Guyana chronicle e paper 09 25 2017

Fighting filariasis Page 12

No. 105046

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2017

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

Border talks at UN ––Guyana, Venezuela meet UN Secretary General today –– Guyana to continue push for ICJ settlement

Opportunities for skilled Guyanese in diaspora Page 8

–– when oil sector gets up and running, says Min. Greenidge

Page 3

Man killed preparing for father’s memorial service Page 14

Passenger growth hits all-time high in August Page 9

Members of the diaspora listen to Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge at the consultation at York College, Queens, New York on Saturday

Main suspect a relative of murdered boy –– Community could have saved young Leonardo, says Ann Greene

Pages 2&14

Mother of ‘infant’, 27, appeals for help Page 11

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Berbice tragedy…

Main suspect a relative of murdered boy

By Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur

AS investigations continue into the rape and murder of Leonard Archibald, 13, whose badly mangled and decomposed body was found on the banks of the Berbice River on Saturday, serious questions are being asked of villagers.

Chief among them is why victims and villagers are only now coming out with their stories and encounters with the suspects who have had a checkered past.

When questioned, many residents say the main suspect is feared by many people and they would often stay quiet to avoid becoming a victim.

According to Abigail Archibald, the mother of the murdered teen, Hilary Edwards, who is the main suspect, is a distant relative and she cannot fathom what may have possessed him and his friend to

when Edwards asked him to do him (Edwards) a favour.

LURED

Leonard’s mother Abigail (centre) on Saturday making her way to the scene where her son’s body was found after he was missing for a few days

commit the “barbaric” act on her son.

“Hilary and we related, we are not close but we are relatives and he knows this, so what could make him want to kill my son.

This is unforgivable, I can never forgive them for this,” the grieving mother said.

According to residents, Edwards in their

view is considered to be a serial rapist of males, especially young boys and would strike at any given opportunity.

“He always molesting me when I was small, one time he (Hilary) beat me up and I always living in fear since then; I does try to avoid he as much as possible and I does get nightmare.

I hope after today he never gets to see the light of day again, he try to b***** me but I get away and I shame fuh tell people but now I hope he get wah coming to he,” said Alfred (not real name), a young man in his early 20s told Guyana Chronicle.

Alfred related that he w as 10 at the time

“He did ask me fuh guh shop and buy a drink fuh he and when I come back he give me some and start fuh touch me, when I pull way, he hold me down and try fuh pull down me pants and I fight he off and run way. He did shouting if I tell anybody he gun beat me and when he see me a couple a days later he lash me wid a wood and I run way and since then he does always molest me and I try fuh avoid he but I never tell anybody cause I did frighten,” the young man related.

He said it is likely that Leonard was doing a favour for Edwards when Edwards and his friend pounced on him.

Many in the village could be overheard talking about the suspect, saying “is long now he like troubling

young boys” but when asked why they never spoke out, said Edwards always found a way to settle the matter with the victims’ parents.

“Most times when the story buss out he does seh is lies them children saying and give differ story from what the children said, saying is a misunderstanding and offer to compensate the family for injuries to their kids. It is a pity it had to come to this because somebody had to die before he get arrested,” another resident of Sisters Village said.

Meanwhile, one of Leonard’s sisters, who is still to come to grips with the news of her brother’s death, believes if he was with them, he would have been alive today.

“If we did walk with he, he would a still been alive but we lef he fuh ride off, we didn’t think this would a happen, we should a tell he fuh stay wid we” she sobbed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Border talks at UN ––Guyana, Venezuela meet UN Secretary General today

–– Guyana to continue push for ICJ settlement

By Svetlana Marshall PRESIDENT David Granger today will lead a high-level Guyanese delegation into meetings with officials from the United Nations (UN) and Venezuela to discuss the ongoing Guyana/Venezuela Border Controversy.

Bringing the border controversy, in which Venezuela is claiming that the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award is null and void, to a peaceful and just settlement remains a priority for the government and people of Guyana. The Tribunal Award had awarded more than 90 per cent of an area to then British Guiana (now Guyana), which was claimed by Venezuela.

Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge has disclosed that a high-level delegation led by President Granger will be meeting with the UN Secretary-General Personal Representative, Dag Halvor Nylander on Monday morning along with officials from the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to discuss the controversy.

Another high-level meeting is also scheduled for Monday with President Granger and the U.N. Secretary-General, António Guterres.

Former Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon and Guterres, in keeping with the tenets of the 1966 Geneva Agreement, had agreed that if by the end of December 2017 significant progress has not been made towards arriving at a full agreement for the settlement of the controversy, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will be the next means of peaceful settlement, unless Guyana and Venezuela jointly request otherwise.

Guyana strongly believes that the controversy should be settled at the level of the ICJ. NUMBER ONE PRIORITY The protection of Guyana’s territorial integrity,

have been seized of the Venezuelan claims. The choice has become one between just and peaceful settlement, in accordance with international law, and a Venezuelan posture of attrition that is increasingly more blustering and militaristic. In this matter, protraction is the enemy of resolution, and the ally of

UN Secretary General António Guterres remains the number one priority for Foreign Affairs Ministry, Minister Greenidge told US-based Guyanese during a Diaspora Engagement Consultation in Queens, New York on Saturday.

“If you have no territory, you have no diaspora.

If you can’t defend your borders, your diaspora has nowhere to go,” Minister Greenidge posited.

Minister Greenidge and President Granger are currently in New York attending the 72nd Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA72). Last week, ahead of his address during the General Debate, President Granger held bilateral and multilateral talks with several countries and international bodies including Brazil, Mauritius and the Commonwealth, during which he sought their recommitment to Guyana.

In his address to the UN General Assembly, the President spoke pointedly to the risks, if the controversy is allowed to be further prolonged, warning world leaders that there will be no peace this side of the Atlantic if justice does not prevail in the ageold Guyana-Venezuela border controversy.

Known for his equanimity in the face of adversity, the former army commander and retired brigadier told his colleague heads of state and other world leaders: “Four UN Secretaries-General

Guyanese Diplomat Sir Shridath Ramphal sustained conflict.”

Ahead of UNGA72, the Venezuelan Government agreed that the border controversy would be referred to the ICJ, if significant progress is not made at the end of 2017 at the level of the Good Offices Process.

But it subsequently altered its statement, saying that mediation will be supported by the UN in order to find a practical and satisfactory solution to the controversy.

It is perhaps the cue President Granger was waiting for, as he told world leaders in no uncertain terms that they should not allow the process set out by the former UN Secretary-General to be frustrated by Venezuela.

“Guyana looks to the international community to ensure that Venezuela is not allowed to thwart the processes of judicial settlement, which is the clear and agreed path to peace and justice,” he told the world leaders.

EXISTENTIAL THREAT Minister Greenidge

has maintained that the Guyana/Venezuela Border Controversy is an existential threat to Guyana and should be settled at the level of the ICJ. In an interview with the UN on a social media platform – Facebook – the foreign affairs minister in detailing the history of the controversy, called for Venezuela to respect international treaties.

“Venezuela signed a treaty in 1897, it’s called the Washington Treaty because the US helped to force Britain into signing it, defining the borders. In 1899, the borders were defined by an arbitral tribunal. In 1905, they (the Venezuelans) helped to mark the borders, and then in 1962 in the hype of the cold war, and we believe out of greed they suddenly saw an opportunity to make a noise and to threaten Guiana,” he explained.

It was noted that Britain had agreed to solve the controversy but he made it clear that it has nothing to do with where the countries’ borders are located.

“That is a controversy over a status of an award, it is not about whether the border should be here or there. The 1966 Agreement only said that these two countries will talk with a view to settling, and if they don’t talk, and

don’t settle, we will go to an option on the UN menu from Article 33 of the UN Treaty,” he further explained.

Minister Greenidge noted that in 51 years, the countries with mediation from the UN have exhausted all of the possible options with the exception of one – taking the matter

President David Granger

Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In February 2016, when Guyana marked the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Agreement, renowned Guyanese Diplomat, Sir Shridath Ramphal had said that the controversy should be settled at the ICJ. The Guyanese diplomat, who was present upon the signing of the

agreement on February 17, 1966, had said that he would like to see a proper conclusion to the matter, and more specifically, the fulfillment of the Geneva Agreement.

The career diplomat had noted that while the people of Venezuela are “good people”, they have been “indoctrinated by their Governments.” Guyana, he said, holds out a hand of friendship to the people of Venezuela.

He also noted that one of the great achievements of the settlement would be “an opportunity for true friendship to develop between the peoples of Guyana and Venezuela.”

Duo busted with arms, ammunition TWO men said to be in possession of a gun and live rounds were on Saturday evening apprehended by police ranks during a motorcycle patrol in Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Police on Sunday in a press statement said at about 20:00hrs Saturday evening, ranks on patrol in the Grove East Bank Village apprehended and searched two males who were observed acting in a suspicious manner.

During the search, a .38 revolver with six live rounds was found concealed on a 23 –year-old Wismar Linden suspect, while a .38 revolver without ammunition was found on his companion, a 19-year-old student of a training institution who resides at Block “Y”, Grove Housing Scheme, EBD. Police said the men are being processed for court as investigations continue.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Merkel hangs on to power but bleeds support to surging far right CHANCELLOR Angela Merkel won a fourth term in office on Sunday but will have to build an uneasy coalition to form a German government after her conservatives haemorrhaged support in the face of a surge by the far-right.

The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) stunned the establishment by winning 13.1 percent of the vote, projected results showed, a result that will bring a far-right party into parliament for the first time in more than half a century.

Merkel’s conservative bloc emerged as the largest parliamentary party but, with just 33.2 percent of the vote, saw its support slump to the lowest since

1949 - the first time national elections were held in postwar Germany.

Her main Social Democrat rivals also received their worst result since the 1940s -- just 20.8 percent -- after nearly half of voters repudiated the two parties that have dominated Germany since World War Two. With parliament now fragmented, Merkel appears likely to cobble together a tricky three-way coalition with a pro-business group and the Greens.

Merkel said the success of the far right was a test for Germans. It was important to listen to the concerns of their voters and win them back.

“Of course we had hoped for a slightly better

Monday , September 25th , 2017 08:30 hrs Tuesday, September 26th, 2017 09:00 hrs Wednesday, September 27th , 2017 10:30 hrs

result. But we mustn’t forget that we have just completed an extraordinarily challenging legislative period, so I am happy that we reached the strategic goals of our election campaign,” Merkel said.

“We are the strongest party, we have the mandate to build the next government - and there cannot be a coalition government built against us,” Merkel added.

The election was fought on the tense backdrop of surging support for far left and far right parties across Europe.

Germany in particular is coping with the arrival of more than 1 million refugees and other new migrants, with tension with Russia since Moscow’s incursions into Ukraine, and with doubt about Europe’s future since Britain voted to quit the EU. After shock election results last year, from the Brexit vote to the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, leaders of Europe’s establishment have looked to Merkel to rally the liberal Western order.

