Guyana chronicle e paper 09 27 2017

French oil company makes foray into Exxon's exploration hotbed Page 15

'Abuse of LEN funds' No. 105048

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2017

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

…chairman, CEO fired for allegedly diversifying into mortgage financing

Region 10 wins jeopardy competition

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Berbice boy laid to rest …President Page 2

deeply saddened

80 tons of goods ready for storm-hit countries – CDC Page 3

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Winners! The Region 10 winning team was represented by Ferdinand McLeod, Cheryl Wills and Camille Cummings (MoE photo)

‘We will win at ICJ’ …Min. Greenidge tells Brooklyn conference

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Man gets bail for hit-and-run fatal accident

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Berbice boy laid to rest …President deeply saddened PRESIDENT David Granger said he is deeply saddened to learn of the death of 13-year-old Leonard Archibald, who was allegedly raped and then dumped into the Berbice River where he was found dead a few days after.

In a message of condolence, the Guyanese head of state said: “Leonard went missing last week on his way home from a party. His lifeless body was discovered two days ago. The teen, who has been described as a helpful and willing child

Leonard Archibald

by his mother, was a student of the Overwinning Primary School.” President Granger extends sincere condolences to his mother, Ms. Abigail Archibald, his siblings, other relatives and friends.

Meanwhile, Archibald was laid to rest following a moving church service where Senior Probabtion and Child Protection Officer, Mitford Ward, said that there needs to be a higher level of awareness with respect to protecting our children. He said “If the perpetrators’ behaviour was known by so many in this community, for so many years, what did we do to protect our children, and what did we do as a community to help him [the main suspect] to reform his evil ways?”

The funeral service was held at the teen’s home at Brothers Village, East Bank Berbice. A white coffin bearing his remains, with a photograph perched at the top, was rolled into the yard

by the pall-bearers as mourners wept. The funeral service was initially planned to be held at the Brothers Outstation of Grace Temple Assemblies of God Church, but the family was informed by the undertakers, that because of the state of decomposition, it would be wise to hold a short service before the stench rose.

As a result, the service commenced just after 11:00hrs, mere minutes before the arrival of the corpse, which was not displayed for public viewing. On Saturday, September 23, last, the partial skeletal remains belonging to Archibald were discovered off the river bank at Korthberaadt Village, East Bank Berbice, six days after he went missing. His bicycle was taken out of the Berbice river mere hours before, ending days of community searches. Two men remain in police custody for the attack.

Meanwhile, Warde was quick to remind those gathered, which include Regional Chairman Permaul David Armoogan, Regional Education Officer Ms Volika Jaikissoon and other educators, that the death Archibald suffered was not the first for the village. He said on December 27, 2012,

Mourners leaving the Archibalds’ home at Brothers Village, East Bank Berbice

Devon Lewis was killed because he refused to have an unnatural relationship with his step-uncle, Roy Lewis.

The youth was asleep with his girlfriend at her home at Back Street, Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice, when the now convicted Roy Lewis stabbed him. Lewis has since

confessed to a manslaughter charge and was sentenced to 26 years imprisonment by Justice Franklyn Holder.

Continuing, Warde questioned, “Are we going to allow these experiences to force us to go back to our normal state without us doing Turn to page 10 ►

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‘Abuse of LEN funds’ GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

…chairman, CEO fired for allegedly diversifying into mortgage financing

By Vanessa Braithwaite A RECENT audit of the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) has found massive discrepancies and the chairman and chief executive officer have since been relieved of their duties, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan told Lindeners on Sunday.

He said that the funds government invested in the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) in an effort to push entrepreneurship within the town were abused. This he said was discovered during the recent audit. Since then, the Chairman of LEN Mr. Klensil Grenville and the Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Tandika Miller, were relieved of their duties. Miller was appointed CEO after Minister Valerie Yearwood, who was the former CEO,

was elevated to a government minister. “It saddened me recently about certain developments about LEN…we have just completed an audit of the funding and what we found then really saddened me… and there has been some abuse of the funds and we had to do some restructuring; and hopefully the funds will be geared towards achieving the objective,” Jordan said.

When the Guyana Chronicle contacted Grenville on Tuesday, he refused to comment on the matter, saying that he prefers to deal with it internally. However, the Guyana Chronicle was informed that Grenville had reportedly sought to diversify LEN’s funding in an effort to create avenues for more income for the institution.

Jordan articulated that government’s intervention into replenishing LEN’s coffers

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

handsomely with $150 M, was a result of a major role he played in seeking cabinet’s approval for the funds, and for three years, LEN has been sustaining itself.

He added that LEN must be a revolving fund, which should strictly be used for the

financing of small business loans.

Calls for Diversification Loan Officer of LEN, Mrs. Neola Rogers, requested of the minister after listening to his comments, that the funds at LEN be diversified therefore, rather than to focus on small business loans, low-income loans should also be considered. “I think if the ministry could be able to diversify LEN in a sense that it is able to lend low-income mortgages, because we are not so rigid as the commercial banks,” Rogers suggested. She posited that residents of Linden should be able to access $5-6 M at a much lower cost and requested of Jordan to consider the suggestion. Rogers made this suggestion after Minister of Communities Valerie Yearwood revealed that many low-income earn-

ers are experiencing difficulties accessing mortgages at commercial banks so as to qualify for ownership of the low-income housing units being constructed by the Central Housing and Planning Authority.

Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, also suggested that LEN be more farmer-friendly, so that farmers too can access the funding for their agricultural operations. He said, “Farming is a risky investment and then the payment arrangement should be somewhat considered…”

NO DIVERSIFICATION While Jordan agreed that farmers should be able to access the funding since their operations are business-related, he did not conform to the idea that LEN should be diversified

at this point. “I don’t see how we can diversify with the objective of LEN being to build entrepreneurial programmes, inclusive of agriculture…this is a programme strictly for getting people into business and for people to own their own business,” Jordan explained. He added that residents involved in agriculture, forestry, manufacturing and tourism should be able to access the funds, but not for mortgages. Rogers also recently called for residents to think more of manufacturing, rather than to seek funds to basically ‘buy and sell goods.” She said that more residents should, “think outside of the box,” which will meet the enterprising objective of LEN. Rogers also suggested that residents pool their resources to qualify for group loans, which will allow them to access a maximum of $1M.

80 tons of goods ready for storm-hit countries – CDC THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Tuesday said it is preparing to have some 80 tons of goods shipped out to Caribbean countries battered

by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, even as it continues to accept donations in any form to aid in the process.

Chairman of the commission, retired Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup, told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that the organisation has been receiving tremendous support from donors in both “cash and kind.” He said so far the commission has in its possession some 80 tons of goods which will amount to some 10 containers that will be shipped to Antigua on Saturday. From Antigua, officials will make arrangements for portions to be sent to the devastated Dominica.

The commission was loaned a ship from Komal Singh of Gaico Construction and General Service Inc.; currently, the ship is conducting some “trial runs,” Colonel Ramsarup told the Guyana Chronicle. He was clear however, that the donations to these countries are not specifically for Guyanese, but for every person affected. He said the goods

will be handed over to officials there and they will make the necessary distribution.

The CDC has been the holding point of all public donations to countries ravaged by the hurricanes.

The cries continue to mount from these countries, especially Dominica, which was virtually flattened when the storm Maria violently moved through it last Tuesday.

Only on Monday, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said the devastation brought on by the two hurricanes on the Caribbean territories has taken a severe toll on the physical infrastructure of those countries.

He said it would take at least 10 years before they could become viable once again.

He said the fragility of economies within the Caribbean will gravely affect their ability to restructure in a timely manner. “We have always been vulnerable in the Caribbean, because of the nature of our economy.

Most of our countries depend on tourism and now with what has happened, there will not be an attractive tourist destination,” Nagamootoo said, continu-

ing that the tourism industry would need the support of all partners to rebuild.

Several Caribbean countries, including the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Antigua and Barbuda and most recently Dominica, have lost hundreds billions of dollars after the hurricanes swept through. Many families have lost loved ones, while some persons had to be evacuated to other countries.

The Governments in several of those countries are beginning to rebuild infrastructure. Barbuda has been left completely devastated by Hurricane Irma. An estimated 95% of that country’s structures are damaged, and the entire island of around 1,800 people has been evacuated.

The small island community is said to have a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $1 billion a year.

The country’s ambassador to the U.S., Sir Ronald Sanders, said recently that the country cannot afford to take on the responsibility (of rebuilding) by itself.

“Barbuda is not just a disaster, it’s a humanitarian crisis. We are hopeful that the international commu-

nity will come to our aid, not because we’re begging for something we want, but because we’re begging for something that is needed.”

He said currently, initial estimates suggest that Barbuda will need about $200 million to recover.

Over 90 percent of buildings were destroyed, including all government premises.

Barbudans are temporarily living in neighbouring Antigua until they can resume their lives back in Barbuda.

While Barbuda was destroyed by Hurricane Irma, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has had two bouts. First, suffering Irma and then falling at the mercy of Hurricane Maria. According to “the Star” report, Hurricane Maria struck the island last Tuesday night, destroying most of what was left after the first storm.

It dragged the debris left behind by Hurricane Irma across the island — caus-

ing further roadblocks and thrashing of homes.

And over in Dominica, the situation there had brought the Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to tears. He exclaimed to Heads of Government at the 72nd United Nations (UN) General Assembly last week, that “Dominica was brought to its knees.”

The commonwealth country was hit by Hurricane Maria in the early morning hours of Tuesday last.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Oil prices fall from 26-month high on profit-taking

Brent oil prices fell 1 percent on Tuesday after investors took profit following a rally to 26-month highs spurred largely by threats from Turkey to cut crude exports from Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

Brent LCOc1 fell 61 cents to US$58.35 a barrel by 12:05 p.m. (1405 GMT), after hitting US$59.49, the highest since July 2015 and more than 34 percent above their 2017 low.

U.S. crude futures CLc1 slid 26 cents, or 0.5 percent, to US$51.96 a barrel, after hitting a five-month high of US$52.43.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan repeated a threat to cut off the pipeline that carries 500,000-600,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude from northern Iraq to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, intensifying pressure on the Kurdish autonomous region over its independence referendum.

This potential loss, combined with 1.8 million bpd of output

reductions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-OPEC producers, raised concerns of tighter supply.

The Iraqi government said it will not hold talks with the Kurdistan Regional Government about the results of the referendum, which is expected to show a comfortable majority in favor of independence after the results are announced later this week.

“Although there was plenty of price-bullish news making headlines yesterday, undoubtedly the biggest factor was the referendum in the Kurdistan region of Iraq,” analysts at Vienna-based JBC Energy said in a note. The rally over the past two days led to profit-taking. “The market was approaching if not in overbought territory,” Robert Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho Americas.

“We prefer to take a pause at US$60.00 a barrel (for) Brent,”

Petromatrix strategist Olivier Jakob wrote in a note. Top oil executives gathered at the S&P Global Platts APPEC conference in Singapore said strong oil demand this year was accelerating market rebalancing and helping inventory drawdowns. However, other analysts were skeptical about further price gains due to higher oil output from the United States.

U.S. crude stocks likely rose 2.3 million barrels last week, analysts polled estimated ahead of weekly inventory reports from the industry group American Petroleum Institute (API) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA), respectively released on Tuesday and Wednesday. U.S. crude supplies have been rising as imports and production recover in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, while refineries have been slower to restart.

The EIA said last week that U.S. crude stocks jumped 4.6 million barrels as imports increased by 734,000 bpd and production rose 157,000 bpd to 9.51 million bpd, close to levels before Harvey hit Texas on Aug. 25. “The all-time record [for domestic production] is 9.61 million June 2015, last week’s report was 100,000 barrels off of that,” said Yawger, “With that in mind no one wants to ride that long position into the EIA report.” (Reuters)

Iraqi Kurds must give up on independence or go hungry - Erdogan Turkey’s president has said Iraqi Kurds could go hungry as a result of the punitive measures he is considering after Monday’s independence referendum.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the head of the Kurdistan Regional Government of “treachery” for pressing ahead with the vote despite international opposition. Massoud Barzani should now “give up on this adventure”, he said. Iraq’s prime minister meanwhile gave the KRG three days to hand over control of its airports or face an air embargo. Haider al-Abadi also demanded that all border posts with Turkey, Syria and Iran be placed under Baghdad’s supervision, according to state television.

Turkey’s president has said Iraqi Kurds could go hungry as a result of the punitive measures he is considering after Monday’s independence referendum.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the head of the Kurdistan Regional Government of “treachery” for pressing ahead with the vote despite international opposition.

Massoud Barzani should now “give up on this adventure”, he said.

Iraq’s prime minister meanwhile gave the KRG three days to hand over control of its airports or face an air embargo. Haider al-Abadi also demanded that all border posts with Turkey, Syria and Iran be placed under Baghdad’s supervision, according to state television.

In a speech on Tuesday, Mr Erdogan said he had expected “until the last moment” that Kurdistan Regional President Massoud Barzani would postpone the vote. “This referendum decision, which has been taken without any consultation, is treachery,” he said.

“If Barzani and the Kurdish Regional Government do not go back on this mistake as soon as possible, they will go down in history with the shame of having dragged the region into an ethnic and sectarian war,” he warned.

