Guyana chronicle e paper 10 08 2017

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No. 105059

President David Granger as he addressed the PNCR Special Delegates' Congress on Saturday

PNC proud of record SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017

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… President Granger reminds of the rocky road to statehood

A rangoli design of the PNCR logo at the party’s congress which was held at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday morning.

Ituni mother ‘Gov’t has not forgotten delivers baby on trail Page 11

Berbice’ – Minister Gaskin Page 3

–– residents calling for new ambulance and better roads

Skeete cops historic 400M Gold at South American Games back Page

PNC proud of record

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 8, 2017

… President Granger reminds of the rocky road to statehood

THE PEOPLE’S National Congress Reform (PNCR) on Saturday morning hon-

oured 60 persons for services which they provided to the political party over

the years.

At the same time, President David Granger noted that the PNCR was proud of its record as he highlighted the party’s successes over the years, noting that they were from a principled political party.

The President made the remarks at the party’s special delegates congress and its 60th anniversary celebrations which was convened at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) Speaking to a large turnout of party members and well-wishers, the President reminded the audience of the country’s fight for independence, as well as its post1966 feats.

“I ask you to consider the

rocky road to statehood”, the President said, as the gathering built up in size during the ceremony.

As he spoke of the party’s record, the President said that the PNCR was proud of several feats including the introduction of a proportional representation system for elections; a system which he noted existed today. He said too that the party suppressed insurrection, introduced a regional system of administration, as well as the establishment of towns across the country.

“The PNC is proud of its inclusionary ideology,” the Head of State added, as he mentioned its pioneering role in the formation of the Turn to page 5 ►

A PNC stalwart from Region Two receives her medal of appreciation from Minister of Public Health , Volda Lawrence

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 8, 2017

‘Gov’t has not forgotten Berbice’ – Minister Gaskin

THE anticipated Berbice Expo 2017 opened on saturday evening at the Albion Community Development Centre in Corentyne, Berbice. Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, during brief remarks reminded Berbicians that

agricultural regions in the country that can yield more crops for the export market. A crucial factor in the development of Guyana’s economy.

The Business Minister expressed his anticipation for working with the region

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin addresses the gathering at the opening of Berbice Expo 2017. the government has not forgotten them.

The minister recalled that in 2017, the government has allocated over $500M towards the development of the region which is more than what was budgeted for all other regions.

Minister Gaskin said agriculture has always been and will continue to be a key industry and the driver of economic growth in Guyana.

He observed that Berbice is one of the largest productive

to promote investment, exports, value-added activities and tourism.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman David Armmogan opined that the theme is relevant, since “agriculture would have to be the saviour of Berbice.”

Armogan explained that agriculture in the region is sporadic and is slowly disappearing and there must be an agricultural development plan to save it.

“We will have to en-

sure that we secure food for people in this region, the country, and eventually become the breadbasket of the Caribbean here,all is not lost. But we must work hard together and contribute to the development plan.”

The regional chairman also advised that agro-businesses be established and the government provide farmsto-market roads, access to low-interest financing, tax exemptions and secure markets, which he believes will bolster the agriculture sector.

Mohamed Raffik, President of the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, indicated that preparations for the exposition began three months ago and the hard work has paid off, since the entire space is sold out to over 100 businesses. “It’s not an easy task to run this expo, but we did it. We tried to make it better than last year,” he explained.

The audience attending the opening night was entertained with dancing, steelpan music, drumming and several games for children.

The exposition is being held under the theme, “Ensuring food security and economic growth through agricultural development.”

Also present were Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma; Mayor of New Amsterdam, Winifred Haywood and Head of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar, among others.

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin and President, Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, Mohamed Raffik, checking out the Guyana Rice Development Board booth at the opening of Berbice Expo 2017.

A section of the gathering at the opening of Berbice Expo 2017.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 8, 2017

Mahdia road to be completed in December – concrete to replace laterite material

ROADWORKS on the Mahdia Community Road Project are now 63 percent complete. In July of this year when the Department of Public Information (DPI) visited the community, works were about 50 percent complete.

Sunday October 8th, - 05:30 hrs Monday October 9th, - 05:00 hrs Tuesday October 10th, - 08:30 hrs

The historic 8000 feet fully concrete stretch of road will run through the community. Noting the health benefits that will be derived from the new road, Ministry of Public Infrastructure Civil Engineer Wendell St. Pierre explained that with the high-quality concrete road, residents will not be affected by the dust that usually results from laterite roads when dry.

More importantly, the road will lessen the maintenance cost for the administration, as the quality road would be able to withstand any weight of cargo coming into the community of Mahdia.

St. Pierre revealed that

there were some setbacks in the road works resulting in a new completion date of December 4.

“They were some slight delays, because the scheduled date for completion was in August, but the weather, accessing raw materials and small problems with the contracts caused the reshuffling of the new date,” he explained.

The civil engineer told the DPI that the works on the road have been divided into three lots; Lot Three, Four and C, and are being executed by three contractors. He explained that the lots are 76, 36 and 17 percent complete, respectively. Lot Three is being executed by Techno-

con Investment, tasked with building 2750ft of road and drains, Lot Four by J.R Ranch Construction Company, responsible for constructing 300 feet of road and Lot C, by B &J Construction Company who will undertake the construction of 1600ft of road.

Additionally, St. Pierre noted that roadworks on the Mahdia-Bartica road are moving apace and is five percent complete, compared to one percent in July of this year.

Approximately $720M was allotted in the 2016 National Budget for works on the Mahdia roads. The funds had been rolled over for completion of the project in 2017.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 8, 2017

PNC proud ...

From page 2

current Coalition government.

He said that the PNC at the regional and international levels was proud to have initiated the country’s “audacious” foreign policy, playing a leading role in the support of organisations elsewhere, as well as supporting the end of apartheid in South Africa.

At the economic level,

he noted the party’s contribution to the establishment of drainage and irrigation systems in the country, the improvement of rural education and health as well as the introduction of the now defunct Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC).

“We open the doors for our households and families to own their own homes, “the President added.

He added too that to-

Tassa drumming was one of several aspects of the cultural presentation on Saturday at the PNCR congress. gether with partners in the coalition, the party had earned the confidence of the Guyanese population.

In his message to the congress , Party Chairman, Basil Williams not-

The PNC honoured one of its stalwarts, Vincent Bowen, at Saturday morning’s event. Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence presented the award.

Former Guyanese calypsonian , Neville Calistro , known by his stage name “the Mighty Chief “ is honoured for his contribution to the PNCR. Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence presented the award.

ed too that the party was proud of its record as he highlighted the successes of the party .He said that the PNC under the late L.F.S. Burnham paved the way for each of the country’s major religious groups to observe their holy days as national holidays.

Saturday’s event saw a number of party stalwarts being rewarded for their contribution to the party and their respective administrative regions.

The party received a number of wishes on its anniversary, including from overseas bodies like the Government of China, The People’s National Movement of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as political parties in Barbados and Suriname.

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Editorial

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 8, 2017

Remembering October 1953 OCTOBER is an important month in the annals of Guyana’s history. It is the month when British troops invaded the then British Guiana ostensibly to turn back a Communist plot. Four years later, after the split of the nationalist movement along ethnic lines, the People’s National Congress (PNC), one of our major ethnic parties was formed. And in October 1992, Guyana held elections that marked the return of democratic electioneering after almost three decades.

The consequence of the latter is being hotly debated as partisans discuss the developments since that date.

But it was the events of October 1953 that set everything in train. On October 8, 1953, the British Government landed troops in then British Guiana and the next day the Governor, on the orders of the Crown, suspended the constitution which among other things gave limited self-government to the colony. Several leaders of the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which, a mere 133 days earlier had won the first election under universal adult suffrage, were

arrested and forced to spend months in prison. It would be another four years before some degree of political democracy returned to the colony.

So, what was all the excitement about? Once in office, the PPP began to make some modest, but important changes to the political landscape. These included lifting the ban on so-called subversive literature and on socialist leaders from entering the colony; amending the 1945 Rice Farmers Security Tenure Ordinance to make the landlords rather than the tenant farmer ultimately responsible for the upkeep of the land, and to protect the tenant farmers by enacting a standard rental for land; and passage of a Labour Relations Bill in the Lower House to make it legal for employers to negotiate with workers through their trade unions.

Although those government actions were aimed at democratising the political economy, in the context of the Cold War they were considered by the Western powers to be subversive.

British Guiana was, therefore, deemed a “communist

threat.” So, upon the urging of the then USA government, the British invaded the colony and removed the elected government. The USA took similar action in Guatemala and Iran, where elected governments deemed to be too left wing were overthrown. The government was removed and the constitution was suspended, what national poet, Martin Carter, himself a PPP leader of that time, referred to as the “dark time’ and a “carnival of misery.”

The habit of overthrowing governments deemed to be too left-leaning characterised Western foreign policy during the Cold War. It may have contained communism, but the consequences for many countries have been devastation. In the case of Guyana, independence was delayed and the invasion of the country opened the door to the politics of ethnic division.

While the British may have satisfied their national interests, their action set in train a series of developments that would change the course of history in the soon-to-be-independent Guyana.

By 1955, the PPP had split into two ethno-ideological factions that would eventually consolidate into an ethnically polarised political system. After two election results, in 1957 and 1961, which produced ethnically skewed results, the country was plunged into three years of violent disturbances that pitted the two major ethnic groups against each other.

The legacy of those years still haunts our country as our political parties and their followers are persistently locked in a zero-sum political competition which has contributed in no small way to the country’s socio-economic underdevelopment.

Suffice to say that 1953 represented both a high point and a moment of despair for our new country. The PPP’s victory at the elections of that year represented a significant statement about the possibilities of a multi-ethnic government based on the support of the working classes. Here were young men and women prepared to rise above ethnic sentiments in the service of joint nationhood. It was indeed a shining moment pregnant with possibilities for an enduring future.

But despite their best intentions, the leaders seemed unable to suppress their individual quest for power. That the multi-ethnic experiment blew up within a couple of years is hardly something for us to be proud of as a nation, for we have not recovered that magic since. More than six decades after October 1953, many still yearn for the ethnically united example of that period.

Over the years, several questions have been asked. What if the British had not invaded? Would the united movement have withstood the pressures of ethnic hegemony that had begun to stir before the British intervened?

Were the leaders of the movement too politically

naïve and inexperienced?

Did they underestimate the imperialist forces?

Some of our scholars have delved into these questions, but more work needs to be done in this regard. Maybe our younger historians and political scientists should be encouraged to go back to a larger investigation of this period.

At least two of the active leaders of the then PPP are still alive—Ashton Chase and Eusi Kwayana—and their perspectives would be invaluable in this regard.

