Guyana chronicle e paper 10 12 2017

More evacuees come home to rousing welcome

– as ‘Operation Airlift’ continues ■ Page 4

No. 105063

THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

Ramnarine tells media...

Smallie’s capture was well orchestrated – was ‘a matter of pride, dignity’ it was done on home turf Pa3ge

GPL deploys network technicians to hurricane-affected Anguilla

Relatives, friends bid tearful farewell – at thanksgiving service for murdered Bourda pensioners

Page 2

Page 2

CJIA to close nightly from Friday

– to facilitate expansion works Page 9

Elders and family members of Constance Adalia Fraser and Phylis Melrose Adalia Caesar bear their mortal remains into the church for a Thanksgiving Service for their lives (Photo by Adrian Narine)

‘We don’t mind moving, but...’

– Houston residents tell MPI during new harbour bridge discussions

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Soon available in supermarkets Page 12

– locally grown, processed turmeric from Hosororo

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 12, 2017

GPL deploys network technicians – to hurricane-affected Anguilla THE Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) has deployed four technicians to Caribbean territories affected

by Hurricane Irma, the Department of Public Information (DPI) said Wednesday.

GPL has partnered with the Caribbean Electric Utility Service Corporation (CARILEC) to provide assistance to the affected territories.

GPL’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Shevion Sears, told the DPI that the power company has deployed a team of network technicians to Anguilla to assist with the rehabilitation of the island’s electricity network that was destroyed by the hurricane.

The Category Five storm left police stations, hospitals, school facilities, emergency shelters,

a home for the infirm and the aged as well as the fire station damaged in Anguilla.

Leader of the group, Senior Network Technician Errol Pitt, said the four-member team will be reconstructing transmission and distribution lines.

Pitt, who has been employed with GPL for approximately 16 years, noted that the exercise is a joint effort with a number of Caribbean countries.

“We all will be collaborating to get our mandated work completed, which is to do network rebuilding exercise,” he said, adding: “We will do our best to make GPL proud and more so Guyana.”

The other technicians shared their excitement at being able to represent Guyana for a worthy cause.

Senior Network Techni-

cian at GPL’s Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice location, Laureston Carmichael said, “I’m happy, because I will do my best in rebuilding the electrical network in Anguilla.”

Senior Network Technician at the Transmission and Distribution Department at Garden of Eden, Jermaine Simmons told the DPI he is pleased to demonstrate to the wider world that Guyana is capable of coming to the aid of others in their time of need.

Joshah Tilland is also a Senior Network Technician employed at the New Amsterdam branch and he’s confident that the restoration job will be completed successfully.

The team left early on Wednesday, and is expected to return by November 22. (DPI)

Headed to Anguilla are, from left: Senior Network Technician, GPL, Garden of Eden, Jermaine Simmons; Team Leader, Senior Network Technician, GPL Onverwagt West Coast Berbice, Errol Pitt; Senior Network Technician, GPL Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, Laureston Carmichael; and Senior Network Technician, GPL New Amsterdam, Joshah Tilland (DPI photo)

Relatives, friends bid tearful – at thanksgiving service for murdered farewell Bourda pensioners A THANKSGIVING service for the lives of Constance Idalia Fraser and Phylis Melrose Caesar, the two women killed in their Bourda home two Tuesdays ago, was on Wednesday held at their place of worship, the South Road Full Gospel Fellowship.

Hundreds turned out to

Mourners and sympathisers pay their last respects (Photo by Adrian Narine)

pay their last respects, and

to join the bereaved family members in bidding farewell to the women, brutally murdered just two days after the celebration of ‘International Day of Older Persons’ on October 1.

The day is celebrated by raising awareness about issues affecting the elderly, such as senescence (the process of becoming old) and elder abuse. It is also a day to show appreciation for the contributions that older people would have made to society, and to make them feel loved and cared for.

The first interment was done at the St. Sidwell’s churchyard on Vlissengen Road, while the second is to be held in Berbice on Thursday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 12, 2017

Ramnarine tells media...

Smallie’s capture was well orchestrated – was ‘a matter of pride, dignity’ it be done on home turf

By Ariana Gordon THE recapturing of Royden ‘Smallie’ Williams on Monday night has been described as “a very significant apprehension” by Commissioner of Police (ag) David Ramnarine.

Ramnarine, at a media briefing held in the boardroom of the Ministry of Public Security, disclosed that Williams, who was caught in a public minibus at Weldaad, West Coast Berbice, did not have a support base.

The acting Top Cop said that weeks before his recapture, police intelligence had dismantled Williams’s support base, and ever since, persons who had assisted the wanted man, who was sentenced to death for the Bartica Massacre, have been charged.

“We noted that Royden Williams was increasingly desperate a few weeks ago, and we had taken a position, a decisive position some weeks ago that we would dismantle his support,” Ramnarine said.

“He had a support; a support base; we took a position to dismantle that base. And in pretty quick time, he was virtually left alone, but he was still in contact with someone else from his support base which we had destroyed,” he added.

Those found guilty of assisting Williams were quietly passed through the courts, the police commissioner said. He explained that based on the lack of support, Williams’s next move was to leave Guyana.

“The indications were the move to exit, and soon as

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan (centre), makes a point as Acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine (second left), Traffic Chief Dion Moore (left), Acting Crime Chief Paul Williams (second right) and Assistant Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken (right) look on Monday (Photo by Adrian Narine)

it became actionable intelligence, we decided with meticulous, methodical planning to inundate the East Coast corridor and ‘B’ Division with operatives in all fashion,” said Ramnarine.

A MATTER OF PRIDE Ramnarine said that while Guyana could have requested assistance from neighbouring countries, it was a matter of “pride and dignity” that the escapee be recaptured on home soil.

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, agreed that Williams had not been getting the support he had come to expect from his cronies.

“Even the persons we felt will give him the support blanked him,” declared the minister, who assured the media that measures have been put in place to ensure that Williams, whom he described as “extremely dangerous”, does not escape again.

“We are putting him into some very serious solitary confinement, I understand,” Minister Ramjattan said, adding: “And knowing how dangerous he is and what he has done, I rather suspect all precautions will be taken,

even that which is over and above normal, to ensure that he remains safe.

“I think we will do our best to ensure he remains inside.”

Early in September, Uree Varswyck, a former police, was shot dead by law enforcement officers in Amelia’s Ward, Linden, Region 10.

According to the police, Varswyck and Williams were seen together in the Central Amelia’s Ward area. The duo had opened fire on the Joint Services who returned fire, which resulted in Varswyck, who was dressed in a military vest and boots, being fatally wounded.

A 9mm pistol and 40 live rounds, along with a backpack and cloth bag were found near his body. The bag contained toiletries, medical supplies and a gas mask.

Varswyck was shot in a yard in Central Amelia’s Ward, where he and Williams were allegedly hiding out.

JOB WELL DONE Like Commissioner Ramnarine and Minister Ramjattan, Acting Crime Chief Paul Williams also sang the praises of the Joint Services for a job well done in recap-

turing Williams. He, too, said that the operation was intelligence-driven and was largely due to dedication and proactiveness.

Williams explained that in accordance with Chapter 68:01 of the Laws of Guyana, the Joint Services used the stop, search and detain mechanism to capture the wanted man. “That is the posture we have sustained throughout, and that is what contributed to our success,” Williams said, adding: “He was in a public transportation, and based on information given, we kept our eyes out.”

He could not say, however, when “Smallie” is likely to be charged, but noted that the force is still conducting its investigation and upon conclusion, charges will be laid.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, Clifton Hicken, though conceding that the police were on high alert across the country, said he was not in a position to divulge the specifics of its operation. “We were proactive in our approach; we managed to succeed, and we apprehended Royden Williams,” was all he was prepared to say.

CONTINUED VIGILANCE Commissioner Ramnarine, in emphasising that Williams’s return to police custody was long overdue, quickly pointed out that efforts have been intensified to recapture Paul Goriah, formerly of Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Cobena Stephens, aka “OJ”, both of whom escaped from the Camp Street prison in July.

He reassured the media that while significant emphasis was placed on recapturing Varswyck, a former policeman, and “Smallie”, both of whom were deemed notorious criminals, intelligence-gathering on them is still ongoing.

“We have done work before on them; we have had information. We responded, but it didn’t come up useful, and we are going to increase, intensify our efforts now, because, largely, we had focused on getting the main fugitive which we now have in custody,” Ramnarine said.

He commended the work done by the Joint Services, saying they were always on top of the situation, “ball by ball.” Noting further that the confidence, resilience, planning, coordination and execution of the Joint Services is now more than ever at an all-time high, the commissioner said: “As you would know, 19 have been dealt with. As you know, two chose along a certain path, and they were, in my language, ably assisted.

“We did receive a lot of information, but a lot of it did not prove useful. Persons who have provided infor-

mation will be dealt with in a confidential manner; they will not, for any reason, be made known.”

REWARD Asked whether those persons who had provided valuable information leading to the recapture of the escapees, in particular Williams, were compensated, Ramnarine said a decision was taken to offer a $10M reward for the recapture of Williams shortly after he had escaped from prison with Varswyck, Stephens and Goriah.

Said he: “We had significant success; a large number were arrested over a week-anda-half period, with some seven in one night.

“And then several weeks had passed and we were starved of this information, though we sent out lots of posters; we got some info that led to Varswyck’s demise.”

However, Minister Ramjattan made it clear that based on the opinion of the force, those who had provided credible information leading to the arrest of the escapees will be compensated.

Williams, who was deemed Guyana’s “most wanted fugitive”, had escaped from lawful custody from the Camp Street Prison on July 9, last, when fire which was allegedly set by prisoners engulfed most of the wooden buildings which had then housed more than 1,000 condemned and remand prisoners.

Williams, who is on death row and also has other matters in the High Court, burned and shot his way out of the Camp Street Prison and had been on the run for three months.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 12, 2017

More evacuees come home to rousing welcome --as ‘Operation Airlift’ continues

THIRTEEN persons of Guyanese origin, some of whom have spent most of their lives in the Caribbean island of St Maarten, came home to a rousing welcome on Wednesday evening.

The task of extricating them from the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, was taken on by the BK Group of Companies through its subsidiary, Jags Aviation.

The aircraft left early Tuesday morning with a load of food and beverages. Jags’ Sky Truck landed at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle around 16:30hrs.

On hand to accord them a warm welcome were: Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix; Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Colonel (Ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup; BK Group’s

Representatives of the M&M Snackette were there to welcome the weary souls with warm meals after the long journey from St Maarten (Photos by Adrian Narine)

The scene last night at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport

Brian Tiwarie; and family members.

Minister Harmon told members of the media that while it was the second group to be

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airlifted from St Maarten, it was a first for Jags Aviation.

He said that though he was unsure as to how many persons are yet to come, what he does

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know is that the number has been significantly reduced by now.

Minister Felix said the total number of Guyanese to have returned so far from St Maarten, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Dominica is 44.

He said the government is in the process of getting those children who came into schools. So far, they have reportedly placed two persons at the University of Guyana, while others will be dispersed to primary and secondary schools close to where they are staying.

According to reports, one of the volunteer carriers will be

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bringing in passengers today, but the time is still unknown.