Turkey fears that the emergence of an independent Kurdish state on its border will stoke separatist feeling in its own Kurdish minority. Mr Erdogan said Turkey might now impose sanctions to persuade Mr Barzani’s administration to “give up on this adventure that can only have a dark end”. “It will be over when we close the oil taps, all [their] revenues will vanish, and they will not be able to find food when our trucks stop going to northern Iraq,” he added.

Cross-border trade between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey was worth some

$5bn (£3.7bn) in the first six months of 2017, according to Kurdish officials, while hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil flow daily through a pipeline from Kurdish-controlled oil fields to the Mediterranean via Turkish territory.

Iraqi soldiers also joined Turkish troops for military exercises in south-eastern Turkey on Monday, near the border with Iraq. Iran, which also has a Kurdish minority, banned direct flights to and from the Kurdistan Region on Sunday. The US earlier said it was “deeply disappointed” that the Kurdistan Region held the referendum, but stressed that their “historic relationship” would not change.

The referendum was held in the three Iraqi provinces that make up the Kurdistan Region, as well as in adjoining disputed areas claimed by the Kurds and the Arab-led central government that are controlled by Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

The Kurdish news agency Rudaw reported that 72% of the 5.2 million Kurds and non-Kurds registered as resident in those areas had voted.

Ballots were still being counted on Tuesday, with initial results expected by the end of the day. Kurds are the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East but they have never obtained a permanent nation state. In Iraq, where they make up an estimated 15% to 20% of the population of 37 million, Kurds faced decades of repression before acquiring autonomy in 1991. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Dominica PM urges calm in rebuilding exercise

…praises ‘friends’ for coming to Dominica’s aid Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Monday thanked members of the regional and international community that have so far come to the aid of his island, one week after it was battered by Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm that left a trial of death and destruction.

“So over the next few days this country will have lots of food and supplies and the intention is to get it to all of the people in the quickest possible way. But we have to be orderly, we have to be respectful of the authorities,” he said, telling reporters Dominica is “open for business”.

Skerrit said that Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman and Grenada Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell as well as the Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, are due here on Tuesday. “These visits are important, it adds to the hope and calmness of the people that we are not alone in this struggle,” Skerrit said.

Skerrit told a news conference that he was pleased with the regional and international response to the disaster that has left millions of dollars in damage and more than 50 per cent of all housing structures significantly damaged. While the death toll officially has been placed at 27, unofficially, the number of dead is nearing

70 with several communities engaged in burials.

Skerrit told reporters that several communities than in the past had been in accessible, were now open including the main network from the capital to the airport in the north of the island. He said while the Portsmouth to Roseau road is opened, it would require the use of four wheel vehicles and that work to restores several bridges have already started.

Skerrit, who welcomed the senior officials of the Regional Security System (RSS) for the work being done in maintaining law and order here since the hurricane, also indicated that his administration would be pushing the Dominica Electricity Company (DOMLEC), the telecommunication companies, LIME and DIGICEL in order to restore electricity and telecommunications as soon as possible.

“I am talking to the managers, I am pushing for the roads to be cleared because once the roads are cleared you can bring supplies to our people,” Skerrit said, adding that there was need for total unity among the entire population in going about the reconstruction efforts. “If you see a piece of galvanise and you take it out, it will help us, if you clear the streets it will help us,” he said, adding that this week, the authorities will be engaging

“teams of people and they will be paid to help with the clearing.

“So we will go to communities announce when we will be there so that we can solicit names of people who are interested in working in clearing the roads with pay. The UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) when I was in New York committed three million US dollars to help with that, so they will be paying some of the people for us… to create employment so that people can be engaged and moving forward. Skerrit said he wanted to commend the police officers noting “sometimes we criticise them, but I can tell you these police officers have been exceptional.

“The majority of them have lost homes, some have not been able to go home to see the situation and they have been there before the hurricane, during the hurricane and after the hurricane and they continue to be there.

“We have friends from the region, from the RSS… helping us and all of them doing a fantastic job,” he said, adding “I would want to reiterate to the country we will not tolerate indiscipline and lawlessness whatsoever.

He repeated that the curfew is between 4.00 pm to 8.00 am (local time) and “we will review the curfew as we go

and on this matter I will be advised exclusively by the Chief of Police and the Commander of the RSS forces here. “Whatever advice they provide to me, I will provide that advice to His Excellency the President (Charles Savarin) who will make the necessary adjustment…but that matter is exclusively in the purview of the Chief of Police who has responsibility of overseeing the security of the state.

“The curfew can go away today, tomorrow…once people behave themselves,” Skerrit said, adding “once we get a sense of people behaving themselves it will be lifted immediately. “We really do not want to have a curfew on… we want people to be out helping and cleaning up and so on but we have issues to deal with”. Police Commissioner Daniel Carbon said that 40 people have been arrested on criminal

officers as well as another 48 for breaking the curfew.

He said a prison break out on Sunday night resulted in four prisoners escaping. But he told reporters that two, including one on a murder charge have been recaptured and are under security at the hospital where they had been taken for medical attention.

The police commissioner said while 27 people have been confirmed missing officially, there are also an additional unconfirmed reports of 18 missing.

He said following the hurricane “we have had massive looting” with several businesses in the capital and “to a lesser extent in Portsmouth” have been affected. He said that while police officers from St. Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda were already assisting in security here, more than 100 are expected from Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

He said he wanted to take the opportunity to dispel rumours that the ports

here, under the responsibility of the Trinidad and Tobago contingent were not safe, saying “I wish to dispel those rumours, we have had a Dutch contingent along with the Trinidad and Tobago contingent provding security for the port.” Skerrit said that the authorities are continuing “the assault today on providing supplies, we have lost of supplies coming in…and as we get them we are not going to store them. “The instructions from myself is do not store any food at this stage, we have to get food to our people and water throughout the day and throughout the week”. (CMC)

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

The tragedy of Leonard Archibald WHEN any untoward incident happens in a child’s life, a society asks itself searching questions. Our children are a very vulnerable demographic and their well-being is often seen as the responsibility of society to mould, guide, protect and defend. When any aspect of this responsibility is threatened, it not only threatens the child’s welfare, but the future of society and human development.

The alleged sodomy and murder of 13-year- old Leonard Archibald of Brothers, East Bank Berbice, by two grown men, whom he may have known and interacted with, are not only chilling that such paedophilic behaviour roams unrestrained, but the loss to his family, village and wider society.

The police have in custody, Hillary Edwards and Nicholas Christopher.

Questions will be asked if society has failed this teenager and if so, what can be done to send a clear message to those who lurk among us and prey on our children. Archibald, whose life was allegedly snuffed out on 17th September, did not have to die under such circumstances. Apart from the cowardly and criminal acts committed on him and the hope that justice will be served, the society has to move to the stage where such violations of our children take more prominent and constant part of national discourse, policies and programmes.

The Childcare and Protection Unit, arguably given the resources at its disposal, would acknowledge it is doing the best it can. Outside of this government agency, it requires broad-based approaches to dealing with such incidents, which should also bring to the fore examination of the wisdom in creating partnerships between governmental and non-gov-

ernmental organisations. Information-gathering, knowledge and education can be accessed from multiple sources and the avenues should be explored.

Some long-held cultural traditions will too have to be revisited and processes embarked on to unlearn or find unacceptable some of these. Let us not pretend, ours is a society where conversations on sex are a little steeped in backwardness. Even more so, certain sexual behaviours when not criminalised are frowned upon, which also contributes to closing off channels of and for intelligent communications.

Adults, including parents, are not too inclined to have certain sexual conversations with children. The effect is that it aids ignorance, and in addition to sourcing information elsewhere, which may not be credible, in the absence of knowledge, source(s) to confide in and report to, paedophiles will prey on children’s trusting nature and vulnerability and secure their silence through fear.

Another oft-ignored factor, but proven to be scientifically reliable is that children are often molested by those whom they trust or see as authority figures and very often these are persons close to them, including members of their own family. Leonard was a family relation of Edwards. Child protection agencies, supportive institutions and families will have to confront these realities and find ways to deal with them as critical to ensuring the protection of our children.

Conversations of safe space, i.e. physical proximity and body parts, how to report untoward incidents and who to tell are needed and should be ongoing as a matter of public service. In covering this tragedy, our newspaper recounted anecdotes of Edwards allegedly molesting villagers, efforts at

warding off his illicit sexual advances, absence of confidence in the police, denials by him, and accepted compensation from him to victim’s family. None of the aforesaid can be avoided in addressing the problem. The public support shown by villagers on the incident is arguably representative of a single act or national factor. And though that act could lend to the perception of tardiness, given the character’s behaviour is known, he was allowed to prowl and parade in the community, probably secure in the false sense of invincibility, that the silence was broken required courage in our society.

It takes a village to raise a child and the protection of that community for the life of Leonard should spark conversations and actions for similar mobilisation that would come from awareness should such a character reside in or visit the area.

It should matter not whether that person is a family relation, an authority in the community, or stranger.

Leonard was the victim of criminal acts and anarchic subculture, the latter allowing for turning a blind eye, being dismissive or insufficient on conversations of sex and sexuality, including recognition, avoidance, and to whom it should be reported. Law enforcement also needs training and education to handle matters of such nature.

When it comes to the safety and well-being of children, all are involved and must be taught and encouraged to play their meaningful roles.

Those calling for scrapping of the Constitution should be truthful

Dear Editor:

RESPONSE is being made to Terrence Campbell (“RISE’s contribution clearly recognised that not all changes required amendment to the Constitution,” SN 25th September) and Tarron Khemraj (‘There has to be a completely new constitution,” SN 26th September).

Campbell is being deceptive in making the assertion that I am “obstinate in [my] opposition to constitutional reform.” As an advocate for the respecting and upholding of the rule of law, and notably the Guyana Constitution that enshrines provision for constitutional reform (Article 119A) which my letter (24th September) concluded with, makes the case of his recklessness in treating with this serious matter.

Whether the group RISE issued a statement that “some of these changes require constitutional amendments and others can be effected via legislation,” what Campbell reportedly told the University of Guyana- sponsored symposium is that there is need for constitutional reform to bring about a constituency-based system. His statement is wrong and misleading.

Were Article 160 (Electoral System) read and understood and attention paid to the evolving political environment it would have been realised that the 2016 Local Government Elections fielded constituency-based candidates; and this was made possible not through constitutional reform, but the Act that allows for creating the formula for the people to elect their representatives.

There continues to be confusion between the Constitution which establishes the framework and the legislation which puts the meat on the framework. This must be sorted out, lest the nation continues to be misinformed and misguided, thereby leaving the politicians to run wild and wreak havoc on the nation and continue their abuse of the people.

The Constitution has more than 200 articles, but Khemraj takes objection to one (Article 160), stating “there has to be a completely new Constitution,” because this offending article allows for “individual rights [to be] trumped by group interests.” This argument doesn’t hold because the individual’s rights and freedoms (Title 1) still await legislation to give meaning. If Khemraj is speaking about political rep-

resentation, nothing prevents the parties from putting in place a system that would ensure a List reflecting the will of the people, the people from having a say in whom they want on the List or holding to account those who are elected to serve. In fact, the Constitution allows such latitude and accountability.

For instance, the PNC was onto something progressive when it started the primary to elect its presidential candidate. This could have been built on, and it should be noted that this act did not require constitutional reform, same as it was for those who ran in the local government elections as independent and on the constituency-based system. What is lacking in our society is vision, commitment, and will to make

the Constitution work for all.

I have never seen something like this before in all my travels to and observations of other societies, where people are throwing up their hands and cowering behind an instrument they paint as ineffective when those who are driving the calls have not read this document, don’t understand it, have a personal hatred for the man, Forbes Burnham, under whose leadership it was established, regurgitating or being victims of the propaganda to despise the instrument. Some have taken this ridiculousness further by arguing that the referendum was rigged so out with the 1980 Constitution, but they want the constitution given to us at independence by the British when the people were not even given the opportunity to cast a ballot on it.

In the personally imposed torment these proponents are holding society hostage, refusing to see should attention be paid to the Constitution in its present form and demands made of the politicians to act in concert with it, this society can be further along the development continuum. It is time to stop misleading the society and demands must be of those who call for scrapping the constitution or reforming to represent their position by being truthful and constructive. We the people must be unflinching in holding them to account, for like the self-serving politicians, they do this country grave disservice and are retarding our development.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

CoI recommendations must be implemented Dear Editor

ALTHOUGH not officially released for public consumption by the Government, many recommendations from the Paul Slowe CoI are now public knowledge. Several persons have posited their views on the issues in the print and electronic media and elsewhere. It is a good topic to start a conversation with or even an argument.

Issues and concerns that originate from the inquiry have the potential to rock the very foundation of discipline in the Guyana Police Force. However, it has its parallel dating back some years ago. President

Hugh Desmond Hoyte had ordered an inquiry into the operations of the Guyana Prison Service. When asked why he did not implement many of the recommendations of the CoI, President Hoyte said that he could not afford the haemorrhage. End of the matter.

Years later, we experienced deadly and devastating effects of not implementing many of those recommendations. The Government of Guyana may find itself in a conundrum -- dammed if it does, dammed if it does not act on the recommendations.