It is time that our country begins to invest in its history, however uncomfortable aspects of that history may be. And the events of 1953 and the history which it spawned is a good place to begin.

No wrong time to do what is right

Dear Editor:

RESPONSE is hereby made to Anil Nandlall’s contention that “The lands CoI Inquiry will leave a trail of inquiries, unresolved issues in its wake” (SN 7th October). On this issue, Nandlall is setting out to deceive, create public mischief and discord, even as I await him bringing before the commission the “more than 150 families” in Kingelly who claim to have legitimacy to land in this village, and some of them for more than 200 years, unopposed. This would be a hard task. The entire village which was bought by my enslaved great-great-great-great grandfather Cudjoe McPherson in the 1840s and transported in 1850 does not possess that number of families, much less those

residing on the northern side of it, that entire land which he kept for himself, having parcelled out and sold the southern side, of which the Commission of Inquiry was advised.

Two of the persons in the picture Nandlall shared with the media had approached me last year seeking the authorisation of the McPherson family to acquire help for them to get transports for the area they occupy. This is testimony that they are conscious the land does not belong to them.

There is no wrong time to do what is right. The time is always right to address conflict and bring about just resolutions. The CoI seeks to bring some sanity to a chaotic and thorny issue that has been festering in this society for years and creating problems among the people. The PPP benefits from this

dysfunction and illegality. Nandlall knows it and this is why the PPP does not want such a body to exist and used its parliamentary majority to kill the motion brought by PNC Member of Parliament Deborah Backer.

Before the CoI last week, was the heart-rending story of Joan Levi-Straughn, where reportedly in spite of the court’s ruling not to occupy this family’s land, the alleged trespasser, Shiraz Alli, a claimed friend of the PPP hierarchy, continues to do so. Where the law and the court ruling are being disregarded where else can this hapless family and others seek justice?

The CoI presents her and others experiencing similar problems an opportunity to air their grievances, provide the evidence in a non-acrimonious environment, where civility can prevail and other forms

of legitimate action taken to bring about redress. The PPP would not be comfortable with this.

The fake claim by Nandlall on the issue of Kingelly and that of Evan Persaud going before the body to ask that it does not take away land from some to give to others, fully aware that such is not its mandate, tells the society the level of mischief this party is stirring up. Persaud is a leading member of the Indian Action Committee, a body that worked out of the Office of the President during the Bharrat Jagdeo government.

Indians too have appeared before this commission speaking to the matter of land that was taken away from them by the state. I am aware of an Indian man -- his name will not be mentioned given his permission was not sought to so do -- whose family is presently

before the court to re-acquire land authorised to be occupied by the Lands and Surveys Department to a close friend of a former PPP president. In fact, this lease was signed by that president.

The above represents a sampling of the sort of shenanigans that have been going on with land in this country and challenges the rightful owners and heirs are facing. The CoI presents opportunities to have these issues brought to the public fore, which is making the PPP leadership afraid and angry.

Their intervention on this matter is not driven by justice, but that of wanting to hide their rascality and in seeking to so do they find political value to use the ordinary man and woman, once again, as pawns in furtherance of their self-serving agenda.

Lincoln Lewis.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 8, 2017

Counselling absolutely necessary for individuals who exhibit suicide warning signs THE CARIBBEAN VOICE (TCV) joins with others in expressing our angst that a young man had to take his life because of the stigma attached to his sexuality.

Amidst the many issues arising out of this tragedy, we would like to emphasise the necessity of counselling.

News reports indicate that the young cop was out partying with friends, some of whom knew of his intentions to take his own life and thought they had convinced him otherwise.

The reality is that with respect to suicide ideation and/or warning signs, a layperson, no matter how well-meaning, can end up pushing the individual faster towards suicide. And, as TCV and so many others have constantly been advocating, once suicide ideation is expressed or warning signs noted, it is critical to get someone with necessary counselling credentials and experience to deal with the situation.

In addition to the Suicide Helpline, counselling can be accessed through the National Psychiatric Institution at New Amsterdam, the Psyche

Ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the counselling centre at Corriverton (started by ex-magistrate Krishnadat Persaud), Help and Shelter, the Guyana Foundation, SASOD, Monique’s Helping Hands, Crossroads Suicide & Mental Health Awareness Services and The Caribbean Voice, among other NGOs and entities providing such services, mostly for free. Also, every region has sociologists and/or welfare officers who do have some amount of counselling training as do a number of government agencies such as the Ministry of Public Health, Mental Health Unit, the Childcare & Protection Agency, various Regional Health Authorities, and so on. We urge all media to get hold of all contact information through which counselling can be accessed and publish them even if once a month as a public service. As well, we urge the Ministry of Public Health to compile all the available counselling services, private and public sectors, and make them widely available via various avenues, including traditional and social me-

dia and flyers and posters The fact is that counsellors possess requisite training and experience to help patients improve their moods, cope with their diagnoses and change harmful behaviours. Counselling often focuses on stress management, coping skills and therapeutic education. The medium of communication is emphatic, geared towards being non-judgmental, non-threatening, and building comfort and trust, thereby making it easy for patients to verbalise their feelings and enabling them to work towards positive goals.

Counselling also helps people to be able to dissect their problems then figure out how to solve them.

In Guyana, there is a stigma attached to counselling, as many feel that only ‘mad people’ need counselling. It is important for this stigma to be eliminated so that seeking counselling becomes a normal, everyday desire as long as the need for such counselling becomes necessary. And, again, The Caribbean Voice believes

that the media can play a significant role in eliminating this stigma.

Incidentally, we repeat our appeal for media to stop using the term ‘commit suicide’ and instead use ‘died by suicide’

or is/was a suicide victim.

‘Commit’ has connotations that criminalise suicide, but suicide is most certainly not a criminal act.

The Caribbean Voice can be reached via email to caribvoice@aol.

com or via Check out our website at www.caribvoice.org or our Facebook group page at facebook.com/caribvoice.

Sincerely The Caribbean Voice

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Better times ahead better days are ahead

SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 8, 2017

But do our people know why?

TAKE for instance, the news that a fifth oil find has been made offshore Guyana. Has that discovery filtered to our hinterland population? Do they know that the latest find in the Turbot well, complements positive, potential yields of billions of barrels of oil in other wells such as Liza, Payara and Snoek?

The oil discoveries by ExxonMobil and other oil producing partners have become the buzz-topic elsewhere in the world which is why our Guyanese people ought to be better informed.

RADIO MAHDIA This is the context that explains what is happening today, in the township of Mahdia. Today, for the first time, Radio Mahdia will come on air. Through Radio Mahdia, information will reach people living and working in the heart of Guyana.

For those who are not familiar with the area, Mahdia is located in Region eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and lies at the centre of gold and diamond mining. Region eight

is bigger than Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Grenada and Dominica, combined.

Yet, this region has been without a dedicated radio service, until now. Radio Mahdia 95.1 will reach residents not only in the greater township but satellite areas such as Campbell Town, Micobie, Muruwa and El Paso. Between 75 and 100 mining camps would now hear radio Mahdia.

For many years I have explored the possibility of extending both television and radio signals from the flag-ship state station in Georgetown, to our hinterland regions. This had become important to boost communication to our people, who live in border areas over which spurious claims have been raised.

Radio Paiwomak was introduced as a unique station, relaying programmes from the state network and breaking off for local content, sometimes in an indigenous language.

There is also the television Learning Channel, which relays children's programmes to some 16 locations.

PURPOSEFUL NETWORK But communication to hinterland communities required a purposeful network which resulted in the commissioning of Radio Lethem and Radio Mabaruma, as regional extension services. Shortly, and during this year, we will establish Radio Bartica, Radio Aishalton and Radio Orealla.

Better times are indeed ahead, since it is our intention to include all regions in our national public communication grid. The intention is not only to spread information and education but to stimulate feedback as well as use, promote and preserve our indigenous languages.

The hinterland regional radio outreaches have become very popular. Lethem is now referred to as “Radioland”. One mother called to say that Radio Lethem has changed her life. Instead of tuning into Brazilian sta-

tions, she is happy to listen to English Language features, and to learn what is happening inside Guyana.

Folks are now asking why did it take so long to get these regional radio stations going?

FRIENDS AND FAMILIES You hear people commenting cynically, that the last administration was too busy handing out radio and television frequencies to their family and friends, and that they took no heed to the needs of our people in hinterland communities.

Their cronies in Friends & Families Inc. only wanted to do business in heavily populated areas, which has prospects of lucrative audience, and consequential big revenue returns. That abuse is now being curtailed since all licences would be allocated in different geographic zones with incentive by way of lower fees for licences to operate in rural and

hinterland areas.

Our people need to know that better days are ahead, They must know of the efforts by Guyana to slowly and painfully claw her way out from the discredited past. It was a past when economic life was mired in incestuous dealings with the drugs cartel, contraband trade, money laundering and the theft of public assets.

They must know that economic growth has slowed down, but not come to a standstill, due to the cumulative policy deficits and unproductive investment profiles, such as the Skeldon factory, Marriott Hotel/Casino, Amaila road/hydro, etc..

BOUNCING BACK The economy remains shaken and vulnerable.

But the good news is that sections are bouncing back, such as gold and rice production.

While the price for padi

is not where farmers would be comfortable, they do not now suffer from unavailability of markets. A new destination is Mexico, and already some 70,000 tons of padi have been shipped.

Cuba also has re-opened her market to Guyana’s rice, and the first shipment is on its way to Havana.

Last week, for example, during a tour of the DDL complex, Minister Gaskin and I were told that this local liquor and juice company is investing $10 billion over the next three years in business expansion.

This investment plan includes boosting processing facilities in order to buy from farmers greater supplies of local fruits for juice production.

The resurgence of business confidence will not come overnight but the state has a responsibility to tell its story, and the expansion of its radio network to reach hinterland communities is heading in the right direction.

Works commence on ‘Green Space’ project in Linden THE construction of a ‘Green Space’ project has commenced in the mining town of Linden with the initial phase estimated at $20M. The multimillion dollar project includes a green park and a hall of fame. Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland, in an interview told the Guyana Chronicle that the first phase of the project entails the construction of the base around the newly-built arch, located at Casaurina Drive, Mackenzie, Linden. It also includes the clearing of the land, removal of thick vegetation from around that area and also back- filling of the area aimed at reclaiming certain parts of land that are in slush.

In addition, the $20 million will also be used for groundwork, including the land surveying and the plan and layout which will be released to the public when it is completed.

Holland told the Chronicle that $20million has already been approved for the first phase of the project by the Ministry of Communities, however, the final estimate of the entire project is yet to be finalised.

