Guyana chronicle e paper 10 28 2017

Artistes promise an ‘unforgettable’ performance Page 8

–– as National Park comes alive with ‘Night of Stars’ concert

No. 105079

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2017

Price: $80 (VAT Inclusive)

US envoy says ...

Court best option to resolve GECOM matter –– urges dignity, respect in moving Guyana forward

See gov’t as a friend, not the enemy –– PM urges private sector at opening of ‘Guyanese Flavours Uncapped’

Centre

Page

Page 3

President to meet with GTU

Page 9

–– in light of industrial action threat

Bogus businessman jailed for fraud Page 13

––has three similar matters pending

Nothing significant about Ram’s resignation Page 9

Prime Minister, Mr Moses Nagamootoo and spouse, Mrs Sita Nagamootoo examining some of the locally made products on exhibition at the launch of ‘Guyanese Flavours Uncapped’ (Photo by Adrian Narine)

––Harmon says

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

Court best option to resolve GECOM matter –– says U.S., urges dignity, respect in moving Guyana forward

By Ariana Gordon

UNITED States Ambassador (U.S.) to Guyana Perry Holloway on Friday opined that the court is the best option to resolve the ongoing dispute on the selection of the chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by President David Granger.

In a statement to the media, the U.S. envoy said his embassy has been following closely the recent developments surrounding the appointment of Justice James Patterson as GECOM Chair by President Granger last week.

“I recognise, however, that there has been serious disagreement over the recent appointment of the GECOM chairman. While we urge everyone to engage in democratic dialogue to discuss differences of opinion, we stress that the courts is [sic] the ultimate and best option for any legal disagreement in a functioning democracy,” said Ambassador Holloway.

The ambassador said too that the matter “is too important for all for it to languish in the legal system, so a quick resolution to any court challenge is necessary.”

In this vein, he called for all stakeholders to “act with dignity and respect” in moving Guyana’s democratic development forward.

“I recognise that as in any democracy, the constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is the supreme law. I am confident that everyone, in spite of personal or political differences, wants to uphold this foundational document and to act within it, and I encourage everyone to do so,” said

Ambassador Holloway.

Last week, President Granger appointed Justice Patterson, an 84-year-old retired High Court Judge Chairman of the Elections Commission. His appointment was made after meeting with Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo. It was during that meeting that Jagdeo was informed that the third list of nominees he had submitted was also rejected by the President.

President Granger has maintained the person appointed to the post must be “fit and proper” in accordance with Article 161 of the Constitution of Guyana.

He said too that in light of the failure of Jagdeo to present him with a list that is not unacceptable, he decided that it would be in the public interest to resort to the proviso in the Constitution under Article 161: 2, which permits him to act independently and appoint a person of the judicial category to be chairman of the elections body.

“That is the person who is presumptively fit and proper,” he stated last week.

The President said he could not discuss his reasons for rejecting the third list of nominees which included Major- General Joseph Singh, Attorneys, Teni Housty, and Sanjeev Datadin; former Magistrate Mr. Krishnadatt Persaud; Pastor Onesi La Fleur and Annette Arjoon-Martins, but stated that the list was unacceptable.

CHALLENGE However, the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has indicated that it has filed a “constitutional challenge” to the

President’s appointment.

The party through its leader has declared that the presidential appointment of Justice Patterson is unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null and void and of no effect.

The challenge also declares that Justice Patterson is unqualified to be appointed chairman of GECOM in accordance with Article 161 (2) of the constitution.

“We are seeking an order rescinding, revoking or quashing the appointment of Patterson as chairman,” said PPP member, Anil Nandlall.

“We are seeking an order removing him from office, and we are seeking an order directing the President to choose a person from the 18 names submitted to him by the opposition leader, or for the court to make any appropriate order as the court sees fit,” he told media operatives gathered in the corridor of the High Court moments after filing the challenge.

The application was filed

by PPP Executive-Secretary, Zulficar Mustapha. The opposition through its leader has also indicated that it will withdraw all forms of participation with government.

Something the President said will not be in the best interest of the country.

Jagdeo has said too that his party would move to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), if needs be, to reverse the appointment, which he believes to be a breach of the constitution of Guyana.

The President’s appointment of Justice Patterson has also resulted in the resignation of Major- General (ret’d) Joseph Singh as an advisor to the President and Chartered Account and Attorney, Christopher Ram from all government posts.

‘Old’ vehicle ban takes effect in January THE Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) said the restriction of vehicles, eight years and older, will take effect from January 1, 2018.

According to the GRA, the importation of cars, vans, buses, pickups and SUVs manufactured eight years and older are restricted.

The revenue body said as defined in Part II of the Second Schedule of the Cus-

toms Act Chapter 82:01 and the amended Section (209) (a) of the Regulations, “eight years old” means the period of ninety-six months or eight calendar years immediately preceding December 31 in the calendar year of importation.”

As such, the GRA noted that vehicles manufactured before or during 2009 will not be eligible for entry into the country.

But notwithstanding the political pressures, the APNU+AFC administration stands firmly by the President’s decision.

“I cannot agree with him, I acted constitutionally and I think he must accept that decision, I have not broken the constitution in any way,” the President said. Similarly, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, defended President Granger’s action, noting that he “has the constitutional right to do what he did, and if the opposition wants to go to court, we have the Attorney General’s chambers that will deal with that.”

President Granger relied on Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of Guyana which states: “…the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo of the Commonwealth, or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to

be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person…”

WITHIN RIGHT Businessman Marcel Gaskin had approached the High Court for an interpretation of the article, which resulted in acting

President David Granger

U.S. Ambassador Perry Holloway Chief Justice, Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire, confirming that the President was within his right to do so; that acting on his own deliberate judgment, it is he who must determine whether a person is ‘fit and proper.’

Justice George-Wiltshire, in her ruling, had advised that there was no legal requirement for the President to state reasons for rejecting a list.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) is in full support of President David Granger’s decision to appoint Justice James Patterson Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

President Granger appointed Justice Patterson

as Chairman of GECOM late Thursday night hours after informing Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo that his third list of nominees for the post was unacceptable.

Meanwhile, the AFC has supported President Granger’s position while expressing regret that after three rounds of consultations and submissions, the three lists fell short of the constitutional requirements.

“The party recognises that the necessity had arisen for the President not to further delay the appointment of a chairman,” the AFC said in a statement, noting that it had no role to play in the selection process.

The party chided the opposition leader for what it terms as “the reckless and unpatriotic stance of non-cooperation and civil disobedience,” while noting that he will be held personally accountable for the consequences of any civil unrest which may ensue.

Cuban man jailed for cocaine trafficking CITY Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday sentenced a 44-year-old Cuban man to three years’ jail after he admitted to trafficking cocaine.

Yasiel Vizcaino admitted that on October 24 at Regent Street, Georgetown he had 0.5 grams of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

According to facts read in court by Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh, on the day

in question police on bike patrol saw the defendant with a bible in his hands walking along Regent Street and acting in a suspicious manner, and decided to stop and search him.

And while the ranks found noting on the defendant’s person, a search of a transparent Ziplock bag he was carrying unearthed what turned out to be cocaine.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

Spanish PM dissolves Catalan Parliament Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is dissolving the Catalan parliament and calling snap local elections after MPs there voted to declare independence.

Rajoy said the unprecedented imposition of direct rule on Catalonia was essential to “recover normality”.

He is also firing Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his Cabinet.

The crisis began when Catalan leaders held an independence referendum, defying a ruling by the Constitutional Court which had declared it illegal.

The Catalan government said that of the 43 per cent of potential voters who took part, 90 per cent were in favour of independence. Others boycotted the vote after the court ruling.

On Friday the Spanish Senate granted Rajoy’s government the power to impose direct rule on Catalonia, and after an emergency Cabinet meeting Rajoy spelled out what that would entail.

“The president [Carles Puigdemont] had the opportunity to return to legality and to call elections,” he said.

“It is what the majority of

As the outcome of the vote became clear, people popped open cava, the local sparkling wine.

The same crowds that cheered each Yes vote from Catalan MPs were reportedly booing Rajoy as he made his announcement.

There have been pro-unity demonstrations too, with protesters in Barcelona waving Spanish flags and denouncing Catalan independence.

After the 1 October referendum, Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence but delayed implementation to allow talks with the Spanish government.

He ignored warnings by the Madrid government to cancel

The Spanish flag was swiftly removed from Girona City Hall

the Catalonian people asked for - but he didn’t want to do it.

So the government of Spain is taking the necessary measures to return to legality.”

Regional elections are scheduled for 21 December.

Rajoy also announced the sacking of the Catalan police chief.

A motion declaring independence was approved on Friday with 70 in favour, 10

against, and two abstentions in the 135-seat chamber. Several opposition MPs boycotted the vote.

Puigdemont has urged supporters to “maintain the momentum” in a peaceful manner.

Separatists say the move means they no longer fall under Spanish jurisdiction.

But the Spanish Constitutional Court is likely to declare

it illegal, while the EU, the US, the UK, Germany and France all expressed support for Spanish unity.

