Guyana chronicle e paper 10 21 2017

Harmon: Teachers’ Page 9 salary negotiations will take ‘a little longer’

No. 105072

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2017

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

Lethem bids President hearty welcome – as community sheds ‘El Paso’ image, looks to future as a town

Centre page

President David Granger applauds as the plaque declaring Lethem a town is unveiled by the town’s Mayor, Mr Carlton Beckles (Photo by Delano Williams)

‘Agri’ talk gives Former GRDB food for thought officials on – to hundreds of children on Career Day tour

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$1M bail each

Dr Surujbally ready to help ––says willing to lend assistance to new Page 3 GECOM chair

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

Dr Surujbally ready to help

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

–– says willing to lend assistance to new GECOM chair

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By Navendra Seoraj

ORMER Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally, said he is willing to lend assistance to his recently appointed successor, retired Judge, Justice James Patterson if the need arises.

Though Dr Surujbally said he does not know Justice Patterson personally, he said he is prepared to do what former Chairman Joe Singh did for him when he (Dr Surujbally) was appointed in 2001.

“I am absolutely ready to lend assistance… when I was appointed I had a half-hour meeting with Joe Singh which turned to three hours, during which I received great advice,” said Dr Surujbally, who served as GECOM chair for 15 years.

He also told the Guyana Chronicle that President David Granger would not appoint someone who does not know anything about the work of GECOM. The former GECOM chair said the “blue prints” are there and Patterson just needs to follow what was being done in order to ensure the commission is improved.

After being responsible for three General and Regional Elections and one Local Government Election (LGE) in the past 15 years, Dr Surujbally believes that some constitutional changes are needed to improve the commission.

And as such, he urged Justice Patterson to make the necessary recommendations to the government.

“The entire make-up of the commission has to be reviewed, but that is up to the political parties,” said the former GECOM chairman, who pointed out that the chairman can only advise them.

After being sworn in on Thursday evening, Patterson made his first suggestion to not just the government but politicians, saying they need to fight for the unity of Guyana.

“I am apolitical, I have not been in politics, and I don’t think I will ever be, don’t have the stamina for that, politics,” the retired judge said.

President Granger appointed the new chairman following a meeting with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday, when he informed the latter of his disapproval of a third list of nominees which was submitted to him.

The President said he found the third

list of nominees, which he received from the opposition leader on August 25, to be unacceptable within the meaning of the Constitution.

He said he also paid careful attention to the ruling of Chief Justice Roxanne George in the case Marcel Gaskin vs the Attorney General.

The President said that being desirous of fulfilling the requirements of the Constitution and given the need of appointing the chair of GECOM and in light of the failure of Jagdeo to present him with a list that is not unacceptable, he decided that it would be in the public interest to resort to the proviso in the Constitution under Article 161: 2, which permits him to act independently and appoint a person of the judicial category to be chairman of the elections body.

Dr. Surujbally said he cannot comment on the legality of the appointment, but he said if there are legal challenges, the lawyers will have a “field day” because they understand the intricacies of the Constitution.

The Private Sector Commission in a statement on Friday said the decision of the President to act unilaterally and independently of the submissions of the

Former GECOM Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally opposition leader poses a “clear threat” to democracy and will inevitably divide the nation and lead to economic instability.

GRDB fraud case…

GBTI gets extension to produce documents THE Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) on Friday failed in its application to have Chief Justice (ag) Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire vary a Production Order dated August 29, 2017.

However, the chief justice has extended the time provided for the bank to produce the required documents.

In fact, the bank has until November 3 to hand over the documents, but through its attorneys Ralph Ramkarran, S.C and Stephen Fraser; the bank had requested an extension of three weeks.

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) as part of its investigation into the US$500M Guyana rice Development Board (GRDB) fraud case had moved to the court to obtain an order instructing the GBTI to produce all required documents to aid in its investigation.

On Friday, the chief justice (ag) also adjourned the matter to November 10 after she sought to address the application made by the bank to be relieved from the production of documents that were referred to in the August 29 Production Order on the grounds that they have either been destroyed by the applicant after the applicant’s retention period had expired, or they have been lost and cannot be found despite diligent efforts to find them.

The bank failed in its bid to be relieved from producing the documents.

The bank is said to have an internal policy with regard to the retention of documents for its customers, however, the Anti- Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation provides for banks and or financial institutions to maintain records for

their customers up to a period of 10 years.

As a result, the Attorney General’s Chambers contends that the bank’s internal policy cannot supersede that of the law.

The bank’s application spoke specifically to documents which the bank thought have been destroyed after the retention period as well as those which have been lost, likely to misfiling and requested an extension or stay of three weeks from the date of the Production Order to enable it to find and produce the documents which the production refers.

The request was rejected by Solicitor-General, Kim Kyte, who appeared in association with Leslyn Noble on behalf of SOCU. While some documents were submitted to SOCU, others were not and sources have indicated that the failure to produce the requested documents has

somewhat stalled the unit’s investigation. Several formal senior officials of GRDB have since been charged.

SOCU submitted that GBTI should not be given three weeks to produce the requested documents, but Justice George-Wiltshire after considering the contentions of both sides, decided that two weeks are sufficient time for the bank to produce the required documents.

As it relates to granting relief from sanctions for the production of some documents, the chief justice (ag) is yet to rule; she also refused application for a stay of the order.

This matter will be dealt with on November 10, when the matter comes up before the chief justice (ag) again.

SOCU believes that the bank is manipulating the process and did not diligently treat with the court’s order.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

Attack on Afghan mosque kills scores Some 60 people have been killed in two separate attacks on mosques in Afghanistan, officials say.

A gunman entered a Shia Muslim mosque in Kabul before opening fire and detonating an explosive, killing at least 39 worshippers.

An attack on a Sunni Muslim mosque in Ghor province killed 20 people.

No groups have so far said they carried out the attacks but so-called Islamic State (IS) has previously targeted Shia mosques across Afghanistan.

The new attacks bring to at

Local TV showed images of injured people in hospital

least 176 the number of people killed in bomb attacks across the country this week.

One eyewitness told the BBC that the scene at Kabul’s Imam Zaman mosque, in the west of the city, looked like a “front line”.

Another witness, Mahmood Shah Husaini, said people had been praying when the bomber detonated his explosives.

The attacker is reported to have opened fire as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers, before detonating a bomb.

Kabul police spokesman

Basir Mojahid confirmed the incident at the Shia mosque in Kabul, but did not give further details.

A spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry said investigators were working at the scene to determine the “nature of the explosion,” AFP news agency reports.

The attack on the Sunni mosque in Ghor, central Afghanistan, also killed a pro-government militia commander, according to reports.

Details of the attacks remain unclear and the number of casualties is likely to rise. Dozens of

Security forces guarded the scene after Friday’s Kabul attack (Reuters)

worshippers were also injured, Afghan’s health ministry said.

Friday’s attacks come just days after police in Kabul said they had arrested a would-be suicide truck bomber, averting a major incident.

In August, more than 20 people were killed in a bomb attack against worshippers in Kabul. IS, a Sunni Islamist militant group, said it had carried out the attack.

A truck bomb in the Afghan capital in May killed more than 150 people and wounded some 400 more, most of them civilians.

No group claimed to be behind that attack but the US-backed Afghan government accused the Haqqani group, an affiliate of the country’s biggest militant group, the Taliban.

Afghanistan has seen a spate of suicide attacks and bombings in recent months.

There have been four major attacks on Afghan security forces this week alone.

On Thursday, 43 Afghan soldiers were killed after two Taliban suicide bombers in Humvee

armoured vehicles destroyed a military base in the southern province of Kandahar. Two police officers were also killed in in Ghazni province; on Tuesday, Taliban suicide bombers and gunmen killed at least 41 people when they stormed a police training centre in the eastern city of Gardez; also on Tuesday, at least 30 people died in car bombings in Ghazni.

Afghanistan’s army and police have suffered heavy casualties this year at the hands of the Taliban, a Sunni group who want to re-impose their strict version of Islamic law in the country. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

Food pellets for poor spark row in Brazil Plans to feed poor children reconstituted food made from leftovers near expiry have sparked a row in the Brazilian city of São Paulo.

The product, known as farinata from the Portuguese word for flour but dubbed “dog food” by critics, can be eaten as pellets or added to meals.

Mayor Joao Doria says it could curb hunger and cut food waste.

But critics have questioned its nutritional value and prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the plans.

Doria said he had already authorised farinata’s distribution to some schools to be used in meals “in a complementa-

ry form” from this month.

He described the pellets as “blessed food”.

But the Regional Council of Nutritionists said they amounted to a violation of the right to adequate food.

“When we offer pellets to lower income people to eat, we are only exacerbating the inequality in society,” spokeswoman Vivian Zollar said.

Marly Cardoso, a professor of public health and nutrition at the Federal University of São Paulo, said it was unclear what farinata was made of.

“It is not food, it is an ultra-processed product.

You don’t know what is in it,” he told the Guardian

A woman holds up a placard reading “food pellets are not a meal” during a protest

newspaper.

Meanwhile, the city’s human rights secretary, Eloísa Arruda, said no study on the nutritional needs of poor schoolchil-

dren had been carried out.

However Doria has received support from São Paulo Cardinal Odilo Scherer.

“It offends me when

people call this dog food, and say it is degrading to the poor. It is degrading to deny them food,” he said.

Plataforma Sinergia, the non-profit company

behind the pellets, says the product meets all legal requirements.

Spokeswoman Rosa na Perrotti said farinata could extend the shelf life of foods nearing expiry by at least two years.

The company said it had already distributed farinata to three NGOs and said it wanted to distribute them to Venezuelans fleeing their country’s economic crisis across the border into northern Brazil.

Some 1.5 million people in Sao Paulo state and 7.2 million people across the country lack food, a 2013 study by the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics found. (BBC)

Peru approves medical cannabis Peru has approved measures to legalise cannabis for medicinal use with overwhelming support of congress.

The law makes production, import and commercial sale of cannabis oil legal.

President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski had proposed the measure earlier this year, raising objections that drug gangs would branch into cannabis.

Peru is the second-largest producer of coca and has a thriving illegal drug trade.

It is now the sixth country in Latin America to legalise cannabis.

Uruguay was first in 2013, allowing sales with a limit of 40 grams per month.

Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Chile followed suit.