But after acting as an anchor of stability in Europe and beyond, she now faces an unstable situation at home as she must now form a coalition, an arduous process that could take months.

Despite losing support, Merkel, Europe’s longest

serving leader, will join the late Helmut Kohl, her mentor who reunified Germany, and Konrad Adenauer, who led Germany’s rebirth after World War Two, as the only post-war chancellors to win four national elections.

(Reuters) POOR MEXICANS While wealthy Mexicans swamped by quake aid, poor feel abandoned RELIEF supplies and volunteers are piling up at rescue sites in upscale districts of Mexico City following Tuesday’s deadly earthquake in a show of solidarity that has contrasted with the government’s struggle to get aid to people most in need.

In the wealthy neighborhoods of Roma and Condesa in the center of Mexico City, volunteers by the hundreds stand ready to help dig for survivors who may be trapped beneath the rubble.

In recent days, however, they have largely remained idle.

Others have brought food and water, eager to tend to rescue workers or the thousands of people made homeless by the quake. Yet they have struggled to find takers because so much sustenance is on offer.

In the poor, far-flung neighborhoods in the outskirts of the capital, meanwhile, aid and comfort were

less abundant. And in villages in some states surrounding the Mexico City, victims said they had yet to see government aid arrive.

In the hard-hit Mexico City neighborhood of Del Valle, 48-year-old Marcela Sanchez came in search of aid after she lost her home in the large, working-class area of Nezahualcoyotl, in the remote northeast suburbs.

“We haven’t received any aid,” Sanchez said.

“Those of us who work in Mexico City return home with aid. God willing, they can help us.”

The government’s response to Tuesday’s quake, which killed 319 people in Mexico City and surrounding states, is under scrutiny ahead of presidential elections next year.

Earthquakes are politically sensitive after the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party’s flawed response to the 1985 earthquake that killed thousands.

The government’s handling of this disaster is markedly better than it was 32 years ago, when days passed before rescues began at many buildings. That disaster led to more rigorous building codes and regular quake drills.

The lasting memory of the 2017 quake may be the outpouring of voluntary action, but also the unevenness of the relief operations and the lack of government coordination of resources. President Enrique Pena Nieto’s office did not respond to requests for comment. (Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Award for Trinidad crime hero

- Teen killed by van after rescuing woman from beating gets President’s Humming Bird Medal TEENAGER David Sancaro, who lost his life in July for rescuing a woman from being beaten by her boyfriend, was on Sunday to be posthumously awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Bronze) for gallantry.

He and 39 others were to receive awards at Sunday evening’s National Awards Ceremony at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port-of-Spain beginning at 6p.m.

Among the other awardees are former government minister and

senator, Dr Lenny Saith; Director of the Medical Research Foundation (MRF), Prof Courtenay Bartholomew and veteran calypsonian, Linda McArtha Sandy-Lewis (Calypso Rose).

They are to receive the nation’s highest honour The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Sancaro, 17, who was hailed as a hero for his act of bravery, was killed on July 16 after being run over by a pick-up van driven by an enraged man.

Minutes earlier, Sancaro had intervened to help

the man’s girlfriend who was being beaten by him.

At his funeral service three days after his death, officiant reverend Faz Lutchman called on families to spend more time together to restore value to life.

“If we could really pull back our society together things like these will never happen. Rage, hate and murder would subsequently diminish,” he said to then.

“We cannot allow the death of our young ones to happen this way. I humbly ask that if we can examine

our lives and restore the values again maybe we will be able to pull it back together.

“We cannot continue to live in the matrix that is controlling, sucking and pulling us away from the real life that God has caused us to live,” said Lutchman.

He said: “Let David represent what Jesus would have died for 2,000 years ago. Let families come back together. Let us not allow David’s death to go in vain.”

On the day of the incident, Sancaro and some of

his friends were at Primo’s Bar in Dow Village, South Oropouche, when they noticed a man physically assaulting a woman.

After confronting him and telling him to refrain from hitting the woman, a scuffle ensued between the two.

The man left the area in his vehicle but returned.

Upon seeing the vehicle, Sancaro attempted to escape by attempting to jump a wall, but was unable to do so.

He was run over by the van.

He died shortly after,

on the way to hospital.

Thirty-seven year old Anthony Sinanan of Sudama Trace, South Oropouche, has since been charged with the murder.

Also receiving awards are veteran calypsonian Robert “Lord Nelson” Nelson (Humming Bird Gold), paralympic Olympic gold medallist Akeem Stewart (Humming Bird Gold), Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez (Humming Bird Silver) and former Chief Medical Officer Dr Anton Cumberbatch (Public Service Medal Gold). (Sunday Express)

Brazil army deploys in Rio slum as drug-related violence worsens HUNDREDS of Brazilian soldiers poured into Rio de Janeiro’s Rocinha slum on Friday in a bid to help the cash-strapped state government quell the drug-related violence that authorities blamed for at least four deaths and several injuries there this week.

The army deployed 950 troops in the sprawling favela, responding

to a request from the Rio state government, Defense Minister Raul Jungmann told local television.

In the past week, 60 criminals are believed to have launched an effort to dominate the drug trade in the area, not far from some of the city’s most expensive real estate, and shootings were reported there on Friday morning, according to local media.

The violence in Rocinha is one more sign of the backsliding since the launch of a “pacification” programme in 2008 to reduce violence by pushing out drug gangs and setting up permanent outposts in the city’s more than 1,000 favelas.

Police struggled to maintain security gains in favelas in the run-up to the 2016 Olympics in Rio and have continued

to lose ground as a fiscal crisis in the city and state lead to cutbacks in spending on police and other essential services.

The military operation in Rocinha on Friday disrupted transportation and businesses in the area, with some schools closing or paring back operations.

“I was going to work and suddenly the police closed off the tunnel in Rocinha and start-

ed to patrol with guns.

There was a panic at the mouth of the tunnel and I saw people running and heard gunfire,” one witness told Reuters, requesting anonymity.

“I‘m still shaking now.”

The outbreak of violence is happening in the midst of the ‘Rock in Rio music festival’ at the far south end of the city, which has drawn thousands of

people with musical acts including Fergie and Aerosmith. (Reuters)

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Cleaning up our environment

TWO years ago there was widespread civic action by government, business and individual, to improve our physical environs. This saw the de-bushing of Le Repentir Cemetery, cleaning of alleyways, gutters, canals, and de-bushing of embankments. There has also been the refurbishing of structures and landmarks such as the 1966 Independence Arch at Brickdam and the construction of a new arch on entering Georgetown from the southern point at Agricola.

Visitors over this period had nothing but praises for the change in physical appearance and offered encouraging words for those involved and the country at large.

Having embarked on such a massive rehabilitation programme, which was supported in spirit and physical participation by citizens in their respective areas, it is reasonable to expect continuation of such activities. Presently, as persons look around it can be seen that areas once cleaned are falling into disrepair.

In Georgetown, where the Le Repentir cemetery falls under the management of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council it is being overtaken by overgrown bushes once more. The pathways that run through the cemetery, allowing movement from one point to another, are becoming difficult to traverse. The drainage within this ground has become overgrown with weeds.

On some of the streets and roadsides shrubs are growing on the waste that have been left lying, having been removed from the gutters and drains during the clean-up exercise.

These are hazards as they impede vision and free flow of

movement for users on the roadways. The national attention given to and received about the clean-up still sees the practice of dumping garbage outside of designated areas and receptacles. For instance, during the jubilee celebrations, waste receptacles were placed along Regent Street from Vlissingen Road to Avenue of the Republic. A visit to this area presently would see that those receptacles have been removed and the practice of throwing waste along the street and in the drains has recommenced.

Where people are concerned about theirs and the society’s image, efforts have to be made to demonstrate that the cleanup exercise was not merely a spurt for an occasion, but that of a preferred way of life. In the absence of a programme to maintain the work done it lends to the impression that the society can only build and construct but lacks capacity or interest to maintain. Avoiding such perception requires continued collaborations between and among stakeholders.

Activities such as the cleaning and mowing of lawns, disposal of garbage, maintenance of the shoulders of parapets and gutters can be addressed through the establishment of Community/Neighbourhood Associations, with the authority of putting systems in place to hold members accountable to maintain their surroundings and their communities. The activities of such associations can be integrated into the local government authorities. Improvement and maintenance may require developing incentive regimes such as tax reduction for communities based on performance and laws that can be used as penalty for those who keep their propertied/rented

environs unkempt.

Government-national, regional and local has to play a more active role in helping with maintenance, which can be done in many ways, equally as improving aesthetics, employment and economic opportunities. Government can look into the area of having roads and bridges adopted by the business community, civic-minded organisations or individuals. Landscaping is another aspect of maintenance and also a boost to aesthetics.

Flowers and shrubbery can be planted along the roadways, and in the medians of the East Bank and East Coast roads. Growing more trees positively impact the air we breathe, environment and climate change. At a community level there can be competition and prizes awarded for the best garden, or kept yard. This is an incentive that will motivate the people to think and act in a particular manner.

Very often where solution-driven approach is taking to matters within our scope or responsibility, it will be realised that in some instances it requires small actions to make significant impact on our lives. This is one such instance and it is hoped that the relevant authorities can appreciate the wisdom and necessity to tackle this issue soonest.

Sealey asks: Is the GFF still large and in-charge of football?

Dear Sir,

FROM a personal perspective in my previous letter, mention was made of my stewardship as Secretary, Georgetown Football League - Interim Management Committee. Our mandate was primarily regularising football within Georgetown, and this was successfully done, including organising five competitions.

At this juncture, I must extend my heartiest congratulations to former chairman, GFF - I. M.C., Dr. George Norton, upon his recent appointment as the Minister of Sports. In his own words, “the combination with Social Cohesion, would augur well for the future of sports in Guyana.” That aside, apart from being well said Doc, it would be interesting to know how the Sports Ministry,

through its extended arm, Department of Sports, monitors 5–a-side tournaments, in relation to the rental of Government-maintained facilities.

In my previous letter, which was published in the Guyana Chronicle, I did outline my previous involvement in the sport as an administrator, and the relevant constitutional articulation towards relegating the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) and any other affiliate that fails to fulfil the criteria of “full membership” to “Associate” status devoid of “voting rights.”

Additionally, mention was also made of the 5-a-side football tournaments that are being organised by private promoters, with the National Gymnasium as the first choice venue, along with a few other asphalted open air venues.

Is there any consultation with the GFF or is any approval forthcoming from the sport’s governing body? What of “security” at the National Gymnasium, has that been enhanced?

Is it compatible with the requirements of the Public Security Ministry? What is the official time of closure of the facility? Would it be fair to legitimate licensed bars and nightclub owners who pay their fair share of taxes and have to cease the sale of alcohol and other beverages at 02:00hrs but at the government-owned facility, sales continue uninterrupted?