Meanwhile, Spanish prosecutors say they will file charges of “rebellion” against Puigdemont next week.

Thousands celebrated the declaration of independence on the streets of Barcelona, Catalonia’s regional capital.

Saturday ,October 28th, 2017 - 08:00 hrs Sunday,October 29th, 2017 - 12:30 hrs Monday, October 30th, 2017 -13:00hrs

the move, prompting Rajoy to first announce his plans to remove Catalan leaders and impose direct rule.

Catalonia is one of Spain’s richest, most distinctive regions with a high degree of autonomy.

But many Catalans feel they pay more to Madrid than they get back, and there are historical grievances, too, in particular Catalonia’s treatment under the dictatorship of General Franco.

Catalans are divided on the question of independence - an opinion poll earlier this year said 41 per cent were in favour and 49 per cent were opposed to independence.

(BBC)

Man jailed for infecting 30 women with HIV

An Italian accountant has been jailed for 24 years after intentionally infecting 30 women with HIV. Valentino Talluto is said to have had unprotected sex with at least 53 women after his HIV diagnosis in 2006, the youngest of whom was 14 at the relationship’s start.

The accountant, using the pseudonym “Hearty Style”, went on social networks and dating sites to find his victims.

On Friday, judges sentenced the 33-year-old to 24 years in prison.

Talluto’s defence lawyers had argued their client’s actions were “imprudent, but not intentional”.

However, those who asked him to wear a condom were told he was either allergic, or had recently been tested for HIV, news agency AFP reported.

When some of the women confronted him after discovering they were infected, he denied he was a carrier of the potentially deadly virus, which can lead to Aids.

As a result of his actions,

another four people contracted the virus on top of the women he directly infected: three men and one baby.

Prosecutor Elena Neri told the court last month: “His actions were intended to sow death.”

However, Talluto - whose mother was an HIV-infected drug addict who died when he was four told the court if that had been the case, he would not have gone to the effort of having actual relationships.

“Many of the girls know my friends and family,” he said. “They say that I wanted to infect as many people as possible. If that had been the case, I would have gone for casual sex in bars, I would not have brought them into my life.”

Judges in Rome deliberated over the sentence for more than 10 hours before announcing the verdict.

According to local media, victims wept as the sentence was read out.

However, it fell short of the life term prosecutors had asked for. (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

Clashes mar Macron’s French Guiana visit Clashes erupted between protesters and police in French Guiana on Thursday night during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Petrol bombs were thrown and police responded with tear gas in the French overseas territory’s main city Cayenne, amid anger over social deprivation.

The territory in South America has 23 per cent unemployment - more than double the rate of mainland France.

A huge strike and road blockade gripped French

Guiana earlier this year.

On Thursday police arrested five protesters during clashes after a demand for an immediate meeting with Macron had been rejected.

In March protesters occupied the space centre at Kourou, used by France and the European Space Agency for launching satellites.

Protesters complained that money was being poured into prestige space projects while the welfare of ordinary people in French Guiana was neglected.

The protest movement has the slogan Pou Lagwi-

Police used tear gas to disperse the angry crowd on Thursday night

yann Dekole, which is Creole for “Let Guiana take off”.

Macron, accompanied by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, is set to visit Kourou on Friday.

He has pledged to commit €1.08bn (£0.96bn; $1.26bn) in emergency funding to French Guiana under a deal reached by the previous Socialist government.

There is discontent among the territory’s 254,000 residents over an influx of illegal immigrants and neglect in the healthcare and school systems.

(BBC)

Madonna faces social media backlash over Rio police photo Madonna has caused a social media controversy in Brazil by posting a photo of herself dressed in army camouflage fatigues with military police in Rio de Janeiro.

The photograph was shared on Wednesday, two days after Rio military police shot dead a Spanish tourist leaving the Rocinha favela on Monday.

Rocinha has been the site of frequent shoot-outs in recent weeks between rival drug gangs.

Madonna was spending a few days in Rio after attending her manager’s wedding, which she also Tweeted about.

Madonna’s Instagram post of the photo attracted comments from many in Brazil who were unhappy.

Among the replies, one said Madonna needed to “explain”

Madonna posted the photo on social media before it was reposted by the official Rio military police Twitter

the picture, another called the picture “inappropriate,” and a third said the photo showed “disrespect” to Brazilians.

Soon after the image was uploaded to social media, it was posted by the official military police account of Rio de Janeiro: In response, one person asked if the photo meant Madonna was receiving a “police escort” in the favela, while another wondered if a Brazilian celebrity visiting the United States would have been “protected” by the police.

Marco Gomes, a Brazilian technologist, simply tweeted “Madonna does not have a clue”.

Meanwhile, @brunoomasc asked why there was interest

at all as Madonna “decided by herself to go” to the favela.

The response was not all negative. Marimelo029 commented on the Instagram post they “loved” the photo, and ios_samara called for people to “thank” Madonna for visiting the beleaguered favela, drawing parallels with the pop star’s charity work.

Madonna has a history of supporting good causes, particularly in Malawi, from where she has adopted four children.

This includes opening a centre to feed and educate 32,000 orphans, followed by her Raising Malawi charity opening a children’s hospital in July this year, named for her daughter, Mercy James.

(BBC)

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Editorial

Dangerous pattern beginning to emerge A CRIMINAL state, in very simple language, is one that is defined by the presence of organised crime of almost every type. That it is cultural, is because its existence is usually facilitated by the executive, from which high citadel it usually commences, spreading its tentacles like a deadly virus deep into the bowels of the State.

That it is pervasive in nature, is because for its daily venalities to thrive, it needs other sectors to legitimise its existence, such as the banking sector, and even the judiciary.

Virtually every sector becomes compromised by this high criminality that undoubtedly distorts the State’s existence, undermining its credibility in the process.

The current investigation into the reported billion-dollar fuel racket at the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), is yet another example of what is undeniably another instance in the infinite list of the kleptocracy that has been established in the over 150 instances of state audits ordered by the coalition government, the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change(APNU+AFC), since its assumption of office.

What a country! What a rotten state of affairs! And what a filthy cabal that should inform the public as to how deeply entrenched corruption of every form has been in this country.

For those usual voices that will utter the nonsensical cry of witch-hunting, it is a very profound indictment, yet again, of the type of State that they had governed for almost two and one half decades. How can they in all good conscience defend such a deplorable record of wholesale plundering of the state’s resources?

It should be clear to the former executive, that they as a collective stand guilty before the nation; and no amount of dangerous propaganda, such as “bottom house meetings “with its racist content will excuse them and their cronies from the judgment that must surely come.

Is this the example that our younger- tier public servants should have as a guide to being entrusted with the care and management of state assets? As already seen, there are a number of such a category that are being investigated, and some charged. However, there are others who must be shocked by what they would have seen and know, of such plundering.

These betrayers of the public trust -- for such is what they are -- are convenient squealers about democracy. They must understand, that democracy is very wide in its meaning and understanding of the rights of the citizenry and those entrusted with administration of the State.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

Surely, democracy does not entail kleptocratic practices and brazen objections to the right of authorities to investigate and prosecute. And this is regardless of the fact of who these persons are, and their political backers.

But there is a developing pattern that is beginning to emerge – another refusal by a state agency to cooperate with the financial crimes unit – the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). This clearly shows the high disregard for our laws, as exemplified by the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) in the first instance. No agency-- state or private -- has the right to advise or compel the State’s investigating arm how to conduct their enquiries. This is bombast and at all times ought to be answered with the firmness that our laws provide.

Therefore, it was heartening to observe SOCU’s response, in the same manner that had been applied to Anil Nandlall and friends.

The law must take its course. It must act with the firmness and resolve necessary, for these are not ordinary misdemeanours. These are crimes committed against the State, and people, of Guyana; of the type that has deformed our systems of management, degraded our morality, while besmirching the Public Service’s image. It has allowed, as well, for the enrichment of so many. Why must such persons be allowed to continue to enjoy the benefits of their theft?

The only answer should be the kind of punishment that fits high crimes of state. The latter course must serve as a deterrent to others with dishonest intentions.

Give the young girls a chance ‘to grow’ IS teenage pregnancy a part of the culture of the hinterland regions?

In this case culture refers to the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs of a particular group of people at a particular time.

I was appalled to learn that Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine are the regions which are most affected by the high incidence of teenage pregnancy. The rate of teenage pregnancy recorded in these four re-

gions of the country has been found to be higher than the national rate, according to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud.

It is evident that teenage pregnancy is widely accepted and facilitated within these regions.

According to the State of the World Population 2013 report, Guyana has the second highest rate of adolescent pregnancy in both the Caribbean and South America; with 97 out of every 1, 000 girls be-

tween the ages of 15 and 19 giving birth. Notably, in the report, four out of every one hundred 15-year-olds are preg nant. Also, 16 out of every 100 under-19s have already given birth.

Through my youth advocacy, I recently visited the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and met a promising young lady with great aspirations and confidence. The first question she asked was: “Will you send me back to school?”