Those recommendations that I have seen have constitutional, strategic, tactical,

operational and other implications. If put into action, they are likely to shatter the very foundation of the GPF. Apparently, the GPF is like the West Indies cricket team.

There is no strength on the bench. According to Viv Richards, the lights are on but no one is going to the party.

In terms of strategic, tactical and operational command, we appear to be scraping the barrel from top to bottom. It may be bare.

Unprecedented activities require unprecedented actions.

Let us not fall in the same trap as we did with the GPS. Let the chips fall where they may, even if there will be some amount of

blood-letting. Let there be the transfusion. The process may be painful, but it is required to purify the body. It is in the best interest of the GPF and will go a far way towards the law enforcement officers delivering a higher quality of service to the government and citizens of Guyana they swore to serve and protect.

There is hope. Remember, behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining. The clouds will soon roll by.

Wow! Why are some things in Guyana so inherently incredible?

Regards Clinton Conway

‘Overstaffed’ City Council should send workers to hurricane-ravaged islands Dear Editor, WATCHING the aftermath and devastating consequences of recent hurricanes in our region, including Hurricane Maria (the fourth-named storm since Irma) and well aware of the significant overstaffing and complete bankruptcy of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown, I would like to make a proposition that would ‘kill two flightless birds with one giant stone,’ as they say here in Guyana.

With thousands of Caribbean people, including a sig-

nificant number of Guyanese with no shelter, clothing, food or water, with animals stranded and pets abandoned and left behind, with many buildings flattened, roads ripped up, bridges damaged and other public infrastructure destroyed, there is an urgent need for engineers, architects, surveyors, draughtsmen, public health workers, plumbers, electricians, masons, carpenters, tinsmiths, labourers, mechanics, welders, painters, crane and excavator operators, landscapers, security officers, etc., all of which the Georgetown municipality has.

I would therefore like to suggest that the City Council send roughly half of its approximately 1,000 workers to the islands to help with the rebuilding of the services and structures needed for people in order for them to resume some semblance of ordinary life in places such as Cuba, St Kitts & Nevis, Dominica, St. Maarten and Barbuda.

In this way, these employees would have meaningful work to do for the next couple of years as currently they are not being provided with tools nor materials to work, and if funding could be obtained from international

organisations to pay their salaries whilst they are rebuilding these countries infrastructure, it would save the City Council tens of millions of dollars each month, savings which they could use to pay off their creditors, including the garbage contractors.

Of course Pat and Roy, who we all know love to travel, could travel between these islands ferrying supplies, supervising their workers and providing nursing care and PR services.

Best regards, Sambu Jacobus

What about alternative sentencing Dear Editor, A YOUNG man in Anna Regina was recently sentenced to three years imprisonment for smashing the windshield and windows of a vehicle belonging to a family member.

The said member reported him to the police and he was charged for the offence.

He will likely spend close to three years as a guest of the state, unless family members retain a lawyer and appeal the case.

Even so, there is no guarantee that the verdict will change.

In prison, he will live off taxpayers’ money, languishing without working to earn his keep. Can Guyana afford this scenario in already overcrowded, volatile prisons?

Though I do not want to second-guess the learned judge who sentenced the young man, I would like to know if sentencing in our judicial system does not cater for alternative punitive actions. Could not other appropriate options be applied?

What about: 1. 100 hours of supervised community service— half a day (from 8 -12) until the time is completed. He can clean the community of ubiquitous garbage and tall grass,PLUS 2. A fine of $ 200,000, half of which would go to the state and the other half to the owner of the damaged vehi-

cle. He can work in the afternoons to fulfil this, PLUS 3. A bond to keep the peace for several years and to be law-abiding, PLUS 4. Mandatory counselling for a specific amount of hours.

Editor, similar penalties can be given to others, such as the young man who was also sentenced to three years in prison for stealing a cellphone. There are vast discrepancies in sentencing, as if there are no guidelines. A worker in Region Two was given 40 hours of community service for slapping a regional councillor three times.

Compare this to three years for breaking vehicle glasses.

Yes, I agree that a clear and strong message have to be sent to offenders, but jail sentences instead of alternative sentences do not prevent crimes, such as spontaneous crimes of passion and theft when the opportunity exists for some individuals. Editor, in light of, and against the background of, two recent prison riots that caused deaths, destruction and escaping, it is high time that we try to reduce overcrowding prisons with inadequate facilities. Alternative sanctions / penalties can be the solution, even if partially so.

Regards Karan Chand Region Two Resident

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

‘Put people above debt,’

….Puerto Rico official urges amid Maria’s devastation San Juan’s mayor urged the United States on Tuesday to prioritize “people above debt” as it helps rebuild from the devastation of Hurricane Maria, after President Donald Trump said that the island’s crippling debt “must be dealt with.”

Maria slammed into the U.S. territory of 3.4 million people last week as the most powerful hurricane to Puerto Rico in almost 90 years, destroying homes and infrastructure, including knocking out power across the island.

Puerto Rico, which has struggled for years economically, filed the biggest government bankruptcy in U.S. history earlier this year.

“You don’t put debt above people, you put peo-

ple above debt,” San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz told CNN in an interview.

“There is a moral imperative ... When someone is in need, when someone is in dire need, when someone is in a life or death situation, there is a human, moral imperative to deal with that situation before dealing with anything else.”

She spoke a day after Trump said the island’s $72 billion in debt needs to be addressed.

“Puerto Rico, which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt, is in deep trouble,” Trump said in a series of Twitter posts on Monday.

“It’s (sic) old electrical grid, which was in terrible shape, was devastated. Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars owed to

Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with.” Puerto Rico’s government asked a judge on Monday for up to four extra weeks to meet key deadlines in its bankruptcy case.

Many structures on the island, including hospitals, remain badly damaged and flooded, with clean drinking water hard to find in some areas. Few planes have been able to land or take off from damaged airports.

Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello has called for federal aid to flow quickly to the island. “Given Puerto Rico’s fragile economic recovery prior to the storms, we ask the Trump Administration and U.S. Congress to take swift action to help Puerto Rico rebuild,” Ros-

sello said in a statement on Monday.

Critics have said the Trump administration is not acting fast enough, with some saying that although Puerto Rico is not a state, its people are U.S. citizens and should be treated fairly. The island is a U.S. commonwealth and its inhabitants do not have a vote in presidential elections or full representation in Congress. Among those critics is singer Marc Anthony, whose family is from Puerto Rico.

In a strongly-worded Twitter post on Monday, Anthony said Trump should stop dwelling on a controversy involving National Football League players and the national anthem and, “Do something about our people in need in #PuertoRico. We

are American citizens too.”

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders denied the administration had been slow to respond, telling reporters on Monday the administration was engaged in fact-finding to assess how much help was needed. “The federal response has been anything but slow,” she said at a daily briefing. “In fact, there’s been an unprecedented push through of billions of dollars in federal assistance that the administration has fought for.” The storm has posed a major challenge for the island’s electricity utility, PREPA, which declared bankruptcy in July after accumulating a $9 billion debt and years of underinvestment.

Six days after the storm hit, officials were still taking

stock of what was expected to be a months-long effort to rebuild the power system, meaning many people will be without electricity for an extended period.

Rossello has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew following the storm. Maria was located about 190 miles (305 km) southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, at 8 a.m. ET (1200 GMT) Tuesday, with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour (120 kph), the National Hurricane Center said. It was expected to lose force and become a tropical storm over the next day as it headed north in the Atlantic Ocean. Forecast tracks showed it headed away from the U.S. mainland over the next few days.

(Reuters)

Prison administrators not blameless A community for breakdown in the system that turned a

Dear Editor,

I WRITE this letter out of concern for what I believe to be a demonstration of unprofessional and self-serving behaviour, on the part of Guyana’s Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, when he answered questions from representatives of the local media on the reasons for the prisoners protest on September 19th, 2017.

The director stated, “The escapees wanted steak for breakfast and it was not available.”

He was referring to the recent protest by some inmates in the Camp Street Prison, who were protesting against the porridge served to them for breakfast. It is my opinion that his comments on this matter were irresponsible. His propagandising was designed to influence public opinion against the protesting prisoners. This approach is counter-productive to improving relations between inmates and officers – apparently this is not the goal of the prison administration.

Mr. Samuels is fully aware that his tenure as Head of the Guyana Prison Service has at-

tracted several negative reports from various quarters, including incarcerated prisoners and prison officers he supervises. It was a result of the pressure and public scrutiny he is under that he made this most asinine and irresponsible statement, when he gave the impression that the prisoners wanted steak for breakfast.

My concern resides in the fact that someone, who over the years of his close relationship with the prison service like Samuels has had, can, and very deliberately so, misrepresent information to the public with the intention of deflecting from himself, responsibility for the breakdown in the administration of the prison services and the resulting consequences. I am contending here that the incident on September 19th, 2017, cannot be viewed in isolation. It has to be seen in the context of the general crisis existing in the prisons. The administrators of the prisons, of whom Samuels is a key player, is pivotal to what is taking place and are not blameless. Ridiculous statements such as the one with which Samuels was credited cannot, and will not absolve him and those other

persons who are responsible for the running of the prisons from some of the blame that has led to the chaos within the prison system.

I speak here as a person, who in the 1980s, served a three-year sentence both in the Georgetown and Mazaruni prisons. During the period of my incarceration, inmates were never given “steak” for breakfast – not even on important celebratory days like Independence, Republic and Christmas Day. I challenge Mr. Samuels to name one occasion, in his years of experience in the prison service, when steak was served as breakfast to prisoners. I have for political and personal reasons over the years been paying attention to what has been happening in this country’s prison system and have never heard of an improvement in the condition of life in the prison that has seen prisoners being treated with a steak for breakfast in recognition of a special occasion. In fact, it is well known that the meals prisoners are sometimes fed with are unfit for human consumption.

Mr. Samuels must be aware of allegations which are levelled at

prison officers, including some, high up in the chain of command, of stealing and carrying out of the prisons – for use in their homes -- the dietary supplements that have been purchased for the preparation of meals for the prisoners.

The situation in Guyana’s prisons demands an intense, systemic investigation, so that the political directorate can come to grips with what is taking place, thereby allowing it to make the required changes, which would cater for an improvement in the overall administration of the prisons. The recent disruptions in the prisons, including the massive fires and the consequential loss of human lives and property, are clear indicators that there are serious problems within the system that can no longer be ignored.

I therefore want to use this opportunity to call on the coalition government to, as a matter of urgency, put in place the mechanism for the systemic audit of the prisons before the situation worsens.

Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

blind eye

Dear Editor THE horrific assault and subsequent cruel d e a t h o f y o u n g L e o nard Archibald was so chilling, there can be no doubt as to the level of depravity of the alleged accused.

But what is even more baffling and utterly incomprehensible is the silence and intransigence of the community, who from all accounts were fully cognizant and aware of the goings-on and what took place in the house where young Archibald was taken and where he never was to

be seen alive again.

For their silence and for turning a Nelson’s eye, one of their own paid the ultimate price.

There are many lessons to be taken away from this sordid episode for other communities to take heed and note. We need to be each other’s keepers.

My deepest condolences to the grieving mother, family members and relatives of Leonard Archibald.

May he rest in peace.

Regards Shamshun Mohamed

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

‘We will win at ICJ’ …Min. Greenidge tells Brooklyn conference

By Svetlana Marshall PRESIDENT David Granger has reiterated his Government’s commitment to the course of action outlined by former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Kimoon, regarding the Guyana-Venezuela controversy when he met the incumbent Secretary-General, António Guterres on Monday.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency, the President, on Tuesday, said that the engagement with Guterres offered an opportunity to seek clarification and to be updated on the progress that has been made thus far.

“Monday’s meeting was largely what you will call a situational report and a commitment on the part of Guyana to remain engaged…We will continue to exchange views with the intention of bringing this matter to a successful closure,” President Granger said.

At a separate forum on Tuesday, 2nd Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, who accompanied President Granger to the high-level meeting, assured that Guyana would come out victorious in the event that the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy is referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“We are quite sure that it is a matter that can be defended and won in Court,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said, during an interactive session at the Medgar Evers College, in Brooklyn, on Tuesday. Minister Greenidge was, at the time, presenting on the Guyana-Venezuela

border controversy and its negative impacts on Guyana, following an invitation by Dean Terrence Blackman.

It was Attorney-at-law, Colin Moore, who had questioned the Foreign Minister on the commitment made by the former U.N Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, to refer the controversial matter to the ICJ if significant progress is not made by the end of December 2017, and whether the country had secured Mr. Guterres’ commitment in this regard. For Moore, Guyana will be on its way to victory once the matter is referred to the ICJ. “I have tremendous faith that if the matter is referred to the ICJ, I have tremendous faith that we will prevail simply because the law is on our side,” Moore said before a room full of students, lecturers and deans.

Like Moore, Minister Greenidge, in his response, said the prospect is high for Guyana. “We are pretty sure that if the Secretary-General refers the matter to the court we stand a better than even chance, a very good chance of winning the decision,” the Foreign Affairs said.

When approached by the Guyana Chronicle Minister Greenidge, speaking briefly on Monday’s high-level meeting with the U.N Secretary-General, said no progress report was given to the Guyanese delegation led

by President Granger. “It was not a progress report. We saw the SG, as he would normally see visiting heads, but we did also indicate to him we had some concerns about some aspects of the process, that is what we left with him,” Minister Greenidge

told this newspaper.