According to Holland, the ‘Green Space’ Project will encompass an entire park which will consist of a Hall of Fame, a sidewalk, a

light-railed track, a garden, and a hall. “You’ll have a Hall of Fame pathway. If you had a father or someone who has worked at the bauxite company, you’ll be able to purchase a block and have that person’s name inscribed on it and that will be placed along the walkway, heading southwards,” he explained.

He added: “There will be a light-railed track, a little track for that little motor, that persons can sit inside and get an experience of moving on a train, especially the children.”

The entire project, which will run from the arch to the junction at Plantation Fair’s Rust, is expected to be completed in 2018 or 2019 the latest.

“The project is extensive, this first phase is just from the arch to in front of the Watooka Guest House and the first phase is going to continue developing from the 2018 budget, so after the first phase is completed, then we are going to move from in front of the Watooka Guest House going further and we are looking going to the phrase Russ end,” he stated.

He explained that they will not only be approaching the government for funding, but will also approach non-governmental organisations as well.

Work has commenced around the base of the arch.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE October 8, 2017

The PNC in motion ––Time, place, personalities and history

THIS week’s column is mostly political history, but also partly contextualisation.

Particularly, it looks at the earlier history of the PNC and its evolution over time as the party observes its 60th anniversary.

I decided to focus on the history, because I have come to realise that it is a dying interest among our citizens, including our elites, which in turn leads to seriously flawed analyses of our politics and society.

I am often dismayed at the ignorance of the history of the PNC that resides among the younger and not-so-young members of that party and the public at large. It is my opinion that this ignorance is manifested by the over-reliance of PNC members on this and that project initiated by the party when it held office, rather any serious interrogation of the party’s origins and evolution both as a product and shaper of post-colonial Guyanese politics and society. As is the case with such projects, the facts and analysis contained in this column are products of my own research and reading of what I unearthed. In that sense, there is bias contained here.

This past week the PPP observed the 25th anniversary of its return to power in 1992, after almost three decades in the opposition benches. Since the party equates that moment with the return to democracy, it frames its subsequent tenure in office as a historic intervention. Many independent observers and detractors of the PPP would obviously read that period in our history much different from the political ideologues at Freedom House.

But I shall return to that in a subsequent column.

Whatever the PPP thinks about itself before and after 1992, that narrative is intertwined with its long-time nemesis, the PNC. The modern political history of Guyana cannot be properly written without due consideration of the PNC’s role, which by all accounts is phenomenal. In our ethnically bifurcated country, the PNC has these six decades

symbolised the political aspirations, survival and hegemony of one the two major ethnic groups. In many regards, for African-Guyanese, the PNC is the “race” and vice versa. The PNC, like the PPP, has, understandably, always disavowed this ethno-racial tag, but that has not stood in the way of the uncomfortable truth.

To understand the ethnic evolution of the PNC, one must be reminded of the very origins of the party, which lie in the ruins of the original PPP. The historic victory of the country’s first mass-based party at the 1953 election proved to be both a moment of triumph and the origin of political dislocation. When the split was formalised in 1955, the Burnhamite faction walked away with the party’s mainly African-Guyanese urban membership and a minority of the top leadership. Between 1955 and 1957, this faction functioned as PPP-Burnhamite and contested the 1957 election under that name.

The PNC would come into being after the defeat of the PPP-Burnhamite by the PPP-Jaganite-PPP at the 1957 election. The Burnhamites garnered 25.48% of the popular vote and won three seats, while the Jaganites got 47.5% of the popular votes and won 9 seats.

It is obvious from those results that the Burnhamites had not yet emerged as a broad national force when it renamed itself, the PNC, in October 1957.

That would drastically change within two years. First, Eusi Kwayana, then known as Sydney King, would join the PNC shortly after its birth and bring into the party his following among rural African-Guyanese. He, Kwayana, had remained with the Jaganite faction at the time of the 1955 split, but along with other Black leaders, would leave in 1956 primarily because the leadership had begun to embrace a more pro-Indian Guyanese outlook. He contested the 1957 election as an independent candidate and while he was opposed by the Jaganites, the Burnhamites did not field a

candidate against him.

K w ayana became the PNC’s general-secretary and editor of the party’s newspaper, New Nation. He also wrote the party’s song—he was also writer of the PPP’s and WPA’s party songs. Kwayana’s entry into the PNC effectively began the consolidation of the PNC as the African-Guyanese response to the emerging Indian-Guyanese PPP. This process was completed with the 1959 merger of the PNC with the African-Guyanese middle class United Democratic Party (UDP), then led

by John Carter. In effect, one can argue that this represented the real birthdate of the PNC. The PNC, like all our major parties, is really a coalition of various forces, often with vastly different outlooks. This early PNC brought together the ideologically moderate Burnhamites, the very conservative Afro-Saxons from the UDP and the radicalism of Kwayana and his followers.

What they had in common was their blackness (race) which, after the lull of the early PPP, had again become salient in our politics.

Of historical note is the fact that Peter D’Aguiar, who went on to form the United Force, had refused an invitation to join the PNC. Also of note is the role played by legendary Caribbean thinker, CLR James, in merger of the UDP and the PNC. The impact of the expanded PNC could be gleaned from its showing at the 1961 election when it garnered 40.99% of the popular vote (a mere 1.6% less than the PPP and a whopping 15.51% increase of its 1957 takings) and won 11 seats.

From 1959 to the present, the PNC has undergone tremendous change. It must, since it is part of a changing Guyana and a changing world.

Its detractors, including this writer from time to time, give the impression that the PNC is stuck in time. That is wrong history and dishonest analysis.

The early PNC, therefore, represented the massive ideological contradictions with-

in its early leadership. King and the UDP faction soon found it difficult to co-exist ideologically and Burnham’s own pre-occupation with top leadership could not co-exist with what was perceived as leadership threats from King and John Carter. Carter was soon banished overseas and King was “expelled.” These developments, in a sense, saw the emergence of a new PNC leadership dominated by Burnham’s loyalists. By the time it took power in 1964, the PNC was not the same party that came into being in 1957-59.

For the next 21 years the party went in directions that few observers anticipated.

First, it transitioned from a chaotic, eclectic ideology to a deeply Marxist-Leninist party.

Whether one thinks this movement was politically opportunistic or not, the truth is that it transformed the party. The second great development was its adoption of political domination and authoritarianism as a mode in both party and government. What this meant for the PNC and Guyana was the awkward convergence of a progressive foreign policy, liberal to progressive domestic policies in the socio-economic sphere and a most regressive (authoritarian) form of governance. Ultimately, the former two could not survive the onslaught of the latter.

It is the most difficult part of the PNC’s history for its members to come to grips with. Even President Granger, an astute historian, has not worked out how to locate and explain this part of the party’s history. Of the current PNC leaders, only Carl Grennidge, Vincent Alexander and Aubrey Norton I have ever heard made any serious attempt to confront this moment in the party’s history—I still remember Carl Grennidge’s presentation in this regard at a symposium on Burnham at St Stanislaus in 2011, I think.

Along the way, Llewelyn John, a product of the UDP, and a key player in local government policy and electoral “reform” split from the party.

The biggest break was between the PNC and Kwayana’s ASCRIA in 1971. Kwayana, though expelled from the PNC, remained a big influence on the PNC’s politics from 1964 to 1971. He greatly influenced Land Reform policy, support for African Liberation as foreign policy, support for African empowerment as domestic policy, the village economy as policy, government agricultural policy and the movement towards a Cooperative Republic.

In fact, the name-term “Cooperative Republic” was coined

by Kwayana. But Kwayana would break with Burnham and the PNC over government corruption—a development that would set in train a new period in Guyanese history that saw the emergence of the WPA and a new politics.

By the time Burnham died in 1985, the world had changed. The assassination of Walter Rodney had deeply damaged Guyana’s image at home and abroad. The rise of Reaganism, the demise of the Grenadian revolution and the imminent exit of the Cold War meant the PNC’s aces had less currency. So, even before his sudden death, Burnham had begun to search for ways to change course. He had begun to talk to the PPP, had brought into the party leadership and government a new cadre of technocrats and his anti-imperialism had become less bombastic.

What Desmond Hoyte did when he came to power was to escalate that which Burnham was hesitant about in his last years. He purged the Burnhamites who were generally contemptuous of him, slackened the authoritarian state and retreated from socialist economics. This transition culminated with free and fair elections in 1992, which saw the PNC lose power. This precipitated yet another split in the PNC with Hamilton Green, the long-time PNC strongman, being expelled by Hoyte who replaced the “Greens” with a younger cadre of technocrats who had not grown up with the party—some of them are

still in the party’s leadership today. These technocrats were partly part of the REFORM component that emerged as the PNC’s version of the PPP’s CIVIC and the WPA’s CITIZENS. Green’s (GGG) would embarrass the PNC at the 1994 Georgetown municipal elections by soundly beating the party in its core constituency The PNC in opposition was a changed party. After 28 years, it knew nothing about opposition politics. As is the custom, many top leaders left.

Hoyte had become bitter as the expected ethnic results of his policies had not materialised.

He flirted with mass-protests, but pulled back when he realised that it was the new, younger leadership which was benefiting from this tactic. He and the PNC almost buried themselves politically by refusing to press for power-sharing with the PPP which, under the pressure of the protests, was prepared to concede. By the time Hoyte agreed to power-sharing, it was too late— Bharrat Jagdeo had taken over the PPP and had begun his crusade of PPP dominance and Indian-Guyanese hegemony.

At Hoyte’s death, Robert Corbin, an unlikely PNC maximum leader, took the reins of the party. The world had changed from the days when he was a young PNC strongman and firebrand. His leadership coincided with the weakest period in the party’s history—both the party and its supporters were demoralised.

Corbin was never allowed to govern the party as his predecessors did, largely because his peers did not see him as their intellectual equal—he suffered from not being able to fit into the “doctor politics” that dominates our culture. He was challenged by Vincent Alexander for the leadership, which in turn led to another purge from the party.

The 2006 election at which he was the party’s presidential candidate saw the PNC’s lowest returns ever at an election. In the See page 10

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Responding to Bharrat Jagdeo’s baseless accusations LET me start by publicly assuring Bharrat Jagdeo that there existed no competition on my part for the attention of the men who work in bauxite that would cause him to think I was jealous he and not me won their attention.

This has to be some ego Jagdeo slugged around all these years and finally unable to contain himself, blurted it out at his last press conference.

In this department, our desire is polar opposite and it’s hoped that this admission by me not only deflates misplaced egos, but also lays to rest ill-conceived notions to the contrary.

