Guyana Chronicle E-paper 09-22-2018

SATURDAY 22nd September, 2018

4 die in smash-ups No.105405

Police at the scene of the accident late Friday

… baby among three killed at Jib

… biker perishes after colliding with truck at Canje 03&13 PAGES

Several new faces … as parties present lists for LGEs

Guyana, 04 China to sign cooperation agreements PAGE

Representatives of the major political parties, APNU, PPP and AFC make their way into the respective centres to present their lists of candidates for Local Government Elections scheduled for November 12, 2018 ( photos by Delano Williams, Vanessa Braithwaite)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

Mother, baby, boyfriend die in Essequibo smash-up

THREE persons, including a baby, are now dead following a two-vehicle smash-up on The Jib Public Road,Essequibo Coast on Friday afternoon.

The accident reportedly occurred around 15:00hrs, and involved a silver-grey Toyota Spacio, though some swear it is a Raum, and a navy

Toyota Hilux pick-up, the licence plates of which are PSS 2174 and GPP 5205, respectively.

Dead are the driver of the Spacio, who has been positively identified as Corwin Paul, 38, a Community Health Worker, as well as his girlfriend, 19-year-old Tristiana Joseph and her six-monthold baby, Javon Joseph.

The driver of the pickup, one Adam Barakat, somehow managed to escape unhurt, and is presently in police custody assisting with investigations. Both vehicles are currently impounded at the Anna Regina Police Station.

Paul, who hails from Windsor Castle, was said to be proceeding north

The driver of the ill-fated Spacio,Corwin Paul

along The Jib Public Road on his way to Charity, some 10 miles away, when he lost control of the vehicle and ran into the pick-up. All three appear to have died on the spot.

Jib residents said they immediately rushed to the scene on hearing the impact, but by the time they got there, it was too

late to save anyone.

Said one: “We heard a loud noise just next to the Jib bridge; when I watch, I saw a silver-colour Raum badly damaged.

“I then saw persons running out, and when we reach, it was a bloody scene; the baby head was smashed and the mother was lying lifeless. It was tragic.”

‘Don’t look at red or green, work as a team’ –– independent LGE candidate says things need to be done collectively

DESPITE being the lone independent candidate to contest in the Mora/Parika Local Authority Area (LAA), 58-year-old Phyllis Carter is not intimidated by the large political parties, but believes that persons must disregard political differences and work as a team to develop their communities.

“We have to work as a team and don’t look at red or green…we have to get Parika in shape,” said Carter in an invited comment at the Mora/Parika Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), where she had submitted her documents to the returning

officer on Nomination Day. Local Government Elections (LGEs) have always attracted independent candidates who are optimistic about their chances at representing their constituencies as councillors of the NDCs in their Local Authority Areas (LAAs).

Like other candidates in the past, Carter was optimistic and ready to work towards the betterment of Parika.

“We have things to do…I would do it and if I do not get the support of the voters I would still share my knowledge and advice with the councillors who are elected,” said

the independent candidate who has experience as a community social worker and chairperson of a Parent Teachers Association (PTA).

She believes that Constituency Four, Mora/Parika, is in need of attention, since the Parika stelling is in a deplorable state and vendors continue to ply their trade on the road corners.

Her intention is to ensure that those issues are addressed immediately, even if it means taking a multi-stakeholder approach. Carter said she is ready to work along with government agencies to

ensure that the constituency is enhanced.

“I want to be for all people despite their political affiliation…I want to work for everyone…I am getting down in age and I want to do something more before age catches up with me,” said the optimistic candidate, adding that she intends on doing her research before making promises to the people she represents.

She believes in being truthful because, in her view, many candidates contest without sharing their vision with the voters. Her symbol, a ball in a hand, rep-

resents her passion for holding the community close to her.

Once she receives the support of voters, Carter would be prepared to serve her constituency without fear or favour at any time.

According to a list from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), there were only 33 independent candidates nationwide.

A total of 61 political parties, voluntary groups and individuals were expected to turn out to the offices of the returning officers within the 80 LAAs to submit their nominations ahead of the November 12, 2018 LGEs.

Independent candidate for the Mora/Parika LAA, Phyllis Carter (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

AS the clock strike 10:00hrs on Friday, many persons representing various political parties, voluntary groups and individuals contesting in the upcoming Local Government Elections in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) gathered at the various Local Authority Areas (LAAs) to submit their lists of candidates to the Returning Officers.

For Region Two, there are nine Local Authority Areas (LAAs) with 120 constituencies. At this year’s Local Government Elections, three new Local Authority Areas were created

in the Pomeroon area. The LAAs for the region are Aberdeen/Zorg- en- Vlygt, Annandale/Riverstown, the Anna Regina Municipality, Good Hope/Pomona, Charity/Urasara, Evergreen/Paradise, Kitty/Providence in the Pomeroon River, Moruka/Phoenix Park and Nile Cozier.

The Aberdeen/Zorg-enVlygt LAA has eight constituencies, Annandale/Riverstown nine constituencies, Anna Regina eight constituencies, Good Hope/Pomona nine constituencies, Charity/ Urasara nine constituencies, Evergreen/Paradise eight constituencies, Kitty/Provi-

dence three constituencies, Moruka/Phoenix Park, three constituencies and Niles/ Cozier three constituencies.

Meanwhile, information coming out of the GECOM Office at Anna Regina described Nomination Day as quiet and the process was smooth. The various GECOM offices in the Local Authority Areas were opened at 10:00hrs promptly and closed at 14:00hrs.

According to the returning officers from the various centres, there were minor changes to the forms submitted. Some political parties had to make changes such as re-submit-

ting clearer pictures for their candidates as well as corrections of spellings of names .

SUBMISSIONS In the various LAAs, supporters from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) came out in their numbers to support their candidates. At Annandale/Riverstown, scores of PPP supporters were seen with party slogans and flags waving in support for their candidates. Charran Sarabjeet presented the PPP/C’s list at the Annandale/ Riverstown NDC. Sarabjeet, who is the cam-

paign manager for the PPP/C party in that district, said that he is confident that the PPP will win in that LAA. He said supporters were at the LAA as early as 06:00hrs.

After the PPP submitted their lists, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) submitted theirs in that LAA. Making the submissions were Marlene Lake and Leon Nedd. Both Lake and Nedd arrived at the LAA very early and while submitting their list, their supporters were seen cheering them on. Both Lake and Nedd said the APNU party is ready for the Local Gov-

ernment Elections.

Political parties that are contesting the elections in Region Two are; A partnership for National Unity, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, Alliance for Change, United Party for National Growth and Development, United Republican Party and GNS. The only group that will be contesting the elections within the Charity/ Urasara LAA is United Destiny Group. Six political parties have registered to vie for the Township of Anna Regina. Police from G Division were seen at all the LAAs.

Nomination process smooth in Region Two

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

Guyana, China to sign cooperation agreements GUYANA and China will today sign several agreements during the visit of State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Wang Yi. The signing will take place at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Railway Embankment Road, Georgetown, Guyana. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge and Mr. Wang, will sign the agreements on behalf of their respective governments.

The agreements to be signed are the “Framework Agreement Provision of a Concessional Loan between the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and

The State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi

the Government of the People’s Republic of China” and “The Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and Government of the People’s Republic of China.”

Simultaneously, a handover ceremony will be held to mark China’s contribution to support the hosting by the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana of the 17th Session of the Committee for the Review and Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), scheduled to take place early next year in Georgetown.

In a recent release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here had said that Guyana and China

have maintained a vibrant programme of mutually beneficial cooperation through frequent and diverse activities, including successful exchange visits at the highest level over the past four and a half decades.

Wang Yi was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2013. Since joining the Chinese Foreign Service after completing his studies at the Beijing Second Foreign Language Institute in 1982, he has held a number of posts, including as vice-minister of foreign affairs and ambassador to Japan.

The visit comes close to two months after Guyana and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within the Framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road

Initiative. The pact paves the way for cooperation between the two countries in five critical areas, namely: policy coordination; facilities connectivity; trade and investment; financial integration; and people-to-people interaction.

When Guyana signed on to the Silk Road Initiative, Minister Greenidge had indicated that major emphasis would be placed on infrastructural development during the initial phases of the implementation of the agreement. It is likely that possible projects under the initiative would come up for discussion in the meetings, which will be held later this week. Guyana and China established diplomatic relations in 1972.

High Court upholds DPP decision to discontinue PPP private criminal charges

Attempts to quash the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to discontinue the criminal proceedings brought against Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence and Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton by the People’s Progressive Party failed on Friday when the

High Court dismissed the applications.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Members of Parliament, Juan Edghill and Vickram Bharrat, in separate applications had sought writs of certiorari to quash the decision of the DPP to discontinue the private criminal charges against Ministers Lawrence

and Norton respectively but High Court Judge, Fidela Corbin Lincoln, refused the applications on Friday.

“I am not persuaded that any of the reasons proferred

by Mr. Bharrat provides a basis for the court to use its sparingly exercised power to review and quash the decision of the DPP to discontinue the criminal proceedings brought by him against Dr. George Norton. The application for a writ of certiorari is therefore refused,” Justice Corbin-Lincoln said in handing down her decision. A similar decision was handed down in the case Juan Anthony Edghill vs the DPP in the matter involving Minister Lawrence.

Last April, Edghill had filed a private criminal charge of Misconduct in Public Office, contrary to the common law, against Minister Lawrence for abusing public trust without reasonable excuse when she authorised or caused the unapproved single sourcing and purchasing of drugs and medical supplies for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) from Ansa McAl to the tune of $605.6M. However, days after the

charge was filed, the DPP discontinued it under Article 187 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana. “These charges concern a grave issue under the criminal law in relation to two serving Ministers. In the interest of good governance in the State of Guyana such allegations ought first to have been reported to the Guyana Police Force for an investigation to be launched and the advice of the DPP sought,” the Office of the DPP had explained in a statement issued to the press.

But Edghill was of the view that the decision of the DPP was capricious and whimsical, and such filed a Fixed Date Application at the High Court to quash the decision. He was represented by former Attorney General and Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall.

The DPP was represented by the Attorney General Chambers. In its submission presented by Solicitor General, Kim Kyte Thomas, while alluding to Article 187 of the Constitution, pointed out that the DPP has the power to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law, as well as to discontinue at any

stage criminal proceedings at the level of the court. “…it is clear and without question that the Director of Public Prosecutions has the constitutional authority to discontinue private criminal complaints instituted in the Magistrate’s Court, in this case, Magisterial case jacket No. 5376/18 and filed by the applicant on the April 19, 2018 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court,” the Solicitor General told the court. Maintaining that the DPP had the constitutional authority to discontinue the charge against Minister Lawrence, the DPP questioned under what set of circumstances should the court grant leave for judicial review. To prove her case, the Solicitor General cited several cases.

“In Sharma v Browen-Antonie (2006) 69 WIR 379, the Chief Magistrate alleged that the Chief Justice of Trinidad had tried to influence a case involving the former Prime Minister, Basdoe Panday.”

“Facing imminent prosecution on a charge of attempting to pervert the course of public justice, the Chief Justice obtained leave to seek judicial review of an alleged decision to prosecute him by

the Deputy DPP. Later the Judge made similar orders against the Assistant Commissioner of Police, retaining all of the respondents from taking steps to prosecute the Chief Justice. The judge refused an application by the respondents set aside the leave, whereupon they appealed successfully to the Court of Appeal.”

“A further appeal by the Chief Justice to the Privy Council was dismissed. The Privy Council, in two separate opinions, emphasised the exceptional nature of judicial review of a DPP’s decision to prosecute,” the Solicitor General explained.

A similar line of argument was put forward by the Solicitor General in the matter involving Dr. Norton, who was accused of abusing public trust without justification when he authorised or caused the rental of a known property at Sussex Street, Albouystown from Linden Holdings Incorporated to the sum of $12.5M per month. Throughout her submissions, Kyte maintained that the DPP properly exercised discretion, stressing that there is no evidence of bad faith.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

Voluntary groups, individuals make presence felt --as ‘East Coasters’ vie for leadership roles in local gov’t

By Lisa Hamilton

SEVERAL Voluntary Groups and Individuals are contesting for leadership roles in local government on the East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Those persons turned out on Nomination Day Friday at various Local Authority Areas (LAAs) and told the Guyana Chronicle about their plans for their communities, and why they decided to participate in this year’s elections.

especially going out in the nights. The road is bad; the drainage is not up-to-date; they have a lot of grass and muck blocking the water from going and coming, but most of all, it’s the roads and the portion of the land that people need to have titled.”

Mr Granville believes that with his years of experience in the business, he will be the best candidate of choice, and his advice to his fellow citizens is: “Know who you’re voting for; the people or the person that can

people is that LGEs matter.

NO VOTE, NO VOICE “If you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice; young people have got to become a part of the process, because if you are a part of the process, you can become part of the solution,” he advised.