Regrettably, I could not

give her a direct answer, but reassured her that with the help of the social worker she would be enrolled in a secondary school at the earliest possible time.

She related her circumstances which led to her pregnancy. The father of her child is a 26-year-old miner who gives her a “small piece” occasionally and aided her parents whenever they were in need. In dismay, I learnt then that this was normally acceptable in her region.

I am therefore calling on the Ministry of Public Health, Social Protection, Education and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs to implement strategies to combat this growing phenomenon within the indigenous communities and give the young girls a “chance to grow.” I was told: “Once the price is right, they’ll do anything” Such atrocity on both sides -- the parents and perpetrators Admittedly, most of the girls are in need

of financial help and will find various means to satisfy those needs.

However, this should not be an invitation for adult men to have sex with underage girls; even if there is a need for financial assistance, it is statutory rape and the perpetrator can be prosecuted in the court of law.

Our girls are valuable, let’s make a collective effort and give them a chance to grow, gracefully.

Cindy Evans

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

Jagdeo – the ‘cuss down’ specialist Dear Editor, TRUE to form. It is vintage Jagdeo again, doing the only thing he knows best – cussing down! Well, not a surprise by his well-known standards.

Really, it was always a question of not how, but just when.

I would be charitable, by opining that it was language, undignified. Except that the characteristics of “busing” is language that originates from the deepest pits of the earth, and does not fit such a mild language of reprimand.

It reflects a leader who is in paranoid mode about winning the 2020 national elections.

But that is if, in the first instance, he gets the judicial nod from the Caribbean Court of Justice(CCJ) to contest a third term.

Editor, it is to be noted that he used the medium of that equally despicable Freedom Radio. I often wonder what is free about a radio that continues to spew libel, lies, and dangerous racism. It is time the relevant authorities take remedial action against such a spectrum that is simply – anti-national.

But back to Jagdeo, especially when he mouths about the issue being DEMOCRACY, because of President Granger’s choosing the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission(GECOM).

Of all persons, who dare to speak that sacred word!

He cannot be one of them, for miles and miles! His utterance of that well-known attribute of liberty, is definitely a misnomer, and one of the greatest contradictions in our local politics, and here is why.

To be verbally offensive against sections of the media, and those persons who support the President’s decision, reveals a human who is not only behaving like a national bully; but also one that is starkly intolerant of dissenting views. It was shockingly disrespectful of his remarks directed at the persons of the Honourable Prime Minister, and Honourable Ministers Ramjattan and Trotman.

Both the prime minister and Minister Ramjattan would have been at the receiving end of the well-known PPP brand of ABUSE, after they had voiced their objections to matters pertaining to the party. I stand to be corrected by saying that Minister Ramjattan was expelled when he refused to sanction a lie.

Even former speaker Ralph Ramkarran publicly spoke of the virulent abuse he suffered within the PPP/C, because he dared to speak about the rampant corruption at that time.

These incidents reflect a defined culture of PPP/C violent intolerance, for those who have spoken against them

while they held the reins of power. Freddie Kissoon, Christopher Ram, Anand Goolsarran, and business magnate Yesu Persaud are just a few of the names that I do recall.

Even the elder statesperson of the party, Janet Jagan, did not escape the disrespectful insult of Jagdeo.

Editor, all should be reminded that Jagdeo and the PPP/C used what was then branded GINA, to daily abuse their opponents, because of being on the opposite side of their political fence. It was an art that had been refined by a party that tolerates no other view.

Therefore, what we have heard is an ongoing pattern that is cultural of this party -- Jagdeo has given it a permanent brand, unique only to his twisted mind.

But, there has been an enabling factor, with some sections of the private media totally responsible for such a shameful incident.

That Jagdeo has continued to thrive, is because of the peculiarities of our political landscape that is premised on ethnicity. It is interesting to note that certain print houses have allowed Jagdeo the use of their journals to sanitise not only himself, but also some former high- ranking members, one of whose behaviour was so abysmally shocking that he ought to have been asked to resign his high office.

Rastafari community commends president on appointment of GECOM chairman

Sir,

This letter affords an opportunity to the Rastafari Community of all Guyana to publicly and formally commend His Excellency President David Granger on the appointment of a Chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission GECOM in accordance with Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

We wish to remind the public of the names of the four previous Chairmen of GECOM since the implementation of the Carter Formula for the selection of the GECOM Chairman.

The first Chairman was Ambassador Rudy Collins who functioned as Chairman for the 1992 General and Regional Elections.

The second Chairman

was Former Attorney-General Doodnauth Singh who functioned as Chairman for the 1997 General and Regional Elections.

The third Chairman was Major-General (Ret’d) Joseph Singh who functioned as Chairman for the 2001 General and Regional Elections.

The fourth Chairman was Dr. Steve Surijbally who functioned as Chairman for the 2006, 2011 and 2015 General and Regional Elections.

Thus, of the six General and Regional Elections since the implementation of the Carter Formula, five have been chaired by a Guyanese of East Indian descent and one by a Guyanese of African Descent.

For our sacred space and consciousness as a multi-racial society, we urge all Guyanese to embrace the

appointment of Justice James Patterson, a Guyanese of African descent.

This bodes well for ethnic relations within Guyana.

We are in the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent.

It is also indisputable that Justice Patterson has extensive experience nationally and regionally and will provide exemplary leadership at GECOM. Signed: Bro Reuben 1s Ras Leon Saul Joel Anderson S Smith L Smith Rudolph B Williams Jah Lion ((Randolph Joseph) C S Semple I Roots Ras Dalgettie I Carla Correia W David

I have had to question the moral content of such prints, as to their media values. In other jurisdictions where newspapers value the respect of their readership and their reputation, such politicians are thrown on the dung heap.

It is instructive to note that one of these media houses exhibited a page one comment about the threat to democracy,

among other statements. Of course, they are entitled to their view, since they function in a democratic society in which the state media also print criticisms against the Granger administration. Editor, I wonder whether this publishing house has forgotten what Jagdeo did to them, that almost caused their closure.

So, just who is he trying

to fool? From whence came this newly found democracy?

What is DEMOCRATIC ABOUT JAGDEO AND THE PPP/C? The history and culture of Jagdeo’s presidency was one of undemocratic behaviour, vindictiveness, and spitefulness.

Respectfully yours Earl Hamilton

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

GEA denounces way SOCU executed search warrant ––says it was ‘unnecessary’, ‘highly-publicised’

THE Board of Directors of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) on Friday expressed much concern about the manner in which the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) conducted what it described to be a “highly publicised search warrant” on Thursday at its office.

Despite dubbing the action of SOCU as unnecessary, given the GEA’s cooperation, the entity stressed that it respects the mandate and functions of SOCU, and will continue to cooperate with the unit during its investigation.

“The board further notes for the record, and in the interest of transparency, that at no time

was the GEA reluctant, unavailable, or uncooperative in the submission and handover of the requested documents.”

GEA’s board, in a statement to the media, said: “On receipt of a letter dated October 4, 2017 from SOCU to the GEA which requested a list of information, the GEA provided all required documentation within a two-week period, save and except for documents and vouchers in excess of two thousand files for which the GEA, in its response, noted the potential impracticality due to its sheer volume and invited the Investigating Team to visit the GEA office at its convenience to review the

files in totality.”

The entity noted that in recognising the voluminous nature of the files, a letter dated October 19 was penned to SOCU, indicating that “the documents requested are quite voluminous, and are the financial records of the Agency, which must be kept for the purposes of audit. Full access to these documents at the GEA’s headquarters will be granted to the investigating team who can be accommodated in the Agency’s boardroom as was done during the course of the forensic audit.”

The Board of Directors said it is in communication with SOCU’s head, Sydney James, to enquire

about the challenges faced in obtaining the requested information, and whether the information provided was sufficient.

“The Board of Directors wishes to advise that files have been provided, and once again reaffirms the cooperation of the GEA in any and all ongoing investigations,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, a forensic audit was conducted last year into the operations of the GEA, and the auditor recommended that strong disciplinary action be taken against the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Mahender Sharma for alleged lax oversight of the fuel-marking system and ensuing fuel-smuggling and his role in unlegislated and unauthorised polygraph testing of GEA employees from the Fuel

Marking Services Division that resulted in the services of over 30 employees being terminated.

In the Audit Report, it was noted that there were several deficiencies in the Fuel Marking Division and those deficiencies are as a result of “a weak internal control system.” It was noted that there are three persons responsible for the ordering, storing, dispensing and reconciling fuel-marking concentrates.

Revenue generated from fuel-marking services have averaged GY$335,853,784 per year for the periods 2011 to 2014, but there is a lack of proper validation of fuel marking reports, prepared and issued by terminal staff of oil companies to the Marking Services Division (MSD) of the GEA for bulk fuel

marked.

The fuel-marking reports are used to determine the quantity of fuel marked, so that fees can be calculated. Based on investigations by the auditor, it was discovered that the reports were “not independently validated by the MSD staff or by any officer of the vessel that delivered the fuel to the terminal.

