Guyana chronicle e paper 10 19 2017

Mabaruma gets new all-weather road Page 13

No. 105070

THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2017

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

State House to become cultural mecca – President announces at venue’s first ever Diwali Utsav

The The grand grand Diwali Diwali motorcade: motorcade: AA distinctive distinctive Guyanese Guyanese celebration celebration Page 14

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Bulkan urges ‘frontal, collective’ response – to region’s water management, Page 12

climate change woes

Soldier dies in Lethem accident Suspected arsonist in Newtown fire still at large Page 13

A young girl dressed as Goddess Lakshmi

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

State House to become cultural mecca – President announces at venue’s first ever Diwali Utsav

By Alexis Rodney PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday committed to making State House a cultural mecca of sorts for Guyanese of all ethnicities.

He also promised that the event held on the lawns there, under what is called a Baridi Benab, will become an annual feature.

Caught up no doubt in the spirit of the season, this being the Festival of Lights and the triumph of good over evil, the president made the foregoing announcements while hosting members of the Hindu community at his official residence for what has been touted as the first ever Diwali Utsav to be held there.

For the grand occasion, the benab was transformed into a temple-like setting as special invitees, among them ministers of the government and members of the diplomatic corps, sat around and were treated to special performances from various groups.

According to President Granger, the story of Ram and Seeta, which many Guyanese had the opportunity to witness for the first time Tuesday evening, really demystifies the religious precepts, and draws the country closer together.

The event at reference was a special Diwali cultural programme hosted by the Ministry of Social Cohesion

on Main Street.

Said the President: “Diwali is particularly important for us, because it is the Festival of Lights. It is the festival which symbolises the victory of light over darkness, of knowledge over ignorance, of togetherness over divisiveness and is a lesson that all Guyanese could learn that it is not only a Hindu thing, it is a national thing.”

Noting that anything which brings Guyanese closer together is a good thing, the president said that every region across Guyana should hold Diwali observances, as it is a national celebration.

“It is no longer a colloquial or geographical observance,” he said. “Every

Guyanese needs to learn the lessons of coming together and overcoming poverty, overcoming illiteracy and ignorance and divisiveness.”

The historian in him coming to the fore, President Granger recalled that back when Guyana was a colony, the celebration of religious events like Diwali was prohibited.

He sees the opportunity to be part of the grandeur of the occasion as a gift of independence, which is why he feels that the holiday must be used to build respect and understanding among Guyanese of all races and creeds.

Meanwhile, Swami Aksharanandan of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan Secondary

President David Granger addressing guests during the hosting of Diwali Utsav on the grounds of State House late Wednesday

School weighed in on the continuous feud over the date for Diwali celebration.

“It is only one single organisation in this entire hemisphere that insists that Diwali must be done at a certain time,” the Swami said, adding: “This kind of stupidity can only be matched by the amount of disdain that these people have for the very people of whom they claim to care about.

“What else can it be, if they know what the truth is and are confident of what the truth is. But I am absolutely sure they know what the right thing is.”

Over the next five days, Hindus will be celebrating the remainder of the Diwali festival.

President Granger with students of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan Secondary School. Seated behind them are Ministers of Government and members of the diplomatic corps (Photos by Samuel Maughn)

Agricultural agencies join forces – to crack down on praedial larceny THE issue of praedial larceny and its negative impact on local farmers was the focus of a recent workshop held at the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) headquarters in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

The GLDA, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Law Enforcement from Jamaica and local farmers have joined forces in an effort to tackle the theft of farm produce.

Chief Executive Officer of GLDA, Mr Nigel Cumberbatch said that the Authority views the act of praedial larceny as a serious offence and is committed to supporting any initiative that seeks to protect farmers from losing their livestock.

business and should be treated as such. To that effect, praedial larceny severely

CARICOM’s Mr Nigel Durant

“We are committed to ensuring that if we cannot eliminate larceny of agricultural products, we can at least reduce it to the point where it does not affect the farming community,” Cumberbatch said.

CARICOM representative, Mr Nigel Durant observed that agriculture is a

GLDA’s Mr Nigel Cumberbatch

impacts the profitability of businesses and the incentive to continue in the field. With the exception of Jamaica, most other member states

have not successfully addressed the issue.

“This initiative that you are involved in right now is an outcome of the deliberations and discussions that are being held at the regional level… this is the beginning; the transfer of best practices I think is essential element,” Durant explained.

Cecil Persaud, representing the Minister of Agriculture, emphasised the importance of legislation to address the issue and suggested the implementation of stringent penalties and fines be placed on persons who commit the act. He referred to the example of Jamaica, where persons found guilty are liable to fines up to three million Jamaican dollars, which is equivalent to over six million Guyana dollars.

“We must have a system where we can have justice very quickly,” he said. “We must have both the investiga-

Participants at the workshop

tive aspects and the adjudicative aspects made up in such a manner that things can be expedited and farmers are encouraged to report incidents of Praedial Larceny.”

It was recently announced that the government will table a Bill in the next parliament to address this issue. While legislation exists, there is a greater need for enforcement to stem the theft of agricultural produce.

The last known amendment, “praedial larceny (enhancement of punishment act 1983)” sought to increase fines from five hundred dollars or imprisonment for six months to, “not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars together with imprisonment for not less than six months nor more than eighteen months.” (DPI)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

Suspected arsonist in Da Silva St. blaze still at large THE suspected arsonist is still at large after the fire that gutted the Javis’ house and the dwelling next door, leaving about eight persons homeless on Tuesday night, following a domestic dispute.

Police said the fire reportedly started at about 22:00hrs when the 44-yearold musician had a domestic dispute with his wife, Joan Javis, 37, and there was a scuffle before he attempted to douse her with gasoline.

In her bid to escape a fiery death, she jumped through a window on the lower flat of the two-storey concrete house and escaped.

The suspect then in a fit of rage reportedly poured gasoline in a section of the building, set it alight and then fled the scene. He was still at large up to press time.

Police said the victim, Joan Javis, received minor injuries and is hospitalised in a stable condition.

The two dwelling houses after the blaze on Tuesday night

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the scene on Wednesday, 78-year-old Ovid Stewart who resided at the corner of De Abreu and Da Silva Streets, Kitty, had his nieces and nephews trying to salvage whatever they could from the flooded and destroyed lower flat of the two-storey concrete house

where he was a tenant.

He said that at about 10:30hrs, he was in bed and heard what sounded like squibs and thought that the children in the neighbourhood were up to no good.

However, he opened his eyes after hearing sounds outside his window and saw the conflagration next door.

The re-migrant added that he could not save anything but his own life by rushing through the door as the fire was spreading very quickly with the house next door being totally engulfed.

The elderly man reported that he remigrated to his homeland in 2004 and had been renting the lower flat

of the house since his return here, calling it his ‘retirement home,’ but all was lost on Tuesday night.

Stewart said his landlady, a mother of three, Adunni Orderson and her mother resided in the top flat of the house and they too lost everything.

He told this publication that the incident is most unfortunate and like most neighbours, he too said that the couple, the Javises, always had loud quarrels and fights and on Tuesday night they did not find it anyway unusual.

It was not until the fire erupted that they became aware that something had gone terrible wrong within that household. He told the Guyana Chronicle that if two people cannot get along they should move on and settle their differences constructively instead of resorting to violence and arson.

Stewart added that he is

Montserrat accuses UK of backpedalling BRADES, Montserrat, CMC –The Montserrat government says Britain has changed its policy on development aid to the British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean after a senior British official indicated that London would not now be funding a multi-million dollar fibre-optic project for the island.

Premier Donaldson Ro-

meo, speaking to reporters following the visit here of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) Deputy Head of Overseas Territories Department, Indranil Chakrabarti, said: “That is exactly the question. And in my view, that is what has to be resolved.”

“I have been reading through the FCO (Foreign

and Commonwealth Office) policies and other policies for the past 20 years, since 1997, and they have all consistently spoken to helping Overseas Territories, especially those like Montserrat getting out of dependency,” Romeo said, adding that if those policies are followed, “we would not be having this conversation right now.”

Romeo told reporters that

the fibre-optic project has been on the drawing board for at least seven years, and that DFID had been working with the government here on developing the project.

“The business case shows that the fibre- optic cable is a crucial step to help grow our economy; to create business opportunities; to better deal with health and other government services and more,” he

also the guardian of an elderly uncle who is in his late 90s and is being forced to stay with him until he finds a suitable place of abode, since he wants to live alone and spend his days reading novels and books of interest.

Stewart said fortunately he has fire insurance and he is hoping the company will compensate him as a result of the fire which has reduced his apartment to a pile of rubble.

Neighbours said they were not surprised something as tragic as a fire had occurred on Tuesday night since the couple were always fighting but it was unfortunate that the neighbours also lost their home.

Officials from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) said they received a fire call and when they responded, the dwelling house was already totally alight and they tried to save the other building by containing the blaze.

– reneging on development aid policy

said, adding: “It is also a key resiliency move to protect our communications if there is a hurricane.”

Romeo said the business case has argued that DFID should fund at least 97 per cent of the cost, estimated at nearly five million pounds (One British Pound =US$1.31 cents), and that Montserrat has already spent

an estimated 100,000 pounds “to bring this “project to this stage.”

He said the business case was approved in July 2016, and went through the pre-qualification stage for procurement, led by the DFID procurement team in August 2016. He said the prequalification responses were evaluated in September last Turn to page 9 ►

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

China’s Xi heralds new era --seeks sweeping victory against corruption CHINA’S President Xi Jinping says as his country enters into a new era the Communist Party of China must get a new look and make new accomplishments, even as he hailed successes in the fight against corruption and poverty.

Speaking at the opening of the CPC 19th Congress held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Xi said for the party to unite the people and lead them in carrying the struggle, it must unwaveringly uphold and improve party leadership and make the institution stronger. He said that the primary task of political party building is to ensure that the whole party obeys the Central Committee and upholds its authority and centralised, unified leadership. “Every member of the party must hold the party constitution in great reverence and act in strict accordance…” the Chinese leader said.

During his address President Xi outlined a two-step approach to becoming a great modern socialist country once building a moderately prosperous society in all respects is completed by 2020.

Hailing achievements in

Thursday, October 19, 2017

reform, opening up and socialist modernization during the past five years, Xi said socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era. “This is a new, historic juncture in China’s development.”

According to Xi, socialist modernisation will be basically realized from 2020 to 2035. From 2035 to the middle of the century, China will become a great socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful.

By then, China will be a global leader in terms of composite national strength and international influence.

Prosperity for everyone will be basically achieved, Xi told about 2,300 delegates attending the country’s most important political meeting in five years.

The goal exceeds the Party’s previous plans to “basically realize modernization” by the middle of the 21st Century. It also sets a higher target for China’s modernisation in terms of material, political, cultural and ethical, social and ecological development.

04:30 hrs

Friday, October 20, 2017

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PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC Established in 1921, the CPC founded the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and began reform and opening up in 1978.

Over the past five years, China’s GDP rose from 54 trillion yuan (US$8.2 trillion)

to 80 trillion yuan, contributing more than 30 per cent of global economic growth. More than 60 million people have been lifted out of poverty. Over 1,500 reform measures have established general frameworks for reform in major fields, and the country is building world-class armed forces.

The country has entered an era with the greatest composite national strength since the Opium War of 1840 which plunged China into the darkness of domestic turmoil and foreign aggression.

The Chinese nation has stood up, grown rich, and become strong, and it now faces the brilliant prospects of rejuvenation, Xi said. “Scientific socialism is full of vitality in 21st century China.”

It also shows other developing countries the way to modernization, and offers wisdom through the Chinese approach to solving the problems facing mankind, he said.

But China is still and will long remain in the primary stage of socialism. Its international status as the world’s largest developing country has not changed, Xi said.

“Achieving national re-

juvenation will be no walk in the park,” Xi said. “It will take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there.”

Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to building a community with a shared future for Mankind. “No matter what stage of development it reaches, China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion.”

CORRUPTION Touching on the subject of corruption Xi said people resent the scourge most, noting that corruption is the greatest threat the CPC faces.” We must the resolve and tenacity to persevere in the never-ending fight against corruption.

