Guyana chronicle e paper 09 18 2017 by Guyana Chronicle

Get ready to ‘Mash down town’ Page 12

Shake-up CID No. 105039

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2017

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

... CoI recommends Blanhum, deputy be replaced

Pages 2&3

...says crime chief lacks command, leadership skills

... questions his input into successes under his watch Three houses burned in brawl over woman Page 4

Babies at Micobie Pa8ge born with deformities

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum

Deputy Crime Chief Rishi Das

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

CoI recommends deputy crime chief be removed By Ariana Gordon

THE Paul Slowe-led Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger has recommended that Deputy Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent of Police Rishi Das be replaced and removed from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). It has also been recommended that Das be disciplined for neglect of duty for failing to ensure that the correct date of the allegation made by Andriff Gillard, a Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident, was stated in the report he submitted to the commissioner of police. “The Commission recommends that he should be replaced as the Deputy Crime Chief. His efficacy in the CID also comes into question, and therefore, he should be removed from that department,” the report handed over to the President a few weeks ago stated. During his testimony before the Commission, the deputy crime chief opined that a proper investigation was not done into the alleged plot to kill the head-of-state,

but did nothing in his capacity as deputy crime chief or acting crime chief to change the circumstances. “The fact that he claimed that he was of the opinion that a proper investigation was not done, and he did nothing as the deputy crime chief, or when he acted as crime chief to have the situation corrected, speaks volumes of his competence to occupy such an important position,” the report added. Das told the Commission that no serious effort had been taken during the initial stage of the investigation and noted too that there were efforts to discredit Gillard’s allegation. Gillard had reported to police that Nizam Khan offered him $7M to kill President Granger in June 2015. He reported that matter in March this year, thereby bringing into question the credibility of the information. According to the Grove businessman, he had approached Khan to borrow $6M, but instead Khan offered him $7M, which he would not have to repay if he carried out the act. Das told retired Assistant Commissioner of Po-

lice Paul Slowe, that he was at the helm of the CID during April as Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had proceeded on five days’ leave. SAW NO EFFORT Upon taking up the mantle, Commissioner Slowe questioned whether Das had seen any effort by the investigators to corroborate the story told by Gillard and was told no. The senior superintendent explained that based on the report filed, Gillard and Nizam Khan were the only ones present when the alleged plot was discussed. According to him, while acting as crime chief, he instructed the investigators to return to the scene where the alleged plot was discussed, to gather additional information. It was put to Das by Commissioner Slowe that “a month after… you saw no effort made on the part of the investigating officers to get people who would have been able to support the story told by Gillard,” and he responded in the positive. “Let’s talk about the witnesses now to discredit the

story, you saw evidence of this?” Commissioner Slowe asked and again was told “yes,” while making reference to Leon Baldeo and Lloyd Adams. Baldeo had contended that Gillard had offered him $50, 000 to support his story. “But you didn’t find it strange, as a seasoned man, efforts were made to discredit the story but no effort made until you [were] instructed to try and get people to support the story? Isn’t that strange?” Commissioner Slowe further questioned and again Das responded in the affirmative. That aside, the deputy crime chief told the commission that he had known Gillard and Khan prior to the allegation. It was explained that while working at the Grove Police Station in the early 1990s, both Gillard and Khan were known for assisting the Guyana Police Force. NO LONGER FRIENDS Back then, they were “friends” to the police, but Das made it clear that they could no longer be considered his friends. “Nizam’s brother, Imran Khan, I know him by seeing him,” the senior superintendent

said. He, however, did not know Baldeo and Adams prior to the allegation. During cross-examination by attorney for the force, retired Chief Justice Ian Chang, Das said he could not recall whether in 2016 Gillard told him Nizam Khan had gone to his (Gillard) taxi service and removed two radio sets. He said he was unaware of Nizam Khan threatening to pull his gun on Gillard. “He didn’t say that, he said Nizam tried to shoot him, that’s all he said,” the senior superintendent said. Additionally, Das made it clear that he was never told by Gillard about the plot to assassinate the President. Das told the commission too that he was uncertain whether Baldeo and Adams voluntarily went to the police and gave information, or whether they were sought after by the police. “The police did their investigation, but they came and give statements to the police, but I don’t know how the police came to take statements from them,” Das said. Attorney Christopher Ram who represented the interest of Imran Khan, had questioned if part of what

Deputy Crime Chief, Rishi Das he told the Commission was “hearsay” and was told yes. Ram reminded the deputy crime chief that “hearsay” is of no evidential value. “My understanding is that the role of an investigator is to find facts, is that correct? It is not to corroborate, is that correct?” Ram asked and was told “yes” by Das. However, in a report compiled by Das, he had concluded that based on the facts gathered, Gillard’s allegation though very serious, was indeed a “malicious one.”

Blanhum should be replaced

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

–– CoI finds crime chief lacks leadership skills, questions his input into successes under his watch By Ariana Gordon THE Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger has called for Senior Superintendent, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum to be replaced, citing poor leadership and questioning his role in the successes in solving crimes under his watch. The Paul Slowe-led CoI has called for Blanhum to be removed as head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for his failure to properly supervise the investigation though so instructed by acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine, for lying to Ramnarine, not conducting due diligence on a report containing factual errors sent to the National Security Council (NSC), neglect of duty, and insubordination. “… Blanhum should be replaced as crime chief and reassigned in order to gain command experience,” the report submitted to President Granger and seen by this newspaper recommended. Blanhum was the first person in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to receive information in relation to the plot to assassinate the President. He received a call from the Ministry of Public Security informing him that Andriff Gillard made the allegation on March, 29 this year. Gillard alleged that back in June 2015, he was offered $7M to assassinate President David Granger. He told the police that Nizam Khan, a former friend of his, offered him the money after he, Gillard, had requested to borrow $6M. The Grove businessman related that Khan told him, if he killed the President, he would not have to repay any money. During his testimony before the Commission, a feisty Blanhum declared that he found Gillard’s story “inherently incredible.” “How would you view the allegation made by Gillard?” asked retired Justice Ian Chang, who represented the interest of the GPF, to which Blanhum responded, “It is my humble opinion that the allegation made by Gillard against Khan is inherently incredible.” During his testimony, the crime chief told the Commission that based on legal advice received from Police Legal Advisor (PLA), Justice Claudette Singh, the information yielded from the investigation was “tenuous” and as such should continue; it was not sufficient to lay charges. But based on the evidence presented to the Commission, it was found that Blanhum, “failed to properly supervise the investigation, even though he was instructed by the acting commissioner to personally do so,” and for this failure he should be disciplined. On March 29, after Gillard related his story to the police, officers located and searched Nizam Khan’s property, after which he was

added. However, Slowe contended that Blanhum ought to have ensured that his subordinates acted in accordance with the stipulated requirements. “You are responsible for a serious investigation, are you suggesting to me that you are overwhelmed?” the commissioner asked, to which Blanhum replied, “I never said that…I am telling you I won’t be able to answer that question, it is for an investigator to say whether he made an entry… that is not my responsibility.” The crime chief said he has been at CID for the past 17 years and there is absolutely no need for the crime chief to verify who made entries into the station diary or any other document. He made it clear that he is a “manager at the executive level.”

Retired Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Slowe taken to the CID. While there, he and Gillard were required to make statements, but in just a few hours, the duo was released. Blanhum told acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine that it was upon his instruction that Khan was released on bail. This was not true, as it was upon the instruction of substantive Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud, that Khan was released. DELIBERATE FALSEHOOD “He lied to the acting commissioner when he told him that it was his decision to send Nizam Khan on bail. He should be disciplined for stating this deliberate falsehood,” the Commission determined. In his testimony, Blanhum said he informed that Khan was released on bail until 08:30hrs on March 30 when he was so told by head of the Major Crimes Unit, Mitchel Caesar, during his regular morning brief at CID. He told the Commission that “significant progress” was made in the investigation as officers were in possession of statements from several persons. Slowe questioned why Gillard was taken to CID as opposed to ‘A’ Division for questioning. The crime chief noted the seriousness of the allegation and the fact that CID has a number of experienced persons along with the requisite resources. Blanhum was unsure whether a report was made from ‘A’ Division. “On a weekly basis as the crime chief, I am engaged with over 100 investigations at the executive level of the force, the strategic, tactical level and operational level and I think the question should be asked to the investigators themselves,” he

NO PROPER SUPERVISION “This is an indication that he did not properly supervise the investigation as he was instructed to do by the acting Commissioner. He should be sanctioned for this,” the Paul Slowe-led Commission found and suggested. Additionally, a report sent to the police commissioner contained the incorrect date the report by Gillard was made. That said inaccuracy was then forwarded to the NSC. The report was dated April as opposed to March 29; and when it was brought to Blanhum’s attention, he noted that it was simply an error. “We all make mistakes, what relevance does that have on the case,” asked the crime chief who was clearly ruffled by the line of questioning. “It has a lot, it shows that you weren’t diligent in observing the dates… it tells me that due attention wasn’t paid to a document that you were sending to your superior that had to go to, perhaps the highest security level in this country,” said Slowe. It was then that Blanhum accused Slowe of being prejudicial in his assessment. “With all due respect commissioner, you are making assumptions and your comments based on your personal experience which can be viewed as prejudicial.” Slowe immediately dismissed Blanhum’s concerns. “For that he should be disciplined for failing to exercise due diligence in preparing the report,” the Commission suggested. Moreover, a recording of Gillard’s allegation was sent by the acting Police Commissioner to the crime chief on March 30. By his own admission, Blanhum failed to view the recording. “This is a serious neglect for which he should be disciplined,” the Commission opined. It should be noted that during his testimony before the Commission, Blanhum was very feisty in his approach to answering questions, and as such, the Commission felt he was ar-

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum rogant, argumentative and rude and should be challenged for such an approach. “His lack of supervision of this important investigation, his utterances, disrespect, and arrogance displayed before the Commission shows that he is incapable of functioning as crime chief, the lead investigator and manager of the major investigating unit of the GPF. Blanhum should be replaced as crime chief and reassigned in order to gain command experience,” Slowe, a retired assistant commissioner, recommended. Meanwhile, the CoI did take into consideration the fact that since being at the helm of the CID, the department has been credited with solving many serious crimes, some of which had been unsolved for many years. “However, given his statement before the Commission that he is a manager at the executive level of the GPF and therefore does not have to ensure that crimes and allegations are recorded in the appropriate books at police stations and his hands-off attitude to this investigation; one has to question whether the recent success by the CID in solving serious crimes had anything to do with his leadership, which seems to be lacking.” Additionally, the Commission noted Blanhum’s apparent oblivion to simple aspects of the investigation and attributed it to the “lack of attention he paid to this important investigation, and his disregard for details. Perhaps it is symptomatic of his general approach to his job.” It was noted too that Blanhum has never commanded a police sub-division or division, and as such, “lacks command experience.” “The Commission is of the view that such experience is critical for someone functioning as the crime chief,” the report concluded.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

A QUIET day in ‘B’ Field, Sophia ended in chaos after an angry mob set fire to three houses, burning them to the ground as they searched for an individual named “Troy” who allegedly stabbed and chopped another resident of the area. The victim’s name was given as Alvana. Residents told Guyan Chronicle on Sunday that they were going about their day when they heard the commotion on the road. One person said when he got to the scene, Troy was “chopping” Alvana with a metal object. In an attempt to retaliate, Alvana was reportedly stopped by another individual who was assisting Troy.

fight on Sunday could have stemmed from the same problem. When Guyana Chronicle visited the Georgetown Public Hospital, sources confirmed that Alvana was in a critical condition. Sources from the

Three houses burned in brawl over woman Guyana Police Force (GPF) confirmed that one of the two suspects has been apprehended and is assisting with investigations. The police are also hunting the persons who set the houses on the government reserve on fire.