He noted that the U.N Secretary-General Personal Representative, Dag Halvor Nylander is working with both countries in tandem with the U.N but made it clear that details of his work cannot be disclosed. “He is working with us, he is working with the Venezuelans and he is working with the U.N, there is no way that he is required or he is going to be in a position to report on those other elements because the process requires some degree of confidentiality, so that aspect would have to wait,” the Foreign Affairs Minister explained.

In detailing the history of the controversy, during his presentation at the college, the Foreign Affairs Minister pointed out that during the second half of the 19th century, a dispute broke out between Venezuela and Great Britain over the location of the border between its colony of British Guiana and the Spanish-speaking republic.

It continued until an Arbitral Tribunal was empaneled in 1897 to determine the borders and an Arbitral Award was issued on October 3, 1899. Subsequently, a Joint Commission with representatives from both countries delineated the borders in 1905.

For 63 years Guyana and Venezuela had accepted the 1899 Award, until the latter alleged that the Arbitral Award was null and void. In February of 1966, the British and Venezuela signed the Geneva Agreement with the intention of providing Venezuela an opportunity to prove her claim of nullity of the 1899 Arbitral Award. Guyana became a party to that

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge presenting on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy at the Medgar Evers College

agreement upon attaining independence a few months later.

The Agreement recognised in Article (2) that the issue at hand was …’the task of seeking satisfactory solutions for the practical settlement of the controversy between Venezuela and the United Kingdom, which has arisen as the result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela is null and void.’

In 1989, the matter was referred to the then Secretary General of the United Nations, who chose the Good Offices Process. However, in 2012, after careful consideration, the Government of Guyana had taken the decision to review its options within and consistent with the Geneva Agreement, as it did not appear that Venezuela was willing to meet its ob-

ligations under the Process.

Minister Greenidge said since making it claims, Venezuela has been stymieing development in Guyana.

“In 2013 Venezuela seized a vessel doing exploration work on the maritime shelf.

Anadarko is an American company which does oil exploration, and their vessel was seized – it has never come back to Guyana. It is not a theoretical dispute with no implications, it is a dispute with implications for Guyana because when Guyana Gold Fields started doing gold mining in Guyana… they received a letter from the Venezuelan Government saying ‘you are trespassing and we will take actions against you. So companies are afraid,” the Foreign Affairs Minister stated.

On December 15, 2016, the then U.N Secretary-General informed both Guyana and Venezuela of his deci-

sion under Article IV (2) of the 1966 Geneva Agreement, as to the means of settlement of the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

The controversy arose after Venezuelan contended that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela was null and void. Venezuela’s position remains the same today even as Guyana pushes for a peaceful settlement at the level of the ICJ. Mr. Ban Ki-moon and Mr. 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 ICJ will be the next means of peaceful settlement, unless Guyana and Venezuela jointly request otherwise.

Region 10 wins Jeopardy Competition REGION 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) won the 2017 Ministry of Education (MOE) Primary School Teachers’ Jeopardy Competition.

The activity forms part of the ministry’s calendar of activities for Education Month 2017 and was held in in association with Hodder Education. In a keenly contested competition on Tuesday, the three teachers from the mining town won with a score of 7000 points, followed by the defending champions Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) with 400 points. Georgetown District was third with zero

points after they unsuccessfully wagered all their points in the final jeopardy. The competition which is now in its second year, saw participation from eight of the 11 educational districts.

Giving an overview of the competition before a packed audience including teachers, students and MOE officials at the Pegasus Hotel, Verina Layne of the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) said that the competition has grown markedly since it first started in 2015. Layne said that such a competition is important

for a number of reasons, chief among them, is the fact that it offers innovative ways in teaching at a time when the education system in Guyana is undergoing major changes to improve the standard of education across the country. The competition commenced with the eight districts participating in a preliminary round from which the three teams with the highest scores went on to the final round where they participated in three rounds; Jeopardy, Double Jeopardy and Final Jeopardy.

During the competition, the teachers were quizzed

on a number of subject areas such as general knowledge, riddles, flags and Caribbean cuisine. The competitors performed admirably with most of the teams making a meaningful contribution thus making it a very competitive event, the Ministry of Education said in a release.

Defending champions Region Four, acquitted themselves like champions for the majority of the competition but Region 10 was always ‘hot on their heels’, the release added. It said those in attendance were engrossed for the duration of the competition. “Many in atten-

dance had Georgetown as a firm favourite but Region 10 was not to be outdone and kept themselves in the hunt for all of the competition,” the release stated.

According to the release it was during the final round that Region 10 made a very decisive move in their quest to win the competition. Through crowd favourite, Ferdinand McLeod, the winning region racked up a series of points leaving the other regions in their wake.

The finalists and winners were presented with trophies and gift certificates.

The winning team was

represented by McLeod, Cheryl Wills and Camille Cummings. The regions that participated in this year’s competition were Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) and Georgetown.

Education Month 2017 is being celebrated under the theme ‘Promoting Wellness in Communities Through Quality Education’.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Green Strategy will help Guyana avoid pitfalls of oil economy – Min. Gaskin MINISTER of Business, Dominic Gaskin, has said that government is working towards a Green State Development Strategy aimed at helping the country avoid the pitfalls associated with oil revenues.

The strategy which is currently in the draft stages should be finalised in the new year. It frames the general principles and themes around which the policy will be structured. The minister was among the many speakers during the opening of the two-day oil and gas forum held on Monday at the Guyana Marriott International Hotel and sponsored by the Caribbean Central American Action (CCAA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

“It will give Guyanese people the confidence needed to make sound decisions for their long-term well-being and will let investors know the director of the country and the economy,” Gaskin told potential investors from the public and private sectors.

The Green State De-

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin

velopment Strategy is just one of the several strategies government plans to use to ensure that the private sector makes investments that will expand value-added sectors, apart from energy, with the support of government through its investments in improved infrastructure and access to fast and reliable networks.

Minister Gaskin said that private businesses need to

Berbice boy... something? Every Guyanese is a child protector. We must break the cycle of child abuse,” exhorted the social worker.

In adding his voice to the incident, Regional Chairman Armogan described the incident as the most gruesome and cruel act of a man against a man. “This act, which perhaps the systems of slavery did not know such cruelty, has sent shock waves around the country and our region must not be known for this kind of behaviour,” he warned, while noting that the act must be condemned by every right-thinking Guyanese. “Our region should be peaceful, where people are free to walk around and move as they like. I do not believe it has to do with parents or

position themselves strategically to get “piece of the action” or to increase their share of existing markets as they expand,” Minister Gaskin noted. He outlined reform initiatives that the Ministry of Business has undertaken over the last two years to ensure that this happens.

He noted the creation of a single electronic window for trade facilitation is one

From page 2

the child. I believe they did what they could have done to protect. But in the circumstances there was a depraved mind. If we had taken precaution [sic] after the previous incident, then we could have avoided a re-occurrence, but we did not do that. Maybe we are all at fault, the neighbourhood too…we need to take back our community,” Armogan stated.

Regional Education Officer, Ms Jaikissoon, reiterated the call for parents and civil society to protect the children and to desist from settling criminal matters or ‘covering up’ incidents under the carpet. “We must act so as to bring the perpetrators to justice.” In the same vein, Community Rela-

tions Officer and former Mayor of New Amsterdam, Ms Barbara Pilgrim Roberts, reminded those present of the old adage, “it takes a community to raise a child” and as such, they should be on the lookout for each other. After a sermon by Pastor Trevor Braithwaithe, a prayer for the family by Rev Doreen Henry and a song ‘Mary and Martha’ rendered by a class mate, the remains of Leonard Archibald were interred at Longsdale Village Cemetery.

An autopsy conducted on his body could not determine the real cause of death. Police have since been ordered to conduct further investigations into the incident.

such initiative. “We feel that this is imperative in order to create a clean and efficient bureaucracy that will make it less costly to do business in Guyana and increase certainty and investor confidence,” Minister Gaskin said.

The Single Window System will allow companies to make online applications for licences and permits to various government agencies and conduct other business online. “It won’t be business as usual and in a rapidly growing economy, there will be need for better and more efficient regulation of key industries”, the minister noted.

Greater attention to standards and quality is part of the “new normal” that the government is fast-tracking Gaskin said, so business can be conducted with confidence in Guyana. To facilitate this, the ministry has undertaken the Enhancing the National Quality Structure for Economic Diversification and Trade Promotion Project.

“This is a project that is designed to improve our capacity to carry out testing and certifying activities by upgrading our entire national network of laboratories. It seeks to promote economic diversification by supporting the use of standards in our export industries and providing supporting testing facilities that are internationally accredited, so that our products and services can meet the requirements of the international marketplace,” Minister Gaskin explained.

This important project supports value-added production and export diversification, which the ministry is promoting through a sector-by-sector approach with private sector and industry stakeholders. “It will also help to build the capacity of local businesses to meet the requirements of the oil and gas sector in areas where opportunities exist,

Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes

but strict standards are in place,” Minister Gaskin observed.

The Ministry of Business will seek to increase training and access to public procurement and finance by small businesses, as “unprecedented levels of growth” in the country’s economy when oil production begins.

Call centres Speaking also at the forum, Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes, said the emerging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Guyana, has positioned the country on the globe for investments relating to the sector. She highlighted some of these areas at the conference.

According to the minister, the Offshore Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) has been growing exponentially in Guyana over the years, specifically call centres, and with Guyana being the only English-speaking country in South America, high literacy rates, and compatible accents with the USA and UK make the country an ideal host for BPOs. Some of the BPO services offered here include Telemarketing, Inbound Customer Support, Medical

Transcription, Voicemail Transcription, and Data Warehousing. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of animators in Guyana, with the first 15-seat animation studio established by Animatrix Studios in 2013.

Hughes noted that Guyana can potentially offer services in the 2D and 3D market segmentations with a concentrated focus on 2D animation.

With vast amounts of underutilised real estate in Guyana, the establishment of a technology park can provide regular rental incomes for investors. The minister observed that with the construction of a technology park, a number of major projects from both the private and public sectors to smaller-scale projects such as ICT- startups can be housed there. It can also facilitate local outsourcing services such as university labs.

Minister Hughes said her office “will be putting mechanisms in place to encourage foreign investors to partner with local ICT Start-ups to be part of their supply chain from the lowest to highest-level needs. This will create a new income stream for these small companies and allow them to gain invaluable experience.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Dynamic cuts staff, halts Ecuador, Asia operations US-BASED airline, Dynamic Airways International has drastically cut its staff as well as operations to two destinations.

On Monday, reports surfaced that the problematic airline is expected to cease its operations in Guyana within the coming weeks.

According to a report on the online aviation news site ch-aviation.com, since filing its bankruptcy petition in July this year, Dynamic has cut its workforce from 192 to 132. The report stated that the air carrier is expected to trim back on its Guyana operations and focus on leasing its services through an arrangement known as ACMI (aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance).

The wet-lease arrangement is one in which one airline (the lessor) provides services to another airline or other type of business acting as a broker of air travel (the lessee). The latter pays by

hours operated.

The report stated that the North-Carolina-based carrier has already established contracts with two airline operators at other destinations. Dynamic suspended its Asian operations in August, after an engine problem precipitated an early end to the season.

Following flight permit problems in Ecuador, Dynamic recently cut flights to Guayaquil with its last remaining scheduled service being the lucrative New York (JFK) – Georgetown (CJIA) route.

The report stated that the airline plans to consolidate from five weekly flights, down to as little as once

weekly between the two destinations, by October 7, next. Dynamic may, after that, consider cutting the route altogether.

The report also stated, that under its new operating structure, Dynamic has made significant inroads into its passenger liability and will fly off the remainder by the end of its Guyana operations. Guyanese travellers are worried though about the new developments.

Several persons have noted on social media that they have booked to travel with the air-carrier during the last quarter of 2017.

The local representative of the airline, Roraima Airways, has remained mum.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Radio Mahdia to go on air next month RADIO Mahdia is expected to go on air in October, Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) , Gavin Gounga, told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday.

He said the equipment for the radio station arrived in the gold-mining area on Sunday last. The equipment will be installed later this week as a technician is expected to travel to the region within the coming days.

Gounga said that infrastructural works for the

radio station have been completed. The radio station will operate out of the government compound at Mahdia. Reports are that the station is likely to be commissioned in mid-October and staff from the area will be trained after a period of time to man the facility.

In July, the REO told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that some persons from the community will be trained as presenters by renowned broadcaster Dr. Rovin Deodat, when the radio station becomes

operational.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo during the commissioning of Radio Mabaruma last year, had said that people in the hinterland must be brought on stream with what is happening in other parts of Guyana. Radio Mahdia will be the fourth community radio station in Guyana. To date, hinterland community radio stations are operational in Annai and Lethem in Region Nine, and Mabaruma in Region One.

The government compound at Mahdia

President off to confab in Switzerland …says Guyana will cooperate with Minamata Convention PRESIDENT David Granger, will today travel to Geneva, Switzerland, for the first Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Minamata Convention, where he intends to reassure the international community that Guyana will not only reduce its use of mercury in the mining industry, but will work to eliminate the practice.