President Kuczynski proposed the relaxation in

Some lawmakers were concerned the measure could encourage drug traffickers Mayor Doria (L) launched the scheme on Wednesday and passed around bread he said had been made with farinata

February after police arrested a group of parents who were distilling cannabis oil at home, for children with cancer and severe epilepsy.

The drug will only be sold to those who are fully registered with a licensed pharmacy.

Ahead of this week’s

vote, pro-government lawmaker Alberto de Belaunde said: “Science is on our side, the regional current is on our side, let’s not let our fears paralyse us.”

He said that all charges against the parents should be dropped. (BBC)

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Editorial

A renewed sense of duty WHAT is always an issue, is whether a police force performs its duties in a professional manner and if there is adherence to Human Rights and the Rule of Law. The observance or not, of this enshrined dictum will determine the level of public cooperation and the police’s ability to prevent and solve crimes.

The Guyana Police Force is in the process of what can be described as a renewal, emerging from a period which witnessed its descent to unheard-of levels of conduct that would not have made proud, those early generation of policemen who had served with distinction.

This coincided with what many senior policemen complained of as being political interference in the management of the local law enforcement institution.

It was a phase that recalled policemen being prosecuted for bribery; being part of criminal gangs, hit men, drug trafficking and trafficking in persons; acting as drug escorts and enforcers. Clearly, these were acts that were totally criminal and inimical to any professional police force’s mandate of crime-solving and prevention. Also, excesses were committed against the citizenry, that did severe harm to police-community relations.

No doubt, the results were disastrous for crime-prevention and solving, as the number of unsolved crimes mounted, coupled with both a refusal and reluctance of persons to report serious crimes and volunteer information.

Today, notwithstanding that there are still challenges to overcome with regard to the general operations of the local police force, the professional climate has been much improved through the Citizens Security Programme, which entails the

reform and transformation of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) from an incident-driven reactive institution to one that relies on analysis of patterns, incidents and problems.

Realising that citizens and ultimately the community iarestill pivotal in the goal of crime-prevention, the Guyana Police Force embarked on what can be described as a rebuild with communities strategy. This programme targeted particular communities that were crime ‘hot spots’, with various initiatives such as skills and entrepreneurship training for youths, sports and lectures on the advantages of communities working together with the law, being crime-free were held.

An example of this has been the training for Youth at Risk, involving youths from East Berbice-Corentyne and Demerara/ Mahaica. This was facilitated through a technical cooperation agreement in support of the Citizen Sector Strategy(CSS).

Interventions as these, have led to a reduction of crime among youths in the Berbice community, Albouystown and West Coast Demerara among other areas.

Also, there was the very productive effort of the Cops and Faith innovation that combined religious faiths and the police, working with youths in these areas.

The recent dialogue with residents of Parfaite Harmonie, is again testimony to the public’s renewed confidence that the Guyana Police Force will protect their community.

The paradigm appears to be slowly but surely shifting towards the police in their seven divisions being more community-oriented and problem-solving (COPS). Apparently, the number one law enforcement agency in Guyana is paying more attention to solving crime and also problems in the communities they serve.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

Crime-solving since has never been so high. Not only has some cold cases been solved; but, current crimes, especially murders, have witnessed an almost 100 percent success in apprehension of the perpetrators. Perpetrators have been quickly arrested and placed before the courts.

Further proof of the improvement in community-police relationship was manifested in the ability of the Guyana Police Force to speedily re-capture virtually all of the prisoners who had escaped from the Camp Street and Lusignan prisons.

This originated from the larger scenario of the Camp Street Prison riot, and its subsequent destruction by fire.

Apart from a few cases of citizens harbouring escapees, communities were applauded for doing their civic duty of informing the police as to the presence/whereabouts of these fugitives, in their communities.

There is no police force in a society that is predicated on human rights, law and order, that can perform its seminal task of crime-solving and crime-prevention, without cooperation from its citizens. For among the latter, there is information as to who did the crime, where, and when.

The new dispensation which commenced from May, 2015, has caused a renewed sense of duty among policemen/ women to protect and serve; a realisation that citizens’ rights should be respected, if their cooperation is to be courted for the prevention and solving of crime. Policemen are being given training opportunities, locally and abroad, for enhancement of crime-prevention and crime-solving skills.

Let it be reiterated that a police force that is professional and that has the support of communities and their citizens, will be successful crime-solvers, becoming effective protectors of that nation.

State must act in best interest of the child Dear Editor, IN February of this year, hundreds of incensed citizens gathered opposite the office of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to protest the implementation of the parking meter system. The public’s outrage was strong and evident. On August 22, 2017, an alleged heinous incident occurred.

A 15-year-old boy was reportedly sexually abused by a lance corporal while in the custody of the City Constabulary. It appears

that senior officials of the M&CC, including the town clerk and the mayor became aware of the report shortly after August 22, 2017, but did not notify the Guyana Police Force (GPF) until October 17, 2017.The reported indifference and callousness in which this incident has been dealt with for close to two months is more worthy of the public’s fury; but where is the public outrage? Where are the protesters?This matter was highlighted in the presence

of the press by the Child Rights Alliance (CRA) on September 15th 2017 at the launching of the Child Neglect in Guyana research, yet the matter was given very little attention. This is intolerable.

The Protection of Children Act 2009, Section 7 (1) clearly states, “When a person has direct information that a child is or may be in need of protective intervention, the person shall immediately report the matter to the Director of the Childcare and Protection

Agency, a probation officer appointed by the Public Service Commission or a police officer.” Instead, it appears that the town clerk took it upon himself to question the child without having a Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) officer or a police officer present. Does the town clerk consider he is above the law? The CRA demands an explanation from the town clerk for this lawless behaviour. Further, the public should be horrified to know that a child was reportedly sexually abused

by a City Constabulary officer and that the town clerk and the mayor became aware of the incident shortly afterwards, but the Guyana Police Force (GPF), according to media reports, was not notified until October 17, 2017.

The law of Guyana is clear. Matters pertaining to child sexual abuse should be immediately brought to the attention of the CPA or the GPF. It is the CPA that is mandated by law to handle matters of child sexual abuse.There are Child Advocacy Centres (CACs) in

Regions Three, Four and Five which are operated by CRA member ChildLinK, in collaboration with the CPA. The CAC provides forensic interviews for child survivors of sexual abuse. A trained forensic interviewer interviews the child, while representatives from the GPF and the CPA view the interview on a monitor in another room to ensure and support the child to provide all the information in one interview. It is traumatic Turm to Page 7

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

iNews Guyana is not news you can trust Dear Editor, THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure finds itself - once again - denouncing a grossly incorrect report published by the online news outlet, iNews Guyana, this time on October 19, 2017, under the headline “Sheriff St/Mandela Ave upgrade now a US$61M project as price doubles.”

A similar article also appeared in the October 19, 2017 edition of Guyana Times, under the headline, “Sheriff Street/

Mandela Ave upgrade price doubles.

The ministry wishes to reject the statements contained within the articles as false and we offer the following information as the facts.

Firstly, the reported Engineer’s Estimate (EE) of US$61,450,794 is incorrect. For the summation of the individual lots (Lots 1 ,2,3,4 and 5) the estimate is $31,016,254.57.

However, if the bidder wanted to tender for Lot 6, which is the combination of all the lots, the

EE is $30,734,542.70.

The article seems to have summated both estimates as the EE. Secondly, on the point of Restricted bidding, iNews and Guyana Times have once again provided the public with incorrect information. The project was tendered through International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procedures, inclusive of advertising in all the local newspapers.

Finally, the Bid Security is usually between 1 to 2% of the EE; therefore, the required bid securi-

ty for this project is no anomaly.

The ministry is therefore calling on iNews Guyana and the Guyana Times to retract the articles and issue apologies for the inconvenience they have caused.

The ministry also notes that it was only a week ago that iNews published that Government intended to scrap the entire Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue project. This week, the very news outlet is claiming that the project is still on, but double the price;

there were no retractions or explanations offered by the news outlet for the previous article.

Furthermore, the Ministry notes with consternation that iNews Guyana, at no point in time, makes contact with ministry officials to verify information or seek out a comment. It is clear, then, that iNews Guyana has no interest in maintaining the tenets of good journalism.

We therefore call on members of the public to be wary of the deliberately misleading news

coming out of this entity.

While the ministry, along with the Government as a whole, supports press freedom, we cannot abide by news entities whose sole purpose is seemingly to create mischief and spread misinformation. iNews Guyana goes against its very slogan; iNews Guyana is not “news you can trust.”

Yours respectfully, Desilon Daniels Public Relations Officer Ministry of Public Infrastructure

Nothing more than a bunch of rubber stumps Dear Editor.

IF anyone had any doubt before, it has now been made crystal clear that the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown are nothing more than a bunch of rubber stamps.

On October 17, 2017, the town clerk dispatched two letters to two members of the City Constabulary, arbitrarily and unilaterally dismissing them for what he deemed to

be ‘gross misconduct’ and for ‘dereliction of duty.’

Whether the town clerk, who is only the chief administrative officer and not the chief executive officer, possesses the legal authority or force to dismiss these two employees on his own, is a different matter which should be challenged in the courts, but it is the absurdity of the town clerk’s actions is what this letter is addressing.

Just the day before, the

town clerk had the 30 city fathers and mothers all adults, sit for hours and pontificate on the issue, during which time Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen called on the Legal Affairs Committee to do a thorough investigation and to obtain more statements that were not earlier taken, all the while leading them to believe that they would be making the decision about the future of the constable.

Why did the town clerk

State must act in... for a child to recount what happened and this system ensures that the child goes through the ordeal once.

The forensic interviewers are trained to help the child disclose the abuse, while supporting the child and safeguarding him/her from further abuse.The CAC provides trauma-focused therapy which can help the child to cope with the trauma of the abuse.

The town clerk has no such training and is wholly unfitted for the task of interviewing a child who has suffered sexual abuse. We are deeply concerned at the possible harm inflicted on this child by the actions of the town clerk and those present at this unlawful ‘questioning’.

Guyana’s Constitution, the Protection of Children Act 2009, and the Sexual Offences Act 2010 require

the State to act in the best interest of the child. The town clerk, a public officer, failed to do so.