MoTP calls on KN to retract ‘misleading’ letter

One of the houses that were completely destroyed by the angry mob on Sunday

“After them men start bank the man a group of people run up to help he but them boys run away… they pick up de man (Alvana) and rush

he to the hospital,” an eyewitness said. Residents went after the suspects, burning their houses to the ground in the process.

This publication was told that Alvana and Troy were in a fight last week over a girl whom they both claim they owned. Persons believed that the

THE Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) has refuted claims in a letter carried in the September 17 edition of the Kaieteur News (KN) headlined, “Granger and UG Vice-Chancellor should be held accountable for this young girl’s plight,” as false and malicious. The letter asserted that “...Granger has been a life-long friend of Ivelaw Griffith and literally chaperoned him into the VC’s chair.” The MoTP said these assertions have no basis in fact and the Ministry

is, therefore, calling for an immediate retraction. “While the Government of Guyana promotes and stands solidly behind press freedom, the Ministry of the Presidency calls on the Kaieteur News and all media houses to pay attention to the ethics and responsibilities that ought to be observed in the profession of journalism. The media must take its responsibility to provide accurate information to the members of the public seriously,” the MoTP said in a release.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Oil-and-gas sector

UG must guard against overproducing graduates

–– vice-chancellor By Alexis Rodney THE University of Guyana (UG) has been warned to be very careful with the amount of degree programmes it offers to complement Guyana’s emerging oil- and-gas industry. This is according to Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ivelaw Griffith, who said taking the professional recommendation into consideration, the university will be offering less degree programmes and more “short courses” in the field. In fact, he said what is actually needed at this time is more technical skills, which are being taught at the technical institutes. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Professor Griffith said what is needed for the energy sector is definitely not what has been initially touted. “It is technical skills; it is persons coming out of the technical institutes. So we have to strike a balance between investing methodically enough so that we do not overproduce,” he said.

There have been much talks about Guyana’s level of preparedness as it moves to embrace the new sector, which will undoubtedly transform the country’s economy. The concerns were particularly over what role the premier tertiary institution could play in paving the way for the country in managing the oil-and-gas sector. UG Chancellor Dr. Nigel Harris had previously sounded a warning that the university had better be prepared for the sector with new and innovative programmes. But new information reaching the institution suggests that there is much more than programmes that needs to be pursued. The advice has come from several quarters, particularly from universities in oil- producing countries. Those institutions have been doubling up on their programmes over time. Griffith said an adviser from the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine Campus said that

UG Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ivelaw Griffith institution made the very mistake with the energy degree programmes it offered, only to later find out that the absorptive market was not there. THIN LINE “We have got to walk a thin line between starting programmes, getting a good idea of what is needed here and elsewhere and in partnership with other universities, do things that are better suited,” Griffith said.

In that regard, he said UG is actively pursuing partnerships with several universities, including UWI and the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), which have very robust oiland-gas programmes. “I signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the West Indies in July. We will use that MoU as a part of ramping up the partnership with the UWI campus,” he said. He said he will soon be leading a mission to the UTT and the UWI to find out how they can partner to address Guyana’s peculiar situation. The VC said it is quite clear that most of what the country needs for the oiland- gas sector, cannot be answered by the university at this time. He said UG is however beginning conversations with its local partners, including the Ministry of Natural Resources. It has also taken a strategy for the short courses to the School of Entrepreneurship and Engineering. DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS

“We recognise that some of what they need, we don’t have and we can’t pretend to have them overnight, so we are developing partnerships”, he told the Guyana Chronicle. The vice chancellor said as Guyana braces itself for the oil and gas sector, several questions must be answered, including what skills would the sector need, whether the university has the teaching resources to deliver the skills needed and the economic question -- given what the needs are, whether the university would be better off doing some things in partnership with other institutions. “There is no sense pretending. We don’t have what will be needed in the next year or two, so we have to find partnerships, so yes, we have begun those conversations,” Griffith said. Chancellor Nigel Harris had last year said that U.S. oil and gas company Exxon Mobil had approached the university, and was enquiring about its current arrangement for an industry that is likely to place the country’s economy on another level. He had promised to ar-

Security guard shot in Linden

A TWENTY-two-year-old security guard of Lower Kara Kara, Linden was shot and is being treated at the Mackenzie Hospital Complex. According to reports from

the Guyana Police Force, prior to the shooting on Sunday, an officer in the employ of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) reported that about 01:15hrs on Saturday morning, he was in company of some

relatives standing on the Silver City Road in Linden when he was accosted by a man. The man relieved him of his service revolver with five rounds which he had in his waist in a holster, in public

view. The suspect reportedly then discharged several rounds and escaped. The GRA staffer has since been detained. Police on receipt of the report

launched a massive search for the suspect who was arrested and the firearm, along with two spent and two live ammunitions were recovered. Investigations are in progress.

range for assistance from the University of the West Indies (UWI). According to Harris, UWI has been training petroleum engineers and other persons in the industry for the past four decades. “It may be that the UG may not be able to provide all the staff they need. So, we are planning to link the University of Guyana with other international institutions. I will be pushing for links with UWI…. It does not make sense that we have the next-door neighbours and not take advantage of the programmes,” Professor Harris had promised.

Four in custody for illegal gun, ammo and narcotics THREE persons, including an illegal Venezuelan woman, have been taken into custody after a search of the motor vehicle in which they were travelling led to the discovery of an unlicensed pistol with five live rounds. According to reports from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the discovery was made at the Itaballi police checkpoint, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) at 12:00hrs on Sunday. The police have confirmed that the persons are assisting with investigations. Meanwhile, in a separate search on Saturday, police ranks arrested a 53-yearold miner of Fifth Avenue, Bartica, after they found 506 grams of cannabis on his vessel in the vicinity of the Aruwai Resort. The miner is being processed for court.

Editorial Zeroing in on malaria

MALARIA cases in Guyana today are less of a headache in terms of volume, compared to what obtained about two decades ago. It is a story which would be amiss if it does not begin with praise for the outstanding work of local health professionals, even though much still remains to be done. Guyana has been able to reduce the number of malaria cases from around 85,000 in 1995, to just about 32,000 cases in 2012. Malaria is a life-threatening disease commonly caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Symptoms usually occur at least seven to nine days after a bite by an infected mosquito and include fever, chills, sweating, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. In Guyana, two types of malaria are common, namely plasmodium vivax and plasmodium falciparum. If the plasmodium falciparum infection is not treated promptly, it may result in kidney failure, coma and even death. Malaria is widespread in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the planet and is responsible for over 600,000 deaths every year. Through diligent work, health professionals have, over the years, managed to eradicate the disease-carrying mosquitoes from the coastland, but the pests have shown tenac-

ity in survival by migrating to more favourable grounds. With the coastland largely no longer safe to call home, due also in part to a change in climate, whereby weather conditions are much hotter these days, the Anopheles mosquitoes have moved to the hinterland regions where the climate is cooler and more conducive to their growth. There, their existence has been made much easier by the unsustainable environmental practices of mining operators. It is little wonder that of the 30,000 new cases reported by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) in 2013, the overwhelming majority were persons involved in mining. While updated statistics on malaria are not available, or out in the public domain, the 10,000 Amerindians, 9000 persons of mixed race, 7000 Afro-Guyanese and 3,000 Indo-Guyanese found to be infected point to the need for serious action. The Public Health Ministry should have a permanent presence in mining communities or ensure that medical outreaches are held regularly there by health professionals. This is necessary to effectively sustain the fight against malaria and to have the upper hand in the battle. Timely diagnoses, treatment and raising of awareness are essential in preventing the spread of the disease. Recent efforts by Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Karen Boyle, in raising awareness in the Region One sub-district of Moruca is highly commendable, and her message to the people there deeply encouraging. She was keen on highlighting that everyone has a role to play in keeping malaria at bay. From mining operators adopting environmentally-sustainable mining practices, to residents and local government officials keeping the environment clean, to support from government and the private sector, all have to work in tandem to make areas that are most vulnerable, malaria-free. If not, the government’s efforts in providing long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, Vivo tests, and anti-malarial drugs, among other support measures to the some 112,000 hinterland residents this year would not help in effectively curbing new cases. And while great attention is being given to Moruca, a lesser highlighted area, it is the hope that the ministry carries through with its promise and put the spotlight on all vulnerable areas. In this way, Guyana will continue to be ahead in the fight against malaria and serve as a model to her sister CARICOM nations as well as countries the world over, in keeping the mosquito-borne disease at bay.

GPL customer frustrated at empty promises Dear Editor, I HUMBLY ask that this letter be published in your newspaper in which I seek to express my frustration and disappointment at Guyana Power & Light for not keeping their side of the bargain and completely sidelining me, a faithful citizen, student and public servant of this country. On April, 26, 2017, at 11:17:21 hrs, I paid Guyana Power & Light, hereafter referred to as GPL, $19,360 for an electrical meter to be placed at my residence. This payment was rightfully made after I wired my house and received a certificate from a certified electrician.