One of the persons who arrived on the flight, Ms Yonett Richmond of Weldaad, West Coast Berbice, couldn’t help saying how grateful she was to ‘Jags’ for bringing her home safely, as due to the hurricanes, she was left stranded in St Maarten where she was vacationing.

Richmond said she left Guyana with her nephew on June 28, with the intention of having a good time with her relatives there. But when the time came to return in September, the hurricanes hit.

“The experience was bad!” she said. “I was so scared! Irma was bad because there was a lot of wind and waves. Windows

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were shaking, Maria did not hit where I was staying so bad, but I am glad I got a way out of the island and back home.”

Company representative, Mr Bobby Vieira, told the Guyana Chronicle that they volunteerd their services because they felt it was important to play their roles in ensuring that Guyanese who wanted to return home got an opportunity to do so.

In addition to airlifting food and the evacuees, the company will be hosting a hurricane relief concert at D’Urban Park on November 11, 2017.

Vieira said they are hoping to realise as much as $50M, which will go towards assisting persons from the hurricane-ravaged islands in various ways.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 12, 2017

President commits--attoswearing-in making Public of new Public Service efficient Service Appellate Tribunal Registrar THE registrar of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal was on Wednesday sworn in

by President David Granger at State House.

In the simple ceremony, Ms Amoura Giddings, a young attorney, took the Oath of Office to serve as the new registrar in the presence of Justice Nandram Kissoon (chairman), Abiola Wong-Inniss and Winston Brown.

The President has committed to ensuring that all institutions of the State are functional. These institutions, he said, are the pillars on which the Guyanese society stands.

During his remarks at the simple swearing-in ceremony, the President said, “The objective is to establish an efficient public service; and from the time we entered office, we took steps to ensure that the demands of the Guyana Public Service Union, of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal were met.

“Any State in the world is founded on certain pillars and institutions, and if you kick those institutions down, the State will collapse. And we are committed to ensuring that the institutions remain to support the lawful aspect in public administration and governance.”

He pledged that his administration will do everything in its power to ensure that State institutions function independently, and perform their functions.

“The Public Service Appellate Tribunal is important to the public service, and the public service is important to the country,” President Granger said.

“And we will continue to ensure that pillars of State are given the respect that they deserve,” he added.

Giddings, meanwhile, in a brief comment, said that she is happy to be part of a body that will make legal procedures affordable to people who are

disadvantaged, or who cannot afford to seek legal redress through the courts.

Her appointment, which took effect from September 19, 2017, accords with Section 6:01 of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal Act, and the Head-of-State has said that his government is fully cognisant of the need for an efficient public service, and as such has worked to ensure that all necessary vacancies are filled.

In May, Justice Nandram Kissoon (chairman), Abiola Wong-Inniss and Winston Brown were sworn in as members of the Tribunal, which had been defunct for over 20 years.

Parliament, by virtue of Chapter 27:01 of the Laws of Guyana, provides for the establishment of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal, which shall comprise a Chairman, at least two members, and a registrar, who shall be the chief executive officer.

At the swearing-in of the new Public Service Appellate Tribunal Registrar are, from left: The Ombudsman, Mr. Winston Patterson; Ms. Amoura Giddings; President David Granger; Justice Nandram Kissoon and Mr. Winston Brown (DPI photo)

Local pastor celebrating 40 years of being an author LOCAL priest and author Vanrick Beresford will be celebrating 40 years of being an author with a biography of his mother, Sukhraji.

Beresford, who has been the pastor of the Maranatha Ministries International on Quamina Street, Cummingsburg for almost 20 years, has already completed 95 per cent of the book.

“It is hoped that the various institutions of learning within the Caribbean will seize the opportunity to make good use of this historical material, to preserve the knowledge and information that is chronicled within its volumes,” Beresford said during a visit to the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday.

He wants to highlight the life of his mother,

Vanrick Beresford

‘Poon’ accused of killing ‘White Boy’ A 46-YEAR-OLD farmer was on Wednesday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for murder.

Charles Leonard called ‘Poon’ was not required to plead to the charge which alleged that between October 5 and October 6, at 5 Mile, Port Kaituma, he murdered Romel Gouveia called ‘White Boy.’ Police prosecutor, Arwin Moore, did not relate the facts in court. The Chief Magistrate remanded the unrepresented man

until November 3 and transferred the matter to the Mathews Ridge Magistrate Court.

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whom he said worked hard to raise him and his two brothers under very poor circumstances. “Her father is from Calcutta, India, and she worked as a child labourer.

At just 10-years-old, she was working at Skeldon Sugar Estate,” he said, adding: “A woman of such indomitable faith and amazing strength should not be easily forgotten.”

Thus, the author with a touch of divinity spelt out the challenges, rewards, opportunities and work associated with her strength of character.

“I hope to accomplish communicating with the next generation; the third generation, and connecting with the children of labourers, both in the diaspora and locally,” he said.

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 12, 2017

Minibus touting: A persistent nuisance

ILLEGAL but persistent minibus touting has long been in survival mode despite adverse public opinion and intermittent police crackdowns.

This persistent nuisance exhibits various shades of criminality, including the growing and blatant disrespect for authority and should not be allowed to continue.

Amidst the country’s progressive emphasis on tourism, the recent public outrage against sexual abuse, and a growing need for public order, the authorities should condignly terminate this aberration.

The Guyana Police Force must treat this aspect of what is euphemistically referred to as ‘minibus culture’ as a clear and present danger to our travelling public, regardless of age, ethnicity or nationality. The most targeted, and vulnerable appear to be schoolgirls, nubile women, and tourists.

A letter-writer in one of our dailies recently lamented his disgusting and unsettling experience when he witnessed a young schoolgirl being tugged by minibus conductors and touts in the vicinity of our iconic Stabroek Market Square. The letter-writer noted that the girl was visibly upset, naturally, but the worst part of what was an assault in legal terms, was the braggadocio of one of the touts who announced to a bus conductor that he had “touched her inappropriately.”

Unfortunately, in many incidents of harassment by minibus touts while soliciting passengers, citizens generally take a vow of silence and decline the role of ‘my brother’s keeper’ or ‘my sister’s keeper,’ and don’t even sound a voice of censure.

In fact, in the so-called ‘minibus culture,’ touting, loud and ribald music, fondling and other aspects of

harassment, as well as reckless driving have become the new normal.

While there have been sporadic condemnation of minibus touting by individuals, and half-hearted police clampdowns, the problem has not yet drawn any notable attention from civil society.

There is need for concerted and outspoken opposition against this wanton disregard for minibus passengers, who support what essentially is a public service being provided by private sector entrepreneurs.

Some touts are seen engaging in a ritual tug-o-war, but instead of a rope they grab the bags and even the persons of besieged passengers, sometimes after a 25yard dash to the unsuspecting targets.

This tactic disregards the right of each passenger to decide which minibus to choose, while the absence of a regulated queuing system

for minibuses persists.

Meanwhile, it must not be overlooked that minibus touts are part of a self-employed, low-level hustle.

However, it was estimated that a minibus tout can pull in over $10,000 per day, depending on passenger traffic and weather conditions. And that’s tax-free earnings, without actual overheads or need for any skillset.

According to news reports, there have been occasions when touts were charged and appeared in court before a magistrate and those who pleaded guilty were ordered to pay fines ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. Those who pleaded not guilty were placed on bail and scheduled to return to court on various dates.

The police raids are at best rare, on-again-off-again ventures, which yield no lasting change in the modus operandi of loading minibuses in the city, quite unlike

the civil practice seen in our CARICOM neighbours.

Another aspect of minibus touting that is not readily discernible is the extortion scheme, whereby bus drivers and owners are required to pay a sort of tithe for the service, even unsolicited, of having their vehicles loaded by strong-arm tactics.

There have been instances when some young men utilise this avenue of catching a quick dollar, but sooner rather than later upgrade themselves to emerge as more productive individuals in sustainable economic pursuits. Many others, too many, however, are louts who shirk their social responsibility and get caught in the dependency culture, taking

refuge among the underclass.

When all is said and done, it is the police who must face the major challenge of uprooting this loathsome and law-breaking practice of minibus touting, summoning up the will and manpower to ensure its termination, once and for all.

Perhaps it would be useful if a multi-disciplinary approach is taken in dealing with this problem. Touts can be targeted by social welfare officers, in addition to faith-based and civil society organisations that can make an attempt at motivating some behavioural change. We need not rely exclusively or merely on law-enforcement intervention.

GAWU must refocus on the business of sugar …GuySuCo interested in building greater partnership Dear Editor, THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) wishes to respond to Mr. Seepaul Narine’s letter that was published in the Stabroek News on October 7, 2017 and titled ‘GuySuCo should join GAWU to face the challenges of the sugar industry together’.

Firstly, there is a fundamental flaw in the headline of Mr. Narine’s letter and on which his entire missive is based.

The headline should have read ‘GAWU should join GuySuCo to face the challenges of the sugar industry together’ since GuySuCo holds a legal and moral responsibility and burden that GAWU does not hold.

In relation to GuySuCo and GAWU working together, the distinction has to be made between the roles and responsibilities of each party, that is, the roles and responsibilities of GuySuCo as the employer to its employees and the roles

and responsibilities of GAWU as the recognised labour representative body for employees they represent within GuySuCo. Similarly, other labour representative organisations should always be cognizant of this distinction.

With reference to Mr. Narine’s letter, GuySuCo is indeed experiencing a challenge which resulted in the Corporation being unable to pay wages on the 15 September, 2017.

However, many organisations would occasionally experience challenges which may result in the normal processes being delayed. In this instance, the employees who were due to be paid on September 15 were instead paid on September 20.

During the week of September 15, the Corporation exhausted all efforts to garner the financial resources to ensure that employees were paid wages on time. However, after all efforts proved to be unsuccessful, the management of estates, as well as Mr. Narine as the

General Secretary for GAWU, were informed that the payment would have been made on a later date. The estate management also communicated this information through various mediums to all employees who were affected; the representatives from the Union were also informed and this was done before the pay date.

Hence, the Corporation finds the following point in Mr. Narine’s letter to be disturbing.

‘Quite expectedly, workers apprehension was building, given their urgent need for their wages to sustain their families and to meet their obligations.

In such circumstances, the workers, with the union’s full support, staged a number of picketing exercises calling on the sugar company to honour its obligations to the workers’.

This point underscores the challenge which GuySuCo has in the partnership with GAWU. The Corporation is currently transitioning through a very challenging period, and

admittedly, there are many disruptions in various processes, including the pay cycle.

Most of our stakeholders are aware of the current situation and are being supportive. The Corporation is of the view that on the occasion in question, like so many others, GAWU could have played a more positive role in influencing the employees to continue to work towards achieving the targets for the second crop, since the more sugar that is produced and sold, the more it will alleviate the Corporation’s financial dilemma. The strikes and protest actions have made, and is making the situation worse, did the Union not recognised this?

With regards to correspondences being sent to the Chief Executive Officer from GAWU, the Corporation wishes to state that all communications from GAWU to the Corporation are addressed with a high level of professionalism. However, we prefer not to engage in whether the Corporation addressed the

concerns of employees before or after GAWU’s correspondences in this space. Suffice it to say, they were taken seriously and as indicated before, they were dealt with professionally.