My interest is about protecting, defending, and advancing rights and the rule of law. Any person who seeks public office and is prepared to violate and transgress these tenets shall hear from me. In this specific case, Jagdeo has been involved in numerous violations and transgressions while serving as president of this country and he must be held accountable for the abuse of the privilege granted to him by the people.

At the said press conference, he took objection to the mention of his name/stewardship of this country whenever something is said by me of the APNU+AFC Government. It is his belief also that I and others are making a profit on the backs of the African community, pretending that we are advancing their interests. In one specific instance, he sought to cast aspersions on my family’s pursuit to bring resolution to the dispute surrounding Kingelly Village, West Coast Berbice, bought by my greatgreat-great-great grandfather

Cudjoe McPherson.

Being an advocate for people’s well-being and development has always seen me at the forefront representing individuals and interest groups, regardless of origin, and taking strident positions against those who threaten or deny these. Today, Africans’ rights continue to be under threat by persons who were/are given the privilege to earn from the state and served/ serve the people. Being a member of this community, I shall not shirk the responsibility of advancing their rights and embracing their cause. Failure on my part to do so would disqualify me from speaking about rights and the rule of law for any other community.

Let it be known, I shall not be anyone’s lackey, for I am not the person who will not speak against the aggression and atrocities against my group for fear that I will offend another group. Where in the past and present I have fearlessly held African leadership accountable, don’t expect me not to hold leaders of other races to similar standards. For me, such matters are not about colour or about race; they are about rights and laws, but Jagdeo can only see issues through the lens of race.

It was the same man in 2001 who went to Albion when the citizens rioted, burnt the magistrate’s car, attempted to burn down the Albion Police Station, and one person was shot, that ordered the guns of the police be taken away and the Berbice top management be replaced. The people protesting were Indians and the police Africans. This act sent

a message to his Indian constituency that Africans were transgressing their rights and he removed them. Every act in this scenario failed to respect the rights of all and uphold the rule of law and universally acceptable principles.

Jagdeo’s interest is about power and more power. He derives pleasure dividing the races so he can pursue his quest to dominate, acquire and maintain that power to further his personal enrichment and that of his cronies.

He flaunts and parades most if not all of the characteristics of an ethnic entrepreneur. His programme in treating with Africans during his tenure is similar to the treatment Israel pursues with Palestine.

During his tenure, he executed policies, programmes and acts to make Africans feel they have to grovel and lose their dignity and respect to gain anything in society.

With reference to the bauxite workers, he travelled to Kwakwani and Everton and told workers, ‘Lincoln Lewis cannot give you anything, I have the money, so listen to me, I can make you get money.’ The money he was speaking about did not belong to him, it belonged to the state, which means it is the people’s money. He further told the workers he would give them money for redundancy, but failed to tell them the formula he would have applied to make such payment was negotiated between LINMINE and the bauxite unions, the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU) and GMWU. Such is the pit of his deceit and the height of his

cunning.

In 2002, he gave a commitment that the people in Kwakwani will get land for housing and agriculture, and an all-weather road from Kwakwani to Linden. Instead, the people got fooled. When he was finished with this deception, he moved to break up the workers’ Pension Plan, worth in excess of $2.5 billion, the single largest pool of money owned by Africans. He also took away the tax-free overtime on premium hours worked by bauxite workers, that they fought for and achieved under the Desmond Hoyte administration, and which was extended to sugar workers.

This man loves power so much and will wish to have it in every sphere of this society to the point where he didn’t mind failing to develop a constructive plan to save sugar, but was more driven in misleading the workers that he cared about them by pouring billions into the industry which was to maintain the fat cat lifestyle of the party hierarchy and their friends. Sugar workers should be incensed that he has used them in furtherance of his agenda and not theirs.

Today, when the industry faces deeper crises, he is crying foul and giving the impression he cares, but cannot challenge this government by producing one line of any plan to salvage the industry. He is using sugar workers to further his self-serving agenda. All those years in office and at the helm of government, it was never about the workers who are merely seen as animals on a farm to produce and provide votes at elections time. When GAWU challenged GuySuCo,

The PNC ...

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end, there was another split.

Raphael Trotman, seen as a rising star, left to help form the AFC and took with him a quarter of the party’s electoral base.

But the very Corbin who led the party at its lowest moment would be the unsung hero of its revival. He knew the party had no electoral future as a winning party on its own and

would have to forge alliances.

He first sought power-sharing with the PPP, but even though Jagdeo expressed some interest, the initiative was scuttled

by Mrs. Jagan. He then floated the “big tent” idea with the party’s old enemy, the WPA, but the latter wasn’t ready for the plunge—not with Corbin as the leader of the tent.

But Corbin continued to

court the WPA, both in front of and behind the scenes, and by 2011, he scored a breakthrough when the WPA agreed to the formation of the APNU. The Corbin “partnership faction” was a minority within the PNC. Many still believed the myth that the PNC could win alone, while others were still bitter at the WPA for helping to topple the party in 1992.

Ironically, most of the PNCites in government today initially scoffed at the idea of the APNU partnership.

Corbin paid the ultimate price for choosing partnership over party—he could not be the leader. As he gracefully stepped away, he endorsed David Granger over Carl Grenidge in a bitter contest.

Granger won and has since

it was the Jagdeo government that gave Nanda Gopaul, then Chairman of the Board, instructions to write the union threatening to de-recognise it. He never cared nor does he have the capacity to care for others, and sugar workers should find his presence in their midst intolerable.

At the last elections, he accused David Granger of having blood on his hands when he presided over the state and hundreds of persons were murdered extra-judicially, his government partnered with questionable characters that saw the narco-militarisation of Guyana. Arguably to date, this remains the bloodiest period in this nation’s history. If Granger has blood on his hands, Jagdeo has it all over his body.

At the same time, let me seek to make it very clear: the David Granger/Moses Nagamootoo Government shall not escape accountability for those who have been killed under unnatural circumstances on their watch and the Coroner’s Act not activated.

Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, had sworn under oath in the High Court that there was no African person in this country qualified to head a foreign mission. Such discrimination was part of Jagdeo’s programme of economic genocide in the African community. In Opposition, that party screamed there must be ethnic balance in the public service and military but came to office and failed to put a programme in place to bring about it, including calling for balance in the private sector.

Where they do want Africans to give of their labour and

legitimately earn, when they have pursued active policies and programmes to marginalise them and shut them out of the formal economy?

In the face of the above atrocities, don’t expect me not to crusade to hold Jagdeo accountable and remind this nation what his brutish and divisive brand of politics has done to all of us. And whereas his greatest strength is that he has no shame, let me remind him that he has no singular right to this nation’s patrimony, nor can he stand up and make any honest claim he demonstrated interest, policy, programme or respect for law to bring about racial equality and respect in this society. This administration is put on notice it shall not be allowed to follow a similarly destructive path.

Every time Africans speak about organising for their well-being and development, Jagdeo and his cohorts refer to this progressive stance as being racist. When he and his cohorts assemble at the bottom houses in the various communities, planning what programmes will be used to dis-enfranchise groups, they don’t see such acts as being racists, but God-given duty to pursue discrimination.

With such wickedness in our midst, the law becomes our only shield and weapon.

As it pertains to Kingelly, there’s a simple message for Anil Nandlall, the legal representative of those who claim land belongs to them in this village -- get your facts right, for the more you seek to malign Cudjoe McPherson’s heirs, the more we shall stand steadfast.

brought a new element to the PNC—the ex-soldiers, who have become a formidable force in the party. But Granger is not a natural PNC leader— he does not enjoy maximum support among the membership and the rank and file.

And like Hoyte, he governs the party more as President than as party leader. Under his leadership, the party has not regained its bluster largely because the APNU and the coalition have weakened its power as an electoral force.

As was the case when it lost power in 1992, the PNC is yet to adjust to the new reality and figure out the proper role of the party in a coalition government and its relationship to its African-Guyanese base.

More of Dr. Hinds ‘writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

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Ituni mother delivers baby on trail –– residents calling for new ambulance and better roads

A YOUNG Ituni mother on Saturday morning delivered her baby on the trail to Linden and the baby along with the mother are now patients at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

According to information reaching this newspaper, the baby is healthy, but the mother was bleeding profusely. However, she is said to be in a stable condition.

According to medical

personnel at Ituni, the young mother started bleeding while being transported to Linden and the condition of the ambulance and the deplorable state of the road were blamed. After the mother delivered, the ambulance began to experience more mechanical problems and assistance had to be rendered by mini bus drivers.

The Guyana Chronicle was told in instances such as

these, mothers from Ituni are closely monitored and before they advance in pregnancy, are referred to the LHC. But unfortunately, this mother was still in Ituni at the advanced stage of her delivery.

The medical personnel said that one of the reasons for this is not only for close monitoring, but the situation with the ambulance and the road.

The ambulance was donated to the community last

year and has been experiencing several problems since then. ‘We had an ambulance like this couple years back and they did a donation and they bring the same type of ambulance. The ambulance is not able. Ituni is a trail and for these areas, they should get a land rover or a land cruiser ambulance,” she said, further revealing that last night the ambulance encountered two problems.

“You going out with a patient and when you meet now you automatically turn a patient too, because every time it going out, it encountering some problem along the way….one time it went on the trail more than a week.”

In addition to the ambulance, the trail which also leads to Kwakwani, continues to be in a deplorable state and bus drivers have increased their fares as a result of this. “Ituni bus drivers, Kwakwani bus drivers, Aoraima bus drivers, all raise the prices because every time

you come out you have to go to the workshop. The road is like a scrubbing board.

Imagine you are a mother and just deliver a baby, you get some amount of blood loss and being on a road like that is going to cause you to lose more blood than you are suppose to,” one resident commented.

Residents are calling on the relevant authorities to look into these issues, since they pose a danger to the health and well-being of the residents of these communities.

Probe into illegal aircraft completed THE investigation into the Brazilian aircraft which was found on an illegal airstrip near Santa Fe in North Rupununi in August, has been completed.

According to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon the report on the investigation is now with Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. “The police investigation into that matter I understand it is completed and the Minister of Public Security is in possession of the report and recommendation,” Minister Harmon told reporters at the Ministry of the Presidency on Friday.

The Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft was flown to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport shortly after being discovered by security forces.

The twin-engine aircraft bearing registration PR-IMG is tied to an investment bank in neighbouring Brazil – Banco Bradesco. That bank had facilitated the sale of the aircraft between its owners, a Rio-based company and another private entity.

The bank is listed by the Brazilian authorities as the owner, since the process of transfer of ownership is ongoing.

Minister Harmon said that Guyana has been in communication with some persons from Brazil who have claimed the aircraft was stolen from them. “But we asked them to provide some further information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that information has not been forthcoming,” he stated.