Moreover, is there no consideration for proper parental upbringing of schoolage children who are forced to wait on the promoter’s discretion for a 23:00hrs kick-off?

Doc, your plate is full

but with this in mind I simply cannot fathom how the National Sports Commission can deny funding/sponsorship to the Athletics Association of Guyana for national representation in the Region.

However, it presently is being listed as a sponsor to an ongoing 5-a-side tournament.

Surely, this act of duplicity, as a festering sore, ought not to continue unchecked, since it reeks of unprofessionalism.

There is no tangible evidence of development for futsal, which is not being played, but rather 5-a-side which is privately run.

It is my sincere desire that policies reflective of true and meaningful development encompassing all sports be reviewed. Over to you Doc! Finally, I find it extremely strange that the GFF Executive hasn’t seen it fit to publicly extend its heartiest congratulations to the Hon.

Dr. George Norton, MP, upon his recent appointment as the Sports Minister, while seeking to convene a meeting on the way forward for the sport, as protocol would dictate.

That aside, Editor, how come the other Associations are coordinating the NAMILCO-sponsored under-17 tournaments, and the GFA is doing nothing? Would it be fair to those youngsters from active associations to be outnumbered by players from a dormant GFA for national selection? When will the GFF 2017-18 season get underway? Why should two privately-run senior competitions be utilised as the yardstick for selecting a national squad to pursue training for an ‘international friendly’ next month?

In the words of a former national and club coach, Tobagonian, Desmond Alfred:

“To love football, one must eat, sleep and dream of it,” if not you are wasting time.

Do we locally have lovers of the sport or lovers of themselves, position, trips, per diems and five star accommodation, along with exquisite dining?

Sadly, within all of this, while “the grass is growing, the horse is starving” and underdevelopment of the sport continues to flourish.

Where are the collective voices of the GFF General Council in righting the wrongs that continue unabatedly in the sport?

It is indeed a sad day for the sport but from a historical perspective, Dr. George Norton would be the first Sports Minister with a previous football administrative background.

Respectfully yours, Lester Sealey

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Guyana can be saviour to Caribbean residents Dear Sir, AS a young journalist working for the Barbados Nation newspaper in the 80s, I was sent to cover the aftermath of the very devastating hurricane Hugo that reaped havoc in Montserrat in the summer of 1989.

It was the morning after when we got there. When we landed at the main John A. Osborne Airport, after riding in the belly of a British C110 aircraft out of Barbados, we were dumbfounded.

I tried to hold ‘my own’ but it came gushing out in torrents of tears after my editor (a tall, hulk of a man), Timothy Slinger, began crying. It was a harrowing sight.

The Island was in a mess.

It looked like there was an

island-wide fire. Everything was brown. There were no leaves on any tree. Nothing was in place. Cars and household furnishings were scattered in the valleys. People walked the roads aimlessly.

I immediately began shooting pictures. When I returned to Barbados with my pictures, the front page picture in our newspaper was with a little boy – maybe 10-years-old, sitting on a three-tread concrete stair, with nothing behind him. He was digging, with his hands, hard coconut jelly, from a coconut that had blown off a tree during the storm. That was his breakfast. He told us that where he was sitting was his home. There was nothing but the concrete steps remaining. The blue horizon

framed his background.

We drove from the airport into the capital of Plymouth, behind a frontend loader that was lifted by helicopter off a British ship.

The machine was pushing the boulders out of the way, to make the roads accessible.

That was my first trip to Montserrat.

Then in 1995, the previously dormant Soufrière Hills volcano, in the southern part of the island, came alive. Because of my previous affinity with the island, I was assigned to cover that story. I would visit that island several times between 1995 and 2000. I was there when the initial major eruption happened and claimed its first victims – some farmers who ventured beyond the safe zone to take care

of their cattle. The constant belching of plumes of ash and sulfur would eventually make the southern parts of the Island inhabitable. I saw as two-thirds of the island’s population was forced to flee, some to surroundings islands but most to the UK. The United Kingdom lays claim to the Island.

There were fewer than 1,200 people left on the island. Today the numbers are slowly creeping up. No doubt the recent spate of hurricanes will retard that momentum.

I have lived in Barbados and have been a witness to several hurricanes and tropical depressions. And with the latest uptick in these destructive weather patterns I am wondering if life in the Caribbean will not make a

formidable turn?

Could it be that if the globe continues to warm – which is a catalyst for the most deadly and destructive storms – the islands will (like Montserrat), become sparsely populated?

The Bible speaks of an eventual disappearance of Islands, can this be a foretaste?

Guyana – if only because of our sizable landmass and English language – can well become a saviour to the Caribbean residents. We need to begin to think in these terms. We were long the laughing stock of the Caribbean, however, our new found brush with oil wealth and the prevailing and predicted weather patterns, might very well position us as a proverbial “rejected

stone” that becomes the “head of the corner.”

Of course, we can benefit from the mental acumen and the entrepreneurial skills of our fellow Caribbean sisters and brothers. We can benefit from their assistance particularly in the areas of tourism and offshore investments.

Maybe, there should be a nonpartisan committee established to begin to explore ways of offering Islanders terms and packages that will lure them to Guyana as financial investors. I think that we need to strike the nail while it is hot.

There is a proverb which says, “He is wise who does now what he will eventually be asked to do.”

Regards, Wendell Jeffrey

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Opportunities for skilled Guyanese in diaspora –– when oil sector gets up and running, says Min. Greenidge

By Svetlana Marshall GUYANA’S budding oil sector creates a window of opportunities for the diaspora, particularly those in skill intensive professions, Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge told U.S based-Guyanese in New York.

ExxonMobil has been issued with a license for production of petroleum, likely to commence in 2020.

Speaking at a Diaspora Engagement Consultation at York College in Queens, New York, on Saturday, the minister said it would be a mistake to assume that there will be 5, 000 job openings, but he assured that there will be jobs.

“At the level of the skilled Guyanese, most of whom are here, those who are in the professional areas: engineering, chemistry, chemical geology, and chemical engineering, there are opportunities for you to sell, what I call skill-intensive professions,” he told the gathering of primarily U.S –based Guyanese.

He posited that there are opportunities in the area of seismic testing and the testing of rocks to determine the mineral composition of a particular area of interest.

Seismic testing is a process whereby an image of the subsurface is created. The data obtained is then used

by the oil and gas company to locate the most optimum place to drill for gas.

“That is not something that requires someone working in a building with 5, 000 men, and $3B worth of machinery, and 9,000 experts,” he said, while noting that it would only

one in the Unites States and the other in Guyana, questioned the minister about the provisions being made for Guyanese companies to access available contracts.

In response, Minister Greenidge told Fresco that the government in its engagements with ExxonMobil, is

US-based Guyanese, Godfrey Fresco require a few specialists.

OPPORTUNITY “This is an opportunity for small firms with highly skilled Guyanese to take advantage of that development on the petroleum front,” he added.

U.S based-Guyanese, Godfrey Fresco, who is the owner of two companies,

placing major emphasis on local content. The government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources is formulating a Local Content Policy’ which focuses on the utilisation of local human and physical resources, particularly in the petroleum sector.

However, Minister Greenidge said while the

Members of the diaspora at the consultation at York College, Queens, New York on Saturday

Government is making provisions for Guyanese to benefit from the developing oil sector, they must rise to the occasion and be competitive, creative and innovative in their provision of services that would be required by ExxonMobil.

Extraction from the Liza field, by ExxonMobil, is expected to commence in 2020 at an initial rate of 100,000 barrels of crude per day in the first phase, with a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel providing the main infrastructural support for the project. The government and people of Guyana will receive a royalty of two per cent on gross earnings and benefit from 50 per cent of the profits from the sale of petroleum once production commences.

Last week, during a meeting with President Granger, President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Stephen Greenlee, committed to building local capacity in Guyana.

JOBS Subsequent to that meeting, Greenlee told journalists that ExxonMobil Exploration is aiming to have more than 90 per cent of its activities run by Guyanese when production starts in 2020.

Though he was unable to state the number of Guyanese currently in the employ of ExxonMobil, Greenlee assured that the numbers will climb once production kicks in.

“So our goal is when we are up and running in Guyana, and we have the projects, and we have the actual production activities occurring, our goal is to be like all the other places where we would have employed over 90 per cent nationals in our activities,” the ExxonMobil president said.

According to him, the development of local content is of significant importance to the oil producing company, noting that more contracts will be made available to Guyanese contractors.

Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge “One of our top priorities is tried to build a local capacity,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, at the diaspora engagement consultation, Guyana’s territorial integrity, health and the need to further capitalise on technology, were among the issues raised.

Dr. Dhanpaul Narine suggested that classrooms in the U.S and Guyana be linked during technology.

“Many of the principals and teachers in New York City, they are willing to use Skype, Instagram and all of the technology to link up with Queens College, and all of the remote schools in Guyana, so we can use

cutting edge technology,” he said.

Cognisant of the work being done by the Telecommunications Ministry to bridge the digital divide, Dr. Narine opined that the work be further advanced.

“Look at the Robotic Team from Guyana, that came here and did so well.

So if we get principals in the schools here, to facilitate robotic engineering which is the field in the future, and they are willing to do that, we will make tremendous progress in education in Guyana,” he posited.

His suggestions were welcomed with loud rounds of applause.

US-based Guyanese, Dr. Dhanpaul Narine

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Passenger growth hits all-time high in August

ARRIVALS at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) for August 2017 set an unprecedented record of 34,796 passengers, surpassing the 2012 figure of 33,367, the company said in a release.

The release said arrivals for the first eight months rose seven per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2016.

The increase, the CJIA said, can be positively attributed to the Guyana leg of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tournament and a number of entertainment activities held during that month, as well as ad-

ditional business travel due to expansion in the oil and gas and mining sectors.

“Overall, 2017 is another strong year for us with business and tourist traveling demand levels steadily increasing due to the sound business policy and enabling environment created by our government,” said Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson.

He added that government continues to pursue several carriers to assist with the additional influx of passengers.

“High on the list of priories is a carrier to ply the South American/George-

town market and both Legacy and Low Cost Carriers for the North American Market,” the minister further stated.

While New York remains the largest key market, there has also been an upsurge in other destinations such as Cuba and Panama.

Meanwhile, upon completion of the new Arrivals Terminal Building, with the inclusion of several facilities and amenities, the airport’s capacity will be greatly augmented and strengthened, significantly impacting passengers’ experience.

Arrivals at Cheddi Jagan International Airport for August 2017 set an unprecedented record of 34,796 passengers, surpassing the 2012 figure of 33,367

Over 200 Linden students benefit from dental outreach

By Naomi Marshall OVER 200 children from the Christianburg and St Aidan’s primary schools in Linden benefitted from a dental outreach hosted by the Healthy Smiles Project in collaboration with the

some were even referred to the Linden Hospital Complex.