Representing the same Beterverwagting-Triumph area is the 8th of May Movement, whose leader, Rainsford Benfield explained that their organisation represents the slaves which bought the village on May 8.

go hand in hand, because the child might be slow with education but that child can work in sports and achieve a lot.”

Hoping to represent the Buxton/Foulis NDC as an individual candidate is Terone Joesph, who believes that enough is still not being done to create awareness among the youth on the importance of LGEs. “I would like to see more young people take part in our community development, “ he said, “because we’re lacking that. I know that a lot of

ship role in the community.

Speaking to the issues he particularly wants to address, Joseph said: “Unemployment is very high. We’re trying to develop some programmes that will ease the burden of getting jobs.”

Joseph added that he is currently working to get community complex buildings up and running to facilitate this.

Some of the areas he will address include corruption, environmental matters and issues with housing.

Said he: “I’ve been doing that as adviser to the Minister of Human Services; adviser to the Ministry of Labour; and personal assistant to Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, so I’ve been in this for plenty years.

“I’ve been representing

Rajendra Bisessar (Adrian Narine photos) Shon Adams

Representatives of the 8th of May Movement and their leader, Rainsford Benfield (left)

Bruce Granville

Terone Joseph

At the Beterverwagting-Triumph LAA, 80-yearold Bruce Granville was present at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) building, nominating himself as an independent candidate to represent the Granville Park area.

Granville has a long history of community involvement, having represented the same area as Chairman in years past.

Telling of some of the many areas he intends to address, he said: “They need more lights on the streets because the road is dark,

make it happen.”

Another individual contesting independently is Shon Adams, and he too spoke of his vision for his community.

He said that after organising clean-up efforts in his community and realising that very few residents know who their councillors or representatives are, he decided to take action.

“I decided that instead of complaining, to do something about it, hence my independent candidacy,” Adams said, adding: “I’d like to see a cleaner community; I’d like to see our parapets cleaned, our alleyways cleaned.

“I want to see our streets paved, because the streets in our area are terrible. I want to see the area brighter; I want to see more streetlights.”

Adams also wishes to see more aid being provided to children attending school, and apprenticeship programmes for young people with qualifications but no jobs.

His message to young

This is the group’s second time contesting the LGEs, and this time around, it intends to focus primarily improving education and sports.

“We’ve already started some of these activities, and we plan to continue,” Benfield said, as the group’s Treasurer added: “Education and sports

young people wanted to run for this election, but they’re not well educated on what is the process, so they refused to take part.”

He, however, said that even if he doesn’t succeed this time round, he will try again in the future, yet he is positive that he will receive the support he needs, being well known for his leader-

Saturday, September 22, 2018 - 03:30 hrs – 14:30 hrs Sunday, September 23, 2018 - 04:00 hrs – 14:30 hrs Monday, September 24, 2018 - 04:30 hrs – 14:30 hrs

WELL-KNOWN Meanwhile, well-known public figure Rajendra Bisessar is also contesting the same constituency, and he gave as his reason for wanting to get involved: “I want to believe that the people in the area sometimes prefer independence as opposed to being supportive of political parties, and with an independent voice, I believe I can speak for myself on the principle and on the behalf of the people without being influenced or instructed by a political party.”

people almost all my life; I believe, especially at the level of Local Government Elections, this is one of the most important areas that affect your life directly, and so if you want to have your area looked after properly and proper representation, then you need to come out and support the candidate of your choice.”

Also, at the Industry/ Plaisance LLA was a lone voluntary group, ‘For the People (FTP), which submitted its nomination documents too.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

Welcome Minister Wang Yi

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HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and State Councillor of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Wang Yi, arrived in Guyana on Friday for a two-day visit.

This visit comes at a time when relations between this Asian giant and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana are in a healthy and productive state. It is one of Guyana’s most important bilateral relationships.

Having established diplomatic relations some 46 years ago, and having cooperated in numerous international fora on matters of mutual interest, these political relations have broadened into significant economic areas. Moreover, these political and economic relations are underpinned by a greater understanding of each other’s societies and peoples.

The people of Guyana now have a better understanding of the pivotal importance of China’s role in global, political and economic affairs and the efforts being made by the Communist Party of China to build a prosperous and equal society.

On the other hand, because of increased people-to-people contact, the exchange of visits of high-level officials, cooperation among relevant organisations, and significant bilateral

exchanges, the Government and the people of China have a better grasp of the efforts being made by the Guyanese people to build a prosperous society on an environmentally sustainable basis.

The two countries have signed numerous agreements in important areas: medicine, education, culture, trade, technology, tourism, and defence, to name a few. Of these, it would be necessary to single out the policy of the five IT strategies and the Belt & Road Initiative. Both programmes are calculated to create the conditions for Guyana to improve its physical and technological infrastructure. A few examples would suffice.

China has committed itself to funding the Lethem to Linden road, the Demerara Harbour Bridge, and the deep-water harbour. These are to be undertaken on terms which are acceptable and beneficial to both governments. The building of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport are a guarantee that the aforementioned projects will be undertaken with efficiency and competence.

Over the next two days, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his delegation will be holding talks with President Granger

Neglect caused recent flood in Essequibo Dear Editor,

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HE Kaieteur News of Friday, September 14, 2018 on Page 20, carried a story under the caption, “Heavy rains leave Essequibo communities under floodwaters.”

Paragraph three of the story is indicating to readers that Acting Regional Chairman Ms Nandranie Coonjah disclosed that communities from Adventure to Johanna Cecilia were flooded after six hours of continuous rainfall. Further, the report revealed that residents from Maria’s Lodge were affected by floodwaters as deep as four feet.

Paragraph four of the said story stated that the Onderneeming koker, which is responsible for draining the communities, has been inoperable for quite some time.

After promises made by the region’s Drainage and Irrigation Authority (D&I) to have the koker repaired, no such action was taken.

Paragraph five states that as a result of the broken koker and inoperable pump, water from excessive rainfall quickly flooded these small communities.

The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), like all other regions, consists of many statutory committees, including the Works and Agriculture Committee.

When I was a regional councillor, I was a member of this committee; it was chaired by no less a person than the regional vice-chairman, and our monthly meeting used to take, on average, about threeand-a-half hours, because there were representatives from many departments, namely, the Engineer from the Drainage & Irrigation Department; the Engineer from the Sea Defence Department; the Roads Engineer; the Building Engineer; representatives from the Rice Producers Association (RPA); The Water Users Association; officials from the Agriculture Extension Division; the Crops & Livestock Division; the Fisheries Division; and representatives from the political parties holding seats at the RDC, etc. And each head of department or division had to submit a report to be discussed and forwarded to the RDC’s statutory meeting to be again discussed and approved for the necessary action to be taken.

While I am not sure if the

Works and Agriculture Committee is structured differently now, but if the Drainage and Irrigation Authority Engineer or representative is a member of this committee, then I am sure that the issue of this pump and koker would have been brought up for discussion at both levels (Works and Agriculture and RDC meetings) the agriculture meeting that is chaired by the said person whom the reporter quoted extensively, and whom I believe is a major player in having this problem solved.

The question is: Why was nothing done? I strongly believe that this flooding was man-made, because after all these months, as this story is leading readers to believe, absolutely nothing was done to prevent this flooding.

In times like these, persons who are being paid to ensure that these structures are maintained would exonerate themselves from blame; but the truth must be told, so that the entire region and not only those affected must know, so as not to have a repeat of this situation in other areas as well.

Regards Archie W Cordis

and Vice-President and Foreign Minister, Mr. Carl Greenidge.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Vice-President Greenidge and Mr. Wang will sign two agreements on behalf of their respective governments. The agreements to be signed are the “Framework Agreement Provision of a Concessional Loan between the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Government of the People’s Republic of China” and “The Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the two countries. Simultaneously, a hand-over ceremony will be held to mark China’s contribution to support the hosting by the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana of the 17th Session of the Committee for the Review and Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), scheduled to take place early next year in Georgetown.

While we are not privy to what further bilateral exchanges are to be undertaken, we are confident that the foreign minister’s visit will lead to further improvement in the bilateral relations between the two states. The auguries are good.

Too much fertiliser on the ‘greens’ Dear Editor,

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AM calling on the minister of agriculture or whoever is responsible for the safety of the citizens of this country, to conduct regular inspections to determine how many chemicals are being used by farmers to spray their crops before they are allowed to sell them to consumers.

Last Wednesday, September 13, 2018, I purchased a piece of pumpkin at Bourda Market. It was a freshly-cut piece; it was to be cooked the next day. Editor, to my horror, the next day this piece of pumpkin was showing signs as if it were rotten; it was all mushy and dripping, as if it were melting, and it had a slight stench.

A few days later, that is on Saturday, September 16, I was at a friend’s house and we were chatting from one thing to another. I couldn’t believe my ears when she

first raised the topic of purchasing pumpkin at Bourda Market. She has relatives from overseas, and they wanted to eat pumpkin, and the very thing that happened to the piece of pumpkin I bought, the exact same thing happened with the piece she had purchased.

And she told me that it was stink!

Something must be done to stop the overuse of chemicals on our greens, fruits and vegetables. The nations’ health is at risk and in grave danger. Now I am experiencing fear, and am hesitant to buy these things.

The consumers’ plight is one that needs fixing urgently. Apple Cider Vinegar is touted as something that lowers cholesterol, and I have proven this to be true with all the brands.

Now, one of the brands, Braggs, is being hailed as the champion brand, when all work.

All the brands of 16 fluid-ounce were being sold between for $400 to $600,

Braggs included. Now, because of this gimmick about Braggs, this 16-fluid-ounce bottle is now $1,642 at Bounty, and the price has skyrocketed to around that same price at Survival Supermarket.

Editor, is there a cons u m e r- p r o t e c t i o n p r o gramme? If the price of this brand were raised, shouldn’t it be about $100 or $200 more? A staggering $1,000 has been added to it, and no one seems to be disturbed about it.

I am calling on the authorities to check out what is happening at these supermarkets. Can these people just up prices to those ridiculously high levels?

I have used different brands, and my cholesterol dropped. People, you don’t need to be duped into purchasing something that is way too expensive, when the other brands work just fine.

Regards, K. Elliot

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

Truth must not be interwoven with political spin Dear Editor,

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ESLIE Ramsammy’s letter to the Editor in the Kaieteur News of September 2, 2018, “Nagamootoo has betrayed sugar workers and is now betraying teachers,” continues to be part of the dishonest narrative carried out by his party in its effort to mislead Guyanese.

But more importantly, that dishonest narrative is directed towards its constituents as it desperately scrapes every dirty barrel to besmirch efforts at rebuilding Guyana by the coalition A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government.

Editor, I hate liars,especially when they are politicians. And even though it is said that politicians generally do lie, there are some who are extremely dangerous, for what their lies are intended to do is subvert the national truth, for the ends of power.

I can understand a politician seeking to present a case, for and on behalf of his particular party’s support base, but to intersperse that case with so-called data intended to mislead, is as egregious as it is morally dishonest, constituting a threat to peace. This cannot bring any credibility to our national conversation.

And, since 2015, the media has been awash with a brand of this dangerous human defect.

A glaring example of this continuous political trickery is found in Ramsammy’s letter. In one of his paragraphs, he wrote, “In 1999, the PPP had agreed to a task force for public servants’ salaries. The PPP at the time was agreeable to a salary of 5-8 per cent, arguing that any increase above 5 per cent would stress the budget. But the Task Force recommended 31% across-the-board.

The PPP respected the recommendation and implemented it.”

Editor, that is the direct quote from Ramsammy’s letter, which is a big piece of spin on a very serious industrial crisis in 1999, which pushed the country to its second longest industrial face-off with the state; a general strike of 57 days.

There was no amicable around-the-table discussion between government and trade union over wage demands, as Ramsammy would want readers to believe. For he has deliberately omitted that talks between the two sides had broken down after repeated stonewalling on the part of the government, causing the union to begin industrial action at midnight on April 30, 1999, which lasted for 57 days.

There were protest marches led by the Public Service Union, which saw the state unleashing violence on the striking workers, with a tear gas attack on nurses protesting in the vicinity of the Supreme Court building still etched in my memory.

The strike ended after an agreement to proceed to arbitration, which was chaired by Dr. Aubrey Armstrong, a manage-

Pay closer attention Dear Editor,

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EVERAL NGOs have been popping up across this country, and it would appear as though no one is monitoring them.

This is a festering problem in Guyana that should be addressed by the government, primarily the Ministry of Social Protection, which is the oversight ministry for these institutions. The government has a responsibility to ensure that these entities are operating according to the laws of the country and their constitutions. Furthermore, the government should not appoint persons from delinquent NGOs to government agencies, inquiries or boards.

People of questionable character are forming NGOs and going around the world under false pretence, professing to be doing all kinds of good service in Guyana when in reality, no one in Guyana is benefiting from these entities.

