Guyana Chronicle E-paper 10-10-2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 9, 2018

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TUESDAY 9th October, 2018

No.105422

New offer for teachers …10% for 2016, 8% for 2017-18 03 …President optimistic end of impasse is near PAGE

Change the leaders

…President urges residents to elect new leaders for Anna Regina PAGE

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GTT pegs losses at tens of millions …due to Digicel’s PAGE alleged bypass 14

Economy still reeling from PPP wastage See page 05

Corentyne man admits killing friend

PAGE

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President David Granger greets some of the students who received bicycles under his Public Education Transport Service (PETS). At right is Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally (Delano Williams photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 9, 2018

Haags Bosch contract being reviewed -As management looks to make additions, improvements

MANAGEMENT of the Haags Bosch Landfill Site is reviewing the contract between the government and Waste Solutions Landfill Inc. which is a combination of Cevons Waste Management Services and Puran Brothers Disposal Inc. “Yes the contract is always reviewed but we are reviewing it for the next year to make additions and improvements,” said Site Supervisor, Lloyd Stanton in an invited comment after a media tour of the landfill site at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Monday.

The site, which is equipped with two main cells and a leachate facility, is in need of more improvements in order to upgrade the waste disposal process and standard.

Government and Waste Solutions Landfill Inc. had signed a contract to the tune of $253 million but Stanton believes that the figure would need to be increased in order to facilitate additions and improvements of the landfill site.

“We are not exactly where we want to be right

A leachate system that was installed to ensure that contaminated water does not get into the main drainage system

The management of the landfill site has been working to ensure that the standard is maintained and that garbage is properly disposed of (Adrian Narine photo)

now but we are looking at improvements,” he said, adding that the price accepted for the operation of a landfill will be dependent on the level and control mechanisms in place.

Stanton said quality assurance and control mechanisms will result in an increase of the finance but so far Waste Solutions Landfill Inc. has only been able to perform at a “break-even” stage to accommodate less payment.

In order to accommodate the additions, the management has already started to prepare a plan which would be submitted to the Ministry of Communities.

In addition to the plan, the sanitation team from the site has also prepared a Solid Waste Management Strategy which is being reviewed by Prime Minister, Moses Nag-

amootoo.

Included in the strategy is a recommendation for fees to be attached to the use of the services, particularly for commercial users at the beginning of the payment phase.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cevons Waste Management Services, Morse Archer said that ten-

der processes must include the evaluation of value for money services as opposed to just offering the contract to the lowest bidder.

Archer said the company has been able to raise the standard of the landfill site by investing in new equipment, staff and other areas.

Milton Drepaul passes away

By Sean F. Taylor G U YA N E S E - B O R N , Milton M. Drepaul, who taught in many schools and colleges across the Caribbean, passed away at a hospital in Toronto, Canada, on Monday, September 24th.

He was 74 years old.

Over more than five

decades, Mr. Drepaul taught and worked in Guyana, Jamaica, Turks & Caicos, Anguilla, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and Suriname.

The thousands of students, including teachers, whom he taught and mentored over the years in the Caribbean are today scattered across the region, the hemisphere, and the world.

In early 1993, the current Prime Minister of Guyana – and the then Minister of Information, Moses Nagamootoo – appointed Mr. Drepaul to head of the Guyana Information Service (GIS). Until 1995, he served his country in this capacity, and effectively functioning as President Cheddi Jagan’s Media Advisor and Director of Information in the Office of the President. During the said term in office, Mr. Drepaul played a pivotal role in the establishment and branding of the first national television station in the nation, GTV 10, the forerunner of the current NCN Television on Homestretch Avenue.

Just prior to his return to Guyana in 1993, Mr. Drepaul had lived and labored tirelessly for six years as a Senior Lecturer in Communication & Public Relations for the College of Agriculture, Science and Education in Jamaica, and also as a Senior English Lecturer at Knox College. In the course of his decades- long career in education, Mr. Drepaul was

Deputy Registrar for Syllabuses for the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) – Barbados; Senior Lecturer and Deputy Principal at the Lillian Dewar College of Education (Guyana); Senior Lecturer at the Caribbean Institute of Language Studies (CARINLANGS, Suriname), and Lecturer in English & Research Writing at the Suriname Institute of Management Studies in Paramaribo.

A true son of the Caribbean, Milton Drepaul did his undergraduate studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, matriculating with Honours in English in 1965. At UWI, he was a contemporary of Trinidad & Tobago’s-renowned Gordon Rohlehr, and Walter Rodney, with whom he sometimes wandered in the hills of Kingston, Jamaica.

Throughout his life, Mr. Drepaul had a deep passion for the spoken and written word. As a young student at UWI, he was Editor of the University’s ‘Rising Star’ – a weekly news magazine, and also the ‘Pegasus’ the literary magazine. Upon his return to Guyana in 1965, as a young English Teacher at Queen’s College – from

which he had matriculated years earlier – Mr Drepaul actively supervised productions of the Queen’s College ‘Magazine’, and the ‘Lictor’ newspaper. He also served in a similar capacity for the Queen’s College Debating Society, Theatre Society, and the Photographic Club.

The themes of lucid writing, creative linguistic expression and publications would persist throughout Mr. Drepaul’s life. In the 1980s, he co-authored two English textbooks which are still widely used today among students preparing for CXC English examinations. And after the turn of the new century, he embarked on a publishing venture in neighboring Suriname. DVDs, CDs and books are among Turn to page 9 ►

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 9, 2018

New offer for teachers

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…President optimistic end of impasse is near …GTU to consult members on new proposal

By Tamica Garnett FOLLOWING meetings w i t h P re s i d e n t D a v i d Granger and the Ministry of Education (MoE) on Monday, the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) has been extended a new salary offer, as the government works to avert another strike by the teachers.

The offer will see teachers being paid retroactively from 2016, with a salary increase of 10 per cent for 2016, and incremental increases of eight per cent for 2017 and 2018, respectively; while for debunching $350 million is being offered for the period 2011 – 2018.

Following the meeting, President Granger was optimistic that the two sides have found “common ground” and “are now closer to a resolution than ever before.”

It is expected that an announcement would be made

by Friday.

The GTU has not yet accepted the offer, but is expected to meet again with the MoE Wednesday to confirm their decision. According to GTU President, Mark Lyte, the Union is currently in the process of consulting with its members so as to come up with a consensus on whether or not to accept the offer. “We depend a lot on the feedback we get from our members be-

tween [Monday] and Wednesday morning. If our members say they’re good with it then we go ahead, we have to go with the wishes of the members,” Lyte explained.

“If we accept the offer then it means that we will then be signing an agreement for the paying out of these monies and for the benefits that have accumulated over years, duty-free concessions the clothing allowance, all of those to be given out, and look towards putting a new agreement in place.”

This offer came after the GTU had announced, last week, that it was preparing to once again embark on a nationwide strike by teachers. An almost two week strike by teachers came to an end just last month, when the GTU and MoE had agreed to take their salary dispute to arbitration.

The GTU called for arbitration after negotiations talks ended in impasse when GTU rejected the MoE’s offer of a onetime pay out of $700 million towards salary increases, and $200 million for debunching.

GTU instead called for an increase of 40 per cent for 2016 and respective incremental increases of 5 per cent for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. After the two sides agreed to move to arbitration, Lyte had announced that

President David Granger, seated third from left and Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry (at the President's right) during a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Teachers Union. (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

GTU was willing to accept as little as 20 per cent. This new strike was being called after the GTU said it was rejecting the Department of Labour’s unilateral appointment of University of Guyana (UG) Professor, Dr. Leyland Lucas, as Chairman of the arbitration panel, giving the department seven days to withdraw the appointment.

Following the announcement that they were prepared to strike again, the GTU officials were summoned to a meeting

with the President. The meeting was attended on the government’s side by Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, MoE Acting Permanent Secretary, Adele Clarke and MoE Human Resources Manager, Jacqueline Simon. GTU was represented by Lyte, General Secretary, Coretta McDonald and other executives.

“This is a very important meeting for both sides… we have been kept abreast, Cabinet has been informed by

2588 Venezuelan refugees accounted for

THE number of Venezuelans living on the borders of Guyana has increased to 2,588, Director General (ag) of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig disclosed on Monday.

This new figure represents a slight increase from the last figure, which stood at 2,300. A multi-agency committee, which includes the Guyana Police Force, the Ministries of Communities, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Social Protection, Public Health and Citizenship and the CDC, is expected to meet within another two weeks to assess the challenges facing Venezuelans who have fled their homeland as a result of an ongoing socio-economic crisis there.

Ahead of the meeting, and on the sidelines of an Education Ministry training programme at Herdmanston Lodge, Lieutenant Colonel Craig told

reporters that the multi-agency committee is monitoring the influx of Venezuelans, who are currently settling in Region One (Barima-Waini) and in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

“There has been a very small increase weekly of the numbers coming in,” he said.

The CDC director general (ag) said the multi-agency committee is working to establish a database which would highlight pertinent information about the Venezuelan migrants.

It was explained that the database would not only indicate the number of Venezuelans but would help the Health Ministry to monitor those with various forms of disease and illnesses.

The database would also highlight their needs.

Presently the CDC is preparing to distribute another round of food and non-food items to the migrants as it

continues to monitor the situation with the help the GDF and the Police on the ground. The CDC is receiving much needed support from the Government of Guyana, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Private Sector.

According to the IOM, approximately 1.6 million of the 2.3 million Venezuelans are currently living outside the Spanish speaking country, having fled since 2015. They are seeking refuge in neighbouring countries but the prolonged crisis has resulted in restriction by countries. Hyperinflation and economic insecurity, food shortages and lack of critical services particularly in the area of health are among challenges facing Venezuela since the start of the economic crisis there in 2015.

the MoE and we are aware of what has been taking place, unfortunately there has been some hiccups but we now seem to be coming to the end of the road. We have reached a broad area in which, I would say that, we have reached common ground. I don’t want to call it an agreement but we have reached common ground and I think the people of Guyana could look forward to an amicable resolution within days. The intention is to create a basis for an agreement between the

two sides as early as possible, possibly by Friday,” Granger said, adding that: “It is important that we complete this process because we are aware that the teachers have expectations and we want to assure the teachers their concerns about issues they’ve raised, they are not being ignored.”

It was last year that Granger had intervened in the situation between the GTU and MoE and had called for the creation of a high level task force to look into the issue.

PI into cheese vendor’s murder set for Oct. 22 THE preliminary inquiry into the murder of wellknown Bourda Market vendor, Troy Ramalho is expected to commence on October 22 by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Roy Sandford, 33, of Section “D” Sophia, Georgetown; Akeem Morris, 26, of Sandy Babb Street, Kitty; and George Paton, 34, a taxi driver of Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) are all jointly charged for Ramalho’s murder.

Particulars of the charge allege that the trio on August 15, 2018 at Bourda murdered Ramalho during the course, or furtherance, of a robbery.

When the matter was called on Monday, the three defendants were handed their

statements and a date for the commencement of the PI. According to reports, Ramalho, of North Road, Lacytown, Georgetown, was shot at around 23:00hrs on the day in question, after he put up a fight during the course of robbery.

The 45-year-old vendor, who was well known for selling cheese and eggs in front of Rambarran’s on Robb Street, in close proximity to Bourda Street, was plying his trade when the three bandits, one armed with a gun, ambushed him.

The police, acting on intelligence, arrested the taxi driver whose car the men hired in Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 9, 2018

First Lady encourages Sophia women to turn their skills into businesses

FIRST Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger has encouraged women of North Sophia

to recognise the skills they possess and turn those skills into business opportunities.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Saturday 6, October, 2018

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She was at the time speaking at the opening of the 30th Success in Business workshop, which is being executed by her office in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection and Interweave Solutions. This is the second such workshop that is being held in the Sophia community. It will, over the next five days, empower about 40 women; teaching them the pros and cons of entrepreneurship.

Mrs. Granger said, “We have had women in abusive relationships who might feel that they have no skills what-so-ever, when they have something they don’t recognise as a skill… I want you to recognise that, and I want you to draw on the positives that you have.”

First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger (centre), flanked by (from right), Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Yvonne Smith, Facilitator from the First Lady’s Office, Mr. Yohan Pooran, Councillor, Ms. Andrea Marks and Facilitator, Ms.Crystal Baptise with participants of the workshop at Sophia.

She noted too, that many times women manage homes or care for elderly persons in

their families and communities but they do not recognise the ability to provide care as a skill they can use to make money. The First Lady encouraged the residents to explore the possibilities of starting co-operative ventures in the areas of elderly and early childhood care within their community.