I was informed by GPL that a representative will come to inspect the premises and I would be further advised. Sometime later, on another date which I can’t remember, the inspection was done and I was told that further assessments had to be made, given that capital works would have to be done in order for me to get electricity. After much running to GPL, begging, calling, texting them on Facebook and using every conceivable means of communication, I was then called to uplift an invoice for the amount of money the capital works would cost, this was on June 2, 2017 -- from April 26,

2017. Based on the information received, the capital works would cost $213,781, GPL’s contribution would be $81,268, which would leave an amount of $132,513, then VAT was added of $18,552, bringing up the money to a grand total of $151,065. Based on the this invoice, signed by Silviena Charles, the manager for the Customer Services Centre, it stated that this service “may not be realised for as long as nine weeks after the capital contribution has been paid.” I paid the money in two parts, the first payment was made on June 7th 2017, and the secon was made on July 5th, 2017. Editor as I type

this letter it’s September 14th 2017 and not a post has been planted, not a wire run, not a meter attached. I called the Engineering Department, the Victoria Outpost which is responsible for doing the works based on information received. I am receiving promises that the work will be done and every day I come home, I look with faith to the skies in the hope to see a post planted, but nothing. I studied with phone light as a student at the university. I am also a public servant and I work during the day. If that were not enough, Editor, my deepest fears were realised during the hours of

3:00 o’clock Wednesday and 10:00 hrs Wednesday night. A thief came and took my flat-screen smart TV, ripping out my back door in the process. Editor, maybe, just maybe, if I had my electricity and had an opportunity to put on cameras on my house or my outside lights, that could have served as a deterrent to the thief or someone would have at least seen and given a shout, but none of that was possible. They took my television, for which I had four months more to make a final payment after paying for it over two years. I am frustrated and fed up with the system. I am trying to do right, I am not stealing electricity, though

I can; I am not begging anybody for electricity, I am trying as a young man to work for my own and do things the right way, but GPL is a deterrent from right practices and a hypocritical company. On advertisements, they say come into us, but even with that invitation, there is no guarantee that they would honour their words. My Account No. is 0615686 and my Customer No. is 0650694. If there is anyone who can help in anyway to beg GPL to supply the electricity that I have already paid for, I’ll be grateful. Regards, Samuel Gillis

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Can the Indian-Guyanese speak? Dear Editor IN a recent letter to the press, Eric Philips, Executive of ACDA but now Advisor to the President of Guyana and SARA and Chairman of the Guyana Reparations Commission, accused me and four other “feature writers” of the Guyana Times of using “weekly and daily use propaganda, lies and racial incitement to brainwash Indians that Africans have never accomplished.” My first reaction was “Oh Dear! Here we go again!” The reason was back in 2009 when Mr. Philips was just an Executive of ACDA, he responded in an identical fashion to an article of mine in the Kaieteur News, “Ballots, not Bullets” where I advised that street protests and violence were counterproductive to the opposition’s cause. I had been emphasising a theme developed over the last few years: “With Guyana now a nation of minorities, no one group could depend on a single ethnic group to catapult them into office. Consequently, the political fluidity that had been missing when Indians comprised an absolute

manner and could lock out Africans (just below them in size) from executive office was now a possibility. Mr. Phillips disagreed most vehemently with this assessment. “He asserted categorically: “Neither the PNCR nor AFC or any combined opposition will defeat the PPP electorally -- at least not in 2011.” This is because, “The sad reality is that the vast majority of PPP supporters will not allow themselves to vote for any other Party... If Indians did not vote for Desmond Hoyte, who was very pro-Indian and who engaged the REFORM to bring about fundamental change in the PNC….why would they vote for the PNC or AFC now?” Mr. Philips concluded that I had joined those (named Indians) “who want to destroy Africans in Guyana using the anti-human rights Westminster (West Monster) system.” Well, I answered, “for one, time and circumstances have changed and the opposition could have changed their tactics and strategy to exploit those changes. The fact of the matter is that the opposition did not need

“the vast majority of PPP supporters” to vote for them to create seismic changes in 2011. If, as is now most likely, Indians are at most 43% of the population (and the PPP are getting all their votes from that community as Mr. Phillips seems to assume), then theoretically the Opposition does not need a single Indian vote to defeat them.” But after I was proven right and the “West monster” System stymied the PPP in 2011 and ejected them in 2015 in favour of the PNC (now named APNU) Mr. Philips has become noticeably more reticent about its shortcomings in delivering equity to minorities. But I leave that for another day. This time my transgression, evidently, was to advise against him opposing the land claims of our Indigenous Peoples, (“unjust, unfair and pernicious “) in a recent article “Land Contretempts.” Noting Philips had asserted, “…Our Amerindian leaders, if they’re honest, know that the Amerindian Act of 2006 was an act that gave them reparations,” I pointed out, “First of all, the Indigenous Peoples were

not given lands on any “reparatory” basis. Land for the Indigenous Peoples was part and parcel of the Articles of our Independence from Britain. “Indigenous Peoples’ MP, Stephen Campbell, attended the 1965 Independence Conference in London and ensured that the official Agreement for the Independence of Guyana, (Annex C) required the independent government to provide legal ownership or rights of occupancy for Amerindians over: “areas and reservations or parts thereof, where any tribe or community of Amerindians is now ordinarily resident or settled and other legal rights, such as the rights of passage, in respect of any other lands they now by tradition or custom de facto enjoy freedoms and permissions corresponding to rights of that nature. In this context, it is intended that legal ownership shall comprise all rights normally attaching to such ownership.” I had also taken issue with Mr. Philips and ACDA, which persistently claimed, most recently to the sitting Land CoI, that Indians were “given” free land in Guyana. Just as the miserly wages that freed Africans refused to accept were part of their indentureship contract, so was a return passage to India. Of the 163,964 Indian immigrants that remained in Guyana, a mere 2,653 (1.6%) exchanged their return passage worth $60/ each for land worth an average of $30,45 each. But somehow, this is denying African accomplishment? Can the Indian-Guyanese speak for justice? Sincerely Ravi Dev

Region Two chairman responds to REO Hopkinson Dear Editor, THE Regional Executive Officer (REO), Region Two, Mr. Rupert Hopkinson, has been continuously and publicly demonstrating that he lacks a clear knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the duties, responsibilities and expectations attached to his office,a public office. In his recent attempt to mislead the public regarding misuse of the vehicle assigned to me, he has displayed an inadequacy of knowledge of the legislation, regulations, policies and practices attached to the functions of the Regional Democratic Council and its clerk, the regional executive officer. The regional chairman is an elected official, accountable to all of the people in the administrative region through which he has been elected and for which he has responsibility; and the regional chairman is on call/ duty 24 hours a day. Consequentially, it is imperative that the regional chairman is able to access communication and transportation 24 hours per day. It is not for the REO to determine when, where and how the regional chairman must use the vehicle assigned to him. Albeit the REO may draw to the regional chairman/RDC’s attention, abuse of the vehicle or other fixed assets assigned to the Office of the regional chairman. If the REO had wanted to use the vehicle assigned to me for ministerial or other outreaches, a simple tele-

phone contact could have been made as was previously done. In fact, REO Hopkinson ought to recall that I willingly allowed the use of the vehicle during outreaches by H.E. President Granger and our First Lady on separate occasions. Any abuse of the RDC’s vehicles is done openly by the REO himself, since as an accounting officer he does not maintain a log book for the vehicle assigned to him. Indeed, if a verification of vehicle log books -- such an important record -- is done, it will show that his trip to a rumshop where he had a brawl with a leading PNC activist was not recorded My advice to the clerk of the RDC of Region Two is that he stops using his bullying tactics in a region that is known for peace and continued progress. Delaying and at times refusing to sign requests for fuel by the clerk of the RDC for the vehicles of the regional chairman and regional vice-chair is a pure reflection of his actions to undermine their work. The REO must stop blaming others for his obvious shortcomings and develop a democratic approach. Team work is what is required. The regional chairman as head of the RDC remains committed to working with Hopkinson as Clerk of the RDC in the interest of development for all our peoples. Devanand Ramdatt, Regional Chairman, Region Two

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Babies at Micobie born with deformities –– calls made for testing of mercury levels in residents

By Alva Solomon IN 2010, a study done by Canadian scientists at the village of Micobie in Region Eight, concluded that the mercury levels in persons at the riverside village had dropped from 21.3 mg (milligrammes) to 10 mg over a decade-long period. While it is unclear if tests were subsequently carried out there, the village is today concerned that the substance may be behind the deformities in six children there, some of whom were born after the 2010 study. Mercury is used in the gold-mining industry and can be a threat to human health and the environment. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the substance is toxic to human health, posing a particular threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life. Human beings are expected to have a normal level of 10mg of the substance in their bodies. The 2010 study was done in several villages in the country’s hinterland, including at Micobie and it focused mainly on pregnant and lactating women. Methyl mercury, a form of the substance, is of special concern for foetuses, infants and children, because it impairs the development of their brains and nervous systems. When a woman eats fish contaminated with mercury it accumulates in her body, requiring several years to

the 2010 survey, the respondents at Isseneru had an average of 18.3 mg of mercury in their bodies. The figure dropped to 10 mg following the study and recommendations by GENCAPD.

Two children at the play park near the Micobie Primary School in Region Eight excrete. If she becomes about the substance being their bodies. pregnant within that time, tied to the deformities of the “They took samples her foetus will be exposed children. from everyone,” Majuna to methyl mercury in the “If was something from Edwards, one of the parwomb and this will affect their foreparents, we would ticipants of the 2010 study, the foetus’s growing brain know that it passed down said. and nervous system. but this is not from the fam“Since the children born Head of the Guyana ily line,” he said. we noticed they were not Environmental ManageFarming and small- normal,” Edwards noted of ment and Capacity De- scale gold mining are the the children who were born velopment Programme main economic activities differently-abled. (GENCAPD), Dr Richard at the village and like most She said one of the chilCouture, said at the time indigenous communities, dren is unable to walk, and that the survey was based residents have no other al- as such, a wheelchair was on the premise that there ternatives for protein other recently donated to the village to assist him. was an increased presence than fish. Residents of another of mercury at mining arAndre said most persons eas in Guyana. The study would travel up the Potaro interior village who particirecommended that the River near the Tumatumari pated in the 2010 study also shared a similar opinion. villagers use less fish, a Falls to catch fish. Women of Isseneru, an main contaminant of the “You see when they substance. [authorities] do tests, they indigenous village in the don’t give us back the ac- Middle Mazaruni, also had ANXIOUS tual results, but they rec- high levels of mercury in During a visit to Mi- ommend that we don’t eat their systems and one rescobie last Sunday, the certain types of fish,” Andre ident noted that the issue was alarming. Village Council was anx- said. In the years prior to ious to find out whether He said the villagers the health authorities can needed more clarity on the undertake another study issue, such as what types of there soon. fish they should or should Toshao John Andre not- not eat. In addition, he noted that such a test is needed, ed that the test results would since the residents of the help the council to educate small Patamona indigenous the residents on the subvillage had their suspicions stance and its effects on

Constable dies after losing control of motorcycle

Bandits caught after snatching gold chain A 44-year-old contractor was robbed of his gold chain valued at $1,680,000 at Agriculture Road, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) early Sunday morning. According to police, the man was robbed at gunpoint around 01:45hrs. The two male suspects who reportedly committed the act have been apprehended and are assisting with the investigation of that and a recent robbery involving a couple. Minutes after the robbery, ranks of a