In some cases, they have never been heard of here. Many of these institutions are collecting millions of dollars from members, donors, foreign and local governments, but there is no accounting of how this money is being spent.

ment consultant.

Public Servants were given a 31% wage increase in 1999, and a 26.6% rise in 2000, compliments of the arbitration’s decision. Thus, any “Task Force recommendation” of 31%, as described by Ramsammy as being accepted by his then government, had to have been the Dr. Armstrong-led arbitration, the other members of which were Dr. Gobind Ganga and Dr. Clive Thomas.

Of course, the then president stated his concern over the huge increase in the public service wages bill, as there was also a concurrent dispute with teachers that resulted in a similar resort to arbitration process that stipulated 10% for the educators in 1999, and 12% in 2000.

These significant increases, it is believed, were what may have probably led to a freezing of employment within the Public Service. This would have also led to the destruction of the collective bargaining process by the then PPP/C government, ushering in the now infamous five per cent wages imposition that was done in December. After the 1999 industrial action, the government refused to engage the GPSU on wages discussions.

Elsewhere in Ramsammy’s desperate missive, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is accused of “betraying” both sugar workers and teachers by his “silence”; he has also transposed the accusation to President David Granger as “continuing the assault” on sugar workers “by not addressing the non–payment of their severance...” He has also alleged that the President refuses “to intervene to stop the teachers strike.”

Sadly, Ramsammy must be reminded that neither he nor any of his PPP/C colleagues have any moral grounds on which to speak on sugar workers and the collapse of their industry. Not after the PPP/C’s destruction of one of Guyana’s key industrial sectors, and leaving the socio-economic mess for the coalition government to clean up. He should be aware by now that there is a secure livelihoods programme for both affected workers and their communities, in addition to the fact that the last tranche of severance pay will be paid before year-end.

No. This is where I shall end on responding to a politician whose missives are always riddled with half-truths and pernicious lies. As a politician, he continues to be dishonest, and it is not worth any good time responding to such deception.

My question is: does not he and others of his ilk have any shame for their attempts at attempting to bully and hoodwink the nation into accepting the odour of their opinions, which they emit ever so often in pages of sections of the media? Is this the best that they can do with so much time at their disposal?

That the Ramsammys of this world can continue along their merry but dark lane of political deception, is because of the perception of the well-known fading memory view

--to these fly-by-night NGOs Many NGOs in Guyana do not comply with their own constitutions, or the Friendly Society Act which governs their operations. Throughout the world, NGOs have been running into trouble with the law; several executives have found themselves behind bars, being charged with offences ranging from fraud, larceny, money laundering, drug dealing and even human trafficking.

These institutions handle significant sums of money, and wield a lot of influence in society. Therefore, the government must exercise its oversight authority, and keep these institutions in compliance with regulations.

The Government of Guyana should also establish some standards and guidelines when deciding who should sit on a government agency, board or a Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

We could borrow from other countries and ensure that appointees to all boards or commissions are ‘Fit and Proper.’

Regards, Ms Higgins

of a society, with the constituents/supporters of his party especially, failing to demand answers for seminal national issues such as the tragedy of GuySuCo. Regards Earl Hamilton

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

Nomination Day an important step in the evolution of democratic governance in Guyana – Min. Bulkan MINISTER of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, has said that Nomination Day is an important step in the evolution of democratic governance in Guyana.

“We are having nominations for participation in Local Government Elections that will be held on November 12, 2018, and it will mark the first time in the post-independent history of Guyana, that successive Local Government Elections are being held as legally or constitutionally due,” the Communities Minister told reporters, even as he observed Nomination Day proceedings at the Critchlow Labour College in Georgetown on Friday.

He said that while Local Government Elections were held in 1994, the councils that came into existence were not allowed to execute their legal and constitutional responsibilities, and were simply there for “cosmetic value.”

“What it resulted in and led to, is that those councils were starved of resources, and they were under-resourced, so they lack the capacity to be able to dis-

charge the responsibilities that they were entrusted with – the management and development of their respective communities,” Minister Bulkan explained.

made.

“I would be the first to admit that the system is far from perfect, that there exist and persist considerable deficiencies and defects in the

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan

He said it is important to note that the attitude of control which was displayed under the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has been removed, and replaced with a philosophy of cooperation and collaboration.

The Communities Minister, in commenting on the performance of the municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) over the past two years, admitted that the system is far from perfect, but noted that progress has been

operations and management of those councils. One of the points I have always been at pains to outline, is that the rehabilitation and restoration of this system which was subject to enormous pressure over an extended period of time, councils that would have had their capacities so damaged and degraded, that they had largely become dysfunctional, that that restoration job would not be an overnight one,” he explained.

He emphasised that the plethora of problems facing

local government organs across the country would take time to address, as well as a considerable amount of resources. Just this week, Cabinet approved a number

Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson (Photos by Delano Williams)

of recommendations that were put forward at the National Conference of Local Democratic Organs. One such recommendation is the increase in salaries and stipends for local leaders functioning at the level of the councils.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson told the press that the commission would be accelerating its awareness campaign ahead of the No-

Job well done, GECOM!

By Michel Outridge WITH submissions slated to begin at 10:00hrs sharp, the Guyana Chronicle wasted no time Friday and hit the road early to monitor the proceedings.

The occasion was the much-anticipated Nomination Day shenanigans for this year’s Local Govern-

ment Elections (LGEs), set for November 12, whereby political parties, voluntary groups and individuals with approved symbols were expected to hand in their list of candidates to the prescribed returning officers (ROs) countrywide.

With our team assigned to the East Bank corridor, we worked our way from Eccles

to Diamond, Herstelling and Mocha-Arcadia, then headed straight for Soesdyke-Huis’t Coverden where, in spite of the heavy downpour, turnout was reasonably high.

That’s where we met Eon Smith, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) representative for that particular Local Authority Area (LAA).

PPP/C’s Everton Poole and a jubilant ‘Team Soesdyke’ after submitting their list

vember 12 Local Government Elections.

“We hope to edify the general population and their electorate on how to vote and to some extent, why

Smith said his group is contesting in seven constituencies, and that they’d already presented their list of candidates. The presentation was done at the office of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) on the Soesdyke Public Road.

Like most of the persons we spoke to that day, he deemed the process smooth, and his group’s chances of winning in that area very good.

At the same location, the Guyana Chronicle also caught up with Everton Poole, who is the regional representative for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), and he, too, was upbeat about the whole affair, saying that for him it was a very bright day even though it was raining cats and dogs.

Our next stop was Haruruni-Yarrowkabra on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, where we met APNU representative Melissa Munroe and her team at the Yarrowk-

you should vote. People take voting for granted, exercising their franchise for granted, but we are trying to educate them,” he explained.

Justice (Ret’d) Patterson reminded media operatives that it is GECOM’s objective to facilitate free and fair elections. “We do not look at colours, party or otherwise, we have a job to do, and that we will do, to the best we can,” he assured reporters.

Though this is the first election that he would oversee as Chairman of

GECOM, he said the commission has learnt from mistakes of the past, and as such, it is not likely that there would be recurrences.

“We have learnt from the errors of the past and we’re building on that.”

With the necessary systems being put in place to facilitate free and fair elections, the chairman is encouraging registered voters to seize the opportunity on polling day.

“Come out in droves… exercise your franchise, and be as peaceful as you could. We want to have free and fair elections here, which way they go is no concern of ours,” he said.

The GECOM chairman also observed Nomination Day proceedings at the Critchlow Labour College.

A total of 61 political parties, voluntary groups and individuals were expected to submit nominations to contest in the 80 Local Authority Areas for the upcoming Local Government Elections. Of the total, seven are political parties, 21 are voluntary groups and 33 are individual candidates.

--LGE hopefuls say, for incident-free Nomination Day

APNU’s Melissa Munroe at Yarrowkabra Primary (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

abra Primary School.

She said that besides being speedy, the process was so efficient that they were able to leave long before noon, so they could go home and prepare lunch for their families.

Also at the same venue was PPP/C Election Committee Campaign Manager for Huis’t/ Coverden, Ansari Ferreira, and he said they were second on the list to

submit their list of candidates. He said, too, that the process went on without any hiccups, and that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is to be commended for a job well done.

It’s a sentiment that was expressed at all seven of the locations the Guyana Chronicle visited that day, starting from Eccles all the way up to Yarrowkabra.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

‘We will make the city better’ …major parties promise better management, transparency at City Hall

By Svetlana Marshall PROMISES of better management and a greater push to improve infrastructure in the municipalities and Neighbour Democratic Councils (NDCs) were the main themes as supporters of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), and the Alliance For Change (AFC) submitted their lists of candidates for Local Government Elections.

we must say also is that we reached something that was there for over two decades, and in it is quite unfair to fix it in two years,” the deputy mayor told reporters.

He said once re-elected APNU will continue to fix the plethora of problems facing not only the municipality of Georgetown but other Local Authority Areas (LAAs).

“APNU is part of the coalition that brought Local Democracy back to the citizens after 23 years, so it is our responsibility

party believes in young people and the party believes in youth, and the party decided to give the young persons an opportunity to lead those constituencies along with the persons serving there before because we understand experience is important,” Peter explained.

APNU Executive Member and Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence said Local Government creates a space for persons at the local level to take charge of their communities. She noted that APNU

Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Green at the centre of the APNU contingent that created quite a buzz on Woolford Avenue on Friday, ahead of submitting its List of Candidates for the 2018 Local Government Elections.

APNU Executive and Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence leading the APNU delegation to Critchlow Labour College for the submission of their List of Candidates

The parties presented their lists at the Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue Georgetown. But the smaller political parties, voluntary groups and individual candidates said the people are tired of the empty rhetoric and it is time to give them a chance.

Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Akeem Peter, and a member of the APNU contingent, was the first to admit on Friday that some residents were dissatisfied with performance of the City Council. “We must apologise for not reaching the expectations of people but

to deliver to the citizens and deliver that good life they all seek and ask for. Notwithstanding that we have our challenges at the level of the Mayor and City Council those challenges are being worked on,” he emphasised.

While not discrediting the current APNU councilors for the perceived poor performance, Peter said the five-party coalition, which forms a major part of government, has put forward a list of primarily new and young candidates. “Young people came up to represent their constituencies, and the

more than just cleaning drains and we want to move past that,” he explained.

Bishram Kuppen, a sitting councilor at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, representing the PPP said that party will ensure there is accountability, transparency and good governance once re-elected. “I have moved two motions for forensic audits, even before we sat on the council in 2016, I had asked for forensic audits.

When I presented that motion to the council, it was trashed by the town clerk. I also asked for financial details on all these expenditures – hundreds of millions are being spent with no clear accounting. Each year, the auditor general is required by the Municipal and District Act to perform audits of the council’s books and they have been unable to successfully complete any audit because there are always missing records,” Kuppen complained.

NO TO PARKING METERS On the issues of the parking meter, the PPP councillor said it remains a ‘NO’ for the party, although recognising the need for an effective parking system to be put in place. “We will

URP Representative Marcia Lewis, second left, surrounded by supporters of the party

would be pushing for healthier, safer, stronger and cohesive communities.

Michael Leonard, AFC Region Four Chairman, told reporters that the party would do more than cleaning drains.

“We are being very strategic, we are not looking for theatrics, we want to ensure that we communicate to persons our core values and principles– transparency and accountability. So we will be going to the citizens as well and ensuring that we get them to give us some input, let us know what they want us to do when we get there because councils and NDCs are

support an intelligent system to control traffic. But I will give you an example, when the new administration came into office, they had one tow truck for the parallel parking, and the entire Robb Street and Regent streets were cleared, so you didn’t have to have parking meter if you are controlling traffic,” Kuppen said.

United Republican Party (URP) Representative, Marcia Lewis said after assessing the performances of the municipalities across the country, particularly in the Municipality of Georgetown, the party was unimpressed with the prog-

ress of development, and as such, opted to contest in the upcoming Local Government Elections.

According to her, the URP will be tackling the real issues facing communities. “We will be addressing the very real problem of unemployment, the very real problem of the drainage and garbage pile ups in the city, the de-bushing of the burial ground,” she explained.

URP will be contesting in six municipalities and 24 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

UNBOTHERED While the spotlight was placed on the major political parties, Independent Candidate Michael Okombo Williams told the Guyana Chronicle that he was unbothered by the theatrics. According to him, little was done for Constituency Four in the Municipality of Georgetown though there were many promises. “There were many expectations but there have not been many fulfillments. So I thought it best, in the interest of my consistency, and in the interest of the residents there, to go independently,” Williams said.

According to him, if elect-

Independent Candidate James Hermanstein

Independent Candidate Michael Okombo Williams

uency on the basis that he has been spearheading development projects in that area. “Recently, we built a bridge – 35ft by 4ft concrete walkway bridge. Previously there was a makeshift

The PPP Members submitting their List of Candidates to the GECOM staff at Critchlow Labour College.