Meanwhile, Ms. Tricia Benjamin, a participant, said that she has been actively seeking employment but has encountered several challenges. She said her

choice of business would be elderly care since she has already completed a course in that area and is certified.

“This training will do a lot for me because I can open a business [after receiving] my certificate… I love to take care of elderly people, I did that before and I have a certificate in that,” she said.

To date, the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop has certified over 1500 persons in all administrative regions of Guyana.

(Ministry of the Presidency)

05:00hrs - 06:30hrs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 9, 2018

Economy still reeling from PPP wastage …Min. Jordan defends gov’t stewardship, slams SN editorial FINANCE Minister, Winston Jordan has defended government’s stewardship of the economy since taking office, reminding that prior to 2015, the Guyanese economy, “thrived on rampant drug trafficking, money laundering and a banking sector in which a few institutions recklessly lent funds for private white elephant projects.”

He made the comments in a letter to the editor, in response to a very scathing Stabroek News Sunday editorial, labelling the administration as incompetent. Jordan in an equally incisive letter said, the mask of that newspaper was finally off and that “it appears that SN didn’t actually want a change of government; rather, it wanted the PPP/C government to change its ways.”

While noting that the newspaper’s editorial board is being seemingly unpleased with any initiative of the government, Jordan said that the Treasury has been forced to bear the cost of a large number of reckless investments by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration, including investments in the Skeldon Sugar Factory, the collapsed insurance firm, CLICO, and the Marriott

Hotel. “ It didn’t stop there: the government has had to dole out billions to settle lawsuits as well as meet the cost to retrieve the outstanding US$5M for the sale of the government shares in GT&T,” Jordan said.

The Finance Minister, who spoke directly to the issue of sugar, noted that despite the significant challenges in the sector that the country is now finally grappling with, the government has provided a $37B bailout for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to date, and additional funds have been set aside to complete the $5.7 billion severance payment for workers, among other measures. ”But not once have I seen an editorial questioning the management of GuySuCo about its stewardship of taxpayers monies,” Jordan said.

THE ECONOMY GREW Turning to the economy, he said that it grew by 4.5 per cent in the first half of 2018, and is projected to grow by 3.7 per cent for the rest of the year. Jordan reminded that prior to 2015, the Guyanese economy , “ thrived on rampant drug trafficking, money laundering, and a banking

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan

sector in which a few institutions recklessly lent funds for private white elephant projects.” He said that the “hangover from that lending binge” resulted in an average non-performing loan ratio of 13.2 per cent. He said that at one commercial bank, one out of every three loans is now categorised as non-performing. “This was a significant factor in the immediate slowing of the economy, post-2015,” he noted.

He commended the work of the Commissioner General of the GRA, Godfrey Statia. He said the Auditor General's Report of 2013 stated that only one third or 992 out of 2,618 registered and active firms, filed tax returns. Also of

Corentyne teen robbed, raped at gunpoint AN 18-year-old housewife and her mother were robbed sometime around 23:00hrs on Sunday night by two armed assailants, one of whom then allegedly raped the young mother, before making good their escape.

According to sources, the young lady along with her two children, ages four years and four-months, along with her mother, 52, had returned from the Berbice Expo and were sitting under their house talking, when two men armed with handguns, stormed the gate

firing two shots and ordered them to lie on the ground.

The men, reportedly, wore dark clothing with hand handkerchiefs tied over their mouths and noses to conceal their identities.

The bandits relieved the victims of one LG cellphone, four silver bangles and three silver rings, all valued at approximately $66,000. Before leaving, one of the bandits ordered the teenager to get up and follow him into a dark area, where he pointed the gun to her and raped her.

The police arrived shortly after the bandits left and retrieved a warhead from the scene, but despite combing the area there was no trace of the men.

The young lady was taken to a medical institution where she was examined.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

75,992 active self-employed persons, only 33,740 filed taxes, paying an annual average of $98,000 per person.

The finance minister pointed out that since the APNU+AFC administration assumed office in 2015 it increased the minimum basic salary of each public servant to $50,000 and ensured subsequent increases, which amounted to over 50 per cent since taking office.”…the three-year old APNU+AFC administration was elected in May 2015 to serve the people of Guyana. We have been doing so; we will continue to do so, regardless of criticisms and detractors, without fear or favour, affection or ill will,” Jordan said.

Reducing the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 16 per cent to 14 per cent, personal Income Tax from 30 per cent to 28 per cent, increasing the tax threshold from $600,000 to $720,000, ensuring employees’ National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions are tax free, while ensuring a reduction of Corporate Income Tax for manufacturing companies from 30 per cent to 27.5 per cent, are among the many measures taken by government over the past three years. Jordan said that this occurred even while the

administration kept inflation “well in check”, as well as the Guyana dollar/US dollar which as of May 2018 stood at G$212.48 from G$210 in May 2015. “That’s a depreciation of 1.2% over 3 years.

Impressive, indeed! Yet, we are conscious that more needs to be done,” Jordan said.

COMMENDATION He noted that the World Bank’s Country Director for the Caribbean, Tahseen Sayed, commended Guyana for making important strides to promote financial resilience and improve fiscal management, and for embarking on a broad-based reform programme. Sayed noted that the reforms will be vital to building a strong economy that is underpinned by a strategic management of public resources for the benefit of the Guyanese people.

Jordan said too that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the other international lending institutions, including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) are increasingly viewing Guyana as a stable, well managed country with bright prospects that is ripe

for sustainable development.

MINISTRY STAFFING AND EXODUS OF SKILLS Meanwhile , regarding staffing at the Ministry of Finance , Jordan said that the policy of the ministry is that employees who reach the age of retirement are not kept on the job, unless they bring some special skill that is critical to the work of the Ministry. They are kept if suitable replacements cannot be found within the Ministry.

The move is viewed also as providing younger civil servants with the opportunities to build careers with the ministry. “I would add that I remain extremely proud of the dedicated and highly competent team working at the Ministry of Finance,” Jordan said, as he lauded their work in undertaking the ministry’s mandate. “Of course, Stabroek News itself is not immune to an exodus of skills, including competent editors and senior reporters, which is sadly apparent in the decline of its journalism over the past decade,” Jordan added, as he noted that he will continue his single-minded dedication to the task at hand as Finance Minister.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 9, 2018

Managing the coalition

THE Cummingsburg Accord that gave birth to the coalition party, the A Party for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) was historic in every sense.

For not only did it bring together two parties on a single slate for contesting a national election in Guyana for the very first time, but also put together a movement that embraced the belief of national unity. It was a worthy endeavour, one that appealed to a very wide cross section of citizens that had become tired of the tradition of race-based politics which has continued to be the cause of the nation’s political problems; ethnic fears, suspicion, and insecurity.

The rest is now history. Guyana has a ruling coalition government which for the first time contested and won a national vote against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Though, by a very narrow margin of votes it signaled that citizens had given due thought to its message of forging a new dispensation.

Political coalitions are put-togethers of political groups/parties primarily with the common goal of removing an incumbent government from office. But even if this is

interpreted as a possible sign of common interests, shared beliefs, and ideology, in the case of this particular political peculiarity it is not. This should not be too difficult to understand, given the fact that political parties are comprised of persons who are drawn from different stations of life and are therefore representative of the different societal interest groups. It is these associations and their members that give shape and meaning to any organisation’s social outlook and ideological belief, that may eventually morph into a political brand. Therefore, it is inevitable that in any coalition of a political type that there would be competing interests, which make for differences of opinions, and views.

It explains why pre-coalition negotiations are often delicate and tough, as all the parties seek to present their demands, concerns, and areas for clarification and settlement before an eventual agreement is reached. Central to these dynamics will be which party gets what cabinet portfolios, which is often determined by its political–constituency strength, in terms of parliamentary seats.

President David Granger, himself,

during a recent interview in the Stabroek News alluded to the fact that in keeping such a partnership together “you must have partners who share a common vision regarding where they want the country to go, where they see our children going and how the country’s resources would be applied to achieve that vision.” He added that within the APNU+AFC partnership there is a shared vision and although there are differences, those differences have to be managed. It was also heartening to hear Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, in his address at the launch of the AFC Local Government Elections campaign on Saturday, encouraging his members to be respectful and not indulge in personality attacks however provoked. The coalition partners will be contesting the elections as separate entities.

Be it as it may, there will always be inter coalition challenges because of its very construct and nature. It has been three years since Guyana’s political landscape has been experiencing its first real test of such a government, and there have been many interesting views

about such form of governance, that point to at least two particular views, given our particular political history.

Of course, there is the representative school, not surprising, that definitely wishes failure for such a historical leap of faith. This originates from the political opposition because it threatens their brand of politics. But there is also a particular constant that continues to perceive the junior coalition partner’s specific role, as keeping its senior ally in check. In fact, one concludes that such a narrow, insular, and misconceived objective is a subtle call to daily public wars and political blood-letting, as a result of challenges or disagreements which may arise.

Of course, there have arisen differences in the coalition, as would be expected of any such grouping; and this is no different in other states where such governments do exist. We have no doubt that those party leaders who gave life to the Cummingsburg Accord, took a great leap of faith, fully aware of the path that may lie ahead. And despite their many critics, the coalition and its leaders have held together.

Trade unionist misinformed on Gov’t, Rusal relations Dear Editor, My attention has been drawn to the letter written by Mr. Lincoln Lewis titled “Workers’ rights cannot be put into abeyance”.

The letter was shared liberally with the media and I believe that a response is necessary. Mr. Lewis in his usual inimitable style, seeks to flay myself as the Minister of Natural Resources, for what he suggests is failing to stand up for the rights of workers at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI), a subsidiary of Rusal.

Justifiably and understandably so, Mr. Lewis, a veteran trades union leader, has always been vociferous about protecting the rights of workers. I have said to him privately on several occasions that though I disagree with him on many positions and find his facts to be often wrong, I admire and understand his tireless struggle. Unlike Mr. Lewis, I will not seek to ‘flay’, ‘blast’ or ‘slam’ him in ad hominem attack, and will respond differently.

On this occasion I wish to call attention to some facts which I believe he has been misinformed about. I feel it is my duty to bring these to his attention, lest these misconceptions are seen as fact.

Firstly, the statement that no Terms of Reference were developed by the Minister is erroneous. There was actually a single and specific Term of Reference developed

by Cabinet at its Ministerial Conference held on April 24, 2018, which is stated as follows:

"Conference agreed that a task force led by the Minister in the Ministry of Natural Resources, and comprising representatives of the Ministries of Legal Affairs and Finance, would be convened to hold discussions with the workers of Rusal on the impact of the sanctions on the work force."

It is clear therefore that there was no need for me as Minister of Natural Resources to develop any ToRs, and also, Hon. Simona Broomes, MP was present at the Ministerial Conference and she can support this. It therefore meant that at the first meeting held, there was no need for me to task the Task Force with crafting new and different ToRs than those already directed by Cabinet. It is also clear what the mandate of the Task Force was and is to be.

Another error of Mr. Lewis emanates from his misconstruing of a letter that I sent to the Managing Director of BGCI dated December 20, 2017, in response to a letter received. Mr. Lewis has a copy of the letter and should publish it in full as it was a response to a letter that I had previously received dated December 13, 2017, informing me that BGCI had finally resolved, with the GRA, the legacy issue of income tax deductions being made from overtime payments. Both the Minister of Finance and I had promised the workers that this benefit of not having overtime earning taxed would be restored, and I was pleased that the company was reporting a breakthrough with GRA over monies already remitted as

this meant more money was going into the workers' pockets. That news, together with the update that a huge investment had just been made into new plant and machinery for the bauxite operations, were worthy of government's commendation and support, and as the letter shows, I congratulated both the company and the workers for what I thought was good news for both.

Thirdly, with respect to my reference to Government’s position regarding workers, I believe I was in order as the workers are represented by a union, which fought hard for that right. I was aware that there had recently been a trade union recognition poll conducted in October 2017 for the very workers of the BGCI and the government had taken a decision not to show favour to either of the contenders. This was a position that I had conveyed to the management of the company previously when complaints had been raised about Mr. Lewis' actions and government's intervention was sought. My letter merely sought to reaffirm and reinforce the position that the government respected the right of the workers to have union representation and that we would not intervene to subvert that right.

Perhaps Mr. Lewis needs to read the letter again to see that I was actually standing for, and not abandoning, the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union.

