Guyana Chronicle E-paper 10-10-2018

WEDNESDAY 10th October, 2018

GTU seeks further talks No.105423

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... likely to put forward counter-proposal, wants agreement on non-salary benefits

Suicide rate plummets 12 PAGE

–– as more persons access mental health treatment

Gov't to remove jail time for criminal defamation 03 PAGE

Increased marine traffic for Guyana

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Ole Higue On Monday Guyana Premier, the franchise holder for Miss Earth Guyana, revealed the National Costume for Miss Earth Guyana 2018, Xamiera Kippins. The costume depicts Guyanese folklore, Ole Higue. The Ole Higue is a shape-shifting creature of folklore that appears in the form of a solitary old woman by day. The Miss Earth Guyana 2018 costume was designed by Randy Madray. The pageant is powered by Guyana Premier, DemBake, Caribbean Wind & Sun Inc., The Government of Guyana, Fly Jamaica Airways, Aracari Resort and Precise Printing. #MissEarth2018 National Costume Competition will be held on October 11, 2018, 7:00 PM at the Ballroom of Century Park Hotel Manila in the Philippines. (Photo courtesy of Miss Earth Guyana)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Increased marine traffic for Guyana … with availability of updated nautical maps, charts

SHIPS entering Guyana would now be able to access updated nautical maps and charts, as a result of the completion of the first phase of a United Kingdom (UK)-funded maritime hydrographic survey programme.

According to a press statement from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), outdated methods like the lead-line technique would have been used previously for surveys, but modern techniques utilising a Multibeam Echo Sounder which uses multiple acoustic pings or sonar signals that bounce from the seafloor back to the survey vessel, will now be used.

Two locally registered vessels, M/V Dora and M/V Old Fort Tours were used in the survey which covered more than 130 square kilometres of water.

“Guyana will now benefit significantly as a result of the survey conducted. Vessel traffic is projected to increase due to the availability of updated hydrographic data, which will allow Guyana to maximise its economic potential with ships increasing their cargo capacity,” said MARAD. The UK surveying company IIC Technologies, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, and MARAD collaborated to complete the first phase of the project, which

began in October 2017 and ended in February 2018.

The first phase of the project entailed an examination of the depth of the seabed and shoreline to detect any irregularities that may have existed. Guyana was able to access funds at more than US$1.1 million (GYD$231M) for the Hydrographic Surveys or Sea- Mapping in the Demerara River and onwards to Grove on the East Bank of Demerara.

Further, the hydrographic surveys campaign forms part of Guyana’s obligation as a signatory to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) which was ratified in 1983.

The second phase of the project is expected to commence in November 2018. This will include capacity building efforts through the involvement of local stakeholders, and the training of local persons to

Staff of MARAD and the facilitators conducting the survey conduct similar surveys to the required international standards.

With the recent commissioning of the MT Aruka, the government intends to use this vessel as a platform

for the mounting of a similar type, survey equipment in the second phase.

MARAD, the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard,

and the Ministry of Agriculture (Fisheries and Hydromet Division) are some of the government agencies collaborating closely for the successful completion of this programme.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Gov’t to remove jail time for criminal defamation

THE government is moving to remove custodial sentences for non-violent minor offences including attempt to commit suicide and criminal defamation by amending the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 8.02.

The Legal Affairs Ministry made the announcement on Monday, hours after the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams and his team met with Peter Pursglove S.C, a consultant contracted under the Support for the Criminal Justice System Programme (SCJS).

Pursglove will be reviewing the existing legislation, and propose recommendations of amendments for the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 8.02. “It is envisaged that these proposed amendments will include the decriminalisation of some current offences and the recommendation of alternatives to imprisonment in respect of certain summary offences, particularly those of a minor and non-violent nature. These objectives will be achieved through both amendments to existing legislation and the drafting of entirely new legislation,” the Legal Affairs Ministry explained.

During the meeting, it

of human rights, freedom of expression. “Criminal libel is one of the most pernicious media constraints in contemporary society.

Implemented at the will of any insulted public official, it frequently leaves no recourse for the defendant.

In most countries, truth is not a valid defence, leaving defence a vexing proposition.”

Attorney General, Basil Williams and officials of his ministry pose with Consultant, Mr. Peter Pursglove S.C, (second from left), who is contracted under the Support of Criminal Justice System Programme (SCJS) to review the existing legislation and propose recommendations for amendments to the Act. was agreed that the criminal law of Guyana contains several categories of offences that, in other jurisdictions, have now been decriminalised. In Guyana, these offences carry a sentence of imprisonment if found guilty. In citing examples, the Legal Affairs Ministry pointed to offences concerning roguery and vagabondage, vagrancy, obeah and witchcraft, incorrigible roguery, attempt to commit suicide and criminal defamation that are now decriminalised, in whole or in part, in many jurisdictions thus reducing rates of imprisonment.

“In such cases, decriminalising the behaviour and dealing with it outside the criminal law has not resulted in any negative impact on public safety. Other offences may no longer warrant the imposition of a sentence of imprisonment and may now be dealt with by way of fine or other non-custodial sanctions,” the ministry said.

The Attorney General, in a brief comment, said a prison sentence is usually an inappropriate sanction, especially for non-violent minor offences. In other jurisdictions, various alternatives have been implemented such as bail, seizure of travel doc-

uments, periodic reporting to police or other authorities, electronic monitoring or curfews, and conditional and suspended sentences.

These activities are intended the impact the criminal justice system by increasing the use of alternative sentencing in the system.

CRIMINAL DEFAMATION Media organisations have been lobbying Guyana and other jurisdictions to abolish criminal defamation for some time now.

The International Press Institute has said that crim-

Probe into leaked financial records of GNNL complete … board dismayed over false report by Kaieteur News THE Board of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) has rubbished a report in the Tuesday edition of the Kaieteur News, which claimed, among other things, that probes into the leaked financial records of the company and alleged mismanagement by the general manager have not commenced.

Director of the board and Chairman of the Editorial Sub-committee, Mervyn Williams, said that he was very disappointed that KN did not see it fit to make contact with the Chairperson, Mrs. Geeta Chandan-Edmond at the minimum to verify the report it published. “No one from that

newspaper made any effort to contact anyone from the board or the chairperson,” Williams told the Guyana Chronicle.

He clarified that following recent developments at the company, the board commissioned two investigations: one to deal with the alleged mismanagement by the General Manager, Mr. Sherod Duncan and the other regarding the unofficial release of financial records of the company to sections of the media.

Williams said the second probe has been completed and the report was handed over to the chairperson, who has since distributed copies to the directors. He said the other investigation pertaining

to the alleged overspending and mismanagement is ongoing. “In fact, the board has requested certain information from management and that information is being assessed…so it is not true to say no probe has started, work is ongoing and things are happening,” Williams asserted.

Williams said it is the hope of the board that the published report by the Kaieteur News does not have as its objective, the undermining or causing of harm to the company. “ The ''reliable sources'' relied on by the Kaieteur News are clearly unreliable,” Williams said. The Kaieteur News report also

Director of GNNL, Mervyn Williams quoted Mr. Duncan as saying that he was not paid his salary and Williams also clarified that this was not the case as Mr. Duncan’s salary was paid to him

inal libel law was born in an Elizabethan England courtroom as a means for silencing critique of the privileged class. The body said a law of such antiquated ethos, has little place in modern society where the press plays a pivotal role in shaping public discourse.

The IPI had been actively campaigning for the governments of the Caribbean to redress their current criminal libel laws. At present, the law is vague and open to indiscriminate and inconsistent implementation, largely wielded to quell dissent and stifle government criticism, IPI had said.

While infrequently used in the Caribbean, criminal libel statutes remain, an unnecessary resource at the disposal of any offended official, IPI said, adding that the mere threat of prosecution chills investigation and free speech, sustains corruption, unnecessarily protects public officials, and denies one of the most basic

ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE In Guyana, the PAN AMERICAN Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) has long called for the decriminalisation of attempt to commit suicide.

PAHO/WHO representatives here have underscored the need for legislative changes to be made to the Criminal Law Offences Act Cap.8:01, the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act Cap. 8:02 and the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Act Cap, 68:09.

Reference was also made to the Customs Act, the Food and Drugs Act and the Mental Hospital Ordinance Cap. 140.

Section 95 of the Criminal Law Offences Act Cap. 8:01, the PAHO/WHO representatives believe, would only fuel more suicides.

According to that section, “everyone who aids or abets any person in the commission of suicide shall be guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment for life”.

Under Section 96 of the Act, anyone who attempts to commit suicide shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and liable to imprisonment for two years.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Michael chases Floridians to higher ground Hurricane Michael howled closer to Florida’s Gulf shore on Tuesday as a major Category 3 storm, and half a million coastal residents were urged to seek higher ground on the eve of a landfall forecast to bring towering waves and roof-shredding winds.

Michael is projected to plow into Florida’s Panhandle at midday on Wednesday, unleashing potentially devastating waves as high as 13 feet (4 meters) that could rush inland for miles around the storm’s center, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned.

By late Tuesday, Michael

was causing major disruptions to U.S. oil and gas production as it churned north, gathering greater strength over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Florida, freeing up federal assistance to supplement state and local disaster response.

The NHC said the storm was packing sustained winds of up to 120 miles per hour (195 km per hour), jumping from a Category 2 to Category 3 hurricane on the fivestep Saffir-Simpson wind scale. Winds of that magnitude can inflict substantial

damage to roofs and walls of even well-constructed homes, according to the National Weather Service. NHC Director Ken Graham said Michael represented a “textbook case” of a hurricane system that may grow stronger as it draws near shore, in contrast to Hurricane Florence, which struck North Carolina last month after a slow, halting approach and weakening before landfall.

As of late Tuesday, storm trackers were still seeing signs of Michael intensifying.

“If this trend continues overnight, people in the Florida Panhandle could wake up to having a Category 4

hurricane on their doorstep,” senior NHC hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said during a live webcast. Hurricane-force winds extend about 40 miles from the center, with tropical storm-force winds reaching 185 miles, Graham said.

The storm is likely also to dump prodigious amounts of rain over Florida, Alabama and Georgia as well as the Carolinas, which are still reeling from severe flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Up to a foot of rainfall (30 cm) is forecast for some areas. “This is a storm that is going to be life-threatening in several ways,” said

Nikki Haley: US ambassador to UN resigns US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has announced she is resigning - after nearly two years in the post.

President Donald Trump appeared in the Oval Office alongside Mrs Haley to say she had done “an incredible job”. The 46-year-old former South Carolina governor one of the few women in the Trump cabinet - gave no

reason for her exit, but dismissed speculation she was planning to run for president in 2020. Mr Trump said he would name a replacement in two-three weeks.

He said he would consider the candidature of Dina Powell - his former deputy security council adviser - and added that his daughter Ivanka “would be dynamite” as

ambassador, but that he would be accused of nepotism if he chose her. Hours later, Ivanka ruled herself out of the race.

Abrupt move Mrs Haley did not give details about her move - or what she would do next.

“It’s been eight years of intense time, and I’m a believer in term limits,” she said referring to her time in public

office. “I don’t have anything set on where I’m going to go,” she said.

Mrs Haley told journalists she would be campaigning for “this one”, pointing to Mr Trump. Mr Trump said Mrs Haley had told him some time ago she wanted to take some time off.

The president said she “has been very special to me, she has done an incredible job, she is a fantastic person, very importantly, but she is also somebody that gets it”.

“Hopefully you’ll be coming back at some point, right,” Mr Trump said. “Maybe a different capacity, you can have your pick.” Mrs Haley laughed.

Analysis by Nick Bryant,

Bo Patterson, the mayor of Port St. Joe, Florida, whose small beachfront town lies directly in the storm’s projected path. Florida Governor Rick Scott said Michael was expected to be “the most deadly, destructive storm to the Panhandle in decades.”

The region should brace for “major infrastructure damage,” specifically to electricity distribution, wastewater treatment systems and transportation networks, Jeff Byard, associate administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), told reporters on a conference call. Byard said an estimated 500,000 people face evacuation orders and advisories in Florida, where residents and tourists were fleeing low-lying areas in at

least 20 counties stretching along 200 miles (322 km) of shore in the Panhandle and adjacent Big Bend regions.

Among them was Betty Early, 75, a retiree who joined about 300 fellow evacuees huddled on makeshift bedrolls of blankets and collapsed cardboard boxes at an elementary school converted into an American Red Cross shelter in Panama City, near the storm’s expected landfall. She was unsure how well her old, wood-framed apartment block would hold up. “I’m blessed to have a place to come,” she told Reuters. “My greatest concern is not having electricity, and living on a fixed income, losing my food.”

(Reuters)

BBC UN correspondent Through the revolving door of the Trump administration goes another high-level departure: UN ambassador Nikki Haley, by far the most high-profile woman in the cabinet, and an internationalist who’s done much to protect the United Nations from Donald Trump’s anti-globalist wrecking ball.

She was a strident critic of Russia and Syria at the UN, and also fiercely critical of what she claimed was the global body’s anti-Israel’s bias. She supported shutting off US funding for the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency and revelled in defending the Trump administration’s decision to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in the face of an acid show of international

criticism. She was also instrumental in pressuring China to support a tough sanctions regime against North Korea.

Sometimes, however, her style grated with colleagues.

Her aggressive and repeated warnings about compiling a list of countries that didn’t back the United States irritated even close allies.

Yet it’s often said that the UN’s biggest peacekeeping mission is directed against the Trump White House, and Nikki Haley was seen as a valuable ally. A former governor of South Carolina, she’s a talented politician who’s widely spoken of as a future female US president.

Though she has ruled out challenging Donald Trump in 2020, we have not heard the last of Nikki Haley.

(BBC)

Rowley denies link to $m A&V fake oil scandal Identifying a Miami bank account number, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal went straight to the top, naming Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley as a beneficiary, along with Vidya Deokiesingh, (the Petrotrin employee implicated in the $100 million “fake oil” scandal), to a financial transaction.

Moonilal was at the time making his

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contributions to the budget debate. In an immediate response to the Express, the Prime Minister said: “I have never transacted any financial matter in any Miami bank and I have never had any (financial) dealings with Deokiesingh and/or A&V Drilling. This is a total fabrication and a monstrous lie.” (Trinidad Express)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Guyana top law graduate admitted to Bar TWENTY-THREE-YEAROLD Ashley Henry was on Tuesday admitted to the Bar

by Acting Chief Justice(CJ) Roxane George-Wiltshire SC, before a courtroom filled with relatives and friends.

Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes presented her petition to the court and gave an overview of the exceptional achievements made by Henry.

Hughes shared that she is the daughter of Marlyn Henry and the late Aubrey Henry, and is the last of her parent’s four children.

She initially attended Mae’s Under 12 but was later transferred to ABC Academy where she sat the then Common Entrance Examination, and was awarded a place at St Rose’s High School.

According to Hughes, Henry’s academic excellence began at St Rose’s and has been endless ever since. She graduated with 10 CXC subjects, nine of which were distinctions and she was also St. Rose’s valedictorian at CAPE. After CAPE, Henry attended the University of Guyana and pursued a degree in Law, graduating with distinction. She was also amongst the top three students of her graduating year, 2016.

The scholar then went on to the Hugh Wooding Law School for the period 20162018, and achieved a list of honourary prizes, namely, the Guyana Government Prize for Best Performing Student from Guyana, the Association of Legal Officers of Trinidad

From left, Attorney-at-Law, Ashley Henry; Acting Chief Justice Roxane George- Wiltshire; mother of Ashley Henry, Marlyn Henry; and Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes

and Tobago Prize for Ethics Rights and Obligations of the legal profession, the Cameron and Shepherd Prize for best performance in Civil Procedure and Practice 1 and II by a Guyanese student, Second Outstanding Year II student, the Principal’s Roll of Honor, and the Justice Sandra Paul Alternative Dispute Resolution Prize. Henry also won the prize as the second most outstanding student at the Hugh Wooding Law School.

“To say this is an outstanding student is an understatement…and to say that we are impressed is also an understatement,” Hughes said, adding that her admission is timely, “since there are new challenges and new areas of law, apart from oil and gas, there are many new areas that create new opportunities for practitioners.”

He humbly asked that the application be granted in favour of Henry, to which the chief justice replied without hesitation, “based upon what I’ve heard and what I’ve read, the application is granted.”

With that, Ashley Henry was officially sworn in and admitted to practice law at the local bar.

The chief justice also tendered a few words of wisdom to the new attorney, advising her not to sell herself short and not to ever lower her standards. “Make your contributions, not only in the professional setting, but there is also a need to educate the nation so that they can understand this thing call justice.”

Tuesday also marked 28 years since the CJ was admitted to the Bar. Henry later delivered an emotional speech that

shared her journey, and she expressed gratitude to those who would have helped her to pull through and how grateful she was to have been admitted. “Today will forever be remembered as one of the greatest days in my life. It marks the end of my journey studying, and it also marks the beginning of my journey in this noble profession.

Indeed, I have achieved one of my childhood dreams and I must give all praise and thanks to God,” The new attorney broke down amidst her speech, sharing that she would have lost her father, one of her biggest supporters, mid-way of her studies. “Today my parents’ hard work and sac-

rifices have paid off, but unfortunately, only my mom is here to witness it... Some of the last words he said to me was stay focused and put all my energy into my studies…

I will be forever grateful for everything he would have done for me.”

Ashley said she didn’t expect that she would have won so many prizes but she sees it as a very tremendous accomplishment, and is now focused on getting a feel of the general practice. She added that she is passionate about youth development, and therefore intends to use her influence to act as mentor to young individuals to develop the youths of our country.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Women and entrepreneurship

THE meshing of two of the most important policies of the administration, gender equality and economic independence through entrepreneurship, have resulted in a unique programme which aims to empower women by giving them the skills needed to be successful in business. The Success in Business Workshop programme is another example of government’s integrated approach to problem-solving.

P r e s i d e n t G r a n g e r ’s concern for the welfare of women is well known.

The President, noting that, “[the] economic gap between men and women is still too wide,” has stated that, “The task of running impoverished households

falls disproportionately on women.” His Excellency has committed to fixing that problem through, “the full realisation of gender equality.”

President Granger has said too, that entrepreneurship is the key to enrichment. In August 2016, he said, “I hope that every single town could have schemes by which young people could access credit, access training, and set up their own businesses.”

Entrepreneurship is the process of designing, launching and running a new business, which is often initially a small business. And the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs are, in many cases, unique to women.

According to business

expert Paula Fernandes, women entrepreneurs face seven unique challenges: defying social expectations; dealing with limited access to funding; struggling to be taken seriously; owning their accomplishments; building a support network; balancing business and family life; and coping with a fear of failure. Ms Fernandes’ research has proven that those issues are almost never all faced by men.

Recognising the need for a programme to specifically target the problems encountered by women in business, the administration launched the Success in Business Workshop programme. To date, 30 workshops have been held in communities throughout all of Guyana’s 10 adminis-

trative regions.

The programme which is being executed by the office of the First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection and Interweave Solutions, aims to impart skills to female participants so that they can run successful, profitable business enterprises.

Each workshop accommodates about 40 participants, who are taught a variety of skills, including how to incorporate the six Ps [Plan, Paper-Work, Process, Product, Price and Promotion] in order to write their own business plan. Such a plan can then be used to access financing from banks and other institutions.

Participants are also taught how to use skills

which they already have.

At the latest workshop at Sophia, Georgetown, the First Lady said, “We have had women in abusive relationships who might feel that they have no skills whatsoever, 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.”

She said too, that many women manage homes or take care of elderly persons in their families, but they do not recognise that those abilities to provide care are skills that they can use to make money.

The First Lady encouraged the participants to explore the possibilities of starting co-operative ventures in the areas of elderly and child-

hood care.

Considering the fact that businesses are dominated by men – global statistics compiled by Guidant Financial show that 72 per cent of businesses are owned by men, as opposed to only 26 per cent by women -- combined with poverty, dependency, and abuse among women, the Success in Business Workshop programme is a progressive and innovative initiative. Such a programme demonstrates government’s continuing awareness of international and local realities, and its willingness and preparedness to tackle the challenges encountered by various sections of our society.

A response to the wash bay controversy in Region Three Dear Editor, REFERENCE is made to an article published in the Kaieteur News, dated October 02, 2018, with the caption, “Wash bay on Government reserves creates havoc.” Kindly permit me, in my capacity as regional information officer - Essequibo Islands/West Demerara, to pen the following response.

Following a complaint that was made by one resident in the Pakistan Street, La Jalousie Village, Region Three, to the office of the regional executive officer (REO), an investigation was launched. The following are the findings: It was found that on the 18th and 19th April, 2018, two no-objection letters were sent to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and Guyana Water Inc (GWI) respectively, for the provision of their services to the wash bay. The letters were signed by the NDC chairman, (letters provided).

Secondly, residents in and around the area confirmed that during a one-year period when the wash bay was not in oper-

ation, the said complainant used to operate a taxi service and a mechanic shop at the spot; but since the owner of the wash bay returned and reopened his wash bay, the complainant had to vacate. Thirdly, the wash bay, as confirmed by residents in the area, has been in existence for over eight years and has never affected anyone. The immediate and closest neighbour dismissed the allegation of unbecoming activities occurring at the wash bay site. Fourthly, because of the prior approval given by the NDC, the wash bay owner invested monies to refurbish and purchased equipment to operate the wash bay.

Fifthly, the complainant enjoys a cordial relationship with a regional councillor of the Region Three RDC. This councilor, who claims that he works with the Office of the Prime Minister, has threatened to breakdown the wash bay. After the investigation, a decision was taken at the level of the regional administration to address the issue of squatting holistically, rather than to target this one individual. It must be noted that in the La Jalousie/Nouvelle

Flanders NDC and all other NDCs, there are businesses in operation on reserve lands or state lands. A mandir was even constructed on state land at the Groenveldt Village at Leonora, in the Stewartville/ Cornelia Ida NDC. The holistic approach requires the attention of the Ministries of Public Infrastructure, Communities and Public Security, as well as the RDC, the NDCs and the occupants themselves.

We at the regional administration, are of the firm view that a solution to the issue must be beneficial to all parties involved, since the illegal action began years ago and occupants have been earning an honest living by way of their businesses on state land. It will be unconscionable on our part to selectively target one person, even though we are against all forms of squatting and illegal occupancy of state lands.

Noting the findings and position mentioned above, and given that the findings and position were provided to regional councillor Harry Deokinanan, over which he had never expressed reservations, I find it extremely dishonest and distasteful on

his part, to accuse both the Ministry of Communities and the regional administration of not paying attention to the matter.

This is not the first time that this individual has tried to stymie the good work of REO Jaikaran, and by extension the entire regional administration; but what is sad is the fact that he is using the Office of the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security to do so. We, as a region, will continue to provide government services to our people and better the lives of all. We will act within the ambit of the law and in keeping with government’s policies and positions.

In closing, permit me to mention that the above information was provided to the reporter of Kaieteur News but to date nothing has been printed, which leaves much to be desired on the part of the reporter and by extension the Kaieteur News and their relationship with the person who reported the matter.

Regards, Ganesh Mahipaul Regional Information Officer

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Minister Trotman has the capacity to do the correct thing and should not shirk from it

Dear Editor:

RESPONSE is being made to Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman’s letter, “Trade unionist misinformed on Gov’t, Rusal relations” (GC 9th October 2018).

The issue of workers’ rights is taken seriously by me, hence it is inconsequential to delve into the personal, for such could obscure the germane issues under focus and avoid the duty to account.

Universally acceptable principles which are grounded in United National Declarations, International Conventions and Charters, the constitution and laws of Guyana are irrefutable facts.

It’s the first time I-- as a member of the Task Force (TF) established to look into the situation at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) and Oldendorff as a result of United States sanctions on RUSAL, the majority shareholder in BCGI--am aware that Terms of Reference (ToR) were issued to the committee by the Minister. According to the minister, this hereto states, “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.”

There was no representative on the TF from the Ministry of Legal Affairs. The Ministry of Finance was represented by Minister Jaipaul Sharma. With all due respect to Minister Trotman, the quoted aforesaid is not considered ToR. It represents an overarching direction/objective the coalition administration desires to pursue. Discussions have to be guided by some specific framework, which harness the process, and make meaningful the objective, based on actions taken.

The ToRs was conceptualised and developed by the TF committee, based on interaction with the affected workers and stakeholders and came up with two areas considered critical. These are examination of: a) current workers/employer relationship at the two companies; and

b) should sanctions be fully imposed, the alternative route government must examine for implementation.

Instructively, even as the coalition claims to have an interest on “the impact of the sanctions on the workforce,” such cannot be addressed without being mindful of the need to examine same through some framework that would guide implementation. The best course is through the rule of law, which would determine action(s), including policy formation and programme(s) implementation. Workers at BCGI and Oldendorff are represented by trade unions and addressing the impact of sanctions on them necessitates enforcement of the Collective Labour Agreement, which has within a section that guides the treatment of severance.

Where the companies continue to show no regard for workers’ constitutional rights (as ensconced in Article 147) and Section 23 (1) of the Trades Union Recognition Act, Government is empowered to enforce Section Four of the Labour Act to secure Section 23(1) and Article 147.

It is a primary function of government to maintain and ensure a stable and harmonious industrial relations environment through the tools available to it, which are stated. What we continue to get is inaction on government’s part and last Wednesday (3rd October), we learnt government will hold the recommendations in the TF interim report, which attended to these rights, in abeyance. I maintain, we the people are not being well served by this act of government, for rights are never held in abeyance, but ought to be respected and enforced every single day of our lives.

Like the bauxite report, it is has become a tendency of government to have the wastage of human and other resources in the establishment of a number of task forces, commissions of inquiry and forensic audits, only to later not act on the recommendations therein.

To the minister’s claim that his 20th December, 2017 letter--sent to BCGI management pledging government’s hand-off attitude to employer/ workers relations-- is being misread, let it be made clear.

While that letter came after

the Guyana Revenue Authority and BCGI collaborated on a system to refund overtime and cease its taxation, which was something the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) for years fought for, it does not absolve of accountability, a minister of government, lawmaker and attorney-at-law, where an acrimonious labour environment exists to say the coalition government will take an “arm’s length approach to union matters.”

The APNU+AFC administration is duly credited for restoring a benefit the bauxite workers fought for and achieved in 1988, which the

Desmond Hoyte administration extended to the sugar workers and the Bharrat Jagdeo administration arbitrarily took away from bauxite workers, even as it was maintained for sugar workers. It is not BCGI management that restored tax-free overtime.

That’s a function of government’s decision-making and directive the company has to carry out. Overtime refund has not restored the industrial relations environment to normalcy.

Further, my presence with the minister earlier this year at the BCGI does not change the content of his 20th December, 2017 letter. My presence, his

or Minister Simona Broomes’ has not seen the management’s attitude to the workers change in a favourable direction. In fact, such respect can only come when government, as guardian of our Laws, sees to the enforcement of the laws.

I’m on record as repeatedly saying the issue of labour is complex, cuts across every agency in government and the importance of having a Ministry of Labour to recognise and shape policies and programmes consistent with universally acceptable principles. The absence of this understanding is being reinforced in Minister Trotman’s letter; the Guyana

Teachers Union/Ministry of Education stand-off; the sugar workers’ issue; and so many more. Labour deals with the interest, welfare and rights of citizens, from childhood and even after retirement. The coalition has no policy position/white paper to guide them accordingly, hence the president and ministers continue to speak and act out of turn, often lurching from one misstep to another. Minister Trotman has within the capacity to do the correct thing and should not shirk from it.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Charles Ramson cannot name a single local company that can support Liza project Dear Editor, IN the October 6th, 2018 Guyana Chronicle newspaper, Charles Ramson was challenged to name local

companies with the capacity to provide major services and equipment to the tune of US $440 million dollars for the Liza phase one project. Mr. Ramson in an

earlier Kaieteur news column had contended falsely, that US $440 million was lost to Guyana’s economy because local content (LC) legislation was not in place.

In the October 8th, 2018 Kaieteur newspaper, Ramson doubles down on his false claims in his incoherent, meandering newspaper column.

Of course, Ramson never named a single local company that can provide services and equipment to the Liza project. The questions posed to Ramson covered 10 areas of Liza project spending, totalling a minimum 90% of project investment. Local companies do not have the capacity to supply services and equipment in these areas of the project, guaranteeing that US $440 million project dollars cannot be captured in the economy.

Ramson’s US $440 million-dollar number is premised on a $US 4.4 billion dollars Liza project. This project cost is incorrect. The Liza operator and partners are investing US $3.2 billion dollars in the phase one project. Hess’s CEO confirmed the Liza US $3.2 billion-dol-

lar project cost in a public forum and reconfirmed to institutional investors. The Floating Production Storage and Offloading Unit (FPSO) is being acquired under a 10-year lease capitalisation cost agreement for US $1.2 billion. One would expect that all the self-appointed oiland-gas experts would know this public information and stop basing their ridiculous premises on $4.4 billion dollars.