PREVIOUS CALL In 2013, the village had called for another study to be done, since residents believed mercury levels in their bodies were high. On Wednesday, August 16 this year, the Minamata Convention on Mercury came into force. The Convention is an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. The Guyana Government signed on to the Minamata Convention on October 10, 2013 and ratified it on September 24, 2014, one of the first nations to ratify the treaty. It received full support of the mining sector here, mainly members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO), following consultations. Last year, this newspaper reported that mining has been said to be the cause of

ailments in children of the hinterland. There has been no study to ascertain the cause(s) of cancer in these parts of Guyana; however, Dr Latoya Gooding, who was treating children with cancerous ailments at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), opined that pollution of waterways due to mining may be a primary cause. While the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has been piloting a number of mercury-free technologies in the fields, the Micobie Village Council believes that stringent recommendations regarding the use of mercury in the mining sector should be implemented, not only at their village, but elsewhere across the country’s mining districts. The Guyana Chronicle reported last month that the Government recently engaged Conservation International Guyana on the Eldorado Gold Mining Initiative to advance green development of the mining sector by focusing on phasing out mercury use, by engaging actors within the gold-mining supply chain. Guyana is expected to field a delegation at the first Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention to be held from September 24 – 29, 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.

police anti-crime patrol responded and arrested one of the suspects who was on a motorcycle. Based on information received on the identity of the other suspect, several searches were done and he was apprehended. The suspects, ages 26 and 31, reportedly hail from Mon Repos and Beterverwagting, ECD. The police report noted that the stolen article has not been recovered, but the motorcycle which was used, has been found.

THIRTY-SEVEN-YEAROLD police constable Elroy Newtown has died from multiple injuries sustained after he lost control of a motorcycle owned by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Saturday night during a test drive. According to reports, the constable who was stationed at the Transport Workshop, Eve Leary, Georgetown, was reportedly travelling at a fast rate, without helmet along the Unity Old Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) when the accident occurred. “[And] in the process of negotiating a sharp turn, he lost control and fell onto the road surface during which

Dead: Elroy Newtown he sustained injuries,” the police said. Public-spirited citizens rushed the injured man to the Mahaicony Cottage

Hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival. When Guyana Chronicle visited the man’s home at Mahaicony, ECD, his reputed wife, Thandiwe Newton was speechless and in tears. She managed to tell this publication that she was unaware of what really happened but said his loss is a tremendous blow since her husband is the only breadwinner of his family. Newton said her husband worked in the Guyana Defence Force for 13 years before joining the Guyana Police Force. He leaves to mourn his wife, child, friends and other family members.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Orien Gordon’s family breaks silence

–– says he was confronted by the armed prison escapees

By Vanessa Braithwaite ALMOST three weeks after Camp Street Prison escapees Uree Varswyck was shot dead by Joint Service ranks in Amelia’s Ward, Linden, and Royden Williams narrowly escaped, no one is currently being held for harbouring the escapees. Owner of the property where the men were found, Orien Gordon, called “Priest,” who was held has been released without even being charged. Gordon has vehemently denied the allegation of harbouring a criminal but has since refused to speak with reporters, claiming that they had failed collectively, to ascertain his version of events before running with their stories. His sister, however, Michelle Yaa Asantewa, made his story public and told the Guyana Chronicle that the emotional distress her family endured, including her 85year-old mother, during his 72-hour incarceration, was exacerbated by media coverage and for this, she is happy for his side to be told. Asantewa, who resides

Camp Street Prison. “Don’t listen to what they say on facebook, I wasn’t helping them man, it was fluke, happenstance, I didn’t tell them where I live…you mad,” “Priest” said while signing a statement at the station. He was being accused of cooking for the escapees and charging their phones. It was after his release that he revealed the entire ordeal of the night of the shooting.

Orien Gordon called “Priest” has shaved his locks after the incident in London, wrote that her brother related everything that had occurred, to her and that he was innocent of the allegation of harbouring the escapees. She revealed that her brother was aided by a cousin in Guyana who placed him on video call while being held at the Mackenzie Police Station. His confession of innocence brought relief to her, since her brother was just bailed for a marijuana possession charge, in which he was on remand at the

CAR PULLED UP “Priest” related that he was inside his one-bedroom home at Amelia’s Ward Linden when he heard a car pull up. “He came out and saw his fence being scaled by the escapees… then he didn’t know who it was. He asked who was trespassing into his property. ‘Rastaman we don’t want any trouble’”, the person replied, he said. The trespassers then moved to the back of the house where Royden came face to face with him. “Sip is that you… is hay you living,” the prison escapee allegedly asked. “Priest” related that he recognised them as the bad men

Human trafficking at ‘Poppy Chow Landing’ ––residents claim police ‘bought out’, call for intervention from Social Protection Ministry SEVERAL concerned business persons at “Poppy Chow Landing” are calling on the relevant authorities to investigate a recent upsurge in illicit activities, such as human trafficking at Middle Mazaruni area near Olive Creek. Reports are that the owners of several bars in the area have been duping underage girls, as young as 14 years old, to work in the area which is located less than 10 minutes by boat from the Olive Creek airstrip. A miner in the area told Guyana Chronicle on Sunday that a recent incident at Poppy Chow Landing has led to concerns from persons about the treatment meted out to the young ladies who are taken into the area by bar owners under the impression that they would be employed gainfully. The miner noted that recently the owner of a shop hired several young girls from parts of the Rupununi to work

at her shop. The woman operates a bar and according to reports, the girls were told to “sell their bodies” to miners at a bar next door to shop or they would not be paid by the shop owner. Reports are that two weeks ago, a young lady ran away from another shop at the landing where she was working. The 15-year-old girl was working at a shop in the area and she reported that one night as she ventured outside to use the outdoor washroom, she was attacked by two men who proceeded to rape her. Reports are that the following morning , the woman reported the matter to two police officers who were in the area but the matter was swept under the carpet after the men who committed the act boasted to others that they had paid a $200,000 sum to the police ranks. Following the incident, a miner in the area noted that

persons were skeptical to report any such matters to the Enachu Police Station since they felt that the police ranks there were being “bought”. In another incident, a teenage girl employed by a Brazilian shop owner left the job after she was being forced by the businessman to sleep with male customers. Reports are that a miner visited the shop and offered the owner of the business a sum of money to sleep with the girl. However, the young woman refused. The following day the young lady was asked to leave the businessman’s premises and she later ventured into the gold fields where she was rescued by the owner of a mining operator. Persons in the area are calling on the Ministry of Social Protection to visit the landing since they noted that there are many illicit activities, particularly those committed on young girls.

stayed outside, though he honoured their requests since they had guns. He then heard the car pull up back and the escapees presumed it was the driver, but it was the police who then started firing bullets. While Uree shot back, Royden fled. The police then shouted for whoever was in the house to come out and “Priest” did so with his hands in the air.

Gordon’s sister Michelle Yaa Asantewa from prison. They called him “Blacksip” because he cooked the ital food for Williams when he was on remand, the way he liked it, with no meat nor salt. No! Y’all cyan stay heh, hey hat like fyah, look the police station deh jus down deh,” he told them. The escapees including the now dead Varswyck, he related, wanted some water and to charge their phones. They would do so while waiting for the car to return, since the driver went to check whether the Linden Highway junction had a road block. Gordon claimed that he stayed inside while the men

STARTING A FRESH Since his release, Gordon shaved his locks, since according to Rastafarian rites he has to start afresh, since he jumped over the body of a dead man, which he did to hand himself over to the police. Asantewa said that it aches her heart knowing that blood was shed on the double plot of land she and her brother bought 20 years ago, but despite that, she along with her mother prayed for the two escapees. “Though I intended to pray foremost for my brother, words wandered first towards the dead ex-cop whose name is ‘Michael.’ I prayed for his spirit to rest in peace, after all, as my mother kept repeating, he was some mother’s child too….I prayed that in death he would find some kind of peace.

I prayed too for the man on the run, Royden Williams…I was praying for him to find peace with himself, after all, he too is someone’s child.” Uree Varswyck died from a single gunshot wound to the back of the head. He was laid to rest on September 9. The funeral procession saw in attendance scores of relatives and friends. NO UPDATES Acting Commander of ‘E’ Division, Superintendent Anthony Vanderhyden, told this publication on Sunday that no one is currently being held for harbouring the escapees and the matter has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department. Police spokesman Jairam Ramlakhan, said there have been no updates on the investigation and the police are still searching for the remaining escapees. Ex-Policeman Teon Alleyne, who was charged and remanded to prison for allegedly confessing to harbouring the escapees, has also expressed his innocence of the allegations, claiming that the charges were fabricated against him. Three escapees remain on the run.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Verbal abuse can cause life-long damage SOME parents believe that ‘making a child’ and providing basic amenities (food, clothes and shelter) gives them an explicit right to treat that child in whatever way they choose, but they are wrong. Children have rights and those rights need to be upheld. In addition to ‘rights’, children are protected by the law. Many parents are not aware that a lot of the treatment they mete out to children on a daily basis falls under the category of ‘child abuse’. The maltreatment of children has a negative effect on their development and parents who behave in this way are in fact breaking the law. Verbal abuse is one exam-

ple of child abuse that is very often over-looked. Jonathan’s story - As a child my father was always putting me down and criticising me but I didn’t actually realise that the way he spoke to me was different from the way other fathers spoke to their sons. What I did know howeverwas that he made me feel bad about myself. I spent most of my childhood feeling weak and useless. I remember making special efforts to please my father in the hope that he would be proud of me but it seemed the harder I tried the more he would find something to criticise. I was almost 28 before I realised the way my father spoke to me was abnormal,

however this realisation did not stop me from wanting to please him and make him proud of me. Now I am nearly 49 and I still haven’t recovered from the impact his verbal abuse has had on my life: I still second-guess everything I do, my confidence is poor and I always believe someone will criticise my efforts. The only difference is that now I can see it for what it is: I realise why I behave and think the way I do. Although many children are verbally abused on a daily basis, verbal abuse is somewhat accepted in our society because there are those who cannot see the psychological and emotional damage that is being done to the child and in

Guyana children are somewhat encouraged to be ‘thick skinned’. Emphasis is always being made on children being able to stand up for themselves and stand their ground in an argument. Therefore in most cases saying hurtful things to a child, (whether they are meant or not), would be seen as ‘just something the child needs to ‘get over’. But getting over the derogatory words that someone uses consistently, which can break you down, is much easier said than done, as we can see from Jonathan’s story; he is still being affected by childhood verbal abuse even as an adult. There is an old adage: ‘sticks and stones may break

my bones, but words shall never hurt me’. In fact words could do much worse than sticks and stones, as broken bones can mend, while some words can damage a person for life. Children may be unaware of the damage that is being done to their development through verbal abuse. They may realise that something makes them feel repressed and/ or belittled or that they are not being allowed to fully express themselves, but they may not connect those feelings to the fact that they are consistently being verbally abused. Because we all respond more deeply and quickly to criticism than they do to

praise, let us as adults make a conscious effort to use only positive words to children. Even in reprimanding them, let our ‘chosen’ words be about the child’s behaviour rather than about him/her. While children are developing and learning about life and their place in the world, it is our responsibility as adults to give them the best experiences possible. If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the Childcare and Protection Hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com A message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection

Commercial’s ‘proppaness’ wins ‘Duck Curry’ competition THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) held their inaugural Duck Curry competi-

tion with ‘Team Commercial’ winning the coveted title. The teams, gathered

from the various departments of GTT, were judged not only on taste, but also on presentation.