“Prior to 2015 there is no documentation that Fuel Marking Services Division requested the Association of Trawlers and Seafood Operators, to provide approved Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Custom forms, before duty-free markers are dispensed from GEA stores to mark the fuel.”

The audit was done for the period November 1, 2011 to May 31, 2015.

Artistes promise an ‘unforgettable’ performance –– as National Park comes alive with ‘Night of Stars’ concert

SOME of Dancehall’s biggest names, the likes of Pamputtae, Gage and Q.Q, are promising an unforgettable evening when they grace the stage at the National Park, for tonight’s GTT ‘Night of Stars’ Concert.

As part of their ‘Pinktober’ Breast Cancer Awareness, the Guyana Telephone and Telephone Company (GTT) has teamed up with New Level Entertainment to make the show a reality.

At GTT’s Camp and Robb Streets dealer store, the artistes created a ‘frenzy’ among fans who were eager to grab a photo opportunity with them while being entertained with

some of their latest hits.

The artistes, most of whom are making a return to Guyana, all stated how excited they are for the chance to perform for their Guyanese fans, and promised to pull out all the stops tonight at the National Park.

Eveana Henry, also known as ‘Pamputtae’, with hits like ‘It Good’ on the Trash Out Riddim and ‘Talk Di Tings Dem’ on the Slacker’s Riddim will be one of the night’s main acts. So too is Kareem Dawkins, better known as ‘QQ’.

At the age of 10, ‘QQ’ burst onto the dancehall scene and would later produce hits like ‘Skip to My

Lu, ‘One Drop’, ‘Tan Tuddy’, ‘Tip Pon Yuh Toe’ and ‘Ghetto Gal’.

Gage, on the other hand, is the most controversial of the group, af-

ter his most famous song, ‘Throat’, received mixed reviews, despite being responsible for his touring the world.

He would later reverse

his decision to continue ‘bleaching’, stating that it was initially done as a marketing stunt.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s very own ‘Lil Million’

along with ‘Razor B’ will also be performing. Gates open from 19:00hrs, and admission is $2,000 for regular accommodation and $5,000 VIP.

The headline acts for tonight’s show and other artistes yesterday at GTT’s Camp and Robb Streets store (Photo by Adrian Narine)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

President to meet with GTU –– following threat of industrial action

FOLLOWING a decision by the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) to carry out a two-day strike action next week, President David Granger has intervened and plans to meet

Minister of State Joseph Harmon with union representatives early next week.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon who met with

union executives on Friday said that the meeting between the GTU and Minister of Education Nicolette Henry on Thursday was never intended to be the final position of the administration, but an interim arrangement.

Minister Harmon in response alluded to his most recent pronouncement on the matter at his post-Cabinet press briefing, where he indicated that the issues regarding increased salaries for teachers were being considered by Government in the form of a multi-year proposal submitted by the GTU. To this end, he said President David Granger has expressed concern about the reports regarding the outcome of the meeting between the union and the ministry and has signalled his willingness to meet with the union on Monday October 30, to discuss all matters of concern to the union.

The GTU has accepted

the offer by the President and iterated that it is committed to the process of Collective Bargaining and that it would be drawing these developments to the attention of its members.

On Thursday, the GTU said it was rounding up teachers across the country to join it in strike action next week Thursday and Friday, since a meeting with the education minister had failed to address teachers’ burning issues.

The meeting with Minister Henry and other officials reportedly had lasted under 10 minutes when the GTU team walked out after the minister failed to address the issue placed before her, including the multi-year proposal.

The GTU’s General-Secretary, Coretta McDonald, told the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday that the GTU team was invited to the meeting with the education minister and was expecting some positive word on the way forward

Nothing significant about Ram’s resignation ––says Harmon MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon has said that accountant and attorney Christopher Ram needs to do much more if he wants to express any seriousness or follow retired Major-General Joe Singh with a resignation.

In fact, Minister Harmon said that Ram has not resigned from anything, as there was nothing for him to resign from in the first place.

“Mr. Ram was working on a committee that had no pecuniary benefits to the attorney general,” Harmon told reporters on Friday.

He said if Ram really wants to resign from anything, he should in fact consider all the contracts which his company has with any government agency or the government itself and withdraw from them.

“That is when you would know if in fact he is making a very serious decision,” Minister Harmon said.

Ram on Wednesday, said he was acting in support of retired Major-General Joe Singh who on Monday sent a letter to government asking

Attorney Christopher Ram to be relieved of his State functions.

In a statement, he said he has apprised Attorney-General Basil Williams of his decision to withdraw from membership of the planning committee and de facto leader of the Guyana negotiating team for the establishment of the JOF Haynes Law School.

He said his decision to call it a day was not made lightly, but was one that was grounded on principle in support of the “heroic and exemplary” stance taken by

Major-General Singh.

Ram had recently condemned President David Granger’s decision to appoint retired High Court Judge Justice James Patterson as chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), on the basis that, among other things, he was in the employ of the government as an adviser to the attorney-general.

Meanwhile, speaking on the resignation of Singh, Minister Harmon said he sees nothing wrong about the former army chief wanting to move on.

“I see no ulterior motive behind it and all I would say is that the letter has been sent to the President for him to consider. It is a one-month notice. Once the President considers the matter and he decides on it, I wish Major-General Singh all the best in his future endeavours.”

He said in spite of Singh’s decision, he continues to hold him in high regard, reminding that they both worked together in the Guyana Defence Force as well as in the Ministry of the Presidency.

President David Granger

regarding the increase of salaries for teachers. She said the minister instead began a power point presentation on something off topic.

“We turned up at the meeting that we were invited to and we wanted to hear about the minister’s counter proposal to our salary proposal. Instead, the minister had a power point presentation to deliver on non-salary issues,” she said.

According to McDonald, the minister appeared unaware of the issue and began talking about things unrelated to the subject matter.

Among those were her

complaints that several regions had failed to provide the information of upgraded teachers. The GTU immediately objected to the discussion, reminding the minister what the team was really there to address.

McDonald said the GTU team had to leave especially since the minister had thrust upon the members a proposal for teachers similar to what government announced last week for public servants.

She said GTU officials informed the minister that they would be willing to have another meeting, when government gets the numbers right.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

Guyana to host benefit concert for hurricane victims

CORPORATE society has stepped up a notch higher in its support for persons battered by hurricanes Irma and Maria as some $14 million has been donated towards a benefit concert to further assist the victims.

Several businesses on Friday made the presentations to Minister of State Joseph Harmon during a simple ceremony at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to assist in a concert billed for November 11 at Durban Park, Georgetown.

They include Agri Parts, Farm Supplies, Guy Track and Sean Hopkinson, who donated $2 million each while JCB donated $2.1 million.

Another company from Essequibo plugged $100,000.

This added to funds already received on Thursday has brought the figure to $14 million.

The event was launched on Thursday and is being sponsored by CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque and Minister of State Joseph Harmon.

Speaking at the simple handing over ceremony on Friday, Minister Harmon said government remains committed to assisting victims through this phase of rebuilding.

He said many persons have lost almost everything they owned in the hurricanes and are now grappling to start afresh.

“We want to ensure that all of the Caribbean understand that Guyana is putting its best foot forward to ensure that those persons who are affected by the hurricanes that they can rebuild their

given the opportunity.

“Now it is the rebuilding effort and I am sure that our businesses here in Guyana would want to also benefit from that,” minster Harmon said. He is encouraging members of the public to continue to make their contributions “no matter how small it is” as it will be going towards a worthy cause.

asked to contribute $1000.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria last month wreaked havoc in some Caribbean islands.

Hurricane Irma devastated Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Turks and Caicos and Anguilla, as well as St Maarten and St Barts. The islands of Barbuda and Tortola were also left in ruins.

Irma also caused significant

for 27 deaths, and more than 13 persons missing, with 95 per cent of the country’s buildings and infrastructure damaged in varying degrees.

According to the United Nation Development Fund (UNDP), governments in several Caribbean countries have begun rebuilding infrastructures, houses and communities with UNDP’s

Minister of State Joseph Harmon (fifth left) and CDC Director-General Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup (third right) with the donors lives,” Minister Harmon told the small gathering.

He said Guyana has done an “excellent job” in the first phase of getting emergency supplies and relief to those persons and for those who wanted to return home to be

The concert which begins at 18:00 hrs on November 11 will see appearances by Trinidad and Tobago singers Patrice Roberts and Orlando Octave along with a number of local and regional performers. Patrons will be

damage in the Bahamas and Haiti and affected St Kitts and Nevis.

The hurricane resulted in 10 deaths within the CARICOM member states and associate members as well as a preliminary estimate of some U.S. $2 billion in losses.

Less than a few days later Hurricane Maria struck, leaving a streak of massive destruction in Dominica.

That devastation was said to be unparalleled. It accounted

on the ground support after Hurricane Irma left catastrophic damage.