Ramson now wants the government to legislate that foreign companies must partner with local companies in supplying unnamed “goods and services.” If this legislation were in place and covered the specialised services and equipment required for the Liza project, then the project would have been delayed for at least a year, until local companies, assisted by foreign companies, build capacity to

produce quality equipment and services. The operator would never go forward with the Liza project unless their standards are met.

Poor-quality equipment results in process safety and environmental events.

Picture operators fighting a fire on a FPSO in the middle of the ocean, while the clueless politician enacting dangerous legislation, is home with his family. The operators deserve to go home to their families unhurt; this requires equipment and services of the highest standards. Of course, project cost would certainly escalate with the delay. It is dumb to slow down a project generating US $0.25 billion dollars per month in revenues for even one month. When will the clown show of self-appointed oil-and-gas experts stop?

Regards, D.C. Daly

We need solutions for the problems at City Hall Dear Editor I AM following the Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the Mayor and City Council. Every day the media publicise different things about the council from lack of payments to the National Insurance Scheme, to late payments of salaries to delays in pensions to its retired workers. But these things have long been known to the public. The question is what are the solutions?

For years, long before this current council took office, the council has been making a case of more revenue to do all the things that it should do. I recall former Mayor Hamilton Green and his deputy, the late Robert Williams’, strenuous efforts to raise money for the council, but they were unsuccessful. The Canadian Bank Note (Lotto), the proposal of a waste-to- energy project; the proposal to let GPL and GT&T pay the city for using its parapets and an environ-

mental tax were thrown out by the then government. The city was made handicapped by the actions of the then political administration.

In 1994, an Interim Management Committee appointed by the PPP/C said that the council’s revenue base was much too narrow to meet demands of citizens. After about 30 years, nothing has been done to improve that situation. No wonder the council is finding it difficult to pay its bills. It was former Mayor Hamilton Green who complained about the lack of valuation of properties in the city for more than 20 years.

Whilst there was a system of control from Kingston, from the local government ministry, the city was plagued with piles of garbage; blocked drains; a defective sewage system; unkempt parapets; broken buildings and a city that had earned the disrespect of decent Guyanese.

The present council changed all of that and restored the city in a manner that is acceptable and livable.

It was a PPP/C minister

who said words to the effect that he wished for an outbreak to be able to remove the city council. Strangely, two former ministers of local government from that very party, PPP/C, and the town clerk who piloted the near demise of the city, now sit on the Local Government Commission, making decisions for the very city they had maligned. It is not hard for anyone to see that the decisions of the commission are likely to be tainted by bias from the trio on the Local Government Commission. The PPP/C will do all it can to frustrate the efforts of the council and the government to better Georgetown. This is even more obvious in this period of elections; But these are challenging times in Guyana, not only for the city council, but also for all Guyanese who are determined to change their city and country in a positive way.

Regards David Lewis

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

GTU seeks further talks on wages

T

HE Guyana Te a c h e r s ’ Union (GTU) is likely to put forward a counterproposal to the government’s latest offer, which would include agreement on a number of non-salary benefits and a continuation of the negotiation when they meet representatives of the Ministry of Education today.

while for debunching $350 million is being offered for the period 2011 – 2018.

Following the meeting, President Granger said he 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 did not accept the offer, but is expected to meet again

place.”

The new offer by the government came after the GTU had announced, last week, that it was preparing to once again embark on a nationwide strike by teachers. An almost twoweek 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

President David Granger, 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)

Sources close to the union told the Guyana Chronicle that, the union would like the government to up the 10 and eight per cent offers made by President David Granger when they met on Monday, but more particularly, they would want to see some agreements on a range of non-salary benefits. “The union had a package which it had put forward at the beginning of these talks and there would have to be some agreements on these things,” the sources.

President Granger and the Ministry of Education (MoE) on Monday met with the GTU and extended a new salary offer. 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;

with the MoE today to confirm their decision.

GTU President Mark Lyte told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, that the union was 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 between [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 had 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

called for arbitration after the negotiation talks ended in impasse when GTU rejected the MoE’s offer of a one-time 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 five per cent for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. After the two sides agreed to move to arbitration, Lyte had announced that 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 the chairman of the arbitration panel, giving the department seven days to withdraw the appointment.

President Granger said on Monday following the meeting: “This is a very important meeting for both sides…we have been kept abreast, Cabinet has been informed by 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

...likely to put forward counter-proposal, wants agreement on non-salary benefits 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.”

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War on noise nuisance

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

... stakeholders gather to discuss daft noise regulations

CLO, Charles Ogle makes a point on Tuesday (Adrian Narine photo)

NOISE induced deafness is incurable and that is a reality which should be of primary concern for persons who work in noisy environments, especially if there are no measures to reduce or control the level of noise.

In an effort to boost or even implement such

measures in the workplace, stakeholders from the Ministry of Social Protection, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other organisations have met to consult on draft noise regulations at the Herdmanston Lodge on Tuesday.

Employers, managers, employees and policymakers have constantly been encouraged to make occupational safety and health a primary concern, since it

environment.

Chairman of the National Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health, Earl Morris, also expressed the need for strict regulations because if exposure to noise is not properly controlled it could lead to permanent hearing loss.

According to information from the World Health Organisation (WHO), 360 million persons suffer from

posure to noise.

He said that a lot has to be done but with cooperation and consultations, there would be a clear pathway for success.

At its 192nd Session, early in 1974, the Governing Body of the International Labour Office/ ILO decided to convene a meeting of experts on noise and vibration at the workplace as part of the organisation’s activities

A section of the stakeholders at Herdmanston Lodge (Adrian Narine photo) is an essential part of best practices in the workplace.

Noise pollution, which is a part of occupational health and safety, also has to be considered a priority because exposure to excessive noise could harm workers’ health, resulting in the loss of hearing.

“It is a high risk to our health…we have noise at home, in our communities but we are dealing with noise in work…we are crafting regulations which should be implemented,” said Chief Labour Officer (CLO), Charles Ogle during his presentation on Tuesday.

It has been proven that loud noise in the workplace could lead to accidents; the distraction of workers; stress and increased likelihood of errors.

As the stakeholders move ahead with their discussions, the CLO advised them to consider the aforementioned factors and make regulations simple, easy to read and relevant to the local environment.

He believes that, once created, the regulations and potential laws should be enforced so that persons would respect the law and uphold the rights of workers to work in a safe

hearing loss and 32 million of those persons are children. The main cause of deafness was due to the exposure to excessive noise.

In addition, 1.5 million teenagers are at risk due to the unsafe use of audio devices and the exposure to uncontrolled noise at entertainment venues.

Persons who are also at high risk of losing their hearing are ground/airport workers; musicians, construction workers, brush cutters, mining and agriculture workers and even police and soldiers.

“There needs to be an effective plan to ensure the safety of those and other workers… the regulations, I believe, should include education and training, compulsory use of hearing devices and control,” said Morris.

ILO Consultant, Lennox Marcelle and the Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scott echoed similar sentiments.

The minister, who declared the consultations opened, said the regulations should be focused on ensuring that employers assess and control the risk arising from excessive ex-

aimed at improving the working environment.

The meeting duly took place and the experts adopted the present code of practice, publication of which was approved by the Governing Body in March 1975.

This code provides guidance for governments, employers and workers. It sets out the principles that should be followed for the control of workplace noise and vibration, and contains the information required for the establishment of control programmes for individual plants.

It has no compulsory character; it does not lay down minimum requirements but is rather intended to stimulate, guide and promote noise control at the national level.

The technical standards that it lays down are objectives which can be attained by successive stages.

Persons who are interested in knowing more about the code could visit the following link: https:// www.ilo.org/safework/ info/standards-and-instruments/codes/ WCMS_107878/lang--en/ index.htm

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Court of Appeal to rule on GECOM chair appointment today

AT 09:30hrs today, the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Judicature is expected to rule on whether the appointment of Justice (ret’d) James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission by President David Granger was constitutional.

The decision will be handed down by Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud. The Appellate Court was asked to rule on the matter by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha, after the Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire last June upheld President Granger’s appointment of Justice (ret’d) Patterson as Chairman of GECOM. During a two-day hearing last week, Barbadian Queen’s Counsel Hal Gollop and Ralph Thorne, on behalf of the state, argued that President Granger’s decision was in keeping with Article 161 (2) of the Constitution. Article 161 (2) of the constitution states that “…the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds, or who has held office as a Judge of a Court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a Court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court

or who is qualified to be appointed as any such Judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.

Provided that if the Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list as provided for, the President shall appoint a person who holds or has held office as a Judge of a Court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a Court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such Court, or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge.”

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who is representing the interest of Mustapha, told the court the existing formula which involves the opposition leader is aimed at arriving at a consensual candidate as Chairman of the GECOM. He argued that the opposition leader under the constitution is required to submit a list of six nominees that are not unacceptable to the President.

Nandlall emphasised that the article within the constitution was designed to bring a compromise, so that the candidate produced by the

formula would be a person who enjoys both the confidence of the President and the leader of the opposition.

“That is the magic of the formula,” he posited.

Nandlall contended that the proviso came at a subsequent stage of the formula.

“Obviously, someone recognised that a constitutional vacuum can be created if you have a…opposition leader who refuses to submit a list…It is to meet that very rare and exceptional eventuality that the proviso was inserted,” Nandlall contended.

The proviso to which he refers, states, “Provided that if the leader of the opposition fails to submit a list as provided for, the President shall appoint a person who holds or has held office as a Judge of a Court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth, or a Court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such Court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge.”

However, Queen’s Counsel Gollop, in defence of the State, told the Appellate Court that at the foundation of the case is the interpretation of the constitutional provision – Article 161 (2).

According to him, Nandlall in his arguments refused to consider the phase “not unacceptable.”

He said the proviso allows the President to ap-

Agricola man put away until Friday –– on robbery-with-violence charge CHIEF Magistrate Ann McLennan on Tuesday remanded a 31-year-old Agricola man to prison for a robbery-with-violence charge.

Michael Young of Titus Street, Agricola is accused of robbing Saura Simon of a $10,000 purse with $20,000 cash in it, with the use of personal violence.The incident reportedly occurred last Friday on the Houston Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison until Friday.

According to reports, on the day in question Young walked up to the victim, re-

lieved her of her purse, and then cuffed her in the face.

Only the intervention

of a public-spirited citizen saved her from further injury.

pointment the Chairman of GECOM after failing to acquire an acceptable list from the leader of the opposition forms a critical part of the process. “If for whatever reason, the President cannot find somebody on that list that is not unacceptable to him, he has the

right given to him by the constitution to invoke the proviso,” Gollop argued, as he shot down the position put that the proviso can be activated, only if a list was not provided.

Thorne had put forward a similar line of argument.

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Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Suicide rate plummets –– as more persons access mental health treatment

By Lisa Hamilton SOME five years ago, Guyana was labelled as the suicide capital of the world but in recent years, more persons have been access-

ing mental health treatment with some reduction in the stigma attached to field.

As the world celebrates World Mental Health Day today, Senior Psychologist

within the Mental Health Unit of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Balogun Osunbiyi said all stakeholders must work together to ensure these achievements continue.

Since coming on stream in 2016, much of the unit’s programmes and awareness campaigns have been bearing fruit.

This is possible as systematic problems are continuously being reviewed, thereby providing greater access, treatment and quality of service to mental health patients.

Dr. Osunbiyi said that this is evident in the country’s suicide rate, which can be an end result of untreated mental illness, dropping from 44.2 per cent per 100,000 people in 2012 to 24.6 per cent per 100,000 persons in recent years.

While this is not the eventual end goal, he added that the Mental Health Unit is committed to seeing Guyana doing even better as its various programmes robustly work to address the still prevalent stigma attached.

“There is some decrease in the intensity of stigma.

Our awareness campaigns, brochures; it’s not just mental health relating to insanity but we target substance issues, we target alcohol issues and their correlation to mental illnesses. Because of the various programmes that are running simultaneously, that is why we are seeing this drop in the actual suicide rate,” he said.

In fact, examining the Guyana Inter-Agency Suicide Prevention Helpline’s statistics for 2017, Dr. Osunbiyi stated that while there has been an increase in persons calling, fewer persons are calling with the intention of committing suicide.

“We see that two things are happening: persons are more aware and they also are more aware that help is available,” Dr. Osunbiyi explained.

Nonetheless, he stated that stigma remains an “issue of ignorance” and one that is as a result of a lack of awareness and understanding of mental health.

“Any illness of any sort, anyone should be able to access treatment or care without being labelled. But the labelling comes when people are ignorant or unaware of exactly what that illness means. So we have factored that into our work and it’s a part of our strategic learning action to deal with education awareness which we call psychosocial education,” Dr. Osunbiyi added.

Yet, still contributing to stigma in the Caribbean are myths and one of the most common examples Dr. Osunbiyi pointed out, is the case where persons equate mental illness with being ‘mad’.

“Less than 10 per cent of the work I do as a senior psychologist here is about insanity. Psychology and psychiatry is not about treating ‘mad’ people, it’s about helping others who find themselves challenged, vulnerable or at-risk to find answers or options or solutions to whatever it is they’re confronted by,” Dr. Osunbiyi corrected.

PTSD Although still a taboo subject, one of the most common mental disorders that is still under addressed in the Caribbean is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which can be developed by anyone after a range of life-threatening events.

“One of the reasons why we don’t find that to be so prevalent in Guyana is because we haven’t fought wars, we haven’t had revolutions or armed internal conflicts… however, one can have PTSD coming out of any other traumatic event like an accident, armed bandits invading your home at two in the morning, that can leave you traumatised and that also can be treated as PTSD, especially if it’s prolonged and you’re not getting rid of it,” he explained.

For these sorts of mental disorders, Dr. Osunbiyi strongly recommends that persons seek help in the form of psychotherapy which can be accessed at any hospital and where this is not available, a referral will be made.

“There is either a psychiatrist, a psychologist or a mental health social worker.

In some are all three and in other areas there are two and in some areas you find one.

“But the system [is] set up in such a way that if you go let’s say to a health centre and your condition is of that complexity that cannot be fully addressed at that health centre, within minutes a referral is made for a specialist to attend to you for your condition.”

TRAINING This month, working in collaboration with a team

from the United Kingdom (UK), 36 local health practitioners will be trained in management of anxiety and depression. The training begins on October 29 and ends on November 9.