Mr. Narine’s letter further stated that “as we have clearly illustrated with the recent delayed payment matter, the corporation seemingly remains unconcerned about its employees’ plight, and from all indications, has taken on a ‘might is right’ approach”. On this note, the management of GuySuCo is trying to manage a business.

The Corporation is made up of employees who are members of GAWU and others who are not members of that union or any union. When GAWU encourages our employees (their members) to withdraw their labour, particularly on matters which can be resolved otherwise, this frustrates the rest of the operations. There are also other costs and lost sugar and wages involved.

On the point of working with GAWU, the Corporation would reiterate that the Union’s labour representation

responsibility is increasingly taking second place to its other agenda. GuySuCo is of the strong view that GAWU is using its employees to carry out that agenda which is seriously and negatively impacting on production and productivity and the security of employment. GuySuCo is very keen on working with GAWU as a key and important stakeholder, but this has to be essentially on how to improve the business of sugar.

GAWU regularly indicates that production is going to be very low for 2017 in comparison to previous years and continues to blame the management, while the Union is systematically being very tactical in orchestrating the result that they are predicting.

Yours respectfully, Audreyanna Thomas Senior Communications Officer Communications Department Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 12, 2017

Is history repeating itself with the recent Marriott Hotel EoI? Dear Editor,

THE recently advertised Expression of Interest (EoI) for the casino located at the Government-owned but branded Marriott Hotel is mystifying and quite surprising.

One remembers the 2016 forensic audit indicating that the Marriott hotel was projected to cost US$60 million, but actually cost taxpayers almost US$90 million.

Indeed, the deal was made more burdensome to Guyana by the granting of five monopoly agreements to the Marriott brand without their investment of a single dollar. This reminds us of the Janet Jagan giveaway of oil blocks and the repeated argument that Guyana was negotiating without any leverage. One remembers that the previous PPP government was giving away the shop by offering 67% of our US$90 million investment to a fictitious Chinese group for US$8 million, after Guyana had borrowed high-cost money from Republic Bank to build.

My mystification with the current EoI lies in the memory that an Entertainment Centre comprising a

high-end casino, a five-star restaurant and an upscale nightclub worthy of the Marriott’s blessings was to be built for approximately US$12 million and would have had a separate investor from the lease arrangements of the Marriott brand.

Reading the current EoI, it seems as if the AHI Board is seeking an entity to invest millions into a casino with the benefits of the restaurant and an upscale club again being grabbed by the Marriott. Again without a single dollar being invested by the Marriott.

IS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF? Why does this EoI smell fishy or targeted? It seems as if only the casino is being offered which means the Marriott brand will receive all the benefits of the new client base with the Government of Guyana again being asked to invest taxpayers’ money in building the nightclub and the restaurant to be managed by the Marriott. It appears as if someone wants no competition to the already very expensive restaurant in the Marriott that many Guyanese cannot afford in their own country.

I believe an Entertainment Complex should be its own holistic investment.

The casino, nightclub and restaurant would make it attractive to any serious investor as these three entertainment elements would work cohesively, as it is done in better governed jurisdictions.

The real question is why has the original, sensible idea of an Entertainment Complex comprising a casino, restaurant and nightclub, not owned or managed

by Marriott, now seems to have been discarded? Why should the monopoly position obtained by the Marriott during the last deception

by Mike Brassington and his Chinese investors be allowed to continue under this new government? The numbers should speak for themselves as the significant payments made to date to the Marriott brand is one of the reasons the Government is burdened to pay the Republic Bank loan and has yet to receive any profits from the colossal investment.

This should be a new era of commonsense, fiscal judiciousness and de-monopolisation in Guyana.

The current EoI does not appear to make business

by the qualified opinion of the auditors and the fact that no financial statements were presented to the Guyana Football Federation’s Congress (its highest decision-making body) for 2016, there was a gross violation of the GFF constitution and possibly of the Company’s Act of Guyana.

The GFF board must explain to its members and the public why after five months there have been no account given for the non-completion of the financial statements, and

also much more worrying, why the organisation has changed five different general secretaries (equivalent to the position of CEOs), and five different finance directors in less than two years.

Those occurrences certainly do not shout financial and administrative best practices.

The members of the GFF deserve adequate answers to these questions.

Congratulations GFF Dear Editor,

CONGRATULATIONS to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on the good work of starting construction of the football facility at Providence.

The future of football looks bright. However, of great concern to me is an article I read in the Stabroek News of October 06, labeled “Qualified opinion issued on GFF 2016 accounts.” Besides the serious allegations of financial mismanagement

Sincerely, Chamine Lovell

sense. It should be reviewed with the goal of seeking investors for an Entertainment Complex

and to prevent the Government of Guyana from further investment in a complex it owns 100%,

but receives little profit.

Yours truly Eric M. Phillips

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 12, 2017

U.S. Department of State lauds Guyana’s AMLCFT progress

GUYANA has satisfied the criteria set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)/ Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), which has since allowed it to exit all follow-up processes and avoid sanctions to which it was subjected by those bodies, said the U.S. State Department in its March 2017 report.

The report recognised that Guyana has remedied key and core deficiencies previously highlighted by the FATF and CFATF and has established the requisite legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks required by both bodies, which culminated in the country achieving the level of compliance necessary to exit the third round of Mutual Evaluation and consequentially entering the fourth-round mutual evaluation process.

Areas of progress included the enactment and/or amendments of several pieces of legislation by the said entity (with effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions) relating to confiscation and provisional measures; financial institution secrecy; customer due diligence; financial transparency and beneficial ownership; reporting of suspicious transactions; targeted financial sanctions related to terrorism and terrorist financing; establishment of an AML/CFT supervisory regime and an independent and functioning Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

The report said too that Guyana has implemented comprehensive regulations in most sectors of the economy relating to Customer Due Diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence for several highrisk groups, including Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) and the submission of Suspicious Transaction and other reports to the FIU. “Laws have also been established to allow for the exchange of intelligence with international law enforcement and other stakeholders in the fight against ML and TF. Guyana has also been aggressively pursuing its pending application to become a member of the Egmont Group of international FIUs, which will enhance information-sharing and cooperation arrangements with FIUs worldwide,” the report stated.

The U.S. State Department noted that Guyana has changed gear and has now intensified its Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) focus towards achieving effectiveness as required in the fourth-round mutual evaluation process.

“This is geared at ensuring the desired outcomes of the enacted/ amended legislations [SIC] are achieved. In this regard, the Government has ensured that all the agencies directly and indirectly involved in the fight against ML and TF are engaged, working together and cooperating. This

includes Office of the Attorney General, FIU, Ministry of Finance, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, the Guyana Police Force/ Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU), Bank of Guyana, Guyana Revenue Authority and other supervisory authorities (SAs).”

The report acknowledged limited human and technical resources as being a challenge, but progress continues to be made, as training and other support is being obtained via international partners and governments.

The FIU was provided with additional staffing including a director and deputy director late in 2016, which has enhanced the functional capacity of the unit.

Its Financial Analysts and other employees have also been exposed to developmental training, locally and internationally.

SOCU has also benefited with additional staffing and training, but is still below needs based on the volume of cases being handled.

They were nevertheless successful in completing several seizures of cash and jewellery under the AMLCFT Act. The FIU has sought to improve public awareness of AMLCFT laws, regulations and procedures via the publishing of guidelines (6 published in 2016/ 2017). It has also completed workshops with all categories of reporting entities (REs) particularly Designated Non-Financial Businesses and

Professions (DNFBPs) to ensure they understand and meet their reporting and other obligations under the AMLCFT Act. Additionally, an AML/CFT Compliance Team was recently established by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams S.C., who serves as Guyana’s prime contact. One of the Compliance Team’s main objectives is the promotion of collaboration and coordination of AMLCFT actions among the key stakeholders of the country’s AML/CFT Regime. The composition of the team includes heads/ senior representatives from the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs, SOCU, FIU, Bank of Guyana, and some other Supervisory Authorities.

Most of the entities of this team, for the very first time, were part of the country’s delegation to the XLV CFATF Plenary held in Trinidad and Tobago in May 2017.

Guyana has also actively participated in and contributed to the work of the CFATF, by providing technical experts to conduct the mutual evaluations of sister jurisdictions. These are all efforts to facilitate the development of local human resources, to ensure more effective management of Guyana’s AMLCFT agenda.

In April 2017, Guyana completed its first national ML and TF Risk Assessment and Risk Based Action Plan. The final report was

officially presented to the Minister of Finance on June 7, 2017 by the FIU which was the coordinating agency. The Action Plan will guide the next steps in the country’s efforts towards further strengthening Guyana’s AMLCFT regime.

“Guyana exists in a geographic location that makes it vulnerable to ML and TF. The country remains a transit route for the illicit drug trade; the large cash based nature of our economy results in informal networks of cash couriers moving currency to and from the diaspora on behalf of criminals. public corruption and illegal natural resource extraction and tax evasion are all noted as areas of vulnerability for Guyana. The country has however been demonstrating its commitment to fighting crime and drug trafficking in particular, with several significant drug seizures in recent months,” the report stated.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of State report noted too that Guyana continues to work hard and commit significant resources towards the fight against ML and TF, and the protection of its financial sector from being infiltrated by the proceeds of crime.

“Guyana remains very optimistic of continued progress in the fight against ML and TF locally. The country is confident it is on the right track towards meeting international standards and expectations in this area,” the report concluded.

Threatening language earns ‘Grey Cops say teen had 2 kilos ‘coke’ Boy’ three months in suitcase REGAN Rodrigues called ‘Grey boy’ was on Wednesday sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for using threatening language against the mother of dead political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing.

After less than two months of trial, Rodrigues was found guilty of the offence by City Magistrate Dylon Bess who ruled that the words used against the victim, Donna Harcourt on Saturday 12, August at Regent and Wellington Streets were of a threatening nature.

Rodrigues who was unrepresented, told the court that the woman and her family had been making his life miserable since he was freed of the murder of her son.

The 40-year-old further added that since his release

from the murder charge, he has been working as a taxi driver to make an honest dollar.

Rodrigues further stressed that the magistrate’s ruling was unfair, but he would comply with the sentencing.

In June, Rodrigues was freed for a second time by the court in connection with the murder of Crum-Ewing.

Magistrate Judy Latchman had ruled that there was insufficient evidence against Rodrigues to stand trial in the High Court for the capital offence.

In September 2016, Rodrigues was freed of the murder charge by Magistrate Latchman, due to a lack of evidence. The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided to

re-open the case for further evidence from police witnesses and for the magistrate to rule on the oral statements made by Rodrigues.

The bullet-riddled body of Crum-Ewing was found at Third Avenue, Diamond New Scheme, EBD, just days before the May 11, 2015 elections. He was shot twice to the temple, once to the back of the head and twice to the stomach.

The police in a statement had stated that the political activist was accosted by four men in a car, one of whom discharged several rounds, hitting him about the body.

It was reported that the killer (s) used a .32 pistol to execute Crum-Ewing.