GTT CEO, Justin Nedd, (fourth from right) hands over the winner’s cheque to Team Commercial following Saturday’s Duck Curry Competition (Adrian Narine)

Under their slogan “A taste of Proppaness”, ‘Team Commercial’ was by far the most attractive of the nine

participating teams, and certainly, having gained the judges nod, had by far the better-tasting duck.

Banks DIH, SOL Guyana, Stars Party Rental and Indi Curry were listed as sponsors for the event.

Judges during the tasting round of the GTT Duck Curry Competition

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

By Naomi Marshall

thousands of Guyanese, visitors and those from the diaspora were expected to line the streets and other venues throughout the country to witness the costume parade, dancing, dramatic poetry, steel band, calypso and chutney competitions, masquerade, a Mash night, and many more events.

Get ready to ‘Mash down town’ LINDEN came alive on Saturday as masqueraders and revellers pranced through the streets of the mining town to the sounds of soca music to mark the launch of Mashramani 2018. At the Linden/Georgetown Bus Park , where the parade ended, hundreds of Guyanese gathered for the grand launching ceremony which was attended by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton. Region 10 Regional Chairman, Rennis Morian, and the Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland, were among the officials present along with Jimmy Hamilton, the distinguished Guyanese who helped to coin the word “Mashramani.”. Mash 2018 was launched under the theme, “Unity in Diversity.” Reminding Guyanese that it was in Linden Mashramani was birthed, Minister Norton pointed out that it was the Jaycees of Linden, who had formed a Jaycees Republic Celebrations Committee when Guyana became a Republic in February, 1970. That committee was spearheaded by Jim Blackman. “Many persons would have put a lot of work into organising the first Mashramani, but the most notable persons are Mr. Blackman, Hernan Nobriga and Jimmy Hamilton,” Minister Norton said. “Together with their

teams, they were able to, in a matter of weeks, pull off a very successful Mashramani which saw persons from all regions of Guyana gathering in Linden to engage in three days of fun and frolic,” he added. According to him, Guyanese owe a depth of gratitude to these three men for their role in organising the first Mashramani. “That is why we saw it fitting to launch Mashramani 2018, a celebration of Guyana’s 48th Republic Anniversary, here in Linden, the “Home of Mash,” he added. Minister Norton said Mashramani is a true Guyanese celebration that provides the opportunity to highlight the country’s rich cultural diversity and heritage, as people from all walks of life unite to showcase our culture, traditions, history and art forms. He said next February,

The 2018 Mashramani banner that was unveiled in Linden by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton

“Mashramani represents the essence of social cohesion and therefore the recent subsuming of the department of Culture, Youth and Sport into the Ministry of Social Cohesion is very timely,” he noted. And as a result, he said it creates a platform for advancing the social cohesion agenda in Guyana. “Year after year, this festival sees persons, regardless of their differences, uniting to celebrate our Republic anniversary in true Guyanese fashion,” he noted.

Revellers dancing through the streets of Linden to the sounds of soca music

Soca sensation Vanilla entertaining the crowd during the Mash launch in Linden

Holland in delivering brief remarks said, “It is time Mashramani emerge [sic] as a brand renowned internationally. Foreigners must not only actively plan to attend Carnival and Caribanna, but Mashramani as well, so that our culture, our craft, our fine local products, our ecotourism , our hospitality and so much more can be popular internationally. We can do it. We can build and showcase Mashramani as a brand that is irresistible. “I look forward to all our people, especially our children and our youths, participating in fun and wholesome festivities that will create excitement, which will draw visitors both local and foreign, while at the same time preserving our rich integrity of our fine people,” Holland added. Morian in his remarks stated that they were not only celebrating Mashramani, but celebrating the results of hard work as the Regional Democratic Council and The Mayor and Town Council will be celebrating with the young people who were successful at the National Grade Six Examination and the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate. “I’m saying to all of us, the things that we want to accomplish, we want to achieve and now we want to come to that place of celebration, it will take not just hard work but collective work, because Mashramani speaks of people, communities, groups, families working together,” he noted.

Masqueraders prancing on stage during the launch

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Mexico celebrates 207th independence anniversary -- recommits to strengthening relations with Guyana MEXICO on Friday celebrated its 207th independence anniversary and recommitted to strengthening bilateral relations with Guyana. The two nations established bilateral relations 44 years ago. Speaking at the independence celebration held at the Marriott Hotel, Mexico’s Ambassador to Guyana, Ivan Roberto Sierra-Medel, said the occasion was an opportune time to celebrate the friendship between the two nations. He noted that two years ago, President Granger stressed three priorities for bilateral cooperation, namely food, energy and regional security. And in October 2015, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo visited Mexico and held talks with stakeholders, which resulted in the first shipment of local paddy to the Spanish-speaking state in July. “Agricultural cooperation also includes the coconut sector, enhanced coconut seeds from Mexico have been planted in the Pomeroon,” he said, also pointing out that two Guyanese are doing a master’s programme in Coconut Biology in Mexico. In March 2017, the Ministry of Natural Re-

President David Granger receives a broach on arrival at the independence celebration

sources signed an agreement with the Mexican Institute for Petroleum and technical teams from both agencies have been working on three studies in order to build knowledge resources in Guyana. The ambassador also noted that a two-year scholarship was granted to two Guyanese to pursue a master’s programme in oil-and-gas engineering. In addition, he said the embassy will be collaborating with the University of Guyana to award scholarships, execute student exchanges and bring experts to address business experiences in oil and gas, technology development and diaspora engagement. He also noted that the fourth Mexico-CARICOM

President David Granger and Mexican Ambassador Ivan Roberto Sierra-Medel cut the cake as Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and others look on

Summit to be held next month will enhance regional cooperation. President David Granger, who also addressed the gathering, said that Mexico-Guyana relations were founded on mutual respect for territorial integrity, cooperation for mutual benefit and respect for treaties and international law. He lauded the ambassador’s effective, inexhaustible and energetic efforts to strengthen the friendship between the two nations, while pointing out that Mexico is becoming an emerging market for Guyana’s rice and paddy industry. Guyana, the president said, is transitioning to a green economy and the government is placing emphasis on the preservation of biodiversity and protection of the environment. And on that note, President Granger applauded the initiative to expand ties between the two countries in areas such as education training, renewable generation and the preservation of biodiversity and protection of the environment. Also in attendance at the anniversary celebration were Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, members of the diplomatic corps and other invited guests.

Better food safety standards for Guyana By Clifford Stanley GUYANA is now in a strong position to develop sound and credible systems of food safety management for processed, semi-processed and raw foods produced for local consumption, as well as for external markets. It received the Codex Procedural Manual and Codex Strategic Plan last week. The development of the Codex Procedural Manual and Codex Strategic Plan was made possible through collaboration between the Government of Chile and the local office of the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). Co-Chairperson of the National Codex Committee, Dr Maxine Parris Aaron, said the procedural manual and

the strategic plan will help all stakeholders to achieve consensus in harmonising local food production standards with those required for international trade. “It also has the potential to make the international market in agricultural products more inclusive, allowing small-scale food producers and processors to participate in large-scale value chains,” she said. “Thanks to Chile and IICA in this south-south cooperation, I am really thrilled for the food sector. I am really excited to know that we are going down the road of standards in our food sector,” National Standards Council Chair Allison Butters Grant said The two officials made the comments at the end of a two-year project named “Strengthening the function-

ing of the National Codex structure in Guyana.” The south-south project was an integrated effort between the Chilean Food Safety and Quality Agency, through the Chilean Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AGCID) and IICA. The activity was financially supported by AGCID and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was implemented with assistance from IICA. Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Jamaica and Suriname were four other Caribbean countries which benefited from the capacity-building technical cooperation project. Codex food safety Standards provide governments with guidance on the adoption of national food safety standards and regulations

that enhance public health protection within their territories. Codex Standards and other texts, dealing with all aspects of food quality and safety, also promote fair practices in food trade. In an invited comment, Dr Parris-Aaron disclosed that the two main activities of the NCC are to protect the health of consumers and promote fair practices in the food trade. These goals are accomplished by development of food standards, food guidelines, codes of hygienic practices, and other related actions. Dr. Parris-Aaron said the NCC will also basically coordinate Guyana’s response to international CODEX activities, enabling Guyana to have a formal voice in international processes that

have to do with food safety. Butters said that the NCC intends to impress on local food producers the importance of adhering to best practices in food production. “Guyana right now is in a poised position to feed the Caribbean diaspora. We can look at what has been happening geographically within the Region in the last couple of days, the hurricanes and how we were not affected “Our brothers and sisters right now are thinking: what are we going to eat; how are we going to get our farms back together; and in the meantime we have tomatoes, pumpkins, boulangers spoiling at our markets. We should be thinking at this moment, how can we can help our farmers in getting their produce to these regional markets? What are the internationally accepted best

practices for each individual product?” Dr. Michel Leporati, who is President of the CCLAC, which is the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Latin American and the Caribbean, disclosed that the Chilean Agency of Cooperation and the Food Safety Agency of Chile will maintain an interest in the work of the NCC and will assist in capacity-building wherever and whenever necessary The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is the Codex Contact Point for Guyana and acts as the secretariat for the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The GNBS is the major communication link between the CAC and Guyana and acts as the coordinating body for all local Codex activities.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Contraceptive implant slowly gaining ground By Svetlana Marshall FOR 2017, more than 300 women have opted to use, Jadelle, a contraceptive implant as against other contraceptives being offered here in Guyana. Jadelle was introduced to Guyana through the Public Health Ministry’s Maternal and Child Health Department (MCH) in November 2016, and according to the MCH Director, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton, though the numbers of recipients are slowly climbing, it is catching on. The long-acting, reversible contraception for women, which goes by the brand name, Jadelle (levonorgestrel), is an implant, which when placed under the skin of the upper arm slowly releases a hormone called progestogen that prevents pregnancy. For a period of five years, the implants can stop the body from releasing an egg each month, while thickening the mucus in the cervix so as to prevent sperm from travelling to the egg. During a recent interview with Guyana Chronicle, Dr. Hamilton said MCH has been training medical personnel on the use of the implant. Re-

gions One (Barima-Waini), Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Region Nine (UpperTakutu-Upper Essequibo) are among the administrative regions being targeted with outreaches already planned for those areas. “So everywhere we would have trained the personnel, we are going to do continuous work with them,” Dr. Hamilton posited, while adding that implants will also be offered during those visits. It was noted that the contraceptive implant is also being offered at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), however, appointments are required. “And at the Georgetown Public Hospital they have special dates, that if you are interested, they will tell you to book your date, and then they will call you to get it done,” she explained. Noting that more than 300 women have taken the implant already for the year, Dr. Hamilton said though the numbers are small, women are also capitalising on other contraceptives. CATCHING ON “It’s slow but its catch-

ing on because remember now, the actual process that we are doing, is that when you are coming to do your family planning, we give you the explanation for all that we have available so

plantable hormone delivery system developed by The Population Council. The implant is more than 99 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy. In addition to the newly