Barbuda kicked off debris removal efforts with technical support from UNDP to build back as part of a UNwide humanitarian-development strategy.

UNDP’s expertise includes dealing with hazardous medical waste, as well as environmental aspects, such as recycling and landfill management. Cash-for-work

initiatives are to begin shortly to immediately inject needed cash in affected communities.

Over 90 per cent of buildings were destroyed, including all government premises.

Barbudians are temporarily living in neighbouring Antigua until they can resume their lives back in Barbuda.

In Cuba, as part of the national recovery plan with the government, UNDP is supporting the recovery of over 215,000 houses severely damaged by Hurricane Irma.

The UN-wide recovery plan was presented this week in Havana.

“Hurricane Irma’s impact in Cuba was huge, for several reasons,” explained UNDP Resident Representative in Cuba Denise Cook in an interview with UN News.

“Not only was it very powerful but it also hit the entire country for a long time, around three days. Thirteen of its 15 provinces, particularly in the north, for which tourism is very important, were hit particularly hard.”

Hundreds of thousands of houses were severely damaged. Some collapsed, others lost their roofs. This caused nearly two million people to be evacuated, spending three long days in a situation of ‘alarm’, according to Cook. She explained that thousands of people were evacuated but unfortunately 10 passed away, which is a very high number for Cuba, considering its vast experience in hurricane preparedness.

Jailed, fined for gun, ‘ammo’ possession –– to return to court to face more charges A WEST Demerara man was on Friday sentenced to a total of six years in jail and fined $120,000 for the possession of gun and ammunition.

Dexter Valensuela, 44, of Crane, West Coast Demerara admitted that on October 24 in the Barima River, in the North West District he had in his possession an AR rifle when he was not a licenced firearm holder.

He further admitted having five rounds of 22.3 ammunition in his possession.

Valensuela, a boat captain by profession, was also charged for trafficking 1.500 kilograms of cannabis and having an AK 47 along with 14 matching rounds of 7X62 ammunition in his possession.

He denied these three additional charges, saying

that someone had given him a package to take into the interior, and that he had no knowledge of what was inside it.

The unrepresented man explained that five months ago he was robbed by pirates at in Venezuela waters, and he and his crew had to swim to safety.

He pointed out that while in Venezuela looking for his boat, he ended up buying the firearm for protection.

Police Prosecutor Arwin Moore told the court that a group of police, along with the Army’s Coast Guard, acting on information received, swooped down on the Barima River where they intercepted a metal boat captained by Valensuela.

The AR rifle was found in the bow of the boat, while the other gun was found in

Dexter Valensuela the stern. Moore said that the narcotics were found in a black shoulder bag.

After being sentenced and fined for those charges he admitted to, Valensuela was ordered to return to court on November 21 to face the three other charges.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

U.S. defence team talks beefing up security –– in light of oil-related ‘watershed’ developments

A HIGH-LEVEL delegation from the United States Department of Defense met with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Wednesday at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The team from the Defense Governance and Management Team (DGMT), which has been helping regional governments with tackling security challenges through sustainable policies and plans, was led

by Mr Darryl Long and comprised Messrs Richard Gay, Paul Nagy and Gary Merrick.

The DGMT team was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Mr Perry Holloway and the embassy’s naval attaché, Mr Michael White.

During their hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister, members of the team spoke of the importance of a “Future Force” for Guyana in the context of oil-and-gas production, and discussed case studies of select oil-producing states as regards maritime domain and protection.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (centre) and U.S. Ambassador Perry Holloway (third left) with members of the visiting DGMT team The U.S. Embassy later issued a statement saying that

the DGMT team has wrapped up an inaugural visit here after

having fruitful talks with the government.

“Recognising that Guyana is quickly approaching a wa-

tershed moment in its history, the team programmed discussions regarding case studies of select oil-producing countries and current best practices,” the embassy said in its statement.

The team of four retired senior U.S. military officers, the embassy says, included strategists and logisticians, and listed as being among topics that were discussed “The Experience of Norway, Brunei, and Nigeria”; “Best Practices in Maritime Domain Awareness, to include Environmental Concerns”; and “The Link Between Strategy, Policy, and Budget”.

In addition to calling on Prime Minister Nagamootoo, the delegation also met with Finance Minister Winston Jordan; Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Patrick West and other senior government officials.

A seminar was also held with several members of the Defence Board and retired Chiefs-of-Staff.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

Yarde threatens to turn up the heat ––if gov’t does not treat GPSU with respect

By Ariana Gordon

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Patrick Yarde on Friday cautioned that

his union is likely to step up militancy to change what it believes to be government’s disregard for the principle of collective bargaining as it relates to

wages and salaries.

Yarde told reporters that the union feels betrayed by the APNU+AFC coalition government’s attitude towards negotiations. He

GPSU President, Mr Patrick Yarde could not state when industrial action would be taken, as the decision has to be taken following consultations.

“The entrenched official disregard for the principle of collective bargaining remains a reality, and the take-it-or-leave-it underpinning that has customarily informed wages and salaries negotiations remain in vogue,” he said from a prepared text.

According to Yarde, despite hoping for change with a new government, the union is faced with “the same attitude to public servants’ wages and salaries that obtained when the Office of the Finance Minister was held by Bharrat Jagdeo.”

Recalling that back then, Finance Minister Winston Jordan held the post of budget advisor and chief negotiator of wages and salaries, Yarde said: “We are now being led to believe that the administration feels that peppercorn salaries and attendant unacceptable conditions of service have come to be regarded as the destiny for public servants.”

Contending that the Finance Minister has reneged on an agreement made in 2015 that all allowances accruing to public servants would be addressed expeditiously, Yarde said: “That commitment by the APNU+AFC government was dishonoured, as was the commitment to respect and honour other obligations agreed to in the arena of Collective Bargaining.”

He said that last year, notwithstanding an agreement that negotiations would be conducted in accordance with the existing agreement for the avoidance and settlement of disputes, “what transpired was more of the same deliberate non-negotiable imposition and a blatant refusal to conduct negotiations in accordance with the agreed agenda.”

IN-SCALE INCREMENTS He said that after more than two decades, issues such as in-scale increments and de-bunching remain unaddressed.

“What passes for negotiations in 2017 is characterised by the same unyielding and unprincipled official posture. We are faced with the same bad-faith official stance in engaging the union on the various critical and long-standing remuneration-related concerns of public servants,” Yarde stated.

The union wants the government to expeditiously address the completion of wages and salaries negotiations for 2016 “in an environment of genuine collective bargaining”, the immediate and final agreement on improved allowances for public servants, and the agreement on the de-bunching of salaries, which he says are “stuck at the minimum of pay bands.”

Yarde contends that during discussions, negotiators opted to follow the pattern of imposing a takeit-or-leave-it Christmas handout. “Condescending handouts persist!” he declared, while stating that there is a conspiracy to deny public servants of merited and overdue benefits.

“Upon reflection, the union finds it impossible to reconcile the government’s articulation of the desirability of a highly motivated and efficient public service with an approach to negotiating wages and salaries that renders the realisation of a strong and capable public service impossible to realise.”

The GPSU President posited that government’s negotiators presented an offer that was both “unreasonable and inflexible.” “We believe that the government of Guyana now stands guilty of taking advantage of the responsible posture towards the development of the country which the union and its members have historically taken loyally and very seriously and we are feeling betrayed,” he told reporters while flanked by several union representatives.

As such, Yarde warned that strategies are being contemplated that “seek to bring greater pressure to bear in order to ensure that government demonstrates a far greater mindfulness of the rights and entitlements of public servants.”

CHANGE OF POSTURE These strategies he said will unfold unless government’s posture changes

with alacrity, Yarde assured. Government has proposed an increase of between 2 per cent and 8 per cent with plans also to increase the minimum wage to $60,000.

The union has submitted a proposal for negotiation, but the government has already stated that its offer is final.

When asked whether he believes the government has the finances to offer more to public servants, Yarde said, “When we are talking about affordability it must apply to everything, it must not apply to some things.”

He said when government ministers received salary increases he did not find them to be excessive and that position has not changed. However, Yarde believes that there are other inadequate salaries.

“They seem to be handpicking of increases in salaries for people in the public sector… I am saying categorically that the government could do better in paying public servants; you look around and see how money could be found to do a variety of things… right in this location you could see. Why money cannot be found to pay the people who right now slaving in the Public Service?

It is a deliberate attempt to keep them in poverty,” declared the GPSU President who described the government as “uncaring and cruel.”

Notwithstanding his position, Yarde made it clear that public servants need to take the increase offered by government. ““They need money! Let them take it; it won’t compromise this union,” he said.

Meanwhile, the GPSU said it stands in solidarity with the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) which is currently mobilising teachers from across the country to be part of strike action next week. The move by the GTU follows an unsuccessful meeting with the Ministry of Education Thursday.

The meeting with Education Minister Nicolette Henry and other officials reportedly lasted under 10 minutes when the GTU team, headed by president Mark Lyte, walked out after the minister failed to address the issues placed before her, including a multiyear proposal.