(Photos by Delano Williams)

ed to serve on the council, he will work to address the issues facing his consistency.

“Drainage, sanitation and security, those three of our primary concerns not forgetting pest control measures. So my intent is to focus heavily, should I be elected, on those issues,” the independent candidate said.

Sixty-seven-year-old James Hermanstein, who is contesting in Constituency Five – Block X Liliendaal, said he was encouraged to contest the elections by residents within his constit-

bridge where people fell into the canal. Plus we got the main drain canal desilted twice through the effort of a group we formed,” he pointed out. Hermanstein noted that the projects were carried out with funds raised by the local group. Once elected, Hermanstein said he would be able to develop much more for the people of Block X Liliendaal, which covers ‘A’ Field Sophia, Pattensen and Plum Park. Local Government Elections will be held on November 12, 2018.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

New Horizon Movement, Linden for … political groups miss submission deadline at Linden Nomination Day exercise Lindeners out of LGEs

FOLLOWING the tardiness of two independent groups at Friday’s Local Government Elections (LGEs) Nomination Day in Linden, the race is now solely up to the major political parties that were able to submit their candidates for the eight constituencies, in a timely manner.

These are the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Alliance For Change (AFC), the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the United Republican Party (URP). The New Horizon Movement and Linden for Lindeners were the two independent parties that were unsuccessful in submitting their lists, as they missed the 14:00hrs deadline by minutes.

There was much o pomp

and ceremony in front of the GECOM Mackenzie office, as the parties turned up with their members and supporters in the respective party colours, waving their flags and chanting as they submitted their nominees.

The APNU was the early bird catching the first worm as representatives were on a shift system since Thursday morning, according to one member, just to ensure their submissions were done first.

“We ready” were the first words to come out of Campaign Manager Valerie Yearwood’s mouth, as she exited the office after completing the submission process. This was then echoed by an army of supporters clad in green, waving the APNU flag as they prepared to march the streets of Mackenzie. Year-

URP Campaign Manager, Eon Hall and an APNU supporter

wood said that the party will now go into full campaign mode, now that its lists have been submitted and everything was ok with same.

Much to the heckles of AFC Campaign Manager Audwin Rutherford and his AFC members, Yearwood managed to keep her voice above as she spoke with the media. She said that the strategy was to be first and it is a good start. “If we win this race today, then we are going to win every other race and I feel good as the campaign manager, we worked hard, wee hours we put it, so we have the output that is required and the output that is expected and as we go forward, we are in full campaign mode right now, we are sending a message to the yellow and the red, we are ready!” Yearwood said to loud applause and chants from her supporters.

She boasted that the APNU was the only party that had primaries, since it wanted to be transparent and put power into the hands of the people as she joked about the AFC turning up with nine and a half supporters as opposed to her scores.

AFC Campaign Manager Audwin Rutherford, however, said that it is not about big numbers and who came first, since he is pleased that the AFC was the third batsman in the game and the third batsman is always the best, while the champion in the ring always enters last. “Victory is not only winning the

APNU supporters outside GECOM’s Mackenzie Office majority, victory is representing the people and I’m sure we will have a voice in the council and that voice will be heard also,” he said, since he is confident that the AFC will have majority seats.

With those voices, there will be significant changes, since the AFC has a mixture of youth and experience, which also includes a top-ranking administrator,” Rutherford said. Defending the party’s decision to not hold primaries, Rutherford added that if numbers are relative to what other parties are calling consultation, he believes it is far from the case. “The numbers there suggest that they are speaking to themselves,” Rutherford said. The AFC, he noted, has the interest of Linden at heart and will be looking carefully to see what the problems are, to initiate a better trajectory.

The PPP campaign manager, Akanni Blair, expressed hearty confidence that the party will dominate the seats of the municipality come November, even though this was never done in the history of the municipality of Linden.

He said that this time around however, the political climate and economic situation have allowed the PPP to stand an inside chance of capturing a few constituencies in this town. He even thanked

the outgoing councillors for portraying a behaviour that gives them a window of opportunity to win. “These LGEs, we are excited about them and we believe that if the voting public gives us that opportunity, we are going effect change like never before in this town of Linden.

This municipality would have suffered immensely and we would have made the changes that are required for the upward mobility of this town; it has been overdue for too long and we know that we are going to do better than the previous council in this municipality.”

While the rhetoric in Linden, is that the town would have been marginalised and development was stagnated under the PPP Government, Blair boasted of the housing schemes that were commenced by the PPP, even though he confessed they were never completed. He alluded to the present situation where roads are being completed by APNU+AFC, but they are stopping in front of the homes of government officials. All this he said, will change if the PPP is elected to the municipality.

The United Republican Party had a strong support base of youths, but was led by well-known PPP stalwart, community activists and for-

mer councillor Eon Hall. Hall said that he was initially a URP member, but after the party became dormant, he started working for former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

He expressed confidence that the URP, with its youthful base, will capture seats in the municipality and with his experience and genuine interest in the people, which is reflected in the various community projects on which he has embarked, the town of Linden will experience the change it deserves. He shunned the outgoing Council for mismanaging the funds it has garnered, since he said while he was a councillor, less money was available, but more was done. Drainage, garbage collection and infrastructural development are some of the areas on which the URP will be focusing.

Nomination Day now leaves the parties about less than two months to whip up votes for the 16 seats on the council. Even with such limited time, many residents, especially youths, are still calling for more sensitisation to be done on the entire process of LGEs, so they can get involved. At the 2016 LGEs, there was a very low youth turnout in Linden.

Political parties are hoping that this will not be the case, come November.

Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira and his AFC counterpart Audwin Rutherford and PPP Campaign Manager Akanni Blair, share a light moment at Friday’s nominations

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

GMC records increased processing for non-traditional commodities … at packaging facilities

THE Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) has recorded an increase in the quantity of non-traditional agricultural commodities that have been processed at its packaging facilities, the agency said in a release on Friday.

During the period January to August, 2018, over 809 metric tonnes of non-traditional agricultural commodities were prepared for export at the two packaging facilities: the Central Packaging Facility in Sophia and the Parika Agro-processing Packaging Facility. This represents an 18% increase in exports when compared to the corresponding period of January to August, 2017.

Moreover, a total of fifty-six (56) shipments was processed, of which forty-six (46) were for exports via sea and ten (10) were for export via air. While the increase is commendable, Ms. Ida Sealey-Adams, GMC’s General Manager noted that there is a need for exporters of non-traditional agricultural commodities to take advantage of the two facilities available to them. She said that the GMC is also looking at other services that can be targeted at the facilities, such as the processing and packaging of fresh produce to target local supermarkets and export markets.

The Central Packaging Facility saw products such as crushed peppers, pepper sauce, steamed and curried katahar, cut green mangoes, steamed bilimbi, mango achar, preserved carambola fruits, coconut oil and cassava cassareep being prepared for bulk shipment.

Additionally, cassareep, honey and Chinese sauce were prepared for export.

Exporters would often use the packaging facilities to prepare their produce for export to countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America (USA), Canada, St Maarten, Antigua, St Kitts and Barbados.

While there has been an increase in exports from the packaging facilities, exporters are curtailed by difficulties in the acquisition of the quantity and quality of produce required for the export market at a competitive price.

Ms. Celestine Butters, Packaging Facilities Manager, noted that the unfavourable weather has contributed to the shortage of produce, especially in the Pomeroon and Berbice areas. She further stated that “there is a growing export demand for produce such as watermelons, plantains, seedless limes, pumpkins and dried coconuts.”

Apart from difficulties with acquisition of the desired quality and quantity of produce for shipment and the unfavourable weather, the issue is compounded by the fact that air shipments, especially to Barbados, have become inadequate since the change of ownership and route of AMERIJET. This has resulted in the company no longer offering its services to Barbados exporters.

Nevertheless, cargo shipments are also offered

by Caribbean Airlines and Fly Jamaica; unfortunately, space is usually limited, since passengers’ luggage is given first preference.

Notwithstanding the difficulties with regard to transportation, the Guyana Marketing Corporation is very thankful to the Air Cargo and Sea Freight Cargo Service providers, who have consistently availed their services to exporters.

The corporation continues to engage with other service providers to expand the availability of transportation services for agricultural commodities. Efforts are continually being made to encourage service providers outside of Guyana to offer their services to local exporters, especially at routes that are not currently being serviced.

Ms. Sealey-Adams noted that while there has been a noticeable increase in the utilisation of the Packaging Facilities to process agri-

cultural commodities for export, more processing can be done at these facilities. She said that efforts are being made to continue to upgrade the facilities.

Over the years, the GMC, through its Central and Parika packaging facilities has made it easier for exporters of fruits and vegetables and other non-traditional commodities. The Central Packaging Facility and Parika Agro-Packaging Facility

facilitate the processing of fresh fruits and vegetables to export markets. In fact, there is a bilateral protocol arrangement between the Guyana Marketing Corporation and the respective Ministries of Agriculture in Barbados, Antigua, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Lucia.

The facilities were established to ensure traceability and correct monitoring of fruits and vegetables being exported from Guyana.

Goods being loaded into the refrigerated truck These facilities are equipped with equipment used for washing, drying, sanitising and cooling of commodities.

The corporation, through these facilities,

Items being processed for export at the Central Packaging Facility

also provides refrigerated cold storage, refrigerated trucking service and the rental of agricultural crates for its stakeholders.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

‘Thank God Guyana is a democratic country’ … independent candidate says after being dumped by PPP

FOUR political parties and one individual submitted their lists of candidates to the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) to contest this year’s Local Government Elections.

The candidates will be vying for the 18 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) and three municipalities in East Berbice-Corentyne. The parties gathered at the offices of the respective returning officers well before

10:00hrs on Friday to take advantage of the first-comefirst-served system in place.

When the process got underway, it was smooth sailing for most of the day with a minor hiccup at the Springlands office, where there was confusion as to which party was there first.

The issue was resolved despite some protests from the PPP, who plan to file a formal complaint to the chief elections officer. When

Colin Moore and Carletta Benn of the APNU before they submitted their list of candidates at the Kildonan office

the curtains were drawn at the end of the day, the APNU had submitted nominations for 15 NDCs and all three municipalities, AFC 10 NDCs and two municipalities. They will not contest Rose Hall Town. The United Republican Party (URP) submitted nominations for two municipalities (Rose Hall and New Amsterdam), while the PPP contested all 18 NDCs and the three municipalities. The lone independent candidate Orin McDougal, is contesting the Port Mourant/Johns NDC. Mc Dougal, a former PPP councillor, said despite the NDC being run by the PPP, there was a division within the ranks with one section being for the people and the other simply for themselves. He said he found himself with the group for the people, but was left out as a candidate for speaking out against what he feels is wrong and decided to contest as an individual, so that he can have a say and do what is best for the residents of his community. “When it comes around this time for nominations they did not include me in the list because this is a way they found to get me off as a councilor, but I am grateful that Guyana is

Alliance For Change nominees moments before they handed in their list for the LGEs a democratic country and I have an option to go as an individual. My desire is to serve the people to help them to make their lives better and I found that it is not necessary to align with any political party to do that for the people, so I am doing this as an independent for my community and people.”

There was another individual who was initially contesting the Whim/Bloomfield NDC, but he pulled out at the last moment citing personal reasons. While there was

not much campaigning and pomp as is associated with general elections, the PPP contestants were seen decked out in their party colours and had strong support present at most of the returning officers’ offices. The other parties however did not follow suit, since they did not feel there was a need to campaign at this time and wanted to focus on the delivery of their plans, changes and transformation for their constituents.

Meanwhile, Quacy Cort ,an APNU representative of

Rose Hall Town, said he was satisfied with the manner in which the nominations were conducted on Friday, as they were able to achieve their goals and the fact that there were no issues with their lists.

He added that he is happy his party was first in their submissions and expressed confidence that they will take over the township after the Local Government Elections and transform the town into the best in the entire country.

PPP supporters at Tagore Memorial School as their list was presented

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

Biker killed after colliding with truck

A 52-year-old man lost his life after the motorcycle he was riding allegedly collided with a canter that was reversing on to the Betsy Ground Public Road.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:30hrs on Friday.

Dead is Rajendranauth Harold Singh of Lot 28 Reliance Abandon, East Canje, Berbice.

According to the Police, investigations revealed that the driver of the canter was reversing west out of his yard towards the public road when the motor cycle bearing registration number CF1615, which was proceeding north, collided with the right side rear of the canter.

Due to the impact of the crash, Singh was flung a short distance away where he landed on the western parapet. He reportedly received severe head injuries. The man was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

An eyewitness recalled hearing the loud impact of the crash and then seeing the lifeless body of Singh lying on the parapet. “He was big built.

13

‘Cuss bird’ counsel takes … denies allegations, 11 lawyers released on self-bail

By Leroy Smith

The motorcycle which Singh was riding

I think when he fall with that pressure the weight ruptured his inside.”