The contraceptive implant that you make your selection within the counselling session,” she explained. The Jadelle Implant system was developed in the 1980s by The Population Council and had succeeded Norplant – the first im-

introduced Jadelle, there are a number of other contraceptives available in Guyana, such as the oral contraceptives, injectable birth control method mainly Depo-Provera and Noristerat, in addition to the Intra-uterine Device

(IUD) which is also a longterm reversible contraceptive. Condoms are also widely used in Guyana; however, if not used correctly, pregnancy can occur. Similarly, if the birth control pills and injectables are not used correctly, pregnancy can occur as well. However, in the case of Jadelle, if a woman is desirous of becoming pregnant within the period of five years, the implant can be easily removed. Once pregnant, the implant is advised against. However, if rods were inserted beneath the skin, and it was subsequently discovered that a woman is pregnant, they are removed, with no effect on the baby or mother. During the counselling sessions, women who have breast cancer or experience hypertension would be advised not to do the implant. It is during the counselling sessions too that patients are informed of the side effects of Jadelle, which include irregular bleeding and no bleeding. Of the estimated 211 million pregnancies that occur worldwide on an annual ba-

MCH Director, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton sis, 87 million are unintended; 46 million of which end in induced abortions. Of the 46 million abortions, approximately 21.6 million are unsafe and at the end of each year, it is further estimated that 47, 000 women die from complications of unsafe abortions. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the high number of unintended pregnancies is directly linked to the unmet need for contraception (birth control) and family planning.

Avenues being policed for litter bugs THE Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) Solid Waste Management Department has taken a decision to post three of its staff members, on a permanent basis, to the avenues in Central Georgetown to ensure these areas are litter-free. The avenues at Main, Carmichael, Waterloo, Camp, Thomas and East Streets, will all benefit from the presence of the officers, who will each have two avenues to oversee.

“Although waste receptacles were installed in these avenues, citizens seldom use them but chose to dispose of their litter throughout the avenues, thereby creating an unsightly appearance. It is on this premise that these staff members were placed in the avenues daily to encourage passersby to use the receptacles and to clean up any litter that are found within the avenues,” Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine, told Chronicle on Sunday. “The avenues give

The officers will also discourage vagrants from occupying the benches in the avenue

Solid Waste Director. Walter Narine Georgetown a beautiful setting and one gets this romantic feeling traversing through them; therefore, we all have a role to stop littering the avenues and just enjoy the ambience that the trees create,” he added. Although the M&CC has limited resources available to it at the moment, Narine said the decision was taken because the condition of the avenues is an urgent matter. “It is hard with our limited resources, but it is something that is badly needed. I am appalled by how some

The three staffers who were assigned to keep the City avenues free of litter citizens desecrate the parapets within the avenues with litter. Let’s go back to the days of sitting on the benches in the avenues to have great conversations or to read a novel or just simply relax and enjoy the atmosphere.” Narine said it will also be

helpful if corporate Guyana adopts sections of the avenue to aid in the maintenance. As for the issue of vagrants occupying the benches, especially those under trees and in shade, he said the officers will help to remove them.

“The avenue should be free of litter and also safe for all. The constabulary will ensure that they do not return. Once there is a presence of the officers, I think that will deter them from returning too,” he said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Surinamese competitors confirmed for Caribbean Invasion

By Stephan Sookram SURINAME’s Motosur, the racing club there has confirmed that they will be a part of the Caribbean Invasion Drag racing meet set for October 1. Confirmation came yesterday via the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC). According to the club, seven competitors have confirmed their participation for the event with others still indicating an interest. President of the GMR&SC, Rameez Mohamed contended, “This is a major boost to our event. We see the Surinamese as more than our neighbours in racing, we see them as brothers.” “We are always glad to host the Surinamese in our meets, especially ones as big as the Caribbean Invasion in a few weeks’ time.” He added that they are planning to host an event prior to the drags where fans can be able to meet the drivers and see their cars and interact with them. “We want people to have a chance to meet some of these guys before the meet so they can interact. There are a lot of people out there who want to know what sort of technology they bring in their cars and who are interested generally in drags,” the GMR&SC President added. He noted that all the requisite safety protocols have already been but in place and that persons can start pre-registering for the event as early as next week. “We also have a few other surprises in the pipelines but I can’t let them out of the bag just yet. We still have some stuff to tie up but I can safely say that they are positive moves.” The Invasion Drag race meet will take place on October 1 at the South Dakota Circuit, Timheri with free runs and classing going from 9-11:30 while knockout begins at 12:00hrs Adults will be charged $1,000 for admission and Children under 12, $500.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Pandya leads India past Australia in sodden Chennai

McAulay’s hat-trick lands Ol Skool Ballers inaugural Guinness Cage football title

CHENNAI, India (Reuters) - Hardik Pandya’s all-round brilliance and some excellent bowling by the Indian spinners secured a 26-run victory against Australia under the Duckworth-Lewis method in the rain-hit first one-day international on Sunday. Pandya struck a career-best 83 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni made 79 to help the hosts overcome a top-order collapse and post 281-7 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. However, a lengthy mid-innings rain break left Australia needing 164 runs in 21 overs to go 1-0 up in the five-match series. Glenn Maxwell smashed 39 and James Faulkner made 32 not out but Pandya (2-28) and India’s spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal (3-30) and Kuldeep Yadav (2-33) combined to restrict Australia to 137-9. Earlier, home captain Virat Kohli’s decision to bat appeared to backfire when Nathan CoulterNile’s three-wicket burst reduced India to 11-3 inside six overs. Kedar Jadhav and Rohit Sharma then added 53 runs for the fourth wicket to arrest the slide. Jadhav lived dangerously

to score his 40, while Sharma made 28 before both fell to Marcus Stoinis, leaving India reeling at 87-7 in the 22nd over. A 200-plus score looked a distant dream for the hosts at that stage but Pandya and Dhoni had other ideas.

accelerated towards the end and raised 72 runs with Bhuvneshwar Kumar who scored 32 not out. Australia wobbled early in their chase as Jasprit Bumrah bowled Hilton Cartwright and then took a swirling skyer to dismiss rival skipper Steve Smith. Yadav dismissed David Warner for 25 but Maxwell looked in murderous mood as he clobbered

the left-arm wristspinner for three successive sixes. Chahal ended Maxwell’s 18-ball blitz and went on to claim two more wickets as India triumphed despite dropping three catches which could have cost them dearly in such a small chase. Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host the second one-dayer on Thursday.

SCORECARD

Hardik Pandya blasted a career-best 83 to stun Australia ©AFP

Pandya clobbered Adam Zampa for three successive sixes in a 24-run over, bringing up his fifty off 48 balls in the process. The all-rounder blasted five sixes and as many fours in his 66-ball blitz before falling to the leg-spinner. Dhoni, who took 67 balls to score his first boundary,

INDIA INNINGS A. Rahane c Wade b Coulter-Nile 5 Ro. Sharma c Coulter-Nile b Stoinis 28 V. Kohli c Maxwell b Coulter-Nile 0 M. Pandey c Wade b Coulter-Nile 0 K. Jadhav c Cartwright b Stoinis 40 M. Dhoni c Warner b Faulkner 79 H. Pandya c Faulkner b Zampa 83 B. Kumar not out 32 K. Yadav not out 0 Extras: (b-4 lb-2 nb-3 w-5) 14 Total: (for 7 wickets, 50 overs) 281 Fall of wickets: 1-11 A. Rahane,2-11 V. Kohli,3-11 M. Pandey,4-64 Ro. Sharma,5-87 K. Jadhav,6-205 H. Pandya,7-277 M. Dhoni Did not bat: Y. Chahal, J. Bumrah Bowling: P. Cummins 101-44- (w-2), N. Coulter-Nile 10-0-44-3 (nb-1 w-1), J. Faulkner 10-1-67-1 (nb-2), M. Stoinis 10-0-54-2 (w-2) A. Zampa 10-0-66-1.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS D. Warner c Dhoni b K. Yadav 25 H. Cartwright b Bumrah 1 S. Smith c Bumrah b H. Pandya 1 T. Head c Dhoni b H. Pandya 5 G. Maxwell c M. Pandey b Chahal 39 M. Stoinis c sub b K. Yadav 3 M. Wade st Dhoni b Chahal 9 J. Faulkner not out 32 P. Cummins c Bumrah b Chahal 9 N. Coulter-Nile c Jadhav b B. Kumar 2 A. Zampa not out 5 Extras: (lb-1 w-5) 6 Total: (for 9 wickets, 21 overs) 137 Fall of wickets: 1-15 H. Cartwright, 2-20 S. Smith, 3-29 T. Head, 4-35 D. Warner, 5-76 G. Maxwell, 6-76 M. Stoinis, 7-93 M. Wade, 8-109 P. Cummins, 9-127 N. Coulter-Nile Bowling: B. Kuma 4-0-25-1 (w2), J. Bumrah 4-0-20-1 (w-1), H. Pandya 4-0-28-2 (w-1), K. Yadav 4-0- 3-2, Y. Chahal 5-0-30-3 (w-1)

United thrash Rooney’s Everton with late flurry of goals ( R E U T E R S ) - Wa y n e Rooney suffered a miserable return to Old Trafford as his old club Manchester United thrashed Everton 4-0 with a flurry of late goals to go joint top of the Premier League on Sunday. Rooney, who went back to his boyhood club in July after 13 years with United in which time he scored a club-record 253 goals, wasted two good chances to cancel out Antonio Valencia’s stunning early strike for the hosts. He was substituted late on and then watched United add three more goals through