However, Yarde said he could not state whether the GPSU will join the GTU in industrial action as decisions of that nature have to be made by a constitutional body.

“The GPSU has always been a union that deals with trade union solidarity; that’s a principle.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

Guyana cannot grow without aviation sector istry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, told the gathering that since ICAO has acknowledged the country’s record, it signifies that Guyana as a state “is doing the right thing.”

Ferguson, who is the subject minister, explained that the country is on the road to achieving top standards with the other achieving states globally. She said safety is indeed a critical area of focus for the government.

She noted that the GCAA

– GCAA director-general

By Alva Solomon THE importance of safety and the economic impact of aviation to Guyana’s economy were central to discussions during a twoday aviation conference which concluded on Friday here.

The conference, which was held at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, was organised by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and was held under the theme, “Safety, the pillar of sustainability.”

GCAA Director-General, Egbert Field, told the gathering which included Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson and Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson that the sector is vital to Guyana’s economy.

He said in 2004, there were only 20 or 25 aircraft operated by local aviation entities. Today, there are 85 aircraft registered with the GCAA. “We must understand that Guyana cannot grow without aviation,” he said, noting that particular attention must be paid to the sector.

Field said the evolving oil and gas sector is on the GCAA’s radar.

“We are not waiting for 2020”, he said, as he explained that given the key

oil discoveries made thus far and those which may become reality , there will be an injection of 20 to 30 helicopters into the aviation environment here , a move which may see some changes to the local air circuits.

“That is the kind of tsunami I see coming,” he said, noting that it is among several challenges facing the GCAA. As he zoomed in on the theme of the two-day event, Field noted that aviation is “completely without dangers.

“We have to look for all those cracks where elements of safety doesn’t [sic]exist, and try to patch those cracks,” he told the gathering.

He said the GCAA is working steadfastly towards addressing safety issues, noting that the body has invested over G$300M in the development of the ADS-B surveillance navigation system which is assisting Air Traffic Control in tracking aircraft.

The experienced pilot noted too that he has flown into the country’s hinterland, and as such, he is familiar with what the environment entails. He said the GCAA has been granted certification from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for improvement in compliance records.

To this end, he mentioned the 44 per cent to 64

GCAA Director-General Egbert Field per cent upward movement the country made following audits by the international body.

He expressed confidence that Guyana can attain and pass the 70 per cent mark, and according to him, the figure cannot be achieved without the support of the government.

Minister Patterson told those gathered that the sector is expanding at a rapid pace and he noted that the time has come for it to be enhanced in a coherent manner. To this end, he informed the gathering that the government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will be developing a civil aviation master plan in 2018.

Patterson said that government is aware of the need to diversify into other areas such as helicopter operations and offshore landing areas.

Minister within the Min-

Bogus businessman jailed for fraud –– has three similar matters pending BOGUS businessman, Clinton Alleyne was on Friday sentenced to 48 months in jail for fraud by Magistrate Judy Latchman.

After the completion of trial, Alleyne, Chairman of Micro-Business Developers and Consultant Incorporated, was found guilty of obtaining the sum of $415,000 from one Kizzie Shepard by falsely pretending that he was in a position to grant her a $3.4M loan.

The incident reportedly took place between November 4, 2016 and December 9, 2016 at Campbellville, Georgetown.

Alleyne was represented by attorney George Thomas,

Clinton Alleyne while the matter was prosecuted by Corporal Shawn Gonsalves.

Alleyne currently has three other fraud-related mat-

ters totalling some $27.4M before three Magistrates at the Georgetown Magistrates Court.

According to reports, Alleyne’s company would lure persons by duping them into believing that it is a legitimate money-lending institution, and that to be eligible to borrow would require their making a down-payment of a percentage of the money they are desirous of acquiring.

Upon handing over that down-payment, the victims are then issued a receipt, and asked to return later to complete the transaction.

However, upon their return, they are given “bounced” cheques.

has been upgrading its staffing and safety framework, noting that significant sums have been spent by the body on staff training and development. She said this ensures that the body has the ability to discharge its responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nagamootoo pointed out that for the industry to be profitable and viable it must provide safety on the ground and in the air.

“Safety is not just a government concern, safety is

the business of the civil aviation sector, ” he said, noting that it centres on everything related to the local aviation sector.

He said more people and cargo are being moved today, noting that thousands move through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), as well as the Eugene F Correia International Airport, annually.

“Today, the sector is the busiest it has ever been in the history of Guyana,” he noted.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

Guyana to mirror Brazil’s sustainable school feeding programme

A FACT finding mission to the Capital City Vitoria in neighbouring Brazil by officials of the Food and Agriculture Association (FAO)/United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), the Ministry of Education along with members of civil society, has opened avenues for best practices that could be incorporated into Guyana’s school feeding programme.

The mission was comprised of a delegation from the Government of Guyana led by First Lady Sandra Granger, ministers of social protection, social cohesion and education, as well as ministers within the ministry of public health, and public affairs in the Ministry of the Presidency.

It also comprised technical officers in the ministries of agriculture, communities, foreign affairs and education, respectively, and two representatives of civil society.

The United Nations was represented by the UN resident coordinator/UNDP resident representative, the FAO representative and the PAHO/ WHO representative.

After comprehensive presentations on the sustainable school feeding programme at the national, state and municipal levels by representatives of the National School Feeding Programme (PNAE) and by the authorities of Vitoria, the mission visited a primary/ secondary school and a daycare centre/ nursery school

to observe the management of the school feeding programme.

Brazil is said to have a very high rated sustainable school feeding programme, which Guyana believes can work well.

mary and secondary schools visited have diverse menus tailored to nutritional needs of children with special health conditions. Students are also part of the advocacy campaign to eliminate food waste.

“The family farming co-

to establish a 30 per cent minimum quota of procuring organic agricultural products from local farmers.

This has obliged inter-disciplinary cooperation across line departments of education, health and agriculture

access to fresh food, nutrition, hygiene, good health, good education, environmentally-friendly agriculture and local/rural economic development.

The primary/secondary school visited had diverse

First lady Sandra Granger is surrounded by members of the mission team which visited Vitoria, Brazil between October 8 and 11 “The sustainable school feeding programme generates multi-dimensional benefits: access to fresh food, nutrition, hygiene, good health, good education, environmentally-friendly agriculture and local/rural economic development,” First Lady Sandra Granger said on at a press conference at the UNDP Brickdam office on Monday.

According to her, the pri-

operative received certification to supply the school feeding programme after two years investment in organic farming and now has steady demand from 600 schools that constitute 30percent of its market,” she said.

School feeding has been mandatory in primary and secondary schools in Brazil since 1955, but in 2009, a new policy was introduced

to support local farmers in introducing organic farming and supplying schools.

Vitoria is said to be a leader among 700 municipalities in Brazil, capitalising on its oil revenues, historic family farming tradition and strong decentralised governance and commitment.

The sustainable school feeding programme generates multi-dimensional benefits:

menus tailored to nutritional needs of children with special health conditions.

According to the First Lady, the team was amazed by the demonstration of the strong and dynamic engagement and ownership displayed by the communities, teachers, parents, cooks, students and farmers in driving the sustainable school feeding programme.

She said women’s participation and leadership from community level up to the municipality level was also very visible.

“The municipality triples the subsidy received each year from the Federal Government to finance the school feeding programme, while sectoral officers such as agricultural extension workers and nutritionists provide technical assistance to farmers and cooks hired from the community.”

Monitoring of the programme is also very important, involving communities and local councils that are not paid a salary except for their travel and other associated costs that are covered by the programme.

The First Lady said over the next couple of weeks, the mission members from the Government and the UN system will work together to examine how lessons learnt and experiences shared could be used to strengthen Guyana’s school feeding programme with applicable good practices from the Brazil experience.

“What is absolutely critical for the success is the empowerment of communities in driving the various aspects of the programme from farmers to schools.

Then with quality produce of nutritional value. To date, an average 25 per cent of local procurement has been achieved countrywide,” she said.

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See gov’t as a frien GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

--PM urges private sector at opening of ‘Guyanese Flavours Uncapped’

By Navendra Seoraj IN response to the many requests and suggestions of the Private Sector, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo has reminded businesspersons that they should see the State as a friend rather than a foe.

Amidst the tantalising smell of barbecued meats based with locally-made barbecue sauces and the heady music of Dave Martins, the

Prime Minister urged investors to forge stronger ties between the private sector and the government instead of losing hope.

But whereas losing hope would mean the full potential of the business community would neither be exploited nor realised, the launch of “Guyanese Flavours Uncapped” at the Sophia Exhibition Centre on Friday evening did present a glimmer of hope.

For decades it has been touted that mechanisation and innovation is needed, and this is the first step in highlighting the items, particularly in the agriculture sector, that can be transformed to a value-added good.