The Sexual Offences Act 2010 Section 42 (1) states “where a report is made of an offence under this Act at no point during the investigation shall the complainant be required to recount the complaint or any part of it, in the presence of the accused unless the complaint wants to do so.” It appears, according to media reports, that other people were present during this unlawful questioning by the town clerk. Was the accused lance corporal one of them? This is a violation of the law and the child’s right to protection. Guyana is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN-

CRC)). Article 3 of the UNCRC clearly states, “The best interest of the child must be the primary concern in making decisions that may affect them.” The town clerk and mayor’s decisions were not in the best interest of this child.

Recently, there have been alarming reports of the increase of sexual violence against boys. The case of the late Leonard Archibald, 13-year-old boy from East Berbice, demonstrated that certain members of the public did not report perpetrators of any form of child abuse. It must be noted that all forms of abuse of children can be prevented and must not be tolerated. While the community’s silence may have failed Leonard, we cannot allow our collective silence to fail this 15-yearold boy.

waste the time and energy of the members of the Legal Affairs and Security Committee, whilst he went off and was doing his own investigation, even interviewing the victim? And how come an investigation that was taking months to be undertaken could suddenly be done overnight?

Why did the town clerk tell the council just a day before that absolutely nothing was proven and that the

From Page 6

Further, in the absence of the Local Government Commission, citizens need to be more proactive and call for the resignation of the town clerk. Additionally, the citizens of Georgetown need to carefully consider if the mayor is knowledgeable of the laws and conventions in place to safeguard children and more so her commitment to establishing policies and systems that protect citizens of the city. The mayor must also recognise that she has a role in protecting citizens which include children. The Child Rights Alliance calls on the Guyanese public to condemn the treatment of this child.

Hasani Tinnie Communications Officer Child Rights Alliance

council should not be carried away by news reports on the matter, then the following day proceeds to fire the lance corporal where he said in his letter that the accused had engaged in a sexual act with a juvenile. The great Winston Churchill once said: Want of foresight, unwillingness to act when action would be simple and effective,

lack of clear thinking, confusion of counsel until the emergency comes, until self-preservation strikes its jarring gong - these are the features which constitute the endless repetition of history.

Modi Sankar 181 First Street Cummings Lodge Greater Georgetown

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

What about fallen men?

THERE are no progressive lobbying groups that peer into the dismal world of men. There are, or were, a few TV shows hosted by men that expressed didactic sermons inspired by the more vocal stereotypes and slogan negatives of the male nature.

No surveys have been done to tabulate the percentage of sons that were smoothly delegated the responsibilities of surrogate fathers, especially in the matriarchal belt of this nation. And wherever that cultural disposition prevailed, in many cases into maturity and at the expense of their own life-skills development and with subtle demands to continue fulfilling these expectations while raising their own families, at times

these unreasonable responsibilities are extended to another signed-on generation.

When times get difficult, males are the evident group that are forced to drop out of school subject to the economics of the home, and are lured into daring areas to gain the means to support families. Ask how many of them have died in the ‘gold bush.’ Subject to a historic tribal norm, raised in the primitive grades to produce warriors and hunters, men are even to this day genetically programmed to the creed that ‘men don’t cry’; that they must defy all acts that border on cowardice with an absolute rejection of the modern idea that they possess a female side, and show machismo. In primitive times, those that exhibited no other talents

but that of musicians, artists, mystics or poets could face death. And there were always the weak, the shifty and the tricksters in both male and female populations. So was the twilight gender group; dangerous as they come, depending on where you were born.

The fallen male I’m referring to in 2017 is unable to pay a $50,000 a month rent. He doesn’t earn that much, nor can he acquire a loan to build a home, even if he’s given land by the State.

SURVIVAL OPTIONS So what are his practical survival options? Many of them sleep uncomfortably, eat substandard food, and may suspect that they’re ailing from something, but are too terrified to visit the

hospital, or are afraid that if they are hospitalised, they don’t have the means to even pass for normal, much less to afford sheets, underwear or even a gym bag to put stuff in.

The latter reality brought back memories of younger men, including myself, who were pioneers involved in the Cooperative movement at Kuru Kuru before the college complex was opened. Can a collaboration using the template of what was achieved during those days be applied to males under the shed? We who were in Kuru Kuru came from all over Guyana. But the difference was that we smoked nothing; not cigarettes nor marijuana. And cocaine was unknown to village and south Georgetown youths back then in 1974. We did drink beers; heavy alcohol [called ‘daru’] was for old men.

Culturally, we didn’t imitate Jamaican nor American accents; our inspiration in the entertainment business came from local bands like Yoruba Singers, Mischievous Guys, Telstars, Sid and the Slickers, etc. We were Guyanese more than anything else. The ‘Co-op’ was constituted as follows: We lived or were bunked in two barrack-styled buildings. We didn’t mind when we moved from the tent and ‘jackass’ accommodations

by the creek, nor having to walk from our new location down to the creek for a bath. We made blocks, constructed chicken and pig pens under supervision from our GDF support group. We cultivated cash crops and were taught book-keeping

by Lakeram Persaud. As the secretary, I had to attend these classes; I’ve never regretted any of it.

TEACH THEM TO FISH I’m relating this because I feel that efforts to feed require the philosophy that it is better to teach a man to fish, rather than give him a fish. Building sustainable family communities was what was expected of us; but males don’t build communities without females. At that time, we had girlfriends with parents with scrutinising stares.

Today, the subjects I’m referring to that may deserve this experiment are adults.

In our day, the highway was remote. Only Mr Glasgow planted pineapples in the Kuru Kuru area.

The cooperative worked.

The big ‘co-op complexes’ failed because they employed ‘comrades.’ Though we were not allowed to sell to the general public, I broke that law, with support from people like ‘Blair’s Delight’ and ‘Dax’ who picked up our chicken when the Linden Co-op failed us.

Burnham tried to make proprietors of the colonials. He succeeded with their children in planting that seed, but the fossilised seniors undermined that agenda. I know, because I was there.

The mature [or younger] male population in need of help today can be encouraged into an improved ‘co-op’ environment, which can grow into a community. With the right crop and livestock husbandry input on board, vulnerable human resources can be harnessed into viable selfhelp options.

With the realities as they are, there will be less attitudinal hindrances recognising diminished options.

Many of these men are not addicts; stressed maybe, but not insane. The idea that an approach which, most likely under supervision, could yield results with no tremendous budget expenditure, should be considered.

Supervision will be technical, as are conduct, hygiene, work ethic and remuneration. And taking existing previous life commitments into consideration, communities can develop.

The vision that was designed for teens and young adults 44 years ago can bear fruit to their then peers today. And why not?

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

Harmon: Teachers’ salary negotiations will take ‘a little longer’ THE multi-year agreement proposed by the Guyana Teachers’ Union(GTU) will cause the process of negotiation to stretch out a little longer, Minister of State Joseph Harmon has said.

The minister was responding to questions posed at his post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday about the state of affairs of salary negotiations for teachers, especially since other public servants will be receiving increases later this year.

According to Harmon, the negotiation is an ongoing process, and will take a little longer than the year-to-year negotiations, stressing that there is no sidelining as suggested by the GTU. “The last agreement teachers had with government is a multi-year agreement; there are several issues that will have to be streamlined under the agreement,” he said.

“It is a good approach to take on salary and wages so that you do not have to come back every year,” he told members of the media

on Thursday.

During the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, then Minister of Education Shaik Baksh in 2011, had negotiated a multi-year salaries and wages agreement. The agreement, apart from the yearly five per cent salary increase for teachers, included a host of other non-salary benefits.

That agreement sought to address an anomaly that has been existing for years: Teachers who have been in the system for years receiving the same salary of a teacher of the same status, who has recently joined the profession.

Hence, the implementation of the “debunching” of payments, whereby teachers would be rewarded according to their qualifications.

At a press conference on Thursday, the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) said it was prepared to call out its members from the classrooms as early as next week for industrial action if the government fails to address the many issues facing teachers.

Among the issues still to be addressed are the debunching payments, which have been outstanding since 2006; the $40M housing project which has been in existence since 2006; and more recently the salary proposal presented to the Ministry of Education late last year.

Union President, Mark Lyte said the body has exhausted every other option.

He was resolute that the union will not sit back and “allow this kind of behaviour to prevail, and have our teachers affected by not increasing their salaries”.

He claimed that word going the rounds is that the government will be offering public servants increases in salary, but unfortunately, no one has reached out to the GTU. “We are saying that this is not good for collective bargaining,” Lyte said, adding:“The GTU has decided that we have had enough.

We have given the administration enough time; we have had enough discussions,and we see no progress when it comes to an agreement

Two on the job, two stay away

–– as investigations continue into major fraud at T&HD Parika FOLLOWING reports that a major fraud was uncovered at the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) operations at Parika, two cashiers have not shown up for work.

At the same time, two other personnel who are also under investigation in connection with the fraud remain on the job. Reports are that one employee was recently promoted to oversee the T&HD operations on the Essequibo Coast, a move which has raised several eyebrows.

A source familiar with the situation told the Guyana Chronicle that the cashiers would issue receipts to truck drivers using the Essequibo River ferry service being offered by the T&HD. The cashiers would then remove the carbon copied leaves from the books “so it would look as if no trucks pass,” the source said.

T&HD officials at the Parika Stelling on

the East Bank of Essequibo had expressed concern that moves may be afoot to cover up the activity following a recent audit.

According to reports, an audit of the Department’s books was conducted during the second quarter of 2017 at its office at Parika.

When the audit was completed, it was discovered that the receipt books were tampered with. The fraud may have been in progress since April 2016, but came to a sudden halt around May this year.

Given the period over which the activity was happening, the T&HD may have lost millions of dollars. A source at Parika noted that the auditors brought the matter to the attention of the Department’s head but nothing came of it.

The T&HD operates several ferry vessels along the Essequibo River daily.

The service is seen as critical, as it bridges the economic link along the waterway.

between the union and the Ministry of Education.”

He said that in the circumstances, the GTU is demanding a swift response, failing which it will call teachers out of the classroom.

“We feel we have no other alternative, and we feel as though we have been taken for granted. We will be calling our teachers out to protest,” he warned.

Lyte said that although the government has been vocal about the importance of collective bargaining, the GTU has not seen anything of the sort being done over the last two years.

And even as the year draws closer to an end, teachers have not yet received an increase in salary.

He claimed that there is a deliberate effort on the part of the government

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

not to address the proposal which was presented to the Ministry of Education since December 2015.