Only by intensifying efforts to address both the symptoms and root causes of corruption by making sur that officials are honest, government is clean and political affairs are handled with integrity…”

He told the Congress that currently the fight against corruption remains grave and complex, but said the country must remain firm as a rock in its resolve to build on the overwhelming momentum and secure a sweeping victory.

14:30 hrs

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05:30 hrs

Sunday, October 22, 2017

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DATE: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 6

fidence and improved social wellbeing.

Xi called on the Party’s 89 million members to regard as their goal “the people’s aspirations to live a better life.”

The CPC is the highest force for political leadership, Xi said, stressing strict governance over the Party and improvement of the Party’s ability to govern and lead. Having gained overwhelming momentum in its fight against corruption, the Party is determined to secure a “sweeping victory” over “the greatest threat” to the Party.

The congress, held in the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing and presided over

by Li Keqiang, will deliberate over an amendment to the CPC Constitution. Delegates will elect a new CPC Central Committee and a new CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

05:00 hrs

Saturday,October 21, 2017

D

TWO-STEP APPROACH The two-step approach is an important component of the new Thought, a long-term guide for action.

The Thought builds on and further enriches Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development. It represents the latest achievement in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context, Xi said.

Xi listed 14 points that underpin the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

The principal contradiction facing Chinese society is that between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life, Xi said.

The people’s desire to live a better life is increasingly broad. Not only have material and cultural needs grown, but demands for democracy, rule of law, fairness and justice, security and a better environment are increasing, Xi said.

The report outlines the development of a modernized economy and socialist democracy, stronger cultural con-

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

Grenada awaiting results of natural gas discovery ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC –The Grenada government has confirmed the discovery of natural gas within the island’s territorial waters, but said it is still awaiting the results of tests to determine whether the gas is of a quality

the island could benefit from financially.

“The findings are being tested for quality,” Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell said, adding that not all-natural gas found is off the quality required for refining.

“The finding is one

thing,” he said, “but the quality is what will make a difference. I cannot, and will not count my chickens before the eggs are hatch.”

Earlier in the year, the government disclosed that it had issued a license to the Russian-based Global Petroleum Group to con-

duct the necessary exploration activities to locate oil and natural gas within the island’s territorial waters.

In May, a notice was placed in local newspapers saying that dredging was being done in the waters south of Grenada. The

Marine Department of the Grenada Ports Authority has confirmed that the dredging has since been completed, and the ridge has departed from Grenada’s marine space.

In June, Parliament approved the Hydro-Carbon Exploration Incentive Bill

2017 outlining a package of incentives for oil and gas exploration to any company.

A Trinidad and Tobago-based newspaper had recently reported that oil and gas had been found

by GPG close to the border with Venezuela.

concerns about resiliency and what the British government would be doing to support us going forward and I would say that’s why I am calling this press conference.

“There are some concerns people have raised to me after hearing the press conference that need to be cleared up and that’s why I raised the fibre optic project as one such concern.

“The fact that we are being asked to go out to the market to find as he said investment institutions to support us as opposed to what the business case had argued in the first place.”

The 55-year-old Premier said that in 2012, DFID had written a document indicating that together with the government of Montserrat, “we are appraising investment opportunities which could help boost Montserrat’s GDP (gross domestic product) and have the potential to substantially improve government of Montserrat revenues.”

He said the document went on to state “if approvals prove to be positive then the UK government

is likely to provide the majority of the public funds needed for any investment needed.

“That goes for the port, that goes for the hospital, that goes for our road projects, that goes for the fibre optic and clearly the business case that was put forward for the fibre optic argued that and was in keeping with the policy,” Romeo added.

“The fact that we are being asked now whether to go borrow money, or seek new partners when

that very business case made the point that they had already researched and found that was not the route to go, that it would not be successful going out to the market, we are now having to re-affirm to the people of Montserrat that the government of Montserrat position will be to seek to influence her Majesty’s government to stick to the policies that have been agreed and that make good sense for the people of Montserrat.”

Montserrat accuses UK of backpedalling --reneging on development aid policy BRADES, Montserrat, CMC –The Montserrat government says Britain has changed its policy on development aid to the British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean after a senior British official indicated that London would not now be funding a multi-million dollar fibre-optic project for the island.

Premier Donaldson Romeo, speaking to reporters following the visit here of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) Deputy Head of Overseas Territories Department, Indranil Chakrabarti, said: “That is exactly the question. And in my view, that is what has to be resolved.”

“I have been reading through the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) policies and other policies for the past 20 years, since 1997, and they have all consistently spoken to helping Overseas Territories, especially those like Montserrat getting out of dependency,” Romeo said, adding that if those

policies are followed, “we would not be having this conversation right now.”

Romeo told reporters that the fibre-optic project has been on the drawing board for at least seven years, and that DFID had been working with the government here on developing the project.

“The business case shows that the fibre- optic cable is a crucial step to help grow our economy; to create business opportunities; to better deal with health and other government services and more,” he said, adding: “It is also a key resiliency move to protect our communications if there is a hurricane.”

Romeo said the business case has argued that DFID should fund at least 97 per cent of the cost, estimated at nearly five million pounds (One British Pound =US$1.31 cents), and that Montserrat has already spent an estimated 100,000 pounds “to bring this “project to this stage.”

He said the business case was approved in July

2016, and went through the pre-qualification stage for procurement, led by the DFID procurement team in August 2016. He said the prequalification responses were evaluated in September last year, but that unfortunately, there has been no further action since September 2016.

Said he: “Recently, they are asking us to find co-financing for the project. However, co-financing was ruled out in the business case which argued there were market barriers.

“Given the market barriers and the modest size and cost of the project, we will be in discussions with DFID on the best solution.”

The DFID official had earlier escribed the discussions here as “fruitful and productive” but Romeo told reporters that that is left to be seen, because the matter is still being discussed.

“Clearly,” he said, “we were not able to put forward as many of the points and concern that we had to him. We had great

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Editorial

THE beginning of this month was shattered internationally with the October 1stmassacre of 59 people by Stephen Paddock. Firing from a hotel room on a country music concert, Paddock would also injure an estimated 489 people using a small arsenal of high-powered rifles he had accumulated.

As happens in the wake of such tragedies, the perpetual debate on American gun control flared up, and has predictably died down, with hundreds of hours of collective coverage and analyses with regard to the motivation of the shooter and analysis of how he was able to gather such a large cache of weapons.

The fervour with which the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was debated just weeks ago has already given way to less abstract fare, the lens shifting to the personalities of those who survived and away from the policy-makers upon whom responsibility for the enabling environment rests.

Do a Google search of “Las Vegas shooting” and

stories from CNN, Rolling Stone, and Fox News head the list, most featuring a security guard, Jesus Campos, who was initially listed as missing after the massacre. Even the latenight talk show hosts, the new vanguard of analysis of American affairs, have shifted their gaze back to the gaffes emerging from the Trump White House, from his stance on Puerto Rico disaster relief, to his ongoing battle with his own Republican party, to his bungling of messages of condolences to the families of American soldiers killed in Afghanistan two weeks ago.

Speaking of American military, involvement on foreign soil, do a Google search of “Mogadishu”, and there are no articles from CNN, Rolling Stone or Fox News at the top of the search.

Instead, what you’ll find are articles from the UK outlets The Guardian, The Independent, and the BBC, all on another tragedy, one that also involves a lone perpetrator who did not survive the incident-- a man who exploded two truck bombs in a

crowded area in the Somali capital last Saturday, killing an estimated 320 people, or more than five times the casualties in the Vegas incident.

The UK outlets and Al Jazeera have been reporting extensively on the story, with responsibility for the bombing being laid at the feet of al-Shabaab, a fundamentalist group currently involved in an ongoing war against the Somali government. Unlike a January bombing that killed around seven people, al-Shabaab has not claimed responsibility.

Within the reporting of the incident has been that it most likely was a revenge attack for the killing of several civilians in the town of Bariire, back in August. The original Al Jazeera report is painful to read: “At least 10 civilians, including three children, have been killed in a joint raid by Somali forces and U.S. troops in the country’s south, local officials said.

The attack, which took place in the early hours of Friday, targeted a farm on the out-

skirts of the town of Bariire in the southern Lower Shabelle region.

‘These local farmers were attacked by foreign troops while looking after their crops,’ regional Deputy Governor Ali Nur Mohamed told reporters in the capital Mogadishu.

‘The troops could have arrested them because they were unarmed, but instead shot them one by one mercilessly.’

Three children, aged eight to 10, and a woman were among the dead, Mohamed said.”

According to reports, the suspected bomber in the recent attack was a former soldier from the Bariire township, and the vehicles were sourced from there as well. The Al Jazeera report notes that there has been an escalation of attempts to eradicate al-Shabab, backed by what was said to be an increasing U.S. footprint in the country.

This might go a long way in explaining the curious absence of U.S. media entities in the top reporting on the attack on Mogadishu.

Where is the logic in this contradiction?

Dear Editor,

AN editorial captioned, “The dark side of social media” on October 14, 2017 in the Guyana Chronicle, outlined a cruel fact of Guyana’s daily socio-political life – nasty racism. The editors should be commended for the moral courage in further highlighting a monster that has continued to stalk the daily life of this country, seeking to inflame ethnic tensions.

Of course, it is aided and abetted by the main political opposition party.

What that editorial really illustrated is an ideology of a depraved and poisoned mindset that is undoubtedly a daily guide as to how a segment of this country’s citizens, continue to perceive another segment.

This has been manifested

in discriminatory attitudes towards the latter in the everyday interactive, socio- economic life of this country. Without any offence, fear or favour, this is a practical and straightforward fact of the national experience.

Racism as an ideology -- a guide as to how persons from a particular ethnic group or race perceive and treat another ethnic group because of the difference of physical features, particularly by the colour of their skin and texture of their hair, can only come from a mind that is distorted, diseased, wicked, and essentially dangerous to the peace of the world.

It is a process of the mind that goes against the very fact of the universality of man, to which so many of this group pay lip service in their daily suppli-

cations. Could these people be serious when they extol the virtues of peace within oneself, and among their fellow humans as a way of arriving at a better understanding of each other, and to live happily?

How this is possible when hatred and disdain are daily mantras, as manifested in the numerous scurrilous lies, distortions, libellous content of their social media postings, against another ethnic group? Where is the simple logic in this unspeakable contradiction? Then there is a problem with that particular cultural vehicle which influences the habits, customs, and lives of this segment. I know I am not incorrect in saying that the mindset is inherently derived from the dynamics of the particular culture.

If there is claim to di-

vine guide as an influence for daily living and in their affairs with their fellow men as propagated, then there ought to be instant repugnance at any attempt by any political party to engender such an odious philosophy for narrow, selfish political ends. More so, when that grouping has as its goal – ethnic supremacy.

I need not remind all that the pathway to the latter is primarily through race hatred. .

A L L G U YA N E S E MUST REJECT RACISM, FOR IT HAS VERY DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES FOR COUNTRY, AND CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. Regards Earl Hamilton

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

In this instance, what we have is a complex interplay of questionable foreign policy and the apparent complicity of a media which credibility is constantly under attack from the head of the administration responsible for that foreign policy in downplaying its potential role in this tragedy.

In the aftermath of such catastrophe, the argument is often made that it is unhelpful to draw comparisons or to attribute political dimensions to their existence. The danger with this outlook is that often when the dust settles, and the dead are buried, the focus is shifted away from the exploration of the root causes and the farther away from the

presumed polar centre of the world, the more quickly the concern dissipates. The root causes, however, remain, whether it is an absurdly outsized resistance to reasonable gun control resulting in the worst mass shooting in contemporary American history, or whether it is a poorly executed war on terror filled with civilian casualties resulting in the deadliest terrorist attack in Somali history. Whether it is Las Vegas, or Mogadishu, ignoring and confronting the enabling root causes of such catastrophic violence does nothing to solve the problem or prevent the next benchmark in what is considered worst or deadliest.

While authorities fiddled two children suffered Dear Editor

There are strands of similarities between the two recent abuse cases involving young boys.

Both cases were perpetrated by adults. In both cases a second person knew what was happening or taking place, but did nothing to render assistance to the helpless victims. In both matters the authorities knew, but were slothful in acting or did not act at all. Both were victims of depraved minds.