In order to make this process consistent, the private and public sectors need to work cohesively to capitalise on niches that are yet to be exploited.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway considers buying peanut butter made by persons from Aranaputa Valley in Region Nine (Photos by Adrian Narine)

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin and Prime Minister Nagamootoo looking at some of the locally made juices

nd, not the enemy GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

“Guyana’s private sector is one of the largest but the investors need to be bold and bullish in an environment which is looking for investments,” the Prime Minister said, adding that mechanisation and innovation can make the country better.

A challenge was then issued to the private sector to take advantage of what they have and “run with it”.

Investments are relative to the stability of the currency and the economy, said Prime Minister Nagamootoo, as he pointed out that the government fully supports the private sector.

Investors, however, need to tell the government what they need in order to innovate and expand what they do.

He made reference to an example of such help which was an Action Plan that was submitted by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) subsequent to the Business Summit that was held two weeks ago. According to him, the document was brought before Cabinet and is being discussed.

Every day new markets are opening, and there are Caribbean markets for all types of products that Guyana produces.

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin also reflected on the growing demand for innovation and mechanisation of the traditional industries, but his main request to the private sector was to do more together in order to exploit Guyana’s trade agreements.

Gaskin pointed out that there are big markets that they need to start examining, especially where agro processing is concerned.

His sentiments were echoed by Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Edward Boyer, who said there is indeed need for public and private sector partnership in order for there to be diversification of the traditional sectors such as agriculture and aquaculture.

Speaking directly about that area was President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Shyam Nokta. He said the exhibition will give investors an opportunity to meet and network with Government organisations and other businesses that can make agro processing a possibility.

“Untapped agriculture

Renowned Guyanese musician, Dave Martins enticing the crowd with one of his popular tunes at the Sophia Exhibition Centre Friday night

has been a talk for years, but agro-processors are unable to compete at a domestic and even international level because of many challenges,” Nokta said.

Some of the challenges they face include access to finance; consumer awareness; access to land and technology; affordable electricity; and farm-to-market access roads; and transportation.

The GMSA President highlighted that there is much to be done in order to make agro processing a key driver of growth.

He suggested that arable land be opened to large scale agriculture; technology be made available; energy cost be decreased by the advent of green energy such as hydropower and so forth.

A policy on agriculture and agro processing needs to be articulated but in order for this to happen he encouraged the Government to establish a clear policy framework for the development of the sector and its sub-sector.

In the interim, companies like Sterling have taken the mantle to help hinterland businesspeople to market their products.

Those and other exhibitions can be seen at the Exhibition centre over the weekend. Gate opens at 15:00hrs, admission $500 for adults and $300 for children.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

Gov’t, Nexen advance working relationship –– with formal meeting of oil partner’s local staff

THE relationship between the Government of Guyana and the Chinese oil and gas firm, Nexen, advanced a notch further Wednesday with the introduction of Minister of Natural Resources, Mr Raphael Trotman to the company’s local representatives.

According to a release from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the two men who will be at the helm of Nexen Guyana are Regional Manager Mr. Anand Gohil, and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC)’s Liaison Officer, Mr. Guoyong Li. The meeting was facilitated by Mr. Paul Khanna, Adviser on Government Relations and Climate Change.

Nexen, also referred to as CNOOC Nexen, is a subsidiary of State-owned CNOOC, reputedly the largest offshore oil and gas producer in China. It engages in a range of activities worldwide through companies that offer services

Minister Trotman (second right) and his CNOOC Nexen guests on Wednesday in oil and gas exploration and development, refining and marketing, natural gas and power generation, engineering and technical and financial services.

As a partner in the devel-

opment of the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, CNOOC Nexen has a 25% interest in the operation, while Hess and ExxonMobil each has 30% and 45% respectively.

According to the Ministry

of Natural Resources, Mr. Guoyong will be joining Mr. Gohil, who has already taken up residence here, so that together they can manage the company’s operations at this end.

During Wednesday’s meeting, the ministry said in its release, Minister Trotman was briefed on CNOOC Nexen’s operations worldwide, and plans to expand its operations locally.

Mr Gohil, besides noting CNOOC Nexen’s support of “green” initiatives and applauding Guyana’s “green” economy trajectory, also shared the company’s vision of being recognised as a safe, environmentally-friendly company and a valued member of the community.

Discussions also included some potential areas of collaboration, as well as the company’s plans to develop a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plan that will provide a roadmap for supporting growth and development in Guyana.

Minister Trotman, in addition to tracing the historic ties between China and Guyana, reportedly expressed the hope that CNOOC Nexen would firmly establish themselves and contribute positively to Guyana’s development.

He also viewed the meeting as the first of many engagements that will unfold as the company develops a presence here.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, October 28, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday October 28, 2017

Pouderoyen, Kuru Kuru move on in Turbo KO Football

POUDEROYEN and Kuru Kuru are through to the next round of the Turbo Knockout Football tournament last evening at the Ministry of Education Ground Carifesta Avenue.

In the first game, Kuru Kuru were 2-0 winners over West Demerara side,Uitvlugt, after Cordel Johnson gave them the lead in the 7th.

Omarion Savory would

double it up two minutes later in the 17th to ensure that the West Dem side would continue on in the tournament.

In the other game, it was a back and forth between Pouderoyen and Riddim Squad with the former winning 4-3 after extra time.

Rolex Smith opened the scoring for the Riddim Squad side in the 25th, be-

fore Pouderoyen’s, Esan Nelson, responded in the 47th.

It wouldn’t be long before Teon Jones would once again gift Riddim Squad with the lead once more in the 52nd, with Marvin Griffith again levelling it up in the 62nd.

For the first time in the game, the Pouderoyen side would take the lead

through Marvin Frank in the 69th, and it took a desperate scramble to ensure the equaliser which came through Darrel Stuart in the fourth minute of Injury time (90+4) The winner eventually need a keeper’s touch from Quasy Alleyne 90 + 8th minute to bring the game home for the Pouderoyen side.

Matches will continue next Wednesday.

Shadab swings low-scoring scrap with ball and bat (CRICINFO) - There was a hat-trick from Faheem Ashraf, and a Sri Lankan collapse that saw them lose eight wickets for 14 runs. That might suggest another rout of the hapless visitors, but nothing could be further from reality. In the game of the entire tour, Pakistan edged home with one ball to spare, with only two

wickets in hand when the winning runs were struck.

They were struck by none other than golden boy Shadab Khan, who smashed a six off the game’s penultimate ball to wrench victory from Sri Lanka’s desperate, clawing hands.

This was a complete T20 game, beginning with intelligent batting by Sri Lanka, put in after Pakistan won the toss. That was followed by a remarkable collapse from 106 for 1 to 120 for 9. Pakistan looked like they were cruising early on, before an excellent spell by captain,Thisara Perera, dragged Sri Lanka back.

From there, they held the ascendancy right until the last three balls. Pakistan needed eight off them. Shadab hit a straight six and a couple off the next delivery denied Sri Lanka’s valiant young side victory in an astonishing contest.

It was Sri Lanka’s best game of the limited-overs tour. The batsmen early on deprived Pakistan of wickets while keeping the score ticking. A 63-run second-wicket partnership between Gunathilaka and Sadeera Samarawickrama set Thisara’s men up for a score above par, with fast bowlers Hasan Ali and Usman Khan expensive in the early overs.

Shadab was the only bowler in the middle overs able to rein in Sri Lanka. At one point, they might have been eyeing 150, but a superb spell from the teenager prevented them from cutting loose. He has added another variation, a quicker one that can reach 120kph, and it removed Sri Lanka’s top scorer Gunathilaka amidst their late collapse. Shadab might not have taken heaps of wickets, but his figures of 4-0-14-1 were to prove crucial.

In the madness of Sri

Thisara Perera exults after taking a wicket AFP

Lanka’s final overs, Faheem Ashraf emerged as the hero with a sensational hat-trick, removing Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana and Mahela Udawatte off the last three balls of the 19th over. It was Pakistan’s first T20I hat-trick and, in truth, couldn’t have come from an unlikelier source.

Poor running and brilliant fielding hurt Sri Lanka’s innings: there were three run outs, the wickets that crumpled in a heap towards the end crushed their hopes of a late charge, and while it was still an improvement on yesterday, they still finished with a below-par 124.

Pakistan were tentative in their approach to the chase, almost as if they had forgotten what to do when a match become mildly competitive. Fakhar Zaman was run out after miscommunication with Ahmed Shehzad, before Babar Azam fell victim to an incorrect lbw decision. But skipper Perera rose to the occasion, giving his side a real chance of victory, accounting for both Shehzad and Shoaib Malik in his first two overs.

For a while, Mohammad Hafeez and Sarfraz

Ahmed looked in control, never letting the asking rate get out of sight. But once Hafeez holed out to long on with Pakistan still requiring 31, panic set in.

Perera returned for his final over and got rid of Imad Wasim, and terrific fielding in the deep saw Pakistan’s captain run out three balls later. Twenty-one were still required off 14, and with three wickets remaining, Sri Lanka were firm favourites.