M&CC intensifies inspection of food shops

By Navendra Seoraj THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown has intensified inspection of all eating houses, restaurants and provision shops that operate within the City.

According to a press statement on Friday, this is part of the Council’s statutory obligation under the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01.

“The Council has observed that there is an increasing number of eating houses and food establishments mushrooming, particularly in the central business district… it is not clear where consumptions are prepared and under what condition,” the statement said.

This has reportedly influenced the ad-

ministration to take note and to intensify its operations to safeguard the health of citizens.

Early next week, the Council will be moving to raise awareness about the importance of meat and food hygiene with those food vendors who do business in different sections of the City.

Those who meet the requirements will be properly certified and their names will be published so that citizens will be guided when purchasing foods and beverages.

Those who fail to meet the standards will be encouraged to improve their arrangements so that they can be certified by the Council and assist in its effort to observe the integrity of the public health of Georgetown.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

Gov’t to push e-agriculture

By Vishani Ragobeer

THE Ministry of Public Telecommunications is seeking to enhance the local agricultural sector by introducing opportu-

Ministerial Advisor Lance Hinds nities for ‘e-agriculture.’

E-agriculture is a contemporary field that focuses on the development of agriculture through the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Speaking at the launch of Internet Week 2017, Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, said technology will be used to push agriculture.

“One of the things that we’re going to be doing in a few short months is bringing to Guyana, a vision of the opportunities

in e-agriculture.”

She related that the Public Telecommunications Ministry has already been able to develop ICTbased solutions for the health and education sectors before and the next “intervention” the ministry will be focusing on is enhancement of the agriculture sector.

Ministerial Advisor Lance Hinds said the aim of the ministry’s intervention in this field is to use ICT to enable a more efficient local sector. This, as explained by him, involves transforming the managing, marketing and selling of products into a more efficiently run system.

Recently, the Telecommunications Ministry organised a CODESPRINT competition which required tech-savvy youths to create software that would connect farmers and customers in a fast, economic and reliable way.

Moreover, the software developed for this competition catered specifically for the local sector, given that the participants were required to carry out research here.

Hinds also told the Guyana Chronicle that the ministry is gearing towards introducing e-agriculture at the De-

Firearm charge

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes merara-Mahaica/Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC)’s Regional, Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition (RACE) slated for November 24 to 26.

Here, patrons and stakeholders alike will be able to learn how exactly e-agriculture will aid in transforming the sector.

“The idea is to have sessions on the potential of agriculture and sessions on the potential of ICT in agriculture,” the advisor said.

These sessions will include software solutions, like those developed at CODESPRINT 2017, as well as hardware solutions such as the use of agri-bots and other ICT-enhanced equipment.

– youth gets 2 years

THREE men nabbed by police with an unlicensed 9mm revolver and matching ammunition were on

Akeem Calendar

Friday jointly charged and appeared before City Magistrate Leron Daly on two counts of firearm possession.

Kevin Brummell (21) and Akeem Calendar (20), both of Charlestown and Keon Daniels, (26) of West Ruimveldt were charged for having an unlicensed revolver in their possession on October 17, at Sussex Street, Charlestown.

Brummell pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to two years’ jail on each charge. However the sentences will run concurrently.

JAILED: Kevin Brummell Calendar and Daniels both denied the charge and were released on $100,000 bail each. The matter is adjourned until November 10.

According to reports, on the day in question the police intercepted a motor car with the three defendants inside.

The gun was reportedly found inside the car and all three of the men had denied knowledge of the gun.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

NGMC conspiracy charge dismissed

THE conspiracy to procure money charge against former General Manager of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC), Nizam Hassan and Felecia De Souza-Madramootoo was on Friday dismissed.

This decision was made

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, who ruled that the prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers failed to prove his case based upon the inconsistences of several witness testimonies during the trial.

The duo was on trial for conspiracy to procure money under false pretence in relation to the approval of payments for low-grade rehabilitation works done on the New GMC building at Robb Street, Georgetown.

DeSouza-Madramootoo was represented by attorney Glen Hanoman, while attorney Marcel Bobb entered an appearance on behalf of Hassan.

Hassan, 50, of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara and DeSouza-Madramootoo, 34, of Lusignan, another ECD village, were out on $250,000 bail each during trial.

It is alleged that between October 28, 2010 and April 25, 2012, they conspired with each other to commit the offence by continuously approving payments which were made to the contractor of the engineering firm for works that were incompetently and incorrectly

done with inferior materials to rehabilitate the NGMC building, knowing that such works should not have been approved.

In 2016, the duo was charged after the Special Organised Crime Unit had completed its report into the investigations on the construction of the building, which had been contracted

that the principals of the company should be charged for using substandard building materials and be barred from executing projects for the Guyana Government.

Searches, according to the report, uncovered no trace of the existence of Constantine Engineering and Construction Services, located at #55 Calcutta

Former General Manager of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC), Nizam Hassan and co-accused Felicia De’Souza-Madramootoo out in 2011.

A forensic audit report submitted by auditor Saykar Boodhoo back in April had flagged the faulty work on the building.

The forensic audit report was submitted to Cabinet, where it was decided that the findings of the report were serious enough to warrant a deeper investigation, not only into the work done on the building, but also the handling of hundreds of millions of dollars for fertilisers.

The auditor contended

Road, #2 Freeport, Carapichaima, Trinidad.

Felicia DeSouza-Madramootoo is the wife of Hanniel Madramootoo, who is the project engineer within the Ministry of Agriculture and also a board member of Constantine Engineering and Construction Services and was in charge of works on the NGMC building.

The company won the bid for a contract worth almost $24M for the construction of a new building for the GMC head office and the Guyana Shop. On

February 10, 2012, the contract was amended to include an additional $7,620,984, for which there was no tender.

The auditor was unable to review the bidding documents, since the head of the tender board said he could not find any evidence in his files that showed that the tender board had been involved in the tender process, even though the contract indicated otherwise.

Shortly after the contract was amended, the contractor announced to the GMC that he would be unable to complete the project, and to date, it is unclear how much money was paid to Constantine Engineering. Thus, another contractor was called in to complete the electrical wiring and relevant works to the building.

The report said that, within months of the handover, the entire roof of the GMC building was leaking and as such, a contractor had to be brought in to effect repairs.

It was discovered that “old lumber and old zinc sheets with euroband were used to construct the roof of the building,” the report said. It noted that the bill of quantities of the contract for the construction of the office building stipulates Greenheart lumber for the floors, walls and frame, and PVC for the two ceilings of the building. However, it was later observed that mixed hardwood, including “second-quality lumber,”

‘Causing death’ driver on $250,000 bail

A 28-YEAR-OLD man was on Friday released on $250,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for causing death by dangerous driving.

It is alleged that Dwayne Tambi on October 18 at the Land of Canaan Public Road, East Bank, Demerara drove a motor lorry in a dangerous manner to the public which resulted in the death of 50-year-old Joseph Harmon of Relief Public Road, EBD. Tambi had pleaded guilty

to the charge but the Chief Magistrate entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and requested the file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further advice.

According to reports on the day in question Harmon was a passenger in a minibus and reportedly exited the bus to allow another passenger to enter when a motor lorry driven by Tambi, allegedly lost control and hit him.

It was reported that the lorry and minibus were proceeding north on the western

Dwayne Tambi side of the public road and a motorcar was proceeding in

the opposite direction when the minibus stopped to pick up a passenger.

By this time Harmon came out of the bus and was hit by the lorry. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police Prosecutor Arwin Moore made no objection to bail but requested that it be substantial.

The Chief Magistrate granted Tambi $250,000 bail and adjourned the matter until November 6.

had been used for the walls, and plywood had been used for the ceiling. Plywood is significantly cheaper than PVC panels.

The audit report said it was the Agriculture Ministry’s engineer who had certified the payment vouchers for the plywood, even though there was no amendment for this material to be used in the construction.

The auditor had, in this regard, recommended that

the police be called in “to investigate the fraud of using incorrect materials and fraudulent billing for the construction of the building.”

It was also recommended that since it was the engineer who had certified the payments, “he should be charged criminally, and brought before the courts for his participation in conducting fraud against the Government of Guyana.”

Three former GRDB officials on $1M bail each THREE former Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) members accused of failing to make a proper entry into a register of a company and misappropriation of over $8.5M from the entity were on Friday slapped with 34 fraud related charges.

Former General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Jagnarine Singh and deputy general manager, Madanlall Ramraj and in absentia, former accountant, Peter Ramcharran were all charged and appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and were released on $1M bail each.

Former deputy GM, Madanlall Ramraj Ramcharran is currently facing extradition proceedings in Canada based on an arrest warrant issued by Guyana on a similar charge recently.

Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) prosecutor Patrice Henry is contending that in 2011 to 2012 the three officials on 17 occasions committed the acts.

It is alleged that three officials, with intent to defraud, omitted or concur to be omitted $8.5M from

the general ledger of the GRDB’s Cowan Street Office during the years 2011 and 2012.

Former General Manager, Jagnarine Singh They were not required to plea to the indictable charge.

And additional 17 counts of fraudulent misappropriation were read to the two men. These charges are all indictable.

The charges read that between 2011 and 2012, the three defendants fraudulently took the same monies for their own use or benefit.

The men were represented by attorney Glen Hanoman who told the court that both of his clients were not involved in the handling of the said monies but rather someone else in the accounts department of the GRDB. Hanoman further stressed that his two clients along with other former members of GRDB were charged for similar offence back in May. Prosecutor Henry asked that substantial bail be set due to the severity of the allegations. The Chief Magistrate released the duo on $1M bail each and adjourned the matter until November 16.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday October 21, 2017

‘Agri’ talk gives food for thought --to hundreds of children on Career Day tour

HUNDREDS of students from across the country were on Thursday left with some serious food for thought after spending the day talking agriculture with some of the country’s leading minds on the subject.

The occasion was an organised tour of four of the country’s leading agricultural agencies, namely: The Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA); the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI); the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA); and the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture Station (SSAS), all of which are located at Mon Repos, on the East Coast of Demerara.

At the GSA, which turned 54 in September, students were led in a discussion on youth in agriculture by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Programme Specialist, Dr. Patrick Chesney, who had cut his teeth at the institution.

Using as his theme, “Attributes required to succeed in an agricultural career,” he shared with his charges what it takes to be where he’s at today.