The training will take place in Regions Three, Five and Six. Added to this, before the end of the next month, some 50 doctors and health care workers in Regions Two and Six will be trained in the mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).

These upcoming initiatives will help the unit to meet its goal of 300 trained personnel before the end of 2018, during which over 200 have been trained thus far.

Other ongoing programmes include the SelfHarm Surveillance Programme which is being conducted in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10 thus far, targeting persons who are known to practise both suicidal and non-suicidal self-harm.

The unit also works along with religious denominations to train their leaders to assist in their communities through the Problem Management Plus (PM+) programme.

The programme was made possible through collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and Loma Linda University.

In 2019, the Mental Health Unit will be making an extra effort to provide greater services to hinterland areas such as Regions Seven and Eight, while it intends to beef up its capacity in Regions Two and Three in certain key areas.

If a person believes that they or someone they know may be suffering from mental health challenges, Dr. Osunbiyi advises, “Go to your nearest health centre; contact the nearest medics, nurses, or doctor at your health centre and you can call us here at the Mental Health Unit.”

The Mental Health Unit’s telephone numbers available during the work week are 2261402, 2261405 and 2261407.

The Guyana Inter Agency Suicide Prevention Helpline Telephone numbers available 24/7 are: (+592) 223-0001, 223-0009, 6007896 and 623-4444.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Exxon partners to boost science in primary schools GRADE five students attending Mashabo, Mainstay Lake, Bethany, Capoey Lake, and Hackney Primary Schools in Region Two are now equipped with science instruments needed to engage in Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE), thanks to a partnership between Youth Challenge Guyana and U.S oil-giant ExxonMobil.

With funding from ExxonMobil, and administrative and academic support from the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD), Youth Challenge Guyana presented the five schools with two Inquiry-Based Science Kits each.

“The inquiry-based approach helps the children to develop their reasoning, their critical thinking skills, and allows the teacher to have greater involvement in the classroom with the children,” Youth Challenge Guyana Executive Director, Dimitri Nicholson told the Guyana Chronicle in a recent interview.

He explained that each of the 10 kits has instruments and chemicals used in school labs to allow for practical experimentation in classrooms.

“The kits have supplies that you would find in a lab but on a smaller scale, so things like thermometer, test tubes, alcohol lamps, chemicals, and supplies of that nature that help the teachers to be able to do experiments with their children in the class,” Nicholson explained.

In addition to the kits, the grade five teachers attending the identified primary schools completed a one-day training programme. It was explained that the training was an introduction to the methodology for inquiry learning for science.

The training was conducted

by NCERD. Since 2013, Youth Challenge Guyana has been collaborating with ExxonMobil Guyana to provide the sci-

ence kits to schools across the country. Since then over 30 schools across Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six have benefited.

“Over the years teachers and parents have lauded the initiative which helped to enhance the learning experience of the children and all of the schools reached have shown a favourable improvement in science scores, showing an average increased performance of more than 10 per cent,” the Youth Challenge executive director said.

He noted that Youth Challenge Guyana has maintained frequent dialogue and monitoring of teachers, using the kits in schools to ensure that the grade five students are benefiting from the initiative.

Youth Challenge Guyana and ExxonMobil have been in partnership since 2012 when they collaborated to give support to women entrepreneurs in the country. Capitalising on the partnership, Youth Challenge Guyana requested ExxonMobil’s help in filling a void that existed in the education sector back in 2013.

“Youth Challenge Guyana saw that within the education system or within the education sector, as part of our work there was a demand for greater inquiry learning in the primary schools in regards to science, because teachers were doing a whole lot of what might be considered ''chalk and talk''.

They were not using the most effective method to teach science in the classroom so as a result, we approached Exxon for a different approach outside of women’s entrepreneurship,” Nicholson explained.

According to him, since the introduction of the Inquiry-Based Science Education (IBSE) project in 2013, over 500 children have benefitted, and it is expected that this year, an additional 150 children would benefit from the kits.

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Youth Challenge Guyana Executive Director, Dimitri Nicholson (extreme right) presenting the teachers of Mashabo, Mainstay Lake, Bethany, Capoey Lake, and Hackney Primary Schools in Region Two with the Inquiry-Based Science Kits

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

The day the unseasoned critic sat in the chair

THE beautiful anecdote, ‘The Sword of Damocles’ shall forever ring true as long as there is life and human organisation on earth.

It speaks to the imminent peril and ubiquitous worry that comes with power and responsibility. Damocles

was a submissive servant in the Court of Dionysius 2nd of Syracuse, a tyrant in 4th Century BC Italy. Damocles pandered to the King and praised him for his grandeur and magnificence and wished to be like him.

He was persistent and

requested a chance to be in the seat of power. On a trouble-filled day, the King became fed up with the incessant petition by this servant and offered him a chance to sit on the throne for one day; Damocles excitedly jumped at his long-sought opportunity; however, a deadly condition was attached to this offer. The King instructed that a huge sword should hang above the throne, held at the pommel by a single hair of a horse’s tail. This was demanded by Dionysius to demonstrate to the naïve and excited servant that fortune is fraught every single day by clear and present danger from enemies and more. After several hours on the seat of power, Damocles declined the offer and no longer wanted to experience this privilege.

Juxtapose the above mentioned story to the scenario of the modern inexperienced critic, who might have honourable intentions for his/her country, but is completely oblivious to the intricacies and demands of governing.

So they tear down every policy decision, shout that the government is incompetent and has no idea what they are about. There is banging on the table, and passionate rejection of all strategies proposed by the state to resolve issues that might be decades old in their existence. Con-

noisseurs, Jacks and Jills of all trades, self-made experts, pundits, caricaturists, commentators, arbiters, annotators and expositors who are sophomoric, will baulk at every policy formulated to address a situation, completely devoid of a clue about that at which they bark. Allow me to distinguish them from the experienced constructive critics who know exactly what they are talking about and whose views are sometimes very valuable.

What would it look like if these apprentices have their day in the chair of responsibility? How will they react when they find out that Georgetown is not Guyana and there are 10 regions with diverse socio-cultural, economic and geographic realities? How will they fare when the documents of intractable problems land on their desks for immediate resolution?

Would they be humbled by the fact that governance responsibilities are fraught with huge self-sacrifice and a complete abandonment of some cherished private indulgences? When the headaches of managing human affairs visit them every day, will they stay in the chair?

When the enemies -within and on the outside -line up in droves and begin to fire arrows at them, will they stay in the seat or beg to exit like Damocles?

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Self-esteem and your body image

WHEN you look into the mirror, do you like what you see? Do you hold perceptions of your own body?

Do you know what the term ‘body image’ means?

Well, body image is a person’s perception of the aesthetics or sexual attractiveness of their own body.

Body image can be either negative or positive.

Negative body image can consist of the terrible things we say to ourselves about how we look, the way in which we try to change our appearance and undermine our values and worth as a person based on our physicality. Positive body image, on the other hand, is when a person is happy with the way she/he looks. Sadly enough, there are more negative than positive body images in society. Body image develops within us from an early age.

A negative body image is caused gradually and over time, when persons would constantly hear the people around them speak negatively about their physical appearance. I have struggled with accepting the way I look for much of my early teenage years. I think the problem with most teenagers is that they try to rush or even hide from puberty.

During puberty, our bodies undergo many changes, so I think it is best to leave it up to Mother Nature to build up your beautiful body.

I remember crying so much in front of any mirror into which I looked. What made my experience even worse were the unnecessary and distasteful comments

that students from my high school made about my appearance. Over time, I can tell you that there’s a key that solves it all; do you know what it is? A word that is easily said but not always done, it’s called acceptance.

Even if you want to change the way you look by exercising or by eating healthy, it is important that you still accept you for you.

Every time I feel a seep of negativity towards my body I would say; “I accept the fact that this is who I am, this is who I was meant to be.

My body is beautiful and all of my flaws are even more beautiful.” Try it, I promise you that it helps!

Persons have always persistently commented on the negative effects that social media or the media at large have towards a positive body image. I think that is absurd!

Why you may ask? Well for starters, I can link my argument back to last week’s column on the influence people have on us. It is up to us if we want other people’s influences to affect us. If you have a positive body image, if you accept the person you see every time you look in the mirror, then I think the next time you see an Instagram model on the Explore page, there wouldn’t be a piece of doubt in your mind.

Also, is there a friend, partner or even family member that speaks negatively about your body? *snip, snip* and cut them off. It is important that we surround ourselves with people who accept us for who we are, and if there

are any criticisms to be made about our bodies from them, it should be constructive.

Salma Alli, shared her thoughts on body image: ‘Body image plays a huge part in our self-esteem. The way we view ourselves is very important. Many young people are constantly making fun of others for not

having that “perfect” body, this can make an individual feel less of themselves and have a willingness to please others. We must realise that if we love ourselves and we’re comfortable with our bodies, only then we have reached the untouchable stage of inner peace with the judgment you may receive.’

To me, our bodies are just shells for something that’s greater. It holds the soul (personality) of who we truly are. Apart from aesthetics, our bodies do so much more! It helps to move around, it holds all the systems (digestive, nervous, etc.) that allows us to live,

it fights against diseases and for women, it is a real-life incubator that breeds and births new human life into this world. Our bodies are so much more than just a sexual presentation.

I agree with the scriptures when it said that our bodies are temples of God. So the next time you think about beautiful things, don’t forget to count yourself in!

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Two of the master trainers signing their contracts in the presence of colleagues, Education Minister Nicolette Henry, Permanent Secretary Adele Clarke and GESIP Project Coordinator, Jimmy Bhojdat

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Master trainers deployed

–– over 600 mathematics teachers to receive enhancement training THE Ministry of Education has deployed several “master trainers” to train mathematics teachers across the country.

As part of the Guyana Education Sector Improvement Project (GESIP), 29 master trainers were tasked with training over 600 mathematics teachers within the 10 administrative regions.

According to a press statement from the Education Ministry, trainers signed their contracts to begin work to improve the delivery of maths and ultimately the mathematics performance of students at the secondary level.

Master trainers will be required to go into schools, work with teachers in schools and guide them, using materials from the mathematics kit that has already been distributed to schools across Guyana.

GSEIP Project Coordinator, Jimmy Bhojdat, said following the period of training, the teachers will undergo a period of mentoring and coaching.

Senior Education Officer (mathematics), Ameer Ali said that the master trainers comprise some of the “best and brightest” mathematics teachers who teach at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams and grade six levels.

He explained that some of the master trainers are lecturers at the Cyril Potter College of Education

(CPCE), the University of Guyana (UG) or have attained over 10 years of experience teaching the subject.

He said based on observations from the master trainers, they (trainers) can host developmental sessions with teachers or it can be done regionally. This, he said, will occur for the next two years.

Education Minister, Nicolette Henry congratulated the trainers for taking up the leadership role to move the education sector forward, particularly as it relates to students’ performance in mathematics.

According to Henry, it is important that teachers understand delivery and content, noting that this will enable students to leave school with a good understanding of the principles that govern mathematics.

With the work to be done by the master trainers, Minister Henry said she trusts that there will be improvement in student outcomes, not only in test scores but in behavioural patterns towards mathematics.

Minister Henry said she is pleased that there are male master trainers involved in the project, ,since their presence would have a greater impact along the gender spectrum, as it relates to male underperformance, particularly at the secondary level.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

GuySuCo looks to develop heritage tourism

THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) and the Department of Tourism are partnering to develop ‘Heritage Tourism’ as a new business stream – a move which forms part of the corporation’s new strategic direction.

In a statement on Tuesday, GuySuCo’s Corporate Communications Manager, Audreyanna Thomas explained that while key components of the new strategic plan focuses on value-added products such as plantation, white sugar, cogeneration and improving the corporation’s overall capability and efficiencies, it has recognised that it is important that the preservation of the invaluable sugar history be factored into the transition programme.

The corporation’s new ‘Sustainable Business Model’ focusses on meeting the triple bottomline -- attention on making a profit, conforming to environmental obligations and providing social benefits.

As such, the partnership will ensure that Heritage (Sugar) Tourism becomes integrated into the tourism industry in a structured and well-coordinated way.

Thomas noted that on

September 24, 2018, GuySuCo and the Department of Tourism had its first meeting, during which the partnership was discussed in detail. This new business line for the corporation will be organised around educational as well as relaxation for students, groups, visitors and tourists.

“The Department of Tourism will support GuySuCo in the development of a ‘Heritage Tourism’ strategy in line with the national tourism policy; assist in defining the strategic direction for tourism relative to sugar; assist in the designing of project proposals for funding for the development and creation of heritage and other sites in the sugar industry, including a ‘Sugar Museum’; determine market opportunities (current and future); establish an ‘Annual Estate Week’ for 2019; training in tourism, heritage tourism and other relevant areas,” Thomas further explained.

GuySuCo has also committed to building on its engagements with the National Trust of Guyana, the national archives and other relevant agencies to ensure that the sugar heritage is sufficiently captured, secured and documented as the transition process continues

Representatives from the Department of Tourism and managers from GuySuCo

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

PM off to India for Tamil conference PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo departed Guyana for Pondicherry in South India to inaugurate

the World Tamil Economic Conference, a release from the Office of the Prime Minister said.

He is accompanied by Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo.

Nagamootoo, himself of Tamil ancestry, will join oth-

er world business leaders at the event which takes place during October 12-15, and he will make a pitch for invest-

ments in Guyana.

Keynote addresses will be delivered by Mauritius President, Pillai Valyapuri, and Special Guests from South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, later this month a team of investors from Gem Granite Group of Companies in Chennai is expected in Guyana. Gem’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Veeramani, visited Guyana last year, and showed interest in investing in granite and forestry products.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Girls play big roles on International Day of the Girl Child

From left: Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Prime Minister for the Day, Ms. Delicia George, Canadian High Commissioner for the Day, Ms. Sara Mohan, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Ms. Lilian Chatterjee , President for the Day, Ms. Renuka Persaud and President David Granger.

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger (left) in discussion with (from second left) Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Ms. Lilian Chatterjee, President for the Day, Ms. Renuka Persaud, Prime Minister for the Day, Ms. Delicia George and Canadian High Commissioner for the Day, Ms. Sara Mohan as she welcomes them to State House.

AS Guyana joins the world to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child on Thursday, President David Granger, this morning, made it clear that his government values the rights of children, particularly girls, as 18-year-old Ms. Renuka Persaud was given the opportunity to act as ‘President for the Day’.