According to a Ministry of the Presidency release, in a ‘special interview’ in New York on Tuesday, the President said that Guyana takes the protection of its environment very seriously and has been working to reduce the use of the deadly chemical.

However, the Head of State said that it is time for firmer action to be taken to prevent environmental degradation and loss of human lives.

“I think that it is very important because the reckless use of mercury could be harmful to the population and, of course, it can cause damage that would last a very long time. It is my intention, not just to reduce, but to eliminate the use of mercury in the mining industry. It is time for all Guyanese to wake up to the danger. We have had a mining industry in Guyana for maybe over a century and a quarter, but people have been very reckless and my visit to Switzerland is, of course, concerned with reassuring the international community that

President David Granger

Guyana wishes to co-operate with it in order to bring this sort of environmental damage to an end,” the President said.

Guyana in October 2013, signed on to the Convection which aims to reduce the risks of mercury around the world.

Switzerland is working to locate the Convention’s secretariat in Geneva, which is already a centre of expertise in hazardous chemical products and wastes.

According to the Convention’s website, the objective of the Minamata Convention is to protect humans and the environment around the world from mercury emissions caused by human activities. The agreement regulates the use of this heavy metal in manufacturing processes and products, the reduction of emissions and the management of mercury-containing wastes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Jordan, Bankers’ Assoc. consult on Budget 2018 …Sammy pleased with developments in oil and gas sector non-performing loans will be increasing or whether they have tapered off now.”

He indicated that the banking stakeholders were pleased with the developments in the oil and gas sector and the new horizon for improved lending. Expressing appreciation at being consulted on the budget, Richard Sammy, Managing Director of Republic Bank (Guyana), remarked that the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan in discussion with members of the Bankers’ Association

FINANCE Minister, Winston Jordan on Monday met stakeholders from the banking sector as consultations on the 2018 Budget continue.

According to Minister Jordan, members of the sector are optimistic about foreign exchange in the country.

“We discussed issues to do with the exchange rate and where that is. You know earlier in the year they had some contretemps surrounding it, and I was pleased to know, not only that it has been stabilised over the past months but there is quite a bit of

foreign currency circulating in the system. I was pleased to learn that the mechanism is working”, the Minister said.

The meeting with the Bankers’ Association dealt with some critical areas in the country’s economy, including the performance of the economy - in particular, sugar and rice. Minister Jordan noted that those two sectors had been partly responsible for the increase in non-performing loans in the banking system. As such, he requested a dissection of the problem “…so that we could understand whether these

Veteran journalist passes away VETERAN journalist and former international news corresponden, Nills Learmond Campbell, passed away in Tampa, Florida, USA last Sunday. He was 73.

His bereaved son, Sherwin, recalled that he had suffered a stroke several years ago and as a result would often suffer complications with hypertension. On this occasion, following the recent hurricane ‘Irma’ which severely battered parts of Florida, Nills’s condition worsened and caused his blood pressure to soar.

He was rushed to a Tampa hospital during last week, but unfortunately succumbed around 04:00 hrs on Sunday.

Campbell is survived by his wife Inderdai Dorothy Campbell, four children and 12 grandchildren.

Meanwhile, news of his death sent shockwaves around the local media fraternity of which he was a part for more than 50 years and to which he had made a significant contribution, rendering dedicated service to the Ministry of Information as a Senior Information Officer and a journalist with the Guyana Graphic and Stabroek News,

among other entities. He was also editor of Guyana Times, a weekly publication.

Campbell, a man of quiet dignity, was well respected in the media and indeed the wider society. Of affable disposition, he was well liked by his colleagues and brought to bear a wealth of experience which he shared with others.

A former colleague, Patricia Stephenson, who benefited from his tutelage as an Information Officer in the 1960s, commented: “I was deeply saddened upon learning of Nills’ death. He was one of the first persons I would have met when I started my professional career as a journalist and as an Information Officer.

Death is inevitable, but I do hope that God will comfort his dear wife, Dhorry and the kids.”

Godfrey Wray, editor of the State-owned Guyana Chronicle, said his friend was a consummate journalist without pretensions and he was proud to have worked alongside him in producing a challenging weekly called the Guyana Times.

Up to press time, this newspaper had no information about the time of burial.

issues discussed and ventilated were largely accepted by the government “We would have raised issues regarding the corporation tax as well as support for the rice and sugar and agricultural sectors…we would have also addressed the need for public-private partnerships framework in Guyana, as well as the development and modernisation of payments and greater use of technology in the banking sector.”

According to the Fi-

nance Minister, the consultations were progressing well. To date, there have been discussions with the Private Sector Commission, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, and the trade unions among others. Apart from the agencies, the ministry will be holding consultations with the African Business Council, the Upper Corentyne Chambers of Commerce and Industry and a group of young professionals and intellectuals.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Councillor suggests city engineer go home

…as his juniors continue to underperform

By Telesha Ramnarine LESS than four months after officers in the City Engineers Department were suspended for their bad work attitude and poor performance on the job, Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, along with several councillors, has complained that nothing has changed regarding these officers.

Chase-Green, at Monday’s statutory meeting at City Hall, told councillors that daily she receives no

less than four complaints about officers in the Engineer’s Department.

Councillor Junior Garrett offered that the existing situation should be dealt with from the top, and that if City Engineer Colvern Venture cannot properly guide the council because he is not being guided by his officers, then he should go home.

Garrett said he could not understand how these officers were suspended not too long ago, and complaints are already pouring in again.

He, along with Councillor Oscar Clarke, said Venture ought to be more firm with his officers.

Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran, said he was tired of dealing with that issue and all that has happened is that the City Council has become a talk shop.

Councillor Noelle Chow-Chee, said the officers continued to show gross insubordination and arrogance.

Councillor James Samuels complained that he was still awaiting an estimate from the Engineer’s Department regarding a bridge at Water Street, Agricol, that joins the Flour Mill Access Road. A site visit was made last month.

“Since then, I cannot get the estimate. He (Assistant City Engineer, Rasheed Kellman) said he will give me the estimate on the phone. But I questioned the professionalism of that.

I want a letter-head from the M&CC and it must be signed.”

Four engineers of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) were suspended for their poor performance on the job and non-cooperation with Venture as their head.

Deputy City Engineer Ron Eastman and Engineer Technician, Kabila Hollingsworth, were suspended for two weeks without pay, while Engineers Marlon Harris and Vaughn Canterbury were each suspended for one week. Assistant City Engineer Kellman was handed a warning letter.

A number city councillors, including the mayor, had raised concerns about the conduct of Hollingsworth in particular, when the Legal Affairs Committee met with them.

Councillors Malcolm

Ferreira and Chow-Chee both said that had they been the chairperson of that committee, they would have recommended immediate dismissal for Hollingsworth, owing to the total disrespect and insubordination he showed the officers.

Meanwhile, Venture had complained to the council that he was not receiving cooperation from the said engineers, and that follow-up memos did not bear much fruit from them.

Chase-Green had sternly cautioned Venture to rein in the people in his department, lest the council take action. “The attitude of those in the Engineer’s Department stinks; their attitude towards citizens is unacceptable,” she had expressed.

She said it was high time that some officers from that department go home, because they were at work doing absolutely nothing.

“You have officers in the yard liming whole day,” she charged.

Chase-Green pointed out that when those officers are picked up and taken into the fields, they produce the reports months after and worse yet, give the excuse that they have to revisit the location before submitting the reports.

“These officers are not doing what they’re expected to do,” she said. “I’m tired of hearing the same names over and over again. You have senior officers sitting down doing nothing.”

The mayor also lamented the fact that despite their behaviour, the municipality had to find money to pay their hefty salaries every month. “It is time the nonsense stops,” she said.

“If the engineer cannot take control of the department, we will have to take control of him; he needs to stop ‘sorrying’ for people.”

Addressing the engineer in person, Mayor ChaseGreen said, “You need to take control of your department, and the council will stand by you.”

With respect to allegations in the past of rampant corruption in the City Engineer’s Department, Chase-Green had once famously said: “The only time you hear about the City Engineer’s Department, is when they are taking bribes all over the place.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Life expectancy in the Americas climbs to 75 THE population of the Americas has gained 16 years in life expectancy on average in the last 45 years, and a person who is born in the hemisphere can now aspire to live until age 75, almost five years longer than the world average.

However, emerging and non-communicable diseases, which cause four out of five deaths per year, are the main challenges in one of the most unequal regions in the world. This information is part of the new Health in the Americas+ 2017 report, the latest edition of the flagship publication prepared by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) every five years since 1956, which analyses trends, challenges and health conditions in the Region.

“We live longer and are less likely to die from preventable causes, but that gain has not been equitable,” said PAHO/WHO Director, Carissa F. Etienne. “We should adopt urgent measures to combat inequities, so that all people in the Americas have access to the health services they need and to conditions that contribute to good health, such as access to drinking water, education,

and decent housing,” she added.

Non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, and diabetes, are the leading causes of mortality in the Region.Four out of five deaths per year are due to one of these causes, and that figure is expected to increase in the coming decades due to population growth, aging, urbanisation, and exposure to different risk factors.

The publication presented during the 29th Pan American Sanitary Conference of PAHO in Washington, D.C., notes that the obesity rate in the Americas––one of the main risk factors for chronic diseases––is double the global average (26.8% compared to 12.9%).Furthermore, it emphasises that diabetes affects 15% of the population over 18 years of age (62 million people), a percentage that has tripled during the past decade.

Among other data, the report notes that although mortality from cardiovascular disease has decreased almost 20% on average in one decade, this continues to be the main cause of death in the Region.It also warns that 1.3 million people died

French oil company makes foray into Exxon’s exploration hotbed FRANCE’S Total has agreed to pay US$1 million for an option to buy a 25 percent stake in an oil exploration block offshore Guyana, its first foray into an area close to where ExxonMobil made one of the largest discoveries of the last decade.

Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas, a small Canadian exploration company which earlier this year was listed on London’s junior AIM market, said on Tuesday Total now had the option to acquire the stake in the Orinduik Block for another US$12.5 million, following the analysis of recently collected 3D seismic data.

“In the event that the option is exercised by Total, the deal proceeds will recoup all our expenses on the expanded 3D programme and fund us for drilling a minimum of two wells based on current well costs,” said Gil Holzman, president and CEO of Eco Atlantic.

If Total proceeds with the deal, Eco Atlantic’s interest in Orinduik will fall to 15 percent, while partner Tullow Oil maintains a 60 percent stake and the block’s operatorship. Tullow Oil declined

to comment and Total was not immediately available for comment.

Eco Atlantic’s London shares were up 9.5 percent at 1057 GMT and traded up to 19.5 pence, the highest in more than five months.

Tullow’s shares traded 2.1 percent higher, while Total was down 0.3 percent. “It is of course positive to see a company such as Total show interest in this exploration licence, but the manner of the agreement, as an option, shows a certain degree of to-be-educated geological caution on the part of Total,” said analysts at Jefferies.

The waters offshore Guyana and Suriname have been a hotbed for oil and gas exploration since ExxonMobil made its huge Liza discovery in 2015, part of the Stabroek Block where it estimates lay 2.252.75 billion barrels of oil.

In June, ExxonMobil and its partners gave the goahead for the $4.4 billion development of Liza, one of a handful of mega-projects approved at a time when the oil industry remains in cash-saving mode. (Reuters)

Director of the PAHO, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne

of cancer in 2012, 45% of them prematurely, that is, before 70 years of age. Other challenges ahead include road traffic injuries, which represented 12% of deaths in 2013, as well as high homicide rates that place 18 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean among the top 20 in the world.

Health in the Americas+ 2017 also explains how environmental and lifestyle changes, as well as popula-

tion shifts, have contributed to outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, such as Zika and chikungunya. These threats, combined with disasters related to events such as earthquakes and hurricanes, pose other challenges in the Americas. Between 2010 and 2016, the Region dealt with 682 disasters, 20.6% of the world total, with a financial impact estimated at over 300 billion dollars.

“Emerging and chronic diseases, which cause disability and require many years of care, are an obstacle to development,” Etienne said. “We need strong, flexible, and integrated health systems to respond effectively to new threats and the needs of an older population,” she added.

An estimated 81% of people who are born in the Region today will live until they are 60 years old, while 42% will surpass 80 years of

age. However, this increase in life expectancy has not meant more disability-free years of life. In 2015, it was estimated that the average healthy life expectancy in the Americas was 65 years. In addition to the gain in years of life, the report highlights success in reducing maternal mortality. Infant mortality also declined by 24% between 2002 and 2013 and the under-five mortality rate dropped by 67% in 25 years.

The report also points out a 62% reduction in malaria cases between 2000 and 2015, 10.1% less leprosy in 2010 compared to 2014, and a 67% drop in deaths due to AIDS between 2005 and 2015, as well as increased coverage of prenatal care and institutional delivery, progress toward eliminating onchocerciasis, and the elimination of endemic transmission of rubella (2015) and measles (2016).

Many of these achievements are not equally distributed throughout all of the countries, reflecting inequalities in the Region. In this regard, Health in the Americas+ 2017emphasises the need for transforming health systems and increasing investment in the sector (only five countries invest 6% of their gross domestic product in health as WHO recommends), as well as improving the management and distribution of health workers to achieve universal health by 2030 and reduce the existing inequities.