“Be respectful to teach-

After the discussions, students from the various schools were given the opportunity to visit several booths, and witness firsthand agricultural practices and tools involved.

For Jamilla Hughes of President’s College, It was the opportunity of a lifetime, just to be able to make the connection between what she was taught in the classroom and the real world.

taken there, such as the fingerlings and support services being offered to farmers rearing Tambaqui, Jamaica Tilapia, Hassar and Red Tilapia among other species of fish. They were also taken on a tour of the hatchery, fish ponds and aquaponics station.

The open-day activity hosted at the four agencies were all part of the activities planned for Agriculture Month. (DPI)

UNDP’s Dr. Patrick Chesney delivering the feature address at the GSA Open Day tour (Photos courtesy DPI)

ers, family and the rule of law. Respect drives; certain important elements that are required for learning,” he said.

He also encouraged them to consider a career in agricultural science, as it has lots of opportunities to offer.

“Accept my injunction from this day onward, that you will dedicate a portion of your energy to productive, meaningful conversation, productive meaningful engagement, and productive meaningful actions,” Dr Chesney urged.

Chelsea James of St

Stanislaus College was so moved by what Dr Chesney had to say, she already want to be an agronomist.

“I think that creativity leads to innovation such as non-traditional agricultural methods,” she said.

“It was very informative, and if I were to choose an agricultural career, I would choose agronomy, because that’s the base of everything.

“I do think that events like this encourage us to join the field, because they show us what they are about, and the different careers you can choose in agriculture.”

Lettuce grown the aquaponics way at the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture Station

Major enhancement works for Bina Hill Institute

By Alva Solomon THE Bina Hill Institute in the North Rupununi is set to expand its capacity as five major projects are being undertaken at the youth learning centre.

Mike Williams, Vicechair of the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), the body under which the institution falls, told the Guyana Chronicle this week that the projects are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2018.

They include the construction of male and female dormitories which are expected to cater for 60 students. That project commenced recently and a timeline for its completion may see it being finished

by January 2018.

In addition, water trestles, a workshop as well as new

“In class, we learn about the different tools used in ‘agri.’ We learnt about the plow,” Jamilla said, adding: “Now, I have never seen one before! So it was very enlightening to see the plow and how it works. I have learnt that you can use some of these tools to make your job easier.”

Over at the Aquaculture Station, students were briefed on the various projects currently being under-

Workers laying the foundations for new dormitory facilities at the Bina Hill Institute, North Rupununi

teacher’s quarters are being constructed at the Region Nine institute.

Williams said the roof of the main building at the institute is set to undergo a facelift and its roof is expected to be refurbished.

He said the projects are all funded by the Government of Guyana.

The Bina Hill Institute was established in 2001 as an institution that focuses on training hinterland youth in several fields, in-

cluding natural resource management, forestry, wildlife management, agriculture, tourism, business studies, life skills, traditional skills, basic computer skills, mathematics, English and leadership training.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday October 21, 2017

Lethem bids Preside --as community sheds ‘El Paso’

Schoolchildren stand proudly with little Guyana flags Friday as Lethem was declared a town

By Ariana Gordon LETHEM was on Friday a hive of activity as hundreds flocked the roadways in anticipation of President David Granger’s official declaration of the community of about 7000 persons, a town.

Young and old alike lined the streets of Lethem to welcome the head-of-state who was flanked by First Lady Sandra Granger and several government ministers, including Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes; Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan; Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George

He noted that since his last visit, which also happened to be his first and was some 48 years ago, the community has seen quite a bit of transformation.

“In the past, Lethem used to suffer from what I call ‘the compound mentality’,”he said, in that back then during the colonial period, the country was run by “a few compounds” of senior officials who were more concerned about taxation than with development.

“Today, we have a municipality which comes from among the people that are concerned with development and not government. That is why we changed the name from the Ministry of Local Government to the

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan

President David Granger receives the key to

President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger stand alongside Lethem’s Mayor Mr Carlton Beckles on Friday

Another cultural item

Norton; Minister of Housing, Valerie Patterson-Yearwood; and Ministers within the Ministries of Natural Resources and Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Simona Broomes and Valerie Garrido-Lowe, respectively.

It was a moment of pride and celebration for all as President Granger emerged and took the stage. In his usual jovial manner reserved for such occasions, the President expressed his elation at being able to declare Lethem a town.

So elated was he, President Granger said, he forsees a bright future for Lethem, now that it no longer looks like the frontier town it once was that reminded him so much of the legendary ‘El Paso’ of the fabled Wild West.

Ministry of Communities,” the president said.

DRIVERS OF CHANGE Noting that the attainment of township status is serious business, in that it will allow the people themselves to be the drivers of change and development, President Granger charged the municipality to work together with all stakeholders to ensure that all their goals can be achieved.

The idea of having a local democracy, he said, is about empowering people; empowering the residents of Lethem; putting power in their hands to select the people they want to run the township.

“If you don’t like them; move them! You

Students of the St. Ignatius choir rendering a national song at Friday’s dedication ceremony

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday October 21, 2017

ent hearty welcome image, looks to future as a town

Schoolchildren line the streets during the declaration ceremony

Lethem from Mayor Carlton Beckles

Region Nine Chairman, Mr Brian Allicock

have municipal elections next year! They have to work, develop and produce; that is the democracy!” he said.

“I have every confidence in the Mayor and his Council that they will work for the development of this town.”

As to what he calls the “absurdity” of residents of Lethem, Mabaruma and Bartica among other hinterland communities having to travel all the way to Georgetown just to take care of business, President Granger declared: “We are putting an end to that absurdity by delivering; we know what the people want! “We are going to relieve the pressure

of Lethem, President Granger said. “We have plans, and those plans are aimed at delivering services. Lethem must become attractive; I want the Rupununi to continue to be an attractive destination for the tourism industry.”

PUT RUPUNUNI FIRST He also called upon residents to adopt a policy of cooperation despite their political differences. “Say Rupununi first!” he declared. “Do not fight one another; you will feel the pain. Lethem must lead the way; it can become the model town; I can see the economy of this region is thriving.”

He acknowledged the massive develop-

President David Granger and members of his administration along with regional administration officials and representatives of Brazil taking the salute from mounted police officers on Friday

Members of the Surama cultural group serenading those gathered at the Lethem town declaration ceremony on Friday (Photos by Delano Williams)

Members of the St. Ignatius Cultural Group doing a welcoming dance

of individual residents and farmers and communities… We want this capital town to provide every public service that the residents need! You don’t have to go to Georgetown or Adventure, Lethem!”

As the seventh community to be elevated to the status of township, the President believes that Lethem can be an engine of growth and development, and that working together is key to accomplishing that goal.

Said he: “There are some people who drink confrontational soup… Who wins if this region is divided? If we work together, all of us will thrive; the rising tide lifts all the boats, regardless of what party you come from.”

As to how the government sees the future

ment which has taken place in the town, but noted the need for infrastructural development, particularly in the area of roads and electricity.

In similar vein, Minister Bulkan spoke to upholding the rule of law and the meaning of democracy. He reminded residents of Lethem that it was the APNU+AFC coalition government that returned local democracy to the people.

Bulkan said his ministry is a RACE-based ministry, referring to the Regional, Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition.

“Our local government organs are not expected to be appendages Turn to page 18

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday October 21, 2017

Hundreds to throw their rods

-- as Rockstone Fish Festival promises to be grand affair

By Navendra Seoraj FISHES that dwell in the Essequibo River will be scampering because of the increased presence of hooks and castnets at this year’s Rockstone Fish Festival, which is expected to attract about 3,000 people.

Last year, though the turnout was smaller, the festival was faced with many constraints said the coordinator, Amatsyah Joseph, during the launch of the event at the Ministry of Business on

Friday.

The tourism-driven event takes place at the small riverine community of Rockstone, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

Joseph promised that come October 28 and 29, they intend to avoid those constraints and ensure that all aspects of the event are done in a timely manner.

Though there will be better monitoring and managing of the festival, persons will still enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and a number of new

Rockstone Fish Festival Coordinator Amatsyah Joseph and GTA Logistics Manager Carla Chandra speaking to members of the media on Friday

attractions such as bike and road racing, fishing, volleyball, tug-o-war, karaoke, bon fire and fold singing, canoe racing, swimming, cassava grating and rafting.

In addition, there will

the usual activities such as boat tours to beautiful destinations, fishing and cooking competitions, cycling races from Linden to Rockstone, nature trails, fish-deboning, fish-catching, and the larg-

est-fish competitions.

Added to that, there will be camping, picnics, tours to Gluck Island, swimming and fish-cooking contests.

The community of Rockstone, some 18 miles from Linden, is renowned for hosting Guyana’s largest fish festival – the Rockstone Fish Festival – an attraction for both tourists and locals alike.

A two-hour trip will allow persons to experience camping, fishing, bird-watching, or simply exploring the Essequibo.

Tickets cost $500 for adults and $300 for children.

For those who want to park there, the fees are $1,000 for cars; $2,000 for mini-buses; $3,000 for pick-ups; $3,000 for canter trucks; $3,000 for

large buses; and $5,000 for large trucks.

Since the commencement of the festival 12 years ago, the Guyana Tourism Authority and the government have been using it to drive tourism in Region 10 by attracting patrons and fishers from all across the country.

The festival was birthed by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director-General Donald Sinclair in 2006 when he was on a fishing excursion.

According to the GTA, he envisaged the potential for community-based tourism, which prompted him to engage residents of the community. They later created the blueprint for the festival.

Allicock, congratulated Lethem on attaining township status, and noted that the region has come a long way.

“This is a very historic occasion, and I am proud of how far we have come,” he said.

Allicock disclosed that efforts are ongoing to develop a plan of action for regional development of which Lethem is part. “We are all working together with all stakeholders,” he said, but noted that there is a great need for better infrastructure and security.

“In this region, we need security; we as a people need to be more vigilant. We have crime on the rise in the villages; while the security forces concentrating on the township, the boys operating in the villages.

“We need to have our security forces mobile. Military has a three-quarter vehicle; and likewise the police. I am asking of you, Your Excellency, to put some thought into beefing up the security aspect within the township,” pleaded the regional chairman.

opportunity to intimately address your people’s issues,” Holland stated, while calling for embracing of the regional development consultative committee which he says would provide the platform for meaningful consultation between municipals and their bodies.