Fourthly, and lastly, Mr. Lewis fails to recall that earlier in the year he accompanied myself and Hon. Simona Broomes, MP to Aroaima where I insisted that he be

allowed to address the workers as part of my delegation; thus, reinforcing his legitimacy in the eyes of Rusal’s management.

I have on several occasions reminded Mr. Lewis that the Ministry of Natural Resources is not the primary Ministry for the settling of labour issues within the extractive sector, or labour issues of any kind. The Ministry of Natural Resources has a fixed function as set

by His Excellency, the President, and other Ministries have other duties - in an apt case of every joint contributing towards the building up of the entire government.

As the United States and the Russian Federation work through their issues elsewhere, we in the Ministry of Natural Resources will continue to work to ensure that bauxite is mined and shipped so that workers and their families, and by extension, the national economy, can benefit. By no means are we pushing aside the rights of workers and the legacy issues which remain, but at this time, our efforts are understandably focused on keeping the production going. Our sister Ministry, the Ministry of Social Protection, has been charged by the President, and directed by the Cabinet, to address the ongoing labour issues and these are not being taken lightly.

Sincerely, Raphael Trotman Minister of Natural Resources

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 9, 2018

I will continue my single-minded dedication to the task at hand Dear Editor THE mask is finally off, SN “Cohesion” 2018-10-07. It would appear that Stabroek News' editorial board is not pleased with any initiative of the government.

Its editorial trotted out a tired and lazy narrative of a “bumbling” “incompetent” government that “rules over us”. Of course, this comes from a newspaper that is owned by a wealthy family that over the years has served as the megaphone for the private sector, several of whose members became obscenely rich through corrupt schemes, massive tax evasion and other nefarious activities under the former PPP/C regime. It appears that SN didn’t actually want a change of government; rather, it wanted the PPP/C government to change its ways. Unfortunately for SN, the Coalition government is a reality, over three years old.

We were elected to serve the people of this country. We have been doing so; we will continue to do so, regardless of criticisms and detractors, without fear or favour, affection or ill will.

A lot of aspersions were cast on a number of my colleagues. I believe they are capable of defending themselves. As to their criticism of my so called “less than exemplary performance in charge of the Ministry of Finance portfolio,” they must have forgotten, conveniently, the deformed and broken economy that our government inherited in 2015. Lest we forget, too, that the economy thrived on rampant drug trafficking, money laundering, and a banking sector in which a few institutions recklessly lent funds for private white elephant projects.

The hangover from that lending binge has resulted in an average non-performing loan ratio of 13.2 per cent; in the particular case of one bank, one out of every three loans are now categorised as non-performing. This was a significant factor in the immediate slowing of the economy, post-2015. Just look at the half finished, empty buildings dotting the landscape and one would understand that the construction

boom, hailed by the PPP/C and their admirers, was nothing but a bubble waiting to burst. More directly, the Treasury has been forced to bear the cost of a large number of reckless investments, including Skeldon, Clico, and the Marriott Hotel. It didn’t stop there: the government has had to dole out billions to settle lawsuits as well as meet the cost to retrieve the outstanding US$5M for the sale of the government shares in GT&T. Despite that and significant challenges in the sugar sector, that we as a country are now finally grappling with, our government has provided a bailout for GuySuCo- a whopping $37 billion to date. This sum excludes the $5.7 billion severance payment for workers; the transfer to central government of expenditure previously borne by GuySuCo, including D&I and community centres; and debt repayments on loans contracted for the ill-fated Sugar Modernisation Project. But not once have I seen an editorial questioning the management of GuySuCo about its stewardship of taxpayers’ monies.

Still, the economy grew by 4.5 per cent in the first half of this year and is projected to grow by 3.7 per cent for all of 2018. This compares very favourably to most countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.

And this growth does not come from profligate government spending: Debt to GDP ratio, a critical indicator of an economy’s health, is well within the internationally-accepted limit for countries at our level of development, at around 50 per cent and remains the second lowest in the Caribbean. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its May 9, 2018 mission statement said it “supports the authorities’ prudence towards private external borrowing” and that “the central government deficit was 4.5 per cent of GDP, lower than the budgeted 5.6 per cent.

This better than expected outturn, was largely supported by higher revenue arising from improvements in tax administration.” And

for this, I must commend the sterling and relentless work of Commissioner General Godfrey Statia. Let us recall that the Auditor General's Report of 2013 stated, that only one third, or 992 out of 2,618 registered and active firms, filed tax returns and that out of 75,992 active self-employed persons, only 33,740 filed taxes, paying an annual average of $98,000 per person.

Meanwhile, in a press release on June 25 2018, Tahseen Sayed, the World Bank’s Country Director for the Caribbean said: “Guyana is making important strides to promote financial resilience and improve fiscal management, and has embarked on a broad-based reform programme. These reforms will be key to building a strong economy that is underpinned by a strategic management of public resources, for the benefit of the Guyanese people.” The statement continued that “Significant progress has been made in implementing the 2016 Financial Sector Assessment Programme (FSAP) recommendations, including enhancing the supervisory power of the BoG and establishing an emergency liquidity assistance framework, a national payment system and a deposit insurance scheme.

The mission welcomed the establishment of a Financial Stability Unit within the Bank of Guyana (BoG) to assess macro-financial vulnerabilities.”

So, who are we to believe: Stabroek News with its apparent axe to grind?

Or the IMF, the World Bank and the other international lending institutions including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) that are increasingly viewing Guyana as a stable, well managed country with bright prospects that is ripe for sustainable development?

Also, the editorial claims, bizarrely, that public sector workers have not received a major increase in salaries since 2015. Again, a case of selected amnesia: only three months after taking office,

our government increased the minimum basic salary of each public servant to $50,000. This translated to a 26.4 per cent increase for those who earned the old minimum wage of $39,540 and 17.1 per cent for over 4,000 public servants earning the then minimum wage of $42,703. Subsequent to this, public servants, including teachers, have seen further increases that amount to over 50 per cent since the Coalition government took office.

Further, our government has reduced the Value Added Tax (VAT), from 16 per cent to 14 per cent; reduced Personal Income Tax, from 30 per cent to 28 per cent; increased the tax threshold from $600,000 to $720,000 or one-third of the gross income (whichever is higher); made employees’ NIS contributions tax free; and reduced tolls on the Berbice Bridge. And yes, we have reduced Corporate Income Tax for manufacturing companies, from 30 per cent to 27.5 per cent and granted significant concessions to the gold and forestry sectors, among others.

All the while, we have kept inflation well in check: negative 3.3 per cent in 2015,

1.4 per cent in 2016 and 2 per cent in 2017. Despite the desperate fearmongering of the PPP/C and fellow travellers, the Guyana dollar/US dollar rate as of May 2018 stood at G$212.48,from G$210 in May 2015. That’s a depreciation of 1.2 per cent over three years. Impressive, indeed! Yet, we are conscious that more needs to be done.

As for the editorial’s claim about the “loss of all the senior officials who have resigned” from my ministry in “the last few weeks”, I refer you to a previous misguided article in which the reporter failed to seek clarity from my ministry before publishing. In our subsequent response, we noted that “The policy of the ministry under the stewardship of Hon. Winston Jordan is that employees who reach the age of retirement are not kept on unless they bring some special skill that is critical to the work of the ministry, or, where suitable replacements cannot be found within the ministry.

We see this as part of giving younger civil servants the opportunities to build careers with us.” I would add that I remain extremely proud of the dedicated and highly competent team working at the Ministry of Finance. Un-

der my leadership, this team has been able to produce, among others: two national budgets before the start of the financial year; mid-year reports before Parliament goes into recess; two Public Debt Reports (not a requirement under any law); Public Private Partnership Framework; and more recently, a Green Paper on the Sovereign Wealth Fun (SWF). I have taken to Parliament, and had passed, more pieces of legislation than any other Minister of Finance did in their first three years.

Of course, Stabroek News itself is not immune to an exodus of skills, including competent editors and senior reporters, which is sadly apparent in the decline of its journalism over the past decade.

Rest assured that I will continue my single-minded dedication to the task at hand.

Yours sincerely, Winston Jordan, MP Minister of Finance

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Gov’t in talks with Reg. 7 residents –about setting up mini armouries across the region for their convenience

By Leroy Smith GIVEN the lack of proper infrastructure to store ammunition in bulk in the various Indigenous communities, the government, through the Ministry of Public Security, has initiated discussions with the villages and the police force to put systems in place to have this issue addressed.

The move is in an effort to make the lives of Indigenous Peoples easier, as the gun is one of their main

means of protection while farming and hunting.

The announcement was made on Friday at Kamarang

by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan while addressing close to 300 Indigenous persons drawn from 12 different communities in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni areas of Region Seven.

The occasion was the issuing of firearm approval letters and licences to some 139 persons in keeping with an earlier promise made to the communities following

the 2015 gun amnesty which saw the villages in the Upper Mazaruni handing in the most weapons for which they had no legal papers or documents to carry.

Minister Ramjattan told the mostly Upper Mazaruni residents that the lobby has started for there to be safe houses in the Mazaruni areas, where ammunition would be stored for those who are licensed to carry arms and ammunition.

This, he said, is necessary to remove the bugbear

of having these folks travel to the city each time they need to purchase ammunition.

According to what some of the residents indicated to this publication, they are often forced to expend large sums of money on transportation, whether by air, land or water to travel out of the Mazaruni just to purchase ammunition. And in many instances, they said, the transportation costs way more than the ammunition.

Minister Ramjattan said

he has already sought the advice of Commissioner of Police Leslie James and Deputy Commissioner of Police Paul Williams to see how best the initiative can be rolled out, and the logistics sorted out.

“These are sensitive matters, and we are dealing with arms and ammunition here,” he said. “So we also have to be mindful of theft, but at the same time, we at the State level have to ensure that we are careful as to where and how we keep

these things.” The residents were told that for such a process to be realised, it at first has to be gazetted, as there are provisions in the law as to where and how ammunition are to be stored, and what systems need to be put in place to facilitate the process.

One of the immediate arrangements being looked at by the government is to have the Kamarang Police Station serve as one of the holding areas for the ammunition.

Chenapou Health Dept Minister Harmon attending defence conference in Mexico gets boat, engine

The boat and engine in foreground that was handed over to the Chenapou Health Department

The Regional Democratic Council of Region Eight on Saturday last handed over an Aluminum aoat and a 25 horsepower outboard engine to the Health Department of Chenapou.

The handing over was done by the Regional Chairman Mr. Bonaventure Fredericks to the Community Health Worker Ms. Clarice Williams in the presence

of the Regional Executive Officer Mr. Carl Parker and the Toasho Mr. Edward McGarrell.

Parker said that the boat and engine are to improve the health transportation services in Chenapou. Williams said she was grateful for the asset since he finds it challenging to conduct home visits in the riverine community. Parker advised that the health department

use the assets wisely and to assist the education sector and the village council with transportation when needed. He also encouraged the Toshao to monitor the assets to prevent any misuse of the boat and engine.

The items were handed over to Chenapou during an invited visit by the North Pakaraimas District Council to attend their Statutory Meeting.

Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon is attending the XIII Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas in Cancun, Mexico.

Here, he is pictured meeting the United States’ Secretary of Defense, Mr. James Mattis on the sidelines of the Conference. The Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas (CDMA) is a multilateral policy international meeting initiated in 1995 and consisting of the Ministries of Defense of the hemisphere in order to promote mutual understanding, analysis, discussion and exchange of ideas and experiences in the field of Defense and Security or any other interaction mechanism that allows achieving the same. Conference cycles are two years in a member country assumes the presidency of the same. The function of maintaining the institutional memory has been assigned to the Inter - American Defense Board, an entity of the Organization of American States.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 9, 2018

Cash for prison warders assisting with prosecution of smugglers Acting Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels announced a financial incentive to prison warders who come forward with information that can result in the prosecution of officers found complicit in smuggling and other illegalities within the prison system.

“The sanitisation of the prison system requires all officers to be committed to the move. Time and time again we have seen acts that can only be as Acting Director of a result of collusion. The Prisons Gladwin Samuels Ministry of Public Security and the Guyana Prison Adding, that the danService would like to see gers of trafficking contraofficers speak out on cor- band in the prison enviruption at all levels,” Sam- ronment also put the peruels told media operatives petrators and warders at on Monday. risk, Samuels said. “Prison He continued: “As officers should not be putsuch, officers are encour- ting their fellow officers at aged to help in this fight. risk. What about our motFor all those officers who to: ‘Together in Service?’ come forward with details Trafficking in contraband that can result to detection at all locations is a matter and prosecution, they will of grave concern, but at the be given an incentive of Mazaruni Prison, which is between $15,000 to 25,000. a maximum security prison Let us commit to making it is worst because of the this organisation a purpose- extent of the collusion that driven one.” is needed for many contra-

band items to get into the prison.”