According to reports, the man was returning home from work when the accident occurred. He was employed as a supervisor with a private contracting company. At his home family gathered, but asked the media to respect their decision not to speak.

The 36-yearold driver truck driver was identified as Marvin.

He is currently in police custody assisting with investigations.

A breathalyzer test was done which found no presence of alThe canter involved in the accident cohol.

MAGISTRATE Peter Hugh placed Attorney-at-law Ryan Crawford on self-bail when he appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on Friday on five charges, all related to a recent incident involving him and a police constable.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Shavion Jupiter, did not object to bail when the attorney appeared in court. Crawford, who had confronted the rank on September 13 ,2018 in an expletive-laden tirade, brought along 11 lawyers to defend him against the charges that the police laid against him on the advice of the director of public prosecutions.

The charges filed against him included obscene language; riotous behaviour; prohibition of tinted glass; failure to produce his driver’s licence; and unfit motor vehicle. The matter, which was initially set to be called in the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court, was shifted to the Vigilance court instead, as the former court did not sit on Friday.

However, the usual courtesies which are extended to lawyers who show up at court to represent clients were not immediately granted to Crawford’s lawyers by the magistrate. He informed them that he would first like

to complete his matters, which were filed in the magisterial district before moving on to the matters which were filed at Mahaica.

Crawford did not speak with the press when approached for a comment, but his lead attorney Sanjiv Datadin did. He said that they felt frustrated having gone to Mahaica and Cove and John before finally arriving at Vigilance for the matter.

On the day in question, a police corporal had pulled over the attorney to carry out a routine check of his documents when the lawyer verbally abused him and refused to cooperate or follow any of the instructions which the policeman had given. He subsequently drove off before boasting that he does not care what the rank does and that nothing can happen to him.

The matter will be called again on October 10, 2018, at the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court.

Attorney-at-law Ryan Crawford (right) and his defence lawyer Sanjiv Datadin

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

Expanded mandate for NDIA … Holder to seek $24B in national budget

WITH an expanded mandate on the horizon, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) on Friday commissioned a spanking new headquarters at a cost of $107.3M in GuySuCo’s La Bonne Intention (LBI) Estate, East Coast Demerara compound.

The LBI compound currently houses the following GuySuCo operations: Head Office, Agriculture Research Centre Laboratories, Information System Department, Materials Management Department and Training Facilities and Staff Club.

In his feature address, Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder said in the first quarter of 2017 it was the minis-

try’s intention to develop 250 acres of the LBI compound for the establishment of several government facilities.

These facilities he said include: the conversion of the Agricultural Research Centre Laboratories into the National Soil and Tissue Analytics Laboratories; secondly, the Head office of the NDIA; thirdly the Head office of the Guyana Rice Development Board; fourthly, the Guyana Marketing Corporation Head Office; fifthly, Guyana’s milk processing facility and finally the Ministry of Education’s Caribbean Development Fund Hospitality Institute Site.

Minister Holder said it was also decided in 2017

that the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) and its international financial service provider, Price WaterhouseCooper, will also be located in two buildings in the LBI compound. Adding that the NDIA is responsible for strategic planning, investment, operation, and maintenance and monitoring of all drainage and irrigation in Guyana, Minister Holder said this impacts and affects every sub sector in the agriculture sector and from January, 1, 2019, NDIA will be responsible for primary irrigation in declared and undeclared drainage areas.

He further explained that in 2019 NDIA will be requesting $24 Billion in the

The NDIA buildings that compound. national budget to ensure its operations are fully covered.

Further, the Minister noted that with the concentration of agriculture agencies in one location, there will be ample opportunities for collaboration, coordination and consultation on issues of drainage and irrigation.

Meanwhile, recently appointed CEO of GuySuCo, Dr. Harold David Jr. who is also the chairman of the NDIA Board of Directors welcomed the move by the authority, adding that GuySuCo has a range of facilities that will be beneficial to the NDIA. “GuySuCo has a long standing history with the NDIA which has demonstrated fruitful outcomes over the years. We

were constructed in GuySuCo’s LBI Estate, ECD (GuySuCo) have a number of facilities and testing labs that will be made available to NDIA to better serve and add to the needs of efficient service to Guyana. With this expected move to LBI, we look forward to greater synergies with the drainage authority as they utilise all the necessary facilities that GuySuCo has to offer.” Dr. David Jr. said.

The new CEO also stated that as part of his new revitalisation plan for the corporation, GuySuCo will be modernising the three remaining estates which are the production centres. This will entail transforming infrastructure, agricultural and other practices and retooling factories. One of the key fo-

cus areas for the corporation will be to increase GuySuCo’s competitiveness with the production of high value sugars – plantation white and direct consumption.

Chief Executive Officer of NDIA, Fredrick Flatts said that a total of $107.3M was spent on works to ensure the buildings were up to standard. “Four buildings were refurbished and one generator room was constructed. We had five different contactors working on the project to ensure it was done to our specifications.

The staff have all expressed satisfaction with the works and the move and we foresee NDIA being here for decades.” Flatts said.

Driver kills pedestrian on Uitvlugt Public Road POLICE are hunting for a driver who allegedly killed a pedestrian on Thursday night on the Uitvlugt Public Road, Uitvlugt West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Dead is 23-year-old Chapil Dave Kumar of Leonora, WCD. Reports indicate that Kumar was standing on the southern side of the Uitvlugt Public Road wait-

ing to cross to the Northern side when a motor car that was proceeding west on the southern carriageway, struck him down and drove away.

The pedestrian was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is at Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

Dead: Chapil Dave Kumar

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

Strong showing by major parties on ECD …nomination process smooth, candidates upbeat

By Lisa Hamilton

M

AJOR political parties in Guyana dominated the nomination process in Local Authority Areas (LAAs) along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) with many eager to speak of the plans and changes they have in store for residents.

submit our list. We have been here very early this morning and so we’re going to be the first to submit and we’re very happy about that,” APNU representative Carol Benn said.

She added that the APNU is putting forward a very strong team in the area which she is confident will put its best foot forward with building a community recreational

Representatives of the AFC party contesting the Unity/Vereeniging LAA (from left) are: Bhoj Tharay and Theon Bourne.

Friday marked Nomination Day for Local Government Elections (LGEs) set for November 12 and political parties with approved symbols submitted their lists of candidates to requisite returning officers (ROs) countrywide.

centre and upgrading of the the market on the to-do list.

Addressing why citizens should choose the party, another representative said: “We have very structured plans.

We’ve broken our plans up into quite a few areas representing both the needs of the

what we hope to address],” the party’s representative Robert Ramdass said.

He highlighted the PPP’s confidence in moving forward, adding: “We are fighting to make our community a better place and by doing so, residents will be happy.”

The AFC also saw their documents collected and stamped by Returning Officer (RO) Kreslyon Ogle.

Farther down at the Better Hope/ La Bonne Intention LAA, there were submissions from the APNU and PPP and the workers there reported a smooth process.

However, up to the time the Guyana Chronicle departed in the morning, other political parties had not yet showed up.

Similarly, at the Beterverwagting/Triumph LAA, both the PPP and APNU delivered their necessary candidates on time.

Later at Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance at the Lusignan Community Centre, PPP Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall showed up with quite a few supporters to complete the nomination process.

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj told the Chronicle that submissions had also come from the APNU, but at this time, close to 12hrs, there

APNU representatives of the Industry/Plaisance LAA

PPP representatives of the Industry/Plaisance LAA (Adrian Narine photos)

When the Guyana Chronicle visited Industry/Plaisance, a smooth process was recorded with nominations placed by three political parties and one voluntary group. It was conveyed that representatives from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) party camped out at the NDC at Dorcas Club on Public Road, Sparendaam, ECD, since Thursday night with aims of securing the first spot in the process.

“We’ve been working very hard. All our constituency reps are on board, our PR representatives are also on board and we’re here today to

constituency, which start from early childhood development; facilities for adolescent development and facilities all the way up to our geriatrics, because we know that they are very important.”

Present too, since the early hours of the morning, was the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) party which found itself second in line in the process.

“What matters to us is our community. We need to see development, real development, not fighting or anything else. Drainage, garbage collection and a few other issues that we have, also burial ground cleaning, roads [are

were no representatives from the AFC. All the way to Buxton/ Foulis, the two major political parties, the PPP and the AFC registered their candidates at the Coldingen Annex, while three independent candidates were also present.

There, PPP Election Agent Suresh Singh complained that the nomination process was moving slowly and highlighted what he believes were glitches in the process.

“We came and we had one discrepancy and we went and got it rectified and we’re here. It had been kind of slow, not only for me, but for the

APNU guys as well. After submission, they got a call to state that they had a discrepancy, after submission, and shouldn’t be…during the process of accepting it we should find the fault,” Singh said.

He added that the process for political parties was taking about one hour, while independent candidates would remain with the RO for some 20 minutes.

Nonetheless, he told the Chronicle of the plans his party has to address the issues such as roads and the repairing of schools.

“In Vigilance, about 40 feet or 50 feet off the main road in Access Road you will find two huge holes that cars can fit…it shows that there is poor management and we’re hoping with good strategy and campaigning we will be winning the Local Government Elections,” he said.

Singh is confident that even in the APNU+AFC strongholds, the PPP has begun to gain momentum and additional support.

“Persons are coming here because they see a better deal, they see we want to get the work done, we want a happier village, a happier community…youths shouldn’t wait for tomorrow or for the future, they should come out today and play their part now,” he urged.

At Enmore/Hope, there were submissions from the APNU, PPP and AFC. Speaking with AFC representative Venna Andrews, she said that some of the main issues the party hopes to address pertain to garbage collection, education and land-titling matters.

Meanwhile, at the Unity/ Vereeniging NDC, there were no individual or group candidates but the AFC, APNU and PPP political parties all submitted their candidates for nomination.

Both the candidate going forward, Theon Bourne and Deputy Bhoj Tharay spoke with the newspaper on the sidelines.

They relayed that the pro-

cess went smoothly with the help of the GECOM staff and are now eager to better address concerns in the area, should they be successful.

“We have a lot of work to be done for the residents, such as the cleaning of drains, infrastructural work and the question of employment for youths and youth development,” Tharay stated.

Bourne added: “We have a lot of school dropouts in the area and we have an ICT centre in the community that was built since the previous regime, but it hasn’t been used until now. So, one of the key aspects of us running for our constituency is for us to get that ICT centre up and running for all our school dropouts, so that they can be educated.”

In encouraging persons to vote, Bourne, a 28-yearold said seeing that he, a young man, has been selected to run for the constituency, it tells that change can come from the youngest of persons.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

UK security specialist reform training ramps up

BRITISH security experts here working on the Security Sector Reform Plan have been ramping up training for police ranks.

The training is being conducted by the UK-based firm, Public Administration International (PAI). Facilitators are Paul Mathias and

Andrew Odell. Currently, workshops are being held and are aimed at identifying the needs and constraints of the force’s performance,

(Center seated) Training Officer Senior Superintendent Royston Andries-Junor flanked by PAI Team Leaders, Paul Mathias and Andrew Odell and senior ranks who benefited from the training.

capacity, design and implementation of a Human Resource Management Plan and Performance Assessment Framework for the GPF. The police force now under the command of Commissioner Leslie James, seeks to adopt the vision of President David Granger of a “Service with Integrity” force, aimed at renewing, strengthening and regaining the trust and support of the people of Guyana. The two British consultants this week held a one-day training workshop with several officers. The consultants have already met with the police commissioner, his deputies, members of the force’s Performance Group and heads of several key departments.

They are also scheduled

to visit several police divisions to hold discussions with police and stakeholders, as well as with members of several constitutional bodies and the Guyana Human Rights Association, among others; all with a view of: (1) Gathering of information and assessment for their inception and diagnostic reports (2) Developing with the GPF, the Human Resource Management Plan and Performance Assessment Framework and (3) To have a two-week training course and one-day workshop.

When contacted, police spokesman Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, said the Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP) is part of efforts to take corrective action by implementing new

measures in the Force In explaining the overarching results, the superintendent said the training is to provide operational capacity of the force, from the provision of a uniformed response to serious crimes, forensics, crime intelligence and traffic policing to the strengthening of policy-making across the security sector to make it more transparent, effective and better coordinated.

In recognition that much of the work already conducted has begun to reflect a reformed security sector, Ramlakhan said that the UK security experts Paul Mathias and Andrew Odell are assisting in strengthening the professional leadership and strategic planning of the GPF.

Farmers to own and operate commercial coconut nurseries

- With assistance from NAREI, CARDI & ITC

Some of the farmers establishing the nursery

SEVERAL farmers were selected to manage demonstration nurseries for coconuts as the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), and the International Trade Centre look towards the resuscitating of Guyana’s coconut industry.

The farmers, attached to the Stakeholder Platform, are operating in Regions Two, Four, Five and 10. Once managed properly, these nurseries are expected to progress into becoming commercial entities.

