Guyana Chronicle E-paper 10-27-2018

SATURDAY 27th October, 2018

‘Shut up and listen!’

No.105440

‘Big Head’ nabbed in Jamaica for drugs 02 … Justice Kennard tells Mayor Chase-Green … US seeks 03 his extradition during heated exchange at C0I PAGE

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Porter killed as diesel truck crashes into 10 Stadium fence PAGE

The Guyana National Newspapers Limited, publishers of the Guyana Chronicle on Friday hosted its annual Breast Cancer Awareness session, during which several survivors and other officials made presentations on the disease to staff members.

At the end of the two-hour-long event, participants released pink balloons in the air as they vowed to keep up the fight against the disease. Breast cancer is said to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in the Caribbean (Adrian Narine photo)

Nothing but a political gimmick

–– AFC assures East Berbice proposed toll hike won’t fly

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‘Big Head’ nabbed in Jamaica for drugs …US seeks his extradition

BUSINESSMAN, Shervington Lovell aka “Big Head” has been arrested in Jamaica for suspected drug trafficking, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) confirmed on Friday.

Reports indicate that two other persons, a Surinamese and a Venezuelan, who were in Lovell’s company, were also arrested.

Enquiries reveal that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) of the United States is seeking Lovell’s extradition from Jamaica to face multiple drug trafficking and other charges in the US, related to Guyana and other countries.

The 48- year-old businessman of Lot 333 Robert Drive, Republic Park, East Bank Demerara is said to be the owner of the Tower Suites Hotel on Main Street, as well as a few other hotels in the city and in Berbice. In July this year, the man and Businessman, his wife opened the Shervington Lovell aka “Big Head” “Leisure Inn Hotel” and multi-purpose facility, at a gala ceremony in the town of New Amsterdam.

Previously, the Jamaican authorities had detained a vessel `Shiva Hope’ owned by Lovell, which was suspected to be involved in drug trafficking. Reports are that the vessel was being used to traffic illegal drugs between Jamaica and St Maarten.

In 2010, Lovell was among several businessmen who were arrested by the police following a spate of murders here. They were all subsequently released.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

MoE awards young Guyanese top achievers

THE Ministry of Education (MoE) awarded several young Guyanese who emerged as outstanding performers nationally and regionally during the academic year 2017/2018.

Speaking at the 22nd National Award Ceremony held at the National Cultural Centre on Friday, Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry

said: “Today the entire MoE is here to taste and celebrate that greatness of your hard work and to celebrate your success and to applaud your determination and perseverance towards your work.”

“By now, you all would have recognised that the road to success is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive and passion, it

Aadilah Alli receiving one of her awards from Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry is possible to achieve any- if not all- of your dreams,” she remarked.

And in pursuing their dreams, the Minister said that hard work must be rewarded because the results reaped were not achieved through luck or chance.

TOP GIRL! Aadilah Alli bagged several awards for being Guyana and the Caribbean’s top performing student at the 2018 sitting of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE). Alli was also awarded for the being the Region’s Top CAPE Natural Sciences student

The award ceremony, according to the education minister, started in October 1990 as a way of acknowledging students that have done exceptionally well in their academics and those who achieved certain score See page 10

Shania Khan from the Three Miles Secondary School in Bartica receives her Desrey Fox scholarship award from Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson

Tint regulations to be standardised POLICE Commissioner Leslie James on Thursday stated that the force is working to ensure the usage of tints on vehicles, “and those of the Joint Services” are standardised.

The issue has been a contentious one, with several people raising concerns about the tinting by motorists of their windscreens. This move is seen as questionable since a driver’s vision can be impaired and, it may be a contributing factor in accidents.

Speaking at his first press conference, the commissioner said a “soon to be published document is being finalised on the use of tint.” He noted, “I know it is something that keeps recurring and it is something we need to address because there are citizens who feel that they are at a disadvantage, where they would see persons who might be policemen or military men who are by themselves carrying tint….We will examine it and standardise it, and once it is standardised I think the citizens will feel a little better… that there is a level playing field.”

Currently, only those owners with vehicles that have a manufacturer’s tint are eligible for a tint waiver by the Ministry of Public Security. (DPI)

Judge loses it with defiant mayor

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

–– ‘Shut up and listen!’ he orders, as tension flares at City Hall inquiry

By Tamica Garnett

IT was a highly charged afternoon at the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into City Hall’s affairs on Friday when Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green crossed swords with CoI Chairman, Justice (ret’d) Cecil Kennard.

The subject at issue was her handling of the ‘No-confidence Motion’ that was tabled against Town Clerk Royston King earlier this year.

As the session boiled over at the Critchlow Labour College where the inquiry is being held, the chairman at one point found it necessary to ask the mayor to keep her attitude in check when responding to questions she was being asked.

“Take that sort of attitude to City Hall; not here!” Justice Kennard warned. “You are attempting to be rude! Can you shut up and listen to the questions!”

To which a by now cowed Mayor ChaseGreen replied: “I’m not attempting to be rude; and I will not be rude in here.”

Justice Kennard spent the better part of the afternoon reproaching the mayor for not seeking independent legal advice when the Motion was moved by Councillor Sherod Duncan at a statutory meeting in March.

In response, the goodly mayor in her wisdom, thought it better to listen to legal advice procured by the said town clerk against whom the Motion was moved.

Justice Kennard said that as far as he was concerned, the town clerk should not have had any role to play in the handling of the matter against him.

“He’s got his own [legal] advice! And the council accepted that advice! Is that right? Is

City Mayor Patricia Chase-Green at the inquiry on Friday that fair?” Justice Kennard probed.

Pressing on, he said: “Don’t you think it would have been better to have independent legal advice?

“Madam, you should have sought the advice of another lawyer; the town clerk should’ve recused himself from any participation, or being seen at the meeting.

“Duncan was making serious accusations against the town clerk, and you are going to act on his advice!”

NO AUTHORITY When the ‘no-confidence motion’ was brought before the council, the town clerk reportedly pre-empted the arguing of the matter by tendering a letter from his personal lawyer, former Magistrate Maxwell Edwards, stating that the council did not have the authority to tender a Motion of No-Confidence against him.

The mayor chose to accept this legal advice put forth by the town clerk, and advised that the motion did not qualify and should not be placed on the meeting’s agenda. She then asked the council to vote on whether to accept Edwards’ advice, and the majority did.

Following this, the mayor reportedly ruled that the ‘no-confidence motion’ was disallowed.

However, even back then, some councillors were skeptical of the mayor’s move to have King procure his own legal advice and participate in the judgement on the matter of how to deal with the issue against himself, especially since the M&CC has its own lawyer. Nonetheless, the mayor is standing by her decision.

“I relied on the advice of the town clerk because the law said the town clerk can so advise,” Chase-Green said.

The mayor’s legal counsel at the CoI, Lyndon Amsterdam, argued that Chapter 28:01 of the Act that guides municipalities makes no provision for how the mayor should handle a ‘no-confidence motion’ against the town clerk.

Amsterdam further contended that the mayor was nothing more than a “figurehead” at City Hall; that she really wields no power or authority within the municipality; that rather it was the council that had voted to accept

the legal advice.

“The mayor is the figurehead; the person controlling the purse of the city is the town clerk,” Amsterdam said.

“When you look at the Act, the town clerk has more power than the mayor. The mayor is a figurehead,” he added.

But Justice Kennard was not buying, and his response was that the absence of provisions in Chapter 28:01 does not mean that commonsense should not have prevailed as to say what would have been proper and improper in dealing with the matter.

“It would be commonsense to secure independent legal advice,” he reasoned. “The Act may not say so, but commonsense would tell us.”

Amsterdam pressed on, however, saying that the mayor was not there to answer to whether she dealt with the motion properly, but rather to answer as to whether she dealt with the motion at all.

Justice Kennard begged to differ there again, saying that the Commission was well within its rights to deal with the issue of how the motion was dealt with.

Amsterdam would, however, agree with Justice Kennard, saying that the town clerk should have recused himself from dealing with the situation in the interest of natural justice.

“No! You should not sit in judgement of your own cause!” Amsterdam accepted.

The handling of the ‘no-confidence motion’ is one of five issues that the mayor has been summoned before the Commission to answer to. She is expected to return to the hearing on Wednesday to continue her deposition, while the town clerk is scheduled to appear on Monday.

Pre-Diwali show for weekend

TWO pre-Diwali shows are slated for October 26 and 27 and will feature Samir Datey and Dipalee Somaiya, who are touted as India’s favourite singing couple.

According to organiser of the event, Pradeep Samtani, the team of two singers will be accompanied by four musicians forming a live band- all of whom are from Bollywood.

Samtani also shared that all proceeds from the show will go towards two charities; one of which is the Tina Insanally Foundation (TIF), which uses music to change the lives of children.

The show called “Bollywood: Rewind and Fast-forward” will feature three hours

of new and old Indian music from the couple who have performed at over 300 shows over the past five years.

“It’s going to be a whole lot of mix and match of Bollywood music,” Samir shared while explaining that persons can expect songs from the “foot-tapping” songs to the romantic ones.

The first show will be hosted at the Giftland mall on Friday October 26, while the second will be at Bath, Settlement in Berbice on Saturday night. The first show starts at 19:00hrs while the following show will start at 18:00hrs and tickets cost $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000.

The couple is also presently on a tour of the U.S.

Samir Datey and Dipalee Somaiya in Guyana ahead of the show (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Day of reckoning looms

By Lisa Hamilton

WITH the coming on stream shortly of a Code of Conduct for minibus operators countrywide, consumers now have the right to report non-compliance with the rules to the relevant authorities.

This timely reminder comes from President of the United Minibus Union (UMU) Eon Andrews, who told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday: “It’s within the Code of Conduct that anyone who

claims they have been adversely affected in relation to customer service, they can record the vehicle’s registration number, the route number and the incident and submit the information to either the union or other relevant authorities.

“If it’s a consumer’s affairs-related matter, you can go there; or if it’s a police matter, you know where to go.”

The disclosure comes in the wake of a recent meeting between the UMU and the Ministry of Business to discuss aspects of the proposed

code now at the draft stage.

At the meeting, the Director of the Consumer Affairs Department reportedly highlighted the plight of long-suffering consumers who have over the years been made to endure such impositions as overcharging, overloading, and touting.

Andrews said that while the Consumers Affairs Department has been in existence for some time now, he believes that with the Code of Conduct, its authority can be reinforced.

“I suppose that in the document that they will be giving out for publication when

we’ve endorsed everything, they may well have the number for the Consumer Affairs Department that they can call,” Andrews said.

--as gov’t moves to rein in renegade minibus operators

operators will come to accept the code of conduct, Andrews said: “I would be disappointed if there was no resistance to

have grown accustomed to the indiscipline and greed, among other things.”

“But it’s not whether you’re comfortable or not; it’s that laws are there, and one needs to create a scenario where people can exist at a certain level of ease.”

“Excellent” and “exemplary” are the words Andrews used to describe the current relations between the UMU and the government in finalising the Code of Conduct.

“What we are very glad about and respect is that the government, the Ministry of Business, has chosen to have dialogue and they don’t sit there and push things down your throat,” Andrews said.

“They discuss; they try to find out the culture. They know that there are many areas that need to be changed or upgraded and we’ll get to them,” he added.

He said that the next meeting, when the final structure of the code will hopefully be decided, is set to take place in the latter part of November.

The Stabroek Market minibus park

With regard as to how soon consumers’ concerns will be dealt with, and the guidelines governing complaints, Andrews said that these details are still being worked out, and will be a consensus between the UMU and the government.

As to whether he feels the

Saturay, October 27, 2018

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change; there are times when people resist change just for the sake of resisting change, because they don’t know what is out there, or if that change is going to affect them in any way.

“Sometimes even if it’s for the better, they rather something not happen because they

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Local airlines to join international initiative to reduce carbon footprint

GUYANA, through the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), will participate in the Pilot Phase of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) commencing in 2021.

On this occasion, Guyana will proactively participate in the ground-breaking initiative launched by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the GCAA said in a release. This intention was communicated to Secretary-General of the ICAO when the Director-General Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field presented the GCAA’s Letter of Participation during the 13th Air Navigation Conference in Montreal, Canada, on October 16, 2018.

CORSIA is a market-based measure (MBM) adopted by ICAO as part of a broad set of measures to help ICAO achieve its aspirational goals to decrease the carbon footprint of international civil aviation.

A market-based measure (MBM) is a policy tool that is designed to achieve environmental goals at a lower cost and in a more flexible manner than traditional regulatory measures. Examples of MBMs include levies, emissions trad-

ing systems, and carbon offsetting; CORSIA will take the form of carbon offsetting.

CORSIA will have three implementation phases: the Pilot Phase from 2021-2023, the First Phase from 2024-2026, and the Second Phase from 2027-2035.

routes that are covered under the scheme will be measured from 2021 onwards and will be compared to the baseline.

Should the level of emissions found to be above this baseline, the emissions will have to be offset. Offsetting is done through acquiring and

against climate change.

“The inclusion of Guyana will bring the country closer to meeting the aspirational goal of carbon-neutral growth. Director-General of the GCAA Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field noted that while Guyana is not a high emitter owing to the relatively

Director-General Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field presenting Guyana’s Letter of Participation in the CORSIA programme to ICAO Secretary-General Dr. Fang Liu

ICAO’s goals involve realising carbon-neutral growth from the year 2020 onwards, by keeping the net CO2 emissions from 2020 at the same level. A baseline level of emissions will be calculated from the years 2019 and 2020. The total emissions from international aviation operations on

subsequently cancelling out emission units acquired in the carbon market.

Benefits for Guyana According to the GCAA, participating in CORSIA’s Pilot Phase will catapult Guyana’s aviation industry directly to the forefront of the fight

small scale of its international aviation industry, when compared to major states such as those that reside in Central and North America, “our industry will inevitably grow, and we must be forward-thinking and address that growth in a sustainable manner.”

The GCAA initiative will

Mercy Hospital enhances diagnostic services --announces alliance with NexGen Pathology

THE St Joseph Mercy Hospital (SJMH) has entered into a partnership with a prestigious Caribbean laboratory facility that will vastly enhance the hospital’s capacity to provide timely diagnosis and value-based medical care to its patients.

This week, SJMHs’ Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms Deborrah Ramsay announced the hospital’s agreement with Trinidad-based NexGen Pathology, a fully CAP (College of American Pathologists) accredited laboratory that specialises in Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology, Molecular Diagnostics and Genetic studies.