It must be queried what did the authorities hope to achieve by their failure to act with alacrity on reports?

While authorities fiddled, one child died and the other, well for sure he is scarred for life.

From all accounts in

the media reports, it took almost two months for city officials to realise the corporal who witnessed the indecent act was derelict in duty and he made no log of the occurrence in the station diary.

Seems the hierarchy of the city administration has also been derelict in the execution of their duty and should be called upon to account for atrocious decisions taken in this particular matter.

Did I read correctly?

The mother of the child at the centre of the City abuse matter, it is alleged, said to constables she did not want the child in her home as he was causing problems between her and her husband (SN Wednesday, October 18).

Sad, Sad, Sad. SHAMSHUN MOHAMED

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

OP-ED

On youth in politics

By Ruel Johnson

TWO events in Europe over the past few months have captured the imagination of the world with regard to the potential inherent in the subject of this column, youth in politics. Recently, the surprise win of the People’s Party in Austria has set its leader, Sebastian Kurz, on track to be – at 31 – the youngest head of government in the world.

In France, earlier this year, 39-year-old Emanuel Macron shocked the world by taking the French presidency with his newly formed En Marche! movement.

A few months back, in conversation with a staunch critic of Guyana’s political establishment, I was told that the problem with our current political system is that it is led by, and I quote, “People who are closer to the grave than they are to reality.”

This was a harsh assessment, but a hard one to effectively argue against on the basis of its first presumption at the very least.

The core of true power in both the government as well as the opposition is a 50-plus society, an interesting phenomenon considering our political history.

The original People’s Progressive Party was founded on January 1, 1950, coming out of existing political movements, the Forbes Burnham-led British Guiana Labour Party (BGLP) and the Cheddi Jagan-led Political Affairs Committee (PAC).

At the time of its formation, Cheddi Jagan would have been just 32, and Forbes Burnham not yet 27. Janet Jagan, a political force right alongside her husband, would have been 30, playing a role that was not only exceptional not merely because of her youth, but also her ethnicity, nationality and gender – a Jewish American woman in a far-flung colonial outpost. Also notable would be Ashton Chase, one of the founders of the BGLP, who would have been a month shy of 20- years- old when the party was founded in June of 1946. And of course, Martin Carter, was just 26 when he was first imprisoned in 1953 for spreading dissension against the colonial order, his iconic ‘Poems of Resistance’ being published the next year, after his second imprisonment, events to which we can credit the most powerful lines of Guyanese poetry ever: “So jail me quickly, clang the illiterate door if freedom writes no happier alphabet.”

In brief, the independence movement in Guyana was not executed by elder statesmen ushering in a new era of change – it was crafted from start to finish by people who were younger than I am when they first decided to take the destiny of an entire country into their own hands and who saw that mission through.

The same can be said for the new wave of political activists in the 1970s, particularly with the rise of the Working People’s

Alliance. When Walter Rodney returned to join and play a leadership role in the newly formed Working People’s Alliance (WPA), he was 32 years old, the same as co-founder Andaiye. Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine was 34 when he joined the party in 1977.

The last relatively recent political movement led by ‘young’ people was the formation of the Alliance For Change (AFC), eleven years ago, by a 40-year-old Raphael Trotman, defecting from the PNC and a 46-year-old Khemraj Ramjattan defecting from the PPP – the third co-founder, the late Sheila Holder, a former WPA member, was already in her late 50s.

The pattern appears to be that, as our post-independence polity has aged, so has the new political leadership. With the exception of the recently appointed Chair of the WPA, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley (who I believe is in her late 20s), the average age of the political leadership of the parliamentary parties is around 60, or twice the age of Sarabo-Halley. Indeed, remove her from the equation and the WPA itself, the second-wave party founded by people in their early 30s, ages considerably.

There seems to be a serious gap between the, let me say, “elder statespersons” in the political establishment and potential young leadership being groomed to meaningfully take over the reins. In no political party in Guyana – even with Sarabo-Halley accounted for – do I see any policy direction or evolution being shaped or even significantly influenced by young people within the party. No person under the age of 40 from any political party is out there speaking on national

issues in any consistent manner, the probable qualified exception being Charles Ramson, Jr. – our local Shakespearean scholar – and even then only for a relatively brief period of time and with varying competence.

The licence for participating in open political discourse appears to be the exceptional remit of the old, whether government or opposition. Given the particular nature of the origins of our contemporary political history, this is as unfortunate as it is anomalous.

How did we move from a 37-year-old Forbes Burnham laying down the ideological infrastructure of the fledgling PNC in 1957, to the relative silence of the very bright Ryan Belgrave, Chair of the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM) 60 years after? I serve on the Board of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited with Sarabo-Halley, and know she has extremely strong and well-informed opinions, but I don’t see any mechanism where her views as Chair of the WPA make it into the public domain. Cynthia Rutherford, current President of Youth For Change, the AFC’s youth arm, is also bright and opinionated but, again, no consistent voice in the public domain. This year, September, apparently marked the 65th anniversary of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), the youth arm of the PPP. No one knows who the current leader is and what is his or her vision for the party. The group’s active Facebook page predictably features one person, the current object of worship of the PPP’s new cult of personality, Bharrat Jagdeo.

What happened? How did we get to this place?

My guess is that the reasons

are complex in themselves and taken altogether. Certainly I see a nexus between political power and the control of resources playing a part. In brief, political succession in a land of scarce resources can arguably suffer from the same core problem from which a land with a surfeit of resources suffers – that is, a monopoly on power, both as a pathway to material gain and for the privileges in themselves that power provides.

In Guyana, we’ve had a curious distinction of being both a land of scarcity and a land of plenty. In time of scarcity, personal survival is often linked directly to political viability, whether via the basic membership of a political party to an occupation of the upper tiers of the hierarchy of what functionally becomes a political pyramid scheme – the lower members exist to give validation and succour to those at the top, a system which disincentivises succession planning or praxis.

And in times of potential plenty on the horizon, the incentives to make way for a new generation of leadership to reap the rewards that were absent in times of scarcity are even less.

I believe related to this is the apparent absence of inclusion

of youth in party mechanisms beyond the incidental, peripheral or token. That is an ironic reality of youth-based political initiatives everywhere. Very often the young people who overthrow an oppressive, regressive or even simply static system become the old people who engineer its mirror replacement. We seemed to have missed that sweet spot of political machinery engineering in which both necessary stability as managed by the experienced and the capacity for evolution as can only be initiated and executed by the young, co-exist in complement.

And finally, there doesn’t seem to be any grand unifying project to galvanise young people, even in competition with each other. We’ve had independence, and from then on what we’ve had is a crudely divided society in which ethnic considerations dominated the political space leaving little room for real ideological differences, any sort of dialectic of views that could have evolved an animated young people in any meaningful way.

Combine those factors, and I believe you have the relative apathy and political risk aversion that restricts our youth.

That said, it doesn’t matter the political persuasion, I refuse to believe that within the current political system young people are comfortable with their current place in the machinery of their respective parties. We live in an age when the young

are more in tune with the infrastructure to access and benefit from the world’s currently most valuable resource, information.

As in the post-World War II era out of which our Independence movement was born, the paradigm in which the young people of today operate is exponentially different from that of their parents.

A Kurz or a Macron is not handed a baton of leadership – they either assert themselves as a revolutionary force within an existing machinery or leave to form a new one. Indeed, the political evolution that led to the coalition victory of 2015 was precipitated by the formation of the AFC by the then relatively young defectors Trotman and Ramjattan a decade before. That said, defection cannot be the default catalyst for sustainable innovation in our polity – a political disruption is only as useful as the functional stability it ushers in. Young people within the existing parties need to assert their voices more within the existing systems, seek greater influence on public policy, and reach out their hand right now to accept the mantle of leadership, not sit around hoping that some day it is going to fall into their laps if they stick around long enough. By the time that happens, a new generation of future leaders would most likely have come and gone.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

China promises ‘green revolution’ …President Xi vows major projects to restore ecosystems CHINA is positioning itself to lead in the fight against climate change with its leader, President Xi Jinping telling his party’s 19th Congress on Wednesday that his government will step up efforts to establish legal and policy framework that promotes green production and consumption.

This, he said, will call for the promotion of a sound economic structure that facilitates green, low carbon and circular development.

With the United States Government pulling that country out of the landmark Paris Agreement, observers say China, as the second largest economy, can lead in this regard.

Though Beijing continues to grapple with the challenge of cleaning up its environment amid almost three decades of high speed growth, it has been taking steps to push a green growth.

“We will create a market-based system for green technology innovation, de-

velop green finance and spur the development of energy-saving and environmental protection industries, as well as clean production and clean energy,” President Xi told the opening of the one-week Congress being held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

President Xi said China will promote a revolution in energy production and consumption and build an energy sector that is clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient.

“We will encourage conservation across the board and promote recycling, take action to get everyone conserving water, cut consumption of energy and materials and establish linkages between the circular use of resources and materials, industrial production and everyday life,” Xi said.

Only last month China and the European Union agreed to step up coordination in the fight against global warming and experts have hailed Xi’s remarks Wednesday as progressive.

Mr Xi addressing delegates at the start of the week-long meeting (Photo courtesy Reuters)

“We encourage simple, moderate, green and low-carbon ways of life and oppose extravagance and excessive consumption. We will launch initiatives to make party and government offices do better when it comes to conservation and develop eco-friendly families, schools, communities and transport services,” Xi

said.

He said man and nature form a community of life and as human beings, all must respect nature; follow its ways and protect it.

“Only by observing the laws of nature can mankind avoid costly blunders in its exploitation. Any harm we inflict on nature will eventually return to haunt us. This is a reality we have to face.”

He asserted that the modernisation China pursues is one characterised by harmonious co-existence

between man and nature and that in addition to creating more material and cultural wealth to meet people’s ever-increasing needs for a better life.

“We need to also provide more quality ecological goods to meet people’s ever-growing demands for a beautiful environment.”

EVERYONE INVOLVED The Chinese leader also promised to get everyone involved in improving the environment and address issues at the root, noting that Beijing will continue its campaign to prevent and control air pollution and take comprehensive measures to improve river basins and offshore areas.

“We will strengthen the control of soil pollution and the restoration of polluted soil, intensify the prevention and control of agricultural pollution from non-point sources and take measures to improve rural living environment.”

Turning to the subject of the ecosystems, Xi said China will carry out major projects to protect and restore key ecosystems, improve the system of shields for ecological security and develop ecological corridors and biodiversity protection networks so as to strengthen

quality and stability.

To this end, he said his country will complete work on drawing redlines for protecting ecosystems, designating permanent basic cropland and delineating boundaries for urban development.

“We will promote afforestation, take comprehensive steps to control desertification, stony deserts and soil erosion, strengthen wetland conservation and restoration and better prevent and control geological disasters.”

President Xi also promised that overall planning, organisation and leadership for building an ecological civilisation will be strengthened, noting that regulatory agencies to manage stateowned natural resources assets and monitor natural ecosystems and improve environmental management systems.

“These agencies will in a unified way perform the duties of the owner of public-owned natural resource assets, the duties of regulating the use of all territorial space and protecting and restoring ecosystems and the duties of monitoring the discharge of all pollutants in urban and rural areas and conducting administrative law enforcement,” Xi said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

Teachers put theory into practice – in 17-day art exhibtion @ Castellani House

Some of the visual arts teachers whose works are on exhibition at Castellani House Creative pieces produced by visual arts teachers

By Michel Outridge A SEVENTEEN-day visual arts exhibition opened here Thursday at the National Art Gallery on Vlissengen Road which put the spotlight on art teachers for a

change rather than their charges.

According to Ms Lori-Ann Jacobs of the Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET) Unit of the Ministry of Education, the exhibition is

the first of its kind, in that it is geared towards allowing teachers to put into practice what they would have learnt after completing their formal training at the Burrowes School of Arts.

Featuring the works of

teachers from all across Guyana, the event is hosted by the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the National Art Gallery, and has over 130 art pieces on display and for sale.

Jacobs said that the exhibition is not limited to paintings and drawings, as it also features leathercraft, textile

Montserrat accuses UK of... year, but that unfortunately, there has been no further action since September 2016.