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, former Everton striker Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial. A rather flattering victory lifted United level at the top with Manchester City. Both sides have 13 points from five games and have scored and conceded the same amount of goals. Everton, who had dominated much of the second half despite having little recovery time from Thursday’s Europa League defeat by Atalanta, dropped into the bottom three with four points. ”I think the performance was very good, especially in

the first 30 to 35 minutes,“ United manager Jose Mourinho said. ”It was probably our best performance of the season. “There was a moment were I felt we did not kill it so we have to make it solid with Ander Herrera. The second goal went in, then game over.” Everton manager Ronald Koeman said his side’s third heavy defeat in eight days was undeserved.

from the United fans, some of whom held up banners saying “Red Legend”, but it was not a memorable afternoon for the 31-year-old former England skipper. After 20 minutes he slid a left-foot shot wide of the post and in the second half he shot straight at United keeper David de Gea from close range, while Gylfi Sigurdsson was also denied by the Spaniard. Juan Mata struck the post

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Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Andrew Yates

“Sometimes in football you get more than you deserve but today we deserved more than we got,” he said. “What I saw today of my team made me happy.” United took the lead after three minutes with a goal of stunning quality. Nemanja Matic played a crossfield pass and as the ball zipped off a rain-soaked surface, Valencia connected with a right-foot shot that flew past Jordan Pickford into the net. Rooney was given a warm ovation before kick off

for United with a left-foot free kick before Lukaku, who wasted a good chance in the first half, set up Mkhitaryan after 83 minutes to slide in United’s second -- the move stemming from a mistake by Ashley Williams. Lukuku joyfully rammed home his fifth league goal of the season as the game moved into stoppage time before former United player Morgan Schneiderlin handled in the area and substitute Martial tucked away the penalty.

By Rawle Toney A HAT-TRICK of goals f ro m M o s t Va l u a b l e Player (MVP) Quason McAulay laid the foundation for giant killers Ol Skool Ballers convincing 3-1 win over prematch favourites Future Stars, as the curtains came down on the inaugural Guinness Cage / Three Peat Promotions Indoor Championship on Saturday night, at the National Gymnasium. Played before a large and vociferous crowd that included Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager, Mortimer Stewart, and supporters from the respective communities, the highly-anticipated clash lived up to all expectations as the teams traded attacks after attacks in the opening minutes, before McAulay broke the deadlock with a clinical finish in the 9th minute. Future Stars squandered a few opportunities of their own, but were given a reprieve when a defensive error in the 12th minute allowed them back in the game. However, they paid the ultimate price for their defensive blunders when McAulay returned to inflict another wound in the 15th minute with a cracking shot. Urged on by their fans stationed in the southern stand, Ol Skool Ballers took a 2-1 lead to the break and when many felt they would have activated their stifling defence to protect their slim advantage, instead it was their offensive efficiency that left the Stars stunned. The Ballers led by the experienced Julian Masdammer played at a tempo that suited them and it created some amount of frustration for the usually fluent Future Stars side. McAulay’s third goal was the dagger that pierced the hearts of the Future Stars band of supporters and also dashed the hopes of any comeback when he cracked the defence in the 35th minute to seal victory, the $400,000 first prize,

the championship trophy and their name inscribed in the history books of being crowned inaugural champions. Future Stars walked away with $200,000 and a trophy for their efforts. In the third place playoff, Leopold Street cruised to a 2-0 win over Back Circle with Championship Highest Goal Scorer, Okanie Fraser and Omallo Williams, the players of target in the 18th and 30th minutes. Fraser, who ended on 8 goals, won a gold chain compliment of YK Investments, while they received $100,000 and a trophy. Back Circle got $50,000 and a trophy. Meanwhile, the organisers extended special thanks to Guinness Brand Manager, Lee Baptiste for his overwhelming support and all the other sponsors including: Star Party Rentals, Faye Joseph, Claude Geddes Recreational Sports Club, National Sports Commission, Windjammer International Hotel & Cuisine, E-Networks, Woodpecker Trophies & Sport, Y.K Investments & Pawn Shop, Henry Chase, Jai Signs, Trophy Stall, the Bike Shop and John Fernandes Ltd. The Guyana Police Force also came in for special mention for their splendid work during the championship as well as all the media outlets. ► Final Ol Skool Ballers-3 vs Future Stars-1 Ol Skool Scorer Quason McAulay-9th, 15th and 35th Future Stars Scorer Own Goal-12th ► 3rd Place Back Circle-0 vs Leopold Street-2 Okanie Fraser-18th Omallo Williams-30th ► Individual Awards MVP-Quason McAulay-Ol Skool Ballers ► Highest Goal Scorer-Okanie Fraser-8 goals

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Hamilton wins Singapore Grand Prix after rival Vettel crashes out Sunday. “I‘m a little bit disappointed to miss out on the win. But I’m still going to be grateful and happy with another podium,” he said. “I watched the chaos in front of me. It was probably a good thing I had a poor start as I’d have been caught up in it.” Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who will move to Renault next season, finished fourth for Toro Rosso to score the best result

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the race on the podium with Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas REUTERS/Jeremy Lee

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton took a huge stride towards his fourth Formula One title on Sunday by winning an incident-packed Singapore Grand Prix after Ferrari title rival Sebastian Vettel crashed out at the start. The Mercedes driver now has a 28-point cushion over the German with six of the 20 races remaining. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, who also emerged from the opening lap carnage unscathed, was second for the third year in a row with Finland’s Valtteri Bottas completing the podium for Mercedes. “God blessed me today for sure,” said Hamilton, who set a lap record on his way to a third win in a row, as he spoke from the podium on a night where everything fell into his lap. “I came here today really thinking it was about damage limitation, and we’ve come out ahead. So I’m very grateful,” he said later. “To come to a track that was potentially our weakest circuit, and come away with a

win like this and those points, it’s really such a fortunate scenario...so I definitely have a skip in my step.” The Briton cashed in after Vettel, Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen and Red Bull’s front row contender Max Verstappen smashed into each other as they raced off the wet starting grid and into the first corner. Raikkonen had made a storming start from fourth, Vettel a less impressive one from pole position while Verstappen went for the middle ground and was caught in a Ferrari sandwich as they converged. The stewards summoned all three and decided no driver was predominantly to blame. BITTER BLOW The first race to be hit by rain in the decade that Singapore has hosted Formula One had started in treacherous conditions, puddles gleaming in the floodlights, after a formation lap behind the safety car. With Hamilton starting fifth, everything looked set for Vettel to retake the overall lead that he had surren-

dered only two weeks earlier at Monza in Italy. And then it all went wrong, the collision with Raikkonen punching a hole in the side of Vettel’s car before he spun into the wall at turn three. It’s bitter but it’s done,” said the German, a four times Singapore GP winner, whose retirement ended a run of 18 successive points finishes and left him with a mountain to climb. ”Championship-wise it’s a big step forward,“ recognised Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. ”The quickest car and the quickest driver were out within a minute into the race and that can happen all the time. “Today we benefited from their misfortune, it happened to us in the past.” The incident allowed Hamilton into a lead he would keep through two more safety car periods and a perfectly-timed switch to dry weather tyres. Australian Ricciardo had been confident of victory, despite missing out on pole on Saturday but could not keep up with the Briton’s pace on

Sri Lanka ban former player Silva for two years COLOMBO (Reuters) Former Sri Lanka batsman Chamara Silva has been banned for two years from all cricket-related activities for misconduct and violating ‘spirit of the game’ during a domestic match, the country’s cricket board said on Sunday. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had formed an enquiry committee to investigate potential fixing angle in a Tier B first class match between Silva-led Panadura Cricket Club and Kalutara Physical Culture Club which saw unusual scoring rate. “... two teams have been found guilty of misconduct and not playing to the spirit of the game, and NOT of match fixing,” SLC said in a statement. While Silva and coun-

terpart Manoj Deshapriya have been suspended for two years, all other players and coaches have been handed

with $3300 (£2,428) fine. Silva has played 11 Tests and 75 one-dayers for Sri Lanka, the 37-year-

Chamara Silva has played 11 Tests and 75 ODIs for Sri Lanka

a one-year ban from cricket. The match has been declared null and void, while each club has been slapped

old’s last international outing being a Twenty20 match against Pakistan in 2011.

of his career. Force India’s Sergio Perez was fifth with Briton Jolyon Palmer, making way for Sainz at Renault, scoring his first points of the season and best career finish with sixth. Belgian rookie Stoffel Vandoorne was seventh for McLaren, also his best performance to date, ahead of Canadian teenager Lance Stroll in the Williams and Romain Grosjean in the Haas.

French rookie Esteban Ocon scored the final point for Force India in 10th. Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg, who had been in third place early on, also set the unenviable record of most races without ever standing on the podium (129). After three safety car interruptions, the race ended with 58 of the 61 laps completed after hitting the two-hour mark. Only 12 of the 20 cars finished.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Golovkin, Alvarez middleweight title fight ends in controversial draw G E N N A D Y G o l o v k i n ’s world middleweight title fight with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez ended in a controversial draw. After a closely fought bout in Las Vegas, one judge scored it 118-110 for Alvarez, another 115-113 for Golovkin and the third a 114-114 draw. There were boos when the decision was announced at the T-Mobile Arena, and both boxers shook their heads. Kazakh Golovkin, 35, retains his WBA, WBC and IBF titles and remains unbeaten in 38 fights. His Mexican opponent, 27, started and finished an absorbing fight the stronger, and also produced some of the more eye-catching shots. Golovkin, though, landed more punches and had the better of the middle rounds. Judge Adalaide Byrd had

Alvarez as a clear winner, Dave Moretti scored the bout for Golovkin and Dan Trella

the “biggest of this era” - and both men later said they were open to a rematch.

Gennady Golovkin (left) landed more punches overall during the 12 rounds

had the fighters level. Alvarez’s record now

Den Amstel crush Crane Rovers 4-1 as WDFA Namilco continues

Den Amstel scorers: from right Ruben Dainty Keswin Fraser n Jomar Adams

FOOTBALL action in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA)’s Namilo u-17 tournament continued yesterday with a win for Den Amstel. Playing at home, Den Amstel side beat Crane Rovers 4-1 in their game with a double from Ruben Dainty (seventh and ninth) and single strikes from Keswin Fraser (25th) and Jomar Adams

stands at 49 wins (34 KO), two draws and one defeat from 52 fights.