In a release, the hospital said Ms. Ramsay disclosed that the new partnership with NexGen will expand and improve the hospital’s medical diagnostic services because it gives SJMH direct access to the acclaimed laboratory’s cutting-edge technology.

The Deputy CEO indicated that the collaboration with NexGen Pathology is a key element of the hospital’s strategic focus on constantly upgrading the quality of its medical services to fulfil its core mission of promoting good health and well-being, while maintaining meaningful bonds with the medical community, patients and the communities it serves.

Giving a brief overview of what the partnership entails, CEO and Founder

of NexGen Pathology, Dr. Wesley Greaves explained that a main component of the laboratory’s services is Surgical Pathology, which involves diagnosing surgical specimens, including breast biopsies and skin biopsies.

“If someone did a surgical procedure for a tumour and the tumour needs diagnosis, then it would need to go to the pathology lab to be diagnosed. That is a basic service that will be provided,” he explained.

According to the release, Dr. Greaves noted that the Caribbean has a history of lacking skilled human resources in terms of internationally trained pathologists to provide specialist services; however, the partnership will allow SJMH to benefit from the expertise of NexGen Pathology’s four American board- certified pathologists.

Dr. Greaves said the facility also has sub-specialty pathologists trained in Haematopathology, gastrointestinal, liver and breast pathology. “This sort of world class team of pathologists is unprecedented in the English-speaking Caribbean and that is the kind of quality service we will be bringing to Mercy…” Dr. Greaves said.

He added that while SJMH has its own on-site laboratory, NexGen Pathology will provide a comprehensive range of laboratory services, some of which are not done at SJMH. According to Dr Greaves,

who is a specialist in Molecular Genetics Pathology, NexGen Pathology is also a strong provider of DNA testing, which is not widely available in the Caribbean; samples for analysis will be shipped to NexGen Pathology’s laboratory in Trinidad and Tobago. Tests will be done either there or at a partnering lab in North America and r.eports from findings will be sent electronically.

“Even with that logistical reality in terms of the specimens having to go outside of Guyana, we believe we can meet and even beat the turnaround times that one would usually be accustomed to when sourcing these services here within Guyana. So we are confident that even with that limitation at this point in time, our turnaround time can match world-class standards,” he said.

He added that NexGen is “the only fully comprehensive medical laboratory in the English-speaking Caribbean to have accreditation with the College of American Pathologists.”

“Our desire is to partner with anyone who has that passion and interest and where we can find common ground in terms of providing the best quality of health care and medical services. We think we have found such a partner in Mercy Hospital… we believe…we have that same kind of drive to provide the best possible care. “We know that St Joseph Mercy

has a particular tradition and is recognised here in Guyana for their level of services. We think that we can definitely find common ground in terms of our desire to provide the best possible health care to patients who most need it,” he said.

SJMH’s Lab Manager Ms. Cindy Lalaram underscored the importance of getting pathology results in a timely manner to ensure well-timed diagnoses and treatment, lest a patient’s condition worsens because of delays in testing and acquiring test results. SJMH does not do pathology-testing and makes use of external services. “The turnaround time can be long and by the time they get back the result, the patient’s condition may have degenerated,” Lalaram said.

However, she noted that NexGen Pathology’s turnaround time is about seven to 10 days, depending on when SJMH submits the samples. NexGen Pathology’s Chief Operating Officer and co-founder Ms. Andrea Richardson, a Guyanese who is resident in Trinidad, anticipates tremendous benefits from the relationship. “I think that Mercy Hospital is a pillar in the community and wants to add to what they currently do. I think only great things can come from this relationship,” she said.

Richardson said that the NexGen liaison significantly boosts SJMH’s capabilities.

be aligned with the government’s Green State Development Strategy, thereby contributing to Guyana’s national goals and the ICAO’s goals, simultaneously. States that voluntarily participate in the Pilot Phase will benefit from inclusion in ICAO’s capacity-building initiatives and assistance programmes. Under the spirit of the ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative, ICAO has committed to providing skilled technical resources and training to voluntary states.

As a voluntary state, Guyana will also have the opportunity to share the experiences of developing states in implementing CORSIA. The director-general said “it is imperative that we are able to have our perspectives and capabilities as a small state taken into consideration in the wider global conversation.”

Requirements for Operators In the years 2019 and 2020, Guyana will implement a Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system to monitor the level of CO2 emissions from our international aviation operations and report these emissions to ICAO to create the baseline.

Local aircraft and airline operators will develop and furnish an Emissions Monitoring Plan to the state for approval. After approval, the operator will be required to monitor their emissions throughout the year in accordance with the plan. Their subsequent report to the state will be in the form of an Annual Emissions Report.

Guyana will be required to provide a summarised State Report on total emissions to the ICAO.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

National development and capital towns

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CTOBER 25, 2018, the day that President David Granger declared Mahdia a town, is not only a historic one for Mahdia, but is also reason for national celebration. The establishment of Guyana’s 10th municipality signifies one step further towards a progressive, equitable, decentralised, and democratic system of governance, in which the people will have the power and independence to directly make decisions that affect their lives.

It is one more step towards a cultural transformation that is only now occurring, even though Guyana has been officially independent for more than half a century.

President Granger announced the vision and rationale for capital towns on March 24, 2016, significantly, during remarks at the Annual General Meeting of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry. President Granger explained that even after 50 years of being independent, the colonial mentality of “colonial compound governance” still persisted. He said that under that archaic system, district commissioners were tasked with “[coordinating] the activities of the various government departments in his district and providing advice and assistance to the village communities …” He explained that the duties of commissioners – who ruled from segregated compounds – was administrative rather than developmental. He elaborated that such a focus had to change in order for Guyana to develop and give Guyanese the chance at better lives. Thus, the vision for capital

towns was born.

Six days before that announcement, on March 18, 2016, Guyana had held its first Local Government Elections (LGEs) in 22 years, thereby restoring and renewing local democracy. President Granger declared, “[LGEs] represented more than mere respect for constitutionality. They were a reaffirmation of our political democracy and an opportunity for economic change. The elections restored the right of citizens to participate in decision-making in their municipalities and neighbourhood councils. They also renewed economic opportunities for innovation, investment and infrastructural development.” The President indicated that even though that first step had been taken, more work had to be done to transform Guyana’s mode of governance from the old colonial model to the progressive, independent one that focused on development.

Towards that end, the President said, “The new model will eradicate the “colonial compound” mentality. It will instil a capital town mindset which emphasises the role of towns in moving beyond providing traditional municipal services. The new emphasis should be on promoting business, driving economic development and giving leadership to our regions.” The president explained that each of Guyana’s regions, being rich in resources, should have a capital town.

One which would allow for improvements to infrastructure; promotion of investments; encouragement of innovation; improvement of information and communications technology;

and provision of public, financial, and economic services.

Since the President announced government’s intention to modernise and democratise Guyana’s system of governance, there has been substantial, real, and tangible progress towards the goal of decentralisation for the purpose of development. Local democratic revitalisation will again be held on November 12, 2018, for the second time under this administration. Additionally, under the APNU+AFC coalition, four new capital towns have been established: Bartica in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region; Lethem in the Rupununi; Mabaruma in the Barima-Waini district; and now, Mahdia in Potaro-Siparuni.

And even though the process of transformation is fewer than three years old, the benefits are already being reaped.

According to reports, Bartica is the home of Guyana’s first boardwalk, Mabaruma has transformed the Kumaka Waterfront and Lethem is quickly becoming the business hub of the Rupununi. Mahdia, too, well on its way to becoming the business centre of the region, has had 80 per cent of its roads converted from mud to all-weather laterite. And government has announced further work to be done on Mahdia’s bridges, culverts, roadways, and other infrastructure.

As the government continues to make strides towards transforming Guyana, Guyanese of every region have reason to celebrate, since each region will eventually have its own capital town that will, in the words of President Granger, “become motors of economic growth.”

Listening to the daily reports of the CoI is like listening to some twisted soap opera Dear Editor,

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S someone following in the press the unacceptable and unhappy reports being made daily to the Commission of Inquiry that has been set up to probe into the goings-on at the Mayor and City Council, it is clear to me that there are two common threads running through most of these reports: those being extreme corruption and a complete disregard for the human resources of the Georgetown municipality, both past and present.

In any decent, reputable and caring organisation, had there been even just a few of the atrocities committed which however seem quite routine at that City Council, their human resource manager (HRM) would have long been given the pink slip and possibly even prosecuted. But at the Georgetown municipality it is no problem. How could the officer whose responsibility it is to manage the council’s human resource, just sit happily by and allow the deduction of NIS contributions, GRA income tax, credit union dues etc, month after month for years, from the poor, hapless employees, without ensuring that same is remitted to the relevant agencies? This slackness is not only extremely callous of the HRM, but against the law and a serious offence.

How could the HRM, knowing fully about the purported financial crunch of the council, allow the monthly payroll of the

council to swell to well over a 100 million dollars with a whopping number of approximately 800 employees, most of whom have no tools or materials with which to work and thus are forced to idle all day long?

One can only hope that the enormous and well-known problem of nepotism, cronyism and favouritism at the council, will be addressed by this commission;it is no secret that hundreds of the employees of the council are relatives, friends, paramours, church pals, and neighbours of some councillors and some senior officers of the council, including the very human resource manager.

How could the human resource manager of the supposedly cash-strapped City Council, support and accept the upgrading of her own Personnel Section from a modest and practical section, into a huge, useless, wasteful and expensive human resource department? All this has made possible, are huge salary increases for those operating within, including herself, and the addition of numerous cushy, supe- salaried positions, whilst the service from that division which was always appalling has now gotten even far worse.

The non-payment of gratuities and pensions by the council’s Human Resource Department, to those who have retired from the council after decades of unstinting service, is nothing short of aberrant, ruthless and fraudulent. How could they withhold these monies owed to these former employees, whilst placing

themselves on higher salary scales and at the top of their scales, and paying themselves some 19 allowances.

How could this human resource manager be organising grand retreats to luxurious resorts, host grand celebratory lunches to mark various occasions and be sending their friends and relatives to seminars and meetings overseas, whilst the ordinary worker faces severe medical risks due to the non-payment of the medical scheme contributions and others left to starve without their gratuities, pensions, insurances, officer deposit refunds etc?

Does the HRM care that employees who have to go into the trenches, spray dangerous chemicals and slaughter animals, lack the protective clothing and gear needed? That constables are without uniforms and bulletproof vests? That many municipal buildings are unfit for habitation, whilst hundreds of millions are being doled out to contractors without adherence to tender board procedures?

Listening to the daily reports of the commission is like listening to some twisted soap opera that could be named ‘The Callous and the Corrupt,’ with the evil characters vying to see who could fill their saddlebags with more ill-gotten loot than the other before riding off into the sunset.

Regards Mark Roopan

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Deafening silence over attacks on GECOM chair Dear Editor,

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HERE was never a doubt that what retired Justice James Patterson’s earlier reports captioned, “Mischief afoot”, in a Guyana Chronicle story of October 06, 2018, illustrated sinister measures that came from both internal and external sources, directed towards plots to stymie the Guyana Election Commission’s (GECOM) electoral work. He was clear, and unambiguous in his details about the political opposition forces that were bent on bringing his stewardship to an end.

However, Commissioner Desmond Trotman’s account, in the Guyana Chronicle of October 24, 2018, definitely conveys the unadulterated understanding that war has indeed been declared, not only against the GECOM, but pin-pointedly against its chairman and chief elections officer. He is correct as to the genesis of this orchestrated attempt when the current chairman was initially appointed.

I stand to be corrected when I say that it was the private media, significantly Stabroek News, that began with the view that since Patterson’s appointment had been unilateral because it did not follow the constitutional stipulation of selecting an appointee from any of the lists submitted by the leader of the opposition, then it was setting the stage for rigged elections. This was this media house’s position via a page one comment. It was a dishonest line to disseminate, since there was, and still is no evidence to substantiate such a misleading claim.

But the Appeal Court has vindicated the President’s decision, unanimously, first ruled on successfully in the High Court. Editor, I have no doubt that it will be further upheld by the Caribbean Court of Justice(CCJ), should the PPP/C seek further adjudication.

This is where I condemn the naked hypocrisy of the Stabroek News and the private press, as far as GECOM is concerned and those whose evil and wicked machinations are seeking to undermine the offices of both chairman and CEO. There is no doubt that the line taken against this seminal constitutional body is inherently racist, out of a traditional view that Afro-Guyanese are not competent, or cannot be trusted to manage its administrative affairs. It would seem, that as far as the PPP/C is concerned, only Indo-Guyanese should be trusted to manage its electoral preparations and issue its results; even if it has to be falsified, as former CEO Gocool Boodhoo attempted to do in 2011.

Of course there was Dr. Steve Surujbally as former chairman

whose professionalism, along with other key Afro-Guyanese officials, who presided over elections when the PPP/C won. However, from the time of 2011, when the then APNU, and AFC combined and gained the one-seat parliamentary majority, Dr. Surujbally became the constant target of unfair attacks and other forms of scurrilous vilification. As far as the PPP/C was concerned, Surujbally had been expected to cast his deciding vote against the removal of Gocool Boodhoo, who was caught red-handed committing blatant rigging, which would have given the PPP/C a single-seat advantage.

This particular act underlines the policy of a party which refuses to hold its ethnic kith and kin responsible for any act of impropriety committed. One has to only examine this party’s incessant howls about “witch-hunting”, when any of its membership and friends are placed before the courts.

The central point. What is being witnessed is an attack on the nation’s democracy, by a daily slew of filthy lies and other misleading methods orchestrated by a party that is determined to create an atmosphere that would bring about the resignations of the two most senior GECOM officials.

I see no reason to doubt the very serious Commissioner Desmond Trotman, who has given a direct, candid, and revealing analysis which supports that of the chairman’s earlier public statements. Besides, it fits into a pattern that commenced since 2011, as illustrated above; except, that it has now taken on a vileness that grows desperate by the day. One has to only observe the reaction of the PPP/C when it loses a judicial matter; even the judges are not spared its nasty attacks.

This is playing with dangerous fire, since the intention is to use ethnicity as a weapon against GECOM, regardless of procedure to follow, to favour the eligibility of the PPP/C’s preferred candidate.