The political activist was well known for his one-

Regan Rodrigues called ‘Grey boy’

man protests outside the office of former Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall. Minutes before he was gunned down, he was reportedly heard via bullhorn urging residents of the neighbourhood to vote against the then ruling PPP/C party.

A 19-YEAR-OLD Canadian National who was reportedly nabbed with almost two kilos of cocaine in her suitcase at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri was on Wednesday charged for drug trafficking.

Yuniyka Bovell appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and denied that on October 5 at CJIA she had 1.602 kilograms of diamorphine (heroin) in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Bovell’s attorney Siand Dhurjon told the court that his client was staying at Guyhoc Park since coming to Guyana nine months ago and has been working as a

cashier at her mother’s grocery store.

Dhurjon said that his client was kept beyond the holding period without an extension of time being sought by CANU. Custom Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford told the court that the drugs were found hidden in the teen’s suitcase on the day in question. The teen was reportedly nabbed as she was about to board a flight to Canada.

Sandiford opposed bail on the grounds that the lawyer failed to raise special reason for the granting of bail. The Chief Magistrate remanded Bovell and adjourned the matter until October 24.

Enough is enough!

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 12, 2017

– Min. Jordan keen on trying foreign contractors, to put an end to ‘sloppy work’

By Ariana Gordon FINANCE Minister Winston Jordan has had it with the “sloppy work” being done by local contractors.

And with good reason too, as it’s costing the government a pretty penny to undo, billions of dollars, he said.

He has a simple solution to the problem; one that involves international assistance and proper supervision.

“We need our contractors and varying other works people to be exposed not only to international learning, but to technology transfer,” he said.

How does he plan on going about it? By inviting international contractors to bid for local projects, he told media operatives here Monday during a meeting at his Main Street office.

He explained that with every renovation the administration has to undertake, it is forced to spend money that could have been otherwise utilised.

He said that for decades, people have been complaining about the sloppy work being done by local contractors, which, in some instances in the government’s case, has resulted in delays in implementing projects.

He strongly believes that this matter could be adequately addressed if local contractors are able to observe the use of technology from international contractors.

All well and good, he said, once we can get them to overlook the perception abroad that corruption is rife here.

“When you look at it, even regional contractors, outside of two from Trinidad and someone out of Jamaica, I don’t know that we have ever been able to attract se-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

rious contractors even from the Region,” Minister Jordan said.

He feels that there’s more to building roads than meets the eye. “It’s not just about all these fancy degrees and so on,” he said. “Roads have certain ingredients that have to go in. Road-building is a function of how good the consultant is; you’re paying a consultant to make certain the contractor is not cheating or is not cutting corners.”

He is also of the opinion that sloppy supervision begets sloppy work. “Bad roads and bad works will be done because of poor supervision,” he said, adding that emphasis has to be placed on the consultants.

BETTER PACKAGING He said, too, that better packages need to be developed, a method he said that was tried by the previous administration, but turned out to be a huge failure for the want of better planning.

“I believe the last government, in a bid to boost local capacity, broke up large packages into smaller packages,” he said. “For example, the East Bank Road… I think, in hindsight, it was a huge error. Three contractors

doing different stretches of a continuous road is bad news!

Three persons doing a continuous road is asking for three different results!”

Don’t get him wrong, he said. It is not that he wants to sideline our local contractors, but capacity-building is important, if we want to ensure people get quality for their money.

Using the Ogle bypass road to drive home the point he made earlier about the problem the government has with hiring from overseas, Minister Jordan said that much as it was a multi-million-dollar project, U.S.$50M to be exact, it was difficult finding a contractor or consultants interested enough in taking the job.

“It is very difficult… so, thanks to the Indian High Commission, they were able to work with us. Now we have found someone with some interest in it,” he said, adding that it is vitally important that local contractors align themselves with persons who have the requisite expertise if they want to be successful.

PSIP PERFORMANCE As to the issue of the sloth with which the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) is being implemented, Minister Jordan is of the belief that the establishment of a “Delivery Unit” could prove beneficial, but that it is up to Cabinet to make that decision.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is reportedly working with the government on improving the performance of the PSIP, but according to Minister Jordan, there are several issues that yet need to be addressed.

Noting that the IDB is helping in that regard, Minister Jordan said:

“They didn’t come here necessarily to put in a delivery unit; they came here to do a diagnostic of the problems affecting the PSIP in the entire value chain; from the time the loan is announced to post-evaluation.”

Back in June, the minister had disclosed that less than 30 per cent of PSIP funds had been expended, and that for this year, the government had set aside $58B for the programme.

Asked specifically at the time about the reason for the continued sloth in implementing projects, the minister had responded by saying that all he knew was that the agencies can no longer make the excuse of having to work with a late budget.

“No late-budget excuse is applicable any longer, because for Budget 2017, the presentation to Parliament was on November 28, 2016, a signal accomplishment of this administration,” he had said.

He, however, explained that a working group has been set up to look at what needs to be implemented with urgency, and said that contrary to what people think, the government has not been brushing the issue under the carpet.

PLAY BY THE RULES He also hastened to explain that when it comes to international agencies and the projects they fund, there is a rule book by which one is guided. “And deviating from that rule book is not easy,” he said.

And while he readily acknowledged that government spending does act as a trigger in the revitalisation of any economy, it does have its challenges.

But, he said, the government is committed to trans-

parency and accountability and is prepared to stand by its word.

Said he: “It is easy to call a friend and say, ‘Listen, I have a project coming up to build a road; it will be $100M. Put in your bid, and you’re going to get it.’

“When you ask for transparency, it is a process that has to be gone through; and that process starts from getting out your bids in the public, evaluating those bids and coming up with a winner of the bid, having the person lodge their bond… It is a long process.But,long though it is,it’s the right procedure,in that the people of Guyana are getting just what they were asking for all along prior to 2015.

“You can’t speed up the process; that is the process,” he declared.

As to the myriad problems the government has been having with human resources, Minister Jordan said the IDB has been helping in that regard, providing extensive training and facilitating quite a few workshops for potential evaluators.

As he readily admitted: “We have serious human resource problems. When we came in here, no agency was doing procurement planning.”

But it’s a problem that is not limited to the Ministry of Finance, he said, as all the ministries, with the exception of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, are similarly afflicted.

‘DEAD-WEIGHT’ LOANS There’s also the problem of what he’d like to call “dead-weight loans,” which he said the present administration has inherited aplenty.

He gave as an example of what he was talking about,

the widening of Sheriff Street project, the over U.S.$60M for which, though it was approved since 2012, was never utilised.

When the coalition government took office in 2015, a decision was made to reformulate the loan, something to which the IDB has agreed.

On the issue of housing, Minister Jordan said U.S.$30M has been identified to give the matter top priority.

“We are now devising a housing programme with the IDB; a novel one, too, that will have a number of innovative features,” he said, adding: “But I can’t discuss them now, because we are still in discussion stage. We are trying not to make it a runof-the-mill loan; and that will help in a number of areas, including people who actually own homes now, but are too poor to rehabilitate them.”

What’s left of it when the project is done, he said, will likely go towards the rehabilitation of the bridges along Sheriff Street.

“We don’t know whether time would allow for this type of reformulation, or whether we’d have to give up these resources,” he said.

What he does know, however, is that the “deadweight loans” have affected Guyana’s allocation cycle tremendously, as it is now paying the price for not having disbursed them within a specified time.

“In fact, new lending to Guyana has come under stress from these multilateral agencies because of our implementation ratio,” Minister Jordan said, but hastened to reassure that every effort has since been made to plan ahead, so that disbursement can be timely.

CJIA to close nightly from Friday – to facilitate expansion works AS expansion works continue at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the facility will be closed to operations for three weeks, between 18:00 and 06:00hrs as of Friday.

This is according to a bulletin issued by the Air Traffic Services of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to airlines on Tuesday.

The notice says that the closure is necessary to facil-

itate the works in progress at the airport.

In light of the scheduled closure of the airport, regional carrier, Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has confirmed that it will operate flights into the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle.

Though it didn’t say, speculation is that the airline will most likely be using its smaller ATR-72 aircraft during the period.

CAL utlises the smaller aircraft for its regional operations between the Caribbean islands. Regional airline LIAT currently operates the same type of aircraft into Ogle.

Reports from Trinidad suggest that CAL will operate flights BW463/BW464 between Ogle and Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago.

The flights are not for

sale, and are intended only for passenger re-accommodation.

Works at the CJIA are moving apace, and the contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), is racing to meet its December deadline.

Recently, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, visited the airport to obtain a firsthand view of how the works are coming along.

Ongoing expansion works on the main runway at the CJIA (Photo courtesy CJIA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 12, 2017

‘We don’t mind moving, but...’

– Houston residents tell MPI during new harbour bridge discussions HOUSTON residents on Tuesday told Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) officials they’re not at all opposed to moving to accommodate the new Demerara Harbour Bridge.

But, there’s a catch.

Wherever it is the government has in mind to relocate them, it must be somewhere along the East Bank.

It doesn’t matter where, they say.

They made their position known during a meeting with MPI officials on Tuesday to brief them on the proposed project, and to hear what they had to say According to a release from the MPI, residents told the team that they would prefer to be given land on

MPI Senior Engineer Mr Ronald Roberts explaining the alignment details for the new bridge to Houston residents during a recent engagement with the community (Photo courtesy of the MPI)

the East Bank of Demerara if they are to relocate from where they are presently.

In turn, the MPI officials

informed them that the Ministry of Legal Affairs will be negotiating directly with them on the issue of com-

pensation, while the Lands and Surveys Department will be handling the valuation aspect of the deal, so as to ensure they are adequately reimbursed for giving up their homes.

The residents with which the team met and spoke, the release said, were from four different households.

The ministerial team, on the other hand comprised Senior Engineer, Central Transport and Planning, Mr Ronald Roberts; Transport Planning Officer, Ms Ramona Duncan; and Socio-environmental Officer, Ms Shawn-Ann Greene.

During the engagement, Greene reportedly explained to the residents that it was their “first grassroots community meeting”, and that it was an effort by the ministry to foster a transparent process as the project gets underway. ** She assured residents that even though the project is in

its initial stages, engaging them was always a priority with the ministry.

“We want to ensure that you are informed every step of the way,” she said, adding that all of the homesteads that had previously been identified as needing to be relocated might not be affected after all, once the final design of the bridge is agreed.

According to the release, the proposed alignment for the new bridge and whatever additional project details there were, including findings from the Feasibility Study and Design, were all shared with the residents.

They were also told that a more detailed economic, social, and environmental impact assessment will be conducted as the project develops, and that they will take into account many of their concerns.

The residents, in turn, told the MPI officials that their main concerns are being evicted from their properties without adequate notice, and not being adequately compensated.

“We’ve established lives for ourselves in this area; we’re accustomed to this life, and we want to continue those lives as best as possible,” one resident was quoted as saying.

In response, the ministry officials emphasised that sufficient notice would be given if the removal of homes becomes necessary.

The residents expressed their appreciation for the meeting with the ministry

officials and said that the meeting had quelled many of their fears.

Perhaps satisfied with what he was hearing so far, one Houston resident, Mr Rantwi Rupnarain, who has been living there for the past 60 years, was quoted as saying: “Today’s meeting was very informative, and I appreciate the ministry coming and making us aware of what’s going on, ‘cause all the time we didn’t know anything about what was going on.