Said he: “Recently, they are asking us to find co-financing for the project.

However, co-financing was ruled out in the business case which argued there were market barriers.

“Given the market barriers and the modest size and cost of the project, we will be in discussions with DFID on the best solution.”

The DFID official had earlier escribed the discussions here as “fruitful and productive” but Romeo told reporters that that is left to be seen, because the matter is still being discussed.

“Clearly,” he said, “we were not able to put forward as many of the points and concern that we had to him.

We had great concerns about resiliency and what the British government would be doing to support us going forward and I would say that’s why I am calling this press conference.

“There are some concerns people have raised to me after hearing the press conference that need to be cleared up and that’s why I raised the fibre optic project as one such concern.

“The fact that we are being asked to go out to the market to find as he said investment institutions to support us as opposed to what the business case had argued in the first place.”

The 55-year-old Premier said that in 2012, DFID had written a document indicating that together with the government of Montserrat, “we are appraising investment opportunities which could help boost Montserrat’s GDP (gross domestic product) and have the potential to substantially improve government of Montserrat revenues.”

He said the document went on to state “if approvals prove to be positive then the UK government is likely to provide the majority of the public funds needed for any investment needed.

“That goes for the port, that goes for the hospital, that goes for our road projects, that goes for the fibre optic and clearly the business case that was put forward for the fibre optic argued that and was in keeping with the policy,” Romeo added.

“The fact that we are being asked now whether to go borrow money, or seek new partners when that

very business case made the point that they had already

From page 3

researched and found that was not the route to go, that

designs, fibre arts, ceramics and mix media work.

The objective, she said, is to showcase the talent of teachers as a way of motivating students. The idea is to also bring art teachers together so as to sharpen their skills.

Jacobs said that while the exhibition may have a certain

appeal for people in the art community, it is also open to the public, as some of the items are also on sale.

The exhibition, which opened last Friday, will run until October 28. The door opens from 10:00hrs to 17:00hrs on Mondays to Fridays, and from 14:00hrs to 18:00hrs on Saturdays.

it would not be successful going out to the market, we are now having to re-affirm to the people of Montserrat that the government of Montserrat position will

be to seek to influence her Majesty’s government to stick to the policies that have been agreed and that make good sense for the people of Montserrat.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

Young Gordon admitted to bar

By Svetlana Marshall AT 23, Attorney-at-Law Ornise Gordon is on a mission to provide much-needed legal services to the poor and vulnerable as she kickstarts her career at the Linden Legal Aid Centre in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

Gordon – daughter of the former Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman of the Linden Town Council, Orrin Gordon -- was admitted to the Bar on Tuesday by Justice Simone Ramlall after a petition was placed before the High Court by Attorney Mayo Robertson.

Before a room filled with relatives and friends, who from all indications were glowing with excitement, Robertson rose and petitioned the High Court for the young Lindener to be admitted to the Bar. Gordon was presented with her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) shortly after completing her studies at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year. Prior to that she had obtained her Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B.) at the University of Guyana (UG).

Gordon attended the Mackenzie High School from 2005-2012, during which time she wrote 11 subjects at the Caribbean Second-

ary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations and six subjects at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), achieving passes in all subjects.

In 2015 and 2016, Gordon completed internship at the Linden Legal Aid Centre, Attorney Robertson detailed while bringing to the court’s attention that his cousin’s decision to give back to her hometown was done with the

A proud Ornise Gordon stands at the High Court just after being admitted to the Bar on Tuesday

people in mind.

At the Linden Legal Aid Centre, he said Gordon, in offering her legal services, would defend the poor and powerless in their pursuit of justice. He told Justice

Ramlall that he has advised Gordon to be respectful of the Bench, stating that “when a judge moves in your favour, it is always thanks your honour,” and the same applies when the judgment is not favourable.

For Robertson, he has no doubt that his cousin would live up to the high standards of the Court, as he referenced her reputable family background.

Justice Ramlall, in offering congratulatory remarks, said Gordon is no stranger to her. Gordon and Justice Ramlall are alumni from the same alma mater. Additionally, Justice Ramlall recalled that Gordon’s mother Denise taught her and she holds her in high esteem. Gordon is also a friend of Ramlall’s daughter.

“So this is a special occasion for me too,” the judge told those present. While advising her to uphold the ethnics of the profession, Justice Ramlall told Gordon that she must take responsibility.

Stating that the first two years in practice are the most critical, Justice Ramlall further advised the young attorney to cultivate and build a good reputation and then safeguard it, warning that small errors can be problematic and even fatal.

But when all was said and done, the High Court judge made it clear that she has no

Young attorney Ornise Gordon (third right) stands with Justice Simone Ramlall (third left), Attorneys Mayo (second left) and Kurt Robertson (left), Registrar of Lands, Rosalie Robertson (second right) and Christine McGowan- Grant, Republic Bank’s Corporate Secretary (right) after she was admitted to the Bar on Tuesday

reason to doubt Gordon’s ability to live up to the obligations bestowed upon her.

In offering her response, the young attorney said the journey from UG to the Hugh Wooding Law School was not without challenges, but “God” carried her through.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Gordon said “it was challenging for the most part. It was a lot of work, a lot of studying, late nights, early mornings.”

She added: “I would al-

ways tell people that it was my faith in God that kept me, because sometimes you can feel a bit overwhelmed, and for me personally I felt burdened sometimes, but at the end of the day, I just prayed, did the work, and God did the rest for me.”

Gordon also used the opportunity to express appreciation to her parents, relatives and friends who offered their assistance in one way or another to ensure she was successful in her studies.

Asked why the Linden Legal

Aid Centre, Gordon said, “Well I believe in service of others. As a Christian I believe that you should help others and mainly I wanted to use my career to help others, and I also wanted to stay in Linden.”

She pointed out that many of the people accessing the services of the Legal Aid Centre cannot afford legal services on their own.

To aspiring lawyers, she said “work hard, study hard and keep God in the centre of your life.”

Women can be more than just housewives

– says Carmilita Jamieson, the girl from Leguan who always wanted to be a lawyer

By Alexis Rodney LEAVING school and pursing her dreams as a lawyer was all that Carmilita Jamieson ever wanted to do. So when the opportunity presented itself for her to begin studies at the University of Guyana (UG) back in 2000, no one was more excited than the Leguan, Essequibo River damsel.

But that excitement was short-lived, since her family was unable to support her financially in that area.

Carmilita later left Guyana for St Vincent and the Grenadines, where she pursued a career in journalism, still keeping her eyes on becoming a lawyer. She later left St Vincent and went to the British Virgin Islands (BVI), where she continued in the field of journalism, to the point where was elevated to the position of

New attorney, Ms Carmilita Jamieson taking her oath before Justice Nareshwar Harnanan at the High Court on Monday

Editor-in-Chief of one of the island’s news entities.

But after seven years of scrimping and saving, Jamieson felt she had enough money to make her lifelong dream come true, and promptly returned to Guyana in 2012 to begin pursuing her legal career at UG. On Monday, Jamieson was admitted to the bar when her petition was presented to Justice Nareshwar Harnanan

by Attorney-at-Law, Mr Bernard DaSilva.

Jamieson, who turned 38 that same day, told the Guyana Chronicle that her dream of becoming a lawyer dates back to her childhood years while attending primary and secondary schools on the Island.

At this point in her life, she said, her mission is to motivate other young women from her home village to

take the big leap in spite of their circumstances.

She said she grew up on an island where it is the norm for young women “to get married at an early age”.

She said most of her friends are married with three and four children, and have not made a way to elevate themselves.

“The thing for me is to try to motivate young women that they can do the best that they can; to remind them that there is more to life than living in Leguan and settling for less,” she said following her admission on Monday.

The new attorney said that while Legaun has produced great minds and leaders in Guyana, her focus is on empowering those who believe that they should settle for anything than the best.

“My challenge to them is that we can be anything we want to be, and if we put our minds to it as women and

‘The thing for me is to try to motivate young women that they can do the best that they can; to remind them that there is more to life than living in Leguan and settling for less’ – Attorney-at-Law, Carmilita Jamieson stop thinking of ourselves as just housewives and persons who are just there to take care of our families, we could elevate to so much more,” she told the Guyana Chronicle.

The single-mother also had a word of advice for other women who may be facing the burden alone, but still want to elevate themselves.

She said being a single-mother and especially having to leave her son behind to study at the Hugh Wooding Law School while he was preparing for the Grade Six Assessment Examination was not an easy

task.

She said her son, who now attends Queens College, had missed her for those few years while she was away.

According to Jameison, there is nothing that should prevent single- mothers, if they so desire, from moving up the ladder academically.

“Even though being a single-mom, I do not believe it is an excuse for our children’s poor performance, because if you put your mind to it, you can do it,” she said. “You still need to balance it with your studies and your kids studies as well.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

Hinterland student wins One dead in Land of COTA essay competition Canaan accident SARAH Fernandes, a 14-year-old Fourth Form student of the North West Secondary School in Region One (Barima/Waini) is the winner of the national Caribbean Organisation for Tax Administrators (COTA) essay competition.

According to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Fernandes’ essay was based on the topic, “If I were the head of my country’s Tax Administration, what would I do to increase tax revenues to fund the Government’s development programmes?”

Fernandes, along with Naiome Bacchus of St Joseph High and Crystal Wills of Queen’s College copped the first, second and third prizes, respectively. The winners received honours at a simple ceremony at Cara Lodge on Thursday last.

The GRA said the essay was impressive enough to earn Fernandes 98 out of 100 marks by an evaluating panel.

Fernandes, along with 25 other students from schools across the country and their Caribbean counterparts, vied for the top honours after the competition was launched in March 2017.

Participating schools were required to submit three essays (800-1000 words) on the abovementioned topic.

GRA said the submissions were required of students grades 9-11 and graded for knowledge and understanding of the tax administration function, the country’s tax structure and current modernisation drivers, relevance and depth of research, quality of argument, ingenuity of ideas and use of examples/ illustrations, use of proper grammar and punctuation.

The evaluation was done by a panel of senior officers from the GRA which then submitted the finalists to COTA for entries at the regional leg of the competition.

Sarah Fernandes receives her trophy from GRA Commissioner-General Godfrey Statia

The first prize trophy was presented to Fernandes by Commissioner-General of the GRA, Godfrey Statia.

Statia said the initiative by COTA must be applauded, since it provides the opportunity for introducing youths to taxation and allows the GRA to garner feedback about the youths’ perception of taxation.

“The entrants’ interests reveal that there may be the need to include taxation as part of the education curriculum,” the commissioner-general said.

Amidst the accolades, the pupils were encouraged to continue showing interest in reading, writing and in-depth research if they want to excel.

The essay competition is a major element of the public education component of the COTA work programme which is aimed at stimulating broad interest in taxation matters.

POLICE are investigating a fatal accident which occurred at around 06:45 hours Wednesday morning on the Land of Canaan Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Dead is 50-year-old Joseph Harmon of Relief, a few villages away.

An initial police investigation has revealed that Harmon was struck by a motor lorry when he exited the minibus in which he was travelling to allow another passenger to join it.

According to the po-

The minibus involved in the accident

lice, the motor lorry (GRR 9592) was being driven by a 28-year-old, and the minibus (BSS 8672) by a 32-year-old.

Both vehicles, they say, were proceeding north on the western side of the road, while another, a motorcar (PTT 9066), was proceed-

ing in the opposite direction.

Reports are that as the minibus stopped and Harmon alighted onto the pavement, the lorry lost control and hit him and the minibus into the oncoming

motorcar.

He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Breathalyzer tests were administered on the drivers and no alcohol was detected. Both men are in custody assisting with further investigations.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

Bulkan urges ‘frontal, collective’ response – as regional officials meet to tackle water management, climate change woes

MINISTER of Communities, Ronald Bulkan has called for stronger integration of Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) member states to better address water management in the region and the threat of cli-

mate change to populations that inhabit coastal areas and small-island states.

At the opening Monday of the 26th CWWA meeting at the Marriott Hotel, Minister Bulkan said the problem must be tackled “frontally and collectively”, since it

is too big for individual responses.