Two other young ladies, Ms. Delicia George and Ms. Sara Mohan were given the opportunity to act as Prime Minister and Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana for the day taking up the posts of Mr. Moses Nagamootoo and Ms. Lilian Chatterjee respectively. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 19, 2011 adopted Resolution 66/170 to

are teenage pregnancy, the ‘glass ceiling’ and also unemployment, just to name a few. The theme for this year’s observance is “With Her: A Skilled GirlForce” and because a lot of girls are sometimes ill-equipped, they are taken for granted; they are offered positions paying low amounts of money and I believe that if girls seek developmental opportunities, they will be able to break such barriers. I must applaud the Government of Guyana for its policy for the reintegration of teenage mothers into schools. My advice today for girls is to seek development, believe in yourself, resist being normal and pierce the unacknowledged barriers to achieve a successful future,” she said.

declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child. This was in an effort to recognise girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. This year, International Day of the Girl Child will focus on the theme, “With Her: A Skilled GirlForce”.

Meanwhile, during a courtesy call at Cabinet this morning, where both President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo gave up their seats, Ms. Persaud said observing International Day of the Girl Child, in her opinion, means raising awareness both locally and internationally about the human rights of girls. Women and girls, she said, play an integral role in society and it is imperative that their rights be respected.

“It is an incredible opportunity to be here today, sitting in the President’s seat as the President of the Day. It is a really great opportunity to have a girl in this position to speak for our own rights because that is what International Day of the Girl Child is about. [It is] about giving girls the opportunity to speak for themselves and to have their say,” Persaud said.

Similarly, Prime Minister for the Day, Ms. George, in her presentation, urged women to “break glass ceilings” and to pursue initiatives, which can help them to become better individuals and positive contributors to society. “Women and girls are often not in high positions.

Some of the challenges and barriers for girls in Guyana

Bartican tries to pull a fast one

Wendy Dyers

FOLLOWING a police raid late last week at a home on First Avenue, Bartica, a 52-year-old woman was on Tuesday slapped with two narcotics charges.

Wendy Dyers appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the two charges, the first of which alleges that on Friday October 5, 2018, she had in her possession 25.1 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The second charge alleges that Dyers had 16.1 grams of cannabis on the day in question also.

Attorney-at-law Latchmie Rahamat made an application for bail, citing that the drugs were

not found in her client’s possession but rather in a room at her home that is occupied by a man named Toney Pollydore.

She also told the court that Pollydore was only recently arrested by the police with drugs, while travelling through a trail in the interior.

But Police Prosecutor Warren Thornhill did not buy the story, and strongly objected to Dyers being granted her pre-trial liberty, saying that on the day in question when the police conducted the raid, the drugs were not only found in a basket with her clothing, but that under caution, she had confessed that it was hers and begged ranks for another chance.

The chief magis-

Ms. Mohan used the opportunity to call for more action rather than lip service, to conquer gender inequality and violence against women and girls. Following the courtesy call at Cabinet, the young women met with First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger at State House, where they discussed several areas of mutual interest including Robotics, Information and Communication Technology, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and women’s and girls’ empowerment.

The trio was also given the opportunity to share their experiences thus far and all concluded that “it is indeed hard work” serving as President, Prime Minister and Canada’s

–tells arresting cops drugs were hers, begs for clemency

trate listened, but in the end ruled in favour of the defense and released Dyers on a total

of $87,000 bail. She also transferred the matter to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for October 25.

High Commissioner. Moreover, Mrs. Granger praised the initiative as she noted that “it allows our girls to dream as big dreams as they want to.” While this is the second year the Canadian High Commission has partnered with the Government of Guyana to afford girls such opportunities, this is the first year that there has been a ‘President for the Day’. As part of the activities, each of the girls was given a tour of their respective offices and Parliament Buildings.

They were also treated to tea with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Curl Fete attracts thousands THOUSANDS of persons gathered at the Promenade Gardens on Sunday to participate in this year’s Curl Fete, which provided a space for fashionistas and hair enthusiasts to express

Fete] was when I actually launched my business,” Mohamed said, and added that over the years it has really helped her business to grow.

Similarly, for Michelle

These three young ladies were models for the Envy Me boutique at Curl Fete 2018

themselves while allowing small businesses in the field to benefit.

The famous natural hair event was crafted under the theme of “Royalty” this year.

Its main focus was providing a unique space for personal, creative expression and with the thousands of persons who came out rocking their styles; the event definitely achieved its objectives.

Though fashion was the focus, the event was able to give some support to small businesses.

For Colita Ishmile-Mohamed, of CIM Exotic designs, Curl Fete provides the right avenue for her to market her crotchet clothing products. “The first one [Curl

A young woman, Gavrielle Cave did the ‘BIG CHOP’ at Curl fete 2018, where she had her hair cut off in front of thousands of people as she aimed to ‘go natural’. At right is Curl Fete co-founder, Tamika Henry

Howard and her husband Keon of Wine Day GY, Curl Fete was the launching pad

last year, and we moved from there.”

The couple have sought to popularise wine as a beverage in Guyana during the one year that their business has been in operation.

Aside from all the food businesses and beauty products, there was Shimuel Jones who brought out his art to market. He too shared

of persons in attendance at the Promenade Gardens. This was part of the ‘natural hair journey’ which was part of the event.

This year too, there was the introduction of a men’s panel which saw the likes of popular male personalities in Guyana, Chronicle Sports Journalist, Rawle Toney; broadcaster Gordon Moseley and Directors of Hits & Jams Entertainment, Kerwin

for a flourishing business. In fact, according to Michelle, “This year

Michelle Howard (left) from Wine Days GY setting up earlier for Curl Fete 2018

A section of the crowd that gathered at Curl Fete 2018 at the Promenade Gardens

we’ve come full circle because we actually launched Wine Days GY at Curl Fete

that the event was a great platform for him to market his products, because of the sheer number of persons present.

During the day, if persons were not busy at the numerous booths for the small businesses, there were interesting sessions in between, a guide to ‘face baking’ [makeup] by MakeUp artist Renee Chester or, an introduction to wigs from experts at Envy Me boutique.

One of the highlights, however, was the BIG CHOP event where one young woman, Gavrielle Cave cut off her hair in front of the thousands

Bollers. The guys had aimed to provide a vibe that would make the males present feel included, but it just so happened that their words were just charming to the ladies’ ears instead.

And just before the show ended with the grand natural hair show, local soca artiste, Vanilla, got the crowd raving with her Zumba dance routines. By the time the darkness had surrounded the gardens and the lights of the stage illuminated the area, persons were already pumped and ready for the clothing, hair and makeup displays.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Mercy Hospital lab recertified by GNBS TWO months after undergoing a rigid standards test including a spontaneous audit of the institution’s medical laboratory, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards has recertified the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital (SJMH) laboratory.

Head of the Conformity Assessment Department of the GNBS , Rodlyn Semple, presented the certificate to the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Enoch Gaskin in the presence of beaming staffers of the laboratory and Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO), Mrs. Deborrah Ramsay.

In a release Mr. Gaskin

promised to ensure that the institution continues to maintain its standards and even strive to aim higher in terms of its commitment and work at surpassing expectations.

According to the release, the GNBS certification is valid for two years and assures that the hospital is operating a clinical laboratory that conforms to the standards of the GNBS (Guyana Standard GYS 170) for testing in the areas of biochemistry, haematology, serology, parasitology, urology, immunology and microbiology. SJMH was awarded the Platinum Service Award for Quality by the GNBS

during the National Quality Awards 2017.

‘Mercy Hospital’ is the only medical institution in Guyana currently approved by the United States Embassy to conduct medical testing for visa-processing and the hospital has been living up to the trust of the U.S. Immigration Service thus far. SJMH celebrated its 73rd Anniversary last month and, as part of the observance, offered free testing in a number of areas to members of the public during its one-day Health and Wellness Experience held in the hospital’s compound.

Gov’t officers to be trained to arrest human trafficking THE Ministry of Social Protection will be training a group of officers from the Departments of Citizenship and Immigration to arrest human trafficking, even as the government continues to work with its international partners to support Venezuelan migrants here.

These officers will lead an intense sensitisation campaign geared at removing vulnerable individuals from exploitative situations. The announcement was made at the fortnightly meeting of the National Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Committee, according to a Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) statement on Tuesday.

The committee, which was established upon the instructions of President David Granger, has been working to ensure that the Venezuelan migrants are properly documented, vaccinated and provided for, in terms of food and shelter. However, given the expansive and porous borders between Guyana and Venezuela, coupled with limited resources, the committee has been facing challenges.

“While in recent weeks there has been a reduction in arrivals at the various ports of entry, there are a total of 2,588 documented Venezuelan migrants in Guyana, and through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) the committee has reached out to a significant number of them, particularly those living in shelters in Region One; providing essential food and non-food items,” the ministry said.

The government’s efforts are being supported by several international partners, such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

In addition to providing this type of support, last month the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, that more lenient immigration policies and measures will be instituted to ensure that persons who have come to Guyana to escape harsh economic and political condi-

tions in their homeland, are not deported for illegal entry or overstaying.

Meanwhile, efforts are also being made to facilitate more long-term support.

Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix explained that, a policy will now have to be put in place to assess the proportionality of the qualifications and skills of the Venezuelan migrants to that of Guyanese, to see how they can be placed on the local job market. This again, will ensure that their labour is not exploited and that Guyanese are not treated unfairly.

Last week, during a visit to the Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two) area, Minister Felix after hearing of the challenges that migrants on the Essequibo Coast are facing, pledged his department’s support, particularly as it relates to documentation, since many of them cannot afford to travel to Georgetown. He also addressed Cabinet on Tuesday on the need for systems to be put in place to deal with housing and education for the migrants.

Head of the Conformity Assessment Department of the GNBS, Rodlyn Semple presents the certificate to the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Enoch Gaskin

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National Congress of Women pays tribute to Viola Burnham

FIFTEEN years ago, the lamp which lit the way of the Women’s Revolutionary Socialist Movement (WRSM) suddenly went out.

It was the 10th October 2003 that Viola Victorine Burnham, O.R. unceremoniously left us. Cde. Vi, as she was fondly and familiarly called, had led a group of women as they built on the foundation of the founders of the People’s National Congress Women’s Auxiliary the women’s arm of our great

party.

During her leadership as National Chairman of the WRSM, having had the opportunity to participate in the United Nations Decade for Women, Viola Burnham, O.R., repositioned the organisation and proceeded to advocate strongly for equality for women in all spheres of nation building.

Under her leadership and propelled by the WRSM, the women encouraged the then Prime Minister of our country,

Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, to present to the National Assembly the State Paper on the Equality of Women in 1976. After the State Paper was presented, there was a paradigm shift to strengthen the advocacy for women’s rights. The Women’s Affairs Bureau of Guyana was established; a number of Laws of Guyana were revised, which resulted in important legal changes being made to ensure equality for women.

Viola Burnham believed

in using what we produced, hence the emergence of the slogan “Produce or Perish.”

The Feed, Clothe and House Campaign began and she invited our women and the entire country to use our local fruits and products to make our cakes and other delicacies. She encouraged women to develop cottage industries, and tie-dye products were the order of the day. She also encouraged the use of appropriate technology; hence we made use of what was available in our country.

The death of her husband saw her being appointed Vice President under the Hugh Desmond Hoyte government and she became more involved in the politics of

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Viola Victorine Harper Burnham Guyana. Viola Burnham was conferred with the Order of Roraima, the second highest national award, for her sterling contribution to the development of women in Guyana.

The National Chairman and the Executive of the National Congress, of Women will continue the good work start-

ed by Viola Victorine Harper Burnham.

Viola Victorine Harper Burnham, promoted the full participation of women in all phases of community and national life; Viola has gone, but her memory will be etched in the annals of Guyana’s history.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Green Expo plans moving ahead …more than 100 exhibitors participating PLANS for the Green Guyana Expo and International Small Business Summit, scheduled for later this month, are moving ahead.

The expo and summit were launched in June under the theme ‘Sustainable economic growth through small businesses innovation, entrepreneurship and transformative government policies’.

Chairman of the African Business Roundtable (ABP), Eric Phillips, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that over 100 exhibitors will be participating in the event. The Expo and Summit will highlight Guyana’s future green economy with jobs, innovation and entrepreneurship. Phillips said among the many ‘green’ attractions on display, are the three different models of greenhouses.

The houses, built by Woods Direct International, Bulkan Timber Works and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), will be fully outfitted with energy-efficient appliances. There will also be a demonstration of cars existing today, Phillips said. “We are moving from the brown

economy, so we have cars using liquid petroleum gas and will also have a modern electric car. We will show what is projected for cars in a green economy. The whole idea is to demonstrate how people can live in a green economy with solar, wind and power,” Phillips said.

The main booth area, which is 35ft high by 80ft wide, is already set up and is being branded. The area is expected to be powered by solar power. Additionally, a large booth will display products and or services from youth and village entrepreneurs. Phillips boasted that the event will be the first of its kind in the Caribbean and will be an enthralling experience.

The exhibition and summit are slated for October 18 and 19, at the Ramada Hotel and the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, respectively. The summit will feature speakers from more than 14 countries and discussion panels about the green energy, agriculture, manufacturing, finance and the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) among others. (DPI)

More support for Venezuelan migrants – network aims to provide assistance to ‘underserved’ migrant communities in Region One

By Vishani Ragobeer THE Migrant Support Network of Guyana, a recently formed not-for-profit group of young professionals, has set out to help underserved migrants who came to Guyana from Venezuela.

It began with reports car-

ried in the media, of migrants who were trickling through Guyana’s north-western borders from Venezuela. Guyana’s neighbour has been experiencing significant socio-economic and political crises for the past eight years and this has caused citizens to flee the country.

TURN TO PAGE 24

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018 FROM PAGE 23

More support...

The figures started small, but the most recent figures provided by Director General (ag) of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant-Colonel Kester Craig, pegs the number at 2,588.

For Derwayne Wills and 16 other young professionals who are directly involved in the Migrant Support Network, this constitutes a situation which calls for humanitarian intervention.

“When people are walking for hours and days, and they are leaving their entire lives behind and they come to this new space where they are not exactly sure how to live in that space, but they just know that they want to live in that space, I think those of us who are originally from that space have an obligation to make sure that as much as we can, we make them comfortable,” Wills said.

And it is for this reason that the group was created.

The group simply started off as a band of people with similar interest of working to create a more comfortable life for the migrants, particularly those in Region One, where the concentration of migrants is higher.

“This is really sort of a people-centred, people-driven and people-focused approach,” Wills said and added that this is in conjunction with the efforts of central government and its related agencies and other voluntary groups.