(62nd). Crane Rovers had Ezam David on the scorecard in the 29th In the other game, FC Eagles won via walkover after Uitvlugt failed to turn up. Matches continue next Sunday when Jetty Gunners take on Wales United from 9:00 while Uitvlugt plays Pouderoyen two hours later.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday September 18, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel; 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Dinesh Ramdin-11 dismissals (9 catches/2 stumpings) (2) Jonny Bairstow-11 dismissals (9 catches/2 stumpings) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who made the highest individual score in Hero CPL 2017? (2) Who made the highest individual score in the recent WI/ ENG Test series? ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

In the build-up to the fight, Golovkin had described it as

‘These scorecards were ridiculous’

Former heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis tweeted: “I have GGG as clear winner. Loved that Canelo swung to the very end! Both are winners tonight.” Former two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi said: “Canelo was never in it once it passed about round four or so.” Floyd Mayweather Sr, whose son recently beat mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a boxing match, said the 118-110 scorecard was “ridiculous” and he saw the fight as a draw. “I didn’t think either one of them fought that good,” he said. “That fight was kind of close, real close.” Former middleweight champion and co-promoter Bernard Hopkins said: “Noone is saying that Golovkin got robbed.

“What they are saying is the score of a judge, who has been around for a long time and did a lot of my fights, maybe saw things that we didn’t see and maybe counted things that we should know should have been counted. “The Nevada State Athletic Commission was asked if anything was going to be done about this. We don’t know, we hope. “I don’t think anyone, if you take the score away, would say Golovkin would have got robbed if the score was even closer than it should have been, and Canelo would have won. “The only dispute is that it was a score was so far away from reality that made the fight look the way it did. I’m saying they are two separate situations.”(BBC Sport)

New JFF president Ricketts ready for work after elevation K I N G S TO N , J a m a i c a , (CMC) – Clarendon Football Associaton president, Michael Ricketts, was Saturday elected to succeed the late Captain Horace Burrell as head of the Jamaica Football Association, and said he planned to immediately get to work in rebuilding the organisation. Ricketts beat out challenger Stewart Stephenson 8-5 to assume the mantle previous held by Burrell who passed away last June after a long battle with illness. “This is no honeymoon and I am very much aware of the challenges that we will face going forward,” the Gleaner newspaper quoted Ricketts as saying. But I am absolutely sure that we have the machinery, we have the personnel that will do the repair job that is necessary.” He added: “We feel we have the full support of the board of directors and I hope we have a very positive impact going forward, and from what we have seen, there are good things on the horizon.

“We cannot speak of any particular arrangement, but we are working and we do hope that in short order, we will see positive change.”

Gold Cup last July when they reached the final for the second straight tournament only to lose again. They currently lie second

New JFF president, Michael Ricketts.

Jamaica remain the Caribbean’s most powerful football nation, emphasized in their outing at the CONCACAF

in the Caribbean Football Union rankings behind Haiti, and are 61st in the FIFA rankings – the second high-

est-ranked regional side. However Ricketts, also the JFF’s South Central Confederation chairman, said there were domestic issues he also needed to address. “I am a parish president and I know the challenges of the presidents, and based on my experience and the number of times I was exposed by the late Captain Burrell, I believe I have the credentials and the support to do well,” he stressed. “But we must work together as a family in the interest of building football. We must work with the parish presidents and improve the support to the parish and once you improve support to the parishes you will improve your team and administrators.” He continued: “But each component of the game will be addressed under this new administration – refereeing, coaching and administration. And we must end up with a better product, because once we have a product of high quality, then we become more marketable.”

Arsenal hold Chelsea to goalless draw (REUTERS) - Arsenal produced a vastly-improved away performance to have the better of a 0-0 draw with Premier League champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. After defeat at Stoke City and a thrashing at Liverpool, Arsene Wenger’s side showed far more steel and hit the post through Aar-

on Ramsey as well as having Shkodran Mustafi’s headed goal disallowed as they had the better of the chances. Tempers frayed near the end with Chelsea’s David Luiz shown a red card for a wild tackle on Sead Kolasinac -- their third red card of the season from only five league games. Arsenal’s draw snapped a five-match los-

ing streak away to Chelsea in the league and left them in 12th place with seven points. Chelsea are third with 10 points. ”It was about mentality and a response from our last away game. We could have won it. It was an intense game,“ Wenger said. ”The battle was total. “We were focussed and determined. We tried to play

when we had the ball and we were close to winning the game. With a bit more freedom we would have won the game.” Wenger’s side were savaged by former players and pundits after the 4-0 loss at Liverpool last month but showed far greater steel on Sunday and a point was the least they deserved.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 18, 2017

Gayle hails T20 star Lewis Narine thanks Windies for magnificent team performance as ‘one for the future’

Evin Lewis

Eoin Morgan picked up another low score after being dismissed by Sunil Narine

DESPITE a game-changing 2-15 from Sunil Narine, the spinner is still maintaining that the Windies’ 21run victory over England in Durham was a team effort. “We enjoyed it, it was a total team effort in tough conditions,” said Narine. The Windies, sent into bat on a cold night in Durham, got off to a fantastic start through openers, Chris Gayle (40) and Evin Lewis (51), however, the side crumbled on the pressure of Liam Plunkett, 3-27, and Adil Rashid, 3-25, to end on 176-9. The total, though competitive, was clearly 20-30

runs short of where the Windies could have been had they built on the platform set by Gayle and Lewis. In response, the beaten finalists at the last T20 World Cup, captulated to the team that made them bridesmaids in that famous final, largely due to Narine’s suffocating spell. The Windies had trouble with a wet ball and cold conditions to bowl under, but produced masterful slow bowling after Alex Hales had taken to pace on the ball early to score 43 from 39 deliveries, inclusive of eight fours and a six over square leg. “Any cricket that you

win, no matter the conditions, I think you enjoy it,” Narine said of the conditions, he admitted were close to the coldest he had ever played in. “We are from warm islands, so coming here in the cold and when it was drizzling and the ball was wet, I think was a magnificent effort by the West Indies,” he said. Narine praised the team for its professionalism under the circumstances, saying that is what international cricketers do. “It is difficult but at the end of the day you are an international cricketer, you have

to cope with it,” Narine said. As for the future of Windies cricket, Narine said the excitement of the way the region plays the game, will come through in the end. You mightn’t cope with it every single game but if the day is gonna go well for you, you have to give almighty credit for just being able to go out there and perform. “I think West Indians play exciting cricket so no matter what format it is, we’re going to play exciting cricket. It hasn’t been coming off, but lately it’s been doing good so hopefully we can continue it.”

WEST Indies batting star Chris Gayle has marveled at the ability of T20 opening partner Evin Lewis, labeling him ‘one to look out for’ perhaps even in the games longer formats. Lewis and Gayle combined to good effect to devastate England on Saturday, the duo scoring a combined 91 at the top of the order in a comfortable 21-run win for the regional. Gayle hit a respectable 40 from 21, but as has been the case in their recent partnerships it was Lewis who dominated the scoring after getting 51 from 44 balls. “I’m enjoying batting with Evin,” said Gayle. “He has eased the pressure off me so we can dictate the way we go about it, but he won’t stop! I can slow down a bit but he won’t!” The two have been a destructive opening partnership, leading the charge for a revamped St Kitts and Nevis Patriots team that made the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for the first time this season. Gayle, who often hears of comparison between himself and the young Trinidadian, also believes the player is capable of becoming a threat in the 50 over format. “Evin is one to look out for in the future too, especially in ODI (one-day international) cricket.”

Plunkett plans to make Gayle run between the wickets in the ODI series

Jaguars Franchise League..

Yadram hits unbeaten 108 as Georgetown, East Coast match ends in draw YOUNG batting sensation Bhaskar Yadram produced an innings of pure maturity and determination, and was the limelight on a shortened final day of the third round Jaguars Franchise League three-day game between Georgetown and East Coast franchise which ended yesterday, with both teams settling for a draw at the Lusignan Community Centre ground.. Displaying his wide array of strokes, Yadram annihilated the City bowling attack with a dazzling unbeaten 108. Chasing 300 for victory in 48 overs, the hosts were 194-2 in 34 overs when bad light stopped play, with four overs remaining. National middle-order batsman Chanderpaul Hemraj was unbeaten on 54. Test reject Rajendra Chandrika and Brian Sattuar were

Bhaskar Yadram was unbeaten on 108

the batsmen dismissed in the run chase. The City side declared just at the start of the day’s play which eventually commenced at 14:50hrs due to overcast and light showers for most part of the day. Georgetown were 244-9 overnight, an overall lead of 299 runs. Meanwhile, at the Everest

ground: East Bank resumed on 303-9, were bowled out for 312 in 106.4 overs. Sherfane Rutherford added five runs to his overnight, 106. Bowling for Essequibo leftarm spinner Anthony Adams claimed 3-73 while Ricardo Adams (2-35), Keemo Paul (2-89) and Joshua Jones (1-18), were

the other successful bowlers. With a first innings deficit of 32 runs, Essequibo batting a second time were 48-2 when play was called off. On the other hand, Lower Corentyne beat Upper Corentyne by ten wickets while West Demerara also won by 30 runs over West Berbice in the other third round fixtures which completed in two days. The fourth round bowls off on Friday.

Chanderpaul Hemraj

Chris Gayle

ENGLANDfast bowler Liam Plunkett believes the team could have much better success in making West Indies batting star Chris Gayle run between the wickets in the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series. The 37-year-old Gayle was devastating at the top of the innings for the West Indies after scoring 40 from 21 balls as the Caribbean team recorded a convincing 21-run win over England in a one-off T20 international on Saturday. The batsman was eventually run out by Plunkett and the bowler believes a similar strategy could bear fruit in the upcoming ODIs where Gayle

is expected to be a major factor. “I didn’t bowl too much to Gayle before he got run out,” Plunkett told the Mirror. “But I try to hit the pitch hard and for me, I would try to bowl and make him play where he doesn’t hit too many boundaries,” added. “I’d use my pace a bit, but he’s a good player and he hits the ball out the park wherever he wants so we have to look at a bit more footage. “How can we get him out? What is the best way to stop him scoring? He doesn’t run that well between the wickets so maybe put pressure on that.”

Narine thanks Windies for magnificent team Page performance 23 See Page 23

McAulay’s hat-trick lands Ol Skool Ballers inaugural Guinness Cage football title - Leopold Street finishes third

Ol Skool Ballers on run to goal during their relentless attack on Future Stars’ defence.

See Page 20

Banks DIH Outdoor Events, Manager Mortimer Stewart, hands over the first-prize money and winner’s trophy to Ol Skool Ballers captain, Roy Cassou, in the presence of teammates and Three Peat Promotions Co-Director, Rawle Welch, Saturday night. (Delano Williams photos)

Surinamese competitors confirmed for Caribbean Invasion See Page 19

Parkash Latchman’s Toyota Supra will be in action at the Caribbean Invasion Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2017