Asked whether evidence suggests that there was collusion of local police officers here, Harmon reiterated that the report and its findings are now with the Public Security Minister. The Guyana Chronicle was unable to

Colourful magazine launched in Region 5

Region 5 Chamber of Industry and Commerce on Saturday evening launched its colourful magazine "The Potential 5" The launch was attended by Prime

Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin.

In photo also are Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal, Chamber President Imran Sacoor and MP Harry Gill

make contact with Minister Ramjattan.

However, Minister Harmon said, “if in fact there has been collusion, then certainly action will be taken.

“I want to give you this assurance that in cases which have to do with national security and national defence,

once anyone is found to be in collusion with any foreign entities that seek to affect the security of the state and the integrity of our borders, those matters are taken very, very seriously.”

The discovery was made just a week after soldiers had found another illegal airstrip,

a chain saw, aviation fuel, 12 abandoned camps and several dug-out trenches in the same area.

Government has been working with local and international partners to build capacity and strengthen security within and around the country.

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Modern maternity unit for NA Hospital –– as Cabinet approves millions of dollars in contracts

CABINET, at its sub-committee meeting on Tuesday, took note of the award of 20 multi-million-dollar contracts in areas of infrastructure, health, education and public security by the procurement entities and the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

In the field of education, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon disclosed that US$93,684 was awarded to Scholastic Inc. for the procurement of tool kits for Grade Two classes under the Education Ministry.

Also under the Education Ministry, several schools will be rehabilitated and extended.

Minister Harmon disclosed that the procurement authorities have awarded $19.6M to N. Balgobin and Sons Electrical Contractor and Supplier for the extension of the Kabakaburi Primary School on the Upper Pomeroon River, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The same company was also awarded $16.8M for the extension of the Charity Secondary School on the Essequibo Coast, and another $15.114M for the construction of the Liberty Primary School in the Lower Pomeroon River.

Meanwhile, in the Health Sector, the New Amsterdam and the Georgetown Public Hospitals stand to benefit from the most recent approval of contracts by the procurement authorities.

Under the Ministry of Communities, a $23.064M contract was awarded to Kascon Engineering Service for the construction of a maternal unit at the New Amsterdam

Hospital Compound, in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

“This maternal unit will consist of labour rooms, including two private rooms, that will enable husbands to witness deliveries, an operational theatre, a neonatal unit and a maternity ward consisting of 50 beds,” Minister Harmon explained.

When completed, the project will enable the Region Six health authorities to cater for the more than 3, 000 deliveries that are done in the region every year.

Over at the GPHC, a contract to the tune of $18.4M was awarded to K.D. Enterprise for the supply and installation of operating room lights at the country’s primary hospital.

Isla Lab Caribbean Limited Liability Company was awarded US$94,995 for the procurement of Terumo Platelepheresis equipment for the National Blood Transfusion Services.

Meanwhile, in the area of public infrastructure, several roads will be constructed and repaired in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four Demerara-Mahaica), Five Mahaica-Berbice), Six, Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) under the Ministries of Public Infrastructure and Communities.

According to Minister Harmon, $187.8M was awarded to J.R. Ranch Incorporated for the rehabilitation and construction of urban roads in the township of Lethem in Region Nine.

Additionally, three sepa-

‘Please take me home’ OFFICIALS of the Fort Wellington Cottage Hospital are calling on the relatives of a man in his late fifties to visit the hospital and take him home.

The man who says his name is `Deoroo’, has a large abscess on his head and was taken to the Hospital for treatment two weeks ago.

His treatment has been successful and he is ready to be discharged but no one has come forward to take him home and he remains in the hospital.

Officials at the hospital say that his relatives should contact them urgently since the hospital does not cater for accommodation.

The man is not completely lucid but has occasionally disclosed that he hails from Ruimzeight on the West Coast of Demerara, and has children living there.

Deoroo

He told officials that his wife is deceased and that he had travelled to Suriname to work recently but had taken ill.

He said he was brought back to Guyana by a Guyanese who was moved by the poor circumstances in which she had seen him living in Suriname.

Hospital officials are calling on relatives to come forward since the man is depressed and has not been eating.

rate contracts were awarded for the supply of 7,500 tons of asphalt concrete for the East Bank Berbice Road Project.

Associated Construction Services will be supplying 2000 tons of asphalt at a cost of $80.4M, while K. P. Jagdeo General Contractor will supply 2000 tons of asphalt at the cost of $77.8M. The final set of 3,500 tons will be provided

by H. Nauth and Sons, at a cost of $125M. Under the Ministry of Communities, a number of roads will be rehabilitated in low-income housing schemes.

In Tuschen,Phase Two on the East Bank of Essequibo, GAICO Construction and General Services Incorporated will repair roads there at a cost of $118.2M, while at Section ‘EE’ Non-Pariel in Region Four, XL Engineering will carry out similar repairs.

That company was awarded a contract of $87.3M. At Block ‘D’ Bath, West Coast Berbice in Region Five, A and S General Contractors will repair roads in the area at the cost of $98.7M, while in Region Six, at Ordnance Fort Lands, Eron Lall Civil Engineering Works was awarded a contract of $98.4M to rehabilitate roads there.

B and J Civil Works will carry out similar repairs in Amelia’s Ward, Linden, at a cost of $112.1M. Yunas Civil and Building Construction Services was awarded a contract to the tune of $18M for the rehabilitation of Main Street, East Canje, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six).

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Mother of ‘butchered’ son pleads for justice –says son suffered undeserving death

By Nafeeza Yahya

AS INVESTIGATIONS continue into the gruesome murder of 21- year-old Mahendra Ghanie, called ‘Azad’, his family cannot

now, it was long now he get this money for Azad and every time is some excuse .“ Fazil who was in Trinidad said, he last spoke to his son on Sunday morning and when he heard his son’s remains were found he hopped on the next flight to Guyana.

SACRIFICE According to the mother, Indranie Seenanand she refuses to believe that her son was killed because of two sheep, and feels that since the head and other body parts were not found she believed that her son may have been killed for spiritual reasons.

the family can contact them on Telephone number 6023746 or 603-9349.

On Friday , the burnt and mutilated remains of Mahendra Ghanie was discovered in two shallow graves, in a burial ground at the back of the employer’s home located at Number 55 Village, East Berbice.

After intense investigations, the Police arrested the employer who was identified as “Bobby”, two of his sons and an employee. Police sources have confirmed that three of the suspects in custody have confessed to the heinous crime, admitting to killing the young man and burning his body to get rid of

Mother, Indranie Seenanand come to grips with the fact that he is no more and they are upset that the main suspects are accusing him of theft.

According to the father of the now dead man, Fazil Ghanie, 43, his son was owed $70,000 by his employer and he left to collect his wages. He is of the opinion that his son was murdered because he wanted his money.

“That is all lies, my son was a hard-working boy and would not stoop to`thiefing’, he tell me the man owe him $70,000 and he went up to collect the money to help with his mother’s surgery, and I believe them kill him because he want he money.

This money was not owed

Mahendra Ghanie in happier times “I make my son and mind him for 21 years and to see just a couple pieces of bones. He did not have a head or foot only bone from the shoulder to his hip. We want answers.”

The father of Ghanie strongly believes that stricter penalties should be given to persons who commit such acts. “This is happening too often, every couple days a family suffers. Stricter penalties should be put in place and men like these should be made examples.”

Meanwhile, the family of young Ghanie is seeking help from the general public to offset funeral expenses .Anyone desirous of assisting

the evidence.

He was reportedly beaten, then had his body placed in a shallow grave and burnt on the night of Monday October 2nd.

After the suspects returned to the scene, the body was dragged from the first hole and dumped into a second, where a second fire was lit so as to completely get rid of all the evidence.

Villagers who spoke with this publication on conditions of anonymity, noted that “Bobby” was a known character and there were a few incidents in the past where he was accused of committing various crimes, including murder and robbery.

The distance from the shallow grave to where the suspect lives

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From page back

Skeete cops historic 400M ... male 100M through Kenisha Phillips and Jermaine King, respectively.

The Boys 100M was closely contested, and the time reflected how close Guyana came to winning gold.

Paraguay’s Fabrizio Aquino finished first with 10.92 second, ‘pipping’ Guyana’s King at the line as he registered 10.963 sec-

onds for silver while Colombia’s Gian Mosquera came in third with a time of 10.966 seconds.

It was also a close finish for Phillips in the women’s 100M as well, with Colombia’s Angie Echeverria winning in a ‘photo finish’, running 12.114, as compared to the Guyanese time of 12.18 seconds.

Shary Quiñonez, (12.27

seconds) another Colombian, dipped at the line but finished third.

Prior to the great showing on the track, the Guyana National Anthem was not heard in Santiago, since the other representatives were either knocked out in the quarter-finals or preliminary stage of their respective events. (Rawle Toney)

From page back

Forty-six goals scored ... and Clifton Rickett’s single strike in the 16th.

St Pius was also in no playful mood as they overcame Soesdyke 5-0 with four goals coming from Dwayne Baptiste 1st, 2nd, 13th and 15th) while Haden Wellington scored in the 3rd minute.

St Margaret’s and Enterprise played to a goal-less draw while West Ruimveldt trashed Supply Primary 6-0 with a hat- trick from Ian Daniels (6th, 19th, 20th) and single strikes from Devon Chance (13th), Mickon Vandenburg (10th) and Richie Samroop (28th) Sophia needled St Angela’s through David Weeks’ 12th minute strike in match seven while North George-

English Racing Tips Kelso 08:35 hrs Newstart

town had Derwin George (4th) and Kyristen Gonsalves (22nd) on target in their 2-0 win over Grove primary.

Victoria Primary was also on the delivering end of a 1-0 win over South Ruimveldt, thanks to Kelon Croal in the 25th, while School of the Nations had the same margin of victory over Mocha, thanks to Timothy Braithwaite in the 12th.

St Ambrose overcame Den Amstel by a 1-0 margin, thanks to Jacob Rodney in the 29th minute while Marian Academy stole the show with a 7-0 drubbing of Winfer Gardens.

Doubles from Bradley Walton (12th, 27th), Michael Alphonso (29th, 30th)

and Asher Adams (5th,9th) along with a single from Malik Baker (20th) ensured the scoreline was a blowout.

Joshua Waterman and Shabaz Cameron were the stars in Smith Memorial’s 2-0 win over Calaaco while Stella Maris beat Timheri 3-0, thanks to three precise strikes from Fedel Norville (13th, 17th, 21st).

In the final two matches of the afternoon, Mickhail Mason was the match decider for Mae’s in their 1-0 win over St Stephen’s Primary while Jermaine Crum-Ewing’s 25th strike was the decisive factor in St. Agnes’ win over Redeemer.