“For too long the councils have been clashing where there should be one shared municipal board,” said the Linden Mayor, as he urged Lethem to continue to position itself as the commercial hub it was destined to be.

“The prowess to develop a stronger Lethem already resides here,” Holland stated.

The simple ceremony, held in the heart of Lethem, saw a wide display of Region Nine talent, with dancers from Surama and the St.Ignatius youth group, along with singing done by the St. Ignatius School Choir.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Mayor Beckles handed over the Key to Lethem to President Granger as a token of appreciation before the plaque to commemorate the historic event was unveiled.

Also present at the ceremony was Mayor of Bartica, Mr Gifford Marshall, Guyana’s Ambassador to Brazil, Mr George Talbott and his wife, along with several Brazilian dignitaries.

Lethem, located in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region, is named after Sir Gordon James Lethem who was Governor of British Guiana from 1941 to 1947.

From page 17

Lethem bids President ...

of the central government, but rather to be the motors of economic growth.

This administration is committed to removing the fist that is used to smother independence, autonomy and lawful authority of local democratic organs.”

Instead, Bulkan said his administration has committed itself to extend an open hand of support and collaboration, thereby empowering them as mandated by the Constitution.

“The commitment of Rule of Law is the cornerstone of democratic governance, and the administration

will honour the law, because it is the right thing to do. We have seen the disregard for the system of local government, of which development is impossible,” stated Minister Bulkan.

The Minister of Communities congratulated the town’s first Mayor, Mr Carlton Beckles, on work he’s done since his election to office, but noted that much more needs to be done to advance Lethem.

Beckles, for his part, hailed the status of township as a mark of a new life for the people of Lethem. He said it will forever be etched in

the minds of residents, and described it as a once-in-alifetime opportunity.

ECONOMIC PROSPERITY “This town is meant to drive the economy of this region by attracting the type of investment needed to achieve it,” said Beckles, who noted the expansion of the housing sector, investment and renewable energy. He told residents that in order to benefit from the Local Government system, they first have to appreciate it and understand it.

“It is one where you can

reach your local leaders on a daily basis; you can have solutions to issues...There is a correlation between your personal development and that of your community.”

He called on his residents not to be “hostages of the past,” while noting that some persons are waiting for the community to fail. “They want us to waddle in the cesspit of our past failures,” he said, noting that residents need to examine the integrity of their past leaders and be truthful.

Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) Regional Chairman, Mr Brian

BETTER ROADS He also pointed to the need to have better roads within the region, so as to aid in boosting the country’s economy.

Meanwhile, Linden Mayor, Mr Carwyn Holland, who also serves as the head of the Guyana Association of Municipalities, congratulated Lethem on its township status, while noting that the municipalities machinery has expanded.

“You are afforded the

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

Upper Dem trounce West Dem 3-0 to win GT Beer Inter-Association Cup

By Joe Chapman

A YOUTHFUL Up per Demerara, brimming with confidence after a tense start and boosted by a home crowd following, punished West Demerara 3-0 to capture the inaugural GT Beer Super Sunday Night Super Cup Inter-Association crown and stash away the first $1M on Wednesday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Coach Anthony ‘Toto’ Stephens’ trust in this bunch of intelligent players paid off after settling in from an early chance which went a-begging. Kellon Primo had motored down the right and sent a pass to the midfield but that player Jashawn Moore hit the ball over the crossbar.

West Demerara responded in kind with an offensive play, but the shot taken was saved by their captain Shaquille Frank, diving bril-

liantly low to his left.

Then it was Jermain

who somehow was unable to control and he hit the ball just

UDFA goalscorers (L-R) Kellon Primo, Randy Small and Jomain Samuels

Samuels who squared the ball to an unmarked Primo,

over the crossbar much to the surprise of the home fans.

However, Upper Demerara were able to make amends to those early let-ups and from a corner, with the ball seemingly running into touch it was kept into play.

This time Jomain Samuels latched on to it and his left foot volley sent Upper Demerara into a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute.

And for the next 15 minutes of play the Upper Demerara side played positively and maintained their grasp, as West Demerara were constantly put on the back foot.

The first half ended in favour of the home team.

After play resumed, the Upper Demerara team maintained their focus and were rewarded in the 67th minute, as a foul enabled Randy Small to step up and bang home a powerful 30-yard free kick that dipped and rushed into the back of the net, making it 2-0. The crowd went into frenzy.

Still in control and play-

ing with some amount of ease at this stage of the game, the Linden team got their third and final goal of the game against a tiring West Demerara side in the 81st minute.

Kellon Primo secured his sixth goal of the tournament and was later named Most Valuable Player. In tandem with the attacking midfielder Denzil Fordyce, they exchanged passes and Primo beat the opposing West Demerara goalkeeper to score for that 3-0 advantage.

By then it was all over, bar the shouting and Upper Demerara deservedly carted off the major spoils and trophy in front of an ecstatic crowd.

West Demerara gained $600 000 for their effort.

Essequibo/Pomeroon who played an exhibition game which they won 4-2 against a President’s XI (Georgetown failed to turn up) won $400 000.

Tenpow brothers ready to rule the track at ‘Caribbean Showdown’

THEY may be small in stature, but the Tenpow brothers of the Pure Racing family are certainly big on maintaining their dominance on the race track.

Backing down from a challenge is alien to them and that trend is set to continue today when GT Motorsports stages the Georgetown Grand Prix ‘Caribbean Showdown’.

Jeremy and Justin of Pure Racing are once again billed to line up against their rivals in what is usually a hotly contested Sun Burst Kids Cup 60cc.

In previous Grand Prix events, the Kids Cup was

an all-local field, but it will have the presence of foreign competition this time around with Jamaican Ryan Lue set to showcase his skills.

“To the Jamaican team, welcome to Guyana and watch out for Pure Racing,” Jeremy said. Justin added, “Welcome everybody. I’m ready for some epic racing.”

The two are among the brightest prospects in the sport, and today’s Grand Prix is another opportunity for them to further enhance their growing reputation.

Jeremy, the older of the two, has a record to maintain as he is the points leader of

Windies coming to grips with Test cricket - Holder

WINDIES captain Jason Holder believes the team has shown at least some progression as regards to responding to the expectations and demands of playing Test cricket within the past year.

The team have claimed a total of three matches in their last five Test series and have not won a series since defeating Bangladesh in the Caribbean three years ago.

The Windies, however, showed plenty potential in registering a stunning win against England at Headingley last month, largely after being written off following a 209-run thrashing by England at Edgbaston in August. The source of improvement, the captain believes, is due to the young team coming to grips with the demands of the game.

Integral to the improved showing and belief has been the performance of Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope emerging as two batsmen of promise. While quick to point out that the team is far from fulfilling its true potential, Holder has been encouraged by the signs.

“I think we’ve had a pretty reasonable year in terms of improvement. The guys have been getting attuned to Test cricket,” Holder said.

“We’re still not the finished product but we’re headed in the right direction.”

The team will hope to continue in that direction when they visit Bulawayo to play a Zimbabwe team that have also shown plenty of promise in recent months.

the Sun Burst Kids Cup after three Grand Prix events and a total of nine races. He has chalked up five wins and two second-place finishes and has amassed a whopping 188 points for his remarkable consistency.

Rahaman in third spot on 155.

Justin, with two second-place finishes and three thirds, occupies fourth position on 129 points.

Josh Khan is way back in fifth on 30 points, but he has only participated in one

Jeremy and Justin Tenpow

The only female in the category, the indomitable Paige Mendonca, is second on 158, followed by Nathan

American Racing Tips Belmont Race 1 Constant Knight Race 2 Cozzy Spring Race 3 Berning Rose Race 4 Table For Six Race 5 Becker’s Galaxy Race 6 Engineers Report Race 7 River Knight Race 8 Candid Desire Race 9 Black Tide Race10 Five Star Rampage Race11 Dream Passage English Racing Tips Market Rasen 08:10 hrs Cabaret Queen 08:40 hrs Not That Fuisse 09:15 hrs Demon D’Aunou 09:50 hrs Shrubland

Grand Prix - a total of just three races.

Action will speed off at 18:00hrs and admission to

the venue is $1 000 for adults, $500 for children and $4 000 for the VIP experience.

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

It is being supported by Sun Burst Juices, Rent-ATent, Fly Jamaica, STAG B e e r, M o n s t e r E n e r g y Drink, Exxon Mobil, Handin-Hand Insurance, Readymix Concrete, Scotiabank, Cloud 9, Optique Vision Care, Toucan Industries, Ticket Master Travel Agency, E-Networks, King’s Jewellery World, Hero Motor Cycles, Ray’s Motor Spares, Cyril’s Taxi Service, Bounty, Trophy Stall, Prem’s Electrical Store, Impressions, Truck Masters, Windjammer, Super Bet, The Track Bar, Ocean Spray Hotel, Secure Innovation and Concept, Clear Waters, Marics, Rid-O-Pest and Karcher.

10:25 hrs Red Rising 11:00 hrs Capitaine 11:35 hrs Ready Token 12:05 hrs Rippling Waters Ascot 08:25 hrs Duretto 09:00 hrs The Tin Man 09:40 hrs Bateel 10:15 hrs Ribchester 10:50 hrs Poet’s Word 11:30 hrs Lord Glitters

Irish Racing Tips Fairyhouse 08:35 hrs Bronze Age 09:05 hrs Massa Lubrense 09:35 hrs Ellona 10:05 hrs Kailee 10:40 hrs Harry Speed 11:15 hrs ASlaykha 11:50 hrs Les Arceaux 12:25 hrs [Port Moody

Catterick 08:50 hrs Immortal Romance 09:25 hrs Perfect Thpught 09:55 hrs Desert Ace 10:30 hrs Udontdodou 11:05 hrs Northwest Frontier 11:40 hrs Roaring Forties 12:10 hrs Inspector Norse

South Africa Racing Tips Turffontein 08:15 hrs Crowd Pleaser 08:50 hrs Ali Bon Dubai 09:25 hrs Tiger Flame 10:00 hrs Fort Ember 10:35 hrs Elevated 11:10 hrs Detonation

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

Persaud elated with Franchise League performance … credits hard work, self-confidence for success

By Rajiv Bisnauth

AKSHAYA Persaud’s impressive form in the just concluded Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Franchise League three-day tournament had earned him the leading runs-scorer trophy - an achievement he credited to hard work and self-confidence for the success.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, the former national youth player insists that his hunger to perform and deliver has kept him motivated during the League.

started, I was hungry, I wanted to do well, and eventually it came,” Persaud said.