“Now that they’ve come, we feel a bit more comfortable with the process, and whatever has to come in the future, we will try to cooperate with whatever has to be done.” The proposed bridge, which will connect Houston to Versailles on the West Bank of Demerara, will be a medium-level structure with three vehicular lanes and a central movable part in the form of a lift span to allow for the passage of ocean-going vessels.

The project will also include the construction of two fly-over bridges and 11 kilometres of connecting roads on both the eastern and western banks of the Demerara River, thereby providing a seamless connection to the existing road network.

The new bridge is expected to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce travel time and distances, and provide a level of service never before experienced on Guyana’s roadways.

Construction is scheduled to commence sometime in 2018.

Beer bottle stabbing follows argument A 35-YEAR-OLD boat labourer who reportedly stabbed a man with a beer bottle during an argument was on Wednesday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for attempted murder.

Jermaine McDonald of Melanie, East Coast Demerara was not required to plead to the charge which alleged that on October 8 at Kumaka Water Front, North West District he wounded Mario Gomes with intent to commit murder.

According to police prosecutor Arwin Moore on the day in question the two men

were consuming alcohol at the waterfront when an argument ensued.

During the argument McDonald armed himself with a beer bottle and hit Gomes to his head causing the man to bleed and become unconscious.

Prosecutor Moore objected to the defendant being released on bail on the ground that the victim’s condition was listed as critical and he was still hospitalised.

The Magistrate remanded McDonald and transferred the matter to the Mabaruma Magistrate Court for November 21.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 12, 2017

Trio charged for murder remanded, then …fellow prisoners promise more beaten in court lock-ups blows at Lusignan Prison THREE MEN were on Wednesday remanded to prison for the murders of two elderly women, who were killed during a home invasion at their South Road and Albert Street home recently.

The alleged mastermind Christopher Khan called Imran Khan (25) and his two accomplices Steven Andrews (26) and Phillip Suffrien (23), all residents of Albouystown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan jointly charged with two counts of murder.

Particulars of the two charges state that between October 2 and October 3 at Lot 243 South Road and Albert Street, the trio murdered Constance Fraser, 89 and Phyllis Caesar, 77 during the course of a robbery.

The men were not required to plead to the capital offence and were remanded to prison until October 26.

While making their way after their arraignment the men were attacked and beaten by inmates at the Court’s holding lock up and were promised more beatings when taken to the Lusignan Prison.

Meanwhile, Khan’s girlfriend was arraigned before City Magistrate Fabayo Azore and charged for receiving stolen money from her boyfriend, which had been taken from the women’s home during the invasion.

Seeta Khan of Cooper Street, Alboystown denied that between October 1 and October 3, she received the sum of $60,000 from Christopher Khan knowing that the monies belonged to Constance Fraser.

The unrepresented woman denied the charge and told the court that her boyfriend took her on a ‘shopping spree for clothes’ with the money. The Magistrate released Khan on $25,000 bail and adjourned the matter until October 25.

Sunday by police on the Essequibo Coast while his two other co-accused were apprehended less than two days after the mur-

Seeta Khan

Mastermind : Christopher Khan called Imran Khan

Steven Andrews

Accomplice : Phillip Suffrien

The two women, both pensioners, were found lying face down in separate bedrooms at their Bourda home on October 3, with their hands and feet bound and mouths gagged. According to a relative, the house was ransacked and quite a few items appeared to be missing.

Reports from the police have since revealed that a door to the upper half of the two-flat building was breached.

Relatives said this was the third time the women had been robbed. One recalled that during the last robbery, the intruders had made off with cellular phones and money. It was also the second time they had been robbed after receiving their monthly pensions.

A post-mortems were conducted on the bodies of Fraser and Caesar on Friday by Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, who gave the cause of

death as asphyxiation due to suffocation and manual strangulation, compounded by trauma to the head.

Khan was arrested last

der. The men reportedly told investigators that Khan was the mastermind behind the crime. They further confessed that af-

ter stealing the items and money they escaped on foot, taking the booty to Khan’s girlfriend’s home in Albouystown.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 12, 2017

Soon available in supermarkets --locally grown, processed turmeric from Hosororo

AS early as next month, locally processed turmeric will be available in supermarkets across the country.

nually to import the product.

The factory will see NAREI purchasing raw turmeric from local farmers and pro-

will remain here for the development of the people in this region, and the region in general,” he told his audience

President David Granger (right) and Minister Holder (second left), with the help of Dr. Homenauth, doing the honours of unveiling the commemmorative plaque at the official dedication of the turmeric factory on Sunday

This is following the commissioning on Sunday of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI)’s multi-million-dollar turmeric factory at Hosororo, in Region One (Barima-Waini).

In attendance were President David Granger; Minister of Agriculture, Mr Noel Holder; Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Mr Sydney Allicock; Region One Chairman, Mr Brentnol Ashley and NAREI’s Dr. Oudho Homenauth.

With the opening of the factory, Guyana will now be able to process turmeric in commercial quantities, thereby incurring a savings of close to US$400,000 which is what it currently costs an-

cessing it, then putting it on the local market.

Once it would have fully satisfied the demand on the local market, the Institute says, it will be looking to export processed turmeric by 2019, thereby increasing the country’s foreign export earnings.

Currently, there are 50 acres of turmeric being cultivated by 30 farmers in Region One, but the acreage will have to be increased by 150 to satisfy the local demand.

Dr. Homenauth, in his address, told the gathering that the turmeric factory is one of the transformative projects that his agency is undertaking.

“It means all the money

at the commissioning ceremony on Sunday.

The facility has the capacity to process a tonne of turmeric every three to four days, an exercise that involves boiling and drying.

GOING SOLAR But according to Dr. Homenauth, NAREI will be looking to speed up the process a bit by going solar by as early as January, which would allow them to do the same volume they are presently doing in two rather than for days.

Such news was no doubt sweet music to President Granger’s ears, strong advocate that he is of “green” energy. As Dr. Homenauth said, the factory is currently being

run on diesel and wood.

Recalling what conditions were like when the Institute first embarked on the project, Dr. Homenauth said: “We started with a few kilos of planting materials.

It was difficult to import, because you don’t get these materials easily, but with dedication by the relevant staff of the Institute, we were able to increase the planting material.”

Those materials, he said, were then donated to the farmers. And, with the help of the Ministry of Agriculture, through its capital programme, NAREI was able, within a few short years, to “pump up” their own stock.

Back then, he recalled, all he and his staffers wanted was to ensure that they were on the right track, and as such, samples of the dried and polished turmeric were tested both locally and internationally. Turns out, they were!

“We were very happy when the results came back,” he said. “Even the large com-

panies that imported turmeric said the flavour, texture and colour matched those that were imported. And that was one of the reasons why we continued.”

NONE TOO HAPPY But while NAREI was ecstatic about the way things were turning out, the farmers were not; particularly about the way the processing was done. And that is how the Institute came to acquire the processing facility, so as to make things a little easier, and faster.

“The traditional method was being used, where you had to boil the raw turmeric that you harvest, then you sundried it. And this usually takes three or more days,” Dr Homenauth explained. “You must have continuous sun.

And if there is an issue with the weather, then you will have problems.”

As the Regional Chairman explained, agriculture is very important to the development of the region, and as such he commended NAREI

for giving the farmers there a break, thereby enabling them to boost the economy of their respective villages.

“They [NAREI] purchased the turmeric from farmers, and then redistributed it to other farmers who may not have been able to purchase their own turmeric to begin their turmeric farming,” Mr Ashley told the gathering.

Back then, he said, which was in 2015, Hosororo was abuzz with excitement as to when the factory will be opened.

“We had several discussions with the engineer and Dr. Homenauth on the importance of this processing plant, which will also provide employment,” he recalled.

And now that it finally has, he urged those villagers who will be working at the facility to take good care of it, and ensure that it is operational at all times as he is hoping that the region can once again become “the bread basket” of the country.

The NAREI turmeric factory at Hosororo

ILO tackles impact of inform --deems it ‘a very delicate yet critical issue’

THE International Labour Organisation (ILO) is seeking to address the delicate but very critical issue of informal employment and its impact on the economy.

It plans doing so through a two-day workshop convened here Tuesday at the Tower Hotel.

The confab specifically targeted labour officers and other stakeholders from Guyana and five other Caribbean countries, namely: Jamaica, St Lucia, Belize,

Dominica, and Suriname.

It was hoped that at the end of the meet, participants would have been well informed about the relationship between labour administration and the informal economy, and the ILO’s mandate in safeguarding workers in informal employment.

Back in 2013, the ILO regional office for the Caribbean and Latin American had launched a programme for the promotion of formalisation in Latin

America and the Caribbean.

The programme has three components, namely: Generation and dissemination of knowledge of formalisation policies; technical assistance to specific countries; and capacity-building of workers and employers organisations in formalisation issues.

According to the ILO, informal employment has been a problem within Latin America and the Caribbean, in that workers do not

enjoy the benefits of the decent-work programmes and are exposed to poor working conditions, among them little to no social coverage.

They are also deprived of social protection and labour rights.

The organisation is hoping that the dissemination of information will help promote broader discussions on the strategies countries may use to facilitate the transition to formality in the Region.

ILO representative Ry-

ner Plitzer said that the issue is a very delicate yet critical one, and that what the workshop proposes to do is examine how government and the labour administration system can better reach out to the large number of workers in the informal economy.

He said the carefully selected group of participants is a very “homogeneous group”, since each person has the same objective of protecting, guiding and assisting the workforce.

“How can we guide them towards a safer, productive and sustainable and less emergency-ridden work- ILO representative Ryner Plitzer

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 12, 2017

Guyana lends voice to the conversation --at Youth Climate Change Conference in Jamaica

The four Guyanese students at the Jamaica Conference Centre where the two-day climate conference is being held

The students making their presentations at the opening day of the conference (Photos courtesy of the Ministry of the Presidency)

FOUR Guyanese students drawn from some of the country’s top secondary schools are currently in Jamaica, participating in the the annual Youth Climate Change Conference.

A first for Guyana, the students were drawn from Queen’s College, St. Rose’s High, St. Stanislaus College and the New Amsterdam Multilateral School.

They are Christine Rose Archer of St. Rose’s High; Aadilah Ali from Queen’s; Suphane Dash of ‘Saint’s’; and Yevnie Sukra of the New Amsterdam ‘Multi.’

The two-day event, which began on Tuesday, is being hosted by the Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate change (Ja REEACH II) Project, in collaboration with the UNDP-Japan Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCP) Project.

Guyana’s participation was made possible with the help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Office of Climate Change (OCC).

The conference reportedly caters to Caribbean and Japanese youths, and is primarily intended to stimulate and facilitate the exchange of experiences between the countries.

During the training aspect of the conference, it is expected that there will be knowledge-sharing and transfer among Caribbean countries and between Caribbean states and Japan; a conference of Parties modelled event for youth across the Caribbean; break-out group sessions featuring practical and hands-on exercises; and site visits to various places of interest for both regional and Japanese

participants.

The conference is being guided by the overall goal of fostering an environment where Caribbean youth can become conversant with the topic of Climate Change, and by so doing be empowered to take action.