He said the prison’s motto: “Together We Serve” is one in which officers swore to uphold and which is widely repeated during the annual anniversary when the celebrations of the high-risk job is observed.

Noting that over the past few weeks, despite regular searches, prison wardens kept unearthing various forms of contraband including cellular phones, marijuana and local wine along with other illegalities. The prison director said this should be cause for concern for each and every one since the security of the prison, and by extension the security of the nation is at risk.

Further, he noted, “I do believe that while many prison officers are not directly involved in trafficking of contraband, they were aware of others who were. However, when you know your fellow officers are breaking the law and you remain silent, you are as guilty as they are.”

‘Sunil the con-man’ strikes again –– but gets off light this time around A 43-year-old Berbician pretending to have a rare heart condition, was on Monday placed before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman for attempting to solicit money from a businessman to undergo open heart surgery.

Prem Chand, a known con-artist called Sunil Dwayne, immediately came clean with the magistrate and explained that because he was frustrated, he came up with what he thought was a fool-proof plan to get some money.

The charge alleges that Chand, on October 4, 2018 at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, with intent to commit a felony, pretended to be popular cardiologist, Dr. Mahendra Carpen to worm $100,000 out of businessman, Frank Sanchar.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris told the court that on the day in question, Chand called Sanchar via telephone and pretended to be Dr. Carpen, a cardiologist at the Caribbean Heart Institute, which is located at the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation.

He reportedly told Sanchar that he needed $100,000 to help a patient of his undergo open heart surgery.

Prem Chand, also called ‘Sunil Dwayne’

The prosecutor said that Sanchar immediately smelt a rat and called the real Dr. Carpen, who confirmed his suspicion that the person he had spoken to was not he.

Now that he knew what he was dealing with, Sanchar then made arrangements for the caller to come and collect the money, and when Chand turned up and introduced himself as Dr. Carpen, the police were summoned and he was arrested.

Magistrate Latchman, after considering Chand’s early guilty plea and his mitigation, fined him $100,000, which sum should he fail to post carries a six-month term in prison.

Back in 2010, Chand was sentenced to six years in prison for forging the signature of then President Bharrat Jagdeo on a letter stating that he had been granted a presidential pardon, and that he should keep it a secret, particularly from the media and the police, failing which he would be dealt with severely.

At some point in his colourful past, the career conman was also charged for using the name Rabindra Rooplall to obtain $5,000 from a man by pretending that he was an Assemblies of God pastor and was collecting donations.

After his release from prison in 2016, Chand again made the news via a video on Facebook claiming that he’d woken up in the New Amsterdam Hospital morgue after being declared dead by a doctor there.

It so transpired that Chand had checked into the medical facility complaining of suffering chest pains, but was five hours later pronounced dead.

However, a senior medical practitioner from the hospital later debunked Chand claims stating that he is a well known character and was undergoing psychiatric treatment.

Commonwealth finance ministers explore new strategies to manage disaster risk FINANCE ministers from the 53 member countries of the Commonwealth will meet on the margins of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings this week in Bali, Indonesia, to discuss financing solutions to help counter the risk of natural disasters in their countries.

Under the theme ‘Enhancing national capacity to reduce disaster risk’, the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting will consider Commonwealth proposals including an online portal to simplify access to disaster finance and placing longterm advisors in member countries to develop funding applications for disaster risk management. Ministers

will also discuss Commonwealth work on defining and measuring vulnerability.

The meeting slated for October 11 will be chaired by Nauru’s Minister of Finance, David Adeang. It will feature a keynote address by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Disaster Risk Reduction, Mami Mizutori. “Natural disasters are increasingly inflicting massive negative economic and environmental impacts on Commonwealth countries,” stated the Commonwealth’s Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland. “There are dreadful human and social costs resulting from the loss of lives and livelihoods they cause. We have seen rising levels of frequency and

intensity in the devastating disasters that have affected countries in many regions of the world in recent years, including fatal hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes and tsunamis.”

“However, finding the means to respond to disaster risks can be complicated. The measures to be discussed by ministers directly address the obstacles linked to mobilising disaster finance, in order to assist member countries with reducing, managing, and adapting to disaster risk.”

The proposed Commonwealth Disaster Risk Finance Portal will serve as a ‘one stop shop’ for streamlined access to the numerous financing tools already available. It would include guidance on navigat-

Milton Drepaul passes ...

From page 2

the productions of that initiative. Mr. Drepaul was especially fond of: ‘Msiba’ by Ivan Khayiat, the winner of the Rabindranath Tagore national poetry competition; ‘Muruscape: The Splendour That is Suriname (Celebrating 40 Years of Independence), an artistic collection of water colour paintings executed

by Indian born artist, Dr. A. Murugesan from Chennai, India; and ‘Freedom: Reconnecting our People’, the soon-to-be-released visually-attractive, graphic re-publication of Walter Rodney’s ‘Groundings’.

Mr. Drepaul closed his teaching career at the AlphaMax Academy in Paramaribo, Suriname, where he served from 2007-2015, as the Director of the Global Assessment Certificate (GAC) programme. The GAC programme is an ACT International Education Solutions

program, which is moderated in Australia and Shanghai, China.

In June 2018, Mr. Drepaul visited Suriname for the last time, to attend the Academy’s graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2018. It was a non-coincidence that the keynote speaker for this event was the Director-General of Tourism in Guyana, Donald Sinclair. Mr. Drepaul sat on the Academy’s rostrum in silent admiration as Donald Sinclair (also a UWI graduate), one of his former students at Queen’s College, Guyana, delivered the graduation address at an institution that he also served at, committed to excellence, and founded by another former student and broadcast-media colleague.

By no means confined to the expected or prescribed areas of his scholastic expertise, Mr. Drepaul played a pivotal and influential role in

ing the complex funding processes and broad range of providers, each with differing eligibility and access criteria, and challenging terms and conditions. Ministers will consider extending the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub’s advisory and technical support to cover disaster finance more widely, especially for smaller and more vulnerable Commonwealth countries.

That would broaden the success of the of the programme, which already has been instrumental in helping to mobilise more than £4 million for climate projects in various parts of the Commonwealth, with a further £140 million in the pipeline.

Ministers will also discuss the concept of a new universal eco-

the spawning and flowering of a brilliant and innovative music school in Toronto, Canada: the Kendrum Music Academy in Brampton, Ontario, which has at its helm, Guyanese- born Caribbean musician and music teacher, Kenton Wyatt. Mr. Drepaul was the Patron and Business Advisor to the Kendrum Music Academy.

In December 2016, he attended the Academy’s last Christmas Recital in Ontario.

For old-timers, the foregoing snippet of Mr. Drepaul comes as no surprise, for they will readily recall that in the early 1970s, he served Guyana as a member of the National History & Arts Council, working assiduously alongside cultural notables like A.J. Seymour and Celeste Dolphin in the monumental preparations and execution of the very first Carifesta that was inaugurated in 1972 by the host, Guyana, under the distinguished auspices of then Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham.

Based on accounts of parting conversations with close colleagues and friends, it

nomic vulnerability index to focus on the economic, environmental, socio-political causes of vulnerability. The meeting of finance ministers is the longest established annual ministerial meeting in the cycle of intergovernmental Commonwealth gatherings, and provides an opportunity for ministers to collectively consider approaches to emerging global issues and the economic development work programme of the Commonwealth. Senior officials and Commonwealth central bank governors will meet on October 10, prior to the ministerial meeting, to discuss disaster risk reduction and financial technology issues respectively.

must be stated that until the end of his life, Mr. Drepaul personally devoted himself to the inspiration and enlightenment of Caribbean scholars, regardless of age, class, clime or origin – whether at home or in the diaspora. He often quoted with deep fondness the words of C.L.R. James, the Caribbean scholastic titan, whom he met as a young impressionable UWI student in Jamaica: “Never be ashamed of the countries you come from – whether they are large or small, because one of the great civilisations of this epoch, the Greeks, came from tiny islands in the Mediterranean. As Caribbean people we can similarly shape the destiny of the entire world through the power of the ‘word’.”

Inspired by his meritorious example and with renewed dedication and fortitude, let us, who are still on the beach of human time, plough forward in the tasks of the education of the young in this blessed Caribbean region of ours.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 9, 2018

Educators get training in disaster risk management

THE Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Presidential Agency of International Cooperation of Colombia (APC Colombia) has commenced a rigorous training programme to equip educators with best practices in Disaster Risk Management.

The goal of the training is to help create safer schools.

The five-day training programme, which commenced on Monday at Herdmanston Lodge, will see the transfer of knowledge in Risk Management and School Safety.

Acting Deputy Chief Education Officer – Admin, Marcia Paddy, in declaring the programme opened, explained that the training stemmed from a visit to Colombia by two representatives from the Education Ministry and EPA in May, 2018. During that visit they acquired experience in disaster risk management in schools.

“This was with the understanding that Guyana will do its part in implementing a process that will result in safer and greener educational facilities, that the education sector will work towards the continued reduction of risk at schools and establish an ideal, yet adaptable approach to risk management at the school level,” Paddy explained to the head-teachers and teachers present.

Noting that the Education Ministry is cognisant of the importance of Risk Management and School Safety, the acting deputy chief education

officer (admin) said there is a move to create enabling environments through the establishment of standards and policies, in addition to the formulation of School Disaster Management Plan/ Guideline.

“The purpose of this is to guide school managers, administrators, teachers and students in designing a school-specific disaster management plan that suits the needs of individual schools in terms of preparedness, response and recovery,” Paddy explained.

Focus is also being placed on risk reduction and resilience education. “This is the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyse and manage the casual factors of disasters, including reduced exposure to hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment and improved preparedness for adverse events,” she further explained. The Education Ministry’s plan for school safety will guide the Ministry’s Safe School Programme.

Director General (ag) of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, in pointing to the fact that in Guyana children are enrolled in the school system at early ages and spend at least six (6) hours in school, said it is important for adequate measures to be in place in the event of an accident, incident or a disaster.

“The goal of safe schools is to create safe, secure, protective and green educational

institutions from nursery to territory levels including both private and public schools through the development of simple, applicable and adaptable tools. Equally important is the equipping of the personnel to prepare themselves to protect those in their charge,” he told those present.

Like the Education Ministry, the CDC is aware of the needs that exist, and has been coordinating disaster risk management at all levels of society. The commission has collaborated with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and Education Ministry to launch a Model Safe School Programme using the Safety Assessment Tool and the Green Assessment Tool.

“In 2012 and 2017, the commission retrofitted the Arapaima Primary School, Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo and the Fort Ordnance Primary School in the East Berbice-Corentyne Region respectively, as emergency shelters. For example, the Fort Ordnance Primary School is now equipped with a concrete bridge to allow the delivery of relief supplies directly to the building, bath facilities, ramps and handrails to improve the accessibility for persons living with disabilities, a newly constructed kitchen and feeding area, as well as, cooking utensils,” the Director General (ag) further pointed out.

Added to that, he said in 2017, the CDC, with financial support from the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNE-

Acting Deputy Chief Education Officer – Admin, Marcia Paddy

Coordinator of the Risk Management Unit within the Secretariat of the Ministry of Education – Colombia, Miguel Ochoa (Photos by Adrian Narine )

SCO), implemented a Youth Engagement for Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) project at St. Ignatius Secondary School, Upper Takutu – Upper Essequibo, St. Cuthbert’s Secondary School in Demerara-Mahaica and Vryman’s Erven Secondary School in the East Berbice-Corentyne Region.

The project was designed towards promoting disaster

Drug ‘pusher’ learns the hard way ––not to mess with a no-nonsense cop

PRINCIPAL Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday remanded a 27-year-old shop owner to prison for allegedly offering to bribe an officer to 'duck' a drug trafficking charge against him.

Christopher Gonsalves

made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

Particulars of the first charge allege that Gonsalves, on October 3, 2018 at Al-

bouystown, had 530 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

It is alleged that when Gonsalves was arrested the same day and taken to the Brickdam Police Station, he attempted to obstruct or per-

Director General (ag) of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig

Christopher Gonsalves

risk management awareness among youths while ensuring their active involvement in building community resilience.