St. Aidan’s Primary Headteacher, Carmen Small told Guyana Chronicles that she is elated that her school was chosen for the project “because the children need

of The Healthy Smiles Project Jonnel Mortley, the focus of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) is prevention.

“We try to keep it preventative, when you do an outreach you really want to do preventative stuff,” said

A student getting her teeth varnished with fluoride by founder of The Healthy Smiles Project, Jonnel Mortley Mayor and Town Council and the Linden Hospital Complex last Friday.

The outreach themed: “Each child deserves a healthy smile” saw presentations on how to brush and floss the teeth, among other tips to take care of them.

In addition, the students got their teeth cleaned and were given dental hygienic materials and tools, while

the exposure in dental care and by professionals.”

This is the second outreach that the Healthy Smiles Project has kept for 2017; the first being held at the Save our Kids Orphanage on the West Coast of Demerara.

The Haruni community on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway will be targeted next.

According to the founder

Mortley.

Mortley said she is happy that the Linden Hospital Complex can be a part of the venture because once they identify children with issues and they need restorative work, then the hospital can take over these cases.

“That helps make a healthier community, so kids won’t lose time off from school if they have tooth

ache or something. It’s really important that they understand oral health and how it affects the entire body,” added Mortley.

Linden’s Mayor Carwyn Holland, who is a past student of both schools, was

grateful for the initiative.

“Dental hygiene is very important, that is why I was excited when I heard about Ms. Mortley,” Holland said.

Mortley thanked the supporters of the NGO which include Colgate,

Reginald Brotherson, Food for the Poor Guyana, Jamel Davis, Nigel Worrell, Linden’s Mayor Carwyn Holland, everyone who accommodated them at Save our Kids Orphanage and the Ministry of Pubic Heath.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

‘Speak out! Breaking the silence on children sexually abused’ SO this is it, Child Protection Week, (September 24th – 30th) seven days where the Child Protection Agency’s (CPA) work will focus on building adult awareness on child abuse and other related issues.

A week of activities are planned across the various regions including a rally in Anna Regina on Wednesday 27th: the theme of which is ‘Speak out! Breaking the silence on children sexually abused.’

But why do we have Child Protection Week and does anyone actually benefit? The answer to those two questions is a great big resounding YES!!!

We (the CPA) commemorate Child Protection week because it is imperative that we change the negative attitude and perception that some people have about children. The more adults we can reach and educate, the more children we will help. To this end the week’s activities include outreaches to Religious Leaders and in schools and health centres: a booth day in Stabroek Market and at Diamond Hospital (today 25th) and awareness sessions and a training seminar to be held at the police training complex.

Change is something that could happen overnight or it can take place over a period of time, like a decade or maybe even a generation.

But if there is no advocate for change on behalf of our children, those who are abused, neglected and abandoned will continue to suffer and in turn become dysfunctional, mixed up adults or misfits of society. This week’s focus on child protection and all the previous ‘child protection weeks’ since they commenced in Guyana in 2004 therefore, is essential for targeting the public and disseminating information to as many people as possible. By educating adults we aim to protect children where ever they are in Guyana.

Those who benefit from Child Protection week cannot

be counted and to conduct a survey would not produce as accurate an account because people use information and the knowledge they attain in their own way and in their own time. Our job at the CPA is to get the information out there in the first place. We know that we are reaching people and doing the job we are mandated to do when members of the public asks questions and show a genuine interest in our services: and especially when they seek to use our services in a timely manner in the correct way.

There will always be members of the public who pay no interest in learning about child protection or who feign ignorance to child abuse and the affects it has on children. There may even be those who know of children that are being abuse consistently and can help to protect those children by just lifting the phone and making a call to our hotline, but they do not care enough to do so, or they do not wish to get involved because it is not affecting them directly. These are the people who need educating the most.

These are the people who need to understand that the damage metered out to a child during childhood can mean damaging that person for life.

Too many adults have the attitude that children are ’just’ children ‘let them try deh’ therefore anything is permissible where they are concerned, no! Adults have to guide and protect them, adults have to talk to them, nurture them, pay them attention and give them love and encouragement: and adults MUST speak out on their behalf when they are being abused and maltreated.

Child protection week began in 2004 as an initiative of the now Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ms. Ann Green. It is commemorated in different countries around the World at different times of the year.

It is our endeavor during this Child Protection Week

to educate adults in each region of Guyana and in so doing, protect as many of our nation’s children as possible.

We welcome your support.

The Child Care Protection Agency is located at the corner of Charles and Broad Streets, Charlestown, Georgetown

11

The 27-year-old ‘infant’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

–mother appeals for help to treat daughter’s condition

By Nafeeza Yahya-Sakur

THE Dasratt family of Lot 26 ‘D’ Wire Dam, Whim Village, East Berbice, Corentyne, is hoping they can get some answers and assistance for their second daughter Shanti Dasratt.

Shanti is 27 years old but looks like a five-year-old in size. She is mute, stunted in growth and cannot walk nor sit up. She has some motor skills to her arms but it is like that of a developing child -- uncoordinated.

She recently celebrated her 27th birthday on August 7, but her mom was unable to make her favourite dish, curry and rice. Like many other days, she instead made sardine and rice but as always, Shanti was unable to eat it.

It went into her mouth and then it came out soon after.

In tears, Shanti’s mother, Yanita Dasratt, 50, said she has been trying with her daughter but can only do as much as she could do, since she is poor.

“She like curry and rice, and on she birthday we could not cook that because we could not afford it, it hurt me heart especially then, because was she birthday and she could not get she favourite,” the mother said.

Yanita explained that Shanti was born breached and was in the delivery room for a while since she was stuck and when she eventually came out, she was under distress from the lengthy period it took for her to be delivered.

“When Shantie born she come out with she foot first, and she tek lil time fuh born and the nurse had to shake she fuh catch she self. After a year when I was bathing and anoint her down I notice she foot soft, soft, and was always in a funny position and I hold she foot bottom and scratch it and she didn’t move or feel anything and meh

tell meh husband Shanti nah go walk, come feel she foot soft, soft, then he come and feel it and said it nah feel normal.”

Despite realising that their second of five children could not walk, they were unable to seek professional help due to financial reasons but are still

soft and always fold up but me then notice she not like them other children, she nah grow and them can’t answer me, but me never carry she back cause we nah afford fuh run up and down with she to hospital,” the mother said.

At age 27, Shanti has to be cared

Her husband, who worked as a watchman was placed on early retirement and now does fishing to earn a livelihood for their five children.

The youngest, age nine, attends primary school but on weekends, he tends to animals and goes fishing with his dad to get enough money to cover his school expenses.

Yanita explained that from time to time, her family would receive assistance from kind-hearted people, but said she would prefer to work and earn her own.

She is worried about her daughter should anything happen to her.

“Many nights me does sit down and study what guh happen to she if me dead, she buddy them and sister nah guh able care she like me, and if me husband take somebody else the step-mother nah guh able wid she,” the mother sobbed.

Yanita is appealing to doctors who can help in remedying her daughter’s condition to come forward and offer her a helping hand.

“We nah really beg fuh anything we just want lil help, we can’t take her around because she does vomit and act up when we carry she hospital, suh them tell we nah fuh carry she, we just want answers and if we can do anything to care she better.”

Even though Shantie cannot speak Yanita Dasratt with her daughter Shanti, who is 27 years old when she sees her other siblings playing, she would make facial expression craving answers as to the reason for for like a toddler, she wears diapers and would roll on her tummy to show her stunted growth and present situ- and is unable to communicate when her excitement and encourage them on. something is wrong. She has another ation.

Guyana’s leading neurosurgeon, Her four other kids were born condition that causes her tummy to be Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi said in order for swollen for a few days and during this any form of treatment to be adminishealthy and are all normal. time, her body rejects any solid until tered on Shanti, she will have to get a the swelling goes down.

WON’T WALK proper diagnosis as there are several Due to Shanti’s disability, Yanita, conditions with similar symptoms to “One time me carry her when them white people come and them who previously did domestic work, Shanti’s case. tell me she nah guh walk ever, me had to quit her job 27 years ago to be Dr Dukhi said he is more than done know that because she foot there full-time to tend to her daughter. willing to help in this regard.

Fighting filariasis 12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

–– all are urged to participate in the national campaign to eliminate the disease

By Rabindra Rooplall LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS has been around in Guyana for decades and the stigma attached to it seems very slow in going away, even as Guyana moves to eliminate the disease from within her borders.

Lymphatic filariasis is also known as elephantiasis and is commonly called “Big Foot” in Guyana.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), while the infection may be acquired during childhood, its visible manifestations may occur later in life, causing temporary or permanent disability.

It is caused by three species of thread-like nematode worms, known as filariae – Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori.

The WHO explains that the worms, both male and female, together form “nests” in the human lymphatic system, the network of nodes and vessels that maintain the delicate fluid balance between blood and body tissues.

The lymphatic system is an essential component of the body’s immune system.

Filarial infection can cause a variety of clinical manifestations. Among them, the WHO noted, are lymphoedema of the limbs, genital disease (hydrocele, chylocele, and swelling of the scrotum and penis) and recurrent acute attacks, which are extremely painful and are accompanied by fever.

While the vast majority of infected people show no symptoms, almost all of them have subclinical lymphatic damage. As many as 40 per cent have kidney damage, the WHO said.

In short, lymphatic filariasis is a painful and disfiguring disease, and in Guyana, there is still a stigma attached to it.

Linda (not her real name), a mother of two, the told Guyana Chronicle she knows all too well of the pain and requested anonymity because of the stigma attached to the disease.

Linda related, that in 2015 she noticed a swelling on her left ankle and never took it seriously but after a while, the swelling began to pain.

Worried, she visited the Georgetown Public Hospital for a checkup and found out she had the clinical manifestations of filariasis and was encouraged by doctors to start clinic at the country’s main referral hospital, as soon as possible.

And she did, and has so far been able to see an improvement in her condition as she seeks to live a normal life.

“Once I am not on my foot, the swelling and pain goes, the tablets, advice and treatment are very helpful to me and I am thankful because I can still work, and I would tell anyone that they should take filaria seriously because it’s a disease that no one should have to suffer with.

Taking the medication and prevention is always better,” the young mother said with a smile which faded to sadness.

She related that her mother died with filaria about two years ago.

Also underscoring the importance of treatment, is Tandika (not her real name), a young lady who was diagnosed with the disease at age 15.

She told this publication that she first experienced recurring episodes of fever, inflammation and pain and being from a poor family, her mother could not always find the money for her treatment.

Added to that, she was laughed at in her West Coast Demerara village because her right leg was swollen and out of shape.