Among participating countries at this year’s conference are Guyana, Jamaica, Japan, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.

The theme this year is: “Our Climate, Our Voice, Our Change: Advancing Youth Action through Partnerships for Global Impact.”

Guyana’s participation in the meet this year is one of a series of events planned and coordinated by the OCC to raise awareness on the effects of Climate Change, and actions that can be taken to mitigate the

effects The participants are the four top students of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) Environmental Studies Unit I for 2017.

On Tuesday, the Guyanese contingent made a 12-minute presentation highlighting key challenges being experienced within their home country as a result of climate change.

Upon their return, they will be required to prepare a report on their experience for submission to the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the OCC. They may also be required to participate in a series of television programmes hosted by the OCC, in collaboration with the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN). (Ministry of the Presidency).

mal employment on economy

life? How to bring them closer to decent work,” he said, was just one of the questions they proposed dealing with over the twoday meet.

“Most countries around the world,” he said, “have no good answer to this question, and we all struggle when trying to address the informal economy.”

According to him, in Latin America alone, some 90 per cent of new jobs are created in the informal economy. And while the informal economy may not be much of a problem r during discussions at Tuesday’s workshop at the Tower Hotel in the Caribbean, questions

arise when the decent-work deficit is examined in the various sectors.

According to Plitzer, all the positives, by and large, only address the formal sector.

“With pensions, inspections, credit and loans and audit reports, we always look at the formal economy, which, in essence, see us looking at just about 50 per cent of the national workforce,” he said, adding: “Are we doing ourselves a disservice? Is this the best way to keep labour administration relevant? I think it is worthwhile to ask ourselves

these questions.”

He said the ILO has studied this, and received support from the international community.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Social Protection was Permanent Secretary, Ms Loreen Baird, who said persons within the informal sector do not have access to social security schemes, health and safety programmes and maternity benefits and have little or no protection by labour legislation.

According to her, all the above issues fall within the ambit of the Social Protec-

tion Ministry. The informal economy, she went on to say, plays a significant role in employment-provision and generation.

She is of the opinion, however, that persons need to understand that inclusive development is not possible unless the rights and opportunities embedded in Guyana’s Constitution are extended to workers in the informal economy.

She said the authority must ensure that all workers are protected, whether or not they are part of the informal or formal economy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, THURSDAY October 12, 2017

Australia’s team bus hit Top Jamaican karters to debut at GT Motorsports on October 21 by rock after T20 win MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The Australia cricket team suffered a scare following their Twenty20 international win over India in Guwahati on Tuesday after a rock was thrown at their team bus, shattering one of the windows, governing body Cricket Australia (CA) said.

Players and staff were travelling from Barsapara Stadium back to their team hotel in the eastern city

Aaron Finch tweeted this picture from the team bus

when the rock pierced the window on the right-hand side of the bus, CA said on its website (cricket.com.au).

The board said the rock was “believed to be roughly the size of a cricket ball” and had ended up inside the bus.

“In a remarkable piece of good fortune, no one was sitting on the seat next to the window when it was broken,” CA’s report said.

“While no one was injured, the Australian players were understandably shaken up by the incident.”

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the incident had damaged the state’s reputation as

a reliable host for major sporting events and that state police had identified two suspects.

“Really unfortunate incident after a great game aimed to tarnish Guwahati’s reputation as an emerging sports hub.

We strongly condemn it,” Sonowal said on his official Twitter account. ”Investigation is on full swing & Police have already picked up 2 suspects.

“Whoever got indulged in the hooliganism did it with the sole objective of defaming Assam & derailing its journey towards the top... the culprits will face the full force of the law & given ex-

emplary punishment.”

India’s sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said the incident was not reflective of the security measures.

“Have spoken to Sarbananda Sonowalji about the Guwahati incident. Personal security of visiting athletes & teams is extremely important for us,” Rathore said on his official Twitter account.

Australia’s team bus was also struck by a rock in Bangladesh five weeks ago as it travelled back to a hotel following the first day’s play of the second and final test against the home side in Chittagong.

That prompted authorities to tighten security around the Australia team.

Australia opening batsman Aaron Finch posted a photo of a shattered window on a bus on Twitter.

“Pretty scary having a rock thrown through the team bus window on the way back to the hotel!!” he tweeted.

Australia are scheduled to play India in the third and final Twenty20 of the series in Hyderabad on Friday.

From back page

Ireland’s Gill stuns... with one less V Bull.

At the 600-yard distance, it was all Phillip James Chapman- Sheath of England who led the way with 35 and 3 V’s to beat Persaud and England’s Christopher Douglas Heales on a countback.

The 1000 yard ‘deciding range’ was where it went downhill for both Persaud and Calvert and allowed Gill to take the aggregate.

Persaud shot a 42 with 2 V’s to finish down the order while Calvert had a 37 and 2 V’s with Gill scoping out a 47 and 2 V’s for

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Worcester 08:50 hrs Dusky Legend 09:20 hrs Get Ready Freddy 09:55 hrs Cereal Killer 10:25 hrs Clondaw Native 10:55 hrs Country Shy 11:30 hrs Kings Ryde 12:00 hrs Sissinghurst 12:30 hrs Uncle Percy Ayr 09:00 hrs Soldier’s Minute 09:30 hrs Ingleby Angel 10:05 hrs Someone Exciting 10:35 hrs Candelisa 11:05 hrs Druid’s Diamond 11:40 hrs Mixboy 12:10 hrs Bo Bridget

young brigade will look to defend home turf and give the anticipated large crowd a night to remember. Carrying the Golden Arrowhead on their chest will be the talented bunch of Elan Rahaman, John Phang, Rayden Persaud, Mikhail Persaud, the Tenpow brothers- Jeremy and Justin, Paige Mendonca and Nathan Rahaman.

The showdown in the Sun Burst Kids Cup is another manifestation of the organisers’ intense focus on developing the youth pool of drivers in Guyana, and soon the country will be embarking on tours to other Caribbean territories, geared at creating avenues for development of those youngsters.

As has been the case with previous Georgetown Grand Prix meets, the event promises a clash between the big boys and the emerging talents. Action will speed off at 18:00hrs and admission to the venue is $1,000 for adults, $500 for children and $4,000 for the VIP experience.

The event will set the stage for the ultimate motorsport event of the year- the final leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship on November 12 at the South Dakota Circuit.

From page 23

a third-best range score.

Only Kimberly Pope of Ireland (49 and 4 V’s) and Micheal Perez of Trinidad (48 and 4 V’s) had a better score.

Meanwhile, the top forty-four Marksmen from yesterday’s grand aggregate will move into today’s shoot at the 300, 500 and 600yard ranges.

Following that, a further twenty will move onto the 900 and 1000 yard ranges to shoot for the Guyana NRA 150th Anniversary title.

Action today begins at 9:00hrs

English Racing Tips

THREE leading Jamaican go-karters have been confirmed to compete for the first time at the GT Motorsports later this month.

Senna Summerbell, the son of Caribbean motor-racing ace, David Summerbell Jr., and compatriots Joshua Sigany and Ryan Lue, will face the starting line on October 21 when GT Motorsports stages the Georgetown Grand Prix ‘Caribbean Showdown’ at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club, Albert Street and Thomas Lands.

Summerbell will do battle in the X30 Junior category, while his compatriots, Sigany and Lue will look to outdo the competition in the X30 Senior and 60cc Sun Burst Kids Cup respectively.

All three drivers are leaders in their respective divisions back home, and no doubt they would want to make a statement on their maiden appearance at the country’s lone go-kart facility.

Apart from the large band of Guyanese drivers, the Jamaicans will also have to contend with competitors from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, as the organisers are currently in discussion with drivers from those islands.

However, Guyana’s

Exeter 09:10 hrs If The Cap Fits 09:45 hrs Chaallico 10:15 hrs Samson 10:45 hrs Barton Rose 11:50 hrs Coole Charmer 12:20 hrs Sandy Cove American Racing Tips Belmont Race 1 Go Kelly Go Race 2 Magican’s Vanity Race 3 Bar None Race 4 Now a Factor Race 5 For Honour Race 6 Alexander David Race 7 Economic Model Race 8 Snap Decision Race 9 Brianbakescookies

Ambris, Singh hit ...

Hodge perished shortly afterwards, however, going stumped off Pushpakumara in the third over following the drinks break.

Campbell, who faced 108 balls in nearly three hours at the crease and struck six fours, put on a further 32 for the second wicket with captain Shamarh Brooks who made 19.

However, Brooks perished via the run out route, paving the way for a 51-run, third wicket partnership between Campbell and Singh.

Singh, who played three Tests against Pakistan earlier this year, faced 174 balls in just under four hours and

counted three boundaries.

Campbell and Jahmar Hamilton (6) fell 18 runs apart to leave Windies A on 145 for four but Ambris arrived to buttress the innings in a solid partnership with Singh.

The 23-year-old Ambris, who played a single OneDay International against England last month, stroked 10 fours off a mere 75 deliveries in a robust innings.

The knock came against the backdrop of his heavy scoring in the last domestic season when he amassed over 600 runs in the first class season and 400 runs in the Super50 one-day championship.

From page 23

GFF host second...

Coaches at yesterday’s opening of the course.

Meanwhile, president of the GFF, Wayne Forde, called the Federations planning for development at all levels a “movement”, adding “and while the work we’ve been doing over the past two years don’t grab headlines, and can sometimes be miscommunicated and understood, it is clear that we’re laying a foundation.”

According to Forde, “the level of investment that we’ve made in our referees development, over players development in the establishment of our Academy Training Centres (ATC), to anyone that have the slightest understanding of the game of football, will recognise that we’re trying to produce a production machinery, that turns out excellent human being year after year.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, THURSDAY October 12, 2017

World Cup 2018:

Argentina, Portugal, Panama qualify; USA, Chile out “I TOLD the group: Messi did not owe the World Cup to Argentina, but football owed the World Cup to Messi.”

Coach Jorge Sampaoli was speaking after a Lionel Messi hat-trick against Ecuador - the 44th of his career - ensured Argentina survived a scare to reach the World Cup finals.

The 2014 runners-up began the day sixth in the group, knowing only a topfour place would see them qualify automatically for Russia.

They made a terrible start in Quito, conceding inside 38 seconds, but the Barcelona superstar led Argentina’s fight back to ensure they secured their place in next year’s tournament.

It was part of a remarkable night of football that saw: Panama qualify for their first World Cup with a controversial goal in a 2-1 win over Costa Rica The United States miss out on the tournament for the first time since 1986 after losing to Trinidad & Tobago Chile manager Juan Antonio Pizzi step down after his side lost to Brazil to miss out on qualifying for their

third consecutive World Cup Portugal beat Switzerland to replace them at the top of their qualifying group but the Netherlands go out despite winning ARGENTINA Messi said it would have been “crazy” had Argentina not qualified for Russia 2018, but it took his intervention to ensure they reached their 12th consecutive World Cup. Ecuador scored in the first minute, taking advantage of Argentina’s hesitancy, before Messi struck twice before half-time to calm some nerves.