In all this environment that threatens to undermine the functioning of this very key election state body, there is deafening silence from this particular print media, the Stabroek News, in whose pages space is now allowed to leaders who once abused this nation and its people. It is shameful on the part of this once reputable print house, to now allow the daily sanitisation of a leader who once almost throttled its existence, branding it an opposition newspaper, and media workers as “vultures.” This is concubinage of an interesting kind.

Regards Earl Hamilton

A code of conduct can curb political excesses at City Hall P Dear Editor,

LEASE permit me space in your dailies to air my views on an issue, captioned ‘Slothfulness of the City Administration resulted in the vendors being unable to occupy the area.’ Firstly, we must thank the Minister of Public Infrastructure The Hon. David Patterson, for his willingness to help the Council and more so, the vendors who are displaced.

However, looking at the news and reading the papers give one the impression that this is an audition for in search of a political star. I feel this way because the utterance of the councillor, who is Chairperson of the Markets and Public Health Committee, was different from what was explained at the statutory meeting by Mayor Chase-Green.

At the meeting, the mayor is on record as stating that the Minister of Public Infrastructure The Hon David Patterson was written to seeking his assistance and intervention in overlaying the new site with asphalt. Additionally, the council was awaiting word from the minister, which came during the meeting of councillors; the minister is willing to help, but at the moment his budgetary allocation

for the year has been exhausted.

According to the mayor, once the supplementary budget has been approved by Parliament, the help would be forthcoming from the ministry.

This statement of the councillor points to three vital issues.

Perhaps, the Councillor/Chairperson of the Markets and Pubic Health Committee was unaware of the transaction between the Office of the Town Clerk and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure before the interview.

However, ignorance or lack of information does give (sic) one the right to mislead the general public. It is important that one should concur with those who have the knowledge before running to engage the press. It is important that you have facts together before commenting on any issue. This will cause lack of trust by your own supporters in information you disclose and is a sure recipe for political suicide. In a democratic society, elected officials have the right to express themselves on issues that are of public concern; however, this must be done in a responsible manner.

It is obvious that the political heat is on and engaging in political bashing is a sure way to win the favour of constituents.

Some of the older heads in the political arena need to train and

nurture some of these younger politicians; it is clear that there is lack of political fortitude, direction, tact and suave. It is clear that the councillor is unaware that political bashing is reserved for your political opponents.

This points to another important issue: that is, the need for a code of conduct to be drafted, signed and implemented by the new council. The new councillors should sign on to a code of conduct. This agreement should set out agreed, prescribed patterns of behaviour for councillors.

A code of conduct can curb political excesses, including deliberately misinforming the public, controlling verbal abuse, including the use of racially inciting statements. More so, it should impose a burden on councillors to be confidential about the council’s business.

A code of conduct should by and large stipulate how city officials should behave towards each other. A code of conduct for city councillors would foster a better relationship amongst councillors and between the elected official and the officers; furthermore, generally, behaviour patterns would be monitored.

Regards Mortimer Thomside

Ramson must end what is becoming a shameless crusade Dear Editor,

C

ONSTRUCTIVE criticism and sound commentary are necessary ingredients for a transparent and robust oil and gas sector.

All hands must be on deck to ensure accountability on the part of government and companies operating in Guyana’s emerging petroleum industry.

For persons to be taken seriously, however, their commentaries and positions on matters of concern should be based on principle and fact; and not merely on the basis of opposing for the sake of doing so. Former PPP Member of Parliament, Charles Ramson Jr., has been relentlessly criticising every aspect of oil exploration, development and imminent production with a zest usually reserved for politicians opposing the policies of their opponents. Ramson’s party while in government negotiated the 1999 deal that led to the first major oil discovery in 2015 – the largest in the world at the time. Suddenly, now that his party is no longer in office, the very deal it negotiated is ‘bursting with flaws’, none of which Ramson had highlighted prior to the May 2015 elections.

The Stabroek Block was the same size in 1999 when the deal was signed as it is now. ExxonMobil and its partners were the same companies in control of the block then, as they are now.

Ramson said in a recent letter in the press that “the block is too large, companies are often unable to penetrate all of the area of that block because the more you do, the more expensive it is and as a result, you are not getting the real value.” Unable to penetrate all of the area? Not getting value? Let

us examine these claims. First of all, licences issued to companies operating offshore Guyana and most places in the world, come with an expiration date and a ‘use-it-or-lose- it’ clause. ExxonMobil nor any other company simply cannot acquire a block, sit on it and do nothing. “Not penetrating” the area is not an option.

Secondly, multiple reports in the public domain indicate that following the first Liza discovery, ExxonMobil deployed two seismic vessels to acquire data, covering an area over approximately 6,500 square miles, comparable to the land mass of the Hawaiian Islands. This was reportedly the largest seismic survey the company had ever conducted anywhere on the planet, up until that time.

The company therefore has been ‘penetrating the area.’

Thirdly, on the issue of ‘getting value’, due to these very large-scale ‘penetrations of the area,’ to use Ramson’s terminology, Exxon and its partners have made nine discoveries in different and diverse sections of the Stabroek Block, amounting to more than 4 billion barrels of recoverable oil. This success rate is unprecedented. The volume of oil discovered so far will generate billions of dollars for both the company and its partners and shareholders, and most importantly, the people of Guyana.

Ramson must put an end to what is becoming a shameless crusade; one that is based on a political agenda, riddled with half-baked truths and outright misinformation.

Regards Clement Smith

In solidarity!

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Guyana Chronicle Deputy Chief Reporter Rabindra Rooplall makes a contribution on behalf of the GNNL to Bibi Hassan, of the Guyana Cancer Foundation

STAFF of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) stood in solidarity with those who are affected by Breast Cancer, as the company hosted its annual Breast Cancer Awareness event on Friday afternoon [Adrian Narine photo]

Nothing but a political gimmick --AFC assures East Berbice proposed toll hike won’t fly

By Nafeeza Yahya THE executive arm of the Alliance for Change party, led by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, took to the east Friday with their Local Government Elections (LGEs) campaign.

The meeting point was the Auchlyne Primary School compound in East Berbice Corentyne, where the prime minister and members of his team, among them Party Vice-President Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin, and Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, did a good job of dispelling the people’s fears about the proposed hike in the Berbice

Bridge tolls.

They all assured East Berbicians that the proposed increases are nothing but a political ploy by the opposition in an attempt to incite fear in their minds, and by so doing convince them to vote for them at the upcoming LGEs. “They are trying to make some areas a battle ground, but as we’ve said time and again,” Minister Nagamootoo said, “this is not a war; this is a contest; this is a peaceful competition among parties to provide leadership in the communities.

“And we know that this tactic of discrediting the AFC has to do with this terrorist domestic campaign, that if you don’t vote them in, they will

scare you and bring police on you. But they are not running things.”

The prime minister said that those same scare tactics were used with the Berbice Bridge to make the Coalition government look bad.

“They try a trick to make you feel angry and unhappy,” he said. “They got their friends to increase the tolls in the Berbice Bridge by almost 500%.

That bridge was established under the Jagdeo Regime; they did this trickery and then come crying crocodile tears, ‘Nah me! Nah me!’

“But that is not going to happen under this government; and we want you to stand up with us on an appointed day to

QC boy stabbed going home from volunteer group activity A SIXTH Form student of Queen’s College, Renée Daniels, was robbed and stabbed multiple times on Thursday night as he was heading home from a volunteer group activity.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that the young man was in the vicinity of the Georgetown bus park when he was approached by few unidentified young men whose intention was to relieve him of his possessions. Daniels was subsequently stabbed multiple times after the robbery occurred and the men made good their escape.

Reports also indicate

that Daniels, who is a distance athlete also, managed to get up and trot around asking for help. In his delirious state however, persons were said to have believed that the schoolboy was intoxicated and opted not to help him. One public-spirited man finally noticed his condition and helped him get to the hospital.

He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Thursday night and on Friday, this newspaper confirmed that he was in a stable condition.

When the Guyana Chronicle spoke to his mother, she posited, “God

is with him.” She shared that her son is a strong boy and she is sure of his recovery, because she knows Almighty God saved him and will keep him well; she also related that doctors said the young man was responding well to treatment His schoolmates visited him on Friday too and he was still very much concerned about his school work and his upcoming Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

Anyone with information pertaining to this matter is asked to make contact with the nearest police station.

protest and close it down to show them the might of the Guyanese people.”

‘NOT ANOTHER CENT’ Things would get decidedly hot when Minister Patterson took to the podium to give a detailed history of the Berbice Bridge and its issues, and to assure his audience that they had nothing to fear, as they won’t be paying a red cent more.

“I said it before, and I will say it here again today, Not another cent!” Minister Patterson declared, much to the delight of the people, who, as if on cue, immediately began chanting: “No raise of fare! No raise of fare!”

As Minister Patterson explained, the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) approached him on three occasions seeking a toll increase, but he denied the request each time as he believes the current rates are too high for the people to bear, much less an increase.

“The rates that are being proposed of $8040 is about one-sixth of the minimum wage,” Minister Patterson said.

“And if you cross the bridge twice per month, it’s like rent.

“If you have emergencies and cross twice, its like half of your rent.”

The meeting came to a close with the Prime Minister appealing to the people to not be sucked into the vindictive tactics of the opposition.

“This politics should not be about vendetta; it should not be about vengeance,” Minister Nagamootoo said, adding:

“Our politics must be about healing; our politics must be about cohesion; about unity and not division.

“Nothing should stop the Guyanese people from choosing candidates for LGEs, NDCs and for the municipalities. They have seen the phenomenal changes that are taking place in Guyana under the Coalition.

“The Coalition is intact; the Coalition is safe; the Coalition is strong.”

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo addressing the community of Auchlyne on Friday afternoon

A section of the gathering at the meeting held at Auchlyne Primary School

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo at the AFC meeting held at Auchlyne, Corentyne, Berbice

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

GBTI Managers trial…

Chief Magistrate to rule on admissibility of affidavit Nov 9

THE trial of eight directors of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) accused of failing to comply with a production order issued by acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire continued on Friday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The content of an affidavit is being contested by lawyers for the six Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) managers, who are charged with contempt for failing to hand over documents in relation to a probe being conducted by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

Those on trial are: Edward A. Beharry, Suresh Beharry, Kathryn Eytle-McLean, Richard Isava, Carlton James and Basil Mahadeo; its chairman Robin Stoby and acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaleeza Shaw.

The accused being placed before the courts is the result of an ongoing SOCU investigation into the US$500M fraud at the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

SOCU prosecutor Patrice Henry tendered a sworn affidavit which is among exhibit G1- G-2. In the affidavit is the admission that documents which the bank had to provide were either lost, destroyed or cannot be located.

The defence attorney requested a voir

dire to be conducted to determine the admissibility of the affidavit.

Patrice Henry, SOCU Prosecutor, objected to the court going into the voir dire; however, the chief magistrate granted the request.

Henry called one witness Ramesh Persaud, Commissioner of Oath to affidavits attached to the law chamber of Edward Luckhoo, Senior Counsel.

Persaud testified that he recognised the affidavit to be his. He said that no complaint was made by the defendants; and even if one had been made, he would have referred the person to attorney Edward Luckhoo.

DEFENCE ATTORNEY MAKES NO-CASE SUBMISSION Patrice Henry told the court that there is a difference between a confession and admission; and there is no need for a voir dire to be conducted since it was not a statement taken after caution, but an allegation put and taken by law enforcement officers and no threats and violence were used Henry further stated that the affidavit was made freely and voluntarily by the defendants and they realised that certain documents were misplaced.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan is to

rule on the next court appearance on whether or not she will rely on the content of the affidavit.

The matter was adjourned to November 09, 2018.

The defendants are jointly charged with failing to comply with a production order issued by the acting chief justice and served by a marshal of the High Court to produce certain named documents, within seven days, to SOCU head Assistant Commissioner of Police Sydney James.

It is alleged that they contravened the order without reasonable cause.

The GBTI directors are represented by attorney SC Ian Chan, Roger Yearwood, Nigel Hughes, Steven Fraser and Edward Luckhoo.

The officers all denied the charge and their attorney Nigel Hughes made a lengthy bail application for their release.

SOCU as part of its probe into the US$500M GRDB fraud case had moved to the court to obtain an order instructing GBTI to produce all the required documents to aid in the investigation.

Recently, the bank made an application before the acting chief justice to be relieved from the production of the documents that were referred to in August 29, 2017, on the grounds that they have either been destroyed by the applicant after the applicant’s reten-

tion 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 contend that the bank’s internal policy cannot supersede that of the law.

The bank’s application spoke specifically to documents which the bank thought had 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.

Under tough anti-money laundering laws, once court orders are granted, financial institutions are reportedly bound to provide information. In this case, the monies are not from private accounts, but rather from the U.S. dollar and other accounts of the GRDB, a state entity.

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Porter killed as diesel truck crashes into stadium fence

A TRUCK laden with over two dozen, five-gallon drums of diesel, on Friday crashed into the fence of the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, killing a porter and injuring the driver.

The truck wheel experienced a blowout, according to reports. Dead is Kirk Peters, 45, of Sophia, Greater Georgetown, who was

sitting in the left front seat when the crash occurred.

Reports indicate that the fatal crash involving truck GTT 2491, which is owned and was driven by a 51-yearold of Albouys Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, occurred at around 07:00 hrs. An eyewitness said that the truck was proceeding south along the eastern side of the road, at a slow rate

of speed when the left front wheel experienced a blowout. The driver lost control and the truck crashed into the pavement then veered onto the western fence of the stadium damaging a 20-ft. section.

The porter was pinned inside the cab of the lorry and the driver had injures about the body. With public assistance, the men were

taken out of the vehicle and shuttled to the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital, where the porter was pronounced dead on arrival and the driver was treated and sent away.

Peters’ body was taken to Lyken Funeral Home to await an autopsy.

Reports are that the driver was tested for alcohol but no trace was found.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Undertakers removing the porter's body from the mangled truck

MoE awards young Guyanese ...

From page 2

thresholds in the different examinations.

She said that the exercise also serves the purpose of encouraging the students to strive for excellence.

Starting off the awards were this year’s top National Grade Six Assessment pupils: Naila Rahaman from Westfield Prep, Marks Arthur

In the Senior Secondary School category, all the CSEC awardees hailed from Queen’s College. They were: Christian Pile, Areeb Ali, Haema Dasrath, Aarti Hooblall, Leshanna Bindah, Reseda Hack and Yashoda Samaroo.