Matches continue next weekend.

09:05 hrs Danceintothelight

09:45 hrs Dixie Lee

09:40 hrs Beyond The Clouds 10:15 hrs Point The way 10:50 hrs Mayo Star 11:20 hrs Simply Red 11:50 hrs Craig Star 12:20 hrs Betancourt Uttoxeter 09:25 hrs Twisler 09:55 hrs Who’s My Jockey 10:30 hrs Templeross 11:00 hrs Sporting Boy 11:35 hrs Brownville 12:05 hrs Irish Octave 12:35 hrs Texas Forever Irish Racing Tips Limerick 09:15 hrs Fabulous Saga

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27

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 8, 2017

Nigeria qualify for 2018 World Cup finals after win over Zambia

By Oluwashina Okeleji ARSENAL’s Alex Iwobi scored as Nigeria beat a stubborn Zambia 1-0 to become the first African side to seal a place at next year’s World Cup in Russia.

The win put them on an unassailable 13 points at the top of Group B. Chances were missed at both ends by the time Shehu Abdullahi provided the cut-back for Iwobi to finish from inside the box in the 73rd minute.

Odion Ighalo, John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Moses Simon went close for the Super Eagles but failed to score.

Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mwenne pro duced an acrobatic save to deny Wilfred Ndidi in the second half in a pulsating end-to-end encounter.

Augustine Mulenga thought he had put Zambia ahead in the 22nd minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Fashion Sakala, Alex Ng’onga and Enock Mwepu

had chances for the Chipolopolo but the 2012 African Champions failed to punish a perplexed Super Eagles defence.

But substitute Iwobi, who had scored in the reverse fixture in Ndola last October, finished off a decent attack to send Nigeria to a third straight World Cup appearance.

Moses had a great opportunity to add a second towards the end, but the Chelsea wing-back slipped inside the box.

Nigeria stay top in Group B and advance with one game to spare from a pool that was dubbed the “Group of Death” and expected to go down to the wire.

Russia will be Nigeria’s sixth appearance at the World Cup. They reached the second round in 1994, 1998 and 2014, but exited the tourna-

second round of the last World Cup finals in Brazil‚ have already been elim-

Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi scored the crucial goal to take Nigeria through to the World Cup finals in Russia

ment in the group stage in 2002 and 2010.

In the other group game, Cameroon beat Algeria 2-0 at home with goals from Clinton Njie and Franck Tchidjui Pangop.

Reigning African champions Cameroon and Algeria‚ who got to the

African WC Qualifying Group B: Played Points 1. Nigeria - Qualified 5 13 2. Zambia 5 7 3. Cameroon 5 6 4. Algeria 5 1

inated after disappointing campaigns.

(BBC Sport)

28

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 8, 2017

Pakistan lose Amir to injury as Karunaratne hits Test-best 196 DIMUTH Karunaratne fell agonisingly short of a maiden Test double-century and Pakistan lost Mohammad Amir to injury on day two in Dubai as Sri Lanka gave themselves an excellent chance to seal a series victory.

Karunaratne anchored the Sri Lanka innings with a magnificent Test-best 196 with support from Dinesh Chandimal (62), Niroshan Dickwella (52) and Dilruwan Perera (58) to get the tourists – leading the two-match series 1-0 – up to 482 all out.

Amir left the field in the afternoon session due to a shin injury that will prevent the paceman from bowling in the second innings and keep him out of the one-day international series.

Yasir Shah (6-184) claimed a five-wicket haul for the fifth consecutive Test

Mohammad Abbas ended an 88-run stand by snaring the wicketkeeper-batsman caught behind.

Karunaratne missed out on a maiden Test double-century when he played on to a delivery from Wahab Riaz, who earlier took six attempts to bowl the fifth ball of an over before finally getting his run-up right.

Dilruwan struck seven boundaries and Rangana Herath added an unbeaten 27 as Sri Lanka piled on the runs

Dimuth Karunaratne went past 150 in the first session ©Getty Images

as Pakistan toiled without Amir, who is available to bat, before Sami Aslam and Shan Masood saw them through to 51-0 at stumps Captain Chandimal

brought up his half-century after Sri Lanka resumed on 254-3, but missed out on a second century of the series when he was given out leg before and decided against

reviewing despite replays showing Yasir’s delivery was missing the stumps.

Karunaratne continued to make Pakistan suffer with Amir departing for a scan after bowling only three overs, working the ball into the leg side with great skill and countering the threat of Yasir as the aggressive Dickwella played his shots at the other end.

Dickwella attacked Yasir and struck five fours to add some impetus to the innings, Sri Lanka moving on to 3554 at tea with the composed Karunaratne easing past 150 and reaching the 3000-run mark at Test level.

The in-form Dickwella helped himself to a seventh Test half-century before

to ensure Yasir was in no mood to celebrate yet another five-wicket haul.

Masood had a stroke of luck when he was given not out and Chandimal chose not to review after Dilruwan struck the opener in front, replays showing he should have been given, and Aslam ought to have been run out following a mix-up but Pakistan got through to stumps without losing a wicket.(Omnisport)

SRI LANKA 1st innings (Overnight: 254-3) Dimuth Karunaratne b Riaz 196 Kaushal Silva c S. Ahmed b Shah 27 Sadheera Samarawickreme c&b Amir 38 Kusal Mendis c Shafiq b Shah 1 Dinesh Chandimal lbw b Shah 62 Niroshan Dickwella c S. Ahmed b Abbas 52 Dilruwan Perera b Shah 58 Rangana Herath not out 27 Suranga Lakmal lbw b Abbas 8 Lahiru Gamage st S. Ahmed b Shah 1 Nuwan Pradeep c Shafiq b Shah 0 Extras (b-1 lb-3 nb-5 w-3) 12 Total (all out, 159.2 overs) 482 Fall of wickets: 1-63 K. Silva,2-131 S.Samarawickreme,3-136 K. Mendis,4-282 D. Chandimal,5-370 N. Dickwella,6-429 D.Karunaratne,7-454 D. Perera,8-469 S. Lakmal,9-474 L. Gamage,10-482 N. Pradeep Bowling: Mohammad Amir 19.3 - 5 - 74 – 1, Mohammad Abbas 33 - 9 - 100 - 2(nb-1),Wahab Riaz 26 - 6 - 62 - 1(nb4),Yasir Shah 55.5 - 9 - 184 – 6,Asad Shafiq 11 - 1 - 24 - 0(w-3), Haris Sohail 14 - 3 - 34 – 0.

PAKISTAN 1st innings Shan Masood not out 15 Sami Aslam not out 30 Extras (b-4 lb-2) 6 Total (for no loss, 18 overs) 51 Fall of wickets: To bat: A. Ali, A. Shafiq, B. Azam, H. Sohail, S. Ahmed, M. Amir, Y. Shah, W. Riaz, M. Abbas Bowling: Suranga Lakmal 5 - 2 - 11 – 0, Nuwan Pradeep 2 - 0 7 – 0, Lahiru Gamage 5 - 1 - 11 – 0,Dilruwan Perera 4 - 1 - 15 – 0, Rangana Herath 2 - 1 - 1 – 0.

29

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 8, 2017

Rabada tames Tigers, SA take huge lead …Amla, du Plessis complete centuries before lunch BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (Reuters) - Kagiso Rabada took five wickets as Bangladesh were bowled out for 147 in their first innings on the second day of the second Test and forced to follow-on by South Africa at the Mangaung Oval.

Bangladesh were seven without loss second time around when bad light brought play to a premature close on Saturday, still trailing by 419 runs.

Rabada finished with figures of five for 33 as only wicketkeeper Liton Das provided any resistance in Bangladesh’s reply to South Africa’s mammoth first innings score of 573 for four declared.

Das hit 70 runs, just short

of half his team’s total, as Bangladesh buckled under the pace attack of Rabada and his frontline partner, Duanne Olivier, who finished with three for 40.

Hashim Amla and captain Faf du Plessis both completed centuries before lunch after the home team began day two on 428 for three.

Amla, 89 not out overnight, quickly moved to his 28th test century, now the second-highest number of tons by a South African, before being bowled soon after lunch for 132.

Du Plessis went from 62 at the start of play to 135 not out as South Africa dominated the Bangladesh bowling.

Subashis Roy finished with three for 118.

Kagiso Rabada ran in hard and hit the pitch harder, taking his sixth five-wicket haul and ensuring Bangladesh were following on by stumps ©AFP

Amla and Du Plessis joined Dean Elgar, who made 113, and Aiden

Markram, bowled for 143 in just his second Test, as South Africa’s centurions.

Critical BCB elections on today - Foster expected to be Somwaru’s rival

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE long-overdue presidential elections of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will be held today at the Classic hotel in Corriverton.

The election for the top post is creating widespread interest around the cricketing fraternity against the background that the administration of the game in the Ancient County has been thrown into turmoil, ever since the board’s 2014 elections.

The BCB’s elections have been scheduled following a ruling delivered by Justice Navindra Singh on September 8 last, which mandated same for the purpose of electing officer-bearers of the board.

The county’s previous elections were held in 2014,

with Anil Beharry taking over from Keith Foster, but his tenure was significantly hindered a few months after the December 2014 elections, after applicants Godwyn Allicock of the Port Mourant Cricket Club and David Black of the West Berbice Cricket Association sought and were granted a court injunction against the BCB, leaving the game in limbo thereafter.

Beharry’s one-year term expired in December 2015, according to what is stipulated in the Cricket Administration Bill, and following his resignation from the post in January this year, that injunction was subsequently withdrawn, allowing the then vice-president, Dhierandranauth Somwaru, to assume the responsibility of acting-president.

Additionally, a reliable source informed this publication that Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) Hilbert Foster, is expected to run for the top post.

While the source hasn’t confirmed Foster’s participation, it was revealed by the source that Rabindranauth Saywack, former national coach Albert Smith, Region Six Regional Health Director Jevon Stevens, Dr. Cecil Beharry, and former BCB secretary Angela Haniff, could be on Foster’s slate once he confirms his decision to run.

Should he confirm his decision, Foster and president of the Guyana Cricket Umpires Council, Somwaru will be the two presidential candidates.

Meanwhile, Somwaru

indicated that while he has already identified his team, he informed Chronicle Sport that he was advised by his lawyer not to divulge any information pertaining to his team.

According to what is stipulated in the Cricket Administration Bill, three sub-associations, along with eleven first division clubs have voting rights during the elections process.

The sub-associations are: West Berbice, Berbice River and Upper Corentyne, while the first division clubs are Blairmont, Police, Mt Sinai, Fort Canje, Guymine, Rose Hall Estate, Chesney, Albion, Port Mourant, Whim and Kildonan.