His third, a lofted chip over goalkeeper Maximo Banguera, saw his country win for the first time in the Ecuadorian capital since 2001 and, crucially, reach next year’s World Cup. Sampaoli warned against Argentina depending too much on Messi - despite it being a remarkable 11 months since any other Argentina player scored for the national team in a World Cup qualifier.

“Today, luckily, the nationality of the best player in the world is Argentinean,” Sampaoli continued.

“We must be sure ev-

erything does not depend on Leo but today he brought his great ability. I told the group we should help him be in the World Cup.” Panama Nestled between Kuwait

appear to cross the line.

Despite furious complaints from the visitors, the goal stood, and Roman Torres struck in the final few minutes to send Panama through.

It was a neat reversal of

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to book Argentina’s spot at next year’s World Cup

and Moldova as the world’s 131st most populous nation, Panama’s biggest football achievement up until Tuesday evening was finishing as runner-up in the 2013 Gold Cup. Now, they have reached their first World Cup - but it was not without controversy, because the Gabriel Torres’ header that drew Panama level with Costa Rica did not

fortunes for Panama, who missed out on qualifying for the last World Cup after conceding two goals in stoppage time against the US in 2013.

This time, though, it was their 87th-minute winner that ensured their place in Russia - at the expense of the US. United States In contrast to Panama,

the United States has a population of 323.1 million.

Their opponents on Tuesday, Trinidad and Tobago, have a population of 1.3m - roughly the same as the US state of Maine.

Described as the “most surreal and embarrassing night in US soccer history” and “simply devastating”

by American journalists, the players were left in tears following their shock 2-1 loss.

“It’s a blemish for us. We should not be staying at home for this World Cup and I take responsibility,” coach Bruce Arena said of a team ranked 28th in the world.

“We failed on the day. No excuses. We failed today. We should have walked off this field with at least a point.”

Captain Michael Bradley described the night as the “perfect storm”.

“Everything that could have possibly gone wrong did, in this stadium and in two other stadiums across the [Concacaf] region,” he added.

“To give away the first goal like that [an own goal] is a killer. But the reality is it was all there for us, and we have nobody to blame but ourselves.”

Chile & Portugal Brazil ended Chile’s slim hopes of reaching the World Cup as their 3-0 victory pushed Alexis Sanchez and company from third to sixth in the qualifying group.

Midfielder Arturo Vidal, who missed the game through suspension, announced his retirement following the loss and tweeted that “my soul is destroyed”.

“Thanks boys, for everything, for all these years together giving our lives in every game,” the 30-year-old wrote.

Chile’s Argentinean manager Juan Antonio Pizzi also left his post after Tuesday’s disappointment.

While it was misery for Sanchez, another superstar forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, was smiling as Portugal avoided the play-offs to guarantee their fifth consecutive World Cup appearance with a 2-0 victory over Switzerland.

But the Netherlands third in the 2014 tournament - are out, despite beating Sweden 2-0.

The Dutch needed a seven-goal win to nudge their opponents out of the playoff berth behind group winners France. (BBC Sport)

Changes to Tests must be in line with new structure, says FICA chief

(REUTERS) - Any changes to Test cricket must be in line with in with the sport’s new global structure, the head of the international cricket players union (FICA) Tony Irish has said.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will meet in Auckland this week, where announcements on separate league structures for Tests and 50-over cricket are expected to be made.

Irish, the chief executive

of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations urged stakeholders of the game not to look at ad hoc solutions to Test cricket.

“Any proposed change needs to fit into whatever the new overall global structure is going to be,” he said in quotes published by the Telegraph newspaper.

“If one looks at the concept in isolation... then it’s pretty obvious that traditionalists, which includes many players who consider

FICA chief Tony Irish

test cricket as the pinnacle

of the game, are not going to be in favour of a change to four days.”

Test matches have witnessed a decline in attendances in recent years, throwing the door open to a number of means to engage fans, including the introduction of day-night tests.

South Africa announced plans to play Zimbabwe in the first four-day Test starting on Boxing Day in Port Elizabeth, as part of their home summer calendar for

the 2017-18 season.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) are awaiting approval for the four-day, day/night fixture, which would also be their first home ‘pink ball’ Test.

However, Irish was concerned that countries trialing four-day tests on a random basis may lead to confusion and uncertainty around the format.

“If the ICC for example is coming up with a new league structure for Test

cricket then how does playing four-day tests fit into that and what are the advantages and disadvantages of four days, as opposed to five days, in that structure,” he added. ”If there are not significant advantages in making the structure and schedule better then why change?

“If there are significant advantages then these need to be understood before decisions are simply made to change the format.”

Upper Demerara Schools Athletics Blairmont, DCC, GCC and championships set for Friday TSC to meet in semifinals PLANS for reigning National Champions, District 10 Upper Demerara/Kwakwani, making a successful title defence start as entries closed Tuesday afternoon at the Mackenzie Primary school where an office was set up ahead of the Inter Primary and Secondary Schools championships which gets underway on Friday at the Mackenzie sports Club ground.

In fact the Inter School athletic and cycle road races will start Friday morning at 5.30hrs sharp. The start-

ing point is the Nut Farm at Dalgin on the Linden Highway which should cover a distance of 10KM and end outside the Police outpost at Amelia’s Ward.

Later on Friday, there will be the Inter Primary School track and field and athletics championship at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground starting at 9.00hrs.

On Sunday, there will be circuit races for all age categories around Linden, beginning outside Gregory’s Grocery on Republic

Avenue and that will be held from 14.00hrs, in association with the Linden Police Traffic Department.

Next Tuesday, there will be the Inter Primary School track and field heats and finals at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground beginning at 9.00hrs, while on Thursday will be the Inter Secondary School track and field championship heats, and the following day will see the finals in all categories at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground beginning at 9.00hrs.

PLAY in the Well Teen, Trophy Stall, Nauth Motor Spares and Tropical Spring Under-13 cricket tournament has reached its semifinal stage.

City teams Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), and Transport Cricket Club (TSC), along with Blarimont from West Berbice, have confirmed to battle each other on Saturday.

The matches are billed for the

DCC Ground, Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown, with Blairmont opposing TSC from 15:00hrs, and DCC playing GCC from 18:00hrs.

Seven teams participated in the tournament and after the preliminary rounds, Blairmont tops the points standing with 94 points. DCC accumulated 90 points, GCC (87 points), TSC (77 points), Rose Hall (62 points), GYO (58 points) and Everest (23 points).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, THURSDAY October 12, 2017

Elections were ‘free, fair and transparent’, says BCB President - pleads for a chance to move cricket forward

By Rajiv Bisnauth SUNDAY’s presidential elections of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) were conducted in a free, fair and transparent environment, according to president-elect Dhirendranauth Somwaru.

Somwaru made the disclosure yesterday during an exclusive interview, saying that there were no signs of manipulation, despite complaints and widespread criticism from a majority of the cricket stakeholders in that county, who have rejected the results, saying the elections were rigged.

“The elections were free, fair and transparent, so I would ignore all the criti-

cisms,” the 64-year-old said.

He added “It you take on everything that people say about you or the elections, then you will get sicker than I am, so I just ignore everything. This is a democratic country, and people have the right to say what they want, once they are not libelous”.

The BCB’s electoral process and results have now engage the attention of the courts, so the cricket problems in the Ancient County is nowhere close to being resolved.

However, Somwaru is of the opinion that court actions will not help the development of the game, and as such, is calling on cricket stakeholders to work together to resolve the existing differences.

Windies Women overpower Sri Lanka in ODI opener

Hayley Matthews took 3-18 with her off-spinners.

TAROUBA, Trinidad, (CMC) – West Indies Women overpowered Sri Lanka Women by six wickets to take a 1-0 lead in their three-match One-Day International series here Wednesday.

Playing at the Brian Lara Stadium, they easily chased down 137 with 11 overs to spare, securing the result which handed them an important two points in the new round of the ICC Women’s Championship.

Former captain Merissa Aguilleira top-scored with an unbeaten 32 while Chedean Nation got 24 and Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews, 22 apiece.

Left-arm spinner and captain Inoka Ranaweera claimed two for 27.

However, Matthews and Nation started the recovery effort by posting 42 for the third wicket. Matthews faced

64 balls and counted two fours while Nation faced 46 deliveries and gathered three fours.

Matthews was forced off hurt in the 20th over and Nation followed 16 balls later, to leave the hosts on 61 for three in the 23rd over.

Aguilleira then anchored two stands to see Windies Women to a comfortable win.

The right-hander produced a busy innings off 48 deliveries with a single four, putting on 34 for the fourth wicket with Dottin before adding a further 43 with Kyshona Knight (21 not out) in an unbroken fifth wicket stand.

Earlier, the visitors were dismissed for 136 with two balls left in the innings, after winning the toss and opting to bat.

They were undermined by off-spinners Matthews (318) and Taylor (3-24), along with leg-spinner Afy Fletcher (3-42) all of whom grabbed three wickets each.

Opener Yashoda Mendis top-scored with 34 off 72 balls while Dilani Manodara scored 28 not out and Chamari Atapattu, 25.

The innings was in good stead at 63 for one in the 24th over, with Atapattu and Mendis involved in a 41-run second wicket partnership.

But once Matthews had Atapattu caught and bowled, the Sri Lankans collapsed with the last nine wickets tumbling for 73 runs.

Newly-elected BCB president, Dhirendranauth Somwaru

“We want cricket to go on, we want cricket to be played, so how will cricket move on if we are not allowed to function.

Give us (BCB executives) a chance, and if we are not

doing well then kick us out, I would agree with that, but give us a chance,” Somwaru pleaded.

Further, Somwaru is appalled by the comments made by secretary of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, Winston Roberts, who said on Tuesday that he did not accept the position of vice-president as was reported in the media.

Roberts stated that he cannot accept any position on the present administration because the process to elect them in his mind was flawed and not in any form democratic.

He further mentioned that he never agreed to accept any position and was not even aware that he was nominat-

ed, as he and the rest of the Upper Corentyne delegation had refused to be a part of the elections.

However, Somwaru pointed out that Roberts was indeed consulted on the position prior to the elections.

“I met him (Roberts) personally, with Vickram Seubarran and Leslie Solomon, and I ask him if he is willing to accept the vice-president position…he didn’t say no.

I even spoke to Mr. Dennis DeAndread, president of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association what I had in mind once we won the elections, is for the vice-presidents position to stretch out in Berbice, Upper Corentyne, Central Corentyne and West Berbice. I would also like a

selector from Upper Corentyne,” Somwaru pointed out.

Meanwhile, Chronicle Sport understands that stakeholders from the Berbice cricket fraternity, have filed two separate court orders following Sunday’s contentious elections.

Information reaching Chronicle Sport indicates that an injunction was filed yesterday against the current board, preventing those officials from performing their duties until the application to set aside the elections is heard and determined.

A second application of contempt was filed on Tuesday against Somwaru, Godwyn Allicock and secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, Anand Sanasie.

‘Pocket’ Rogers conducting boxing clinic in Lethem RENOWNED Linden boxing coach, Orlando ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers is now in Lethem conducting boxing clinics at the Wadapna Community Centre and the response to these clinics is heartening.