Pile was also adjudged Guyana’s Best Performing

won the Presidential Scholarship award as well.

Her colleague, Muneshwar, is the Region’s top CAPE Mathematics student and he too received the Presidential Scholarship award.

Other outstanding performers at the CAPE examinations include Michael Bhopaul and Sariah Singh, both from

that education is critical to the development of a nation.

He said that many of the problems in society stem from the lack of education, such as poverty, racism and poor value systems.

But while many were celebrated for their academic achievements at the structured exams, Hutson also

Todd, Ronalda Sandy, Cynthia Henry and Ariette Ndjelekulu.

Outstanding performers in the Guyana Technical Education Examination 2018 were awarded also. From the Linden Technical Institute, was Jermaine Bonus and Linslyn Halley; Okechi Farley, from the GuySuCo Training Centre; Shurlon Tudor and Aaliyah Noble from the Georgetown Technical Institute and Bibi Ali from the New Amsterdam Technical Institute.

Special awards were also given to: Shania Khan from the Three Miles Secondary School in Bartica, who won

the Desrey Fox Scholarship Award; Anjalie Sookra from the Berbice High School for being the best CSEC candidate with a disability and Annmarie Issardeen-Samaroo from the Vreed-en-Hoop In-Service Centre who is the Best Graduating Student from the Cyril Potter College of Education.

Schools were also awarded for improved performances. Thomas Moore Primary was the most improved Primary School, while the New Amsterdam and Sand Creek Secondary Schools were the most improved senior and junior schools.

All of the awardees of the 22nd National Award Ceremony pose with Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry; Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson and Permanent Secretary of the MoE, Adele Clarke.

Roberts from the New Guyana School and Kaydee Ali from the Success Elementary School.

The awardees for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC)- Junior Secondary- were: Shakira Bholo from the Anna Regina Secondary, Salma Majeed from the ISA Islamic School, Camecia De La Cruz and Begum Baksh from the Anna Regina Secondary and Darshanie Jadubir from the J.C Chandisingh Secondary School, in Berbice.

CSEC student, and both he and Bholo received the Presidential Scholarship award for copping 19 Grade One passes each.

Some of the students also managed to bag Regional Awards for their performances at CSEC and CAPE. Leading the pack was Aadilah Alli, who walked away with the most awards at the end of the ceremony. She was awarded for being Guyana’s and the Region’s top CAPE student and top CAPE Natural Sciences student. Alli

Queen’s College.

In the CSEC realm, three students were awarded for topping the region. Salma Majeed was awarded Most Outstanding Student in Humanities; Rebekah Persaud from the St. Rose’s High was the Most Outstanding in Business and Daniel BaldeoThorne from Queen’s College was Most Outstanding in Sciences.

Giving brief remarks, Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson said that no one can challenge the fact

Aaliyah Noble from the Georgetown Technical Institute was awarded for her outstanding performance

remarked that students who pursue Technical and Vocational studies are equally as important and in fact, have a critical role to play in the transformation of Guyana.

As such, several technical awards were given.

From the Carnegie School of Home Economics, the following students pursuing diploma or certificate programmes were awarded: Nevon Arno, Sherlon Marks, Naima Ramsey, Shinetta Dinanauth, Leyanna Charles, Brenna Teixeira, Nivonne

Best Graduating Student from the Cyril Potter College of Education, Annmarie Issardeen-Samaroo

Students who copped Regional Awards at this year’s CXC examinations [L-R: Daniel Baldeo- Thorne, Salma Majeed, Rebekah Persaud, Aadilah Alli and Rajiv Munshwer] [Delano Williams photos]

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Ram, Ramson have field day at GCCI debate on O&G sector

THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Friday hosted its inaugural energy forum to spark public discussion on Guyana’s Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) Green Paper and how it will affect management of the impending oil sector.

In his welcome address, GCCI President Deodat Indar said that while the body is pleased to see that a Green Paper has been drafted, how this document is translated into a White Paper should involve national consultation.

“We believe that it is best that civil society and private sector and the country at large should have a say in how we shape this Sovereign Wealth Fund,” Indar said, as the discussion got underway at the Roraima Duke Lodge in suburban Kingston.

He, however, conceded that it is well-nigh impossible for one to have a discussion on the topic without first examining the energy issue in its entirety.

Some of the areas of the SWF he feels should be closely examined are: The level of the perceived political interference; how

the sub-committee and fund managers were selected; and the availability of ample rules and guidelines.

He said that the GCCI is open to all questions, including those pertaining to Guyana’s absorptive capacity to guard against the dreaded ‘Dutch disease’, a term usually associated with the adverse effect discoveries in the extractive sector can have on other sectors of the economy; or whether there is an alternative to the current SWF structure.

A presentation on the SWF Green Paper, laid in the National Assembly

by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan in August this year, was conducted

by GCCI’s Executive Director Richard Rambarran.

He provided a synopsis of the details within the document for general understanding, while other presentations came from Attorneys-at-Law Christopher Ram and Charles Ramson (Jr).

Ram began by contending that the Green Paper is actually a White Paper, and that since the SWF has the potential to change the future of the country, the subject therefore requires

a much more serious approach and greater consultation efforts.

He also bemoaned the fact that the citizenry is yet to be brought up to speed on the true production cost of the incoming oil-andgas sector, and that this should be of great concern to the public.

“At least ExxonMobil, by now, should tell us what their price projections and our petroleum units are,” he said, “and our Department of Energy should be saying to us what is the price assumption you’re making.”

“And they should be asking ExxonMobil to tell us what is the cost of production.”

Ramson’s concern was more about persons being allowed to have a say in how the oil-and-gas industry will affect their future through consultations. He criticised the SWF, saying that it was too partisan.

“You have to be able to have a say, and you have to know that your say is being heard and that the reflection of that ‘say’ is then translated into policy,” Ramson said.

“I’m not telling you not to support the government or not to support a par-

Esso, partner added to Gaskin suit against state over production licence TWO oil companies, CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Ltd. (Nexen) and Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd (Hess), request was granted by Acting Chief Justice Roxane George on Thursday, to join the proceedings in the case between local activist Ramon Gaskin, and the State.

Early last month, the two companies would have filed an application to the court, asking to join the case, since they are deeply involved in the arguments presented by Gaskin.

Gaskin who is being represented by lawyer, Melinda Janki and Trinidad-based Guyanese Senior Counsel, Seenath Jairam, is challenging the state, more specifically the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman for giving authorisation to both Nexen and Hess, to deport oil explorations in Guyana.

Gaskin is questioning the legality of the permit given, explaining that the two companies were not issued separate license, in fact they are said to be covered by the environmental permits issued to ExxonMobil, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana

Limited.

But the activist highly disagrees, and as such is seeking to block the companies from proceeding with their explorations.

Though the matter involves the oil companies, they were not listed in the proceedings since the matter is between Gaskin and the State, who granted the authorisation. However, the companies (Hess and Nexen), through the representation of Attorney-at-law, Andrew Pollard SC, and Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes, are now able to defend themselves as chief justice would have granted their request to join.

The State, being represented by Attorney-at-law and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, and Attorney-at-law Edward Luckhoo SC, were given two weeks, as well as the counsel of the oil companies, to submit written affidavits in response to Gaskin’s argument.

Setting a date for ruling as early next year, the Chief Justice explained that the time was given to make all necessary submissions by all parties involved.

The court will return in January of next year for the chief justice’s ruling.

ticular group; I’m saying how do we do this in a sensible way,” he added.

Indar also made public his reservations about the SWF, which he tied to a narrow macro-economic committee and sovereign investment committee.

He proposed that senior investment advisers and private managers, as stipulated in the Green Paper, be selected through a clearly defined process.

At the end of the presentations, general questions and suggestions came from members of the audience, to which the GCCI team provided their recommendations and solutions.

GCCI Executive Director Richard Rambarran makes a presentation on the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) Green Paper

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

GBTI contributes to cancer organisations

THE staff of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) have recorded their highest contribution yet to the cause of cancer treatment and support.

For the past several years, the staff would make a donation and the bank would match the total accumulated and distribute between the Guyana Cancer Foundation and the Periwinkle Club.

This year the staff raised in excess of $400,000. “Just as we celebrate the successes of our customers, we understand their challenges and needs and we represent their cause to the fullest. And, we believe our collective efforts will make a difference to those in need,” GBTI said in a release.

Breast Cancer Awareness is being observed this month.

Staff of GBTI making their contribution to President of the Guyana Cancer Foundation Ms. Bibi Hassan, Ms. Cheryl Caines and Miriam Williams of the Periwinkle Club

Man remanded for sneaking weed into court lockups A 29-year-old man was on Friday remanded to prison for unlawfully introducing cannabis into the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court lockups.

Earl Merion, who appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly, denied the charge which alleged that during October 2018, at the Magistrates’ Court Georgetown, he unlawfully introduced cannabis into the court’s lockups.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail due

Earl Merion to the seriousness of the offence.

According to facts pre-

sented by the police, on the day in question, Merion went to visit one Kerwin DaSantos, who is currently on remand for the murder of an America Street money changer, where he placed the cannabis in DaSantos’ box of food. The food was searched in his presence where the marijuana was found.

Bail was refused by Magistrate Daly and Merion was remanded to prison until November 23, 2018.

One year jail for stealing $96,000 in items from clothes vendor A 26-year old man was on Friday sentenced to 12 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to a simple larceny charge.

Mohammed Rafeek appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Magistrate’s Court and pleaded guilty to the charge which alleged that on October 23, 2018 at Seawall Road, Georgetown, he stole a quantity of items totaling $ 96,000, property of Michael Jonasa.

Rafeek, in his explana-

Mohammed Rafeek tion, stated that “he (the victim) already get back all he

stuff.”

According to the facts presented by police, on October 23, 2018, the victim, who is a vendor, had secured his stand at the seawall. Upon his return the next day he found that the stand was broken into. As such the matter was reported to police and acting on information, the accused was arrested. Police say that Rafeek admitted to the crime in a caution statement.

He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by the magistrate.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Gov’t in move to overhaul Sea Defence Acts

THE importance of flood protection systems to Guyana’s social and economic development cannot be over-emphasised and in recognising this, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure in collaboration with the European Union on Friday held a meeting with stakeholders for a compre-

coastline, the current Sea Defence Acts are somewhat narrow in scope. The Acts are concerned primarily with man-made defences and do not properly account for mangroves. The protection of mangroves falls under other legislative fields but does not serve all needs for sea and river defences and there is no

ing and donor arrangements with the European Union and Caribbean Development Bank, the government has secured funding for sea defences construction. One important donor programme currently being implemented is the 11th European Development Fund programme which will run from 2017-

A section of the participants at the stakeholders' meeting hensive revision of the Sea Defence Acts and Disaster Risk Management.

At the meeting, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, said the collaboration is necessary to ensure that the updated sea and river defence legislation is comprehensive, all-encompassing and harmonised with the country’s vision to develop a ''green'' state.

Minister Ferguson added that though it addresses several issues relative to the management of the sea defences along our vulnerable

specific enforcement authority for sea and river defences.

“In light of these and other critical observations, it is envisaged that the drafting of the updated Sea Defence Bill will address legal interpretations pertaining to the management of sea and river defences, the establishment of entities, institutional arrangements, responsibilities, powers and limitations, regulations, funding mechanisms, penalties and reporting among other critical issues,” Minister Ferguson explained.

Through national financ-

2020 and will see the disbursement of the just over $7Billion (€ $30Million). It is aimed at enhancing Guyana’s disaster risk management and flood-resilience capacity through integrated coastal zone management, sea and river defences, drainage and mangrove regeneration and the promotion of gender equality in the sea and river defence sector.

Other programmes include the Sea and River Defence Sector Policy framework in 2015, the 2016-2020 comprehensive Sea and River Defence Sector Strategy

Man held for suspected murder of pregnant woman POLICE in Baramita, North West District have arrested a man in connection with the death of a 23-year-old woman whose lifeless body was found at the village on Wednesday.

Reports are that Ruthina Thomas, a mother one, was allegedly beaten and raped. Persons at Baramita also noted that

the woman was pregnant.

Her body was discovered at Central Baramita in an unfinished building along the airstrip. Police arrested the suspect on Thursday.

The woman’s body is awaiting a post-mortem examination as police investigate the incident.

The Baramita airstrip in the North West District . Thomas’ body was discovered in an unfinished building along the airstrip.

Strategic Objective. Minister Ferguson acknowledged the contributions of the European Union to the sea and river defence sector. “The European Union has partnered with the Government of Guyana through the provision of donor funding in support of coastal zone management programmes for more than thirty (30) years. The updating of the Sea Defence Act through EU grant financing represents another milestone in this collaborative process and is considered an important advancement in the adoption of a strategic approach to shore zone management in Guyana.”

Substantial lengths of the sea defences were constructed decades ago and reconstruction of critical sections is required in a number of areas. According to Minister Ferguson, annually, approximately 4Km of the new sea and river defences are con-

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson structed to restore adequate of 40Km of sea and rivlevels of flood protection er defences are improved in areas where the existing through rehabilitation and structures have become crit- maintenance interventions.

(DPI) ical.

Additionally, in excess

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Fisheries ministers approve climate change protocol for CRFM member states

A Protocol on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in Fisheries and Aquaculture was approved for CARICOM States during a recent high-level meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM).

At the 8th Special Meeting of the CRFM Ministerial Council held in Barbados on

Thursday, 11 October, 2018, the ministers approved the protocol to the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP). The CCCFP promotes cooperation and collaboration among Caribbean people, fishers and governments in conserving, managing, and sustainably using fisheries and related ecosystems. It is also geared at improving the welfare and livelihood of fisherfolk in the

region.

“This protocol is of paramount importance in the region, given the urgent and ever-increasing threats to fishing communities, fishers and the health of marine ecosystems and associated fish stocks in the region posed not only by warming waters and climate change but also by the acidification of the oceans as a result of increased absorption of carbon dioxide

from the atmosphere,” CRFM Executive Director, Milton Haughton, said.

Haughton said that among the obvious challenges are the bleaching and destruction of corals reefs, frequent massive blooms of Sargassum and other harmful marine algae, and the devastation caused by storms, hurricanes and floods that States must now contend with. “The damage our countries suffer is not

limited to what is seen on land but also extends to the valuable natural resources under the sea which we often do not see,” the Executive Director added. Haughton explained that the protocol provides pragmatic tools and measures to enable States and stakeholders to adapt and build resilience by working together and sharing experiences and best practices.