Health in the Americas+ 2017includes chapters with information on the health situation and trends in the 52 countries and territories of the Americas. Each country profile presents a set of basic indicators, along with information on specific achievements and future challenges.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Timehri women urged to ‘think big’ … Don’t doubt yourself – First Lady tells 34 participants

FIRST LADY Mrs. Sandra Granger on Monday morning, encouraged the 34 women at the opening of the 20th Self-Reliance and Success in Business workshop to ‘think big’ and use the skills that they will learn at the workshop to succeed.

The event was held in the auditorium of the Regional Sub-Office, Timehri, Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four).

The First Lady said that women often doubt themselves, thinking that they had no marketable skills, when that is not usually the case. “One of the beauties of this workshop is that it helps you to recognise your own power. Too often in this country women sit down and say, ‘I don’t know anything.

I can’t do anything,’ when they were being very good managers, economists and counsellors in the home.

This is the 21st Century, you have to think big, you have to think that you can succeed, that you can do it,” she said.

Mrs. Granger reminded the participants that education was not only for the young, and encouraged the women to take full advantage of the workshop. “Education is life-long. We can always learn. Enjoy [the workshop], learn from it and hopefully make a lot of money afterwards.”

Attorney-at-Law, James Bond expressed similar sentiments and noted that women have made invaluable contributions to society.

He commended the First Lady for providing an opportunity for the women to become empowered through the workshop, while noting that they make up one of two

groups in the society that was critical to the nation’s development. “Women, as you know, are not only the backbones of our families, but our communities. But there is another aspect that we would like women to be the backbones of also… that is in business. I believe that if the buy-in is there, if more women come into this programme, that Guyana will improve as a country,” he said.

Meanwhile, facilitator of Interweave Solutions (Guyana) Incorporated, Mr. Sanjay Pooran, congratulated the First Lady on the opening of the 20th workshop, which he said demonstrated her “visionary leadership”.

“The whole idea [of the workshop] is to help women learn about themselves in such a way that they identify

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger’s 20th Self Reliance and Success in Business workshop display placards bearing the ‘Six Ps’ of business, during one of the interactive sessions. The workshop opened, today, with 34 participants from the Timehri area.

Frist Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger (seated, second from right,) along with (from left to right), Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Yvonne Smith, of the Office of the First Lady; Attorney-at-law, Mr. James Bond; and Facilitator, Interweave Solutions (Guyana) Incorporated, Mr. Sanjay Pooran, at the opening of the 20th Self Reliance and Success in Business workshop. The participants are pictured standing

specific skills and abilities, which can help them make money, make a business, and create a new profile for themselves in the market and success in life,” he said.

Several of the participants said that they were excited about the benefits that would accrue from completing the workshop.

Ms. Jovita Atkinson, who describes herself as a hardworking single mother and businesswoman of Timehri north, said that she was looking forward to learning how to expand her business.

“I feel like I can push and continue in my small business. As a woman alone in a home, I see things working out nice for me. I prepare [snacks] to sell and I take the money and make a turnover,” she said.

Ms. Claire Prescod, Treasurer of the Dynamic Youth Empowerment Organisation, brought a friend along to the workshop. “When you are going forward, don’t only take yourself, take someone along because when you get there, you are going to realise that you alone are not successful. I encourage other women to come along and empower themselves, because if I’m empowered, they’re empowered, and we will get a better community,” she said.

Ms. Rajini Nauth, an aspiring importer from Soesdyke Grandstand Road, expressed her excitement about the First Lady’s initiative. “I’m very proud of her. I actually feel very happy that there is someone out there who really cares about women and what they want to do in life. I’m glad that there is someone there looking out for us,” she said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

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Hundreds bid farewell to Pastor Tessa Smith

Bereaved family members of the Late Pastor Tessa Smith and other mourners and sympathisers during the Home-Going Service.

Viewing the mortal remains of Pastor Tessa Smith” (From left) Rev. John Smith; David S Smith, Pastor Lynette Smith; at far right is Andre Smith (son of Rev. John Smith).

By Shirley Thomas HUNDREDS last Monday turned out for a moving send-off at the Central Assembly of God Church at Church and East Streets, Georgetown. There they bade an emotional farewell to veteran pastor Tessa Audrey Pamela Smith, who departed this life on September 1, 2017, in the United States of America, following a period of illness.

Pastor Smith, sister of Bishop John Oswald Smith, of the Central Assembly of God Church, Pastor Lynette Smith and others, and who for the greater part of her adult life had been a pastor at that same church, was accorded a hero’s farewell at a Home-Going Service for her life at what is considered home turf.

The service attracted persons from all walks of life, including other pastoral leaders from the Assemblies of God Churches in Guyana.

Following the service, her body was interred at Le Repentir Cemetery.

She was labelled “a rare and precious gem who lived a life of selfless service to God and impacted the lives of literally tens of thousands within the Christian Church and in

other myriad settings.”

As a pastor, Sunday school teacher, healthcare provider and counsellor, her death has left the church in shock and deep mourning.

Among those offering tributes were: The Central Assembly of God Church, Assemblies of God in Guyana and National Sunday School Department. From overseas: Papau New Guinea, USA, Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean; Billion Souls; CED/Bible College; CFAGE Sunday School as well as local pastors and other relatives and friends.

Pastor Smith was described as an anointed servant of God, who would be remembered for many good things. She was labelled as one who lived an exemplary and prayerful life -- a woman who prayed unceasingly and whose prayers wrought good things. And even in her final hours, her exhortation was that the work of the Lord must continue and that He must be magnified.

Pastor Tessa who was never married, had no children of her own, but she was a mentor, counsellor, confidante, and a spiritual mother to those on whose lives she has left an indelible mark.

She was a great planner and was seen as the consummate organiser with intrinsic skills which she rolled out almost effortlessly.

The eulogy was read

by Sister Joy Alleyne.

Bereaved family members of Pastor Tessa Smith: From left: Rev. John Oswald Smith, his wife, Elder Jean Smith; Pastor Lynette Smith (seated); Mr. David Smith (extreme right) and other family members.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Leonard’s death should weigh on all our consciences

By Akola Thompson

CLOSE to a week ago, I lay in bed watching cartoons when I heard screaming.

It jolted me, but I didn’t immediately get up. The screaming went on for over 10 seconds before the thought occurred to me that someone was in need of help. I picked up my phone and ran outside; first to see what was happening, call the police and then offer help if I could. I didn’t have to call the police, because the screamer was a middle-aged woman living three houses away who has some mental issues. She was just standing in the front yard screaming. A minute after, she suddenly stopped and calmly went into her house.

I read the story a few days ago of the two men, Nicho-

las Christopher and Hillary Edwards, who reportedly confessed to sodomising, viciously raping a young boy and dumping his lifeless body. It was reported that residents heard the screams of a child, 12-year-old Leonard Archibald, but did not take it to mean “anything serious.”

As more and more information regarding the details of the heinous crime and its perpetrators came in, I didn’t quite know how to react to it.

One of the lines that struck me instantly and continues to strike me every time I see it, is the one that claims, “one of the men is known for interfering with teen boys in the area.” So, it is public knowledge that a sex offender lives amongst you all of these years and nothing was done?

Even worse, you are armed with the knowledge that a sex offender lives amongst you

and you just ignore the cries of a screaming child?

News reports state that several boys have since come forward who have been raped, molested or attempts were made to do so by the main suspect, Hillary Edwards. Several cases were said to have been reported to the Sisters Police Station against Edwards, but he escaped being charged because, get this, he would leave the community for about a month by which time the “police forget about the incidents.” I have long since talked about the incompetence and general neglect of some of the men and women charged with the protection of the citizens of its country, but this was not the depths to which I expected it to reach.

I saw that some of the villagers took to the streets

to march for justice for Leonard. Had their voices been present and had they been proactive in weeding out the paedophiles from within their community rather than burying their heads in the sand, they would not have had to march. Leonard would have still been alive had the first child who was targeted by this rapist had got the justice they needed. The police failed Leonard and every single child who was molested or raped by Edwards or who was targeted by him. There is no excuse for this incompetence, none.

I feel disgusted not only towards Christopher and Edwards who allegedly raped and killed Leonard, I felt disgusted at all the neighbours who heard the frantic screams of a child and did not think the child might need

their help. Their disinterest in investigating a screaming child tells us a lot about our society and how embedded the culture of abuse and violence is within us. We don’t investigate because ‘is probably somebody bussing they child tail.’ Or, we ignore their screams and say that we ‘not getting into man an’ woman story.’ That is just what we do, because violence is a norm. We see it in our neighbours, we see it in our friends and we see it in our homes.

We often perpetrate it ourselves, because our culture has shaped us to think that violence is normal.

When I think about how this violence shapes us, I think of how over the years I have had to actively restrain myself from hitting my child, because when I misbehaved as a child, I was

hit. I think of how this violence shapes us when I think back to a week ago when I heard my neighbour’s screams and hesitated. This was a normal sound for me.

I had grown up hearing the screams of ignored women and unchecked-on children.

This was a normal sound for me. Even though I responded to the woman’s screams, I still feel ashamed that I hesitated for all those seconds when a woman could have possibly been dying.

All those people who heard and ignored Leonard’s screams should be ashamed and this should weigh on our consciences.

Leonard’s death should weigh on all of our consciences, because it is our collective culture that has shaped a society that ignores and hesitates in the face of cries for help.

Man gets bail for hit-and-run fatal accident A 26-YEAR-OLD man was on Tuesday released on $300,000 bail for allegedly causing the death of Mohammed Ashraf, who was killed during a hitand-run accident at Meten-Meer-Zorg (MMZ) Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD), recently.

Asif Azeez, of Seafield, Leonora, appeared before Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court, charged with causing death by dangerous driving, failing to render assistance

and failing to stop after an accident.

Azeez denied that on 20th September 2017 at WCD location, he drove motor car PMM 321 in a dangerous manner which resulted in the death of 61-year-old Ashraf. He also denied failing to render assistance and failing to stop after accident charges.

Magistrate Lambert released Azeez on $300,000 bail on the causing death charge and he was granted selfbail on the two traffic related charges. The matter is adjourned until

October 31.

According to reports, on the day in question, at about 06:30hrs, Ashraf was discovered lying in a ditch in front of a popular pharmacy in the MMZ village.

The body remained in the ditch until undertakers arrived, just after 07:00hrs. On inspecting his body it was discovered that he sustained injuries consistent with that of a vehicular accident. Surveillance footage from the area also revealed that the man was struck down by a motorcar. The driver

Asif Azeez

of the vehicle, however, reportedly failed to render assistance after the man was flung into the ditch and instead, drove away. The mirrors of the car were completely ripped out and were found at the accident scene. Hours later the police arrested the driver who claimed that he was not aware that he had struck down a pedestrian.

Police conducted a breathalyser test on the young man, which revealed that he did not have any alcohol in his system.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

GWI addresses concerns of Buxton residents – metering app. to be launched soon BUXTON residents who had concerns with the GWI regarding meter installation, service improvements, bill queries and increased hours of water service, had them addressed last Sunday during a community meeting at Tipperary Hall with Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles and other senior staff.

According to a press release, Dr. Van West-Charles told the residents present, that

“water quality is GWI’s top priority but with the help of the citizens, who will report leaks and breakages in the system which can cause bacteria and viruses, we can keep the system tightly closed and this will increase pressure. ‘‘Our aim is to provide for the many families in urgent need of potable water and to give an additional three hours to the existing eight hours they are receiving,’’ stated the GWI Man-

aging Director.

Meanwhile, a flexible payment contract is being offered so that families can afford to pay for their service connections, the release stated. Dr. Van West-Charles disclosed that Buxton has 33 accounts on no-charge but those customers are still receiving water. However, those customers are being given two weeks during which they can visit the GWI office and enter into a payment arrangement. And become regularized, Should

they, however, neglect to do so, GWI has warned that the entire service will subsequently be removed from the premises.

Meanwhile, beginning next month (October), the water company will be installing 3,000 meters in Buxton and the neighbouring communities, and this will significantly help to reduce customers’ service charge.

In addition, a GWI metering app. will be launched very soon, the release added.

“Residents should be pro-

active in guarding the infrastructure…vandalism significantly affects our ability to provide the community with service,” said the Managing Director.

Moreover, he advised that pivotal to the success of all communities, particularly developing housing schemes, is the strengthening of community groups. GWI is also working with the Ministry of Education to clean black tanks at various schools around the country, since it is their job to ensure that water

quality is in keeping with the World Health Organization standards, the release further stated.

Responding to concerns that were raised about the hours of water service and the quality received, Executive Director of Operations, Mr. Dwayne Shako, told the gathering that a programme is being implemented in two phases, and that GWI will also be spending some $3M to upgrade the pump at the Friendship Water Treatment Plant. Turn to page 20 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Sustainable tourism as a tool for development Today, Guyana joins the rest of the world in celebration of World Tourism Day. Below is a message by the Minister of Business and Tourism, Dominic Gaskin.

“It was 37 years ago that the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), observed its first World Tourism Day in order to bring to the attention of the world the importance of travel and its impact upon the economies of countries worldwide.

Since 1980 international tourism has gathered momentum, surviving wars, health crises, global economic downturns and terrorism.