Secretary General of the Guyana Red Cross, Dorothy Fraser said the society has a range of programmes being implemented through local, regional and international support aimed at educating children on safety measures vert the course of justice by offering the investigating rank, Sergeant George, $150,000 to drop the matter.

According to reports, Gonsalves was arrested during a sting operation whereby ranks went undercover and attempted to purchase the cannabis from him.

It is alleged that when the order was placed, Gonsalves left the shop on his motorcycle and came back with a

including first aid. She believes that senior students and teachers should not only be trained in risk management but first aid as well. Fraser also made a pitch for Guyana to establish Red Cross youth groups in schools, as is the case in other Caribbean countries, saying that it resulted in increased avoidance of risks within schools.

Coordinator of the Risk Management Unit within the Secretariat of the Ministry of Education – Colombia, Miguel Ochoa and his team – Juan Rodrigues, Secretary of Education – Good Smart (Columbia); and Professor Adriana Gil, Faulty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Columbia, will be facilitating the training. EPA Executive Director, Vincent Adams was among the other officials present at the forum. bulky black plastic bag with the weed inside it, and was promptly arrested.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris objected to Gonsalves being granted bail for one charge because of the seriousness of it, whereby he was remanded to prison, but approved of the $200,000 bail for the other.

The matter has been adjourned until November 5.

Three-man team probing GECOM employment practices

THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) said its investigation into employment practices at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is moving apace even as the body continues its efforts to engage national stakeholders across the country.

In a release, ERC said currently, the commission is in the process of investigating employment practices at GECOM. It said a special investigative team was established following a complaint lodged by the three GECOM Commissioners appointed by the opposition.

The team is headed by Retired Justice, Stanley Moore and includes Human Resources Consultant, Jairam Petam and for-

mer Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lloyd Smith. The three-man team was given a period of three weeks for the completion of the investigation and submission of a report.

However, during the process, they requested an extension which has been granted. The ERC will provide further details as they become available.

The commissioners: Robeson Benn, Bibi Shadick and Sase Gunraj had had contended recently that 90 per cent of GECOM’s workforce is made up of Afro Guyanese, but later said that it was the management of GECOM that is dominated by Afro-Guyanese. In a letter to the ERC Chairman, Reverend Oswald Smith, the commissioners had called

for an investigation to be launched into the employment practices at the Elections Commission, and the decision of the GECOM Chairman Justice (ret’d) James Patterson, to use his casting vote to appoint Roxanne Myers to the post of Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) over Vishnu Persaud – the former DCEO. Recently, ERC Commissioners met with senior officials of the Guyana Defence Force, the Police and the Guyana Fire and Prison Services. Councillors of the Regional Democratic Councils of Regions Two, Three, Five and 10 were also visited by the ERC at their respective offices at Anna Regina, Essequibo, West Demerara, Fort Wellington,

West Coast Berbice and McKenzie, Linden.

In a release, the ERC said meaningful discussions on the promotion of harmony, unity and good relations were held and agreements reached for collaboration on this national venture. Related suggestions were also offered for the ERC’s consideration in delivering its mandate. Similar meetings are planned for other Regions this month.

The ERC said it has already met with President David Granger; Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo; representatives from the ten constituencies from which it is constituted; some diplomatic missions and the Private Sector Commission.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 9, 2018

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Change the leaders

President David Granger urged residents of Region Two to vote wisely (Delano Wil-

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 9, 2018

…President urges residents to elect new leaders for Anna Regina

dent questioned, rhetorically, whether the progress they observe today represents over 40 years of development.

He stated that the region, which alone is bigger than Trinidad and Tobago, has the potential to be wealthy but continues to be robbed of such as a result of poor leadership.

In listing some of the region’s advantages, he highlighted that it is responsible for 16 per cent of the country’s rice production; 14 per cent of fish and shrimp and 48 per cent of the coconut production.

“So many of you might

By Lisa Hamilton WITH Local Government Elections (LGE) just weeks away, President David Granger on Monday urged residents of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) to elect visionary leaders, who can best effect changes in their communities.

The leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU, the President visited the region’s capital for a community meeting held at the Anna Regina car park. He was accompanied by Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure and Campaign Manager for LGE in Region Two, Annette Ferguson and Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally.

Present too were regional executives; prospective

20 students from the township receive new bicycles as part of the President’s 5Bs initiative (Delano Williams photo)

Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure and Campaign Manager for LGEs in Region Two, Annette Ferguson (Delano Williams photo)

candidates of LGE 2018 and scores of students, parents and residents of the region. In his address to the gathering, after establishing that the township of Anna Regina dates back to some 48 years, the Presi-

say ‘well why Trinidad and Tobago rich and Region Two is poor?’” the President stated, adding: “It is poor because of poor leadership and next month on the 12th of Novem-

ber we’re going to change that. We’re going to give Anna Regina better leadership.”

Never again, he firmly added, will Guyana under APNU’s leadership return to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-introduced Interim Management Committees (IMC), which prevented citizens an input into the development of their own communities. “IMCs are unwanted, undemocratic and unsuccessful and let me promise you this Essequibo! there will be no IMCs under the APNU. This town is going to be governed by people you elect, not by people the Minister of Local Government or the Minister of Communities selects,” he stated.

The President further urged the residents to take the LGEs seriously, even as he reminded, that the APNU administration has its focus on serving not a portion of the people but the entire country.

“Local Government Elections is not about victim and victor, or winning and losing, it’s about giving the people the opportunity to run their own affairs; giving people the opportunity to sit around the table and decide what’s best for the markets, what’s best for the streets, lights, security,” he said.

He then added: “When we had Local Government Elections in March 2016, we wanted to win, but most of all we wanted to embolden the people, give them that confidence to go into the municipalities; to go into the neighbourhoods and make decisions for themselves.”

Even with the absence of the Regional Chairman at the meeting, the President advised the public not to pattern themselves after this example, as cooperation among all three levels of government are needed if the country is to move forward.

He cautioned them res-

idents further, to elect a visionary town council; a mayor with a vision and a team which will assist community members in sharing their expertise with neighbouring regions, like the hinterland.

As the government continues to work to improve subventions to support works in the region, the President urged residents to exercise their rights come November and to vote wisely for the best candidates.

“Next month, five weeks from now, you have the opportunity to correct the damage that has been done by the PPP. You have an opportunity.

Don’t drop the ball, don’t lose the opportunity because you’re going to return to stagnation, you’re going to return to underdevelopment…you have to go out there and vote for persons who you know are going to serve your communities,” he said.

Remarks came too from Minister Ferguson, who similarly urged the community members to elect the right persons to get the job done.

“Before March 2016, many communities were neglected and experienced challenges due to bad roads, poor public health systems, poor drainage, unkempt parapets, debilitative infrastructure to name a few.

“Today, as we examine the environment we all coexist, there is a breath of fresh air you can associate with change. You will agree with me that there is much to be done. However, this can only be so if we elect the right people within the various constituencies to get the job done, and to seek an improved community,” she said.

She stated further, that the opportunity for real change to be realised in communities in the region rests on November 12, 2018 when every eligible person must make their vote count. Ferguson then reminded the gathering of some of

the many projects supported by central government though her ministry which are either ongoing or already completed.

These include maintenance to ferry vessels and sea defenses; the rehabilitation of roads; installation of street lights among others. “I urge you to rally, mobilise and organise your communities and constituencies, and let us claim them from those who are not performing in the interest of community development,” she said, adding: “Once you vote solidly for A Partnership for National Unity and those persons in your constituency, rest assured that they will ensure that your community is taken care of. Therefore, I urge of you to be vocal and vote local for A Partnership for National Unity.”

Also at the event, 20 students from the township received brand new bicycles as part of the President’s 5Bs initiative. In receiving the gifts, Ferguson encouraged the children to care the bicycles, while she cautioned parents to ensure that they facilitate the regular attendance of their children to school.

It was in Region Two that the idea of the 5Bs initiative was birthed when the President, then Opposition leader, came into contact with a 12-year-old girl who could not read because her mother could not afford to send her to school. He made himself a promise that when he became president he would address the issue and just weeks after taking office in 2015, he launched the new initiative.

To date, the Buses, Boats, Bicycles, Books and Breakfast initiative sees over 28 buses freely transporting school children; over 1200 bicycles distributed and hot meals provided to children countrywide, along with the others aspects.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 9, 2018

City Hall owes garbage disposal companies $148M -companies contemplating strike action MAJOR sanitation companies, Cevons Waste Management Services and Puran Brothers Disposal Inc. are once again faced with a financial dilemma because the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has arrears of $148 million for the companies.

Similar to what has occurred in many instances, the municipality is yet to pay the companies for the services rendered to the city. Approximately $75 million is owed to Cevons and $73 to Purans.

Representatives of both companies said they are frustrated by the inability of the M&CC to make timely payments to the company.

“They owe us $75M from May 2018 to now…we are in negotiations with the city but we have not done anything concrete as yet but we are still trying to get something done,” said Business Development Officer of Cevons, Morris Archer in an invited comment on Monday.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cevons, Morse Archer, in a follow up to what was said by his colleague, noted that the company cannot continue to work without

being paid because at some point they will have to stop.

“We are at a close breaking point… we had a meeting with the City Council and they promised to meet again to discuss payments but it is annoying and frustrating, it is a consistent cycle,” said Morse.

General Manager of Purans, Kaleshwar Puran echoed the sentiments of Archer, noting that his company has not been paid since June this year.

“The nonpayment is affecting our working capital but we have not made a definitive decision as yet as to the way forward,” said Puran.

He, however, said that the payments from City Hall usually sum up to 75-80 per cent of the company’s revenue and they have been working under the conditions of the same contract for about three years.

Despite attempts to maintain the professionalism with the M&CC, the companies are in frustration and might even resort to striking.

“We have not said that we will strike but we are contemplating it,” said Puran, explaining that in the past they had put faith and invest-

Officials of both Cevons and Purans getting ready for a tour of the Haags Bosch Landfill site on Monday (Adrian Narine photo)

ment into the system, with the hope that the situation would improve.

A letter has been sent to the Ministry of Communities, informing them about the situation. The contractors had opted to pull their services in

August 2017 when the city council had racked up more than $400M in debt to the two companies.

Although the companies had agreed to wait for payments for the years 2015 and 2016, the municipality was

not even keeping up with its current balances for 2017.

Government stepped in and paid the contractors all of the outstanding balances and even went further to create a special arrangement to cover services up to the end of the

year.

During that time, the contractors had anticipated that the City Council would make some effort to contact them on a new system beginning 2018. But no such contact was made.

Drug addict gets 13 years for attempted murder QUINCY Henry, called “Fix it”, was on Monday morning served a 13-year s e n t e n c e f ro m J u s t i c e Brassington Reynolds, for an attempted murder charge to which he pleaded guilty.

State Prosecutor Tiffini Lyken, on presenting the indictment and facts of the matter before the court, stated that on September 20, 2015, in the county of Demerara, Henry allegedly attempted to murder Troy Hughes Bacchus called “Fletcher”. On the night in question, at the Merriman’s Mall, Bourda, Henry asked Fletcher for $100 which he refused to give. Henry then attacked Fletcher from behind and subsequently stabbed him in the neck.

Although Henry pleaded guilty to the charge, he asked the presiding judge for a chance to tell his side of the story, which turned out to be quite contrary to that which was presented by the State.

The unrepresented accused told the court, that on the night in question a man called out to him and told him that “Fletcher said he

gan cuff you in yo mouth”, to which he replied “Fletcher can’t cuff me cause he already get shoot and ain’t even know he geh shoot.”

The response, however, aggravated Fletcher to the point that he approached Henry with a hammer in a threatening manner.

Henry said he held the hammer to avoid it hitting him and showed Fletcher he was armed with a knife, and Fletcher, he said, let go of the hammer and walked away. Continuing his version of the incident, the accused said that Fletcher returned a few minutes later with a piece of wood, and “fired a lash aiming to my head,” but he used his left arm to block the `lash’ and instead, received a gash near his elbow. Henry then raised his arm and showed the court the wound, which he said he did not receive medical attention for because he was afraid to go to the hospital.

Henry continued that Fletcher fired a second lash but he grabbed the piece of wood and used his other arm to keep off Fletcher. He said that he still had the knife in his possession and it was due

Quincy Henry

to Fletcher’s aggressiveness that he ended up getting stabbed to the neck.

And, as the accused was narrating his version of the incident, the victim, Fletcher, was observed sitting in

the courtroom crying.