Each sub-association is entitled to four voting delegates while the clubs have two voting delegates each.

EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League

Wins for Mocha Champs, Diamond United, Samatta Point & Herstelling DAY five of the 2nd annual East Bank Football Association / Ralph Green sponsored Under-11 League at the Grove Playfield, East Bank Demerara, produced some exciting results with one walkover being awarded to Samatta Point/Kaneville whose opponent, Agricola did not show up.

In the three matches played, Mocha Champs trounced Diamond Upsetters 3-0; Diamond United beat Friendship All Stars 2-0, while Herstelling Raiders halted the unbeaten

run of Grove Hi Tech with a 2-0 triumph.

Mocha got their goals from Daniel Bradford in the 13th minute; Jamal Harry netted his four minutes later while the lone female player in the team, Kerry Boyce added her name to the score sheet in the 29th minute.

Diamond United were gifted two own goals in their win over Friendship while Herstelling Raiders’ goals were scored by Solomon Diamond United and Friendship All Stars(red) Austin in the 7th and 20th minute. matching skills at the Grove Playfield

SCOREBOARD SOUTH AFROCA 1st innings (Overnight: 428-3) D. Elgar c Rahim b Roy 113 A. Markram b R. Hossain 143 H. Amla b Roy 132 T. Bavuma c Das b Roy 7 F. du Plessis not out 135 Q. de Kock not out 28 Extras (b-4 lb-2 nb-1 w-8) 15 Total (for 4 wickets declared, 120 overs) 573 Fall of wickets: 1-243 D. Elgar,2-276 A. Markram,3-288 T. Bavuma,4-535 H. Amla Did not bat: A. Phehlukwayo, W. Parnell, K. Maharaj, K. Rabada, D. Olivier Bowling: Mustafizur Rahman 25 - 3 - 113 - 0(nb-1 w-2), Subashis Roy 29 - 3 - 118 - 3(w-1), Rubel Hossain 22 - 1 - 113 - 1(w-1), Soumya Sarkar 5 - 0 21 – 0, Taijul Islam 27 - 0 - 145 – 0, Mahmudullah 9 - 2 - 35 – 0, Mominul Haque 1 - 0 - 6 – 0, Sabbir Rahman 2 - 0 - 16 – 0.

BANGLADESH 1st innings Imrul Kayes c de Kock b Rabada 26 Soumya Sarkar b Rabada 9 Mominul Haque c de Kock b Olivier 4 Mushfiqur Rahim c Bavuma b Olivier 7 Mahmudullah c de Kock b Parnell 4 Liton Das c du Plessis b Rabada 70 Sabbir Rahman c Parnell b Rabada 0 Taijul Islam b Olivier 12 Rubel Hossain b Rabada 10 Mustafizur Rahman c Markram b Maharaj 0 Subashis Roy not out 2 Extras (lb-3) 3 Total (all out, 42.5 overs) 147 Fall of wickets: 1-13 S. Sarkar,2-26 M. Haque,3-36 M. Rahim,4-49 Mahmudullah,5-61 I. Kayes,6-65 Sa. Rahman,7-115 T. Islam,8-143 L. Das,9-143 M. Rahman,10-147 R. Hossain Bowling: K. Rabada 13.5 - 4 - 33 – 5, D. Olivier 12 - 3 - 40 – 3, W. Parnell 7 - 1 - 36 – 1, K. Maharaj 5 - 2 - 7 – 1, A. Phehlukwayo 5 - 1 - 28 – 0.

BANGLADESH 2nd innings Imrul Kayes not out 6 Soumya Sarkar not out 1 Extras 0 Total (for no loss, 1.2 overs) 7 Fall of wickets: To bat: M. Haque, M. Rahim, Mahmudullah, S. Rahman, L. Das, T. Islam, R. Hossain, M. Rahman, S. Roy Bowling: K. Rabada 1 - 0 - 6 – 0, D. Olivier 0.2 - 0 1 – 0.

Dutch on brink of elimination after wins for Sweden & France SWEDEN thrashed Luxembourg to maintain their hopes of automatic World Cup qualification and push the Netherlands to the brink of elimination.

Sweden, second in the group, hold a three-point lead and a goal difference that is better by 12 goals over the Dutch, who they meet on Tuesday.

The Dutch won 3-1 in Belarus, while France beat Bulgaria 1-0 to maintain their one-point lead over Sweden.

France will qualify as

group winners if they beat Belarus on Tuesday.

Sweden can take advantage if France drop points, otherwise they are likely to have to settle for a place in the play-offs.

Marcus Berg scored four times for Sweden as Luxembourg, who drew 0-0 with France in September, were embarrassed.

The Netherlands, runners-up in 2010 and third in 2014, also failed to qualify for the 2016 European Championships.

(BBC Sport)

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 8, 2017

Franchise League 3-day cricket…

Windies selectors happy with the length of Regional PCL Upper Corentyne in control after openers post unbroken 201 stand season, says convenor Browne -West Berbice whip Georgetown by eight wickets

By Rajiv Bisnauth OPENERS Kandasammy Surujnarine and Balchand Baldeo shared in a stunning unbroken stand of 201, as Upper Corentyne closed the penultimate day of their sixth round Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Franchise League

Sachin Singh

three-day cricket tournament against East Bank in a commanding position, with an overall lead of 223 runs.

Surujnarine is unbeaten on 109 while Baldeo was on 75 when play ended at the Port Mourant ground.

Both batsmen batted with great fluency, and their 139 minutes at the wicket was evidence of their concentration.

Surujnarine has so far hit eight fours and a six while Baldeo counted seven boundaries.

Earlier, resuming at 127-3, East Bank overnight batsmen Sachin Singh and Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed extended their fourth-wicket stand, and in the process, both batsmen

progressed to their respective half-century.

However, as the partnership was looking ominous, spinner David Latchaya (2-21), broke the promising 98-run stand when he bowled Ali-Mohamed for 55, at 163-4. His innings lasted for 73 balls, with eight fours and a six.

Shawn Pereira

Singh followed immediately after, leg before wicket to leg spinner Shawn Pereira for 60.

He reached the boundary on seven occasions while clearing it once in his 145-ball knock.

That dismissal saw the visitors losing three quick wickets: Darshan Persaud (8), Daniel Barker (8), and Ershad Ali (10), at 206-8.

Persaud was caught at first slip off Pereira; Daniel Barker caught in the covers by Clinton Pestano off Pereira, while Ali was bowled by Hooper.

Colin Benn and Totaram Bishun then survived until the interval, with Benn on 19 and Bishun on three. Upon resumption Pereira completed his five-wicket haul (5-57), when

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday October 08, 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)

Liam Plunkett-5/52 (Bristol)

(2)

Alzarri Joseph-5/56 (The Oval)

Today’s Quiz: (1) Which Englishman struck most sixes in a single innings in the recent ODI series against the WI? (2) Which WI player stuck most sixes in a single innings?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

he trapped Bishun leg before wicket for 14.

Benn took his score to 31 before he was bowled by Latchaya. Keon Morris was left unbeaten on eight. Pestano (126), Hooper (1-63), and Dimitri Cameron (1-24), were the other successful bowlers.

With a first innings lead of

ing for Georgetown.

Over at Young Warriors ground, West Demerara resuming from their overnight 284-7, were bowled out for 331. Tevin Imlach did not add to his overnight 119. Richie Looknauth was left unbeaten on 45. Karran Arjpaul claimed 4-56 while Kassim Khan took 3-81.

Kandasammy Surujnarine (right) and Balchand Baldeo shared in a stunning unbroken stand of 201.

22 runs, the hosts were then put in a commanding position by their openers.

Meanwhile, at Bush Lot, West Berbice whipped Georgetown by eight wickets. The City team, faced with a first innings deficit of 75 runs, were bowled out for 151 in their second innings. Ovid Richardson (24), Martin Pestano-Bell (23), Sunil Singh (17) and captain Paul Wintz (23 not out), were the principal scorers.

Bowling for the hosts, Gudakesh Motie took 5-35 while Andrew Dutchin had 3-55.

When play resumed yesterday, Bush Lot took their overnight score of 226-8, to 231. Gajanan Suknanan claimed 5-75, bowl-

Lower Corentyne in reply closed the day on 146-8. Alex Algoo is unbeaten on 61. Khan made 25 to be the next significant scorer. Bowling for West Demerara, Mahendra Dhanpaul, Keshram Seyhoden and Akshaya Persaud, each claimed two wickets.

At theTuschen ground, Essequibo closed day one on four without loss, responding to East Coast 289 all out. Rajendra Chandrika 68, Joshua Persaud 56, Brian Sattuar 51, Bhaskar Yadram and Kamesh Yadram 30 runs each, were the top scorers for East Coast. Bowling for Essequibo, Anthony Adams claimed 6-81.

Portugal wins sets up group decider with Swiss CRISTIANO Ronaldo came off the bench to inspire Portugal to a win over Andorra that keeps their hopes of automatic World Cup qualification alive.

With Group B leaders Switzerland beating Hungary 5-2, Portugal needed victory to set up a final-day showdown with the Swiss.

Ronaldo, on at half-time, drove home after the hour, with Andre Silva sealing the points from close range.

Portugal will qualify as group winners if they beat Switzerland on Tuesday.

Switzerland will travel to Portugal with a threepoint advantage, but Portugal have a better goal difference.

Ronaldo is one booking away from a suspension and that perhaps influenced the decision of coach Fernando Santos to start with the Real Madrid forward on the bench.

If Portugal fail to win on Tuesday, they will enter the play-offs, while Switzerland, who have nine wins from nine matches, need only a point to qualify.(BBC Sport).

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Chief selector Courtney Browne believes the extended Regional four-day PCL season has allowed his panel to better gauge the quality of players being considered for international duty.

Speaking ahead of the new season which bowls off October 26, Browne said the 10-round campaign proved the mettle of players, testing their ability to adapt and challenging the degree of their fitness.

“As selectors, we are happy with the length of the season,. We believe 10 matches in the Regional four-day is a good yardstick for the players and for us,” the former Test wicketkeeper said.

“It helps us to see a player over a period of time and puts us in a better position to analyse if he has what it takes to be considered for the higher level.”

He continued: “In a shorter season, a player may do well in a few matches and you may consider him, but in the longer season, there will be highs and lows, and you get to see how he handles different situations.

“This puts selectors in a better position to gauge how well he is doing by the end of the season.”

In light of the longer season, which will run for three months, Browne also underscored the need for players to focus on physical conditioning especially since West Indies had also raised the level of their fitness programme.

“We would also like to urge players to work on their fitness and aim at achieving the fitness levels expected as our international teams have ramped up their fitness and conditioning work.”