Rogers left Linden on Sunday and started his training sessions on Tuesday morning after meeting the previous day with Mayor of Lethem, Carlton Beckles and Town Clerk, Ms. Keisha Vincent.

He described the first turnout as awesome ,as among the 25 participants were two female boxers and boxers as young as eight years old attending the clinics.

Boxing coach Orlando ‘Pocket Rocket’ Rogers with grey headband and stop clock in front with some boxers outside the Wadapna Community Centre.

Rogers said his trip was made possible through Minister of Sport, Dr. George Norton and Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, as he took

some boxing equipment to get things going.

Rogers said two sessions of training are taking place and they start at

Anna Regina Town Council upgrades grounds in Essequibo

THREE major grounds within the township, Richmond, Lima and Reliance were recently upgraded by the Anna Regina Town Council.

The grounds were facilitated with earth-filling to the tune of one million dollars. Notably, all three grounds were not used for a while, given that they were in poor conditions.

With the grounds now graded and the grass being weeded, they are now fit to host sporting activities including cricket, football and athletics, among other physical activities.

Presently at the Richmond ground, a number of players can be seen in the afternoons being engaged in football and cricket matches. With the population increasing in these areas, residents including parents have expressed satis-

faction that sporting facilities are being made available to youths.

According to one resident, young people are yearning for the opportunity to express themselves. Thus, having somewhere to go and exhibit their talent is a positive move for any community.

He further expressed thanks to the Mayor and Town Council for being sports conscious and committed towards community development.

Meanwhile, the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, which is the premier facility in the Region, was also enhanced with the installation of new fencing at the western end. More work is scheduled for the ground, including a new main pavilion, given that the existing one is very old with rotten boards and corroded zincs.

5.00hrs in the morning and goes for about one and a half hours and in the afternoon from 16.30hrs for two hours.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday October 12, 2017)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Chris Gayle-498 runs (2) Craig Wishart-331 runs Today’s Quiz: (1) Who has taken most Test wickets for the WI against ZIM to date?

(2) Which ZIM player has taken most Test wickets the WI to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE, THURSDAY October 12, 2017

A mother’s struggle turns to ‘Gold’

– Deshanna Skeete story

By Rawle Toney

WHEN 15-year-old Deshanna Skeete won Gold in the girls 400M at the South American Youth Games in Chile, on the surface it seemed like just another first place and medal for Guyana, but, for Skeete’s mother Nicketa Weekes, it was ‘pay back’ for her hours of walking around the community of Linden, asking for donation to help realise her daughter’s dream.

Apart from competing at this year’s Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) in Suriname, the South American Youth Games was Skeete’s first real taste of International competition and the Mackenzie High School (MHS) student introduced herself to the world in a rather ‘historic’ fashion.

The South American Youth Games, held every four years, never heard the Guyana National Anthem until Saturday October 7, 2017, given the fact that

Guyana had never won gold at the event.

After crossing the finish line with a time of 57.28 seconds to finish ahead of Brazil’s Jessica Moreira (57.54) and Ecuador’s Andreina Valencia (58.81), Skeete palmed her face as tears started to flow. Those tears, however, came with a sorrowful story behind it.

Upon her return, Skeete told Chronicle Sport that while she was happy to make Guyana proud, her medal actually belongs to her mother in recognition of her sacrifice and tireless effort to ensure she stay the course and rise above her personal challenges.

Skeete’s mother, Nicketa, said “I would walk around Linden, begging people to help because there’s no other way for her to really be able to run and get a chance to live her dreams of representing this country.”

After attending the Wisburg Secondary School, Skeete would continuously excel academically with

grades in the 90s, and, in recognising her gifted athletic ability, the Region 10 Department of Education

to cross the river, then, she has training in the afternoons and lessons, because school is important to her.”

TEARS OF JOY! Deshanna Skeete in tears after winning the Girls 400M in Chile

transferred her to MHS to enable her to be better educated.

However, the move, according to Weekes, came with its share of financial burden. “When she moved to MHS, it became even harder, because we live in Wismar, so it wasn’t much to send her to school at Wisburg, but now, I have to find an extra passage

GFF host second CONCACAF ‘D License’ course

(sitting L-R) CONCACAF Instructors, Vincent Earl Ganzberg and Anton Corneal; GFF President, Wayne Forde and Technical Director, Ian Greenwood.

THE Guyana Football year we’ll be able to apply for chance to educate their young Federation (GFF) yes- C Licenses and B Licenses.” players, since “over the years, terday opened its second Greenwood asked the par- we’ve seen methodology CONCACAF ‘D Licenses’ ticipants to be open to learn- changed; ways we looked Coaching Course at the ing new ideas and coaching at the game, ways we have Guyana Olympic Associa- philosophy; something that advanced and areas that we tion (GOA) Headquarters, was echoed by visiting CON- might have advanced, we where 30 coaches will over CACAF Instructors. might have to go back.” the next four days be tuThe American Ganzberg, “What you’re doing tored and tested by CON- after thanking the GFF for to help guide coaches and CACAF Instructors, Anton coming up with the initiative, young players will be the Corneal and Vincent Earl explained to the coaches that key. It is important to us that Ganzberg. “these four days will get you you give young players the Technical Director of the to dip your toe in the water, opportunity to learn the game GFF, Ian Greenwood, said but it’s after you really be- of life through football, and the aim is “to have as many come a coach.” the one that excel, you give certified coaches in the counCorneal said the course them a pathway” Corneal try as possible, so that next is about giving Guyana a told the Turn to page 20

Over three years ago, Deshanna lost her father. Her father’s death was a devastating blow as the athlete put it, but it also left her mother to cater for six children alone and one of whom is gifted beyond her own imagination.

Thanks to the Community Organised for the Restoration of the Environment (CORE) Programme; an ini-

tiative of the Coalition Government, Skeete’s mother is able to have an income, but the woman said it’s barely enough to maintain the family and take care of an athlete.

“I make $23,700 a month and that’s not enough to even take care of us, much less to send her to represent Guyana. I walk around this place, asking people for help, some of them will tell you all sort of things, but I know what it means to Deshanna,” said Weekes.

She added “When she was going to Suriname, I had to find money to get her stuff to travel. Then, when she was going to Chile, same thing and I know she has to eat right. Every time she travels, it’s expensive and it’s hard; trust me, it’s very hard.”

“They want these athletes to bring back medals and do Guyana well, but they don’t look out for them otherwise.

Since when she broke the national record last year, I reached out to people to help because this means a lot to her, that’s all she talks about and dream about and it is only right that the people in power do something to help

these athletes.”

Weekes said the Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland, is among those who would assist from time-to-time, but she had reached out to Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, for his intervention, but nothing was done.

Meanwhile, Weekes noted she was disheartened by the reception her daughter received upon her return to Guyana and more so Linden, since her medal will forever be remembered as Guyana’s first at the games, which only comes around once every four years, just like the Olympics.

“Things like these really frustrate athletes, and parents. Come on, some people don’t know the sacrifices us parents make to send our children to these events, because the Government and those in charge don’t do anything for them, everything is on the parents” It is Weekes’ hope that President David Granger could intervene to help athletes like her daughter and ease the burden of parents like her.

Ambris, Singh hit half-centuries as Windies A reach 236-4 on day one FLORENCE HALL, Jamaica, (CMC) – Batsman Sunil Ambris continued to press his case for international selection while Vishaul Singh sent a reminder of his quality, as both batsmen stroked half-centuries on the opening day of the first four-day “Test” against Sri Lanka A here Wednesday.

Opting for first knock at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium, the hosts were 236 for four when bad light ended play on the country’s scenic north coast.

The right-handed Ambris was unbeaten on a stroke-filled 62 while Singh was on a patient 58, the pair involved in an unbroken 91-run fifth wicket stand.

Windies A batsman Vishaul Singh cuts during his unbeaten 58 on the first day at Trelawny Multiplex. © (CWI Media/Athelstan Bellamy).

Left-hander John Campbell also gathered a half-century with 56.

Left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara, who played two Tests against India last August, claimed two for 56.

Openers Campbell and Montcin Hodge, who made 13, put on 44 and safely navigated the first hour to hand West Indies A a decent start.

The right-handed Turn to page 20

SCOREBOARD WEST INDIES A 1st Innings M Hodge st Weerakkody b Pushpakumara 13 J Campbell st Weerakkody b Jayasuriya 56 *S Brooks run out 19 V Singh not out 58 +J Hamilton lbw b Pushpakumara 6 S Ambris not out 62 Extras (b8, lb1, w8, nb5) 22 TOTAL (4 wkts, 76.1 overs) 236 To bat: R Cornwall, D Jacobs, S Cottrell, K Joseph, R Leveridge.

Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-76, 3-127, 4-145.

Bowling: Fernando 8-1-21-0, Kumara 11-1-43-0, Pushpakumara 19.1-4-62-2, Karunaratne 12-1-330, Jayasuriya 16-3-39-1, Silva 6-1-9-0, Hasaranga 1-0-9-0, Shanaka 3-1-11-0.

SRI LANKA A – Dhananjaya De Silva (captain), Charith Asalanka (vice-captain), +Sandun Weerakkody, Ron Chandragupta, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Malinda Pushpakumara, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.

Ambris, Singh hit half-centuries as Windies A reach 236-4 on day one

Page 23

WIFBSC/ Guyana NRA 150th Anniversary shoot…

Ireland’s Gill stuns field to top Grand Aggregate …Mahendra Persaud takes WIFBSC individual title

National Fullbore Captain, Mahendra Persaud, just missed out on topping the Grand Aggregate of the Guyana NRA 150th shoot. He did, however, win the WIFBSC individual Championship

By Stephan Sookram AFTER an intense final day of shooting, Ireland’s Alexander Gill finished atop the grand aggregate of the West Indies FullBore Shooing Council (WIFBSC) Championships and Guyana NRA 150th Anniversary shoot.

Gill, who entered the day in third position behind leaders, David Calvert of England and Mahendra Persaud of Guyana, capitalized on the faults of both men to sweep the aggregate.

He finished after three days of shooting with an overall aggregate of 390 with 25 V’s, demoting Fullbore Captain, Persaud to second with 387 and 33 V’s and Calvert third with 384 and 34 V’s.

Meanwhile, Persaud took the WIFBSC trophy ahead of countryman, Lennox Brathwaite (384, 28 V’s) and Trinidad’s Stephanie Ward (383, 26 V’s). Guyana’s Ransford Goodluck finished just two V’s short of Ward for fourth.

At the 300- yard distance, Goodluck was the top shooter with a possible 50 and 5 V’s, to outshine Jason Troup of Canada who fell short by a V Bull.

Third on that list was Calvert who dropped a point, with Persaud’s 47 and 4 V’s leaving him ninth and Gill just behind

Turn to page 20

The left bank of the 1000-yard distance of the Timheri Rifle range was difficult during the first detail of shooters.

(Stephan Sookram Photo)

Top Jamaican karters to debut at GT Motorsports on October 21 Page 20

Jamaican Joshua Sigany will be in action on October 21 Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

A mother’s struggle turns to ‘Gold’ – Deshanna Skeete story Page 23

GOLDEN SMILE! Deshanna Skeete proudly displaying her 400M Gold Medal THURSDAY, OCTOBER, 12, 2017