“As a woman, it’s harder because we look at each other

more than men would look at each other and care, I am thankful that I got the help I needed,” the young lady said.

For 72-year-old Nicolette (not her real name), a resident of West Coast Demerara, it was a bit of a different story.

She said when she first noticed swelling in her left leg, she did a few tests and it showed she had no clinical symptoms of filariasis.

The swelling continued and being in a state of great discomfort, the pensioner joined the Neglected Diseas-

Head of the Vector Control Unit, Dr Horace Cox es Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital and did a few more tests.

Then is when it was confirmed that she had developed clinical manifestations of the disease.

PAIN REDUCED The mother of one said at her age, her body “recuperates at its own pace”, and with treatment, the tremendous discomfort she once felt has now been significantly reduced.

In Guyana, Regions Three, Four, Five and 10 have been identified as areas with the most filariasis cases, but

to address the problem holistically the Ministry of Public Health and the Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) will be rolling out a countrywide campaign.

The campaign begins next month (October) under the title “Let’s Prevent Filaria” and emphasises that chronic manifestations cannot be reversed, and as such, prevention is the best cure.

Deworming treatment will be provided to thousands of adults and children to prevent parasitic worms from

infecting them and impairing their mental and physical development.

Ministry of Public Health, Neglected Infectious Diseases Unit Programme Coordinator, Dr. Fabu Moses, said the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) exercise will target homes, schools, clinics, and places of employment, among others.

The elimination of lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as “Big Foot” began in 2001 with the promotion and use of DEC salt.

“There was first the DEC salt campaign that many people would have known about, and that was run in all regions

the target, we have to continue until we have five consecutive years of reaching that target, because the worm that causes this lives for five to eight years,” Dr Moses explained.

LAGGING BEHIND Sister Caricom nations Suriname and Trinidad have already succeeded in eliminating filariasis, but Guyana has been lagging behind.

Head of the Vector Control Unit, Dr Horace Cox, said last year that the unit was engaged in a mass drug administration exercise, pointing out that sometimes these

Neglected Infectious Diseases Unit Programme Coordinator, Dr. Fabu Moses tients. Your patients become your family; it’s like you take them home with you,” Hopkinson said, noting that the campaign will help to reduce the disease.

More than 80 per cent of persons registered with the clinic, visit to upkeep their treatment and the majority of cases are from Region Four and involving persons age 14 to 93 years.

STOP THE DISCRIMINATION The nurse said no one should discriminate against Microbiologist, Ede Tyrell taking care of a filariasis anyone with filariasis since patient during a home visit in Georgetown anyone can become a victim and noted that perof Guyana because it was exercises can cost as much as sons diagnosed with the based basically on selling salt US$250,000 to US$400,000. disease should seek urgent “We have recently set treatment to bring it under in the supermarkets, the shops etcetera so that people can up an Advisory Board control.

The aim, she said, is to protect themselves against for Lymphatic Filariasis, the filaria worm,” Dr Moses where we have represen- make Guyana filaria-free but tatives from Ministry of for this to be achieved; it repointed out.

Later in 2009, the MDA Education, Ministry of quires everyone to first make was launched and rolled out Communities, the Ministry an effort to keep the disease at in Regions Two, Six and of Business, persons from bay by taking the medication school health and other offered in the campaign.

Five.

Ede Tyrell, who is Head This year, Regions Three, technical areas, so that we of the Medical TechnoloFour, Five and 10 are target- can be advised,” he said, ed for the MDA since these pointing out that such col- gy Department, Faculty of regions have been identified laboration is essential for Health Sciences, Universiwith the most filariasis cases. the success of the exercise. ty of Guyana, said national According to Dr. Cox, health surveys of prevalence “By next year, we will see the addition of other regions the exercise is not just a dis- rates have found that 90 per and in the following years tribution of medications, but cent of the population in Guyyou will see consecutive ad- to inform the citizenry about ana is at risk.

She also pointed out that ditions of other regions… we the importance of using the choose our regions based on medication and how it will as many as 30 per cent of the disease burdens that ex- benefit them, their families the school-aged children in Georgetown have been diagist… and also the ease of ac- and friends.

Cheryl Hopkinson, a nosed with the W. bancrofti cess of the personnel etcetera to accessing treatment,” the nurse attached to the Ne- worm antigen.

In 2000, over 120 million programme coordinator said. glected Diseases Unit of the If the programme fails Georgetown Public Hospital people world over were into achieve its 65 per cent and who has treated many fected with filariasis, with coverage in any given year, it filariasis patients, is also en- about 40 million disfigured couraging everyone to par- and incapacitated by the would be reinitiated.

“That is because there ticipate in the anti- filariasis disease. Today, 351 million people no longer require may have been one year or campaign.

“As a nurse, you always preventive chemotherapy more than one year where we did not reach the target, have to go the extra mile, due to successful implemenand once we do not reach because you feel for your pa- tation of WHO strategies.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Bandits rob Success Supermarket

TWO MEN, one armed with a handgun and the other with a cutlass, robbed the Ikea Supermarket located at Lot 363, Success Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, at around 10:00 hours on Saturday.

An employee of the supermarket told the Guyana Chronicle that two men, one of East Indian descent and the other of African descent, came into the supermarket around 09:00 hrs acting suspiciously.

“They were walking around and when I went up to them, they asked for light [bulbs] and then for Nestum,” the employee said. The Guyana Chronicle understands that the men who did not purchase either of the items left the supermarket soon after.

The employee further related that at around

10:00 hours, the men returned armed with a handgun and a cutlass and forced her, along with the three Chinese shop owners, into a corner of the supermarket, close to the cash register.

“They hold we and put we in the corner and tell we give them all the money,” she said.

One of the owners, Lin Lin (only name given) said that the robbers took $120,000 from the cash register along with his smartphone. The supermarket which has been in operation for two months, does not have security cameras installed.

Reports revealed that after robbing the supermarket, the men casually walked out onto the railway embankment and left the area.

The supermarket has been in operation for about two months.

The Ikea Supermarket where the robbery occurred on Saturday

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Community could have saved young Leonardo

-- if his attackers were reported earlier for their travesties, says Greene

By Alexis Rodney The Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) said it is distraught over the gruesome rape and murder of 13-yearold Leonardo Archibald, but believes that the child’s death could have been avoided had members of the community and even the child’s family members, had taken a very serious approach to the reality.

When news of the young Archibald’s horrific death gripped the closely-knit East Bank Berbice (EBB) village of Brothers and neighbouring communities, many persons in anger relayed that the main suspect, Hillary Edwards, is notorious for such actions, with several families and victims giving dreadful tales about their experiences with the 28-year-old man.

The stories came rolling out one by one, all accusing the suspect of brutishly pursuing them with sexual advances. The

victims, all in their teens, told the media that their reports to the police station in the community, fell on deaf ears.

One victim said his family even accepted payment from the accusers’ family to settle his issue.

And based on those reports, many said it is evident that the suspect, now in police custody, had close ties to the police in the community since none of the incidents reported were pursued.

CC&PA Director Ann Greene, speaking to Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, said situations like these should never happen, especially when members of communities have evidence and are aware of such people living in the area.

“They are our eyes and ears.

You know something, you need to speak out,” Greene said, referring to communities. She said communities need to take action.

“They said they knew about these people (suspects), yet they

did not speak out. They have a responsibility to keep children safe,” the CC&PA head said.

‘WAKE UP CALL’ Greene said while she is saddened at what has happened to the child, she hopes it serves as a “wake up call” to other communities.

“If you know something, speak up. You cannot sleep at night knowing that they walking around the place.”

According to her, such responsibility first lies in the hands of families and then communities. However, the two units must work in unison for the safety of all, especially the children.

The CC&PA head said such persons should not be allowed to walk freely, they should be monitored and offered help.

It might be coincidental that Archibald’s murder has occurred at a time when the agency is moving into Child Protection Week under the theme “Partnering with families and communi-

Head of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA), Ann Greene

ties for the positive outcomes of

One dead, two injured -- after bandits pounce on family preparing for memorial service

By Alexis Rodney PREPARATIONS for a one-year memorial service turned deadly for an East La Penitence, Georgetown family, early Sunday on morning, when bandits pounced upon them, killing a man and critically injuring his two brothers.

The Shaheed family of 194 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, was putting the final touches to preparations for the oneyear memorial service for their father at around 00:40 hours on Sunday morning, when two bandits entered the home and shot the three brothers, killing one.

In a release, the Police said that they are investigating a robbery/murder committed earlier on Sunday, on Fazal Shaheed, 58, of 18 Albion, Corentyne Berbice; Talin Shaheed, 50, of Toronto, Canada; and Shalim Shaheed, 53, of the USA, by two masked men, one of whom was armed with a handgun,. The masked bandits carted off an undisclosed amount of jewellery.

Investigations revealed that the brothers along with their other siblings were preparing for a memorial service, when the bandits, by way of a door that was left opened, gained access into the house and pounced upon the victims, allegedly relieving them of their jew-

ellery. They also discharged several rounds before fleeing the scene.

According to the police, several spent shells have been retrieved by investigators, who are currently working on several leads, in an effort to quickly bring the perpetrators to justice.

Meanwhile, a male suspect from the area has since been taken into custody and is assisting with the investigation, the police stated in the release.

Meanwhile, when Guyana Chronicle visited the home on Sunday, persons who should have been attending the memorial ceremony were present but instead they were offering comfort to the grieving family.

Speaking with this publication, another brother Raymond Shaheed who lives in Subryanville, said that for most of Saturday after uplifting some barrels shipped from overseas, family members were cooking sweet meats for the event and “making jokes”.

He explained that a number of his siblings, including the injured two, had travelled from the United States and Canada to celebrate the “year work” for their father.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that about 12:30 hrs on Sunday morning, he left his siblings and other family members and went

home, but soon after arriving home his phone rang.

“Raymond come now, they are killing us,” the visibly shaken man recalled his sister was shouting over the phone. He said he “broke all the traffic rules” to get to his family’s home, but by the time he got there they had already left for the police station and subsequently the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

“When I got there (the hospital), I forced my way into the room and when I got in I saw Fazal with something in his mouth, and he was too gruesome to recognise.” Fazal, he said, received four gunshot wounds one of which pierced his heart, “and I am sure that is the one that took him,” Raymond said.

He related that he then checked on another brother, Talim, who was shot in the shoulder, and observed that he was conscious, but visibly in severe pain. Raymond said that even though Talim has since been transferred to the medical ward of the hospital, he is still very concerned about his well-being because he had previously undergone a triple-bypass surgery.

Checking next on Shalim, the other brother who injured, Raymond said he observed that was shot three times about his body and that his condition

children”.

According to the CC&PA, the theme indicates the vital role the family and community/ neighbourhood have to play in the safety of the nation’s children. The two groups are the front-runners in preventing abuse of children.