He added, “It all comes back to my preparation, working on techniques. I used to work at LBI facility and had someone record my session so I could work on turning my flaws into perfection. When I got the contract, I was selected for West Indies U-19 training camp, and from then to now coaches Esaun Crandon and Rayon Griffith have been good and they keep pushing you to be the best.”

Apart from the hard work

he has been in sublime form during the League.

“To be honest, he (Shiv) is my role model and I address him as Pops. When you go into bat he helps with the pressure; he would tell you about playing proper shots.

He would advise me in any situation to try and hit the balls in ‘V’ area and to keep the ball on the ground until I get my eyes in and look to score,” Persaud relaied.

Further, with the upcoming first class season set to bowl off on October 26, Persaud now sets his eyes on a

Akshaya Persaud collects the highest runs scorer trophy in the just Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Franchise League three-day tournament from Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Persaud, who captained the West Demerara franchise, chalked up 510 runs at an average of 72.85, with scores of 41, 9, 43, 33, 151*, 20, 51, 61, and an unbeaten 101. He also claimed four wickets and took nine catches during the seven-week competition.

“When the tournament

and self-confidence in his ability to respond to the challenges and overcome them and the advice from coaches Griffith and Crandon, the former Saraswati Vidy Niketan School student acknowledged that veteran West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul is one of the main reasons

senior call-up.

The national selectors are expected to pick a Guyana squad shortly. Threetime reigning champions Guyana Jaguars will open the defence of their title against Jamaica Scorpions at the Guyana National Stadium.

Round of sixteen action on today in COURTS Pee Wee

Round of 16 action in the COURTS Pee Wee Football tournament gets going this weekend.

EIGHT matches are on today in the COURTS Pee Wee Under-11 football tournament when the round of sixteen gets going at the Banks DIH Thirst Park ground.

In the first of the games, La Parfaite Harmonie will take on Redeemer from 10:45hrs with the adjacent pitch featuring Den Amstel and West Ruimveldt simultaneously.

St Agnes Primary and Goed Fortuin Primary are the next two up for battle at 11:30hrs while alongside them, School of the Nations and Mae’s will clash.

South Ruimveldt and Stella Maris will be the first two teams to play after lunch at 12:15hrs with F.E Pollard and Marian Academy meeting on pitch two.

The last of the afternoon’s matches at 13:00hrs will pit Enterprise Primary against St. Ambrose and Sophia against Tucville.

The round-robin stage of the tournament was completed last week with the top two teams from each group moving forward. From here on, the teams who lose will be eliminated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

Hamilton Green 83rd Birth Anniversary Nine-a-Side … Hamilton Green Cup KO tournament kicks off tomorrow quarter-final also on tomorrow THE Hamilton Green 83rd Birth Anniversary Nine-a-Side football tournament will kick off tomorrow at the Victoria ground with a triple-header beginning at 18:00hrs.

Tomorrow also, the first quarter-final of the Hamilton Green Cup Knock-Out tournament will be staged at the same venue and will serve as the feature game on the night’s card.

of 30 minutes’ duration with two 15 minutes’ segments. The winning team will earn $100 000, while the runners-up will receive $50 000.

In the Hamilton Green Cup Knock-Out tournament, Ann’s Grove will be spearheaded by striker Daniel Pellew, with support expected from midfielders Philip Williams, Rayan Sears, Steve Francis and Maxton Adams. Elton Adams will

Hamilton Green

The Hamilton Green Cup tournament quarter-final match will feature Ann’s Grove and Soesdyke Falcons.

In the opening game of the day’s card, (Birth Anniversary), Golden Grove will face Buxton Youth Developers, while Plaisance of East Demerara oppose Wales of West Demerara in game two.

The final game of the birth anniversary tournament brings together Lima Dam of West Demerara and their West Demerara counterparts Bagotville.

Each game will be

be on duties between the uprights.

For Soesdyke Falcons, Trayone Khan will lead the attack from the front and is expected to be supported by midfielders Marvin Joseph and Kelson Benson. Dorwin Batson will marshal the defence.

The winners of this tournament will receive $500 000, while the team placing second will earn $250 000. The third- and fourth-place finishers will take home $150 000 and $100 000 respectively.

GFF successfully concludes CONCACAF `D’ Licensing course THE Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) `D’ Licensing course was successfully conducted on October 14 in the Federation’s boardroom.

According to a release from the Federation, present at the completion of the course were GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood, Youth Development Officer Bryan Joseph and CONCACAF Instructors Anton Corneal and Vincent Earl Ganzberg.

In an invited comment, Greenwood stated that “the Federation is pleased with the participation of the candidates; they were always engaged and always asking questions of instructors. We improved on last year’s D Licence course by revising the paper work with coaches in the evening rather than closing in the afternoon with practical session.”

According to Greenwood, “The GFF technical staff conducted the evening sessions and it proved very beneficial. We’ll get the results of the D Licensing course from CONCACAF over the next few weeks.”

The five-day programme catered to 30 participants that comprised coaches from the Elite Clubs and GFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centres (ATCs) and was conducted by CONCACAF Instructors.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

GUYANA FOOTBALL FEDERATION INC. (GFF)

Extra Time

GFF-NAMILCO THUNDERBOLT FLOURPOWER NATONAL U17 TOURNAMENT – Platform For Youth Football Development

The GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U17 Tournament has, to date, been instrumental to the development of youth players who comprise the national teams.

The tournament has produced a number of players who have represented Guyana at the National U15, U17 and U20 levels.

EXTRATIME captures some of his thoughts about his game, club and dreams.

How His Previous International Experience Has Aided His Development: “The previous tournament was great. I’ve learned a lot of new things and I have also learned how to conduct myself in a different environment, in a

not just one thing, it teaches you about life. The greatest lesson I will take away from this experience is discipline.”

DREAMS: “I see myself reaching

the highest level of football, playing the top leagues in the world. For example, the Barclays Premier League. I have always dreamt about playing there and I know that I will make it to that lev-

el, I know it.”

His Club Winning The UDFA-Leg of the GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U17 Tournament “My team and I deserve this. We trained hard and we played even harder. Coach is proud of us, I am proud of us and we plan to celebrate.”

The Importance Of Balancing Academics and Football:

GFF President (Wayne Forde) and Milerock Midfielder and Captain (Lorenzo Miller) Lorenzo Miller

One such player is Milerock FC’s Midfielder and Captain, Lorenzo Miller.

He was a participant of the Thunderbolt Flour Power National U17 Tournament and represented Guyana in the CONCACAF U17 Boys Championship (2016) and at the Inter-Guianas Games (IGG) held in Suriname (2017). His club won the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) leg of the GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U17 Tournament.

professional environment.

It really made me more experienced and prepared for the IGG experience.”

ON HIS IGG EXPERIENCE: “The IGG experience was great, it was exciting. I would advise any young footballer striving to become a professional footballer to just train hard. The experience is always nice, you learn a lot of new things from different people. I’ve learned a different culture because football is

Milerock winners of Namilco U17 with coach

“I balance my school work and my game very well. In the mornings I do revision, I go to school and after school I train. I repeat every day. This has worked very well for me. I wrote CSEC this year and I plan to return to Sixth form at the Mc Kenzie High School.”

ON PERSONAL INVESTMENT IN HIS GAME: You have to watch a lot of videos to learn about how to play in certain positions, how to apply various techniques, how to play under pressure etc. You have to watch a lot of videos. I love YouTube very much, I learn a lot of things pertaining to football.”

The nation-wide GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Intra-Association U-17 Tournament, is a five (5)-year partnership between the GFF Inc. and the National Milling Company, that will see an investment of thirty million dollars (G$30,000,000.00) by the Company over that period.

The tournament is a key component of the Executive Committee’s strategic objective in its youth development thrust. This new model emphasizes three essential goals: 1. To streamline sponsorship agreements beyond Executive Cycles.

2. To ensure that consistent youth football at all levels are played in each Association throughout the year.

3. To enable the establishment of Academy Training Centers (ATC) in each Association that will facilitate growth and development of Elite Coaches and Elite Players.

PRODUCED BY THE GUYANA FOOTBALL FEDERATION INC. (GFF) AND DESIGNED BY THE GUYANA CHRONICLE

For further Information or should you have questions/comments , please contact: General Secretary Guyana Football Federation (GFF) 17 Dadanawa Street, Section “K” Campbelville, Georgetown TEL: +1 592 227 8758 ext. 102 FAX: +1 592 225 2096

e-mail: gff@networksgy.com WEBSITE: www.gffonline.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/GuyanaFootballFederationInc INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/guyana_football_federation_inc/ SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/guyana-football-federation-inc LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/guyana-football-federation-inc TWITTER: @GFF_Inc_

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

Baseball Guyana acquires land to build multi-sport complex BASEBALL Guyana is building the largest multisport complex in the history of the English-speaking Caribbean.

The governing body for the great game of baseball was granted a lease for 25 acres of land on the Ogle estate by the Government of Guyana to facilitate the development of this three-phase project.

Phase one includes two lighted baseball fields, a high school, soccer field and a four-acre indoor multisport facility; all of these will be powered by a 1.3 MW rooftop solar generation and storage system.

President of Baseball Guyana, Robin Singh, stated, “We shared our vision for sport as an engine of development and

change with various ministers of the current administration, and it was met with encouragement and approval in all of the related areas: Business, Sport, Culture, Youth, Cohesion, Tourism and the policy of moving to a Green economy.

Support from the government and endorsement of the project by the Guyana Office for Investment led to our being

Baseball being played in Guyana

granted a lease by Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, Trevor Benn, who saw where our complex would serve present and future communities and easy access by largely populated areas.”

Asked to elaborate on the vision that led to this first phase of the sport complex which is expected to be over 100 acres upon completion of the third phase, Singh said “Imagine a massive complex of sport fields and facilities to be used by all of the sporting bodies, for elite athletes training 24-7, and open to the public as a safe lighted area to walk, run and interact with each other daily; indoor areas dedicated to soccer, hockey, karate, judo, lawn and table tennis; even a homework area where volunteer teachers can assist children, all with free internet access. And this is just phase one.”