He highlighted that among the expected outcome of the five-day seminar is a White Paper addressing overall governance in the water sector, integrating and emphasising access of vul-

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan cutting the ribbon on Monday to declare open the CWWA meeting at the Marriott Hotel. Helping him do the honours are Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Mr Sydney Allicock (second right) and CWWA President, Mr Alphonsus Daniel (second left)

At the opening Monday of the CWWA meeting at the Marriott Hotel (Photos coutesy of the DPI)

nerability to climate change and elements of a strategic plan for water governance and climate resilience.

“Implicit in those is the acknowledgement that disasters are now occurring with greater frequency that makes building climate resilience in the water sector an urgent necessity and that stronger regional cooperation has to be forged,” Minister Bulkan said.

The minister pointed out that Guyana also recognises the need for good water governance and effective infrastructure, hence,its direction in the green state development strategy.

CWWA President, Mr Alphonsus Daniel, underscored the destruction of the water infrastructure caused by recent hurricanes in the region, and commended member states for assisting the affected countries.

“The responses by our members of the CWWA to reach out with engineering skills and assist them (Caribbean countries) with rapid assessments of the affected water infrastructure was tremendous,” Daniel indicated.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer, Guyana Water Incorporated, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, drew attention to the fact that the conference being convened on the heels of the recent devastation allowed for more decisive action and strategic direction on climate change and water security to be taken.

“As we grapple to respond to the effects to these hurricanes,” Dr. Van-West Charles said, “the question is: Has there been the required focus over the last nine years, and could these results which we witness today could have been mit-

igated?”

Not waiting for a response, he said: “May I suggest that these issues remain a major concern, and the critical agenda item for action by the high-level Ministerial forum of 2017,” Dr. VanWest Charles emphasised.

Also present were Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock; Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Dawn Hastings-Williams; Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin; Minister of Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes; and representatives and members of the CWWA. The five-day 26th CWWA Annual Conference and Exhibition is being held, at the Marriot Hotel, under the theme “Promoting innovation and creativity in water, waste water and waste management.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

Mabaruma gets new all-weather road along its shoulders.

Another firm is expected to construct a pavement which will complement the stretch.

Rainy weather conditions were hampering the commencement of concrete road works to the roadway in the area; the all-weather roads are being built for the first time in the town.

Region One’s first town has been plagued with pot-holed roads over

A resident walks along the all-weather road which was constructed at Mabaruma

WORKS on an all-weather road at Mabaruma has been completed and the contractor is expected to commence work soon on a similar project at the Kumaka Stretch, the town’s business hub.

Reports are that works to the roadway linking the Mabaruma airstrip to the main public road in the Region One (Barima/ Waini) town was recently completed.

A three-week period is being utilised to monitor the structure’s durability, following which it will be opened to motorists.

Mohammed Ramzan Ally Khan was awarded contracts earlier in the year to undertake concrete works in two lots in the area.

The contracts, which were awarded by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, entail concrete works to the road close to the town’s airstrip ($82.1M) as well as the Kumaka Stretch ($66.2M).

Works on the latter project are expected to commence soon. At the moment, the roadway is being graded while trenches are being constructed

GDF l/cpl dies in Lethem accident

Dead: Devon Fraser

A TWENTY-eight-yearold Guyana Defence Force Lance Corporal who was walking on the Lethem Public Road succumbed to injuries he sustained when a motorcyclist collided with him early Tuesday

morning.

Dead is Devon Fraser, called ‘Delta Force,’ a trombone player who hails from Buxton.

The motorcyclist was reportedly drunk and speeding and as a result of the impact, the pedestrian and the motorcyclist sustained injuries about their bodies.

They were taken to the Lethem Regional Hospital where Fraser was pronounced dead on arrival, while the motorcyclist was admitted a patient, reports said.

Fraser was said to be part of a contingent which is in the border town to take part in the inaugural Lethem Town Week events.

Police are investigating the incident.

the years.

During 2016, the roadways in the region were in a deplorable state for weeks as slothfulness by the contractor was cited as a factor in remedying the situation.

In September last year, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson said persons have complained of their inability to secure contracts for works across the country, but their ability to undertake

works are hampered by identified challenges such as availability of equipment, since some contractors would have more than one contract and continue to bid for more.

In April this year, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon announced at a post-Cabinet press briefing that Cabinet has granted its approval for the award of contracts for the rehabilitation of six lots of all-weather roads in Mabaruma and

Port Kaituma.

He said Minister Patterson has undertaken to visit and witness the works to be undertaken.

Mabaruma is undergoing several changes in its infrastructure as the government, as well as the town council, is working to improve the general aesthetics of the town. A mega-solar farm is among several projects which are expected to impact the town’s development.

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The grand Diwali motorcade: A distinctive Guyanese celebration

One float showing Lord Rama and his wife Sita (seated above), Lakshmana and Hanuman alongside four little Goddess Lakshmis (seated in the Lotuses).

THIS tradition has persisted for more than decades – the annual Diwali motorcade – and with each passing year, participants come together to create beautiful, moving displays seeking to illustrate the significance of the festival.

This year, the grand motorcade began, as it usually does, at the Shri Krishna Mandir in Campbellville. Twenty-seven splendidly lit and decorated floats made their way along Sandy Babb Street, departing for their journey to the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Community Centre ground.

As the Guyana Chronicle manoeuvred through the streets as the motorcade was passing, it was quite evident that persons were completely absorbed in the procession, many taking photos or videos to feast their eyes on later.

With innovation and modernity stepping in more and more each year, the tradition of floats built upon horse carts has given way

to those mounted upon cars, tractors and trucks,

horses and other pack animals, transforming into the

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

A young girl depicts Goddess Lakshmi in the foreground, while in the background is an older Goddess Lakshmi and her husband Lord Vishnu

to turn back the hands of time and joined the motor-

Golden Fleece Mandir went for a balance between

cade with their inspired, horse-drawn carriage. The

tradition and modernity with a tractor-mounted

The Golden Fleece Mandir’s float

what was previously a procession primarily featuring

titular motorcade. This year however, one group sought

De Willem Hindu Temple’s unique design with Lord Vishnu atop Garuda

float led by illuminated pseudo-horses.

The usual representations of the various elements of the story behind the festival were all there.

There were several floats depicting the Lakshmi Ma, the goddess of light and prosperity with whom the festival is most associated.

Also represented was hued Lord Rama with his arrow and bow, his wife Sita, his brother Lakshmana and his faithful servant Hanuman illustrates another belief of the genesis of Diwali.

The crowd’s favourite however, seemed to be the larger float created by folks at the De Willem Hindu Temple because of its unique presentation of having Lord Vishnu seated atop his legendary mount, the mythical bird Garuda protruding in this instant from the face of a truck.

While many patrons lamented the controversy surrounding the actual date for Diwali, generally Hindus and non-Hindus alike called for unity.

Blast from the past! A fairytale- inspired float

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

GTT honours breast cancer ‘warriors’

The persons who were awarded with ‘warriors against breast cancer’ frames at the GTT ‘Pinktober’ benefit Tuesday evening (Photo by Delano Williams)

THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) hosted its “Pinktober” benefit dinner at Palm Court on Tuesday night, when they honoured five women and one man as warriors against breast cancer.

The persons honoured were: Marilyn Dewar, Anjuli Beharry, Rosalyn Clarke, Mitzy Campbell, Leslie Black and Bibi Hussein.

The dinner was part of a month-long activity calling for more action on breast cancer awareness.

At the event, there was sharing of the stories of cancer survivors, and a list of activities is planned, with the signature event being the inaugural Breast Cancer Awareness 5K and 10K walk slated for Saturday.

Persons can register for

the walk Online at gtt.co.gy/ cancerwalk for a small fee of $2000, Vat-inclusive.

The registration fee entitles the entrant to: A Pinktober 5K/10K Walk Run tee-shirt to participate in the 5K/10K walk; free group fitness training

before the Pinktober run on Saturday; three days of free mobile data; one ticket to the best dancehall, gospel or reggae show happening in Guyana between October 28 and November 16; and a $500 donation to the Guyana

Cancer Foundation (GCF) by signing up and paying with the code, MMG 05086.

All proceeds earned during the month, themed “Together we can make a difference”, will be donated to the GCF.

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GNBS honours 11 local businesses

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital received the Platinum Service Award for Quality in the Small Business Category

THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has honoured 11 local manufacturing and service companies at its inaugural National Quality Awards held recently at the Georgetown Club.

The awards coincided with the observance of Quality Week which began on October 8 and ends on October 14.

Eleven of the 16 companies that participated in the 2017 awards were presented with manufacturing and service awards for quality, after they were assessed and evaluated on the basis of the seven ISO Quality Management Principles.

These principles are customer satisfaction, leadership, engagement of people, use of process approach, improvement, evidence-based decisions and relationship management.

The companies competed in small, medium and large categories for Platinum (highest award) and Gold (second place) Awards.

Platinum Manufacturing Awards for Quality were presented to Massy Gas Products (Large Business Category) and Steve’s Jewellery (Small Business Category).

The National Milling Company of Guyana, KSM Investments and Umami Incorporated received Gold Manufacturing Awards for Quality.

Meanwhile for services, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Assuria GY Inc and MACORP received Platinum Awards, while Gold Awards were presented to Quest Medical Centre, Massy Distributions and Actlabs Guyana.

Other special awards were also presented to businesses and individuals.

For their significant achievement in becoming accredited to international standards, Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital, Eureka Medical Laboratories Inc and the Guyana Rice Development Board Central Laboratory were awarded.

For individual commitment to standardisation, Dr. Chattterpaul Ramcharran and Evadnie Enniss, former executive directors of the GNBS were awarded.

Dickson Hooper, technical assessor of Medical Laboratories and Patrick Dial, National Standards Council member were also awarded.

Additionally, the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) was presented with a special award for its regional efforts in promoting standardisation and quality infrastructure.

These 2017 awardees were commended for their efforts in implementing standards and were congratulated by many who were present at the event, including Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin; chair of the National Standards Council, Allison Butters-Grant; Executive Director of the GNBS, Candelle Walcott Bostwick; and the CEO of CROSQ, Derrick Omar.

The next GNBS National Quality Awards will be held in 2019 and more local businesses are encouraged to begin to implement standards. The GNBS Technical Team is always ready to offer support to businesses in this regard.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

More than 100 women screened -- as Cancer Institute urges more women to get on board

By Svetlana Marshall AT no cost, more than 100 women from various walks of life were screened for different types of cancers when the Cancer Institute of Guyana hosted an “open day” recently.

Though the open day was held in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Syed Ghazi, the Director of Outreach at the Cancer Institute, said the event was not limited to just free mammograms.

really cheap, but thanks to our sponsors, thanks to the people who are actually helping us, the event was made possible,” the Director of Outreach said.

Pap smear or Papanicolau smear is a screening test for cervical cancer.

The test itself involves collection of a sample of cells from a woman’s cervix during a routine pelvic exam. Robin Baxter was among women who had their pap smears done at no cost to them.

“I was scared at first.

As a woman you know

The vigil will be followed by a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk on Sunday, October 29. Dr. Ghazi emphasised that educating the populace on cancer is important with respect to prevention and early detection.

PROACTIVE APPROACH “We want to find this cancer before it finds us.”

While October has been designated Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Director of Outreach said the Cancer Institute

Director of Outreach at the Cancer Institute, Dr. Syed Ghazi

A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast that allows oncologists to determine if their patients have signs or symptoms of breast cancer.

“We did free breast examination, free pap smears, free ultrasounds, free mammograms. Free BSE training and free consultation with doctors,” Ghazi explained.

He said the open day, which was held at the Cancer Institute located on Lamaha Street, Georgetown, would not have been possible without the support of the many businesses and organisations that came on board to lend financial assistance.

“Pap smears are not

that you should check yourself, but I didn’t because of fear. But now that I meet that age I decided to and it was very comfortable and I would do it again,” Baxter told the Guyana Chronicle last week Thursday.

On Friday, the Cancer Institute of Guyana will host a Candle Light Vigil at its Lamaha Street compound as it continues to raise awareness about breast cancer and other types of cancers.

“We have a vigil right here to celebrate the people who have survived and to remember the people who have lost their lives to this monster, to this war,” Dr. Ghazi explained.

of Guyana has been in the business of raising awareness all year round.