Archibald went missing on Sunday September 17, after leaving home to accompany his three sisters from a party in a nearby village. He was last seen riding his bicycle along the Brother’s Public Road in a pair of trousers.

According to information, the teen collected his sisters and was accompanying them home when he told them he was riding ahead and would meet them there.

However, when the girls arrived home, the Overwinning Primary School teen was not there and a search conducted failed to locate him.

Following an intense investigation, several persons were

questioned and two main suspects were arrested. Under intense grilling the duo, on Friday last, told detectives that they snatched the teen the same night same and sodomised him. The two further told the investigators that after the boy fell unconscious during the ordeal, his body was dumped into nearby river.

Sometime around 15:00 hrs, on September 23, Archibald’s badly decomposed body was discovered some three miles away at Kortherbraadt Village, by four men from a search party that was out since Friday, combing all corners of the Berbice River after the suspects confessed to murdering the teen and dumping his body in the river.

Following the suspects’ admission and details of what transpired to the investigators, members of the public have called for stiffer penalties for pedophiles, including the death penalty.

Shotgun found at Bartica

POLICE acting on information, found an improvised single barrel shotgun at a location in Bartica about 07:00 hrs on Saturday. No one has yet been arrested.

Also, around noon on

Sunday, ranks arrested a 57-year-old businessman of Grant 1780 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, at the Back Street of the said village, with forty-three grams of cannabis. He is being processed for court today.

Dead: Fazal Shaheed

looked critical. He said he was informed by a doctor that his brother had to undergo emergency surgery to repair his small intestine which was ruptured during the shooting.

Raymond recalled that when he and his wife were leaving to go to their home, his now deceased brother was outside “washing up” the utensils. Based on what was reported to him by his sister, the two men apparently scaled the fence and entered the house where the other two brothers were resting.

His elderly mother and his sisters were in the kitchen but did not notice the men until the shots were fired. It was at that point that Talim rushed from outside where he was washing to dishes the door, but was confronted by the bandits who shot him.

The shotgun found at Bartica on Saturday

The cannabis found on the businessman

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

India storm to ODI series win despite Finch’s comeback ton

…hosts top one-day ranking with win

INDORE, India (Reuters) - All-rounder Hardik Pandya celebrated his promotion in the batting order with a breezy 78 to help secure India’s series-clinching five-wicket victory in the third oneday international against Australia on Sunday.

Three of India’s top four batsmen scored 70 or more as the hosts chased down a 294-run victory target with 13 balls to spare for their third successive victory in the five-match series.

Earlier, Aaron Finch smashed 124 on his return but Australia, cruising at 224-1 at one stage, suffered a mini-collapse to settle for 293-6 in the Holkar Stadium.

India’s ninth consecutive ODI win also ensured they are now the top ranked team both in Tests and the one-day format.

Bangalore hosts the fourth match on Thursday.

Australia captain Steve Smith won the toss for the first time in the series and opted to bat first.

Openers Finch and David Warner give Australia a solid, if not spectacular, start with a 70-run stand as the tourists looked determined to preserve wickets.

Pandya bowled War-

ner for 42 but Finch and Smith added 154 runs for the second wicket with a 325-plus total looking well within Australia’s reach.

If Finch, who smacked five sixes and 12 boundaries in his nearly run-a-ball knock, plundered his runs, Smith accumulated them quietly, hitting five boundaries in his 63.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav dismissed

AUSTRALIA

both to trigger a collapse as Australia lost five wickets for 51 runs to fall short of the 300-mark India reached the 100 mark in 15 overs without losing a wicket with Rohit Sharma leading their robust reply with a blistering 71.

The opener smacked four sixes, one of them sailed over the stadium, as he and Ajinkya Rahane (70)

scored 139 runs to take the hosts nearly halfway down the target.

India soon suffered a mini-collapse of their own, losing four wickets, including their openers and skipper Virat Kohli, for 67 runs.

Batting at number four, Pandya hit four sixes and five boundaries in his aggressive knock to take India close to victory.

Manish Pandey completed the formality with a quickfire 36 not out to see his side home.

SCOREBOARD

Innings

D. Warner b H. Pandya 42 A.Finch cJadhavbK.Yadav 124 S.Smith cBumrahbK.Yadav 63 G.Maxwell stDhonibChaal 5 T. Head b Bumrah 4 M.Stoinis notou 27 P.Handscomb cM.PandeybBumrah3 A. Agar not out 9 Extras (lb-2 w-14) 16 Total (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) 293 Fall of wickets: 1-70 D. Warner,2-224 A. Finch,3-243 S. Smith,4-243 G. Maxwell,5-260 T. Head,6-275 P.

Handscomb Did not bat: P. Cummins, N. Coulter-Nile, K. Richardson Bowling: B. Kumar 10 - 0 - 52 - 0( w-4) ,J. Bumrah 10 - 0 - 52 - 2(w-5), Y. Chahal 10 - 0 - 54 – 1, H. Pandya 10 - 0 - 58 - 1(w-2), K. Yadav 10 - 0 - 75 - 2(w-3).

I N D I A I n n i n g s A.Rahanelbw b Cummins 70 Ro. Sharma c sub b Coulter-Nile 71 V. Kohli c Finch b Agar 28 H.Pandya cRichardsonbCummins78 K. Jadhav c Handscomb b Richardson 2 M. Pande y not out 36

M. Dhoni not out 3 Extras (lb-3 w-3) 6 Total (for 5 wickets, 47.5 overs) 294 Fall of wickets: 1-139 Ro. Sharma,2-147 A. Rahane,3-203 V. Kohli,4-206 K. Jadhav,5-284 H. Pandya Did not bat: B. Kumar, K. Yadav, J. Bumrah, Y. Chahal Bowling: P. Cummins 10 - 0 54 - 2(w-1), N. Coulter-Nile 10 - 0 - 58 - 1(w-1). K. Richardson 8.5 0 - 45 – 1,M. Stoinis 8 - 0 - 61 – 0, A. Agar 10 - 0 - 71 – 1,G. Maxwell 1 - 0 - 2 - 0

Kipchoge misses record in rainy Berlin triumph

BERLIN (Reuters) - Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge staved off a surprise challenge from Ethiopian debutant Guye Adola to win an enthralling Berlin marathon on Sunday, but missed out on his bid to set a new world record.

Prior to the race, Kipchoge, fellow Kenyan Wilson Kipsang and Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele had all set their sights on breaking Dennis Kimetto’s leading marathon mark of two hours, two minutes and 57 seconds along the flat, inner-city course.

Instead, Kipchoge ended up becoming embroiled in a classic tussle with the 26-year-old Adola, making his marathon debut, and needed until the 41st kilometre of the damp course to shake off his last surviving rival and cross the line in 2:03:32.

Adola finished 14 seconds adrift of the winner, with his Ethiopian compatriot Mosinet Geremew finishing third in 2:06:09.

Kipchoge’s victory was his second in Berlin and

Gladys Cherono helped recreate the roll of honour from 2015, with the Kenyan winning the women’s race in 2:20:23 to also record a second win in the event. ”I am happy to have run this race. The conditions were not friendly because of the rain,“ Kipchoge told reporters. ”Luckily there was not strong wind.

“I didn’t expect Adolo but I am happy for him. This is sport.”

The star-studded trio made their intentions clear from the start, running at a blistering early pace that was well inside the time Kenya’s Kimetto set in the same race three years ago.

The rainy conditions soon took their toll, however, and the elite men had drifted outside world record pace by the 12km mark.

Reaching halfway in 61:29, Bekele was the first of the big names to fall back, his bid to become the first man to hold the 5,000m,

10,000m and marathon world records dashed in the spray kicked up from Kipsang and Kipchoge as they sped away.

Former world record holder Kipsang was the next to run out of steam and walked off the course shortly after the 30km mark, setting the stage for a stunning duel between Kipchoge and Adola.

Adola was determined to upstage the favourite and attempted an audacious bid to break clear after 37km but Kipchoge kept his cool and caught back up with the Ethiopian four minutes later.

A revived Kipchoge then surged clear of Adola as they approached the iconic Brandenburg Gate, leaving the rookie with the consolation of setting the fastest ever debut time on a record-eligible course.

Cherono was unchallenged en route to her second win in the German capital but was a minute slower than two years ago.

Ruti Aga of Ethiopia was second, 19 seconds behind, and Kenya’s Valary Aiyabei was third.

Nagamootoo urges ... we count on, to deal with these social scorches, and every time you plan a Commonwealth Games, and you mobilise in all our countries, it would help to bring young people into the centre of the pitch” the Acting President highlighted.

Nagamootoo drew attention to a 1963 Cricket memoir, of Cyril Lionel Robert James – `Beyond a Boundary’ – to emphasise a point that Sports can be used to bring more than just the joy of winning to someone.

CLR James described his memoir as “neither cricket reminiscences nor autobiography”, as mixed social commentary, particularly on the place of cricket in the West Indies and England, with commentary on the game, and argued that what happened inside the “Boundary Line” in

Continued from back page cricket affected life beyond it.

“Back in those days we have people like Sir Learie Constantine in cricket; they not only came out from the boundaries to the middle of the pitch, but they went out to the middle of Lord’s, in the Empire, where they played at Lord’s against our masters and won.

Sports represented what Politics couldn’t do for us; becoming a people who felt that we had power beyond any consciousness that we thought we had,” Nagamootoo stated.

Meanwhile, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Louise Martin, in her address, also spoke of the ravaged Caribbean states, and added that she’s confident of region rebuilding and the Federation’s interest to help in whatever regard.

Army maul Pepsi Hornets 41 – 10

By Rawle Toney

THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF), playing in their first match of the Bounty Farm 15s tournament, made their presence felt with a 41 – 10 drubbing of Pepsi Hornets yesterday at the National Park.

Hornets went into the game hyped after beating the youthful Panthers 36 – 26, but against the ‘Army’, it meant that, Ryan Gonsalves, and, Blaise Bailey, would’ve had to find an extra gear if they wanted a chance to compete.

However, the GDF, Guyana’s most physical rugby team, came out and raced to a 15 – 3 half-time score, thanks to tries from Cloyd Prowell, Dwayne Schroeder and winger Patrick King.

With GDF controlling the pace of the game, Gonsalves could’ve only manage to make good of a penalty.

The GDF picked up where they left off in the second half, and with Rodwell Hudson joining King and Prowell on the ‘try line’, as the Army boys literally had their way with the Pepsi Hornets’ defence.

Schroeder scored two conversions, while Prowell had one. Rickford Cummings scored the lone try of the game for the Hornets, while Gonsalves scored the conversion.