He also emphasized the need for donors and international development partners to recognize the challenges faced by the countries in the coastal and marine environment, and to support their initiatives by providing tangible technical assistance and funding to help with implementation of the protocol.

In May 2018, the CRFM Ministerial Council approved another protocol under the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy; that is, the Protocol on Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries for Caribbean Community fisherfolk and societies under the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy, aimed at improving livelihood and welfare of small-scale fishers who are involved the harvesting, processing and marketing of fish and seafood. The approved protocols were submitted to the CARICOM’s Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), which met on Friday 12 October, at the culmination of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture.

The development of Protocol on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in Fisheries

and Aquaculture was fasttracked with support from the Climate Change Adaptation in the Eastern Caribbean Fisheries Sector (CC4FISH) Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The initiative was implemented in the context of a technical cooperation agreement signed earlier this year by the CRFM and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

At the Ministerial Council meeting, chaired by David Osborne, Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Lands, Housing and the Environment (MATLHE) of Montserrat, the policymakers also addressed social and welfare issues in the fisheries and aquaculture sector by issuing a policy statement on gender, youth and decent work as follows: “The Council accepted that international and national norms regarding issues pertaining to gender, youth, and decent work be adhered to, and be incorporated into all CRFM policies, protocols, programmes, and plans.”

In addition, the Council approved a concept note for a proposed project to reduce the vulnerability of coastal and marine social-ecological systems across CARICOM to Sargassum influxes.

They also called upon the donor community and development partners to provide the technical assistance and funding needed to support implementation of the project, as well as the two Protocols adopted under the Common Fisheries Policy. (Caricom Secretariat)

Rape accused bus driver remanded WEEKS after an arrest warrant was issued for a rape-accused bus driver, he was on Friday hauled before a city court.

Sherwin Brandt, 41, who was jointly charged with Asahel Williams but failed to show up on the day when the matter was called, was remanded to prison by Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

The charge alleged that the men, on October 7, 2015 at Plum Park, Sophia, engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl. The matter was heard in camera.

He was not required to plead to the charge because the matter laid was indictable.

He was instructed to make his next court appearance on November 16, 2018 Weeks ago, the conductor Asahel Williams was slapped with the same charge however he was released on $300,000 bail and ordered to return to court on September 24.

According to reports, the teen was a lone passenger in the Route 40 minibus which was driven by Brandt and conducted by Williams. The men allegedly took the teen to a location at Plum Park and took turns having sex with the child.

The teen confided in her parents and the matter was reported to the police.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Challenges of raising children with microcephaly

… mothers tell their stories TWO years on, mothers of babies born with microcephaly, Andrea Garner and Puttana Dos Santos, have shared the challenges of raising their infants. However, the support given by the government has made the coping process easier and they now hope to see their children grow to their fullest potential.

Since the first reported case of Zika-related microcephaly in 2016, the Ministry of Public Health became engaged in a strategic plan of action which seeks to provide support to the mothers of these babies.

remarked. Andrea explained that after giving birth she learnt of the provisions made by the Ministry of Public Health. She added that though she is dealing with emotional issues related to having to raise a child with a disability, she is grateful that she has the psychosocial support provided by the mental health unit.

“After her birth and knowing that parents can access services free of cost and there is a great support in terms of the needs of both the child and the parent, she has been able to access a wide range of services including rehab services… Even the test

Puttana Dos Santos, with her baby boy who was born with microcephaly As such, the mothers, who spoke with the Department of Public Information (DPI), told of their challenges over the past two years and highlighted the government’s efforts to provide support.

First up, Andrea Garner, the mother of a two-year-old baby girl, said that from the beginning, the thought of raising a child with a disability was not an easy pill to swallow. “No one wishes for their child to have a disability,” she

that she has to do and it’s a lot because she has developmental delays, she gets seizures and also, she has low vision because of damage to the eye,” Garner said.

Puttana Dos Santos recounts her experience as raising her son with microcephaly, thus far, as stressful one.

Dos Santos says she has not had the support of the baby’s father. As a result, she faces financial challenges since she is currently unemployed. “It’s

FIRST UAE-Caribbean cooperation forum

THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be hosting the First UAE-Caribbean Cooperation Forum in Dubai from 24-26 November, 2018.

The forum will be the first of its kind for the Region with the UAE, and the UAE is anticipating strong representation from the public and private sectors of the Caribbean, the CARICOM Secretariat said in a release.

The three-day event, which will host key government representatives and private sector stakeholders, is designed to create an exciting opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences; to build strong networks; and to engage in dialogue at the highest level. The aim is not only to discuss the strategic bilateral relationships, but also to identify new areas of cooperation and opportunities in the fields of Investment, Trade, and Culture.

Panel and Session Events will focus on culture, economic partnership, technical development and EXPO Dubai which is scheduled to be held in 2020.

Information on logistical arrangements, inclusive of registration and venues, will be made public shortly, the secretariat said.

a little rough but I love my son … my family, they try their best to brace me and so far, the government has been helping.”

Dos Santos said she too is grateful for the assistance and the necessary support she has received over the past two years. “I am getting public assistance, I’m getting help where the doctor’s call, they are concerned about his growth and development.”

While this is noteworthy, she said there is still the challenge of keeping up with regular visits to the clinic and the doctor’s office. “So far,

I would say that the government is doing enough but it’s still hard for me... because my son has to go therapy every Tuesday and eye clinic, then he has to also attend clinic for them to check how he is developing in Georgetown, he goes to clinic in Canal No. 1.”

The Ministry of Public Health instituted support groups for these mothers while ensuring that they access public assistance.

Additionally, the children’s growth and development are continually monitored by doctors in the public health system. (DPI)

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Andrea Garner with her two-year-old daughter who was born with microcephaly

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

‘PNCR a strong, vibrant force’ … President Granger says as party commissions Congress House in Mahdia

By Svetlana Marshall SIXTY-ONE years into its existence, the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) remains a force to be reckoned with in leading the way in local democracy, President of Guyana and Leader of the party, David Granger said.

He was at the time speaking at the commissioning of the party’s Congress House in Mahdia, on Thursday. The establishment of Congress House Mahdia, forms part of the PNCR’s vision to set up congress houses in the 10 Administrative Regions of the country, President Granger said, as he addressed scores of members and supporters in the newly built meeting hall. “This is part of our vision, but more than vision you need a mission, and you need institutions. You cannot build a national party by simply having congresses in Georgetown, you must have roots in all of the regions,” he said.

The President said the party members and supporters should be educated on the ideals and objectives of the PNCR and that the congress houses must serve as hubs. “Our members and the public as a whole must understand what we stand for, must understand our challenges, and that we are working to overcome those challenges with their support,” the PNCR leader stated.

STRENGTH TO STRENGTH Over the decades, the PNCR leader said, the

party continues to grow from strength to strength with strong roots in key parts of the country. “We are not a cocktail party. We are a party with strong roots among the people,” he boasted, while emphasising that it is a national party for all the people.

President Granger said the PNCR, which is the senior partner in the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition Government, has strong leaders who continue to champion local democracy and equitable development.

“We are leaders in this country. We are the ones who are leading this Local Government Elections

years. We got into office in 2015 and in 10 months, 10 months, not 22 months, 10 months we had Local Government Elections,” he said, while alluding to his APNU+AFC Government.

Singling out the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government, President Granger said prior to May 2015, the PPP/C had uprooted 38 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities and installed Interim Management Committees (IMCs).

He recalled that on August 2013, when the APNU and AFC used their collective majority to pass four Local Government Bills – the Fiscal Transfers Bill, the Local Government

President Granger presenting a student of Mahdia with one of the bicycles and the Local Government Commission Bill, the then President Donald Ramotar had withheld his assent.

“We passed four bills

Mahdia PNCR District Chairman, Timothy Junor; Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally; President David Granger; resident of Mahdia Fitzroy Alcee; Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan and Mahdia businessman Roger Hinds, standing with the `Welcome to Mahdia’ billboard in the background.

(LGEs). [The] PPP refused to call Local Government Elections for 22

Mahdia Congress Place

(Amendment) Bill, the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill,

in the National Assembly along with [the] AFC and the most important bills, the PPP refused to assent to or implement,” President Granger said.

He added that it was the APNU together with the AFC that had struggled to bring local democracy back to Guyana after 22 years.

For this, the President said, no one could criticise the democratic credentials of the PNCR, emphasising that the party is a leader in coalition governance and inclusionary democracy.

“Never before May 2015, have six parties come together to form a government…People said we will go it alone,

people said winner takes all but we believe that we are better together, stronger together,” President Granger said, noting that sacrifices had to be made.

BRUTAL YEARS Minister of Communities and treasurer of the PNCR Ronald Bulkan while noting that the building would allow for the party to effectively conduct its work in the region, thanked persons like Dennis Boalt and Julio Pereira, for contributing to its development.

Bulkan, who did not mince words, told the PNCR members and supporters present that the PNCR had experienced some “barren years” after 1992 when the PPP took office. According to him, the period after 2001 was “brutal,” explaining that the party had haemorrhaged approximately 51,000 votes between 2001 and 2006.

“Our supporters had literally given up hope that we could ever return to office but nothing lasts forever,” he said.

He noted that the party regained approximately half of the 51,000 votes in 2011 under the umbrella of the APNU. In 2015, the APNU partnered with the AFC, and won the elections.

“The message of 2015, however, is that the PPP had closed the gap. The margin that separated us of 9000 votes in 2011 was reduced to below 5000. This brings me from 1957 to another number 1837. No, I am not taking you on a historical journey but rather I am referring to the number of votes we secured in

this region in 2015…just a single vote more than the PPP, and which allowed us to enjoy the parliamentary seat for this region,” Minister Bulkan said.

The APNU+AFC Government, he said, however lost control of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Region Eight. Nonetheless, he said, Guyana is now on the crossroads while alluding to the oil and gas industry, which is expected to transform the country’s economic and infrastructural landscape.

“The key issue is who will be in charge of this JACKPOT? He charged the members and supporters to play their part to allow the country to remain in “the safe hands” of their leader.

Mahdia PNCR District Chairman, Timothy Junor, admonished the residents of Mahdia to be patient with the government, noting that nothing happens overnight. Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally; APNU Region Eight Parliamentary Representative, Gloria Bancroft; and mayors from Bartica, Linden, Mabaruma and Lethem were among the officials present at the commissioning ceremony.

Shortly after commissioning the Congress House, the President with help from his government ministers, distributed 30 bicycles to children of the region and unveiled a billboard of Mahdia.

For the unveiling, the President was assisted by 91-year-old Fitzroy Alcee, Mahdia’s oldest resident.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

CARICOM Secretariat releases biodiversity management ‘report card’ THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has recorded a significant milestone with the release of a report on the state of biodiversity management in the Region.

The report examines how CARICOM Member States have progressed in meeting their commitments under the Aichi Biodiversity Targets within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the secretariat said in a release on Friday.

Titled: ‘The State of Biodiversity in the Caribbean – A review of the progress towards the Aichi biodiversity targets,’ the report was launched on Wednesday 24 October 2018 at the opening of the Caribbean Regional Preparatory Workshop for the 14th Conference of the Parties (CoP) for the CBD and Regional Consultation

from the European Union and the implementation support from UN Environment.

He said the CARICOM Secretariat also recognises the role played by the OECS Commission, CBD Secretariat, and CANARI in developing a Draft Caribbean Biodiversity Strategy, noting that there is “no doubt that their involvement encouraged support from our development partners for a Phase III project.”

According to Ms. Amrikha Singh, Programme Manager for Sustainable Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, the study provides Member States, International Development Partners, and Regional Institutions with an “up-todate” report card on how the Region has been performing against internationally agreed targets on biodiversity man-

Ambassador Colin Granderson, Assistant Secretary-General, Foreign and Community Relations receives report titled: ‘The State of Biodiversity in the Caribbean – A review of the progress towards the Aichi biodiversity targets’ from Dr. Patrick Chesney, Project Coordinator, ACP-MEAs Project, CARICOM Secretariat on Wednesday 24th October 2018, Georgetown, Guyana. for Phase III of the Programme for Capacity Building related to the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. That meeting concluded on Friday 26th October, 2018 at the Grand Coastal Hotel, Guyana.

Ambassador Colin Granderson, Assistant Secretary-General, Foreign and Community Relations, said that the preparation of the report was a unified effort among the CARICOM Secretariat, UN Environment, CARICOM Member States and regional biodiversity experts. He expressed appreciation for the financial support

agement.

Noting the challenge with “good data” in the Region, she said: “We are hoping with this publication that we fill a gap in that we are providing data and a status report of this particular MEA. A report such as this gives you a chance to take stock so that we can see where we are doing well and where we have a lot of work to do as a Region. That is always critical for a Region such as ours which is comprised of Small Island Developing States (SIDs).”

Ms. Singh added that the report “is critical” as biodiversity negotiators prepare for the 14th Conference of

the Parties for the Convention on Biological Diversity.

“It will help inform Member States’ interventions when they take the floor, so that they know what to highlight to the international community for specific attention to be placed,” she noted.

Describing the report as “an important milestone,” Dr. Patrick Chesney, Project Coordinator of the ACP-

MEAs Project within the CARICOM Secretariat said that the Caribbean’s progress in meeting the Aichi Biodiversity Targets “has not been even across countries.”

Noting that “much work remains to be done,” he said the anticipated third Phase of the ACP-MEAs project would help member states to implement their obligations “in a more accelerated

fashion.” He said the report highlights the need for a pool of technical experts on biodiversity to help to meet gaps that exist. Technical expertise which may be absent in one Member State could be filled from that “pool of experts.” he added.

He said that past reports on the state of the Caribbean’s biodiversity were part of the Latin America and Caribbean biodiversity reports, and because of the small size of Caribbean States, information on the Caribbean got lost

in the wider regional reports.

The present Caribbean report is an important first step towards the strategic positioning of the Caribbean’s biodiversity within the context of human development as well as reporting on national and regional efforts to achieve the Aichi Targets.

There is expectation that the preparation of periodic reports on the state of the Caribbean’s biodiversity will be widely promoted and supported, Dr. Chesney said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

GBTI appeals case against SOCU

THE Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) on Thursday appealed a decision by the Full Court of the High Court that cleared the way for the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to access the banker’s books under section 24(2) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter the Financing of Terrorism Act’s prohibits.