Prior to Monday’s hearing and sentencing, Justice Reynolds had requested a probation report be prepared for the accused. The report was read to the court by Pro-

bation Officer from Ministry of Social Protection, Anand Sharma.

The report stated that Henry, 32, is the sixth of his mother’s seven children, all of whom have different fathers. Henry’s father, however, never played a role in supporting him and at a very tender age, his mother migrated to Barbados and he was left in the care of his grandmother. All this time, he hadn’t any schooling, until he was 10 years old when he went to live with his mother in Barbados.

Prior to his mother sending for him, Henry worked at Bourda Market to sustain himself and he would often sleep there.

While living in Barbados, he had disputes with his family and this lead to his sister reporting him to immigration and he was subsequently deported back to Guyana in 2009. Being neglected by his mother, Henry found solace in drugs [cocaine], had a few brushes with the law and once served a three-year sentence.

Persons from the Bourda Market area who knew him, described his as a junkie, a

bully and a nuisance who is often involved in incidents in the market.

His relatives in Guyana said they rarely see him and had no idea of what was going on. He is known, however, as a “hardcore drug user”.

Justice Reynolds classified Henry as a victim of circumstances and is a waste of a good human being.

Referring to Henry’s narration of the incident, Justice Reynolds stated that his vocabulary is extensive and his grammar is impressive, and it is rather unfortunate that he did not turn out to be a valuable addition to the society.

The judge, however, said that Henry needs a structured environment where he has no access to drugs, and starting at a 20-year sentence he made a seven-year deduction, and handed down the 13-year sentence. He advised the prisoner to use his time in prison to his benefit and better himself, and suggested that he seek counselling while incarcerated so that when he returns to society he can be of valuable contribution.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 9, 2018

GTT loses tens of millions of US$ because of Digicel’s alleged bypass –– but company has no intention of taking legal action against Digicel THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) has recorded tens of millions of United States (US) dollars in losses because of their main competitor; Digicel’s alleged bypass of GTT’s subsea fibre optic network.

GTT, despite the odds, said that they are working through the loss with the hope of finding solutions and moving forward.

“We believe that it is in the tens of millions of US dollars but we are trying to work through it,” said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTT, Justin Nedd, during a press briefing at Herdmanston Lodge on Monday.

In recent days, Digicel has come under scrutiny from sections of the media and even their customers who have not been able to access data (internet) services.

The disruption of these services was reportedly because of the Suriname Government’s decision to shut

down an alleged “illegal microwave link” that supplied data from Digicel-Suriname to Digicel-Guyana.

Digicel is yet to confirm those claims but telecommunications company, GTT has been accusing Digicel of the illegal act for years.

GTT which is the only authorised provider of subsea fibre optic telecommunication services, has, on several occasions, called for an investigation into Digicel’s alleged illegal, unlicensed trans-border link between Guyana and Suriname.

“In 2010 which is almost a decade ago, GTT landed the only subsea fibre optic cable in Guyana…it has the ability to supply the entire country with connectivity and internet,” said Nedd.

Despite Digicel’s alleged bypass of that service, the GTT CEO said that the company will not take legal actions because the company believes that the Surinamese

Flashback to March 2017- Digicel’s CEO Kevin Kelly (left) makes a point, while his GTT counterpart Justin Nedd counters at the Public Utilities Commission hearing

regulators are executing their mandate. GTT continues to provide data to Digicel through the interconnection agreement between the companies.

Efforts to contact Digicel proved futile. From its launch in Jamaica 2001, Digicel has expanded rapidly and spans across 31 markets in the Ca-

ribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific.

According to Digicel’s website, the company has invested over US $5 billion in the Digicel business worldwide and continues to invest to bring leading edge technologies to the markets in which they operate.

In light of the allegations

against Digicel and with a possibility that the “microwave link” could be broken, Nedd believes, that GTT has the capacity to supply Digicel with data because in March this year, GTT’s fibre optic network was tested when the company had to carry the “traffic” for Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

“We had to provide data to those two countries because there was an unusual outage in the two countries… the network was resilient enough to handle that traffic,” said Nedd, adding that since the network was established in 2010, the company continued to upgrade the system.

GTT has recorded immense growth in the use of the internet and as a result, they continue to improve their operations and the quality of services they offer.

But, ahead of a liberalised telecommunications sector, the company is calling for a level playing field.

Nedd said the company is working with the government to finalise the regulation of the system by the end of the year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 9, 2018

Corentyne man confesses to killing villager A 19-YEAR-OLD labourer of Number 69 Village, East Berbice Corentyne, has allegedly confessed to police that he murdered his friend for making unsavory remarks about his wife.

The victim has been identified as Mahendra Sooknandan, 24, a mason of Lot 36, Number 69 Village, Corentyne. The incident occurred on Sunday evening at approximately 21:30 hrs two streets away from the victim’s home.

However, his body was only discovered at around 06:30hr on Monday lying face down at the head of

Dead-Mahendra Sooknandan

a street with multiple stab wounds. At the scene there was evidence of a struggle as the vegetation was disturbed. Meanwhile, at the home of Sooknandan, family members gathered to comfort the parents who were visibly distraught. The dead man’s father, Chandrika Sooknandan, said his son left home at around 18:00hrs to visit an uncle. There he spent two hours and left. The family was, though, under the impression that he would have spent the night by the uncle.

The now dead man was reported to have been seen later in the company of three persons at a popular hangout

spot, where it is alleged that an argument ensued. The Guyana Chronicle was told that the trio, along with the victim, left. It was the last time that he was seen alive.

The family described Mahendra as a hardworking individual who would assist everyone around in time of need. The police initially arrested three persons who then pointed out the main suspect. As part of the investigation, the suspect was taken to scene where he detailed to detectives what transpired. Investigation into the matter continues.

Guyana sends condolences to Haiti On behalf of the Government and People of Guyana, His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, MSS, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana extends condolences to the Government and people of the Republic of Haiti, where a magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit on Saturday, claiming the lives of some 12 persons and injuring almost 200.

Guyana commiserates with the families of the victims and all affected, and wish those hospitalised a speedy recovery. Further, Guyana pledges its unwavering support to the His Excellency, Jovenel Moïse, President of the Republic of Haiti and his Administration as the country moves to overcome this tragedy.

The city of Port-de-Paix, which is located at about 219km from the capital, Port-au-Prince, was hit the hardest by the earthquake that resulted in a magnitude 5.2 aftershock on Sunday.

Police seize unlicensed guns ammo in separate finds POLICE in ‘E’ Division (Linden-Kwakwani), acting on information received, went to a location at Anarika, Essequibo River about 09:50hrs on Monday and found a single barrel improvised shotgun and a gun-trap along with one live cartridge. No arrests have been made as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, a male foreign national was detained after a search of a room he was occupying at Dukwari

Backdam, Cuynui River on Sunday evening unearthed an unlicenced firearm and ammunition. The find included one

The single barrel shotgun that was found in Linden

The .38 revolver 9mm pistol and matching ammo found in Dukwari Backdam

9mm semi-automatic pistol; one .38 revolver; twelve live 9mm ammunition; two 9mm spent shells; three live .38 am-

munition; two .38 spent shells and two Taurus magazines.

Investigations are ongoing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Pensioner killed, motorcyclist critical A PEDESTRIAN succumbed to his injuries on Sunday night after a motorcyclist crashed into him at Princes and John Streets, Georgetown.

Dead is Orin Claudius Roberts, 60, of Lot 23 John and Norton Streets.

Reports indicate that the pedestrian was standing on Princes Street awaiting to cross and as the motorcyclist approached John

Street he lost control and collided with the pensioner.

Residents said that as a result of the collision, both the pedestrian and the motor cyclist fell onto the road surface and received injuries about their bodies.

They were picked up in an unconscious state by public spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where they were seen and

Dead: Orin Roberts

examined by a doctor on duty and admitted.

Roberts was later pronounced dead after succumbing to his injuries while the motorcyclist was regarded as critical.

The body of the pedestrian is at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination as police continue their investigations.

Body found on Soesdyke-Linden Highway identified THE partially nude and battered body of a man who was found motionless at Loo Creek, Soesdyke-Linden Highway with multiple injuries on Sunday, was on Monday identified as 41-year-old Osafu Glasgow called ‘Safo’ of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara.

Reports indicate that the body bore injuries to the head, left arm and leg. Next to the body were pieces of plastic fragments suspected to be that of a broken vehicle light.

The closest community from where the body was discovered is three miles away. The body was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex and was later transferred to the Wismar Hospital Mortuary, awaiting an autopsy.

Roget declares justice served, Industrial Court grants OWTU injunction (Trinidad Newsday) PRESIDENT General of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) Ancel Roget yesterday declared victory over state-owned oil company Petrotrin. He did so after a ruling by President of the Industrial Court Deborah Thomas-Felix who granted the union its injunction against the company, restricting the further termination of employees and even the issuance of voluntary separation letters. The injunction will remain in effect until the issue of the closure of Petrotrin is fully ventilated in the court or if the company successfully appeals the decision.

Last Tuesday, Roget along with attorney Douglas Mendes, SC, representing the OWTU, filed the injunction after he alleged that Petrotrin violated the collective bargaining agreement by refusing to hold discussions with the union.

Speaking with reporters outside the Industrial Court on lower St Vincent Street, Port of Spain yesterday, Roget said he was satisfied with the court’s ruling and described it as “pure justice”.

He also accused Petrotrin of using “scare tactics” as it attempted to defend its decision to close the refinery by describing it’s position as insolvent, and said he was pleased with Thomas-Felix’s decision to dismiss Petrotrin’s attorney Senior Counsel Reginald Armour’s application to

stay the ruling.

“The court would have granted injunctive relief to protect the workers simply because the board of the company, supported by the Cabinet, was simply breaking the law. The company has been ordered to stay its hand. The board has no regard for justice, fair-play or the law.

“Petrotrin ought not to go ahead and hand out termination letters, it is clear contempt and we have not heard the Minister of Labour, and she ought to be the first one to come out and urge the company to hold its hand. There can be absolutely no justification for breaking the law.”

Roget also said the application to stay or delay the ruling was an attempt by the company to continue to dismiss workers, and called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Energy Minister Franklin Khan to reveal the experts who advised them to close Petrotrin.

“Who are these experts?

What is the precise advice that they would have gotten? That has not happened because these experts do not exist. There is no expert that advised them, it is the arrogance of one man, Keith Christopher Rowley.”

Roget said he was convinced that the ruling by the Industrial Court was further evidence that Petrotrin can be made into a viable, productive entity once the necessary restructuring is done.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 9, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 9, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 9, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Red Force narrowly avoid upset after Pooran shines again PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Favourites Trinidad and Tobago Red Force suffered a scare but held their nerve to beat minnows Canada by two wickets, and post their third straight victory in Group A of the Regional Super50 here Sunday night.

In pursuit of a seemingly uncomplicated 208 at Queen’s Park Oval, Red Force appeared en route to a comfortable win at 161 for three in the 33rd over with red-hot left-hander Nicholas Pooran carving out his third straight half-century with 66 and Kyle Hope getting 50.

However, seamer Sukhdeep Brar (3-39) and leftarm spinner Salman Nazar (2-47) combined to wreck Red Force’s middle order as the hosts lost five wickets for 31 runs in the space of 34 deliveries.

FROM BACK PAGE

GDF retain champion gym title with five victories and six runners-up spots –Quincy Boyce (GDF), Shaquille Wright (VBG) voted best boxers

By Michael DaSilva

Nicholas Pooran … struck his third consecutive half-century for Red Force.

top-scored with 37 while 18-year-old Bhavindu Adhihetty and Nanveet Dhaliwal chipped in with 32 apiece.

Emrit led the attack, taking three for 58 while fellow seamer Ravi Rampaul (2-41) and left-arm spinner Khary Pierre (230) supported with two wickets apiece. In-form opener Rodrigo Thomas fell cheaply for one in the second over with the score on 11 but Adhihetty added 33 for the second wicket with Dhaliwal and a further 50 for the third with 20-year-old Harsh Thaker who made 25.

When three wickets tumbled for 27 runs to

Tottering on 192 for eight in the 39th over and in danger of a stunning upset, Red Force’s fears were allayed by the steady Rayad Emrit who smacked a four and a six in an unbeaten 18 from 21 balls, to see his side over the line.

Opting to bat earlier, Canada looked in good shape at 94 for two in the 20th over before declining to end on 207 for seven off their 50 overs.

