellow Barbadian Jonathan Carter made 21, but no other batsman reached 20 Turn to Page 20

Prime Minister’s T20 Softball Cup officially launched - PM pledges Ministry’s initial support of $300,000 Page 20

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Rafael Nadal beat Kevin Anderson in straight sets 6-3 6-3 6-4 for his third US Open title Credit: Getty Images North America

Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo, flanked by Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, executive members of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. and representatives of the three major sponsors during yesterday’s official launching. (Samuel Maughn Photo)

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MONDAY,SEPTEMBER, 11 , 2017