On July, 5, 2018, Justice Franklin Holder granted a Production Order directing GBTI to produce specific

records of transactions, documents which are relevant to identifying, locating or quantifying property or locating a document necessary for the transfer of such property where a person is being investigated for a serious offence or money laundering pursuant to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act Cap. 10:11.

That matter was taken to the Full Court and was heard before Judges Fidela Corbin-Lincoln and Naresh-

war Harnanan. SOCU, as part of its probe into the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRBD) General Manager fraud case, had moved to the court to obtain an order instructing GBTI to produce all the required documents to aid in the investigation.

The court ruled on October 13, 2018 that trial judge, Justice Holder acted in compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, to hear the application ex parte.

The court also ruled that Section 24 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act does not prohibit the production of copies of the banker’s books.

The court ordered GBTI to comply with the order of Justice Holder by the 12th day of November 2018 at 4:30pm and cost to be paid to the respondent in the sum of $150,000.

However, GBTI on one of its many grounds appealed the case, noting that the Full

Court erred in finding that the documents ordered to be produced by the Learned Trail Judge were not bankers books or copies, thereof which were excluded from production by section 24(2) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act prohibits.

The appellant is seeking an order to reverse the Full Court’s decision in addition to setting aside the decision

by Justice Franklin Holder.

Those on trial are: GBTI directors, Edward A Beharry, Suresh Beharry, Kathryn Eytle-McLean, Richard Isava, Carlton James and Basil Mahadeo; its chairman Robin Stoby and acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaleeza Shaw.

The directors are joint-

ly charged with failing to comply with a production order issued by the acting chief justice and served by a marshal of the High Court, ordering them to produce certain named documents within seven days to SOCU head, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sydney James.

The trial is being presided over by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, with evidence being led by SOCU Prosecutor Patrice Henry.

Under tough anti-money laundering laws, once court orders are granted, financial institutions are reportedly bound to provide information. In this case, the monies are not from private accounts, but rather from the US dollar and other accounts of GRDB–a state entity.

Four charged for Mon Repos man murder

FOUR young men were on Friday remanded to prison when they appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court charged with the murder of a handyman of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara on Sunday.

Remanded are: 22-year-old construction worker Vikesh Persaud of Mon Repos Pasture; 32-year-old Jessi Knights of Cooper’s Lane Georgetown, 19-year-old labourer Ossfa Douglas of South Good Hope, East Coast Demerara and 19-year-old Fareek Haniff of Phase Two Good Hope, East Coast Demerara.

The court heard that the quartet allegedly murdered 30-year-old Christopher Swamy, a handyman of 161 Mon Repos Pasture, East Coast Demerara in front of his yard during the course or furtherance of a robbery on October 21, 2018.

They were not required to plead to the indictable charge after it was read to them by the magistrate. According to the prosecution’s facts in relation to the matter, Swamy and his wife, along with two other persons, were liming and imbibing in front of their home when two masked men pounced on them

The murder suspects disembarking a police van with one brandishing a handgun.

The suspects then allegedly relieved one of the victims of her mobile phone and a sum of cash while lashing another male victim to his head with the gun. Christopher was shot in the left region of his chest and following that the men fled the scene. The injured man was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The police picked up one of the suspects on the very morning of the robbery and murder. In court on Friday, the men alleged that they were beaten and tortured by a police corporal, whom they told the court carried out the act in order to have them sign confession statements.

One of the suspects also showed the magistrate marks of violence which he said he sustained during the torture.

He requested that he be allowed to seek medical attention and the request was granted by the magistrate.

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FIFA set up task force over new tournament plans

By Clement Uwiringiyimana KIGALI (Reuters) - FIFA have set up a task force to examine president Gianni Infantino’s plans for a new Club World Cup and Global Nations League, avoiding a damaging split with UEFA over the controversial proposals.

Infantino told a news conference that the task force would present its findings at a council meeting in Miami on March 14.

“On the topic that heated some of the media, we have taken a decision to create a task force at least,” said Infantino, who had intended to put his plans to a vote yesterday.

“We have taken a decision to establish a task force to bolster the consultation process, the prospects of a revamped FIFA Club World Cup and worldwide Nations League, to discuss and make concrete proposals,” Infantino said.

Infantino’s plans had been opposed by the World Leagues Forum and the European Leagues, representing the top club competitions internationally, who had urged the FIFA chief to step back from a quick vote.

European governing body UEFA had also been vocal in criticising the plans after details emerged in May, raising the prospect of a split in the global game.

Infantino said the task force would “work on details of these competitions which are of high interest in many parts of the world where some agree, others disagree”.

“There are different points of views, different opinions; it’s perfectly normal,” Infantino said, adding that he welcomed proposals and ideas for the tournaments.

Infantino has said that his plans are backed by an invest-

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ment consortium willing to put in $25 billion over a 12-year cycle in return for 49 percent ownership of the competitions.

The FIFA president has said that he is not able to reveal the identity of the backers due to a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) but several unconfirmed media reports say that Japan’s SoftBank are behind the consortium.

ANNUAL COMPETITION IDEA Other unconfirmed reports suggested that Saudi Arabian funds might be part of the package.

Asked about the backers, Infantino said: “It is not a fund, you don’t ask the name, it’s good but it’s not a fund it’s a company. Just wanted to clarify that.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino

“There is no sovereign fund involved or state involved. It is a private company it has been mentioned before.

We need first as well to see what kind of competition we have and then we move forward,” he added.

Infantino’s plans for the Club World Cup have included holding the tournament every four years with 24 teams and also an idea for an annual competition.

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The Nations League format began under UEFA’s auspices in Europe in September while CONCACAF, in North and Central America and the Caribbean, has also begun a Nations League tournament.

Infantino’s idea is for a ‘Final Eight’ tournament bringing together the winners of various continental Nations League competitions.

“Two confederations already have Nations League, for which rights are already sold, in particular when it comes to Europe until 2022.

But others don’t,” said the FIFA president.

“But there are certainly ways and possibilities to look into seeing what can be done maybe already in other parts ... or maybe the whole world after 2022. We are open to every idea and every proposal.”

In other decisions, the council ruled against allowing Spanish clubs Barcelona and Girona to play an official La Liga game in Miami in January.

FIFA also endorsed the South American confederation CONMEBOL’s proposal to switch their Copa America competition to even years, meaning the planned 2019 tournament will now be delayed a year.

The Copa America will now be held every four years in line with UEFA’s European Championship.

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was also formally moved from January/February to June/July of that year.

The Council backed proposals from its stakeholders’ committee for changes to the player transfer system, including limiting loans of players and new regulations on players’ agents.

FIFA also announced that participants in the Women’s World Cup will receive increased support and prize money.

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Akeem Jordan’s 5-18 destroys Red Force for 92 …sends Marooners to Super 50 final BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – The Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners qualified for their second final in a regional competition when they shocked title favourites Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by seven wickets in the second semifinal of the Regional Super50 at Kensington Oval here yesterday.

Led by a spectacular bowling performance from opening bowler Akeem Jordan, the Marooners eased to a comfortable victory and booked their spot in tomorrow’s final against the Guyana Jaguars.

Coincidentally, in their first-ever final appearance at the regional level back in 2013, the Marooners had also dismissed T&T for 90-odd on their way to defeating them in the semi-finals.

This time around, it was Jordan’s opening spell which ripped the heart out of the Red Force’s top order to reduce the star-studded outfit to shreds in a mesmerising display of medium pace bowling.

The dismissal of Lendl Simmons, who had come into the match with three half-centuries under his belt, prompted an unimaginable batting collapse by the Red Force.

The CCC Marooners are into their second regional final after easily defeating the T&T Red Force.

After scoring just two runs, Simmons was deceived by a beautiful delivery outside off-stump from pacer Jermaine Levy, which he could only edge behind to wicketkeeper Amir Jangoo to leave the score three for one.

In his second over and third of the match, Jordan struck three times within the space of five balls, to derail the Red Force’s innings.

In his second ball of the over, Jordan tempted Sunil Narine to fish outside his off-stump and was caught behind by Jangoo for one without a run being added to the score. And three balls later Jason Mohammed was undone by

a beautiful out-swinger to be out for a duck to give Jangoo his third catch of the innings.

Captain Denesh Ramdin only lasted one ball, chipping Jordan’s last ball of the over to Nicholas Kirton at mid-on, as the Red Force slumped to three for four.

Nicholas Pooran scored nine before his attempted wild slash resulted in a catch behind to Jangoo as Jordan grabbed his fourth wicket.

Jordan then capped off his spell with a perfectly-bowled in-swinger to remove the offstump of Darren Bravo after the left-hander had shouldered arms to leave the score 25 for six.

Veterans Dwayne Bravo, who top-scored with 27 and Kieron Pollard (16) – two of only three batsmen to score in double figures – then tried to steady the Red Force during a seventh-wicket partnership of 33.

But once Pollard holed out to long-on as he tried to clear the ropes, the end came swiftly, as 58 for seven soon became 66 for eight when Bravo could only steer Carlos Brathwaite’s high bouncer to square leg where Jonathan Drakes took an easy catch.

Rayad Emrit’s unbeaten knock of 15 threatened briefly to carry them over the 100-mark, before he ran out of partners.

The Marooners then made light work of their target, despite losing two early wickets.

Opener Kyle Corbin edged a defensive prod to first slip where Dwayne Bravo took a stunning one-handed catch to his right off the bowling of Sunil Narine with the score on three, and Jangoo was caught at long-on by Emrit running back for 11, as CCC stumbled to 29 for two.

However, once Drakes was dismissed, opener Kjorn Ottley, who stroked an unbeaten 39 and Brathwaite who finished on 29 not out off just 22 balls, carried the Marooners to victory in less than 17 overs.

SCOREBOARD

RED FORCE innings L. Simmons c Jangoo b Levy 2 S. Narine c Jangoo b Jordan 1 D. Bravo b Jordan 6 J. Mohammed c Jangoo b Jordan 0 D. Ramdin c Kirton b Jordan 0 N. Pooran c Jangoo b Jordan 9 DJ Bravo c Drakes b Brathwaite 27 K. Pollard c Kirton b KH Ottley 16 R. Emrit not out 15 K. Pierre c Ottley b Jaggesar 9 R. Rampaul c Drakes b KH Ottley 0 Extras: (lb-1, w-6) 7 Total: (all out, 33 overs) 92 Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 5-20, 6-25, 7-58, 8-66, 9-89.

Bowling: Jordan 10-4-18-5, Levy 5-0-24-1, Jaggesar 6-1-15-1, Brathwaite 5-0-19-1, KH Ottley 7-0-15-2.

MAROONERS innings K. Corbin c Bravo b Narine 2 KJ Ottley not out 39 A. Jangoo c Emrit b Rampaul 11 J. Drakes lbw b Pierre 3 C. Brathwaite not out 29 Extras: (w-9) 9 Total: (3 wkts, 16.2 overs) 93 Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-29, 3-52.

Bowling: Narine 8-2-36-1, Rampaul 3-0-15-1, Pierre 5.2-0-42-1.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: AKEEM JORDAN

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

India name squads Proteas won’t use ball-tampering scandal for Australia tour INDIA have named a strong 18-player squad for their Test series against Australia this summer, while former captain MS Dhoni will not be seen during the Twenty20 series against the Aussies.

Experienced batsman Rohit Sharma has won a recall to the Test squad after he was overlooked for the recent series against the West Indies, while there is no room for Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir and Suresh Raina.

Instead, India will rely on exciting teenager Prithvi Shaw at the top of their batting order, with Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane expected to provide the support to in-form skipper Virat Kohli.

There were few surprises in the bowlers India selected, with experienced spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja selected alongside slow left-armer Kuldeep Yadav.

Umesh Yadav headlines a seam attack that includes Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah.

Kohli was named captain for the three-game T20 series

against Australia, with Rohit selected as his vice-captain.

There was no room for Dhoni, however, who will sit out T20 series against both the West Indies and Australia during November.

the end of Dhoni in T20Is”.

Australia will play four Test matches against India, with the first five-day contest commencing in Adelaide on Thursday December 6.

The two nations will first contest three Twen-

Rohit Sharma

The experienced Dhoni retired from Test cricket following the Boxing Day Test against Australia in 2014, but has featured consistently for India in one-day and T20 cricket ever since.

MSK Prasad didn’t rule out a return for Dhoni in future, with India’s chief selector claiming “it is not

ty20 matches, with The Gabba in Brisbane hosting the opening game on Wednesday November 21.

India Test squad: Virat Kohli (c), M. Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Parthiv Patel, Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja,

Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar India Twenty20 squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma (v-c), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant (wkp.), Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed.

INDIA TOUR OF AUSTRALIAa 2018-19 ► Gillette T20s v India ► November 21: The Gabba ► November 23: MCG ► November 25: SCG ► Domain Tests v India ► December 6-10: Adelaide Oval ► December 14-18: Perth Stadium ► December 26-30: MCG ► January 3-7: SCG ► Gillette ODI Series v India ► January 12: SCG (D/N) ► January 15: Adelaide Oval (D/N) ► January 18: MCG (D/N)

Pakistan wrap up T20 series triumph PAKISTAN ground out an 11-run win over Australia to seal a series victory with a match to spare despite the best efforts of Glenn Maxwell in yesterday’s second Twenty20 international.

The designated hosts posted a modest total of 1476 on a pitch lacking pace at the Dubai International Stadium, with Babar Azam top-scoring with 45.

The batting woes that plagued Australia in the opening T20, in which they were all out for 89, in a 66-run battering, initially returned when they were twice reeling at 31-3 and 73-6.

But Maxwell rode his luck, having twice been dropped, to live up to his billing as ‘The Big Show’ with a 37-ball 52 and helped set up a grandstand finish that left Australia needing 23 off the last over.

However, it was a case of too little too late and Maxwell toe-ended Shaheen Afridi to Shoaib Malik to essentially bring an end

to the contest and render tomorrow’s third T20 a dead rubber.

Babar scored at just over a run-a-ball in a measured knock that included only three boundaries.

couple of sixes and three fours before pulling Billy Stanlake to deep square leg at the end of the 14th over.

Babar soon followed and Asif Ali (9) clubbed a monster six over midwicket

Glenn Maxwell

His second-wicket partnership of 70 with Mohammad Hafeez (40) never really accelerated, although the latter had clattered a

before becoming Stanlake’s second victim.