The establishment of these nurseries allows the beneficiaries to practically apply theoretical knowledge gained from several training exercises such as integrated pest management, coconut husbandry, business, and nursery management. Fur-

ther, it presents the opportunity for farmers to improve their livelihoods.

Local farmers are expected to have increased access to various varieties of coconut seedlings shortly, as the goal of the project is to produce 5,000 coconut seedlings.

The project is going forward with financing from the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific Secretariat.

Chief Executive Officer of NAREI, Dr. Oudho Homenauth on Thursday met with CARDI’s Country Representative, Dr. Cyril Roberts and International Consultant of ITC, Ben Morrison to discuss activities involving the setting up of a coconut germplasm in Guyana.

Of the 10 demonstration nurseries that will be established four are now operational. Two of the four nurseries are located in Mahaica, one at Linden and the other

at Buxton. Currently, each nursery has approximately 400 seedlings.

Within recent weeks, representatives of the agencies and farmers have been collecting nuts from and marking healthy mother palms. The nuts were placed in nurseries built by lead farmers (beneficiaries) with assistance from secondary farmers. It is expected that the secondary farmers will receive a percentage of good seedlings from the lead farmers.

After this, farmers will be able to continuously supply the demands for planting materials locally.

Following a cost analysis, the price per seedling would be derived. However, the intention is have farmers pay a fair stable price per seedling. Many farmers find the present market price per seedling burdensome.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

UG students conduct research at GPHC Nephrology Department AT the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), in the Nephrology Department which deals with kidney failure patients, the maintenance cost for one hemodialysis patient is almost two times higher than the cost for a patient who undergoes renal transplant.

On average, hemodialysis costs the government $2.3 million per year, per patient, while the renal transplant cost is drastically less costing some $746,000 per year, per patient.

This was the conclusion coming out of a recent study conducted by a group of fifth year medical students of the University of Guyana, School of Medicine.

“Our research revealed that the total cost for hemodialysis over a five

year period was fond to be $11,548,377, while the total cost for a transplant patient over the same period was found to be $3,730,920 a ratio of 3.2 times more,” the research paper said.

The costs take into consideration daily medication, requisite medical supplies and laboratory fees.

The study entitled “A comparative analysis to determine the maintenance cost of hemodialysis versus renal transplantation at the GPHC” was a part of the students’ Community Field Assessment, and also included a comparative study of the morbidity and mortality of patients undergoing the different remedies.

“We thought it was a very good research topic because it’s not an area where a lot of study has been done

and there has been [an advent] in terms of patients who have kidney failure. So with all of that in consideration we went ahead with that research,” explained group member, Christine Singh.

Head of the Nephrology Department, Dr Kishore Persaud commended the study noting the lack of data in the area, and the need for even more studies.

“The thing about the research is that so far no one has actually established what is the incidence or the morbidity and mortality of these kidney failure patients; what is the economic cost to the hospital and these patients, so I think it’s a stepping stone for the future results and it has also given us a guidance as to what is the economic burden for

the government in terms of what are the patients costing to sustain in the hospital,” explained Persaud, a renal surgeon.

Hemodialysis and renal transplantation are two options available to persons suffering from stage five kidney failure, that is they have loss some 80–90 per cent of kidney function.

With hemodialysis the blood is taken out of the body, filtered through a dialysis machine and then returned to the body, with the machine functioning as a replacement for the kidney; whereby kidney transplantation, simply replaces the failed kidney with a functioning one from a donor.

Hemodialysis is very time consuming and requires the patient to undergo therapy two to three times a week.

The GPHC Dialysis Centre has been in operation for six years, and according to Kishore, the Centre currently caters to some 100–150 dialysis patients; a yearly cost of $230-$346 million.

However while the results would lean towards renal transplant being the better option, the transplantation process faces greater challenges. The biggest being a constant supply of donors.

“Out of that [hemodialysis] group 75 per cent will qualify for a transplant.

What would make them not get a transplant is that they do not have a donor. The main fact is to get a kidney to put into them. The small group that has a family to donate to them that is the group we try to do,” Kishore explained.

The researchers believe that age has a lot to do with it.

“In Guyana, donor shortage may be one of the most influential reasons for the age discrepancy between the hemodialysis and renal transplant groups,’ the study said.

Younger patients are more likely the ones to move on to renal transplantation.

Between the two treatments, 46.4 per cent of dialysis patients were between the ages of 51 and 70 years, while 66.7 per cent of renal transplant patients were between the ages of 17 and 30 years. Moreover, older patients tend to have more co-morbid conditions at the time of renal transplantation, which increases the chance of postoperative mortality, when compared to younger patients.

While there were no independent groups, vying to contest the Local Government Elections within the New Amsterdam Municipality, a lone individual, Seymour Garfield Mortimer Solomon, had taken up the challenge, to contest for a seat at the Municipal Council within Constituency 7 (Overwinning / Glasgow) district.

Canvassing under the name, ‘Youths for Today,’ the sportsman’s focus will be on the younger generation, which he believes, remains neglected and rejected as they are captured by crime and narcotics. He is optimistic that his approach, which will include sports, information technology and vocational training, will lure the youths.

Meanwhile, the main po-

litical rivals A Partnership for National Unity [APNU] and People’s Progressive Party/ Civic [PPP/C], had their representatives lurking outside of the offices of Guyana Elections Commission as early as 22: 00hrs on Thursday, so as to be the first group to present their respective list of candidates. While it was rumoured in the PPP/C camp, that the APNU comrades had a nearby school guard uplift the number one chit, so as to allow them to present their documents first, coalition member, Patricia Lynch vehemently denied the allegation, saying that her colleagues had a shift system during the grave yard hours and it was during those hours a lone member of the opposition party was seen traversing the roadway with an umbrella.

That aside, the APNU list, experienced some challenges, which were quickly resolved. It was observed that when the list of candidates was posted outside the office of the Returning Officer just before noon, Constituency Three, which comprised of one of the largest electoral bloc namely Vryman’s Erven, Stanleytown, Savannah, and Mount Sinai, was missing.

It was just before 14:00hrs that APNU regional representative and other members were seen hurrying into the GECOM’s compound at Princess Elizabeth Road, in New Amsterdam. Thereafter a complete list, with new faces are now expected to represent the seven constituencies, were mounted.

Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party headed by Regional Chairman David

Armogan made their appearance with flags waving.

A new face amongst the opposition party was Mr. Vincent Loncke, who ran independently at the last Local Government Election in 2016. On that occasion, he had related to the Guyana Chronicle, that neither of the political parties had done anything for the township and that he was optimistic that he could have returned the town to its former glory.

For the Alliance for Change representative, Donna Mathoo after presenting the party’s list said they will

be contesting all the areas except Constituency Two (Mount Sinai , Central and North). Their list of candidates includes Phillip Carrington, Vaughn Trapp, Leon Daphness, Denise Daniels, Devindra Sookraj, and Camille Cox. For their part, the United Republican Party representative, Moute Jeff Roberts, a former boxer presented a list on behalf of his party. He described the process as smooth and efficient.

Also expected to present a list of its respective candidates were the Guyana National Congress and United

Party for National Growth and Development. However, they were a no show at the close of the process at 14:00hrs. The Municipality of New Amsterdam, is divided into seven constituencies namely Queenstown /Fort Ordinance, Mount Sinai North and Central, Vryman’s Erven/ Stanleytown/ Savannah Park Mount Sinai South, Stanleytown South and East/ Stanleytown 37/43,Pope Street , Smythtown / Pope Street/ Vryheid Street, and Overwinning/ Glasgow Village.

Big parties ready for LGE challenge in New Amsterdam

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, September 22, 2018

Rum producers launch ‘responsible drinking’ initiative

WEST Indies Rum and Spirits Producers’ Association (WIRSPA), this week, announced the launch of an initiative to promote responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages across the Caribbean.

In a public statement, issued by the grouping, alcohol abuse was strongly condemned, and a pledge was made to lend support to efforts that address these issues and are committed to doing so as an industry and in collaboration with other producers of alcoholic beverages.

According to Komal Samaroo, Chairman of WIRSPA and of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), “There is an urgent need for us to build a culture of responsibility in our communities. We are committed to providing leadership to build a strong coalition of producers, state agencies, and civil society advocates to work to achieve this transformation in the shortest possible time.”

Samaroo added that “while we as individual producers are active at the national level in supporting efforts to reduce harmful drinking, as a group we intend to intensify these efforts starting in 2018. In this regard we have established a task force to look at a range of issues including labelling, advertising and promotion, and online marketing, incorporating international best practices. We will also encourage and support actions to reduce driving under the influence of alcohol and drinking by underage and vulnerable persons.”

The WIRSPA Statement acknowledges the impact of inappropriate consumption, on both individuals and society, of a range of alcoholic beverages. “We believe, and current regulatory advice

maintains, that responsible drinking remains a valued and enjoyable part of life in a modern society. Notwithstanding, we cannot ignore the negative impact on our societies caused by the excessive consumption of alcohol.”

In addition, the statement committed WIRSPA to a collaborative approach across the industry to achieve the objective.

“We will seek to broaden the involvement of all producers, distributors and retailers of alcohol beverages so as to achieve the fullest impact from these commitments and we will engage stakeholders on these issues to ensure that our engagements are meaningful and credible.”

Making reference to DDL and the local market specifically, Komal Samaroo disclosed that “Demerara Distillers will be embarking on an initiative to resuscitate the local alcoholic beverages association. “We will need to put aside our competitive marketing interests”, he said, “and work together in pursuit of the greater good for Guyana.”

DDL plans to engage government and nonstate stakeholders to determine how the industry can best contribute in practical ways, to the implementation of policies and actions to mitigate the impact of harmful consumption.

The West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA) is one of the oldest private sector trade associations in the Caribbean. It represents rum producers in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Haiti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 22, 2018

Annual Indigenous Heritage Games off to an exciting start … continues today with cricket competition

THE Annual Indigenous Heritage Games 2018 kicked off yesterday with several exciting football matches at the Everest Cricket Club ground, as teams of various disciplines from the different regions and Amerindian villages gathered to observe Amerindian Heritage Month.

PORT Kaituma and Paruima male and female football teams, Mahdia and St Cuthbert’s male and female cricket teams, Moruca and Waramuri male and female volleyball teams will be defending their titles.

Some 17 football teams, 18 cricket teams, volleyball teams and individual champs in swimming and archery were drawn from the 10 Administrative Regions.

Port Kaituma male footballers from Region 1 will be defending their title after trouncing eight opponents to clinch the coveted title.

They will be looking to repeat last year’s dominance against the likes of Moruca Football Club, Region 2 United, Region 4 United, Siparuta (Region 6), Waramadong and Paruima (Region 7), Region 8 United, Piowomak (North Rupununi, Region 9) and Guyana Rush Saints Football Club and Tabaciga (Central Rupununi, Region 9).

Fierce competition is

expected as teams will be looking to claim victory, while defending champs Port Kaituma will be looking to make it two in a row.

In female football action, Paruima FC (Upper Mazaruni) remain a dominant force, as they are keenly eyeing the lien trophy after winning this category for two consecutive years.

Teams who are looking to deny them the coveted prize are St Cuthbert’s (Region 4), Siparuta (Region 6), Kamarang (Region 7), Region 8 United and Gladiator (Central Rupununi, Region 9.

Turning our attention to cricket, Mahdia will be defending the male cricket title after putting on an impressive all-round performance last year. Can they repeat this performance at this year’s competition? Captain of the defending champs said, “We have been practising for a while now and we will take the trophy home.”

Other teams are Port Kaituma (Region 1), Region 2 United, Santa Mission (Region 3), St Cuthbert’s Mission and Laluni (Region 4), Moraikobai (Region 5), Orealla (Region 6), Campbelltown (Region 8) and Sand Hill (Region 10).

Meanwhile, rivals for the women’s competition are: Region 2 United, Santa Mission (Region 3), Swan

(Region 4), Moraikobai (Region 5), Orealla (Region 6), Batavia (Region 7), Hururu (Region 10) and defending champions St Cuthbert’s (Region 4).

More than $1.5M in cash and trophies will be up for grabs, with winners in the male and female football competitions carting off $300 000 and a trophy each, runners-up $200 000 and a trophy each, while the winners of both male and female cricket competitions will cart off $150 000 and a trophy each.

Second-place finishers will pocket $100 000 and a trophy each.

The first day of action kicked off yesterday at 10:00hrs at the Everest Cricket Club ground with a march past, followed by preliminary matches in football and cricket.

Swimming will be held at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, while archery and volleyball will be staged at the Everest Cricket Club ground today.

Finals for the various disciplines will be held tomorrow.

Fees to enter the ground today will be $300 and tomorrow $500, while children under twelve years old will be admitted free.