Three-time defending champions, Guyana Jaguars, will do battle with Barbados Pride, Jamaica Scorpions, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and Windward Islands Volcanoes, in the upcoming season.

Last year, some of the top performers in the competition like Red Force’s Kyle Hope, Jaguars’ Raymon Reifer and Sunil Ambris of Volcanoes, were all rewarded with spots

Batsman Kyle Hope … forced his way into the West Indies Test and one-day sides with strong performances in the domestic tournament

in the West Indies Test or one-day sides while other players broke into the newly-energised A-team programme.

Browne said with these multiple opportunities available, it was critical that players focussed heavily on impressing the selectors.

“When you look at the regional tournaments, it is a pathway into our representative teams as well,” Browne pointed out.

“It is a breeding ground for us and it is very important when we sit as selectors to look at players that have done well in the regional tournaments to identify those players that can go into our “A” Team programme.

“Cricket West Indies now has a full “A” Team programme which helps to develop a better player and also helps to shorten their learning curve in international cricket.”

Browne encouraged players who had not been immediately rewarded for their success at regional level to continue producing and this spoke to their consistency.

“There are cases where players do perform and may not make it into the senior team as quickly as persons expect,” he noted.

“If there are players in the senior team that are already there, they have to be given a full opportunity and the emerging player will have to wait a bit longer than usual, rather than the chopping and changing approach.

“But we would urge them to continue to strive for consistency and show it over a longer period and not a one-off performance.”

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, October 8, 2017

Pro cyclist Geron Williams wins feature Hand-in-Hand cycle race GUYANA’s sole professional cyclist, Geron Williams, returned a time of one hour 16 minutes 16 seconds in winning the feature 35-lap race of the Hassan Mohamed-organized Handin-Hand sponsored 11-race cycling programme which was staged in the National Park yesterday.

Williams’ performance is nothing better than a well calculated one as he along with second, third and fourth place finishers, Christopher Griffith, Raynauth Jeffrey and Kemuel Mosses broke from a pack of about 20 riders after the completion of 20 laps and they were never caught again, increasing the lead after the sudden break with every lap.

With six laps remaining in the event, the quartet in-

In this Adrian Narine photo Geron Williams drives hard to the finish line to win the 35-lap Hand-in-Hand cycle race.

creased their lead from 125 metres to almost 800 metres with two laps remaining, with Jeffrey holding the lead. However, with one lap

remaining, Williams broke to the front.

With 200 metres remaining for the finish, Griffith jumped the pack and Williams

responded, holding the lead to win by a length from Griffith, while Jeffrey had to settle for third and Moses fourth.

Paul DeNobrega out-

sprinted Alonzo Ambrose to take fifth.

The prime prizes were shared between DeNobrega who won two, Jeffrey two, Griffith two, Briton John one and Shaquel Agard one.

In the juvenile category, Marcus Keiler placed third behind Briton John and Niguel Dugid, respectively, in the 10-lap event.

The Mountain Bike fivelap race was won by Shane Bourne. Second was John Christian.

In the veterans’ categories, Kennard Lovell was first in the over-50 years of age group, while Shameer Baksh placed second and Monty Parris third.

In the under-50 years of age race over the same fivelap distance, Warren McKay

was first, Junior Niles second and Leer Nunes third John Niles won the threelap race for BMX boys 9-12 years old ahead of Michael McKay and Marian McKay respectively.

Tarran Garbarran was the winner of the boys and girls 12-14 years three-lap BMX race.

The presentation of prizes to the respective winners were done by Shafeena Juman who is the Marketing Coordinator of Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company.

Ms. Juman thanked the participants for participating in the event and committed her company’s continued support for the event and other sporting activities that will keep the country’s youth occupied.

Ninvalle elected to AIBA’s Executive Committee Bureau first Caribbean administrator to be appointed

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle was recently named as one of five representatives on the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Executive Committee Bureau by sport’s global body president, Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu. “As you are aware, the institutional and operational activities of AIBA have been jeopardized by the recent, contested, decisions by the Executive Committee to form the stillborn Interim Management Committee (IMC), and decisions of the latter to claim for itself all duties and powers vested in the AIBA President and Executive Director by the AIBA Statutes” Wu said to Ninvalle in his letter announcing the Guyanese’s appointment.

Wu further highlighted that “these decisions were taken in complete contradiction with the AIBA Statutes

that the Swiss Court rejected on September 22nd 2017. As per the provisions of article 40.3 of AIBA Statutes, the EC Bureau shall function in place of the Executive Committee for all matters requiring settlement between two meetings of the Executive Committee.”

The Executive Committee Bureau consists of five members, namely the President, two Vice Presidents (with voting rights) appointed by the President, and two Voting Executive Committee Members appointed by the President.

“I am humbled, honoured and surprised at the appointment” Ninvalle told Chronicle Sport when contacted, adding “I am surprised that out of 202 countries affiliated to AIBA, Guyana could have been chosen for such an important organ. “ I am honoured that AIBA has the confidence in my abil-

GBA president Steve Ninvalle –elected to AIBA’s Executive Committee Bureau

ity to administrate at such a high level. It is my humble belief that the Caribbean is going through a renaissance in the sport of boxing. This appointment is just a small part of the larger picture. It’s an achievement for Guyana and the Caribbean.”

Ninvalle’s appointment was celebrated by his colleges around the Caribbean, given the fact that he’s the person from the region to hold the important portfolio at AIBA. Stephen Jones, Jamaica Boxing Association (JBA) president, said “although there are 202 member federations worldwide, the boxing community is a small one and a ripple in any pond can go a long way, so it’s extremely encouraging to see that the waves that we have been making in our region have not gone unnoticed by the top brass of the sports’ governing body, AIBA.” “Make no bones about it, an elevation of any kind for one of us in the region is an elevation for all and I for one am over the moon, not only because we have a trusted member in one of the highest seats, but we have the right member. Steve understands not just the needs for our

region but the needs for the sport on a whole and this augers well for everybody” Jones noted.

Cecil Forde, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Association said, “The Association pledges our full support to Mr. Ninvalle, who in his short period in the sport of Boxing has shown great leadership qualities and has represented the Caribbean well through hard work and determination.

We look forward to working alongside Mr. Ninvalle as we foresee the successful future growth of boxing within the Caribbean and wishes Mr. Ninvalle all the best in his future goals and endeavours.”

Former head of the Caribbean Amateur Boxing Association and Grenada Boxing Association, Ralph James, said, “Ninvalle has shown sound judgement throughout his presidency and in particular over the last two and a half years

since his election to the executive committee of the the International Boxing Association -AIBA. He is indeed an intelligent man and with resources at his disposal, boxing can reach new heights.”

According to Fraser “What’s most interesting is that 2018 has been declared the year of The Caribbean by the AIBA, and a Caribbean man will be steering the ship.

This is also a very courageous and progressive move by President of AIBA Dr C. K. Wu who must be congratulated as well; he’s a man of vision. Well done Steve, we are extremely proud of this tremendous achievement.”

Meanwhile, AIBA’s president said that he trust that Ninvalle’s dedication to AIBA and the sport of boxing in general, as well as his personal and professional qualities, will be a great asset to this important AIBA organ.

BCB Stakeholder Committee name delegates for today’s BCB elections THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)) will, for the first time since December 2014, hold their Annual General Elections today, and the Board’s Stakeholder Committee said the event will be ‘crucial’ to the development of the sport in the Ancient County.

The Eleven Clubs and Three Associations would be voting at the elections which would start at 10:30 am at the Classic Hotel & Suites in Corriverton.

The following clubs after consultation with their membership, has elected delegates to represent them at the meeting.

Fort Canje Hospital Club: Jevaughn Stephens & Desmond Conway Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club: Cecil Beharry & Ameer Rahaman Guymine Sports Club: Albert Smith & Malcolm Peters Chesney Cricket Club: Imran Khan & Narine Deonarine

Kildonan Cricket Club: Qualis Winter and Colin Bynoe Jr Blairmont Cricket Club: Shabeer Baksh and Vijay Farhad Berbice Police Sports Club: Kewis Gravesande and Philbert Wilburgh Mount Sinai Cricket Club: Jaipersaud Hardeo & Neil Rudder Upper Corentyne Cricket Association: Dennis De Andread, Sydney Jackman, Chatterpaul Lionel & Lakram Lachman

Whim: Arnold Deosarran & Tameshwar Harinarine.

Berbice River Cricket Association: Jason Den Hart, Irving Lyte, Sheldon Bovell, Winston Lyte.

The Clubs and Sub Association would like to state quite clearly that no one else is authorised to represent them unless done so by Management. Any other person who seeks to represent these clubs without permission would face legal Action.

Pro cyclist Geron Williams wins feature Hand-in-Hand cycle race

Page 31

Skeete cops historic 400M Gold at South American Youth Games Phillips, King pick up female and male 100M silver

Deshanna Skeete

IT was a productive day for Guyana on the track at the 2017 South American Youth Games in Santiago, Chile, with the country winning its first medal – Gold – thanks to Deshanna Skeete’s sensational run in the Girls 400M. Skeete’s win was also historic by all means, given the fact that it was the first time Guyana would win gold at the

prestigious games which is a marquee event in South America.

Skeete clocked 57.28 seconds to win ahead of Brazil’s Jessica Moreira who ran 57.54 seconds, while Ecuador’s Andreina Valencia (58.81 seconds) had to settle for third.

Guyana also won silver in the female and Turn to page 26

Forty-six goals scored in COURTS Pee Wee football Round Two

By Stephan Sookram A total of forty-two goals were scored in the second round of action in the COURTS Pee Wee football tournament yesterday at the Banks DIH, Thirst Park Ground In the first pair of matches for the day, Tucville and F.E. Pollard played to a goalless stalemate while J.E. Burnham was beaten 4-0 by Parfait Harmony.

A double each from Joshua Daniels (3rd ,9th) and Alex Ramotar (11th, 30th) ensured that the West Bank side were in the winner’s circle this week.

Plaisance was in no playful mood as they overcame Goed Fortune 11-0 with Jamal Ali netting in the (3rd, 8th, 14th, 15th and 18th), Ronaldo Harry hitting a hat-trick in the (5th, 12th and 13th), a brace from Stephon Atkinson (28th and 30th) Turn to page 26

Jermaine King

Ninvalle elected to AIBA’s Executive Committee Bureau first Caribbean administrator to be appointed Page 31

Part of the second round action in the COURTS Pee Wee football tournament on Saturday at the Banks DIH Thirst Park facility. (Adrian Narine photos)

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GBA president Steve Ninvalle –elected to AIBA’s Executive Committee Bureau SUNDAY, OCTOBER, 8, 2017