AID The group is currently mobilising resources mainly through its donation drive to transport to the migrant communities set up in Region One, hopefully by the end of October. This aid is entirely material-based and includes garnering non-perishable food items, sanitary supplies, clothing and other necessities.

Acquiring farming equipment has been a major aim for the group as well. This comes as earlier news reports had detailed that Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, said Cabinet was exploring a settlement plan for those migrants residing in the township of Mabaruma, Region One. This settlement plan proposed that the people would also be given land to farm and become self-reliant.

Identifying what items should be taken to the people was done after consultations with persons in the area. Wills mentioned that the group is in contact with the regional chairperson of Region One, who has been

gathering information on the migrants from toshaos across the region.

And cognisant that relief has been going to the migrants, particularly from the CDC, he noted: “We’re trying to examine donations offers that have gone out already and serve the areas that have not been served as yet; and [we’re] looking for the underserved areas.”

PEOPLE-FOCUSED Guyana adopted the 2016 New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, which streamlines migration.

What this means, is that the country has an international and humanitarian obligation to cater for migrants.

“There are still obligations for us to make sure as much as reasonably possible people who are coming into our country are taken care of,” Wills explained and added: “They should have the basic access to social services and they [should] have basic access to some resources which can make their time more comfortable.”

Aside from humanitarian obligations, however, Wills reminded: “Not all are Venezuelan migrants, but Guyanese who were living in Venezuela returning home.”

It is a matter of taking care of the country’s own, he said.

For many, the current border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela has created a situation where there is some reluctance to render assistance to the migrants.

As regards those feelings, Derwayne highlighted that the controversy is a conversation for the “power-to-power” level and clarified, “We are working at the people-to-people level.”

Despite the disagreement at the national level, the exodus of Venezuelan migrants and their immigration into Guyana, do not and ought not to preclude Guyanese from acting to protect their basic human rights, according to Wills.

To bolster its efforts, the group is requesting personal care items, baby items, non-perishable food supplies and generally any item that can presumably make the life of the people more comfortable. Though the current donation drive ends on October 15, persons can contact the group on the numbers: 694-1508 or 687-0211 or via email at: msnguyana@gmail. com. Donations are being collected at ‘Everything makes craft’, top floor at Keishar’s Building, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

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GFF resumes work on National Training Centre … Artificial turf to be completed by mid-December

HALTED by the weather since April, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) announced the recommencement of work at its FIFA Forward Project, formerly known as the FIFA

Goal Project, which will house the Federation’s National Training Centre (NTC).

“Work was halted in April due to the unprecedented level of rainfall, which necessitated an adjustment to the completion schedule for the laying of the turf,” the GFF stated in a release.

“We are now projecting that the turf will be completed in the second week of December, 2018.

The GFF NTC is a FIFA Forward project and will be the first football-exclusive facility in Guyana. The construction of this facility was a campaign commitment made by the Wayne Forde-led administration,” the Federation added.

Works on the long-awaited ‘FIFA Forward Programme’ at Providence, commenced last September after finally getting the confirmation of the lease of the land earmarked for the facility and subsequent approval by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in June 2017.

During the tenure of the Clinton Urling-led Normalisation Committee (NC), the GFF on May 9, 2015, signed a 30-year lease with the Eccles/Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for the 8.5-acre Providence Community Centre ground on the East Bank of Demerara.

This will be the first and major state-of-the-art football facility, which will seek to produce, among others, consistent levels of highly competitive and exciting football, that is a force to be reckoned with regionally and on the international scene.

The facility will cater for football development among both males and females and will be the focal point for football activity at all levels of the game.

Construction of the artificial turf will be done by Greenfields, a manufacturer of artificial turfs, in phases and was originally scheduled to be completed January month-end in 2018. Following this, the accompanying

Ganga calls for structural ...

Ganga, who played 48 Tests between 1998 and 2008, argued that the respective boards in the Caribbean were not modernised enough to deal with the changing sport.

He also contended that “self-interest” had also inhibited administrators from making decisions for the benefit of cricket, resulting in a negative overall impact.

“The administrative arm and the vehicles that administer the game – I speak directly about the territorial boards, the constitution and framework – are archaic and outdated,” Ganga told the India Express.

“And they’re charged with the responsibility to support a modern, dynamic game. There are lots of things being done to change but there is an old guard that continues to hold on to power, like the incumbent group of executives in Trinidad & Tobago who continue to inherit power.

“Those in control are not willing to relieve them because their self-interest comes in between with the greater good of the game.

That’s a direct negative in the quality of play that we showcase to the world.”

Ganga said issues like coaching in the Caribbean and the lack of an academy also needed to be addressed, as this directly impacted the quality of cricket being played by representative West Indies sides.

“There are many other deficiencies that have a correlation to the quality of cricket we produce at the highest level,” he explained.

“Our coaching education programme and the coaching certification programme ha-

From back back page

ven’t been in existence for a number of years. When you think about how that’s not been consistently addressed over the years, you realise there’s been over a generation of cricketers who’ve been coming out of the grassroots levels, who have not interfaced with quality coaches, not learnt the proper technique or approaches and who are currently going through a process of unlearning and therefore developing into substandard cricketers.

“The coaching education should ideally be in alignment with the player development pathway. That is a fundamental issue. It’s a hit-or-miss situation. Then there’s no academy or finishing school like the Australian Institute of High Performance, which I and Ramnaresh Sarwan attended and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Michael Clarke and Shane Watson.”

West Indies take on India in the second and final Test in Hyderabad starting Friday.

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amenities will be constructed.

HISTORY OF THE FIFA ‘GOAL PROJECT’ IN GUYANA In 1999, Guyana, Belize, The Bahamas, Nicaragua and St Lucia were listed as countries to benefit from FIFA’s new initiative, the ‘Goal Project’. FIFA president Sepp Blatter visited Guyana in 2001 for what was supposed to be the historic turning of the sod for this country’s first football stadium on land under the control of the University of Guyana.

However, Blatter stated that the building of stadiums was the responsibility of governments and subsequently revealed that FIFA would contribute some US$400 000 once the GFF is able to acquire the necessary land.

The GFF struggled for years to acquire a piece of land from the Government of Guyana until Moroccan Alami Binani made available to them a piece of land at Orangestein, East Bank

Essequibo - a deal which was made under former president Colin Klass.

After Klass was suspended during 2011 in the famous ‘Cash for Votes’ scandal, the project was shelved with only a land-clearing exercise ever conducted.

Under Klass’ successor, Franklin Wilson, the GFF acquired US$500 000 funding for the resuscitation of the project after initially being allocated US$400 000.

Christopher Matthias, elected to the GFF top post in 2013, discarded the Orangestein land due to the uncertainty surrounding its ownership and the distance from the capital city.

He (Matthias) then engaged the government in an attempt to acquire land behind the Leonora Track and Field Facility, but nothing came to fruition as the government allegedly offered less than four acres which was not approved by the world governing body.

Barnwell pilots Guyana Jaguars ...

Dhaliwal stroked three sixes, one each off Raymon Reifer, Sherfane Rutherford and Veerasammy Permaul plus seven fours off 110 balls. He missed his highest List A score of 93 scored against Nepal in their ICC World Cricket League Division 2 match at Windhoek, Netherlands on June 18, 2015 but still chalked up his second score of eighty or more in this year’s tournament.

In that WCL Division 2 clash, Canada had defeated Nepal by 46 runs after they made 257 for 6 and bowled out Nepal for 211. But last evening, Dhaliwal followed up hi 80

From back back page

against Windwards Volcanoes at the same venue when they made 264 in reply to 337 for 9 (50 overs).

They tasted defeat Dhaliwal along with his Canadian counterparts suffered similar fate against the Guyanese who celebrated their second win in three matches.

Pestano (7-0-30-2), Reifer (6-1-33-2), Ramaal Lewis (9-1-30-2) and Shepherd (8-031-1) were the wicket-takers while leftam spinner Permaul (10-0-37-0) and Barnwell (5-0-19-0) were also very effective in stifling quick scoring during the mid-innings battle.

QUIZ CORNER

(Wednesday October 10, 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) 127 (Delhi, 1987-88) (2) 103 (Kingston, 2006) TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) What is the lowest total made in a Test innings by India (in India) against the WI? (2) What is the lowest total made in a Test innings by India (in the WI) against the WI? Answers in tomorrow’s issue 09:35 10:10 10:45 11:20

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35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Pakistan in control after debutant Asif scripts Aussie collapse

Off-spinner Bilal Asif takes off on joyride. (Getty Images.

DUBAI, UAE (Reuters) - Debutant Pakistan off-spinner Bilal Asif ripped through the Australian middle-order with six wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 202 on the third day of the first Test in Dubai yesterday.

Australia openers Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch had launched a strong reply to Pakistan’s first innings total of 482, reaching 137-0 without at lunch.

Pakistan were rewarded for their intelligent field placement as the tourist lost their first wicket at 142, with Finch caught for 62 after a sharp catch at silly mid-on from Asad Shafiq.

But the second session belonged to the 33-year-

old Asif, who made full use of a lively pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and dismissed Khawaja (85), Shaun Marsh (7), Travis Head (0) and Marnus Labuschagne (0) in the space of 11 runs.

Asif finished with an impressive 6-36, while seamer Mohammad Abbas grabbed 4-29.

Pakistan earned a commanding first-innings lead of 280 runs but captain Sarfaraz Ahmed decided not to enforce the follow-on.

They returned to bat for the final hour with Imam-

SCOREBOARD

PAKISTAN 1st innings (482; M.Hafeez 126, H. Sohail 110) AUSTRALIA 1st innings (o/n 30-0) Usman Khawaja c Imam ul-Haq b Bilal Asif 85 Aaron Finch c Asad Shafiq b Mohammad Abbas 62 Shaun Marsh c Asad Shafiq b Bilal Asif 7 Mitchell Marsh lbw Mohammad Abbas

12 Travis Head c Haris Sohail b Bilal Asif

0 Marnus Labuschagne c Imam ul-Haq b Bilal Asif 0 Tim Paine c Imam ul-Haq b Bilal Asif

7 Mitchell Starc c Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Abbas 0 Peter Siddle b Mohammad Abbas

10 Nathan Lyon c Imam ul-Haq b Bilal Asif 6 Jon Holland not out

0 Extras: (b-6, lb-7)

13 Total: (all out, 83.3 overs)

202 Fall of wickets: 1-142, 2-160, 3-167, 4-171 5-171, 6-183, 7-183 e, 8-191, 9-202.

Bowling: Mohammad Abbas 19-9-29-4, Wahab Riaz 11-2-390, Yasir Shah 28-6-80-0, Mohammad Hafeez 3-1-2-0, Bilal Asif 21.3-7-36-6, Azhar Ali 1-0-3-0.

PAKISTAN 2nd innings Imam ul-Haq not out

23 Mohammad Hafeez c Marnus Labuschagne b Jon Holland 17 Bilal Asif c Travis Head b Nathan Lyon

0 Azhar Ali lbw Jon Holland

4 Extras: (lb-1)

1 Total: (three wkts, 16.2 overs)

45 Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-38, 3-45.

Bowling: Mitchell Starc 3-1-9-0, Nathan Lyon 8- 1-23-1, Peter Siddle 2-1-3-0, Jon Holland 3.2-1-9- 2.

Australia reveal World Twenty20 squad ONE-day opener Nicole Bolton has been called into Australia’s World T20 squad for next month’s tournament in the Caribbean, while recuperating all-rounder Jess Jonassen has also been included in the 15-strong group, pending fitness.

Australia also named a near-identical 14-player ODI squad for their three-match series against Pakistan in Malaysia this month. The World T20 squad will then play three T20Is against Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur before travelling directly to the West Indies.

After wrapping up a 3-0 T20I series win over New Zealand last Friday, Australia have unsurprisingly stuck with a similar formula for the ICC tournament.

Recent call-ups Georgia Wareham – who played all three games against New Zealand – and uncapped quick Tayla Vlaeminck have retained their places in the squad, while Australia remain hopeful Jonassen, who went under the knife for a knee injury last month, will be fully fit.

Jonassen revealed last week she was on track to return for the second half of the Malaysia tour, but the left-arm spinning all-rounder will miss the ODIs against Pakistan.

The inclusion of Bolton in the World T20 side is the biggest surprise – despite the 29-year-old Western Australian’s outstanding record in 50-over internationals, where she averages 46.22, she’s played just two T20Is for her country, the most recent of which came in September 2016.

Australia World T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (v-c), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wkp.), Jess Jonassen (subject to fitness), Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham.

ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez adding just 37 for the opening wicket, in contrast to 205 runs they scored in the first innings.

Left-arm spinner Jon Holland removed Hafeez

for 17 in the 13th over before nightwatchman Asif was sent back for a duck by off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Azhar Ali was trapped leg-before for four runs

by Holland as Pakistan

finished the day at 45-3, extending their overall lead to 325 runs with two days to play.

Abu Dhabi will host the second and final Test from October 16.

36

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Romir Raden Chetram

- A STAR IN THE MAKING

By Elroy Stephney DESPITE being only eight years old, Romir Raden Chetram, who hails from the village of Lima on the Essequibo Coast, is already thinking about the big stage.

In fact he aspires to be a professional cricketer, while his ambition is to represent the West Indies.

The proud son of Diyanand and Senita Mahipaul-Chetram, the talented and affable youngster is also a high flyer at

school, where he has excelled at all levels with distinction.

He was recently adjudged the top student at the recent Grade Two assessment examination and from all indications he possesses the requisite attributes to become a genuine

all-rounder.

In an invited comment about his son’s imminent dream of playing competitive cricket, Diyanand Chetram revealed that he would always talk to his son even before he was born that he would develop into being the best cricketer in the world.

“When my son was delivered, I stood at his bedside and whispered into his ear those sentiments,” he proudly remarked, adding “I wanted to name him after the great Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden.

However, I was religiously advised that his name should begin with an R, so I choose a name closest to his, hence Raden was conceived.

“While the versatile young sportsman is beginning to learn the art of batting, bowling and fielding, he can be assessed as having superior qualities than the average child at his age. He can already spin and turn the ball prodigiously while his stroke-making is awesomely attractive and technically correct.

The left-handed technocrat has all the shots in the book and he practises them daily with consummate concentration, dedication and energy.

In addition his attention in the field is also electric

uncles and grandfather; all of whom have played competitive cricket.

In fact, his grandfather played inter-county matches for Essequibo and competed against the late former Guyana and West Indies opener Roy Fredericks. His father, though, who also represented Region Two in district tournaments, has played an integral role in instilling in him the confidence to go after his dreams without compromising his academic Romir Raden Chetram executes one of his exquisite cover drives.