Canadian Racing Tips Woodbine Race 1 Malibu Dawn Race 2 Silent Contempt Race 3 Watch Me Strut Race 4 Unrivaled Soul Race 5 Peace Seeker Race 6 Dance ready Race 7 King And His Court

Race 8 Preferred Guest Race 9 March Of Dreams

10:50 hrs Get Knotted 11:25 hrs Collide 11:55 hrs Lualiwa 12:30 hrs Fools And Kings

American Racing Tips Belmont Race 1 Halladay Race 2 Exulting Race 3 Rhode Island Race 4Uni Race 5 Cross Multiply Race 6 Canarsie Kid Race 7 Timber Ghost Race 8 Sunny Ridge Race 9 Two Hot Betty English Racing Tips Newbury 08:15 hrs Masaru 08:45 hrs My Lord And Master 09:20 hrs Desert Encounter 09:55 hrs True Mason 10:30 hrs Sioux Nation 11:05 hrs Ballylemon 11:40 hrs What A Welcome 12:15 hrs Letsbe Avenue Ayr 08:25 hrs Ventura Bay 09:00 hrs Borderforce 09:40 hrs Snazzy Jazzy 10:15 hrs Queen Of Bermuda

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 22, 2018

Afghanistan beat Pakistan

The Afghanistan team celebrate a wicket, against Pakistan, Asia Cup, Super Four, Abu Dhabi, yesterday. (Getty Images)

(ESPNCricinfo) - Half-centuries from Hashmatullah Shahidi and Asghar Afghan - the former an epic that spanned 40 overs and ended just three runs shy of a hundred - ensured Afghanistan overcame a top-order wobble to set Pakistan 258 to avoid their first defeat against Afghanistan.

A 63-run partnership between Shahidi and Rahmat Shah had stabilised the innings after left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, the

pick of the Pakistan bowlers, had removed openers Ihsanullah and Mohammad Shahzad with consecutive deliveries either side of the tenth over.

But it was the stand between Afghan and Shahidi which really set Afghanistan on their way to the strong total they accumulated. They added 94 off 99, capitalising on dropped catches and ordinary ground fielding, as Pakistan put on an atrocious fielding display of the kind they would have thought they had put behind them.

Pakistan had made three changes for this match, switching up both personnel and combination, as the folly of taking six seamers to a country where wickets are slow and swing elusive began to sink in.

To compound their woes, Shadab Khan was adjudged unfit, and it was clear Haris Sohail’s inclusion for Faheem Ashraf had far more to do with his ability to bowl slow left-arm.

But perhaps the most notable change, arguably long

overdue, was replacing Mohammad Amir to give Shaheen Afridi his first ODI cap.

He was much better than his figures suggested, utilising changes of pace and exploiting his height to extract pace and bounce. But he was the prime victim of Pakistan’s largesse in the field, seeing no fewer than three catches dropped off his bowling, to deny him his maiden ODI wicket.

However, he was among the culprits too, dropping an absolute dolly as Pakistan began to fall apart at the end of the innings.

The key knock - and it could yet become a match-winning one - was played by captain Afghan, who took charge of the tempo of the game from the moment he came in, smashing a six off the first ball he faced, showing signs he intended to drag Afghanistan to a more expeditious run rate.

Thomas, Allen merit selection to WI senior team (CMC) – JAMAICA’S talented duo of Oshane Thomas and Fabian Allen have shown that they are good enough cricketers to merit selection to the West Indies senior team.

That is the view of former Windies fast bowler-turned-commentator Ian Bishop, who has high expectations of both players following their outstanding performances in the just concluded Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The 21-year-old Thomas was the second leading wicket-taker in the competition, finishing with 18 wickets,

behind only Fawad Ahmed who snared 22 wickets. He was named in the CPL’s All Star team-of-the-tournament.

Meanwhile, Allen, 23, scored 119 runs in three innings, including a match-winning unbeaten 64 against the Barbados Tridents that helped secure a top-four finish for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

Bishop said both players have shown they have the ability to perform at the highest level.

“Allen came into the playing 11 rather late. He has a couple of first-class hundreds this year so that

Former fast bowler Ian Bishop believes Oshane Thomas has what it takes to play for the West Indies.

says he can play the longer format and he is excellent in the shorter format as a bowler, as a fielder and primarily as a batsman.

“Oshane Thomas will be an excellent long-form player if he gets more exposure. There is a level of

fitness that will need to be added to his game if he has to perform in red ball cricket. But from the skills he has shown, the pace and the ability to swing the ball, no problem with his potential,” Bishop insisted.

WADA has placed ‘money over principle’ – former director general

David Howman was WADA director general from 2003 to 2016 and is now chair of the Athletics Integrity Unit.

(REUTERS) - THE former director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency said yesterday that WADA’s decision to reinstate Russia’s anti-doping authority was driven by money over principle.

David Howman, WADA director general from 2003 to 2016 and now chair of the Athletics Integrity Unit, set up by the global athletics federation to counter doping and corruption, gave no evidence to support the assertion, and WADA dismissed it as untrue.

WADA’s decision paves the way for Russia to return to the Olympics after its ban from this year’s Winter Games in South Korea.

Russia’s anti-doping agency, RUSADA, was suspended in 2015 after an independent WADA report

by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren outlined evidence of widespread, systematic state-backed doping.

After the second part of the McLaren Report was published in December 2016, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) instructed its sporting federations not to host championships in Russia until RUSADA was in compliance with WADA’s Anti-Doping Code. Russia was also banned from the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

“It looks like they have taken the decision to deviate from a carefully put-together roadmap for entirely pragmatic reasons,” Howman told Britain’s Press Association.

“WADA has gone from being an organisation that cared about clean athletes to one that cares about international federations that have not been able to stage events in Russia: it’s money over principle. That is a

quite a difference, quite a swing, from what WADA once was.”

A WADA spokesman said: “The decision was made by an overwhelming majority of the Executive Committee (made up of equal numbers from governments and sports) following a recommendation from the Compliance Review Committee, which is an independent and non-political Standing Committee.

“To suggest that this recommendation was made to please the Sport Movement or had other reasons completely ignores the process that was followed in this case and every other Code compliance-related case, a process that was put in place

by David Howman himself when he was WADA director general.”

WADA president Craig Reedie said on Thursday that the decision “will not please everybody” and that athletes were entitled to feel “wary” about the rehabilitation of offenders.

WADA had repeatedly said that RUSADA would not be reinstated until it satisfied key criteria on a “roadmap for return”, including recognising the findings of the McLaren Report and allowing access to stored urine samples at its Moscow lab.

At Thursday’s executive committee meeting in the Seychelles, members approved a lesser version of the first point - an acceptance of the IOC’s Schmid Report, which endorsed the core findings of the McLaren Report - and set another “clear timeline” for the implementation of the second.

Howman said WADA was weakening its own authority.

37

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 22, 2018

TTRFU turns to IRB to have disqualification overturned (CMC) – The Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) has turned to the sport’s governing body, World Rugby, in an attempt to have their disqualification from this year’s Rugby Americas North (RAN) Championships overturned.

After defeating Bermuda 27-24 and USA South 34-33 in their first two games, T&T were unable to secure funding in time for their match against the Cayman Islands on June 23.

The TTRFU eventually received funding for the trip and attempted to have RAN reschedule the match to facil-

itate the team, but the regional governing body decided to cancel the fixture and throw T&T out the competition.

Back in June, RAN’s media officer Laura Gill via email had said that, “On the basis that if Cayman could re-schedule the match, an extension of time had been given to the TTRFU to confirm they had funding in place and a proposed new date; both which they were unable to do in a timely manner. At this point, Cayman confirmed that they were unable to re-schedule the match and the match was officially cancelled by RAN.” “Due to the cancella-

tion by TT Rugby Football Union of the June 23, RAN 15 a-side international match between the Cayman Islands and TT and the inability for the match to be re-scheduled, under Section 5.5 of the tournament manual, which all teams signed up and agreed to, the TTRFU are deemed to have wilfully cancelled the match and as a consequence have been expelled from the 2018 competition,” the email further added.

However, lawyer Christophe Brathwaite confirmed to the Trinidad Newsday that the TTRFU took the matter further by appealing to World Rugby.

“We went before an appeal committee which was actually created by RAN itself and the decisions from its appeal committee was not conducive to the TTRFU. So we’re taking it to a further appeal process which is in the constitution of world rugby,” Brathwaite said “And we’re taking it directly to an appeal process while we’re requesting an appeal for a judicial committee to be formed from World Rugby.”

He said the TTRFU is now awaiting World Rugby;s response to the request.

Guyana’s male, female ‘ruggers’ begin quest for regional supremacy today in Barbados

By Rawle Toney GUYANA’S male and female rugby teams will today kick off their quest for regional supremacy, when the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens Championship ‘scrums off’ in Barbados.

Fourteen men’s teams and 10 women’s teams, representing 15 different countries, will be in action with places up for grabs in next year’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Qualifiers in Hong Kong and the Pan American Games in Lima.

Jamaica won last year’s men’s competition after a dramatic, last-gasp victory over the much-fancied Guyana in Mexico City, and in doing so became the first team from the Caribbean to qualify for Rugby World Cup Sevens, while tournament hosts Mexico were crowned women’s champions.

H o w e v e r, t h i s t i m e around, Guyana’s men’s team, led by captain Dwayne Schroder, are eager to redeem themselves in their attempt to win an unprecedented seventh title.

Prior to departure for the ‘Land of the Flying Fish’, head coach Sherlock Solomon, apart from Schroder, named Avery Corbin, Vallon Adams, Rickford Cummings, Richard Staglon, Ronald Mayers, Osei McKenzie, Lancelot Adonis, Jamal Angus, Claudius Butts, Peabo Hamilton and Patrick King in a squad, capable of bringing the title back to Guyana.

For Jamaica, the defending champions, who, in recent times have risen to become Guyana’s nemeses, Mikel Facey, the youngest try-scorer at RWC Sevens 2018 in San Francisco, having only just turned 18 at the time, and Olympic sprinter Warren Weir both make the

trip to Barbados as members of an exciting-looking Crocs squad, aiming to successfully defend their hard-earned RAN title.

With the increase to 14 teams, there are now four pools with the winners and runners-up progressing through to the Cup quarter-finals on Day Two. Jamaica find themselves in Pool A alongside the Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands, while beaten RAN 2017 finalists and six-time champions Guyana are joined in Pool B by Barbados and Curacao.

Last year’s hosts Mexico, silver medallists at the recent Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, take on Bermuda, the Turks & Caicos and Guadeloupe in Pool C and Trinidad & Tobago, Cayman Islands, St Vincent & the Grenadines and St Lucia make up Pool D. In an expanded women’s

competition, the teams are split into two pools of five with title-holders Mexico joined by Guyana, Dominican Republic, Barbados and St. Lucia in Pool A. Jamaica’s Lady Crocs, Trinidad & Tobago, Bermuda, The Bahamas and Curacao contest Pool B. Mexico’s women, the Serpientes, finished highest of all their RAN rivals at the CAC Games back in August, standing on the podium alongside champions Colombia and runners-up Venezuela as bronze medallists.

Meanwhile, RAN, as an added incentive for the teams to do well, announced that finishing positions in Barbados will determine seedings for the 2019 RAN Sevens, which doubles as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics qualification tournament.

BCB/RHTY&SC to host Nazir memorial cricket tournament

BCB president Hilbert Foster receives sponsorship from Bakewell General Manager Rajin Ganga.

THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) will be hosting a one-day cricket tournament for eight second-division teams in the Ancient County in memory of the late Naeem Nasir.

The tournament is billed for October 7, at the Area ‘H’ Ground, and will be a five over-a-side knockout format.

The teams scheduled to play are: Tamarind Root, Fyrish, Courtland, Jai Hind, Belvedere United, Albion, Whim and Rose Hall Town Bakewell. The winning team will take home $100 000 and a trophy.

President of the BCB, Hilbert Foster, said Nasir, the founder the giant Bakewell Bakery, who died on the October 9, 2012, was a passionate supporter of sports and a true believer in Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club.

Foster noted that the club, and by extension Berbice cricket, will forever be grateful to Bakewell since its sponsorship assisted in the development of players like Esaun and Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Delbert Hicks, Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Clinton Pestano, Eon Hooper, Kevlon Anderson, Shabika Gajnabi, Dominique Rikhi, Renwick Batson, Khemraj Mahadeo, Shailendra Shameer, Murphy La Rose and Abdel Fudadin who all played for Berbice and Guyana at different levels.

Bakewell’s General Manager Rajin Ganga, in brief remarks noted that he was greatly impressed by the outstanding work of the club and board, and as such is a privilege to work along with both organisations.

Bakewell, he stated, has full confidence in the organising skills of the BCB.

Grenada Invitational Inc. to account for moneys – PM Mitchell

(CMC) – AMIDST a controversy over unpaid moneys to service providers and athletes, Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr Keith Mitchell, has called for Grenada Invitational Inc. to account for the moneys which it spent on the athletics meet.