Meanwhile, the tournament will continue next weekend, as the Hornets will be looking to bounce back against the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Falcons, and the GDF facing off with ‘the upstarts’ Panthers. foffice

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Thirsk 09:15 hrs No I’m Easy 09:45 hrs Inglorious 10:15 hrs Sovereign Bounty 10:45 hrs Bogart 11:15 hrs Charlie’s Dreamer 11:45 hrs Sepal 12:15 hrs Percys Princess 12:45 hrs Insolenceo-

American Racing Tips Saratoga Race 1 High Risk Strategy Race 2 She’sakittykat Race 3 Charis Race 4 Tres Charmant Race 5 Hembree Race 6 Run and Go Race 7 Converge Race 8 Diversify Race 9 Performance Bonus

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Wales, Pouderoyen register wins as Namilco U-17 league continues

Wales united scorers from R-L Dan Boston and Shumar Brain

WALES United and Pouderoyen both registered wins as action continued in the Namilco U-17 league organised by the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA).

In the first game, Wales united beat Jetty Gunners 2-1 in an almost one sided match all three goals coming from their players.

Dan Boston scored in the 15th to give the Wales the lead before an own goal by Shquile Dos Santos brought the game level again.

Test matches in England could be cut from five to four days under ECB plans

By Nick Hoult

THE traditional five-day Test, which has been a feature of the English summer for nearly 70 years, will end in 2020 if the England & Wales Cricket Board(ECB) successfully argues for the introduction of four-day matches.

The ECB is leading the push for Test matches to be reduced to four days after the 2019 Ashes summer, believing it is the best way to breathe new life into the game’s oldest format and is confident it has the support of broadcasters and host grounds.

A four-day Test would start in England half an hour earlier at 10.30am to give teams more time to bowl the increased number of overs in a day and with all venues now having floodlights, play would be extended where possible.

Sources have told Telegraph Sport the ECB will put

its weight behind the switch to four-day Tests at the next board meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in New Zealand in October, which will discuss the ongoing restructuring of the game and introduction of a Test championship in 2020.

The ECB’s support for four-day Test cricket will alarm traditionalists, who already feel the game is being squeezed by too much Twenty20 with the introduction of a new league in England in two years’ time.

Reducing Test matches to four days will help the ECB and other boards schedule their domestic Twenty20 leagues and ease the workload on players.

It is understood the ECB’s new broadcast deal does not guarantee Test matches will be scheduled for five days, removing one potential obstacle for change.

A shift to four-day Tests would enable the ECB to guarantee Thursday starts

for each match, which is the preferred option for Test match grounds as it allows them to maximise corporate income.

Next summer, England and India are squeezing a five-match Test series into seven weeks, forcing Trent Bridge to host a game that starts on Saturday, making the sale of corporate hospitality boxes very difficult.

Test matches have been scheduled over five days since 1973. A series that year between New Zealand and Pakistan was the last to be played over four days.

But South Africa announced last week it plans to play a four-day Test starting on Boxing Day against Zimbabwe and the ICC are set to give it approval at its October board meeting.

More experiments with four days are expected around the world over the next 12 months as the initiative gathers momentum.

(Telegraph)

WADA to begin audit of Russian anti-doping agency (REUTERS) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will begin an audit of Russia’s anti-doping programme this week as it prepares to make a recommendation on whether to reinstate the Russian agency, the organisation said on Sunday.

RUSADA has been suspended by WADA since a report published in November 2015, led by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren, found evidence of state-sponsored doping and accused it of systematically violating anti-doping regulations.

Russian authorities deny there was a state-backed doping programme, but have pledged to follow international recommendations to get the suspension lifted.

WADA’s compliance review committee will hold a special meeting on Oct. 24 to hear a re-

port on the audit, the anti-doping agency said in a statement after its executive board met in Paris.

The review committee will then make a recommendation to WADA’s board meeting in November on whether to reinstate

WADA President Craig Reedie

RUSADA. The Russian agency last month appointed a new director general as part of Moscow’s push to rehabilitate its tarnished sporting image and

overturn a ban on most of its track-and-field athletes competing internationally.

The executive committee, which heard a report on Russia’s progress, again emphasised RUSADA must fulfil a roadmap it developed with WADA and Russian officials before any recommendation on reinstatement can be made.

This includes Russia publicly accepting the outcomes of the McLaren investigation into the country’s doping violations and providing access to stored urine samples in the Moscow laboratory.

More than a dozen national anti-doping agencies have called for Russia to be banned from the 2018 winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, but WADA President Craig Reedie has criticised the agencies, saying the request was not helpful.

It would take a Shumar Brain 36th minute intervention to set the game once more in favour of the Wales side.

In the second game, Pouderoyen FC beat Uitvlugt 3-0 with a double from Keanu Lawrence in the 11th and 60th while Shamur Thomas chipped in his lone goal in the 17th minute.

Pouderoyen FC scorers from (R-L) Shamur Thomas and Keanu Lawrence

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Franchise League 3-day tournament….

Hetmyer inspires West Berbice to three-wicket win with 114 ... wins also for Essequibo and Lower Corentyne

By Rajiv Bisnauth GUYANA and West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer hit a fluent century as West Berbice wrapped up a three-wicket win over East Coast in round four of the Franchise League three-day tournament yesterday at the Bush Lot ground.

Resuming on 27 without loss, and needing a further 251 runs for victory, the hosts hardly faced any trouble as Hetmyer stroked 114 off 127 balls, inclusive of seven fours and five sixes, as West Berbice reached 281-7.

West Berbice openers Raffel Estriado and Artley Bailey were able to see off a disciplined first hour from the visitors’ bowlers, and in the process took their

opening stand to 79 which was the foundation for the run chase.

During that period Estriado brought up his fifty off 98 balls, but just when both batsmen looked settled leg-spinner Amir Khan (2-63), broke the promising partnership when he trapped Estriado leg before wicket for 55.

Soon after Bhaskar Yadram bowled Bailey for 19 at 81-2 before Hetmyer and Avishkar Sewkarran joined forces, and were making easy headway until the interval on what turn out to be a batsman-friendly surface.

At the interval Hetmyer was on 26 while Sewkarran on 34. Soon after the hosts lost Sewkarran to Cordel Mars (1-24), for 35, but the left-handed, Hetmyer re-

mained in complete control of the chase.

He dominated the proceedings with consummate ease. He showed his class and brought up his fifty off 66 balls before registering his century off 120 deliveries, but when he was finally dismissed to pacer Simon Royston (219), the hosts were within sight of the victory target.

Javid Karim (4), was caught and bowl off Bhaskar Yadram (2-80), while Sherwyn McPherson (10), and Gudakesh Motie (26), were dismissed off Khan and Royston respectively.

Meanwhile, at Tuschen; Essequibo completed a three-wicket win over Georgetown. Resuming from an overnight 155-5, 38 runs behind their victory target, Essequibo

Five-man team selected for Elite Caribbean Road Race Cycling Championship - selectees will have to fund their own airfare

THE Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) has selected five cyclists to represent the Golden Arrowhead at this year’s Elite Caribbean Road Race Cycling Championship, slated for the French speaking Caribbean Island of Martinique on October 21 and 22.

According to information received, those select-

ed will have to fund their way in terms of airfare to the French Island, as the GCF is strapped for cash, and the organisers of the event will only cater for accommodation and meals during the period.

The cyclists selected are, Raynauth Jeffrey, Geron Williams, Jermaine Burrowes, Paul DeNobrega and Jamal John

Thirty powerlifters to compete for glory in GAPF ‘Raw’ Nationals

THIRTY powerlifters, including seven females, are set to vie for supremacy in the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF)’s ‘Raw’ National championships on Sunday, October 1 at the St. Stanislaus College, Brickdam.

In the limelight of this year’s `Raw’ Nationals, are two young stars, Britny Mack and Arif Imamadeen, who represented Guyana at the 16th North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF) and 32nd South American Powerlifting Federation (FESUPO) Championships, in July of this year.

Mack returned to Guyana with three gold medals and established a Pan/ South American record, while Imamadeen won one gold and one silver medal.

Also set for the competi-

tion is local businesswoman, Indra Mekdeci (72 kg) who shone in the GAPF’s Novice/ Junior Championships earlier this year, and the Bobb sisters- Grace (72 kg) and Blossom (74 kg), who performed at the 2017 GAPF’s Intermediate/Masters competition.

Other powerhouses will represent the Hardcore Barbell Club, and Buddy’s, Tower, and Life and Fitness gyms.

The weigh-in time for this competition will be 07:00 hours while the competition will get underway at 09:00 hours, starting with the lightweight categories.

The event has been sponsored by the GAPF’s premier sponsor, Fitness Express, alongside Buddy’s Gym. Patrons will be able to see local powerhouses compete for only $500 while food and beverages will be on sale.

who is the current leader of the GCF’s points standing.

According to GCF’s Assistant Racing Secretary, Joseph Britton, the Federation is cash-strapped and efforts to get corporate Guyana on board have so far proved futile, hence, the selectees will have to find their airfare in order to represent the Golden Arrowhead at the Elite Meet, which is one month away.

Geron Williams

Jeffrey and Burrowes are currently campaigning on the United States cycling circuit, while Williams is at home (Guyana) receiving treatment for a back injury he sustained while campaigning in the US, and is at the moment uncertain if he will recover in time for the Elite meet.

L i n d e n ’s S h a q u e l Agard is the stand-by and will take the place of any of the cyclists that are unable to make the trip.

reached 194-7, with Ricardo Adams unbeaten on 116. Mark Williams made 43. Scores in the match; Georgetown 117 and 245; Essequibo 170 and 194-7.

At Young Warriors; Lower Corentyne comfortably defeated East Bank by 114 runs. Set 289 for victory, the visitors, resuming from an overnight position at 43-5, East Bank were bowled out 175. Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed made 51. Nial Smith claimed 5-27 while spinner Kasim Khan had 4-59.

At Port Mourant; the game between Upper Corentyne and West Demerara ended in a tame draw.

West Demerara asked to follow on, with 184 runs first innings deficit, were 371-5 when both captains decided

Shimron Hetmyer hit seven four and five sixes in his 114 off 127 balls.

to call off play. Akshaya Persaud was unbeaten on 151. Raymond Reifer made a brilliant 88 while Roma-

rio Shepherd contributed a solid 61.

The fifth round bowls off on Friday.

ICC launches corruption probe in Sri Lanka THE International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched a corruption investigation in Sri Lanka following allegations made by former player and selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe.

Sri Lanka players last week called for an immediate inquiry into “baseless” claims made by Wickramasinghe, who highlighted “unnatural and mysterious match patterns”.

A statement released by Sri Lanka Cricket revealed that 40 contracted players, including captains Dinesh Chandimal and Upul Tharanga, had signed a petition refuting the allegations as “totally baseless”.

The ICC on Saturday revealed that a probe is being conducted in Sri Lanka.

A statement released by the governing body said: “The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit works to uphold in-

tegrity in cricket and this includes conducting investigations where there are reasonable grounds to do so.

Naturally as part of this we are talking to a number of people.