He said the Cancer Institute has been reaching people in their work places and their communities. Emphasis, he said, continues to be placed on hinterland communities.

A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Ghazi, for the past three years, more than 3000 women have been screened for cervical cancer, while hundreds of women have been scanned for breast cancer. “ We d o e x t e n s i v e screening of Indigenous women. So we have already done two campaigns for this kind of screening, this year is the third cam-

paign, and each year we cover more than a thousand people,” he posited.

For Dr. Ghazi, the Cancer Institute of Guyana is one of the leading institutions in the country engaging in an aggressive fight against cancer.

“I have said this many times, we are the larg-

est stakeholder when it comes to screening, diagnoses and treatment of cancer, especially common cancers like breast and cervical cancers,” he stated.

Founded in 2006, the Cancer Institute of Guyana was pioneered by its Chief Executive Officer

George Nellamattathil.

Nellamattathil, who has a strong background in medical imaging, had established his own outpatient medical imaging centre in Chicago in 2001.

In 2004, along with Turn to page 18

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

More than 100 ... his long-time associate and Guyanese national, Thomas Eversley, he visited Guyana for the first time to seek opportunities to expand his medical imaging business.

In collaboration with St. Joseph Mercy Hospi-

tal, his company, Global Imaging Service, installed the first MRI scanner in Guyana. As the pioneer in Medical Imaging, Global Imaging Service (GIS) continued to expand its services by adding more imaging modalities such

as the CT scanner, ultrasound, mammography and general X-Ray In 2006, the then Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, solicited a Public/ Private Partnership with GIS which resulted in the formation

of the Cancer Institute of Guyana. At the cancer institute, several hundreds of patients are seen by qualified medical professionals for screening,

diagnosis and treatment.

A s t h e o n l y re c ognised institution that provides comprehensive cancer treatment to patients, Nellamatthil has

Continued from page 17 established a vision for the company to be the Centre of Excellence in Cancer treatment and research for the entire Caribbean Region.

These two women are consulting with an officer at the Cancer Institute before being screened, even as another waits in line (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, October 19, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday October 19, 2017

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday October 19, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday October 19, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday October 19, 2017

Guyana thrash Barbados 5-1 to keep podium-finish hopes alive

By Rawle Toney TEAM Guyana thrashed Barbados 5-1 last evening to keep their hopes alive to play for a ‘podium finish’ in this year’s Pan American Indoor Hockey Championships.

Having lost their three earlier games, coach Dwayne Scott had told Chronicle Sport that his ladies might be down, but certainly not out of the tournament, and their showing against the Women from the ‘Land of the Flying Fish’ at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall suggested that the home side are going allout to win their remaining games.

Gabriella Xavier scored back-to-back goals from a penalty corner (5th and 14th

minutes) to send the home crowd into frenzy.

Kerensa Fernandes scored a field goal just after Xavier’s strike, to put the ‘GT’ women up 3-0, but Barbados, through Cher King, pulled one back just before halftime to give the Bajans a glimmer of hope in their fightback bid.

In the second stanza, Guyana continued to dominate possession and after coming up short on several promising plays, Nicole Eastman scored in the 24th minute - a field goal which gave the home side a threegoal cushion (4-1).

Marzana Fiedtkou’s scored a penalty in the 32nd minute to put the icing on the cake for Guyana and also ensured that Barbados remain win-less after three outings.

Guyana will play Trinidad and Tobago today from 14:00hrs and based on the Trinis’ current form in the tournament, a win is on the horizon for Guyana as they attempt the herculean task of coming out victorious in their remaining games to contest for a spot on the podium on Saturday.

At the conclusion of yesterday’s matches in the

female pool of the tournament, Argentina sit on top of the group with a superior goal difference (16), despite picking up a loss and having the same number of points (nine), with second-place USA (nine) and Canada (nine).

Uruguay, with wins against Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, sit fourth (six points), followed by Guyana (three points).

The top two teams will play in the gold medal game, while third- and fourth-placers will play each other in the bronze medal game.

From back page

Skeete attends ...

GUYANA’S lone FIFA female referee Maurees Skeete is in Costa Rica to attend the October 19-22 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association (CONCACAF) 2017 Women’s Elite Referee/ Assistant Referee Course.

Skeete is the only participating referee from Guyana in this four-day course, which will be held at the Barceló San Jose Hotel in Costa Rica. Manager of Refereeing, Mark Cahen, and Refereeing Administrator Michelle Savani will

oversee the entire initiative.

Head of Refereeing Department, Stanley Lancaster stated that “based on Skeete’s continued high performance she has been placed as a Tier 2 CONCACAF Referee. This will serve as an encouragement to up-and-coming female officials and help to motivate other females to come onboard. We need an increase in our female referees, not just in numbers but in quality.”

CONCACAF’s Technical Instructors Kari Seitz, Jennifer Bennett, Luis Her-

nandez and Leonel Leal will conduct the course, complemented by Fitness Instructors Allan Browne and Kelesha Antoine.

The Women’s Elite Referee Course is designed to continue the development of the Women Elite Referees and Assistant Referees and will field 38 participants.

Activities for the course will include technical, as well as practical training and physical fitness testing. It will utilise classroom and field sessions, including video tests.

From back page

France leads...

Earlier in the day, Trinidad and Tobago clobbered the Barbadians 8-2 in their game while Argentina beat Canada 5-3.

At the end of the third day yesterday, Trinidad

and Tobago led the table with nine points from three games with Canada, Argentina and Guyana all on six points.

However, Canada sit second with a goal difference

of 13, to third-place Argentina’s 11 and fourthplace Guyana’s 9.

Barbados are fifth and Mexico sixth. Matches continue today from 11:00hrs.

Irish Racing Tips

09:40 hrs Flying Russian

09:10 hrs Barrys Jack

Punchestown

10:15 hrs Just A Jet

09:45 hrs Quietly

08:20 hrs Air Supremacy

10:50 hrs Aldebaran

10:15 hrs Ballyben

09:05 hrs Samcro

11:25 hrs Hint Of Gold

10:45 hrs Colt Lightning

09:35 hrs The Irregular

English Racing Tips

11:20 hrs Same Circus

10:10 hrs Ben Dundee

Brighton

10:40 hrs Death Duty 11:10 hrs Outlander 11:45 hrs King’s Song

09:00 hrs Rotherhithe 09:30 hrs Wilson 10:05 hrs Wordismybond 10:35 hrs Pick A Little

11:50 hrs Report To Base 12:25 hrs Hecla Uttoxeter 09:20 hrs Hernandes 09:55 hrs Cause Toujours

11:05 hrs Saint Helena

10:25 hrs No Hassle Hoff

South Africa Racing Tips

11:40 hrs Spinnaka

10:55 hrs Bennys King

Vaal

12:10 hrs Treagus

11;30 hrs Irish Octave

08:30 hrs Queen Anne

12:40 hrs Bella Alissa

12:00 hrs Bambi Du Noyer

09:05 hrs Cyrus

Carlisle

12:20 hrs Felix Desjy

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday October 19, 2017

AB de Villiers smashes ODI best as Proteas seal series PAARL, South Africa (Reuters) - A swashbuckling century from AB de Villiers secured a 104-run victory for South Africa over Bangladesh and sealed the three-match series in the second One-Day International at Boland Park yesterday. de Villiers smashed his highest ODI score of 176 from 104 balls as South Africa posted 353 for six in their 50 overs, having been asked to bat, before restrict-

ing the visitors to 249 all out in 47.5 overs in their reply. de Villiers was involved in a third-wicket partnership of 136 with Hashim Amla (85 from 92 balls) and 117 for the fourth with JP Duminy (30 from 30 balls) as he thumped 15 fours and seven sixes, making batting look easy on a slow wicket.

He was eventually caught at deep midwicket

by Sabbir Rahman off the bowling of Rubel Hossain having looked on course for

SCOREBOARD

AB de Villiers marks his return to international cricket with a 68-ball hundred. (AFP)

a double ton.

Bangladesh made a good start to their reply as Imrul Kayes (68 from 77 balls) and Mushfiqur Rahim (60

from 70 balls) tried to keep up with the rate, but were strangled by career-best figures from seamer Andile Phehlukwayo (four for 40) and the wily spin of Imran Tahir (three for 50).

The final match of the series will be played in East London on Sunday.

SOUTH AFRICA innings H. Amla c Rahim b R. Hossain 85 Q. de Kock lbw b Al Hasan 46 F. du Plessis b Al Hasan 0 A. de Villiers c Sa. Rahman b R. Hossain 176 J. Duminy lbw b R. Hossain 30 F. Behardien not out 7 D. Pretorius c Kayes b R. Hossain 0 A. Phehlukwayo not out 0 Extras: lb-2, w-7) 9 Total: (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) 353 Fall of wickets: 1-90, 2-90, 3-226, 4-343, 5-353, 6-353.

Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 10-0-82-0 (w-1), Taskin Ahmed 9-0-71-0 (w-3), Shakib Al Hasan 10-0-60-2 (w-1), Nasir Hossain 8-0-49-0, Rubel Hossain 10-0-62-4 (w-1), Sabbir Rahman 1-0-11-0, Mahmudullah 2-0-16-0 (w-1).

BANGLADESH innings Tamim Iqbal lbw b Pretorius 23 Imrul Kayes c de Villiers b Tahir 68 Liton Das lbw b Phehlukwayo 14 Mushfiqur Rahim c Duminy b Pretorius 60 Shakib Al Hasan c de Kock b Tahir 5 Mahmudullah b Phehlukwayo 35 Sabbir Rahman c du Plessis b Tahir 17 Nasir Hossain b Phehlukwayo 3 Mashrafe Mortaza lbw b Phehlukwayo 0 Taskin Ahmed not out 3 Rubel Hossain b Paterson 8 Extras: (lb-4, w-9) 13 Total: (all out, 47.5 overs) 249 Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-69, 3-162, 4-171, 5-184, 6-219, 7-234, 8-234, 9-239.

Bowling: K. Rabada 9-1-40-0 (w-2), D. Paterson 8.5-0-67-1 (w-1), D. Pretorius 10-0-48-2 (w-2), A. Phehlukwayo 10-1-40-4 (w-3), I. Tahir 10-0-50-3 (w-1).

Marian Academy Inter-School basketball set for October 20 – 21 MARIAN Academy’s Physical Education students, preparing for the 2018 CXC Examination, will host, October 20-21, an invitational Inter-School Basketball Championship at their Carifesta Avenue basketball court.

The tournament, which caters for U-17 ‘ballers’, will see St Rose’s High School, Bishops’ High School and President’s College all trying to outplay hosts Marian Academy in the event that is expected to

have both male and female participation.

On Friday October 20, the teams will play one game and the winners will advance to Saturday’s final. The tournament winners will be awarded a trophy and medals, while the team finishing second will take home a trophy.

The player, adjudged the ‘Most Valuable’ (MVP) for both male and female competitions, will be awarded a trophy.

Highlights of Tuesday’s NBA games (THE Sports Xchange) Highlights from National Basketball Association games on Tuesday: Cavaliers 102, Celtics 99 LeBron James outduelled his former teammate and NBA Finals partner Kyrie Irving in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 102-99 win over the Boston Celtics in their season opener on Tuesday.

However, the bigger loss for Boston was new forward Gordon Hayward, who fractured his left ankle in the first period. The injury occurred when Hayward was bumped in the air by LeBron James and fell with his leg pinned under him.

Hayward, 27, who signed a four-year, $128 million contract in the offseason with the Celtics, immediately called for help with his foot and ankle dangling in the wrong direction.

James finished with 29 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists after missing most of the preseason with a left ankle sprain.

Irving, who requested a trade away from James and the Cavs in the offseason and was

LeBron James finishes with 29 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists.

dealt to the Celtics, finished with 22 points and 10 assists in his return to Cleveland.

Rockets 122, Warriors 121 Luc Mbah a Moute ignited a rally with 12 fourth-quarter points, and P.J. Tucker scored the game’s final two on a pair of free throws with 44.1 seconds left, helping the Houston Rockets stun the Golden State Warriors 122-121 in the defending champions’ ring-ceremony opener.