Captain Davy Jacobs

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Leicester 09:15 hrs Spirit Ridge 09:50 hrs Mans Not Trot 10:20 hrs Encore D’Or 10:50 hrs Huge Future 11:25 hrs Verve 11:55 hrs The Right Choice 12:30 hrs Swanton Blue 13:00 hrs Relight My Fire

Catterick 08:30 hrs Finch Hatton 09:00 hrs Chitra 09:35 hrs Ghost Queen 10:10 hrs Urban Spirit 10:40 hrs Shortbackandsides 11:10 hrs Indian Pursuit 11:45 hrs Morning Skye 12:15 hrs P[earl Noir

leave Canada on 121 for five in the 30th over, Jacobs propped up the innings by adding 45 for the sixth wicket with Nikhil Dutta (23) and 37 for the seventh with Brar (21).

Red Force, in reply, lost Lendl Simmons for one in the fourth over when he was lbw to left-arm seamer Romesh Eranga with seven on the board and then slipped further to 57 for three in the 19th over when Evin Lewis (25) and captain Denesh Ramdin (13) both departed.

However, Pooran and Hope came together in a 104-run fourth wicket stand to halt the slide and put Red Force in command of the game.

Pooran, with previous scores of 89 and 75, counted seven fours and two sixes in a typically cavalier 45-ball innings while Hope proved the anchor, facing 84 balls and striking just three fours.

The match turned in the 33rd over when Pooran played across a fullish length delivery from Brar and had his stumps shattered. Kieron Pollard, without a score of significance in the tournament, followed in the next over when he tapped a simple catch back to medium pacer Dhaliwal for three and when Hope missed an injudicious heave at Brar and was comprehensively bowled, Red Force were tottering on 170 for six in the 35th over.

Sunil Narine (13) and Imran Khan (0) were prised out cheaply and it was left to Emrit to salvage the game and avoid embarrassment for Red Force.

THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) boxing gym made a successful defence of their Champion Gym title by winning the 2018 Guyana Boxing Association (GBA)/Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate Boxing Championship which concluded on Sunday night at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

The soldiers won five of the six finals they contested and had six runners-up places. After summing up the results from the three-night tournament, GBA’s Technical Director, Terrence Poole, announced Quincy Boyce (GDF) as the `Best Elite Boxer’ of the tournament and Vergenoegen Boxing Gym’s Shaquille Wright as the Best Youth Boxer’.

Spearheading the soldiers’ charge were Clinton Clarke (Bantamweight), Boyce (Welterweight), Royden Grant (Middleweight), Astion Niles (light heavyweight) and Renaldo Niles (Heavyweight).

All five of the Army’s victors went up against their GDF counterparts.

Clarke secured a unanimous verdict against Albert Thomas; Boyce had the referee stopping his contest against Seon Murray at two minutes, 16 seconds of the first round; Grant registered a points-decision victory against Orlando Norton; Astion Niles won by a Technical Knock-out (TKO) versus

Frank McRae (2:42 of round one) and Ronaldo Niles also won via the TKO route over Shemar Ming. The fight was stopped at three minutes of the first round.

Prior to his first round TKO win against Murray on Sunday night, Boyce secured a first round TKO (1:58) win versus Republican’s Denzil Adams on Friday night and followed that victory up with a 43-second third round TKO win against his gym mate, Jamal Eastman, on Saturday night; hence he was adjudged Best Elite Boxer.

Wright, for his part, was deemed the Best Youth Boxer of the tournament for his one-minute, 32 seconds knock out win against his gym mate, Junior Hyman, in their lightweight contest. It was the only youth bout of the tournament.

In other results of the night’s card, VBG’s Christopher Moore secured a walkover victory from Republican’s Mark Chester.

Additionally, the Republican Gym had two other boxers who were to face each other in the flyweight final, but neither of the two boxers made a ring appearance.

It was disclosed that the Republican boxers had already left the penitentiary and heading for the National Gymnasium when the prison officer in charge of them received instruction to return to base. No reason has so far been forthcoming from the prison authorities.

FROM BACK PAGE

Hemraj amomg...

“With the 2020 ICC World T20 two years away and the limited amount of T20 Internationals within the next year, the panel believes at this juncture it is time to invest in the young players that have emerged over the last two years from Windies A and B teams, along with 2018 CPL,” chairman of selection panel Courtney Browne said.

ODI squad: Jason Holder (c), Fabian Allen, Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Oshane Thomas T20I squad: Carlos Brathwaite (c), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Oshane Thomas

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Tuesday October 9, 2018

Pakistan amass 482 after Sohail’s maiden ton (REUTERS) - Pakistan’s Haris Sohail struck his maiden Test century as they ended the second day of the first test against Australia with a lead of 452 in Dubai on Monday.

Sohail and Asad Shafiq (80) put on 150 for the fifth wicket on a placid track at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as Australia’s bowlers toiled in the intense heat.

Australia had delayed taking the new ball in their quest to generate some reverse swing and help their spinners but it did not

really pay off.

Their quicks bowled tight overs in the first hour to stifle the Pakistan batsmen who had little difficulty in negotiating the spin of Nathan Lyon or Jon Holland.

Paceman Peter Siddle gave Australia an early breakthrough when he bowled nightwatchman Abbas for one with a hint of reverse swing.

Siddle was the pick of the Australian bowlers and ended with figures of 3-58 off 29 overs.

Sohail and Shafiq grafted through the af-

ternoon session until Marnus Labuschagne’s occasional leg-break proved Shafiq’s downfall as he edged to keeper Tim Paine.

Babar Azam was run out for four before Sahail’s attempted cut off Nathan Lyon ended up in Paine’s gloves.

Another run out resulted in the wicket of Safraz Ahmed (15) before the tourists wrapped up the tail and left their batsmen with an unenviable 13 overs to face after a long day in the field.

Australia openers Usman Khawaja (17)

Harris Sohail celebrates his maiden Test century ©Getty Images

and Aaron Finch (13) negotiated that session well but there are signs

Mission impossible for Vettel as Hamilton nears fifth title

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel during the race (REUTERS/Toru Hanai)

By Abhishek Takle SUZUKA, Japan (Reuters) Even Mission:Impossible star Tom Cruise would baulk at the task facing Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel after Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.

The German’s hopes of winning a fifth Formula One title this season moved away from slim and closer to non-existent at Suzuka.

Lewis Hamilton’s pole-to-flag victory, the Briton’s sixth win in seven races and ninth of the season, delivered another hammer blow to a rival whose challenge has swiftly self-destructed.

Vettel is now 67 points behind his Mercedes rival with four races — worth a maximum 100 points — to go.

The battle between the two four-times champions looks effectively over, even if there is still fighting talk from Maranello.

“I know that the situation looks

impossible,” Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene said on Sunday. “But our job sometimes is to challenge the impossible.

“This is what we are going to do and we try to do for the future four races.”

In fact, it could all be over in two weeks’ time at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, where a win with Vettel finishing lower than second is all Hamilton needs to seal the deal with three races to spare.

“You say nearly (done), so obviously there is still a chance,” said Vettel, cutting a resigned figure as he spoke to reporters.

“At the last couple of races we made it a bit too easy for them but also credit to them as they executed well, which is the name of the game.

“We need to look after ourselves and do our bit the next couple of races and then we see.”

Ferrari’s campaign has unravelled spectacularly as the season

has worn on, with what appeared set to be a titanic battle of two four-time champions instead turning into a one-horse race.

Mistakes from both Vettel and the Italian team, as well as strategy blunders such as a failed tyre gamble in qualifying at Suzuka, have cost them dear.

They no longer have the fastest car, with Mercedes locking out the front row and finishing in one-two formation in the last two races.

Hamilton is also in the form of his life and has to be favourite for victory again in Austin, where he has won every race bar one since the Texan track joined the calendar in 2012.

Vettel’s highest finish since his win in Belgium at the end of August has been third and he will need to win at least the next two, with Hamilton failing to score, for any miracle to look remotely possible.

Still, neither Mercedes nor Hamilton are taking anything for granted.

“A DNF (non-finish) and the consequent bad result suddenly wipes off a large chunk of your points,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

“I know from the probability standpoint it doesn’t look likely, but this is motor racing.

“I’ve seen many black swans swimming across the pond in my life... that’s why I’d rather wait until it’s really done.”

the ball is beginning to turn which will encourage Pakistan’s tri

Scoreboard PAKISTAN 1st innings Imam ul-Haq c Tim Paine b Nathan Lyon 76 Mohammad Hafeez lbw Peter Siddle 126 Azhar Ali c Mitchell Starc b Jon Holland 18 Haris Sohail c Tim Paine b Nathan Lyon 110 Mohammad Abbas b Peter Siddle 1 Asad Shafiq c Tim Paine b Marnus Labuschagne 80 Babar Azam Run Out Marnus Labuschagne 4 Sarfraz Ahmed Run Out Aaron Finch 15 Bilal Asif b Peter Siddle 12 Wahab Riaz Not Out 7 Yasir Shah c Tim Paine b Mitchell Starc 3 Extras 6b 21lb 3nb 0pen 0w 30 Total (164.2 overs) 482 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-205 ul-Haq, 2-222 Hafeez, 3-244 Ali, 4-260 Abbas, 5-410 Shafiq, 6-418 Azam, 7-456 Sohail, 8-470 Ahmed, 9-473 Asif, 10-482 Shah Bowling: Mitchell Starc 36.2 – 11- 90 - 1 (2nb), Peter Siddle 29 - 11 - 58 - 3 Nathan Lyon 52 - 12 - 114 - 2, Jon Holland 29 - 1 – 126- 1, Marnus Labuschagne 8 - 0 - 29 - 1, Mitchell Marsh 10 - 0 - 38 - 0 (1nb).

AUSTRALIAa 1st innings Usman Khawaja Not Out 17 Aaron Finch Not Out 13 Extras 0b 0lb 0nb 0pen 0w 0 Total (13.0 overs) 30-0 Bowling: Mohammad Abbas 4 - 1 - 9 - 0, Wahab Riaz 2 - 0 - 6 - 0, Yasir Shah 4 - 0 - 14 - 0, Mohammad Hafeez 2 - 1 - 1- 0, Bilal Asif 1 - 1 - 0 - 0.

Ronaldo among first nominees for Ballon d’Or award

Roando has won the award for the past two years.

(REUTERS) - Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo was among the first 10 nominees for the men’s Ballon d’Or trophy announced on Monday, awarded by France Football magazine to the best player in the world.

The Portuguese has won the award for the past two years and five times in total, a record he shares with Argentine Lionel Messi who is expected to be included on the 30-man shortlist named throughout the day.

Ronaldo’s nomination comes after the 33-year-old last week denied rape allegations levelled against him by a woman who sued him in court in the United States.

Sportswear maker Nike Inc (NKE.N) and video game maker Electronic Arts Inc (EA.O), who both have worked with the five-times Champions League winner, said last Thursday they were concerned about the allegations.

A panel of journalists select the Ballon d’Or winner which was first established in 1956 and will this year feature a women’s award for the first

time.

The award merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year prize from 2010-15 to create the FIFA Ballon d’Or, but returned to France Football magazine in 2016 while FIFA established The Best awards.

Men’s shortlist so far: Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Manchester City) Alisson Becker (Brazil, Liverpool) Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid) Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid) Edinson Cavani (Uruguay, Paris St Germain) Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Real Madrid) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Juventus) Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium, Manchester City) Roberto Firmino (Brazil, Liverpool) Diego Godin (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Hurricanes scrape a nine-run victory in low-scoring affair against Marooners THE Leeward Islands Hurricanes scraped a ninerun victory in their Cricket West Indies Regional Super50 Festival game against the Combined Colleges and Campuses Marooners at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus in Barbados.

Sent into bat the Hurricanes looked dead in the water after scoring a paltry 130 all out in 39.3 overs of batting, however, the reply from the Marooners was even more terrible, the side, led by Windies T20 captain, Carlos Brathwaite only man-

aging 121 in 37.1 overs.

Devon Thomas scored all the runs for the Hurricanes, making 44, with Rahkeem Cornwall’s 18, accounting for the next highest tally.

The innings struggled in the wake of an all-round bowling performance from Akeem Jordan, 2-17, JonRuss Jagessar, 2-4 from 3.3 overs, Khesan Ottley, 3-37, and Linton Buchanan, 2-24.

Only Ottley bowled the 10 allowable overs. Brathwaite took 1-9 from five overs.

The Marooners, in reply, were left short by the bowl-

ing of Damion Jacobs, 4-31, and Cornwall, 3-39.