Travel and tourism have made the world a smaller but richer and more diverse place, creating hitherto, unimagined cultural encounters and international experiences.

Increasingly, as concerns have grown about the health of the environment and indeed the very longevity of the planet, tourism has been enlisted as a force to generate positive change in our approaches to development, and indeed, in the way we interact with the environment.

The concepts, sustainable tourism and responsible tourism, came into vogue to address and propose responses to what appeared to be a decline in environmental care.

Guyana, a relative newcomer to the family of global tourism destinations, is comfortable in this new tourism dispensation. Committed as it is to the development of a Green State, Guyana views tourism in terms of the theme highlighted for World Tourism Day 2017 – `Sustainable

Minister of Business and Tourism, Dominic Gaskin

Tourism as a Tool for Development.’ The draft National Tourism Policy places emphasis upon this form of tourism as the one best suited to the achievement of the objectives of Green State development.

Sadly, World Tourism Day 2017 occurs at a time when several sister Caribbean countries are suffering the harsh impacts of the year’s hurricane season. The devastation visited, strikes at the heart of the very industry that has been the main pillar of those economies, and has even prompted some dire reflections upon the prospects for the very sustainability of the industry, in particularly vulnerable regions of the Caribbean.

Therefore, in as much as we celebrate tourism today and trumpet its benefits, it is necessary to craft strategies to strengthen our resilience in the face of climatic events.

GWI addresses...

From page 19

Additionally, there will be the installation of a new filtration system, which was donated by `Water is Our World’ which is based in Holland.

Mr. Shako also disclosed that plans are in place to install a new generator since the plant is still plagued with power outages. However, when this is completed the distribution lines will be remedied since there are a number of leaks in the system.

He also stated that GWI will soon re-commission the overhead tank at Annandale and by December 2017, customers can expect a 24-hour service within their homes. GWI will also be dispatching teams to check for leaks and prevent water contamination.

Dr. Van West-Charles also notified residents that GWI will be making a proposal to the PUC to establish a fixed rate for pensioners, the release stated.

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Guyana’s ‘home for football’ finally being realised … first phase to be completed by end of January 2018

By Rawle Toney MONUMENTAL and exciting are just two words used by Guyana Football Federation (GFF) president Wayne Forde, as he spoke about the commencement of work for the country’s first ‘home for football’ – the FIFA Forward Programme – which is located at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Forde, addressing the media yesterday at the Federation Headquarters in Dadanawa Street Campbellville, spoke of the GFF’s happiness to finally be able to deliver on an almost 18-year-old promise to football fraternity of Guyana.

Greenfields, a European group, won the bid to

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Conceptual design for Guyana’s FIFA Forward Programme lay the turf in Guyana, and Johannes Van Krimpen said the turf will mirror those of any of the ‘first world’.

With works expected to start within seven days on the 8.5 acres land which was leased from the Eccles/ Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Forde explained that Nabi and Sons was sub-contracted to work along with Greenfields and should see the first phase completed by the end of January, 2018.

“FIFA would have gone through several changes within its developmental arm over the past couple of years; I should say over the past year and a half, and the new management at FIFA’s Development Department wanted to have a situation where a single contractor is responsible for the entire works associated with the construction of the artifi-

cial turf, and as a result of that the Executive Committee met with Home Design and Engineering Associates, who were awarded a contract last year and we were able to amicably resolve the matter relating to their contract,” Forde stated.

“Greenfields is the sole contractor for this phase of the work, but their sub-contractor is going to be Nabi and Sons and we want to ensure that we clear the air on that. So much of the conceptual design that you see is going to be tweaked a bit to ensure that the facility caters for the development of those athletes. As part of the grand facility that we’re building, we’re going to have a gym, we’re considering a cooldown pool, we’re going to install or build dorms where we can have lengthy encampment,” Forde explained.

He added, “We’re also

looking at a high-quality catering and kitchen service; we’re going to try to create commercial spaces that can create revenue for the Guyana Football Federation, so much of that work would commence after we would have completed Phase One.” According to Forde, approximately 24 months is estimated for the completion of the entire facility, and he was certain that the project is “going to make a tremendous impact on the way football is operated in Guyana. Much of the encampment services that we’re involved in really requires a massive investment from the Federation”.

“As we have stated in the public before, encamping a team comes at almost (Guyana) $300 000 to $400 000 a day, so with our facility we’ll be able to reduce that cost dramatically, and at the same time, prepare our athletes to compete at the highest level, regionally and internationally.”

Under the FIFA Forward Programme, National Federations are entitled to US$750 000 annually, but, in the case of Guyana, given the fact that it is the country’s first, Forde said that FIFA wanted to ensure that as much resources as possible are available, and as such, it was not possible for him to state the estimated cost of the entire project.

The GFF president also noted that next, the GFF and FIFA will look to build a similar structure in Linden, and then Rupununi, after which, the other parts of Guyana will ‘fall in line’.

It is Forde’s hope that at the end of the first phase, the pitch can be used while construction of the other parts of the facility is going on.

Turbo knock-out football tournament launched

By Stephan Sookram

FOOTBALL in Georgetown will continue its vibrancy with the announcement and subsequent launch of the Turbo knockout tournament.

During yesterday’s launch at the Guyana Beverage Company Inc. (GBI) Diamond Branch, it was disclosed that the tournament will feature 16 teams.

According to co-director of the organising body Petra, Troy Mendonca, the group is committed to the development of the sport, hence the embarking of yet another tournament.

“We will continue to give our support through our relations and our skill set and continue to give support to football in general,” Mendonca added.

Meanwhile, president of the Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde, contended that the Petra Organisation is a blessing to football in Georgetown, adding “You have almost singlehandedly revived football in Georgetown and I must applaud you for that.”

“My hope is that other corporate entities will recognise the efforts that the GBI makes to Guyana even as an expatriate, that is, they are not indigenous to Guyana,” he added.

“Idle minds do idle things and we believe that; giving back to the people of Guyana in the form of sports,” Robert Selman, head of the GBI. It is for that reason that the body came on board for the tournament, the GBI boss stated.

Commercial Manager of GBI, Samuel Arjoon, said that “this is a thoughtful investment because we at SM Jaleel believe in holistic development.”

The 16-team tournament will feature Guyana Police Force FC, Camptown FC, Santos FC, Pele FC, Georgetown Football Club, Beacons FC, Northern Rangers, Riddim Squad, Flamingo FC, Black Pearl and East Ville FC. Pouderoyen FC and Uitvlugt are the representatives from the West Demerara while the East Bank will see Grove Hi-Tech in action, and on the East Coast Buxton Stars and Mahaica Determinators.

Tournament fixtures will be released shortly before the commencement date on October 4

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

The new cricket rule changes coming into effect from September 28

THE following are the changes to the ICC’s playing conditions that will come into effect for all international series beginning September 28, 2017.

Each team can name six substitutes (previously it was four) in Test cricket.

There are no changes to the permitted width and length of a cricket bat, but the thickness of the edge can be no more than 40mm, and the thickness of the bat must not exceed 67mm at any point. Umpires will have a gauge to check that bats meet the new regulations.

The ICC has okayed the use of bails tethered to the stumps to prevent injuries caused by bails flying at wicketkeepers and fielders after the stumps have been broken. The mechanism used to tether the bails must not interfere with their ability to be dislodged; the implementation of such a system is at the discretion of the host board.

In Test cricket, an interval will be taken if a wicket falls within three minutes of the interval. Previously it was two minutes.

In T20 internationals, if an innings is reduced to less than 10 overs, the maximum quota of overs per bowler shall not be less than two: meaning that if a match is reduced to five overs a side, two bowlers will be able to bowl two overs each.

For a catch on the boundary to be legal, a fielder making contact with the ball must either be grounded inside the boundary or his/her last contact with the ground before first touching the ball must have been inside the boundary.

A batsman can be caught, run-out, or stumped even if the ball makes contact with a helmet worn by the fielder or wicketkeeper..

The handled-the-ball dismissal has been removed and included under the ob-

livery before it reaches the batsman, the umpire will call no-ball and dead ball.

Any byes or leg-byes scored off a no-ball will now be scored separately. The bowler will have one no-ball put against his/her name, and the other extras will be scored as byes and leg-byes.

Previously, byes and legbyes scored off no-balls were

Barry Richards holds the bat with which he made 325 in a day at the WACA in 1970 in his right hand, and David Warner’s modern-day weapon in his left.

(Cricket Australia) structing-the-field category.

There are several tweaks to what now constitutes unfair play. If the fielding side tries to deliberately distract or deceive the batsman - through mock fielding for example after he/she has received the ball, the umpires can penalise them. If a bowler bowls a deliberate no-ball, he/she can be removed from the attack for the rest of the innings.

A batsman cannot take strike so far outside the crease that he/she is standing in the protected area of the pitch, just like bowlers are not allowed to follow through on the protected area. A catch-all law has now been introduced to give umpires the power to deal with conduct they believe is unfair but is not covered elsewhere in the laws.

A player can now be sent off the field by the umpire for the rest of a match for serious misconduct. This will apply to most Level 4 offences, with Level 1-3 offences continuing to be dealt with under the ICC Code of Conduct.

If an umpire’s decision is referred to the TV umpire by a team, and the on-field decision remains unchanged because the DRS shows “um-

pire’s call”, the team will not lose the review.

Because teams will not lose a review for “umpire’s call”, they will not have their two unsuccessful reviews replenished after the first 80 overs of the innings in a Test. They will have only two unsuccessful reviews for the entire innings. The DRS will now be used in T20 internationals as well - teams will have one unsuccessful review per innings.

For boundaries, airborne fielders making their first contact with the ball will need to have taken off from inside the boundary, otherwise a boundary will be given. A boundary will also be given if a fielder in contact with the ball makes contact with any object grounded beyond the boundary, including another fielder.

If the ball bounces more than once after being delivered by the bowler and before it reaches the popping crease of the batsman, it will be called a no-ball. Previously a ball was allowed to bounce twice. If the ball lands off the pitch, then the umpire will signal a no-ball.

If a fielder intercepts the de-

Den Amstel, Soesdyke, Ann’s Grove book Hamilton Green quarter-final spots DEN AMSTEL, Soesdyke Falcons and Ann’s Grove booked places in the quarter-finals of the Hamilton Green Cup Knock-Out football tournament by registering victories over Golden Grove, Mahaica Determinators and Buxton Bakewell respectively when play in the competition continued last Sunday.

Playing at the Victoria ground, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Den Amstel of West Coast Demerara beat ECD’s Golden Grove 2-0, while Soesdyke Falcons of East Bank Demerara (EBD) defeated Mahaica Determinators 4-2 and Ann’s Grove (ECD) edged their ECD counterparts Buxton Bakewell 1-0 in the feature game of the triple-header card that has been organised by former national captain and coach Lennox Arthur.

The three teams will now await the outcome of the other round of 16 matches to know whom they will face in the quarter-final round which will commence on October 8 with a double-header at the Victoria ground.

What is known to date is that Den Amstel will face Ann’s Grove and Soesdyke Falcons will meet the winner of the Santos versus Uitvlugt match which will be played next Sunday at the Georgetown Football Club.

Also on that date, Western Tigers will meet Milerock and home side GFC will oppose Eagles United.

Last Sunday, Morean Denny and Edison Payne netted for Den Amstel in the 7th and 53rd minutes respectively to give their team a 2-0 win against Golden Grove, while Orin Joshua registered a brace in the 60th and 78th minutes for Soesdyke Falcons in their 4-2 win over Mahaica Determinators.

The victors’ other two goals came off the boots of Colin McLean (39th) and John Gordon (70th).

This was after Eon Abel (2nd) and Keith Roberts had given the East Coast Demerara an early 2-0 lead.

In the feature game, Phillip Williams scored the game’s lone goal in the 49th minute.

scored as no-balls.

If a batsman grounds his/her bat or part of his/ her body behind the crease while regaining his/her ground before the stumps are broken, and then if he/ she inadvertently loses contact with the bat, or if the grounded part of his/her body becomes airborne while running or diving

- when the stumps are broken, he/she shall not be runout or stumped.

An appeal can be withdrawn, or the umpires can recall a dismissed batsman, at any time before the ball comes into play for the next delivery. Previously, a batsman could not be recalled once he/she had left the field.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Grove Hi Tech beat Friendship All Stars to notch up 12th win

… Diamond, K.K Warriors also consolidate positions GROVE Hi Tech kept their unblemished record intact with another fine display when they defeated Friendship All Stars 3-1 to notch up their 12th win in as many matches last Sunday, when second-round rivalry in the East Bank Football Association leg of the GFF/ NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra Association

match that was played.

Grove, who only conceded a pair of goals in the first round (8 matches), conceded their first of this round with the Friendship side looking to threaten in spurts. The home team however, played a composed game to record yet another win as they continued their impressive run of form.

Tyrese David opened

shot from outside the area that rocketed into the back of the net.

On resumption, Friendship responded with a goal of their own on 51 minutes, Ethan McLennon firing across goal to beat Grove goalkeeper Usher Jones. It was only the third time that Jones conceded in 12 matches.

Paul Fields made it a 3-1

Grove Hi Tech’s Donnell McLennon in control of proceedings against Friendship All Stars League continued at the Grove Playfield.