“We will not comment

Upul Tharanga

“There is currently an ICC (ACU) investigation underway in Sri Lanka.

any further on an ongoing investigation.”(Omnisport)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday September 25, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) James Anderson-32 wickets (2) Malcolm Marshall-41 wickets Today’s Quiz: (1) Which English wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals in

ODIs against the WI? (2) Which WI wicketkeeper has effected most dismissals in

ODIs against England?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, September 25, 2017

Brutal Mooen 53-ball century set up England win SCORECARD E. Lewis c Ali b Willey ENGLAND Innings

Mooen Ali reached a 53-ball century, his second fifty taking just 12 deliveries ©AFP

Chris Gayle kept popping sixes into the crowd before he was run out for 94.

BRISTOL, England (Reuters) - Moeen Ali hit the second fastest one-day international century in England’s history to set up a win over West Indies by 124 runs on Sunday.

Victory gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the third of the five-match series after the second game was washed out last week.

Joe Root with 84 and Ben Stokes (73) were the other main contributors to an imposing total of 369-9 off 50 overs. They shared a fourth-wicket stand of 132 as Root became the highest scorer in all formats in an English international season.

Then Ali took over, reaching his century off 53 balls, the last of them being his eighth

J. Bairstow c&b Holder 13 A. Hales lbw b Cummins 36 J. Root lbw b Cummins 84 E. Morgan c S. Hope b Holder 0 B. Stokes c Lewis b R. Powell 73 J. Buttler b Cummins 2 M. Ali c Holder b Nurse 102 C. Woakes c R. Powell b Taylor 34 L. Plunkettv run out (Taylor) 9 D. Willey not out 1 A. Rashid not out 9 Extras: (lb-1 nb-2 w-3) 6 Total: (for 9 wickets, 50 overs) 369 Fall of wickets: 1-27 J. Bairstow,2-73 A. Hales,3-74 E. Morgan,4-206 B. Stokes,5-210 J. Buttler,6-217 J. Root,7-334 C. Woakes,8-354 M. Ali,9-358 L. Plunkett Bowling: J. Taylor 10 - 1 - 75 - 1(nb1 w-3),J. Holder 10 - 0 - 81 - 2(nb-1), M. Cummins 9 - 0 - 82 – 3,D. Bishoo 5 - 0 - 33 – 0, A. Nurse 8 - 0 - 59 – 1,R. Powell 8 - 0 - 38 – 1.

WEST INDIES Innings C. Gayle run out (Rashid) 94

six. Only Jos Buttler, from 46 balls against Pakistan in 2015, has ever got there faster for England.

Ali eventually holed out to long-off for 102 as West Indies’ labouring bowlers went for 123 in the final 10 overs.

“The ground isn’t that big so it’s nice to play on it,” he told Sky Sports. “I just tried to slog it as much as I

13 S. Hope c Buttler b Plunkett 20 M. Samuels c Buttler b Plunkett 11 J. Mohammed c Bairstow b Plunkett 38 R. Powell c Woakes b Rashid 8 J. Holder c Ali b Plunkett 34 A. Nurse lbw b Rashid 1 D. Bishoo c Morgan b Plunkett 12 J. Taylor b Rashid 0 M. Cummins not out 4 Extras: (lb-3 w-7) 10 Total (all out, 39.1 overs) 245 Fall of wickets: 1-15 E. Lewis,2-79 S. Hope,3-109 M. Samuels,4-176 C. Gayle,5-192 R. Powell,6-210 J. Mohammed,7-212 A. Nurse,8-241 D. Bishoo,9-241 J. Taylor,10-245 J. Holder Bowling: C. Woakes 7 - 1 - 32 - 0 (w-1), D. Willey 4 - 0 - 34 - 1 (w1), L. Plunkett 8.1 - 0 - 52 - 5(w1), M. Ali 10 - 0 - 65 - 0 (w-2), B. Stokes 4 - 0 - 25 - 0(w-2), A. Rashid 6 - 0 - 34 – 3.

TEAM Coco’s Jamal John rode a well-calculated race to win the 15th edition of the Victor Macedo Memorial cycle road race yesterday, in a time of three hours, five minutes 11 seconds. The winning time was six minutes faster than last year’s, which was three hours 11 minutes six seconds.

After rolling off from Macedo’s residence on Peter Rose Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, and getting the green flag on Homestretch Avenue, John along with Jaikarran Sukhai, Paul Cho-WeeNam, Alonzo Ambrose, Michael Anthony, Akeem Wilkinson and Raul Leal broke from the pack and led all the way to Long Creek, Linden/Soesdyke Highway, via the East Bank Demerara carriageway and were never caught again until after turning for home from Long Creek, Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

They were eventually caught by Team Evolution’s Orville Hinds near the Umbrella Resort on the Linden Highway.

Together, the leading bunch worked in tandem un-

til they reached the final turn at the National Cultural Centre into Homestretch Avenue when Cho-Wee-Nam staged an attack with approximately 500 metres remaining to the finish line, but John was

respectively.

Anthony won three of the 10 prime prizes that were up for grabs, while John and Leal won two each. Ambrose, Cho-Wee-Nam and Hinds won one each.

years of age category ahead of Amrit sankar, while in the Veterans’ under 45 years category, Jaikarran Sukhai was first.

Second place went to Junior Niles, while Warren McKay placed third.

Prize winners of the categories of the Victor Macedo Memorial Cycle Road race, strike a pose for photographer Samuel Maughn, as Gem Gomes (centre) makes the presentation to the winner Jamal John.

quick to respond followed by Ambrose with the other five cyclists struggling to keep up with the pace.

In the end, the inform John won ahead of Ambrose, Hinds, Cho-Wee-Nam, Wilkinson, Leal, Anthony and De Nobrega

In the Junior category, Christopher Cornelius returned three hours 16 minutes 17 seconds in winning his category ahead of Nigel Dugid and Adealie Hodge, respectively.

Eon `Dumb Boy’ Jackson won the Veterans’ over 40

COMPETITORS for the upcoming Caribbean Invasion drag race will this evening be briefed on new rules and regulations for the event.

With less than one week remaining for the event, the club has seen it fit to host a meeting with those competitors to engage them on new regulations.

According to the Club, “Monday’s meeting is to ensure that the competitors understand the rules of the upcoming Caribbean Invasion meet.”

“We want to see all the racers and potential racers for that meeting Monday because it believes that it also gives them a chance to voice certain issues that they had at the last meeting.”

The club in a statement said, “It also gives those marshals and officials a chance to hear how they can better improve raceday, be it traffic flow, lining up cars or any other issues.”

According to the club, it also ensures that new competitors get to understand the lighting system, how it works and what the lights mean.

Today’s meeting starts at 18:00hrs at the club’s Thomaslands office.

CGF President calls meeting of the Americas and Caribbean ‘successful’

could.”

Opener Chris Gayle led the response, at one stage hitting Ali for three consecutive sixes, but he never quite had sufficient support and was run out for 94 going for a quick single.

Ali even took the final catch as the innings ended for 245 in the 40th over, Liam Plunkett finishing with 5-52.

John wins Victor Macedo 75-mile cycle road race

By Michael Da Silva

Caribbean Invasion competitors meeting on tonight

Ozia McAullay won the Mountain Bike category ahead of Julio Melville and Jude Bentley in that order.

The event was sponsored by Macedo Transportation Services and was organised by the Flying Stars Cycle Club.

Louise Martin, during her address to the participants yesterday (Samuel Maughn photo)

PRESIDENT of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Louise Martin, has said that she was more than impressed with the staging of a two- day meeting of Federation’s Americas and Caribbean representatives here, calling the event ‘fruitful’ and ‘successful’ and one that her Federation was happy to be part of.

With the exception Dominica, British Virgin Islands (BVI) and at least two other countries whose non-attendance was as a result of the four hurricanes that swept the Caribbean, the other countries present examined and discussed how the region and the Americas can be more impactful at the Commonwealth Games and at the level of the game’s Federation.

“The sessions were really, really good over the two days” Martin told reporters at a closing press conference after the meeting wrapped up at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) new headquarters

at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

“I think everyone left feeling pleased about what was discussed, especially in the area of governance and how everyone can be on the same page in the Caribbean, as we are at the level of the Federation” Martin pointed out.

Viability of the Commonwealth Games and a review of the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games were discussed, as well as, an update at of next year’s games and a 2022 event were always brought up at the meeting.

Representatives from Australia’s Gold Coast, the host of the 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games next year, shared their readiness to the Americas and the Caribbean countries.

The 21st (XXI) Commonwealth Games will be held in the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, April 4-15, 2018. It is the fifth time Australia will be hosting the Commonwealth Games.

Brutal Mooen 53-ball century set up England win

Page 23

Nagamootoo urges CGF to help rebuild hurricane-devastated Caribbean

By Rawle Toney

(L-R) Director of Sport, Christopher Jones; Antigua’s Minister of Sports, Chet Greene; CGF President, Louise Martin; Acting President, Moses Nagamootoo; St Lucia’s Senator, Fortuna Belros; GOA’s President, Juman Yassin; and Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton. (Samuel Maughn photo)

SPEAKING at the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) meeting of the Americas and Caribbean and addressing a room full of sports enthusiasts, some of whom are serving members of their respective governments, Acting President Moses Nagamootoo, yesterday challenged the gathering to use the Commonwealth Games and the Federation to help rebuild the hurricane-devastated region.

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) facilitated a twoday meeting where a number of important issues, regarding the Caribbean and the Americas involvement in the upcoming Commonwealth Games and the 2022 edition, were discussed.

Hurricane Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Maria wreaked havoc on the Caribbean, forcing a number of residents to evacuate, and those who weren’t affected, to lend a hand to help rebuild.

Nagamootoo heads a Ministerial Task Force that is responsible for overseeing the Civil Defence Commis-

sion’s (CDC) National Risk Reduction Platform efforts, in Guyana’s bid to support the hurricane-affected Caribbean countries.

According to the Prime Minister, who is currently performing the duties as President in the absence of President David Granger, sports should be seen and used as more than just a tool to bring glory to one’s country, but also to highlight the world’s issues, whatever they might be.

“We all feel an elevation of the spirit and we all feel that we are triumphant because sports represent for me, the human value that rises above difficulties and challenge,” Nagamootoo said.

He added “we have a responsibility to use sports to help to rebuild, to meet the many challenges, the policies and strategies that Governments cannot remedy successfully.

“Drug abuse, the crime epidemic, particularly among young people…and sports

Turn to page 20

Army maul Pepsi Hornets 41 – 10 ARMY STRONG! Cloyd Prowell bullying his way against the Pepsi Hornets in the Bounty Farm 15s Rugby tournament (Samuel Maughn photos)

See Page 20

GDF’s Dwayne Schroeder on his way to scoring a try against Pepsi Hornets during their 41 – 10 win on Sunday.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2017