Shoaib Malik (14) and Faheem Ashraf (17 not out) boosted the tally and

Pakistan were soon into Australia’s top order.

Imad Wasim, tormentor-in-chief from the first match in what was his first international appearance in a year, accounted for D’Arcy Short (2) and Chris Lynn (7) inside five overs, before Aaron Finch (3) holed out to long-on off Shadab Khan.

Mitch Marsh added 21 and Maxwell, ably assisted

by Nathan Coulter-Nile (27), took centre stage either side of being put down at mid-off and Hafeez dropping him at the cover fence.

A huge swat over longon was backed up by a Coulter-Nile slog-sweep over that cleared the ropes, before Maxwell smashed one straight back over the head of Afridi.

Coulter-Nile whacked a couple more huge maximums to leave Pakistan sweating, but the loss of Maxwell ended any realistic hope of a dramatic victory as Australia – still without a win on the tour – finished on 136-8. (Yahoo Sport)

to sledge - du Plessis

(REUTERS) - South Africa will not use the ball-tampering scandal which plunged Australian cricket into disgrace earlier this year as a means of winding up the hosts in the upcoming limited overs series, Proteas captain Faf du Plessis said yesterday.

give some of the younger members of his side the opportunity to push for places in the squad for next year’s one-day World Cup in England.

It would also give them a taste of playing in a hostile atmosphere, which will stand them in good stead, he added.

“I just go back to Ad-

Faf du Plessis

Australian skipper Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft were all handed lengthy bans for their roles in the scandal during the third Test in Cape Town in March.

“I don’t think we, as a team, would go there,” du Plessis told reporters in Perth after the team arrived for the series, which starts next month and features three one-dayers and one Twenty20 match.

“It’s got nothing to do with the cricket - it’s in the past.

“In terms of what happened in Newlands, that’s in the past for us. For us, it’s business as usual.” du Plessis said the tour of Australia would

elaide when I walked out to bat in that night Test match and there were 60 000 people booing,” du Plessis said of the match two years ago.

“That’s what makes home teams so challenging to tour - when you get to a place where the crowd is intimidating.

“That’s something that youngsters will take a great deal of learning from. It tests your character. And if you get through it, you show yourself more than anyone else what you’re capable of.

“I’m hoping that it’s there for us as a team just to get used to that difference, especially when you go to a World Cup.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Inspector Beaton Forty named as Junior continues to excel in Karate National Hockey Boys’ training squad selected

THE Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) has selected a squad of 40 Under-19 boys to begin preparations for the Junior Pan American Championships, scheduled for 2020.

Over the next two years the squad will be prepared under the tutelage of a team of experienced coaches which will include current and former senior national players Dwayne Scott, Anthony Cole, Dwight Sullivan, Robert France, Christopher Low-Koon and Robert Fernandes.

Physical trainer Barrington Browne will be in charge of the squad’s physical conditioning while other resource personnel will address the sports psychology aspect of preparations.

Starting with next w e e k ’s G T & T S e n i o r National Indoor Championships, the squad will be competing in all local tournaments against their senior club counterparts to develop the team chemistry and unity that will be needed in the international arena.

The GHB is also hoping to send the team on two warm-up tours to Trinidad

and Tobago to expose the players to artificial turf, prior to the 2020 championships.

The squad will be spearheaded by senior nationals Kareem McKenzie and Meshach Sargeant as well as Michael Hing and Omar Hopkinson who were all part of Guyana’s last junior team that competed at the quadrennial tournament in 2016.

the 2020 team.

National head coach Robert Fernandes stated, “In the recently concluded Indoor Junior National Championships these players produced such a high level of quality, entertaining hockey that it drew crowds that were on par or even larger than some of our senior tournaments.

I’ve never worked with a

Robert Fernandes has been appointed the head coach for the National Junior Men’s Hockey Team.

The emergence of new talents like Samuel Woodroffe, Warren Williams, Paul D’Andrade, Nickel Ashby, the Garnett brothers, along with a number of other players, has generated a level of excitement about the potential of

squad with this much talent and depth.

“From one to forty, each of these players has a real shot of making the 2020 team and that level of competition for places will ensure that the final 18 will be of the highest calibre.”

The players will meet today at 15:00hrs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall for their first training session ahead of next week’s GT&T Senior National Indoor Championships.

NATIONAL JUNIOR MEN’S SQUAD: Michael Hing (GK), Kareem McKenzie, Tariq Nelson, Rahim Oliver (GK), John Phang, Meshach Sargeant, Samuel Woodroffe, Shameer Bhagwandin (GK), Baraka Garnett, Samuel Garnett, Shomere Garnett, Tahrea Garnett, Tivesarid Garnett, Yusuf Brant, Symeon Daniels (GK), Shaquon Favorite, Dominic Alleyne, Omar Hopkinson, Deheron Wilkinson, Brandon Abrams, Paul D’ Andrade (GK), Kennard Jerrick, Nandalall Persaud, Theodore Thierens, Jonathan Williams, Warren Williams, Luis Adams, Nickel Ashby, Shemar Boston, Hilmar Chester, Edmond Chinian, Shakeem Fausette, Leroy Geer, Troy Hodge, Oshazay Savory, Ezekiel Springer, Quinn Tobin (GK), Kedar Hopkinson, Shoran James and Steffan Simmons.

Inspector Keith Beaton

THE practice of Karate has been adopted all over the world and Guyana is no exception. The Association Do Shotokan Karate- Guyana, located at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Thomas Lands, over the years has taught the art of Karate to many of its students, even including the Guyana Police Force’s Inspector Keith Beaton better known as Master Keith Beaton.

Inspector Beaton has been practising Martial Arts for over 28 years. He has won numerous accolades for his outstanding performances and recently competed at the 3rd International Karate Daigaku which was held in Barbados from August 16 to 19, 2018, where he copped second place in the Individual Male 40-49 category and also second place in the Male 40-49 team fighting and secured silver medals in both categories.

Master Beaton said that Karate has impacted his life in a huge way. He said that it has played an important role in his career in the military. It taught him discipline and also provided him with the skills in unarmed defence and combat, using lesser force.

Inspector Beaton’s goal is to give back to his own and vulnerable groups (woman and children) by teaching the basic skills of self-defence.

Ramdhani cops badminton scholarship in Canada GUYANA’S top badminton player Narayan Ramdhani, who finished his two-year Diploma in Sports Science in Vancouver, Canada, last May, has now moved to the King’s University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to do his four-year Bachelor of Commerce. He will also play on the Kings University Badminton team where they offered him a Badminton Scholarship due to his high performances.

Only a few weeks ago he had his tryout and qualified to make it on the King’s University Eagles badminton team where he will be training three to four times a week. He is scheduled to play in the Upcoming University Championships in November 2018.

He is also training two times a week with B-Active High Performance Badminton Club also in Edmonton.

Narayan Ramdhani stands third from right in the King’s University Eagles team.

PROFILE AND UPDATED RESULTS FOR 2018: ► Narayan Ramdhani - D.O.B. June 3, 1998. ► Clubs: Yonex Badminton Club (Guy)/B-Active HP & King’s Eagles (Canada) ► Highest World Junior Ranking - No.53 ► Highest Pan Am Junior Ranking - No.3 ► Guyana Current National Ranking - No.1 ► Highest Canada BC Ranking - No.3

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Golden Jaguars players return from MLS Combined in Barbados THE national players who participated in the Major League Soccer (MLS) Caribbean Combine returned to Guyana after showcasing their skills to scouts from the North American topflight professional league in Bridgetown, Barbados, from October 22 to 25.

Ryan Hackett, Kevin Dundas and Kevin Layne all echoed one common feedback; the experience was one which aided their development even as off-field sessions on interacting with the media and budgeting were conducted as part of the programme.

Hackett, who scored a goal in one of the matches, was very happy, adding, “I feel great scoring a very good goal and assisting in another. After this experience, I wish to be a professional because it’s sounds very exciting and there are a lot of opportunities available.

Upon arrival, the first session was a passing drill then we went into an 11v11 followed by a workshop addressing media interaction

and budgeting. It was a great experience competing against some very talented youngsters from across the Caribbean.

Everyone did well. I feel it was outstanding for me.”

For Dundas, the collective experience was important, since they all “really grasped a lot from the short time we were there. I believe the three of us did really well and represented

our country as we went head to head against other countries and, I believe, we really stood out. In the first 11v11 match, you could have seen we had the respect from the other

National players debrief GFF president Wayne Forde, following their return from the MLS Caribbean Combine

players.”

Echoing the sentiments expressed by his colleagues, Layne said, “From the first day, the environment was set to give that feeling that you’re in a professional space – from gear to schedules to the way injuries are treated. They made us feel comfortable being aspiring professional footballers.

“I will always remember the two workshops we had done, as both areas are important. Dealing with the media seems easy but it is a skill that players need and, of course, budgeting is an area, which needs attention. If you don’t budget, many things can go wrong such as falling into bankruptcy.”

Relative to the next steps, GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood said the MLS will contact the respective federations and provide a player report, which will serve to inform of the overall performance during the event.

The Guyanese were among players from 15 countries who competed for a chance to play

in the MLS including St Kitts & Nevis, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominica, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda, St Lucia, Montserrat, Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Suriname, St Martin, St Maarten.

According to the MLS, should a player be selected, the player’s club will receive an Adidas Allotment, as well as a US$50 000 transfer fee if the player’s MLS option for 2020 is exercised As it relates to performance fees, a player will add US$25 000 to the player’s former club once the player starts in 15 official MLS matches, US$50 000 to the player’s former club once the player starts in 30 official MLS matches and US$100 000 to the player’s former club once the player starts in 60 official MLS matches.

Future sell-on: The player’s former club shall receive 20% sell-on on any transfer fee received by MLS within the 1st 4 years of the player’s employment with MLS.

Kohli taking nothing for granted Bolt unlikely to sign deal with Mariners as records keep tumbling (REUTERS) - Indian captain Virat Kohli has set a new benchmark for consistency but the 29-yearold says he feels no sense of entitlement even after a decade of international

by an astounding 54 innings.

With over 1 000 ODI runs in 2018, Kohli walks out to the crease with an aura of near-invincibility but he said the secret still lies in working hard for

Indian captain Virat Kohli

cricket.

Kohli became the fastest batsman to reach 10 000 one-day international runs in his 205th innings against West Indies on Wednesday, eclipsing compatriot Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record

every run and never taking things for granted.

“Even after playing for 10 years, I don’t feel like I’m entitled for anything here,” Kohli told BCCI.TV. “You still have to work hard for every run you score

at the international level while playing for your country because there are many people who want this very badly.

“So when you’re in that position yourself, you should have that same hunger and passion. You should never take things for granted; never take it easy at any stage.”

Kohli went on to smash an unbeaten 157 in Visakhapatnam for his 37th century, 12 short of the all-time record held by Tendulkar.

Despite such glowing individual numbers, Kohli insisted his greatest source of joy remains in contributing for the team.

“I’ve just focused on the situation, and I’m glad that I’ve been able to help the team by contributing with the bat,” he added.

“My duty is to score runs and having done that for a long period now, everything has collected together for this moment.

But the intention always is to look for what the team needs and just score as many runs as possible.”

SYDNEY, Australia (CMC) – Eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt is unlikely to sign a contract with Australian A-League outfit, the Central Coast Mariners.

According to reports, while Bolt’s agent Ricky Simms has requested a salary in the region of $3 million, an offer made to Bolt earlier this week was only in the region of $150 000.

Bolt has since been excluded from team practice

with the Mariners.

“To ensure that there is no distraction to the Hyundai A-League squad in preparing for this weekend’s match vs Melbourne City, Usain Bolt will not attend team training this week, until and if, the club and Usain Bolt can agree to terms and formalise an arrangement,” the Mariners said in a statement Tuesday.

The statement confirmed that a third-party commercial partner would be required for

Eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt

both parties to agree to terms, as FFA (Football Federation Australia) stand firm in their refusal to dip into the marquee fund.

However, according to sources, Mariners owner Mike Charlesworth is keen on seeing a deal struck between the two parties.

The British entrepreneur flew to Australia last month to watch Bolt’s 20-minute debut on the Central Coast, and despite an underwhelming first outing from the Jamaican superstar, Charlesworth seemed more than convinced by the hype in the stands.

“I don’t know if anyone could tell me a Central Coast player who has ever sold almost 10 000 tickets before,” Charlesworth told the Daily Telegraph at the time.

“I mean, what effect has Keisuke Honda made on ticket sales with Melbourne Victory. So while this is a risk, it’s a calculated risk” The news comes one week after the 32-year-old Bolt turned down Valletta FC’s two-year offer after deciding against a move to Malta.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Hetmyer staying focused despite IPL rumblings … tipped to be next million-dollar signing PUNE, India (CMC) – Lefthander Shimron Hetmyer has already been tipped by India spin legend Harbhajan Singh to be the next million-dollar buy in the Indian Premier League (IPL) but the batting star says even though playing in the IPL was in his future plans, representing West Indies was his only focus at the moment.

The 21-year-old smashed a 78-ball 106 in the opening One-Day International in Guwahati last Sunday, prompting Harbhajan to label him the “next million-dollar baby in the IPL” on Twitter.

“It’s a good feeling to know that one of the great spinners from India has rated me that high,” Hetmyer said.

It is a dream of mine but right now I am taking one step at a time, so I would see what awaits. But right now, I am focused on representing West Indies.”

He added: “I think everyone aspires to play in the IPL but first you want to represent West Indies. That is possibly the biggest thing you could possibly do as a cricketer and then you would take it from there.”

Shimron Hetmyer has carved out scores of 103 and 94 in the first two ODIs.

Hetmyer endeared himself to the Indian fans with his scintillating strokeplay, lashing half-dozen fours and sixes to mark his third career ODI hundred and third this year alone.

He followed up in the second ODI in Visakhapatnam with a high quality 94 off just 64 balls with four fours and seven huge sixes, once again

reiterating his form in the shorter format.

Hetmyer struggled in the preceding two-Test series with 50 runs from four innings and said he had put that experience behind him.

“I had a bad Test series. It was not one of the best ways to start a series in India but from there on I tried to forget about that as much as possible and

the senior guys helped,” he explained.

“They said, ‘don’t worry’ and ‘look forward to the next game’.”

Hetmyer has played just 14 ODIs after making his debut last December on the tour of New Zealand but amazingly has been selected for just two Twenty20 Internationals.