Grenada Invitational Inc., which spearheaded the organising of the Grenada Invitational, is reported to have failed to meet its financial obligations to some service providers and athletes who

participated in the 2018 event last April.

It has led to the resignation of the former chairman of the company, Michael Bascombe, who blamed the situation on a breakdown in communications between the directors and himself.

However, Dr Mitchell said Bascombe’s resignation was simply not enough, saying that when Government invested its resources into any initiative it needed to know that money was properly

used.

“Clearly they have to sort out their individual problems, but it’s not about an individual resigning, that’s not our key concern,” he insisted.

“Our concern is mainly that if Government supports something, an image of the country is involved and of course if we have invested resources, it has to be accounted for.

“Government supported the activity based on what we thought

was good and we believed it went well for the country and Government has insisted that those moneys must be accounted for, and so far we have not gotten an account of what we have given and supported,” Dr Mitchell, who is also the Minister of Finance, said.

The Prime Minister said Minister of Sports Kate Lewis was expected to meet with organisers of the event as soon as possible, in an attempt to rectify the situation.

“So we are concerned because

the image of the country is involved and we clearly would want them to come to terms with this.

The Minister of Sports will be engaging the parties involved and not just the person who has resigned.

Other members will be engaged to see how best we can solve this problem and go forward.

“What I can say is that Government’s resources will not be put into something where the moneys are not being accounted for,” Dr Mitchell maintained.

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 22, 2018

Hardware Depot makes donation to BCB

THE Hardware Depot recently donated a quantity of raincoats to the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), as part of the company’s corporate responsibility.

Sarah Singh, daughter of the Hardware Depot Managing Director, Bonny Singh, made the donation to president of the BCB, Hilbert Foster, at a simple presentation ceremony at the business entity Charlotte Street, Georgetown head office.

Foster expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the Hardware

Depot for their investment into Berbice cricket.

He assured the company that the donation would be used for the intended purpose. He also stated that the BCB is open to partnership with other major companies across Guyana, as it strives to make sure that cricket in the Ancient County remains the best on and off the cricket field.

The clubs expected to benefit from this initiative are: Albion, Port Mourant, Skeldon, Rose Hall Town, Rose Hall Canje Welfare, Blairmont, Bush Lot, Cot-

ton Tree, Kendall’s Union, No.73, Fyrish, Jai Hind and Tamarind Root.

Foster stated that the board is currently working on a proposal to obtain at least three pitch covers by the middle of next year.

Meanwhile, Singh stated that he was delighted to assist the game in Berbice, as he strongly believes in using sports as an alternative to a life on the road.

He also expressed confidence that the relationship between the BCB and the Hardware Depot would be successful, while Haniff

14th Annual Laparkan cycling meet set for today

Sarah Singh, daughter of the Hardware Depot Managing Director, Bonny Singh, hands over the donation to BCB president Hilbert Foster.

indicated that he is very impressed by the administration of the BCB.

THE 14th edition of the Laparkan Holdings-sponsored 11-race cycling programme will pedal off today at the inner circuit of the National Park from 09:30hrs as cyclists vie for top honours.

Last year’s winner of the feature event, Andrew Hicks, who won the 35-lap Schoolboys and Invitational in one hour 18 minutes 30.28 seconds, will be hard-pressed to defend his title.

Last year’s winner of the Junior/ Juveniles race was Nigel Duguid while Ozia McAulay took the Mountain Bike event and Jonathan Ramsuchit won the 12-14 Boys and Girls race.

John Niles took top honours in the 9-12 BMX race while Marvin Knight won the BMX 12-14 event.

Tomorrow the cyclists will turn their attention to the 16th Victor Macedo Memorial road race which begins at 224 Peter Rose Street, Queenstown at 07:30hrs, moves along Mandela Avenue then to the East Bank Highway towards the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and back to the National Sports Commission on Homestretch Avenue for the finish.

The categories for that race are: Open, Juniors, Mountain Bikes, Veterans Under-45 and Veterans Over-45.

The Veterans Over-45 and Mountain Bikes will turn around at Yarrowkabra while the others will go to the Long Creek School Junction.

complete 15 of the 22 tournaments it has committed itself for 2018.

GBBC’s Young Guns `The Proving Guard’ fight card

Barbados’ King confident of 2nd round KO win against Guyana’s Richmond

By Michael DaSilva

A packed weekend of cycling begins with the 14th Laparkan cycling meet today.

By the end of October this year, the BCB is expected to successfully

WITH just hours remaining before the first bell of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s (GBBC) Young Guns `The Proving Guard’ five-fight card, Barbados’ Keithland King is predicting a second-round knock-out victory against Guyana’s Derick Richmond.

The two meet this evening in their middleweight contest, which is the feature bout on the card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

The 30-year-old Barbadian, who made his professional debut on August 19 last year with a knockout over Englishman Rob Mitchell, predicts that he will stop Richmond in two rounds.

King plans to add Richmond’s name to that of Mitchell and Anson Green. King knocked out Green in round one earlier this year at the CASH. It was King’s second professional fight.

However, Richmond’s camp is not taking things lightly as over the past three weeks, coach Orlando Rogers had his charge going through a rigorous training and conditioning routine with glove work and cardio-vascular sessions.

All of this was paramount in whipping him into perfect shape for tonight’s battle between the `King’ and the `Rich’, scheduled for six rounds of fistic fury.

Richmond’s record reads five

wins (four by KO) and four losses and one draw.

Tonight’s five-fight card is being promoted by professional boxer Dexter Marques and former world-rated fighter Clive Atwell, in collaboration with the GBBC, whose president, Peter Abdool, called on other young promoters to get involved in the staging of professional boxing.

He explained that there is no (Odinga) Lumumba or (Carwyn) Holland’s promoting the sport any longer, hence his challenge for new faces to come on board.

According to Abdool, it costs millions of dollars to put on a card, adding that over the past decade or so, promoters have been losing due to the lack of corporate sponsorship and spectator support for professional boxing.

Abdool pledged the GBBC’s support to Marques and Atwell for this and other cards as well as support for other potential promoters.

At 20:00hrs tonight the gong will sound for the first fight, a four-round junior welterweight contest between Anson Green and professional debutant Joel Williamson, who, during his amateur career chalked up over 70 victories and was named `Best Boxer’ on numerous occasions.

Green has so far won six of his eight professional fights.

The second fight tonight, another four-rounder brings together Delon Charles and Terrence Ad-

ams in a featherweight contest.

A four-round female bantamweight contest between Rewinna David and Ansilla Norville is the next fight on the car, followed by the main supporting bout between James Moore and Romeo Norville in a cruiserweight contest.

Meanwhile, the boxers were weighed-in yesterday and while some of them made their weights comfortably, others did not and this could see them being fined or being given two hours to get rid of the overweight.

At the weigh-in yesterday, Richmond weighed 174 pounds, 15 pounds above the weight limit while his opponent for the main fight, King, tipped the scale at 159 pounds.

According to Abdool, the fight can become a catch-weight affair, but King would have to agree to it and the GBBC will have to make a decision.

For the feather weight contest between Charles and Terrence Adams, the weight limit is 126 pounds and Charles was spot on while his opponent weighed four pounds more.

Tickets for tonight’s card, which is being supported

by Banks DIH Limited and COURTS Guyana Inc., is $2 000 for ringside and $1 000 for the stands.

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday September 22, 2018

Third Limacol football tournament

Mahaica maintain unbeaten run THERE were wins for Mahaica Determinators and Riddim Squad when matches returned in the Limacol football tournament at the Ministry of Education ground.

In the opening game, Mahaica overcame Pele, thanks to Eion Abel’s 19th minute strike. Try as they did, Pele could not erase the deficit.

In the second game, Riddim Squad got past GFC in the same manner, this time through Teon Jones in the 74th minute.

The last round of matches will feature Northern Rangers vs Mahaica Determinators, followed by Campton vs Buxton Stars.

Meanwhile, after the latest round of matches, Police lead Group A having played three games, winning two and drawing one for a total of six points, Mahaica Determinators are second, having won both of their games but have an inferior goal difference.

Northern Rangers have the advantage for the third spot over Pele after two games, thanks to a -1 goal difference as against -5. Both sides have played two games, losing one and drawing the other.

In the Group B, Riddim Squad now lead with 7 points with GFC second on four points, Buxton are third on three points and Camptown FC have one.

In Group C, Santos lead the charge with 7 points from three games (2 wins, 1 draw), Pouderoyen are second after the same number of games (two wins, a loss).

Beacon FC have three points from their three games (1 win, 2 losses) while Grove Hi-Tech have one point and are in the cellar.

St Joseph boys and the GCC Bingo Spartans girls shine at Paragon Indoor

whom they lost a close 1-2 battle. With Diego however losing to the Futuristiks, St Joseph gained a spot in the semi-finals as the top finishers in the pool round.

St Joseph defeated the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School (NRMS), also of Guyana, in their semi-final to set up a repeat match against Diego, who edged past Futur-

istiks in the other semi-final.

The St Joseph boys were up for the challenge in the entertaining final, as they managed to reverse their fortunes against Diego with a 4-2 victory to lift the trophy.

The tournament’s leading scorer, Warren Williams, was on fire for St Joseph as he chalked up two goals in the final with Nandalall Persaud and Louis Adams scoring one each.

St Joseph secured several individual awards at the final presentation with Warren Williams receiving the Most Goals award for Under-16, Paul DeAndrade the Best Goalkeeper award for Under-21. Paul DeAndrade and Nandalall Persaud were named to the All-Star selection.

The NRMS appeared to be the youngest team in the competition but managed to finish in a creditable fourth position.

The GCC Bingo Spartans were even more dominant in the Girls Under-16 competition, winning all but one of their pool matches. They drew against a combined school team aptly named Combined.

With Combined defeating the Magnolias in their semi-final, they had a third

crack at the Spartans in the Girls’ Under-16 final. The Combined goalkeeper put on a fantastic performance in the final and made the Spartans sweat to earn their opener, minutes into the second half through a penalty corner shot from the tournament’s top scorer Sarah Klautky.

While Combined had their chances, the Spartans earned several penalty corners in the second half which were well defended by Combined to keep the score at 1-0.

At the final buzzer the Spartans were jubilant as they celebrated their undefeated run to the title.

The Spartans carted off four individual awards at the presentation, with Madison Fernandes securing the Most Valuable Player award, Sarah Klautky receiving the Most Goals award, Jessica Mittelholzer the Best Goalkeeper, having conceded no goals, and Makeda Harding being named to the All-Star team for defenders.

The St Joseph girls and boys finished at the bottom of the table in their respective Under-21 competitions but, with those teams comprising many players who are still under the age of 16, a bright future lies ahead.

firmed participation from the regional partners, drivers who are competing for Championships are expected to headline their groups.

Marc Gill of Trinidad is expected as he looks to retain his Group Two title. So too

is defending champion Mark Thompson.

Group Three’s Ronald Wortman is also expected from Trinidad as he gets ready to lift his inaugural title.

The event is also expect-

ed to see the culmination of

GCC Bingo Spartans U-16 Champs

AS a result of the successful junior hockey programme and competitions staged over the past two years by the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB), Guyana was soundly represented at the Paragon Hockey Club’s 4th Youth Indoor Tournament in Trinidad & Tobago over the weekend of September 14-16.

The St Joseph boys and the GCC Bingo Spartans girls, despite being on their first overseas tour, surprised all by taking gold for Guyana in the two Under-16 gender categories.

The St Joseph boys stormed through the pool rounds of their competition, beating all opponents except Diego Secondary, against

GMR&SC ‘Ignite’ set for November 10, 11

By Stephan Sookram THE Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) has announced ‘Ignite’ as the final leg of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) 2018.

Billed for November 10 and 11 at the South Dakota Circuit, the event is expected

to see the culmination of the 2018 championship for the Groups 1-5 as well as the Superstocks and SR3 radicals.

Chronicle Sport confirmed that competition is set to come from Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica, with CAMS (Canadian American Motor Sports) also expected.

Though, internationally, no one has definitely con-

the local classes including the Superstock motorcycles.

The club is expected to launch the event within days, with just over six weeks remaining till D-Day.

Guyana’s male, female ‘ruggers’ Guyana’s Rickford Cummings in action for Guyana against Barbados in last year’s RAN 7s Championship in Mexico.

begin quest for regional supremacy today in Barbados

Annual Indigenous Heritage Games off to an exciting start

See page 37

Action in the female football tournament between Paruima (blue) and Siparuta

… continues today with cricket competition See page 35

GBBC’s Young Guns `The Proving Guard’ fight card

PAGE

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Barbados’ King confident of 2nd round KO win against Guyana’s Richmond Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limited, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 226-3243-9 (General); Editorial: 227-5204, 227-5216. Fax:227-5208

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2018