Also securing wins were Diamond United who toppled Highway United also by a 3-1 score-line while Kuru Kururu Warriors needled Mocha Champs in the other

the scoring on 25 minutes, Friendship proving to be tough opponents. Despite dominating play, Grove were only able to double the score one minute to halftime when defender Kevin Padmore fired a powerful

game in favour of Grove.

When he scored in the 62nd minute, it was the final score.

Grove stands large and in charge on 36 points having won every single match to date.

Diamond Untied con-

THE annual GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships got off to a fast start on Monday, as the national ladies made their debut against SIDM, a combination of Hikers and Saints HC, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The new surface at the venue was being tested for the first time in competition and some players struggled to keep pace with the speed of the ball. The national ladies who have been benefiting from regular training at the venue seemed naturally the most comfortable as they dominated the possession, stringing together several passes in each build-up en route to a comfortable 11-0 victory.

Marisha Fernandes and Trisha Woodroffe proved an impenetrable defence for the nationals as both demonstrated composure and generated several effective attacks from the back. Striker Kerensa Fernandes was top-scorer of the match with a hat-trick while Woodroffe, Marzana Fiedtkou and Maria Munroe each had doubles.

Juniors Aliyah Gordon and Minsodia Culpepper completed the score sheet with one apiece.

Pizza Hut GCC began their 2017 quest to retain

although she only managed one goal for her team through a counterattack in the 5th minute. Captain Tiffany Solomon and Sandy Roopnarine scored the other

tinue to enjoy a huge season at both the Under-11 and U-17 levels when they recorded their fifth win to jump into the fourth-place position with a solid 3-1 win over Highway United, formerly Circuitville Jaguars.

Diamond’s captain Teon Forde led from the front again when he opened the scoring in the 29th minute and ten minutes later the advantage was doubled on account of an own goal which was scored by Highway United’s Michael Williams.

Highway United were able to pull one back in the 62nd minute, thanks to a Mellon Josiah effort but Diamond restored the two-goal cushion in the 76th minute

Anthony Roberts when Forde converted his second of the match.

Despite the loss, Highway United remain just ahead of Diamond United on goal difference, both

LATEST POINTS TABLE Team P Grove Hi Tech 12 K.K Warriors 10 Highway United 11 Diamond United 11 Soesdyke Falcons 9 Agricola 10 Herstelling Raiders 9 Friendship 12 Mocha Champs 11

W 12 7 5 5 5 5 3 3 1

L 0 2 5 5 4 5 5 9 10

D 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0

GF 27 29 20 12 21 15 11 3 2

having recorded 5 wins each, along with a similar number of losses with one draw each.

Kuru Kururu Warriors have maintained their encouraging run by recording their seventh win in 10 matches by needling Mocha Champs who have only themselves to blame for squandering numerous scoring opportunities.

The Warriors netted the lone and winning goal on half-hour through an Anthony Roberts strike to seal full points and consolidate the Warriors’ second-place position on the points table.

It was also the Linden Soesdyke Highway-based side’s 29th goal of the league - the most scored by any club.

Matches will continue on Sunday at the same venue.

GA 3 12 12 23 8 15 29 20 17

GD Points +24 36 +17 23 +8 16 -11 16 +13 15 0 15 -13 10 -17 9 -15 3

National squads off to winning start at GTT National Indoor Hockey Championships

National right back Marisha Fernandes (with the ball) on the attack the title in similar dominant fashion, as Sonia Jardine and Carina Moller both scored hat-tricks in their 8-1 beating of Old Fort Shooting Stars. Bushani Kaladeen was the noticeable standout for Old Fort

two goals for GCC. The men’s first division competition produced a thrilling battle between Old Fort Titans and Bounty GCC as the two fought to a 5-5 stalemate in the end. Old Fort led from

the start, going up by two field goals from Jael Gaskin in the first twelve minutes.

GCC’s Alan Fernandes replied two minutes later but Akeem Hope restored Old Fort’s two-goal cushion in the fifteenth minute. GCC midfielder Orland Semple, returning from a long hiatus from the game, managed to draw his team within one for the second time just before the half which arrived with Old Fort enjoying a 3-2 lead.

The game seemed surely beyond GCC five minutes into the second half as Old Fort hammered home two goals through Ascofu Simon and John Abrams to give Old Fort a 5-2 lead.

GCC, however, launched an all-out attacking assault on Old Fort and found gaps in their earlier solid defence.

The changed tactic by GCC produced the opportunities they needed as Dwayne Scott, Mark Sargeant and Peter DeGroot each found the back of the net with DeGroot’s equaliser coming in the penultimate minute of the match.

The 5-5 draw leaves both teams in strong contention for the title that has eluded them for three years.

The National Blacks completely dominated the Pepsi Hikers in their men’s first division duel finishing with a 12-0 score line while the National Greens gave Saints HC a 9-1 drubbing. The Old Fort Warriors pulled off a 5-1 victory over the Hikers in the lone sec-

ond division matchup of the evening while the GCC Vintage enjoyed a 10-5 victory over Old Fort Goal-getters.

Matches continue throughout the week from 17:00hrs with the finals being contested on Saturday. Men’s national selections, the BLACKs and the GREENs will play an exhibition match against each other right before the final presentation.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday September 27, 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) Ramnaresh Sarwan & Ian Bradshaw (2) Jason Holder & Eoin Morgan

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who was declared Man of the Match at the end of the first ODI of the current WI/ENG series?

(2) Where is the fifth ODI of the current WI/ ENG ODI series scheduled to be played?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Large contingent from Balram Auto Mechanics for Caribbean Invasion

By Stephan Sookram

A TOTAL of seven cars will unite this weekend under the Balram Auto Mechanics banner to defend Guyana’s turf as part of the Caribbean Invasion.

Chronicle Sport caught up with the chief engineer of the team, Balram Ramdeo, who explained why several of the smaller competitors decided to join forces.

“The guys thought it better to join forces together to get their cars done because we want to defend Guyana against the Surinamese.”

He added, “I basically already look after most of the cars that will come under the team this weekend, so we thought it easy to just form our own little team.”

He noted that the team has cars in the 12-,

13- and 14-second class including several Toyota Starlets.

“Ideally, what we are hoping for is to pick up several trophies, come drags day, and ultimately to pick up as many trophies as we can.”

Meanwhile, following Monday’s meeting at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s Thomas Lands office, competitors were briefed on the fact that there is a strict safety policy in place.

Competitors, they noted, who did not meet these safety measures would be barred from racing, they added.

These include the use of helmets and boots and the banning of slippers for those competing.

Those gathered were also told that there would be no late registration and that no registration would be done on race day.

Part of the team that will represent Balram Auto Mechanics

Brian Lara Stadium to host Windies-Sri Lanka Women ODIs

West Indies Women - set to launch 2021 World Cup qualifying bid

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – The newly constructed Brian Lara Stadium will host the three-match One-Day International series between West Indies Women and Sri Lanka Women, as the Caribbean side begin their bid for direct qualification for the ICC 2021 World Cup. In a statement yesterday, Cricket West Indies announced the matches would be played on October 11, 13 and 15 at the facility in Tarouba, located in south Trinidad, and would form part of the new cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship which will be contested between the leading eight women’s teams.

The Windies along with Sri Lanka, Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and newly crowned 50-over World champions England, will do battle in the Women’s Championship until March 2020.

Hosts New Zealand and the three other highest-ranked sides at the conclusion of the championship will gain direct qualification for the World Cup. The remaining four sides will enter a qualifier.

West Indies were good enough to qualify directly for last June’s ICC World Cup in England after finishing fourth in the last ICC Women’s Championship.

They, however, failed to make an impression, finishing sixth after winning just twice.

Following the ODI series, the Windies Women will clash with the Sri Lankans in a three-match Twenty20 International series from October 19-22 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

An 18-member Windies Women’s squad are currently in training in Trinidad in preparation for the upcoming series.

Gunasekera’s unbeaten ton sinks HACC … Highland Creek capture SCA Elite title

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada – A brilliant unbeaten 104 by Ruvindu Gunasekera propelled Highland Creek to an emphatic four-wicket victory over Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) in the final of the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) Elite League tournament, played on Sunday at the Ashtonbee ground, Scarborough here.

Set a revised total of 248 for victory after HACC batted first and reached 218 for six in their allotted 50 overs, Highland Creek reached 251 for six with four overs to spare, leaving the six-time consecutive Premiere League winners still without an Elite championship following its inauguration last year.

The left-handed Gunasekera, who also iMVP Ruvindu Gunasekera receives plays for Canada, entered the fray in the his award from SCA secretary Eon fourth over, following the loss of opener Gunraj.

Animole Nasir with the score on 30 and took fours and two sixes in his match-winning centre stage from thereon. knock.

After adding 29 for the second wicket with Former Guyana and West Indies One-day skipper Fahad Ali Khan (29), Gunasekera then player Royston Crandon was by far the best of shared a third-wicket partnership of 109 with the HACC bowlers, finishing with three for 33 Bashar Ashfaq whose fine 51 included five from his 10 overs while there was one each for fours. Farhan Khan also chipped in with 26, Krishna Arjune and Harrinarine Chattergoon for smashing two sixes and a four in the process.

44 and 45 runs respectively.

When victory was achieved, much to the Opting to take first strike, HACC were enjoyment of the Highland Creek supporters struggling at 62 for five in the 18th over before and players, Gunasekera had counted 11

for Canadian international Abdool ‘Birdy’ Samad and skipper Azib Ali Hanif came to the rescue with a brilliant 106-run seventh-wicket stand which ended when Samad was forced to retire hurt for 78, the searing heat causing him much discomfort.

Samad’s innings contained three fours and four sixes but his departure was a big blow for HACC when he looked set to complete his second century of the season.

Hanif, who was left unbeaten on a wellplayed 51 when the innings ended, added a further 50 with Zaheer Allard, whose quick-fire unbeaten 38 from 21 balls with three sixes and two fours, provided some sparkle towards the end. The former Guyana wicket-keeper Hanif struck six fours during his stay at the crease.

Shiraz Khan (two for 19) and Saad Bin Zafar (two for 34) were the best bowlers for Highland Creek.

With only 45 bowled in the allotted time, it meant that 30 runs were added to HACC’s 218 for six, a total that still proved inadequate for Highland Creek who failed to reach the playoffs last year.

The Most Valuable Player awards went to Gunasekera of Highland Creek and Samad of HACC. At the presentation ceremony, which followed, SCA president Shiv Persaud praised both teams for their efforts in reaching the final and for putting on a fine show. Persaud reminded those present that the weather had been very kind unlike in previous years when most of the

MVP Abdool Samad is handed his trophy by SCA registrar/statistician Abigail Rajcoomar. finals were played in winter-like conditions.

Both the winning and losing captains spoke highly of their players, acknowledging the better team on the day in question had emerged as winners.

The SCA annual Presentation, Dinner and Dance is set for Saturday, October 21 at the Eastown Banquet Hall, Scarborough.

Guyana’s ‘home for football’ finally being realised

Stokes arrested in Bristol; out of Windies-England fourth ODI … Alex Hales also to miss today’s match

see story on page 28

… first phase to be completed by end of January 2018

(L-R) Rafael Nabi, Greenfield’s Johannes Van Krimpen, GFF’s First vice-president Bruce Lovell, GFF president Wayne Forde and GFF’s Second vice-president Rawlston Adams. (Delano Williams photo)

Turbo knock-out football tournament launched see story on page 28

From L-R: Guyana Beverage Company Inc. Commercial Manager Samuel Arjoon and Guyana Football Federation president Wayne Forde look on as Petra co-Director Troy Mendonca collects the sponsorship cheque from GBC’s General Manager Robert Selman. At the far right is Trade and Marketing Coordinator of GBI Raymond Govinda. (Samuel Maughn photo) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

England all-rounder Ben Stokes LONDON, England (Reuters) - England all-rounder Ben Stokes was arrested early on Monday after an incident in Bristol and will miss the fourth one-day international against West Indies, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said.

“He was held overnight and released under investigation, without charge, late on Monday and will not join the team in London,” the ECB said in a statement yesterday.

Opener Alex Hales, who was with Stokes on Sunday night, will also miss today’s match at The Oval.

The ECB said he had returned voluntarily to the city in the west of England to help police with their enquiries.

England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the fivematch series after winning the third game by 124 runs in Bristol on Sunday. The second game was washed out.

The news broke as the England selectors met to finalise the squad, which will be announced today, for the Ashes Tour to Australia.

The flame-haired Stokes, vice-captain of the England Test team and one of world cricket’s most destructive batsmen, would expect to be one of the first names on the list.

“The selectors have been instructed to select the Ashes squad based on form and fitness as they normally would,” said Andrew Strauss, England’s director of cricket.

The ECB gave no further details of the incident, but the BBC said it happened in a city nightclub. Sky Sports Television reported that the 26-year-old player had injured his hand.

Avon and Somerset police said they had been called to a disorder in the Clifton area in the early hours.

“A 27-year-old man was found to have suffered facial injuries and was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary for treatment,” they said in a statement.

“A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and has since been released under investigation.”

Large contingent from Balram Auto Mechanics for Caribbean Invasion see story on page 31

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017