GFF participates in FIFA’s Connect Workshop TWO staff members of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) participated in the October 25-26 FIFA Connect workshop which was held in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Competitions Director Ian Alves, and Coaching Education Officer Lyndon France represented the GFF at the seminar, which sought “to explain the FIFA Connect programme to the invited FIFA Member Associations and allow them to participate in the testing and training on the FIFA Connect Platform registration system.”

Lyndon France

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday October 27, 2018)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) (1) (2)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: Courtney Walsh-44 wickets Kapil Dev-43 wickets

Today’s Quiz: (1) Which WI has contested most ODIs against India to date?

(2) Which Indian has played most ODIs against the WI to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

The FIFA Connect Programme is a virtual database, which helps every Member Association to register all their stakeholders in a systematic way including players, coaches and referees wherever they are in the world. It provides each registrant a unique identification code to enable easy management while aiding issues relative to receiving compensation for international transfers and ensuring protection of minors.

Among the areas to be discussed at the seminar are: FIFA Connect programme concept and principles, training and testing sessions on the FIFA Connect Platform, presentation of the support and user guides, and handover of the access to the system.

According to a FIFA correspondence, at the end of the workshop each participating member association will receive “dedicated access to its registration system enabling registration of clubs, players,

Ian Alves

coaches, referees and officials.”

The programme, being facilitated by FIFA Connect Support and Implementation Officers, Mitchell Woods and Edison Gomez, is featuring participants from Aruba, Barbados, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Turks and Caicos and Trinidad and Tobago.

FIFA approves prize money increase for 2019 Women’s World Cup

KIGALI (Reuters) - FIFA will increase the prize money for the Women’s World Cup from $15M to $30M starting with next year’s edition in France, president Gianni Infantino announced yesterday, though critics immediately said the increase was not enough.

Following a FIFA council meeting in Rwanda, the Swiss-Italian also said that $20 million would be made available for pre-tournament preparations, meaning that $50 million in total would be allocated across the 24 participating nations.

The prize money is double the amount awarded in the 2015 World Cup in Canada and for the first time clubs will be rewarded for their players taking part in the tournament, as is the case in the men’s edition.

“It’s a very important message for women’s football. It will certainly boost this World Cup even more,” Infantino told a news conference.

However, global footballers’ union FIFpro said the changes were not enough to redress the inequality between men’s and women’s football worldwide.

“FIFPro notes the willingness of FIFA to increase prize money for the Women’s World Cup and make structural improvements to support women’s football. However, despite these changes, football remains even further from the goal of equality for all World Cup players regardless of gender,” a FIFpro statement said.

“In reality, the changes actually signify an increase in the gap between men’s and women’s prize money. This regressive trend appears to contravene FIFA’s statutory commitment to gender equality.

“We strongly support our members, women’s national-team players in multiple countries, who have written to FIFA in recent days expressing their dismay about the distribution of prize money.”

Players’ unions in Australia, Norway, Sweden and New Zealand had written to world soccer’s governing body to protest that even with women’s prize money being doubled, the rewards in the men’s game still dwarf the new amounts.

The total prize money for this year’s men’s World Cup in Russia was $400M, with champions France receiving $38M. The letter from Australia’s PFA argued: “For the group stage alone, Socceroos players have shared $2.4M for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, while the Matildas will share only $0.225M, less than 10 percent.

“If the Matildas are to become World Champions, they will receive only 50 percent of what the Socceroos received for qualifying for Russia.”

U.S. women, the world’s most successful squad and winners of three of the seven Women’s World Cups, also called for an increase in prize money.

“The USWNT Players Association is thankful for the women and men who tirelessly work on a daily basis to advance women’s football within institutions like FIFA and U.S. Soccer, as well as within fellow unions like FIFPro and its members,” it said in a statement.

“The common objective of all these institutions - both management and labour - is ultimately to grow the game.

Substantial investment is required to overcome generations of inequality and discrimination in the women’s game, to make football the world’s preeminent sport for women and girls.

“We are committed to having continuous dialogue around how FIFA and U.S. Soccer can fulfil their respective statutory obligations of gender equality, including the prize money for the 2019 World Cup, which is an area we feel immediate and impactful investment can be made.”

Infantino said that FIFA was committed to consistently increasing investment and cited the launch of a new strategy for women’s football earlier this month which included plans to strengthen the game in all 211 member associations.

“Clearly... we want to invest more and earmark more for women’s football and not only for the best 24 teams in the world who play the World Cup, for which we have increased significantly the allocations and prize moneys, but we have a duty to do so all over the world,” he said.

“Also in these regulations there are specific requirements for all associations in the world that in order to receive the necessary grants they have to organise women’s competitions, otherwise they don’t receive these grants.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 27, 2018

Guyana Softball Cup 8 bowls off in grand style … Mixed fortunes for defending champions

Ariel Speedboat team members congratulate the Cotton Field Wild Oats players after their convincing 49-run win. (Adrine Narine photos)

By Rajiv Bisnauth SOFTBALL cricket has now become one of the most-attended sports locally, and yesterday’s start of the three-day Guyana Softball Cup 8 was no different.

Twenty-four local and overseas teams began battling for supremacy at various venues in Georgetown and on the East Coast, Demerara.

Organised by Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA), the annual tournament for the first time attracted an Over-50 category.

While it was somewhat difficult to report on all 24 games, Chronicle Sport focused more on the games played by the two defending champions, Ariel Speedboat X1 and Floodlights Masters.

Both teams played two games each, winning a game

apiece, which means the categories are wide open heading into today’s second day’s play.

Ariel Speedboat began their title defence with an easy 49-run win over Cotton Field Wild Oats at Ogle. The defending champions posed a challenging total of 2063. Openers Anand Bharat and Shazim Hussain laid the perfect foundation with an opening stand of 76 before Lennox Marks hit six sixes in an unbeaten 40 at the back end of the innings.

Bharat struck four fours and two sixes in his knock of 49 while Hussein hit two fours and four maximums in his innings of 48.

In the run chase, Speedboat bowlers produced a well-disciplined effort, and maintained a steady line to restrict their opponents to 157 all out in 19.2 overs.

Wazeer Husain, B. Man-

gar, K. Smith and G. Singh claimed two wickets apiece.

Ganesh Mangal top-scored with 31. Latchman Rohit (22) was the next best scorer.

However, in their second encounter against SVC Spartans, Speedboat suffered a shock defeat, losing by eight runs. The victory was the second for the SVC Spartans, after whipping the Ontario Softball Cricket League by 10 wickets in their first encounter.

Batting first, the Canadian team made 58 in 9.3 overs. Chandrakashar Arjune claimed 6-17 while Roy Jaferally took 2-0.

In reply, the Spartans reached 59-0 in 4.5 overs with Yutesh Danpaul and Delbert Hicks remaining unbeaten on 29 and 16 respectively.

H o w e v e r, t h e g a m e against defending champions

Ariel Speedboat, Spartans won the toss and bowled first.

They restricted their opponents for 115 in 19.3 overs. K. Fraser made 19 while Hicks contributed 16. K. Smith claimed 4-16. Hussein 2-11 and I. Ivan 2-18.

A target seemed a walkover for the defending champions but the Spartans bowlers had other ideas. They bowled within the required line and length, and in the process restricted last weekend’s Prime Minister’s Cup double champions to 107 in 19.4 overs.

Mangar made 21 while Bharat contributed 18. A. Narine took 3-16 and David Williams 2-9.

Meanwhile, Floodlights Masters suffered as well.

They lost to Albion Masters by 13 runs, before they convincingly beat Narine Masters by nine wickets.

Winning the toss and de-

ciding to bat first, Albion Masters piled up 169-8 in their allotted 20 overs. Imran Hossain top-scored with 29 while Jadesh Bhoj (26), Veerapen Moonsammy (19), Khemraj Sumair (15) and Ramiligum Mangali (10) were the other principal scorers.

Ramo Malone, D. Karran and G. Canterbury were the best bowlers for the defending champions with two wickets apiece.

Floodlights then made heavy weather of the run chase to reach 156-8 off 20 overs. Yunis Yusuf made 35.

I. Harilall (2-23) was the best bowler, but it was a complete bowling effort from the eventual winners.

Scores in the match against Narine Masters and Floodlights: (Narine Masters 121 all out in 16 overs, Floodlights Masters 123-1 in 9 overs).

Chandrakashar Arjune claimed 6-17.

Meanwhile, last weekend Prime Minister’s Cup Masters champions, Regal Masters was on a roll, winning both their games against Tropical Springs and New York Hustlers.

For today’s fixture, four games will be played in the Open category while five games are billed for the Over45 and three in the Over-50 categories. Those games will be played during the morning session with the semifinals for all three categories scheduled for afternoon.

Tomorrow’s action will start at 10:00hrs with the finals of the Over-45 and Over50 and conclude with the Open final under floodlights at DCC, Queenstown.

To add to tomorrow’s action, Trophy Stall Angels, 4R Lioness, Mike’s Wellwoman and Karibee Girls will battle in the Female category.

Batsmen have forced India to bring back best bowlers, says Law PUNE, India (CMC) – West Indies head coach Stuart Law has praised his side’s batting performance in the One Day International (ODI) series against India, saying that the home side had been forced to bring back their best two bowlers in Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the third ODI which begins here today.

Law, who is returning from a two-match ban following a breach of the ICC Code of Conduct, said it was a good sign that the Windies’ batsmen had been able to “manufacture” changes in the Indian bowling lineup, following

two successive scores of over 320 by the visitors.

“Yeah I would like to think so (on their comeback). That’s probably the reason why they’ve called back their two most experienced One-Day bowlers.

To our credit, we haven’t shied away from it,” Law said on the eve of the third ODI. “So yeah, hopefully we are getting the Indians to ask questions to themselves. They are giving us plenty of questions to ask ourselves but at this stage, we are coming up with pretty good answers.”

The outgoing head coach also

Windies head coach Stuart Law has praised the performances of Shai Hope (left) and Shimron Hetmyer.

heaped praise on young batsmen Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope, who he said had been bright sparks in a relatively inexperienced West Indies unit.

“Hetmyer has been outstanding. (Shai) Hope got a hundred in the second game, all in all for an inexperienced side that we have, they can hold their heads very high,” said Law. However, Law admitted that formulating a plan to limit Indian captain Virat Kohli, who has scored two consecutive centuries in the first two ODIs, was proving to be a headache.

He said it was important for the Windies to take any chance which he offered.

“How do you get Virat out?

He gave us chance at 40. He is a wonderful player. I just love the way he goes about compiling an innings. Looks like he is working very hard but he’s doing it very easily. So we do have plans for him.

“At the moment, he is coming up with a lot of good answers, so we have to just keep asking questions about his technique and his abilities. In the end, he is only human. But when we get an opportunity, we have got to grab hold of it,” Law maintained.

COURTS Pee Wee football quarterfinal action on today

Marian Academy and Golden Grove during last weekend’s COURTS Pee Wee Football action. (Delano Williams photo)

TENSIONS are high as the business end of the COURTS Pee Wee football tournament resumes with quarter-final action today.

In the first of the games, St Agnes and Tucville will battle on pitch one from 14:30hrs while Golden

Grove and St Pius meet on pitch two.

West Ruimveldt and St Ambrose clash in the third quarter-final from 15:30hrs on pitch one with North Georgetown and Mocha competing on pitch two.

In the 8-16-place playoff, Colaaco will play

Mae’s from 12:30hrs on pitch one with Marian Academy and Soesdyke facing on pitch two.

Plaisance Orphanage and South Ruimveldt will play in that seeding match as well, along with Enterprise and Timehri at 13:30hrs.

Akeem Jordan’s 5-18 destroys Red Force for 92

Man-of-the-Match Akeem Jordan leaps into the air to celebrate taking a wicket during the second semi-final match of the Super50 competition. Jordan finished with the impressive figures of 10-4-18-5.

(CWI photo)

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...sends

Marooners to Super 50 final

GFF-Always National Women’s Development League starts today at Tucville …Gaico Construction also on board

THE GFF-Always National Women’s Development League (WDL) will kick off today in Georgetown as women across the country get ready for consistent and competitive football.

The matches, scheduled for the Tucville ground, will see Fruta Conquerors ‘B’ team face off against Foxy Ladies at 14:00hrs while Buxton Youth Developers will play Fruta Conquerors ‘A’ team at 16:00hrs. GFF president Wayne Forde will be present at the Tucville ground to open the proceedings.

Meanwhile, Gaico Construction on October 23, made a sponsorship commitment to the WDL to facilitate the smooth execution of the tournament. Following the presentation of the cheque, Managing Director Komal Singh said Gaico was pleased to partner with the GFF on this initiative.

“Gaico Construction is pleased to be a part of this initiative to help promote women’s empowerment locally so our womenfolk can become more confident, move forward and begin embracing more leadership roles in our society,” Singh added.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the GFF were female national player Lakeisha Pearson and Third vice-president of the GFF, Thandi McAllister.

The GFF-Always National Women’s Development League seeks to, among others, significantly increase the player population across Guyana, act as a base of the Talent ID recruitment pathway and produce players for the GFF national teams. It will be played in 11 regions including Upper Demerara, Essequibo, Mahdia, Berbice, Bartica and Moruca.

Matches in the other regions are scheduled to begin on November 3.

Gaico’s Managing Director Komal Singh presents sponsorship cheque to national player Lakeisha Pearson in the presence of GFF’s Third vice-president Thandi McAllister.

Congratulations: ‘Tiger’

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo yesterday joined Guyanese across the world in extending heartiest congratulations to one of our most outstanding batsmen, legendary Guyanese cricketer and former captain of the Guyana and West Indies cricket team, Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Chanderpaul was on Thursday bestowed with the Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of the West Indies for his achievements in cricket.

The 43-year-old, for more than 21 years, mesmerised cricketing fans across the world with his batting prowess.

Currently, he is one of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Am-

bassadors for the ICC Women’s World T20 tournament – to be played in the West Indies from November 9 to 24.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo and Chanderpaul have enjoyed a long personal friendship, since his days playing with Mahendra and Vishal Nagamootoo for Guyana.

‘Tiger’, as he is known to many, has presented two of his most prized run-scoring bats to the Prime Minister over the years.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo has expressed his elation that ‘Tiger’ has been honoured as a Caribbean hero and icon.

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Former West Indies middle order batsman on Thursday received the Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018