“But the most important thing is that we can now show players a pathway to success in baseball. Previously, we ran

Digicel/Team Evolution Cancer Awareness feature cycle road race expected to be a scorcher

WITH the 2017 cycle season nearing an end, tomorrow’s Digicel-sponsored, Team Evolution-organised Cancer Awareness feature 35-lap cycle road race promises to be a `scorcher’ and should not be missed for any reason.

Defending champion of the event, Jamal John, will be hardpressed to make a successful defence of his title. He will face fierce competition from a number of Guyana’s `cream of the crop’ - the likes of Raul Leal, Orville Hinds, Raynauth `Obeahman’ Jeffrey, Geron Williams, Andrew Hicks and Paul DeNobrega among others.

John, who has been very competitive and consistent this season and is the current points’ leader on the Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) point standings. He is expected to get keen opposition, come tomorrow, as he will come up against stiffer competition from Williams and Jeffrey, who both have spent most of the 2017 season competing on the United States of America circuit with much success, allowing John to

dominate the local scene.

Not to be outdone are the junior riders Briton John, Nigel Duguid, Jonathan Ramsuchit and Curtis Dey who have all

Barbados.

The juniors will be a part of the feature event as the two categories will be involved in the 35-lap event which is ap-

Last year’s champion Jamal John

been selected by the GCF to represent the Golden Arrowhead at the Junior Caribbean Road Race Championships in

proximately 85 miles.

Only last Sunday, John won the 6th edition of the Kadir Mohamed `One Ounce

of Gold’ cycle road race which was staged from Georgetown to Dora on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and back, returning a winning time of three hours 13 minutes 3.6 seconds to capture the 80-mile event.

Jeffrey, Hinds, Shaquel Agard, Williams and DeNobrega occupied the other top five places respectively.

Tomorrow’s activity which wheels off at 07:70hrs with a one-lap race for DIGICEL staffers will see juveniles and mountain bikers riding together for five laps, while veterans under 45 years of ageas well as those over 45 years of age will compete together for 20 laps.

Over $900 000 in prize money and other incentives will be up for grabs during the day’s activity which starts outside the Guyana Defence Force, Camp Ayanganna headquarters on Irving Street and from there they will travel south along Irving Street, turn west on Carifesta Avenue, south into Camp Road, east into Thomas Road and north into Irving Street.

pilot projects on school and cricket fields with some success, but we could not honestly say to parents and players that they could achieve anything more than recreational levels of play.

Robin Singh, president of Baseball Guyana

“Now we can assure our players and their parents of a higher quality of training and playing facility in the near future,” said Singh.

According to him, his association will begin tryouts for the various age groups in January 2018, with the intention of

competing at the PONY Caribbean Championships, with the assurance of a pathway to international competition, college and professional careers.

The project is now in the design phase with local architect Annabelle Carter-Sharma leading the design team.

Newly appointed General Secretary of Baseball Guyana, Devon Douglas, said, “The baseball community in Guyana is excited at the prospect of our first field, and for it to be the crown jewel of this multi-sport park just adds to the value our sport brings. Baseball engenders a change in the way we think and act. We cannot wait to share our sport and culture of unity with the wider public in Guyana.”

Local contracting firm Bassoo Global is expected to begin mobilisation mid-2018 for construction of the first phase of the complex.

Baseball Guyana expects to make major partnership announcements during the course of the planning phase.

Three round-two matches in GFA/STAG Premium League set for tomorrow at GFC THE Georgetown Football Association’s (GFA) STAG Premium League will continue tomorrow with three round-two matches at the Georgetown Football Club ground, beginning at 16:00hrs.

Dwayne Jacobs

The feature game from 20:00hrs brings together joint points (three points) leaders Santos and first round losers Pele, while the opening game will see GFC, who secured a walkover victory from Flamingo in round one, take on Black Pearl who lost by a 1-4 margin to Beacon when the tournament got underway last Sunday.

The second game which is scheduled for an 18:00hrs start will see Riddim Squad, who lost by a 1-4 margin last Sunday in a round one fixture, face joint points leaders Beacon.

In their opening game of the competition, Santos humbled Northern Rangers by a 3-0 margin through a double from William Europe in the 22nd and 31st minutes and one other goal off the boot of Orin Yarde in the 47th minute.

Pele, on the other hand, in their 1-2 loss to Camptown secured their lone goal from Lloyd Anderson in the 85th minute.

In Beacon’s 4-1 win against Black Pearl last Sunday, Devon Bowen netted a brace in the 25th and 45th minutes while his team mate Quacy McAulay also scored a double in the 32nd and 50th minutes. Jason Clarke had pulled one back for Black Pearl in the 56th minute.

GFC, on the other hand, had secured a walkover victory from Flamingo.

At stake in the tournament is $1M for the winning team, while the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers will earn $500 000, $300 000 and $200 000 respectively.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 21, 2017

Prime Minister T20 Softball Cup set for October 27 – 29 … Ink Plus on board

THE inaugural Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. (GSCL INC)-organised inaugural Prime Minister T20 Cup, is set for October 27-29, with several teams from the Diaspora set to participate.

ber 29, where $600 000 will be up for grabs in the Open category, while the Masters will vie for the winners’ purse of $500 000. Both categories will have a runners-up prize of $100 000 as well as trophies.

CEO of Ink Plus, Danny Persaud, (right) presents the cheque to GSCL Inc. treasurer Russel Jadbeer.

Everest cricket ground will host the finals on Octo-

According to the organisers, no registration fee is

required to play in the ‘first of its kind’ T20 tournament.

A team briefing is set for 13:30hrs at Malteenoes where the rules and other matters in relation to the tournament will be discussed.

Malteenoes, GYO, GNIC and the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) grounds are the other venues where matches will be played simultaneously on October 27, 28 and 29.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Ink Plus, Danny Persaud, yesterday presented a cheque to GSCL Inc. treasurer Russel Jadbeer at the entity’s location E1/2 84 Laluni Street, Georgetown.

Persaud said that they are happy to be on board for such a tournament and wished the teams well, adding that he is looking forward to a successful event. Jadbeer expressed gratitude to the sponsor and said he is looking forward to having continued support.

The tournament, which is being played in collabo-

ration with National Sports Commission, will feature the Open and Masters categories with teams from New York, Florida and Canada as well as the three counties of Guyana.

Golden Jaguars to make historic journey to Indonesia for Friendly International on November 25 … will play Soca Warriors on November 14 PRESIDENT of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde yesterday confirmed that the country’s National Football Team, the Golden Jaguars, will travel to the Asian continent for a clash against Indonesia on November 25.

It will be the first meeting between the two countries who are both ranked at 165 by FIFA and according to Tech-

will be a competitive year,” Greenwood added.

Prior to their journey to Indonesia, Guyana will face Caribbean football powerhouse Trinidad and Tobago on November 14 at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

Guyana’s head coach Wayne Dover pointed out that “these games are very important as they will allow for assessment of our team’s

nical Director of the GFF, Ian Greenwood, “This will be the first time we’ve played outside of the Confederation or played in Asia. It will be a fantastic opportunity for our players to experience a different type of play and a different type of opposition.”

“The GFF Technical Department has been pushing our players to have adaptable skills and to function effectively in any environment, as we are looking to build in 2018 which

calibre and serve as platforms to expose our local talent.”

Dover added, “Should we get a positive result it will augur well for sponsorship, attract more local players to the fraternity and improve our Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) ranking. All this will serve to create a firm national team that can truly reflect a strong Guyana National Team.”

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Lighted bails will be used in the competition and added entertainment will be provided by the Crossover band and cheerleaders during the finals at Everest Cricket Club.

Argentina beat Guyana 3-1

… Locals to play for bronze against Canada today GUYANA ended the preliminary round of the Pan American indoor Championship with a 3-1 defeat to Argentina and the result means that the home side will face Canada today in the bronze medal game of the championship.

Argentina will face Trinidad and Tobago in the gold medal game.

Heading into their final group round-robin match the hosts needed to win by an 11-goal margin but instead lost 3-0 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

Argentina were undoubtedly the favourites and Guyana’s progression chance was further stymied by the overwhelming goal difference.

Guyana created many chances during the first half but resolute defending from the Argentines who knew that only a loss by 5 goals or more would have usurped

Argentina’s Juan Eleicegui on his way to scoring

them from a place in the final.

It was in the 20th minute, almost on the stroke of the first half period, that the first goal was scored by

Juan Eleicegui, a successful penalty corner, after his team mate had unluckily hit the crossbar of the goal moments before.

Nine minutes after the

first half, Alfredo Sosa doubled the Spanish-speaking nation’s lead with a perfectly finished field goal from a great built-up play.

In the 32nd minute, Guyana’s captain Robert France, flicked into the back of the net a fantastic trick shot after receiving a rocket of a pass from Rayon Branford which was launched from Guyana’s half of the court.

With the score 2-1 with eight minutes remaining, any hopes of the Land of Many Waters reaching the final which would have automatically see the Golden Arrowhead being flown to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) world cup in Germany next year, were virtually dead.

As Guyana pressed on, Joaquin Gonzalez capitalised during a counterattack and scored the winners’ third goal two minutes later, to erase any doubt of their superiority.

Anand E.T. Dharry 10k Memorial Race-Walk on today

THE cream of Guyana’s race-walkers as well as a few newcomers to the sport will tomorrow strut around the National Park to contest the Anand E.T. Dharry 10K Memorial Race Walk, beginning at 06:30hrs.

The participants will compete for trophies, medals and other incentives which have been donated by E&A Consultants Inc. and other groups.

The top three finishers in each category, which includes male and female seniors, juniors, veterans and differently-abled participants, will receive prizes.

The late Mr Dharry was an outstanding professional engineer, whose contribution to the drainage and irrigation and sea defence sectors of the country’s agricultural sector was highly appreciated, as well as his commitment to the development of the sport of race-walking.

Argentina

beat Guyana 3-1

… Locals to play for bronze against Canada today

See page 31

Prime Minister T20 Softball Baseball Guyana acquires land Cup set for October 27 – 29 to build multi-sport complex See page 30

Some of the Trophies up for grabs in the Prime Minister’s T20 Softball tournament

See page 30

Guyana could see a facility like this.

Golden Jaguars to make historic journey to Indonesia for Friendly International on November 25 Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

See story on page 31 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2017