Houston trailed by 11 entering the final period and were 114-107 after a Stephen Curry 3-pointer, with 5:12 left, before rallying to hand Golden State their second

consecutive opening night loss at home.

The Rockets also beat Golden State in the team’s first meeting last season, a double-overtime thriller, before the Warriors captured the season series by taking the final three matchups.

Eric Gordon had a threepoint play and Tucker a 3-point shot during the late flurry, which was capped when two offensive rebounds gave the Rockets a third possession in the final minute, down 121-120.

Tucker was then fouled and dropped both free throws for the game’s final scoring.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday October 19, 2017

Hasan five-for, Imam debut ton give Pakistan ODI series wickets after the spinners exerted the pressure.

Thisara Perera added a 37-ball 38, but Hasan claimed his third five-wicket ODI haul as the Sri Lanka innings fell to pieces.

Imam eased the nerves early in Pakistan’s run chase with back-to-back boundaries off Lahiru Gamage and struck the same bowler for

wide delivery from Gamage.

The composed Imam reached his half-century off 67 balls and continued to look comfortable before trudging off in fury after edging Dushmantha Chameera behind 11 short of a hundred, only to be called back as Dickwella failed to take the catch cleanly.

Imam cashed in by be-

Hasan Ali takes five for 34, to become the fastest Pakistan bowler to take 50 ODI wickets.

IMAM-ul-Haq scored a superb century on debut and Hasan Ali made history with a five-wicket haul as Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi to win the oneday international series with two matches to spare.

Opener Imam played an innings his uncle, former captain and current chairman of selectors Inzamamul-Haq, would have been proud of with 100 off 125 balls, after sorry Sri Lanka collapsed from 102-1 to 208 all out yesterday.

Hasan (5-34) broke the record for the fewest number of ODIs needed by a Pakistan bowler to take 50 wickets in his 24th match after the in-form Upul Tharanga top-scored with 61 in a Sri Lanka innings that fell apart, but it was very much Imam’s day.

The 21-year-old, preferred to Ahmed Shehzad,

was given reprieves by Niroshan Dickwella on 29 and 89 and took advantage as Sri Lanka suffered a 10th successive ODI defeat to go 3-0 down.

Captain Tharanga made an unbeaten century in the second ODI and carried on where he left off at Sheikh Zayed Stadium with some elegant drives in an opening stand of 59 with Dickwella.

Hasan got the breakthrough when he bowled the dangerous Dickwella (18) with one that kept low and Dinesh Chandimal was trapped leg-before by a Shadab Khan googly after making only 19 from 49 balls.

Tharanga got bogged down and, although the skipper brought up another half-century, he threw it away by pulling Shadab to Fakhar Zaman and Hasan claimed another two quick

Adessa Albert outstanding as Amelia’s Ward dethrone One Mile Primary

AMELIA’S Ward Primary dethroned last year’s winners One Mile Primary to become this year’s Bakewell InterPrimary School track and field champions, Tuesday, at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Leading the new champions with some outstanding performances was Girls’ Under-10 athlete Adessa Albert, who captured the 100m, 200m and 400m races along with the long jump events. Teammate Ryan Joseph won the 200m and 400m races while placing third in the 100m.

Amelia’s Ward amassed 209 points ahead of One Mile Primary (170 points), Ituni followed with 163 points, Regma Primary 150 points, Wismar Hill 107, Watooka 120, Christianburg Primary 91, Kwakwani 77, St Aidan’s 77, Coomacka 68, Bamia 34 Amelia’s Ward and Mackenzie Primary in the Primary’s Adessa Albert cellar position on 30 points.

Imam-ul-Haq is the second Pakistan batsman to make a hundred on debut. (Getty Images)

six over backward point before Dickwella put the left-hander down after he feathered Akila Dananjaya behind.

Jeffrey Vandersay ended a 78-run opening stand when Fakhar (29) gave him the charge and was stumped and Babar Azam (30) missed out on a third consecutive hundred by playing on to a

coming only the second Pakistan player to score a century on his ODI debut with a pull to square leg for a single but was finally caught by Dickwella off Perera two balls later, so it was left to Mohammad Hafeez (34 not out) to score the winning runs with 45 balls to spare.

(Omnisport)

Cream of Guyana’s cyclists on show Sunday in observance of Cancer Awareness Month THE cream of Guyana’s cyclists will be on show on Sunday when telecommunication giant DIGICEL partners with Team Evolution Cycle Club to run off the 6th edition of the Cancer Awareness Month which will be staged around the outer circuit of the National Park.

Several races are planned for the day with the first one being for staffers of DIGICEL Guyana. This will be a one-lap race.

The feature event on the day’s card is a 35-lap race that is open to seniors, juniors and invitational riders. This event is expected to attract the `big guns’ as they will all be seeking to pocket part of the spoils.

DIGICEL will be offering $900 000 in cash prizes for the programme which gets underway at 07:30hrs.

While it will be the 6th staging of the event, this will be the third consecutive year that DIGICEL will be partnering with Team Evolution to stage the activity.

The second event on the day’s programme is open to novices and mountain bikers with both categories of riders competing over five laps.

The veterans’ Under-45 years of age as well as Over45 years of age will ride together for 20 laps.

The race wheels off from Irving Street, proceeds north to Carifesta Avenue, turns west to Camp Road, south to Thomas Road, and east to Irving Street.

The defending champion is Jamal John of Team Coco’s .

DIGICEL will match the registration fee collected

by Team Evolution and will donate the entire sum to the Cancer Institute of Guyana.

SCOREBOARD SRI LANKA innings Niroshan Dickwella b H. Ali 18 Upul Tharanga c Zaman b S. Khan 61 Dinesh Chandimal lbw b S. Khan 19 Chamara Kapugedera c & b H. Ali 18 Lahiru Thirimanne c S. Ahmed b Hafeez 28 Milinda Siriwardana c Zaman b J. Khan 2 Jeffrey Vandersay c S. Ahmed b H. Ali 0 Thisara Perera run-out 38 Akila Dananjaya c S. Ahmed b H. Ali 1 Dushmantha Chameera c S. Ahmed b H. Ali 10 Lahiru Gamage not out 0 Extras: (b-1, lb-3, w-9) 13 Total: all out, 48.2 overs) 208 Fall of wickets: 1-59, 2-102, 3-112, 4-137, 5-140, 6-141 J, 7-162, 8-163, 9-205.

Bowling: Junaid Khan 8-0-32-1, Rumman Raees 7.2-052-0 (w-4), Mohammad Hafeez 8-0-39-1 (w-1), Hasan Ali 10-0-34-5 (w-1), Faheem Ashraf 5-0-10-0, Shadab Khan 10-0-37-2 (w-1).

PAKISTAN innings Imam-ul-Haq c Dickwella b T. Perera 100 Fakhar Zaman stp. Dickwella b Vandersay 29 Babar Azam b Gamage 30 Mohammad Hafeez not out 34 Shoaib Malik not out 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-3, w-9) 16 Total: (for 3 wickets, 42.3 overs) 209 Fall of wickets: 1-78, 2-144, 3-203.

Bowling: Lahiru Gamage 7-1-35-1 (w-1), Dushmantha Chameera 10-0-33-0 (w-3), Akila Dananjaya 10-0-570 (w-2), Jeffrey Vandersay 9.3-1-43-1 (w-1), Milinda Siriwardana 2-0-12-0, Thisara Perera 4-0-2-1 (w-2)

Brazil’s former Olympic chief charged in 2016 Games bribes investigation RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazilian prosecutors charged the former head of the national Olympics committee (COB), Carlos Nuzman, and five other people yesterday with corruption based on an investigation of alleged bribery to have Rio de Janeiro host the 2016 Games.

Nuzman, who was provisionally suspended by the International Olympic Committee and arrested in Rio on October 5, was charged with racketeering, money-laundering and violating currency laws.

The former governor of Rio de Janeiro state, Sergio Cabral, and former COB director Leonardo Gryner also were charged with corruption in connection with a $2 million (£1.5 million) payment to guarantee votes for Rio, the prosecutors’ office said.

Nuzman, 75, a former IOC member and now honorary member, is accused of arranging bribes to get the IOC to pick Rio as host of the 2016 Olympic Games. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Those charged included Brazilian businessman Arthur Soares, who prosecutors said acted as an intermediary, and Lamine Diack, a former IOC member from Senegal and former head of the International Association of

Brazil’s former Olympic chief Carlos Nuzman

Athletics Federation (IAAF).

Brazilian police raided Nuzman’s home in September and accused him of paying a $2M bribe to Diack’s son Papa Diack, who was also charged. Father and son have denied the allegations.

The IOC provisionally suspended Nuzman a day after he was arrested, along with the COB, which was responsible for Rio’s bid to stage the Games. The IOC said Brazilian athletes would not be affected and Team Brazil would be able to take part at next year’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in South Korea.

Nuzman resigned last week as head of the COB. In a letter to the committee he said he needed to devote himself to his legal defence and would not be returning.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday October 19, 2017

FA under fire from MPs after apologies to women players

By Ian Chadband

Aluko and Drew Spence.”

LONDON, England (Reuters) - The Football Association (FA) made a public apology to England women’s soccer internationals Eniola Aluko and Drew Spence yesterday for comments that were “discriminatory on grounds of race” made to them by former manager Mark Sampson.

Senior FA officials later admitted to failings as they came under fire from MPs at a four-hour parliamentary inquiry where they were also accused by experienced international Aluko of having had an “agenda” to protect Sampson and their reputation.

An investigation by an independent barrister, which prompted the FA apology, also concluded that the 35-year-old Sampson, who was sacked by the FA last month for “inappropriate and unacceptable” behaviour in a previous job, was not racist.

At the parliamentary hearing, the FA’s chief executive Martin Glenn said Sampson’s solicitor had informed them he was considering a claim for

NEW EVIDENCE Revealing the findings of independent barrister Katharine Newton’s reopened investigation, Glenn said she had found, after hearing new evidence, that Aluko and Spence had both been subject to discriminatory remarks made

by Sampson.

“This is not acceptable,” he added. ”In her final report Katharine Newton concluded that on two separate occasions Mark Sampson made ill-judged attempts at humour, which as a matter of law were discriminatory on grounds of race within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010.

“Katharine Newton did, however, conclude that Mark Sampson was not racist.”

Aluko had claimed that Sampson had told her to be careful that her Nigerian relatives did not bring the Ebola virus with them when they came to watch a game at Wembley.

Spence, a mixed-race player, alleged that after being called up to the England team in 2015 she

England’s Eniola Aluko in action with Bosnia’s Amira Spahic. (Mandatory Credit: Action Images/Tony O’Brien Livepic)

wrongful dismissal.

Aluko told the hearing she felt “vindicated and relieved” that an investigation had concluded that Sampson, who has denied the allegations and been cleared of discrimination by two inquiries, had been judged to have made the remarks.

She also claimed at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee hearing

that Glenn had intimated to her that if she released a statement saying the FA was not institutionally racist then she would receive the second part of an £80 000 settlement she had agreed with them.

“I felt that was bordering on blackmail. I categorically refused to write any statement,” she said, also revealing that she had not been paid the second part.

At the hearing, Glenn said he categorically denied the accusation, saying he believed that a tweet sent out

by Aluko about the matter had been a breach of their agreement. He added that the FA “would reflect” on whether to pay her the rest of the settlement.

Glenn had earlier said in a statement: “I would like to sincerely apologise to Eniola

was asked by Sampson how many times she had been arrested.

At the parliamentary hearing, Glenn, one of four senior FA officials giving evidence, defended the way the FA had gone about resolving the Sampson matter but admitted: “There have clearly been failings.”

The investigation had found “no evidence to support the allegations that Eniola Aluko was subjected to ‘a course of bullying and discriminatory conduct’ by Mark Sampson”.

The 30-year-old Aluko, who was capped 102 times for England but has not played since making her claims last year, told the hearing: ”I feel vindicated and relieved.

“Although I‘m grateful to be here today, does it have to come to this? There’s been an agenda to protect Mark Sampson, and an agenda to protect the FA’s reputation.”

She sorted out a settlement with the FA, she said, to avoid the threat of an employment tribunal disrupting the England women’s team’s preparations for this year’s European Championship.