The two were well supported by Sheldon Cottrell, who grabbed 2-35 and Terrance Warde, who bowled 7.1 stifling overs, giving up just nine runs and taking a wicket.

Against that kind of bowling, there was no wonder, only Nicholas Kirton, 33, offered any resistance, as Brathwaite could only manage three. Akeem Jordan, 17, Jon-Russ Jagessar, 11, and Amir Jangoo, 19, were the only other batsmen into double figures.

Sheldon Cottrell (centre) celebrates Kyle Corbin’s dismissal with Devon Thomas and Chesney Hughes during the Group “B” match of the WINDIES Super50 Cup between Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners and Leeward Islands Hurricanes on Monday..( CWI Media/Kerrie Eversley of Brooks LaTouche Photograph)

GFG/Health and Fitness Expo 2018 launch set for today

Surinamese Donovan Dongo at last year’s Fitness Games.

OVER the years Guyana and Suriname have had some thrilling battles in sports; come this weekend from October 13 to 14, the neighbouring countries will be at it again when the annual Guyana Fitness Games-organised Health and Fitness Expo comes off at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The highlight of the weekend will be the strongman battle on Sunday (October 14) between Guyana and Suriname when defending champion, Surinamese Donovan Dongo, will come up against the likes of the multi-talented Carlos Petterson-Griffith, along with five others inclusive of another Surinamese.

Eight (8) females and six (6) males have signed up for the Scaled segment of the competition, while in the RX (teams of 2 males, 1 female) division, a total of five including one from the Dutch speaking nation will be battling for the top prize and bragging rights.

On Saturday (October 13) the action will get underway with the Cancer Awareness Glow Walk moving off from the Genesis Fitness Gym on Durban Street at 17:30hrs and will conclude at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. This would be followed by the Wacky Zumba Party at 19:00hrs.

Tickets, which are already on sale, can be purchased at Genesis Fitness Gym (Durban Street) and Fitness Express (Sheriff and John Streets, Campbellville). The sponsors on board are Mackeson, Lucozade, iCool Water, Republic Bank, Macorp, Pollo Tropical, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Trophy Stall, Star Party Rentals, Fitness Express and Genesis Fitness Gym. More details would be made available at today’s launch which will take place at Genesis Fitness Gym from 18:30hrs.

Guyana battling for supremacy on homesoil at 18th World Domino Championships GUYANA is locked in battle with defending champions Antigua and Barbuda at the 18th World Council of Dominoes Federation Championships.

The Biennial World

Domino Championship kicked off on Saturday with several teams competing for the title and bragging rights.

Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Barbados, the United States and

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday October 9, 2018) 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) 649/9 declared (Rajkot, 2018) (2) 588/8 declared (St. Lucia, 2006) Today’s Quiz: (1) What is the lowest total made in a Test innings by the WI (in the India) against India ?

(2) What is the lowet total made in a Test innings by the WI (in the WI) against India?

Answer in tomorrow's issue

St. Lucia, are battling at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue.

At the opening of the championships, Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton pointed out that domino is more than just a mere game and is used to promote unity among people of different backgrounds.

Minister Norton had also called on the home team to make their mark in the

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, at the opening of the Championships.

competition.

“Guyana, you have to make your mark because in the last two decades of domino competition at this level, Barbados won it 10 times” the Minister said.

President of the Guyana National Domino Federation, Faye Joseph, called on all competitors to put their best game forward in the battle for the championship.

Joseph said that domino is

seen globally as a grassroot sport enjoyed by all. However, Joseph’s hope is that one day domino can become an Olympic sport. Guyanese are being called upon to go out and support the games and the home team.

The full results of the Championships’ play so far will be published in a subsequent report along with the standings.

Pliskova sees off Lepchenko in Tianjin opener (REUTERS) - Former world number one Karolina Pliskova overcame unseeded Varvara Lepchenko 6-2 6-7(3) 6-3 in her opening-round match at the Tianjin Open on Monday.

The 26-year-old Pliskova, who took a wildcard entry into the tournament as she aims to qualify for

the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore, eased through the first set but Lepchenko’s aggressive forehand caused her problems in the second and the American won the tiebreaker to force a decider. Lepchenko saved five match points on the back of some powerful groundstrokes but a solid first serve clinched Czech Pliskova’s

win after two-and-a-half hours.

Top seed Pliskova will next face Slovenian Polona Hercog, who beat Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena 7-6(5) 6-2.

Pliskova is chasing one of the three available spots in the WTA Finals, along with fourth seed Aryna Sabalenka, Sloane Stephens, Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, October 9, 2018

GUYOIL Tradewind Tankers School Football League…

Big wins for Annandale, Christianburg THE GUYOIL Tradewind Tankers School Football League got off to a rousing start on Sunday afternoon with big wins for Annandale and Christianburg/ Wismar, among others.

Playing at the Ministry of Education ground, Annandale opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over Vergenoegen.

Omari Glasgow was on target in the 7th, 15th and 33rd minutes with Markel Matheson (3rd) opening the proceedings. For Vergenoegen, it was Romel Modus (38th) who was on target.

Christianburg were by far the biggest winners on

the night after smashing Uitvlught 8-0. Tyrise Lewis was the chief destroyer with goals in the 8th, 25th and 33rd while there was a brace from Andre Mayers (3rd, 68th), and single strikes from Jermaine Mason (27th), Randy Pickering (38th) and Felix Innis (67th).

Charlestown beat Marian Academy via a 1-0 scoreline, thanks to Raymond Bandhu in the 31st while Queen’s College were victors over Queenstown by a 2-1 margin Queen’s College scorers were Jarrell Dosantos (48th and 61st) while Queenstown had Tyrese Hart in the 33rd.

The kick-off for the GUYOIL Tradewind Tankers Schools Football League.

Agard optimistic of Guyana’s FSCC/Kadir Mohamed Memorial Road Race… chances at Antilles 3X3 U-18 Local wheelsmen to Basketball championship compete for gold

By Rawle Toney FORMER National point guard, Mark Agard, who was appointed coach of the Guyana male team at the Antilles 3X3 Basketball Championship, believes the players selected--Akeem Crandon, Andrew Johnson, Nigel Bowen and Shamar France—are good enough to keep the trophy home.

Guyana will host the Antilles U-18 3X3 Basketball Championship which is scheduled for October 19 – 21 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, with seven countries set to participate in the tournament that will see each country featuring both male and female teams.

Aruba, Barbados, Dominica, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique and St. Lucia are set to compete in the male championship, while Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique and St. Lucia are down to compete in the female category.

Known for his exploits in the back-court in his days as Guyana’s leading ‘ball handler’, Agard told Chronicle Sport yesterday that these players are among the best in the country, which will make his work easier.

According to Agard, leading up to the Championship, the idea will be to condition the players mind to 3X3 basketball; a format, he said, is hardly played in Guyana at an

Coach Mark Agard

organised level.

However, Agard said with the players all seasoned from competing in the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) senior league with their respective clubs, it means that he can work on their awareness for 3X3 basketball, drills, and also tapping into their individual skill-set.

Given Guyana’s good showing in the tournament last year, Agard believes that this time around, only an outright victory is expected of the players.

Meanwhile, president of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds, told Chronicle Sport that as it relates to financing and funding for the tournament, FIBA’s International Basketball Foundation (IBF), has provided US$28,000 directly to the GABF for accommodation

and meals for all 69 players and team coordinators and five IBF representatives, as well as paying for the international travel costs for the eight participating overseas countries.

“GABF budget is US$69,000. We will have to cut corners and reduce what we intended to expend. We are reluctant to go to our flagship sponsors for this relatively new basketball format, who have supported us over the years and played a vital role in contributing to making Guyana the Men 2018 Caribbean Basketball Champions,” Hinds said.

The GABF boss also pointed out that the National Sports Commission (NSC), through Director of Sports Christopher Jones, has allowed the Federation use of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall without financial charges.

At the 2017 Championship in St Lucia, the Guyanese team of Jamal Gilkes, Stanton Rose, Jonathan Mangra and Timothy Thompson went down 8 – 9 in the finals against Martinique.

Prior to the finals in 2017, Guyana had played undefeated in the tournament, where they had defeated Barbados (15 – 1), Curacao (15 – 2), Antigua and Barbuda (9 – 7), St Vincent and the Grenadines (12 – 5) and Aruba (15 – 4) in the round-robin, and Guadeloupe (12 – 9) in the semi-finals.

Jamual John is the defending champion

COME Sunday October 14, Guyana’s wheelsmen will `dig deep on their saddles in an effort to claim the one ounce of raw gold first prize that will be on offer in the Flying Stars Cycle Club’s Kadir Mohamed 7th Memorial Road Race.

The event, which is being sponsored by the Mohamed family of Bartica, has at stake a total of $1M in prize money along with other incentives up for grabs and will wheel off at 7:00hrs from out-

side the National Sports Commission building on Homestretch Avenue.

From there, the cyclists will journey to Dora on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway before returning to the place of origin for the finish.

This route is set for the seniors, juniors and veterans under-45 years of age.

The juveniles, veterans over 45 years of age, as well as the mountain-bikers will turn back at Yarrowkabra, also on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway.

While the overall winner will receive one ounce of raw gold, the second to eight place finishers will be rewarded with cash prizes, as will the top four finishers in the junior category, the top three in both the veterans under and over 45 years of age and the top three mountain-bikers.

Jamual John is the defending champion of the event, but he is currently campaigning in the United States and is doubtful of making a defence of his title.

GBA’s/Lennox Blackmoore Nat’l Intermediate C/Ships

GDF retain champion gym title with five victories and six runners-up spots See Page 20

Orlando Norton (right) connects to the head of Royden Grant with an overhand right during the second round of their middleweight contest at the National Gymnasium on Sunday night (Samuel Maughn photo).

Hemraj amomg three new caps for ODI series in India

GMR&SC Test and Tune set for October 21

…Gayle declines selection, Darren Bravo, Pollard back for T20Is

GUYANA’s top drivers and riders will have a chance to test their machines ahead of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) Ignite.

The club has announced an official event just two weeks away which is expected to give drivers and riders a chance to iron out the kinks in their machines.

According to a statement from the club, the event is expected to offer drivers and riders a chance to test their machines in a race-like environment, ahead of the final round of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships.

The statement continued, “We have also set the admission as free for those who want to come and have a look. We are always trying to attract new spectators and we feel this is one way of doing that.”

Meanwhile, the club has confirmed several sponsors for the Ignite event, including GBTI, Hand-inHand, Ramada Hotel, Survival Supermarket, Club 704, Sheriff Security, EC Investments, Prem’s Electrical, Nexus Machinery, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Choke Gas Station, Japarts, R. Kissoon Contracting, E Networks, Miracle Optical, Bikers’ Bar, Samaroo Investments, Innovations America and Super Bet The club is expected to launch the event within days with just over a month remaining until the event. However, ticket prices have been confirmed at $2,500 for adults and $1,000 for children.

WINDIES stalwart been included for the ODIs. Chris Gayle has declined Another important absenselection for the upcomtee from the ODI squad is ing ODI series in India Andre Russell, who misses out and the next tour of Bandue to injury. The big-hitting gladesh, but has made all-rounder, however, has been himself available for the backed to recover in time for home series against Enthe three T20Is, starting from gland that follows, and November 4. the 2019 World Cup next Kieron Pollard and DarJune. ren Bravo - two members Just two days ago - on who’ve had to grapple with October 6 - Gayle played contract stand-offs with the his final List-A game for Windies board in the past Jamaica, leading the team have been welcomed back in place of Nikita Miller into the T20I squad. Poland capping off the occalard’s last T20I appearance sion with a match-winning came a year ago in Sepcentury. Though a blow to tember 2017, while Bravo’s a team that’s won just 13 previous was way back in of their 49 ODIs since the 2014. The left-hander hasn’t 2015 World Cup, Windies played international cricket are also viewing the ODI Guyana ‘s Chandrapaul Hemraj is one of three new faces in the ODI since late 2016. series as a platform to squad Alongside these two senior blood a few youngsters in members, Windies have opted preparation for the 2019 event - which they pacer Oshane Thomas, who recently im- to give opportunities to some of the youngpressed at the CPL with 18 wickets. Sunil sters, keeping in mind that the next World made it to through qualifiers.

Chandrapaul Hemraj - a 25-year-old Ambris, who made his Test debut earlier T20 is still opener from Guyana - has been picked against New Zealand and is currently about two Turn to page 20 alongside all-rounder Fabian Allen and featuring in the Tests in India, has also years away.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018