Top achiever displays his awards for his academic achievements.

since he practises what he observes from viewing international matches on the television. He is quite proficient at sliding, diving and relaying the cricket ball as is professionally done.

Chetram (Junior) is already beginning to attract attention, given his natural talent, ability to learn quickly and the accumulation of hours of practice with his dad,

son should be given the opportunity to play with older children.

“It is, however, a position that the school is willing to review given that provisions can be put in place in terms of monitoring the children while they play. Romir in the meanwhile continues to make remarkable strides as an accomplished batsman, deceptive bowler and someone whose fielding ability matches the likes of Andre Russell.

accomplishments.

One of the impediments, though, which he acknowledged, is that his son is being prevented from taking his bat to school.

“It is a management decision,” he disclosed, “since the teacher claimed that at his age, they are afraid that someone may get hurt with the bat”. While he agrees, he is of the opinion that his

In his spare time, he enjoys practising with his dad and having mini tournaments in the yard; from which he would often emerge as victor and will be rewarded with trophies. It has become quite an expensive exercise with his dad running out of options to conquer him.

His favourite cricketer is India captain Virat Kohli whom he has modelled his game to emulate. The sky is the limit and in the nottoo-distant future the name Romir Raden Chetram is set to emerge as one of the game’s global image as well as in the academic circles.

His first real test will unravel shortly when the C.V.Nunes Primary School, where he attends, hosts its Kiddy’s Cricket Festival. He will be keen to showcase his amazing talent, including his vast knowledge of the laws and technical aspects of the game.

“I am the greatest,” he would always repeat to his dad after unleashing one of his exquisite cover-drives during their duel. He is a special product in the making. (Elroy Stephney)

37

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Kaieteur B upstage Superstars/Islanders to win SCA second division title

12-year-old Ravin Nauth, who skippered Kaieteur in the final, receives the winners’ trophy from SCA vice-president Bisham Singh.

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada - It was billed as Guyana versus Trinidad and Tobago grudge match when Kaieteur B and Superstars/Islanders clash last Saturday in the second division final to mark the end of the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) 2018 season.

When the dust had finally settled it turned out to be a one-sided affair with Kaieteur romping to an emphatic seven-wicket victory in the 40-over affair, played at Thackeray Park, Etobicoke.

Asked to take first strike

by 12-year-old Ravin Nauth, who was given the privilege of leading Kaieteur in the final, Superstars/Islanders were shut out for a paltry 103 in 27.3 overs. In reply, Kaieteur raced to victory in 17.4 overs, Kaieteur’s win was engineered by a superb all-round performance from Canadian Under-19 player Raqib Shamsudeen who slammed an unbeaten 58 and grabbed three for 17 from 8.3 overs with his left-arm spin.

The tall and lanky Shamsudeen entered the fray in the seventh over, following the dismissal of opener Kurt DaSilva (eight) via run-out

and in a brilliant display, which saw him smash four sixes and an equal number of fours, he carried his team to victory and the second division crown.

Shamsudeen dominated two partnerships, firstly by sharing 27 for the third wicket with Arjuna Sukhu (seven) and an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand with Devin Nauth whose contribution was a mere six not out. Experienced opener Chinta Anandjit contributed 26 with four fours. There was one wicket each for Bobby Sankar (one for 22), Karon Boodram (one for 22) and Nairon Motilal (one for 34).

Earlier, Superstars/Islanders lost wickets at regular intervals and were saved further embarrassment by a gallant rearguard fightback from Motilall who struck four sixes and three fours before he became Shamsudeen’s third victim for a well-played 45, surprisingly batting at number seven.

Apart from Shamsudeen’s fine spell, left-arm medium pacer Khemraj Vinakshor, who started the early destruction, ended with three for 13 while there was one wicket each for Kishan Anandjit, Devin Nauth and Trevor Jerrick for 12, 13 and 31 runs respectively.

Shamsudeen and Motilall were voted the respective Most Valuable Players.

Kaieteur reached the final after inflicting a 12-run win over Palace Panthers in a low-scoring affair, played the previous weekend at the Ashtonbee ground, Scarborough. After being bowled out for 98 in 34 overs, Kaieteur dismissed their opponents for

Tahir five-for and van der Dussen’s debut fifty keep Zimbabwe winless IMRAN Tahir’s record-breaking five-for and a half-century from debutant Rassie van der Dussen helped South Africa to an unconvincing Twenty20 win over Zimbabwe at Buffalo Park. van der Dussen steadied a wobbling Proteas innings with a knock of 56, though the hosts still recorded their lowest score - 160-6 - on the ground in the shortest format.

But the 29-year-old’s 44-ball knock proved to be enough as Tahir’s brilliant bowling sliced through Zimbabwe, the leg-spinner becoming the Proteas’ record T20 wicket-taker in the process.

Figures of 5-23 nudged Tahir past Dale Steyn’s tally of 58 wickets for top spot as the tourists fell 34 short of victory, despite a blistering 53-run partnership between Peter Moor (44) and Brandon Mavuta (28).

Some shoddy early Proteas batting saw new man Gihahn Cloete dismissed from just the third delivery, with the more experienced figure of Quinton de

Kock departing soon after.

Captain Faf du Plessis restored some composure to the batting order with a steady stream of boundaries in the powerplay - hitting 34 off 20 deliveries - only to then pick out Mavuta on the boundary from the first ball of the seventh over.

Instead, it was van der Dussen who stepped up for South Africa, reaching 50 during a fourth-wicket stand of 87 with

Imran Tahir celebrates after a six-wicket haul (AFP)

David Miller (39) that ensured a more respectable total.

Their partnership ended when Miller - let off moments earlier as Tarisai Musakanda carried a catch over the boundary for six - chipped Kyle Jarvis to Sean Williams at long-on, prompting a late Proteas collapse.

Fears that the home batsmen had not done enough were soon abated, though, as Tahir took three wickets in the first four overs, including captain Hamilton Masakadza and Musakanda in consecutive balls.

Zimbabwe’s hopes of victory looked to be over when the same bowler removed Williams for 21, with Tahir then trapping Elton Chigumbura lbw with his next delivery.

A stunning display from Moor brought the visitors’ target into view as he smashed four consecutive sixes off Tabraiz Shamsi, but South Africa claimed the final three wickets for three runs to dismiss their opponents for 126. (Yahoo Sport)

Kaieteur B players, executives and supporters celebrate their triumph.

(Pictures by Frederick Halley)

86 in 34.1 to win by 12 runs overs in the 50-over encounter.

Jerrick was the leading bowler with four for 33 in his 10 overs while Vinakshor (three for 28) and Shamsudeen (two for five in 7.1 overs) were again among the wickets.

Last Saturday’s win, which was witnessed by the largest crowd for any of the 2018 SCA finals, marked the third con-

secutive year a Kaieteur team has triumphed in a championship game. In 2016, the B won the second division and gained promotion to first division.

Last year, the A team were crowned first division winners.

An elated manager/player Vish Jadunauth lauded the efforts of the players while pointing out that the team, who started out as the under-

dogs, consisted of eight juniors which augurs well for the future of Kaieteur.

Long-standing president Bisham Singh, who is also vice-president of the SCA and executive member Omesh Dass, also showered praises on the players on their emphatic win.

FA investigates claim of ‘systemic corruption’ in £600M Wembley deal THE Football Association (FA) is investigating a series of claims, including one of “systemic corruption” related to the proposed sale of Wembley, made by Fulham’s former assistant director of football, Craig Kline.

A university friend of Fulham owner Shahid Khan’s son Tony, Kline was sacked by the London club last year when his relationships with other senior figures broke down.

At the time of his exit, he made several allegations about his Fulham colleagues to the police and posted several of them, including claims of bullying and racism, but the police dismissed them and the tweets were deleted.

But now, 11 months later, Kline has posted three new tweets on his account saying he and Tony Khan have a “paper trail” of evidence about “fraud, child endangerment and exploitation” in the game and claiming that his life has been threatened.

His first tweet, sent on Monday from the account @CRK1006, said: “Dear FA Council (+relevant police, MPs, regulators, press etc). I have key evidence of systemic corruption relevant to the Wembley vote which I’d like to submit. Please request this info from me.”

Fulham reject all claims made by Kline.

The FA Council meets

tomorrow to discuss Shahid Khan’s £900M offer to buy Wembley.

In a statement, an FA spokesperson said: “We have recently been contacted by Craig Kline who has made a series of allegations about Fulham FC. We are currently in the process of reviewing these allegations.”

Kline’s time at Fulham was punctuated by frequent rows with the club’s coaching staff and other executives as he tried to enforce a data-based, ‘Moneyball-style’ approach to player recruitment.

This led to Fulham passing on several players, including Premier League

FA investigates claim of ‘systemic corruption’ in proposed £600M Wembley Stadium deal.

Contrary to Kline’s suggestion that the FA is not acting on his complaint, it is understood that he phoned the national governing body’s disciplinary team last Wednesday and emailed his evidence to them a day later. He then met the FA on Monday.

players Aaron Mooy and Glenn Murray, because they did not meet Kline’s criteria, which he refused to share with other staff.

Fulham have refused to comment on the claims having been contacted by Press Association Sport. (Yahoo Sport UK)

38

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Blairmont CC retain BCB/Elizabeth … beat Rose Hall Town Styles Under-21 title Gizmos & Gadgets by 61 runs A BRUTAL attacking innings of 59 runs from the powerfully-built Rakesh Somwaru spearheaded defending champions, Blairmont Community Centre, to a successful defence of their Elizabeth Styles Under-21 title.

They surprisingly defeated Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets by 61 runs in the 2018 Final at the Port Mourant ground in front of a fair-size crowd.

Blairmont CC won the toss and elected to take first strike on a pitch that played slower and lower as the match progressed.

They lost their first wicket in the third over when former National Under-19 pacer Sylus Tyndall had Seon Glasgow caught behind for 10 then Nigel Deodat for 9 at 43 for 2. He was also caught by wicketkeeper Chanderpaul Govindan, off Kevlon Anderson.

Blairmont slumped to 88 for 6 in the 22nd over as Javed Karim 19, Zameel Nazir 6, F. Subhan 0 and Marvin Prashad 15 fell cheaply. Somwaru then played the innings of his life as he smashed four massive sixes and six boundaries. He added 90 for the 7th wicket with the elegant Fawaz Gafoor.

Gafoor rotated the strike nicely and scored 44 runs with two boundaries. He was eventually bowled by medium pacer Kevlon Anderson at 178. Blairmont were eventually dismissed for 195 in 36 overs. Anderson 4 for 44 and Keith Simpson 2 for 20 were the best bowlers for Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets.

National players Kevin and Junior Sinclair started like a bullet

from a gun by racing to 52 without loss from five overs before Junior Sinclair threw his wicket away for 11 in the sixth over.

Lunch was taken at 63 for 1 from eight overs but left-arm spinner Nigel Deodat struck a crucial blow when he had the inform Kevin Sinclair caught at cover for 43 (6x4) then off-spinner Seon Glasgow trapped Kevlon Anderson for 11, as Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets slipped to 73 for 4 in the 12th over.

Deodat and Glasgow bowled well in tandem as the Rose Hall Town team were bowled out for 134 in just 25 overs.

Tyndall, in at No. 8, batted with flair to score 33, which included a six and five boundaries. Deodat and Glasgow were the main destroyers for Blairmont, claiming 4 for 33 and 4 for 43 respectively. Marvin Prashad supported with 1 for 19.

Representative of Elizabeth Styles, Bissoondyal Singh, praised the BCB for organising a highly successful tournament in a short time span.

Singh stated that he was highly impressed by the BCB’s organising skills, no-nonsense attitude to indiscipline and the mileage the company received from media coverage.

To loud applause, Singh announced that sponsorship for 2019 would be renewed as the company was committed to Berbice Cricket under the current leadership. Secretary of the BCB, Robby Saywack, and president Hilbert Foster both expressed gratitude to the sponsor for investing in the development of Berbice Cricket.

The Under-21 tournament, Foster stated, is a bridge between

‘Freedom Boss’ takes street football to the beach for ‘bragging rights’

Enterprise Busta SC claim ECCC/Bargain Supermarket T20 title

… 16 teams to battle October 19-21 at Marriott beach front SIXTEEN of the country’s top street football teams are set to invade the Marriott beach front October 19 to 21, when Marlon Jacobs, popularly known as ‘Freedom Boss’ hosts ‘Bragging Rights’ - a one of its kind event with a total purse of $500 000.

Marlon Jacobs

“The idea is to fuse sports and entertainment, using something that is popular amongst the youths and football fans,” said Jacobs, who is well-known for his creative theme party and other concepts both locally and overseas.

With Ansa McAl, under its STAG Beer brand, and the National Sports Commission (NSC) listed as the two main sponsors of the event, Jacobs explained that the concept should not be mistaken for beach football because of its location, but rather the same ‘street football’ with all the rules that are usually applied to the other popular

tournaments.

“It’s all about being different,” Jacobs added, pointing out that “sometimes you need to switch things up a bit. I wanted to bring an event that allows the top teams to play one another, but do so at an unusual venue. I think the location is perfect for this type of rivalry that will unfold”.

The likes of Sparta Boss, a team that is notoriously known for being one of, or if not the country’s top streetball side, as well as West Front Road and Leopold Street will clash with teams from the ‘West Side’, Berbice and Linden.

The tournament is set to be launched this week, where all details with regard to prize money and the entertainment aspect will be divulged.

ENTERPRISE Busta Sports Club produced an all-round effort to whip Strathavon by 72 runs to clinch the East Coast Cricket Committee/ Bargain Supermarket Carib Beer T20 title last Sunday at Enmore.

Enterprise won the toss and decided to bat, but had a bad start, losing Bhaskar Yadram (0) to medium pacer Gobinram Hemraj in the first over, at 3-1.

However, former West Indies opener Rajendra Chandrika and Vivian Albert added 61 for the second-wicket.

Chandrika struck four fours before he was trapped leg-before-wicket to Naresh Samaroo for 27 while Albert who struck three fours and one six was bowled by Kevin Latif for 37.

Latif then removed Vishwanauth Ramlakhan without scoring before man-of-thematch, Kamesh Yadram and Rohan Mangal propped up the total. Yadram finished unbeaten on 55 with three fours while Mangal was dismissed

by Jermine Tyndall for 20 as Enterprise managed 168-5.