Our Own regain OMSCC Champions Trophy in dramatic fashion

TORONTO, Canada — After dominating the tournament for several years and bowing out to the eventual winners Guyana Sports Club in last year’s semi-finals, Our Own rebounded to cart off the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) 2017 Champions Trophy in dramatic fashion at the St Bede’s ground, Scarborough here, recently.

Set 142 for victory, after opponents East Coast Hustlers were limited to a challenging 141 for seven in their allotted 20 overs, Our Own huffed and puffed their way to 142 for six in 19.5 overs, earning victory with the penultimate delivery of the match which was witnessed by what some described as the largest crowd in the history of the tournament.

Needing 11 off the final over, bowled by Ravendra Mandolall, Our Own lost top-scorer Hemnarine Chattergoon (32) and Bobby Parasnauth before the latter’s brother Jesh Parasnauth kept

ended with two for 19, Satrohan Balkarran one for eight and Mohan Singh one for 21. Narayan Singh copped the MVP award.

At the presentation ceremony, OMSCC president Azeem Khan

lauded the efforts of the participating teams and the commitment shown throughout the season.

The OMSCC presentation dinner and dance is set for Saturday, November 18.

(Frederick Halley)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday October 19, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & The victorious Our Own team pose with their supporters.

cool to deliver a stunning win, much to the delight of Our Own players and their ardent supporters.

The win meant East Coast Hustlers once again had to settle for the runner-up spot after going down to Guyana Sports Club in last year’s final, played at the same venue.

Opener Chattergoon, who has been quite consistent during the season, kept the innings together with another sensible

batting display, sharing in three vital stands, adding 35 for the second wicket with Desmond Chumney after losing his opening partner Sunil Dhaniram early.

Chattergoon, who was later adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for Our Own, also added a further 47 for the fourth wicket with Ian Baldeo (20) and 30 for the fifth wicket with Azeemul Haniff whose contribution was 18.

Bowling for East Coast

Hustlers, Aftab Shamshudeen claimed two for 19 while there was one wicket each for Eon Katchay, Avinash Singh, Rishi Singh and Abdool Azeez.

Earlier, East Coast Hustlers were led by Abinash Narayan Singh whose top score of 36 included two sixes and a four while Mandolall struck four fours in his 29. Shamshudeen (19) and Katchay (13) also lent support as Jesh Parasnauth

CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1)

Brian Lara-400* (vs ENG, ARG, 2004)

(2) Dave Houghton-266 (vs SL, Bulawayo, 1994) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who has taken most Test wickets for the WI to date?

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

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday October 19, 2017

Boyce/Jefford Committee donates medals to Linden school sports THE Boyce/Jefford Committee earlier this week donated a number of new medals to the Upper Demerara/Kwakwani District 10 (Linden) InterSchool Championships, which will be awarded to the top performing athletes.

Chairman of the Boyce/Jefford Committee, Colin Boyce, noted that the donation was made following a request from the District.

“The Committee saw it most appropriate to continue to contribute to the development of young athletes in the community,” he said.

The Championships school sports is currently underway at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground and is expected to conclude tomorrow.

According to Boyce, such contributions are not alien to them, since they are in the habit of making such donations.

Chairman of the Boyce/Jefford Committee Colin Boyce (left) hands over a quantity of medals to a representative of the Upper Demerara/Kwakwani District 10 Branch while committee member Theodore DeMonick (right) shares the moment.

This year, following the eighth edition of the Boyce/Jefford Classic athletics meet in August, an undisclosed sum of cash was given to Linden and Guyana’s top three athletes at the MSC ground.

The signature track and field event in Linden had opened the fund with a lucrative first financial donation. Following that pioneering initiative, several individuals, groups and businesses present made pledges that were accumulated and divided among the three athletes.

Those who benefited from the funds included multiple CARIFTA Games medallist, Chantoba Bright, World Junior silver medallist, Daniel Williams and Guyana’s first sprint gold medallist at the CARIFTA Games, Compton Caesar.

This donation to the District 10 camp follows one made by bakery giant, Bakewell, earlier last week.

East Ruimveldt Secondary reign supreme at South GT Inter-School championships

By Tamika Garnett WITH big wins from Girls’ Under-14 champion girl Delisa Robertson, East Ruimveldt Secondary School ran away with the win at the South Georgetown District 13 Zone 2 Inter-School Championships, which wrapped up on Tuesday at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.

East Ruimveldt put together 684 points to outdo their competitors, ending just in front of South Ruimveldt Secondary, who had 673 points.

Finishing in third place were Charlestown Secondary with 666 points, Central High fourth with 435 points, Masters Academy 313 points.

Carmel Secondary garnered 214 points and West Ruimveldt Secondary (formerly David Rose School) had 210 points.

It was consistent participation sprinkled with a few strong first place finishes that ensured East Ruimveldt ended on top.

In her category, Robertson ruled in the 100m, 200m and 400m, while Central High’s Wesley Tyndall did the same on the Boys’ side to also finish as the champion boy of his age group.

In the younger Boys’ and Girls’ Under-12 categories East Ruimveldt also proved that they have some of the best athletes in the South Georgetown District. Tia Forth emulated Robertson’s feat in the

Girls’ Under-12 where she also had a sprint treble, winning the 100m, 200m and 400m of her category.

Meshach Charles displayed some massive talent as he championed the Boys’ Under-12 category, winning the 100m, 200m and 400m races.

East Ruimveldt also had some luck in the middle distance races, where Maxine Joseph captured the Girls’ Under-18 1500m and Darren Connelly took the Boys’ Under-20 1500m. Jaden King won the Boys’ Under-14 1500m.

Although South Ruimveldt finished second place overall, several of their athletes walked away with champion titles.

Anicca Redmon took the Girls’ Under-16 champion girl title while Natricia Gulliver copped the Girls’ Under-20 champion title.

Both young ladies ended with the 100m, 200m and 400m wins in their respective categories.

In other title wins, Charlestown’s Jarron Cox won the Boys’ Under-16 champion boy title, while Central High’s Wesley Tyndall and Sherdine Dummett won the Boys’ Under-14 and Girls’ Under-18 champion titles, respectively.

Masters’ Umkosi Vancooten topped the Boys’ Under-18 category, and Brian Roman emerged the best performing athlete of the Boys’ Under-20 category.

Guyana Jaguars face Caribbean All Stars in charity game at Providence Stadium … Game in aid of hurricane vicims

Leon Johnson

Reyad Emrit

THE Guyana Jaguars, led by West Indies player Leon Johnson, is set oppose a Caribbean All Stars line-up in a GCB/ Keem’s Foundation `Cricket Cares’ T20 match on Sunday from 17:00hrs, at the Guyana National Stadium in what is anticipated to be an entertaining affair.

The game, which should provide a CPLlike atmosphere for the anticipated capacity crowd, takes on an added significance since it is not being played for a trophy, a cash prize or ratings, but for a noble and humanitarian cause.

The players include the entire Jaguars team who finished as runners-up in Antigua last week, while Caribbean All Stars will come from Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Nicolas Pooran, Andre Fletcher, Reyad Emrit, Fidel Edwards, Kevin Cooper, Sulieman Benn and the ‘notebook man’ Keswick Williams among others.

All the players will contribute their payment to the victims of hurricaneravaged Dominica and St Martin, where Johnson’s mother lives.

Tickets cost $1500 for the Party Stand where local artistes Tameka Marshall, Natural Black and ‘rubber waist’ Jomo are among those who will perform live and where the Carib Beer tent will be located. Cheerleaders

for the two teams will add to the excitement.

Any of the other three stands will cost $2 000 and volunteers will be going around the ground to take donations for the worthy cause. A percentage of the ‘gates’ will also be donated to the hurricane victims.

Tickets will be on sale from tomorrow at Poonai’s Pharmacy in Rose Hall Town, Little Rock Hotel in New Amsterdam, M&Ms on the East Bank Demerara, Saro Boy Groceries in Buxton, Nimbus Water in Vreed-in-Hoop, Big Yard Auto Sales in Tuschen and Dan’s Snackette in Parika.

Sunday’s match is being organised by the GCB. Teams: JAGUARS: Leon Johnson (captain), Robin Bacchus, Sherfane Rutherford, Jonathon Foo, Gajanand Singh, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Anthony Bramble, Kemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Ricardo Adams, Chris Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Steven Jacobs, Ronsford Beaton, Ramal Lewis.

CARIBBEAN All Stars: Rayed Emrit (captain), Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Andre Fletcher, Nicolas Pooran, Kjorn Ottley, Kevin Cooper, Keswick Williams, Jevon Searles, Fidel Edwards, Sulieman Benn, Lennox Cush, Joshua Wade, Andre Stoll, Romaine Maniram.

Ramdin to lead Red Force in PCL PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Discarded West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin will lead his native Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the Professional Cricket League (PCL)

which bowls off next week.

The Guardian newspaper here said the 32-year-old will replace all-rounder Marlon Richards who led the side for the last two rounds of the last first class season, after regular captain Kyle Hope

became unavailable.

Hope is currently away on West Indies duty for the two-Test tour of Zimbabwe.

Ramdin, who led West Indies in 13 Tests between 2014 and 2015, is vastly experienced and has led

T&T in the past.

A veteran of 74 Tests, Ramdin has also played 140 first class matches, and his presence is being viewed by selectors as a boost for a Red Force side short of experience.

He represented West Indies in Tests up until last year January, before being axed months later ahead of India’s tour of the Caribbean.

Red Force face a tough start to their first campaign

when they take on perennial arch-rivals Barbados Pride at Kensington Oval, starting October 26.

Last season, Red Force finished third as Guyana Jaguars claimed their third straight first class title.

Guyana Jaguars face Caribbean All Stars in charity game at Providence StadiumPage 27

Guyana thrash Barbados 5-1 to keep podium-finish hopes alive … to play Trinidad and Tobago today

Page 23

Gabriella Xavier embraced by Kerensa Fiedtkou after scoring the game’s opening goal against Barbados (Samuel Maughn photos)

Guyana’s Gabriella Xavier manoeuvres her way between the Barbados defence during the home side’s 5 – 1 win.

PAHF Indoor Men’s cup Skeete attends CONCACAF Women’s France leads Guyana’s 12-0 rout of Mexico Elite Referee Course

By Stephan Sookram

Guyana’s lone FIFA female referee Maurees Skeete

GUYANA’S lone FIFA female referee Maurees Skeete is in Costa Rica to attend the October 19-22 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association (CONCACAF) 2017 Women’s Elite Referee/ Assistant Referee Course.

Skeete is the only participating referee from Guyana in this fourday course, which will be held at the Barceló San Jose Hotel in Costa Rica. Manager of Refereeing, Mark Cahen, and Refereeing Administra-

tor Michelle Savani will oversee the entire initiative.

Head of Refereeing Department, Stanley Lancaster stated that “based on Skeete’s continued high performance she has been placed as a Tier 2 CONCACAF Referee. This will serve as an encouragement to upand-coming female officials and help to motivate other females to come onboard. We need an increase in our female referees, not just in numbers but in quality.”

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ROUSING cheers from the fans, coupled with some stylish play, ensured that the Guyana men’s team were back in the winners’ circle as the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) indoor tournament continued yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The locals were undoubtably better yesterday evening and looked more comfortable playing the Mexicans, the score line showing evidence of such with a 12-0 drubbing.

Back-to-back field goals from Robert France in the 3rd minute led the line as the Guyanese looked hungrier and more focused.

Jason De Santos added a field goal and after 10 minutes, the Guyanese were up three with the crowd on their side and a pep in their step.

France added two more quick-fire field goals in the 12th and 14th, one of which

Robert France, (far right) scores one of his six goals in Guyana’s 12-0 rout of Mexico last evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

(Samuel Maughn photo)

came off a stylish back-flick that caught the Mexicans off guard.

Jamarj Assanah joined the scoring frenzy in the 15th minute as the half ended 6-0 in favour of the Guyanese.

They returned with the same tenacity in the second half with France again slamming back-to-

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back field goals in the 24th and 25th minutes, his fifth and sixth of the night.

Andrew Stewart then joined the party one minute later, with France completing his seventh and eighth in the 27th and 29th before Hilton Chester closed off the proceedings in the 34th.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER, 19, 2017