Latif was the pick of the bowlers with 2-27. In reply

The winning captain collects trophy from Elizabeth Styles Rep Bissoondyal Singh.

the Under-19 and first division levels. Foster stated that when he announced that the BCB would host 22 tournaments in 2018, some critics had laughed at the suggestion.

To date, the BCB has successfully completed ten tournaments and would shortly complete another six, with the others scheduled to be completed by the 31st December, 2018.

Foster hailed the outstanding development of Blairmont Community Centre for successfully defending their title at the Under-21 level. Blairmont Community Centre collected the Championship prize of $70 000 and the Elizabeth Styles trophy.

The victorious Enterprise Busta Sports Club display their accolades with representatives of the sponsors and organisers.

Strathavon reached 97-7 when the overs expired.

Mohan Ronald top-scored with an unbeaten 26 while Gobinram Hemraj (13), Romel Chaturia (15), Diaram Hemraj (11), were the other batsmen

with double figures.

Albert snared 2-9 and Chanderpaul Singh 2-18.

In the third place contest, Lusignan B overcame Enmore by 31 runs. Lusignan B batted first and posted 159-5.

Emran Khan made 41 and Akshaya Persaud 34. Yuvraj Dyal had 1-17.

Enmore responded with 128 all out in 18.4 overs. Dyal scored 42 as Khan picked up 4-28 and Navin Persaud 3-21.

Balram Narine

finishers.

The U-14 and Schoolboys’ category was won by Nicholas Emanuel ahead of Aron Rajnarine, Shazim Jacub and Ricky Motiram.

Narine rode away with all eight of the sprint point prizes.

Among the sponsors were the Guyana Fire Service, GBTI, Vishal and Sons Sawmill and North West Trading.

Narine cops FACC 25-mile road race in Berbice BALRAM Narine was once again the winner of a Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) organised-race in Berbice, this time copping top honours on Sunday in the Upper Corentyne.

Racing in a 25-mile road event for cyclists of the club, 20 riders ped-

alled off at 10:00hrs from in front of the Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry (GBTI) building then proceeded to the No. 51 Police Station and returned to finish at the place of origin.

Narine finished the race in 59 minutes without a competitor in sight.

Coming in second was

Ralph Sewnarine with Donovan Fraser, Syborne Fernandes and Jeremiah Joseph rounding out the top five.

Joseph was the winner in the U-16 and Schoolboys category with Mario Washington, Marlon Budram, Nicholas Sewnarine and Rodwell Fraser the top five

39

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, October 10, 2018

ICC Women’s World T20 2018, West Indies

Berbice Expo feels the ‘Watch This’ vibes

THE 14th annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair got off to an exciting start last Friday at the Albion Sports Complex ground with an informative and captivating opening ceremony.

The important aspect of the four-day event was mixed with presentations from prominent persons in the business community and some cultural items.

It is no secret that Guyanese have a deep passion for cricket and that passion is amplified in Berbice as was evident when the members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Guyana leg of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World T20 opened their booth as part of the expo.

After the opening ceremony and during his official walkabout, Minister Gaskin visited the Women’s World Cup cricket pitch, picked up the ball and delivered a perfect first-ball yorker that sent the stumps crashing, to be the first winner of a tournament souvenir t-shirt.

After that, hundreds of curious spectators swarmed the make-shift cricket pitch, which comprised stumps and boundary boards, to get firsthand information on the November 9 to 24 tournament and also to test their skills at batting, bowling and fielding for the opportunity to win branded souvenir t-shirts.

The drills were conducted

Honourable Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, during his visit to the Women’s World T20 booth at the Berbice Expo on Friday night at Albion. (WWT20||JohnRamsingh photo)

by former Guyana and West Indies fast bowler Colin Stuart, who is part of the LOC. Stuart was joined by Cricket West Indies Regional Sportainment Manager, Jahmal Thomas; Marketing and Sportainment Manager (Guyana) Rayad Boyce and Media Facilitator (Guyana) John Ramsingh along with the ‘Watch This’ models who interacted with the fans.

Earlier, during the formal opening ceremony where the Honourable Minister of Business,, Dominic Gaskin, delivered the feature address to the gathering of spectators and booth holders, the Unique Arts Dance Troupe performed the theme song for the Women’s World T20, ‘Watch This’ that left the spectators and the officials wanting more.

(REUTERS) - FIFA announced a new global strategy for women’s football yesterday in an effort to create revenue streams and increase grassroots participation.

This resulted in the heavy traffic later experienced on the cricket pitch.

The 10-team tournament bowls off on November 9 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, with three matches and a super concert with performances from Patrice Roberts and Shenseea the artistes who gave us ‘Watch This”.

Tickets are currently on sale on line at http:// worldtwenty20.com while the local box offices will open on Monday, October 29. In all, there are five official warmup matches and eight World Cup matches scheduled for Guyana at Providence from November 4 to 17. St Lucia will also host preliminary matches while the semifinal and final are set for Antigua.

The Berbice Expo and Trade Fair which is organised by the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, runs from October 5 to 8 and features exhibitions from local businesses in the manufacturing and service industries.

This year is it being held under the theme, “Advancing economic progress through professional standards and entrepreneurship”.

Miracle Optical chips in for Ignite LOCAL optometry institution, Miracle Optical, has joined the sponsors for the upcoming Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GRM&SC) Ignite race meet.

Set as the final leg of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championships final leg, the event is set for November 10 and 11 at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri.

“Miracle Optical has been on board with sponsoring racing from as far back as I can remember and we wouldn’t change that view come this year end,” CEO of Miracle Optical Romeo Singh said.

He contended, “We like the partnership with the sport and it is something that we will continue to do. This is one of the biggest events for the year and we are glad to be associated with that.”

A statement from the GMR&SC indicated that “we are happy to have Miracle Optical on board with the Ignite race meet. We feel that the company is seen as strong with sport and we were more than happy to see them join motorsport as well.”

“We foresee this new partnership taking the sport to new levels and we want to thank the

management of Miracle Optical for putting their faith in us,” the

statement continued.

Meanwhile, the final leg of

Miracle Optical CEO Romeo Singh hands over sponsorship to Saurica Singh of GMR&SC.

FIFA announces global strategy to boost women’s football

the Caribbean Championship is expected to see competition from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, the United States and Canada as well as Europe.

Apart from the regular groups 1 through 4 and Superstock championship, the first-ever Radical Caribbean Championship featuring the SR3s, is expected to culminate here too.

Other sponsors for the event include GBTI, B.M. Soat, Noble House Seafoods, STAG Beer, Air Services Limited, GUYOIL, Palm Court, Hand-in-Hand, 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 Opticle, Bikers’ Bar, Samaroo Investments, Innovations America and SuperBet, Agriparts and KGM Security Service The club is expected to launch the event within days with just over a month remaining until the race meet.

However, ticket prices have been confirmed at $2 500 for adults and $1 000 for children.

FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura

FIFA said in a statement that it would work closely with member associations through workshops and special initiatives to “encourage female empowerment”

through football.

“The women’s game is a top priority,” FIFA’s secretary-general Fatma Samoura said.

“We will work hand-inhand with our 211 member associations around the world to increase grassroots participation, enhance the commercial value of the women’s game and strengthen the structures surrounding women’s football to ensure that everything we do is sustainable and has strong results.”

FIFA said it would look to double the number of female players to 60 million by 2026 and ensure all member associations have developed “comprehensive women’s football strategies” by 2022.

The sport’s governing body also hopes to broaden female representation in their regulatory framework, with at least one third of FIFA committee members to be women by 2022.

Campbell hits half-century as Scorpions stroll to third straight win BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Opener John Campbell’s half-century was enough to see Jamaica Scorpions to their third straight win in as many matches, as they trounced minnows USA Cricket by seven wickets in the Regional Super50 here, Monday.

Chasing a modest 145, Scorpions strolled to their target in the 27th over, to extend their unbeaten run and remain top of Group B.

Opener John Campbell pulls during his half-century against USA Cricket in the Regional Super50, on Monday. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

The left-handed Campbell struck 56 from 72 deliveries while fellow opener Chadwick Walton got 28 and out-of-favour Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood, 22.

USA had opted to bat earlier in the day/night contest at Kensington Oval but were dismissed for 144 in the 43rd over with Timil Patel top-scoring with 37, Roy Silva getting 27 and David Wakefield and Alex Amsterdam gathering 25 each.

Left-arm spinner and captain Nikita Miller claimed three for 41 while left-arm

spinner Fabian Allen (2-18) and fast bowler Oshane Thomas (2-22) picked up two wickets apiece.

USA Cricket were in early trouble at 24 for two in the sixth over before two half-century partnerships revived the innings.

Amsterdam and Wakefield first added exactly 50 for the third wicket but the stand was a slow one, consuming 102 deliveries as Scorpions bowlers restricted the scoring.

When both fell in a three-wicket slide with just seven runs added to leave USA on 81 for five in the 27th over, Timil Patel and Silva came together in a 57-run sixth-wicket stand to bolster the innings.

Timil struck four boundaries in a 55-ball knock while Silva produced a breezy 34ball knock which included three fours and a six.

However, once Timil was run-out in the 39th over, USA lost their last five wickets for six runs in the space of 24 deliveries in a dramatic slide.

Scorpions then erased any doubt about the result as Campbell anchored two successive half-century stands up front. He posted 51 from 59 balls with Walton for the first wicket and a further 55 off 73 deliveries for the second wicket with Blackwood.

Campbell faced 72 balls and counted six fours before becoming the first of left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar’s two wickets, with the score on 106 at the end of the 22nd over.

Blackwood followed 10 balls later, bowled by Netravalkar (2-34) but Andre McCarthy and West Indies all-rounder Rovman Powell, both with 17 not out, saw Scorpions home in an unbroken 30-run stand.

See Page 39

GFF president Wayne Forde (first from right) pays attention to the work done by Greenfields at the National Training Centre.

(GFF photo)

See Page 34

Berbice Expo feels the ‘Watch This’ vibes

GFF resumes work on National Training Centre

… Artificial turf to be completed by mid-December

Ganga calls for structural overhaul of Windies cricket See page 34

Barnwell pilots Guyana Jaguars to big win over Canada with unbeaten 99

By Brij Parasnath

West Indies have not won on Indian soil in 24 years.

RAJKOT, India (CMC) – Ex-Test opener Daren Ganga says West Indies’ heavy defeat in the first Test last week was another stern reminder of the crisis in Caribbean cricket, and that cricket in the region was in need of a structural overhaul.

The Windies crashed to an innings and 272-run defeat to India here – the hosts’ largest-ever margin of victory in Tests – to extend their dismal record of 24 years without a win on Indian soil.

“What I saw in Rajkot was a contrast to what I saw in the Caribbean (earlier this year),” said Ganga, who is a media pundit for the series.

“The last five Tests

played by the Windies were actually good in terms of their form in this format, where they won three out of five and lost only one to Sri Lanka. I saw progress in a lot of the players.

“This was a meek surrender. They capitulated. I have seen it year upon year when the Windies don’t start well in a Test series, it goes downhill.

It’s very difficult for them to recover.”

He continued: “The alarm bells are still ringing but they’ve been ringing from five to seven to 10 years – you get jaded hearing them ring. That’s been the case in the West Indian setup. You no longer get a jolt from the

performance like Rajkot.

“Some people are disenchanted while others have given up interest or don’t have the energy to fight for reform and put things right because progress has been so slow.

There are a select few who aggressively pursue the betterment of West Indian cricket and they’re trying to address the deficiencies.

“Progress cannot be in a vacuum though. There’s a great desire for the fortunes to change among the great players of the past but many of them aren’t influential and that’s the most frustrating thing.”

Turn to page 34

BRILLIANT batting by talented all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, Raymon Reifer and Chandrapaul Hemraj allowed the Guyana Jaguars to celebrate a convincing seven-wicket victory over Canada in their Cricket West Indies (CWI) Super50 day-night match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA), Toruba, South Trinidad last evening.

In his 45th Super50 match, Barnwell and Reifer displayed wonderful chemistry and understanding of the situation after there was a minor hiccup when the Jaguars lost three wickets for an addition of two runs and were 51 for 3 after 7.3 overs.

They displayed great maturity and took the sting out of the Canadians attack and kept alive their team’s chances of making the semi-finals in Barbados.

The top two teams from each Group will battle for honours in the semis. Trinidad and Tobago Red Force currently heads Group A with three consecutive wins while the Guyana Jaguars are in second spot and is well-poised to finish in the top two.

Barnwell registered his career best and missed the coveted century-mark by one run to finish unbeaten on 99 when they celebrated a rousing seven-wicket win. The pugnacious righthander smashed four sixes and seven fours off 77 balls while Reifer was also unbeaten on 50 that contained one six and three fours off 57 balls as they posted

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153 for their match-winning fourth wicket partnership. Guyana replied with 204 for three wickets off 29.4 overs after Canada scored 202 for 9 in 47 overs.

Demerara Cricket Club’s all-rounder Christopher Barnwell followed his unbeaten 61 (3x6s and 1x4 off 71 balls) against the West Indies B with another brilliant performance that restored respectability to

Christopher Barnwell the Jaguars team.

He found an equally determined partner in left-handed Reifer, the Barbadian-born franchise player; and together with sensible batsmanship and astute running between the wickets eased all tension and pressure to thwart the efforts of the Canadians.

The Jaguars were off to a flyer through the exciting strokeplay of Hemraj who stroked six consecutive fours in one over from Dilon Heliger’s second over and third of the Jaguars’ innings. The first ball was a wide

and then Hemraj exploded with brilliant strokes that created a feeling that the match will finish quickly.

However, the fortunes changed quickly as his fellow opener Trevon Griffith was bowled by leftarm medium pacer Romesh Do Eranga with the score at 49 for 1 after 5.4 overs. Skipper Leon Johnson appeared at his usual number three position but he was castled by rightarm seamer Sukhdeep Brar when he attempted an ill-advised pull stroke that he missed completely and was struck plumb infront of the stumps.

Johnson faced seven deliveries and made only a single and the total was 51 for 2 after 6.6 overs. Further tremors for Guyana Jaguars as Hemraj mis-timed an attempted hook stroke off Don Eranga and top-edged the ball to at the leg gully position where Brar held on to the easy offering.

Hemraj, who made an attractive century (103 not with 2x6s and 12x4s off 79 balls) in the previous match against the West Indies B team at the same venue; departed for 33 that included seven fours off 22 balls,.

In his 20th List A match and paced by a disciplined 88 by India-born Navneet Dhaliwal, Canada posted 202 for 9 in 47 overs after a delayed start and reduced number of overs from the original 50-0vers-a-side encounter.

Turn to page 34 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2018