Udana conceded only four in a brilliant penultimate over, but the drama all lay in the last over. Faheem was caught at longon off the first ball of Vikum Sanjaya’s over, and with 11 needed off four, Pakistan were up against it. It looked even graver for them when Hasan sliced one straight to longoff, but was reprieved by a crucial dropped catch, allowing Pakistan to scramble three. That brought on strike Shadab, a young man whose honeymoon with cricket simply refuses to end. Two balls and eight runs later, the contest was suddenly over, and Shadab’s joy, as well as Abu Dhabi’s, was unconfined.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday October 28, 2017

GTT ‘Pinktober’ 10K winner Rickie Williams on show at today’s South American 10K in Suriname EVEN more good things have emerged from GTT’s just- concluded `Pinktober’ 5K/10K run/walk with the selection of the 10K winner, Rickie Williams, to represent Guyana at the South American 10k being held in Suriname today.

In the month leading up to the GTT Pinktober run, 17-year-old Rickie, who hails from Waramuri, Moruca, Region One, took advantage of the free training offered by GTT and local coach Leslie Black to prepare for the event.

Coach Black credits Williams’ recent Pinktober training for the win and his ability to, for the first time, participate in a 10K race at an international level.

Williams has been actively competing in the athletics arena for the past two years, and is the current Junior 5000 and 1000 meters champion for Guyana.

In August he won the

Hamilton trails Ricciardo in Mexican Grand Prix second practice (BBC) - Daniel Ricciardo headed Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton, in a closely contested second practice at the Mexican Grand Prix.

Ricciardo was 0.131 seconds quicker than Hamilton, who had a spin early in the session, with Max Verstappen’s Red Bull ahead of Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel was only 0.032secs off Hamilton as the Ferrari driver clings to his fading title hopes.

Hamilton needs only to finish fifth on Sunday to

clinch a fourth championship.

If Vettel is second in the race, Hamilton needs only ninth to clinch the championship. If the German finishes anywhere else, Hamilton takes the crown regardless.

The 32-year-old Briton had appeared to be struggling, his spin early in the second session following his being nearly 0.5secs slower than Bottas in the first.

But he ended the session 0.3secs quicker than Bottas and with an impressively

quick race-simulation run in the second part of the session.

Hamilton and Vettel were evenly matched on long-run pace but both lagged behind the Red Bulls of Ricciardo and Verstappen, who looked the fastest cars in race trim by as much as half a second.

However, Red Bull do not have the extra power mode in qualifying trim so will likely have to fight past the Mercedes and Ferraris if they are to compete for the victory.

Rickie Williams during last weekend’s GTT ‘Pinktober’ 10K Run

5000 meters at the Inter-Guiana Games held in Suriname. GTT extends

best wishes to Rickie in his quest to bring home the first place medal.

Rising Sun Rodeo 2017 set for Sunday

THE Rising Sun Rodeo Committee will stage the West Berbice Rodeo on Sunday at the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park, West Coast Berbice.

The event, which by now has become a house hold name on the sporting calendar, is expected to be bigger this year with a number of feature events on the day’s card.

The activity is expected to kick off at 12:00 hrs with some 12 events listed on the day's programme.

Among the expected events are steer roping, bare back bronco, male and female barrel race, wild cow milking, calf roping, wild bull riding, saddle bronco, the Rodeo King competition and the popular Tug-oWar events. The clowns will be back again to treat the crowd with their stunts.

Once again, Vaqueros (cow boys) are expected from Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela, to match skills with their Guyanese counterparts.

Locals competitors from interior locations including Lethem and the Rupununi Savannahs are slated to grace the event with their presence and test the skills of the cowboys from the West Coast Berbice, the Corentyne and the Berbice River who will again be in action.

A number of new stunts are expected to be performed with the weather being in excellent condition, so far.

Meanwhile, renovation and upgrades have been completed at the venue and fans are expected to be in for a grand time.

NFL protests: Houston Texans' owner apologises for 'inmates' comment (BBC) - Houston Texans' owner has apologised for describing NFL players as "inmates running the prison" in reference to protests against racial injustice.

The protests have spread throughout the league since Colin Kaepernick sat, before later opting to kneel instead, during the US national anthem in 2016.

Bob McNair made his comments during a league meeting held to discuss the issue in New York last week.

On Friday he said he "regretted" using the expression.

"I never meant to offend anyone and I

was not referring to our players," a statement added.

"I used a figure of speech that was never intended to be taken literally. I would never characterise our players or our league that way and I apologise to anyone who was offended by it."

After last week's meeting, the NFL said it will not force its players to stand during the national anthem.

The league's commissioner Roger Goodell said he would "encourage" players to stand, but would not punish them if they refused to do so.

Hamilton leads Vettel by 66 points in the standings with three races left (BBC Photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday October 28, 2017

GFF, NCN sign MoU

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Communications Network Inc. (NCN), yesterday.

The new agreement which provides for a weekly GFF-produced television programme, was signed in the company’s studios.

In brief remarks, President of the GFF, Wayne Forde,stated, “On behalf of the Executive Committee and the GFF we are indeed very happy to enter in this Memorandum of Understanding with NCN today.”

“The GFF has pursued an agenda that puts at its core accountability and transparency. We believe that the platform this weekly one-hour programme provides, will certainly enhance our ability to com-

municate effectively with our members, sponsors, players and the general public,” he added NCN Production Manager, Wendy Hermonstine, in brief remarks said: “Football is a game of two teams. It is so important today that two teams are collaborating, NCN and GFF, in an effort to bring this game to visibility. It is a platform for talented young people to develop, explore and become stars.”

Present at the signing were GFF President, Wayne Forde, GFF Marketing and Sponsorship Director, Dario McKlmon and NCN Production Manager, Wendy Hermonstine.

This is the second partnership with a government partner agency as the GFF seeks to expand its reach to the football fraternity.

GFF President Wayne Forde (left) hands over the signed contract to NCN Production Manager Wendy Hermonstine.

Rose Hall Tigers Cricket Club set to invade cricketing world

THE Rose Hall Tigers Cricket Club, the newest addition to the Berbice Cricketing fraternity, has announced that it is ready, willing, and able to participate in cricketing competitions at all levels in the county.

This was the message delivered by the Club’s Executive Member, Carl Wilson, at the Club’s recently held Executive Meeting in Rose Hall Town.

Born out of the necessity to keep youths engaged in positive habits, the Rose Hall Tigers Club will be embarking on an aggressive campaign to encourage youths to develop their skills in cricket, while engaging them in approved cricket competitions at all levels.

The Club’s Executive membership comprises Carl Wilson- President, Devindra Persaud-Secretary, Lomenzo Johnny-Treasurer, Delbert Hicks- Coach and Khemraj Mahadeo and Michael Hicks will serve as Committee Members.

Former Rose Hall Town Youth &

Sports Club Senior Players Delbert Hicks, Khemraj Mahadeo, Michael Hicks and Troy Matheson, have already joined the Rose Hall Tigers Cricket Club and are currently recruiting youths and other players from Rose Hall and the surrounding areas to be a part of their rising cricket Club.

Player/ Coach Delbert Hicks, in an invited comment, revealed that heintends to take the Club fast forward. He indicated that initially his emphasis will be on physical fitness and other cricketing drills, that will push-start the new recruits in their careers.

The Executives are optimistic that with experienced players such as Delbert Hicks and Mahadeo, the Club is equipped to challenge the best and win tournaments in the county. The Club has indicated that it will participate in the BCB’s Second Division 40- overs Competition, slated to commence soon.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday October 28, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & the City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: 90* & 44 Hamilton Masakadza-42 Today’s Quiz: Who took most wickets for the WI in the first innings of the first Test of the current WI/ZIM series?

Who took most wickets for ZIM in the first innings?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday October 28, 2017

Archery Guyana meets with Sport Minister

DIRECTORS of Archery Guyana paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton at the Ministry’s headquarters on Main Street on Wednesday.

During the visit, they discussed with the Minister who also has responsibility for Culture,Youth and Sport, their plans for the future and gave an update as to the progress of Archery Guyana thus far.

A proposed Junior Archery Programme, Schools Programme and Para-Archery Programme were also discussed with plans being made to pursue more outreach programmes.

Early in2018, Archery Guyana will be hosting an International Olympic Coach here for 10 days to conduct a coaching clinic.

Persons interested in becoming involved in the sport are urged to do indicate early so they can learn and be able to benefit from the said coaching.

Minister Norton has expressed his commitment to work with Archery Guyana and looks forward to help promote and developing the novel sport in Guyana.

Quarter-final action on today in COURTS Pee Wee

Action in the quarterfinal stage of the Courts Pee Wee gets going today. (Adrian Narine Photo)

The Quarter-Final for this year’s COURTS Pee Wee football tournament will be contested today when the event gets going at the Thirst Park playfield.

In the first of the Quarter-final matches, School of the Nations will play Enterprise Primary, while Sophia will play Redeemer Primary in the second match on the adjacent pitch In the other two games, West Ruimveldt takes on Stella Maris and Marian

Academy takes on St Agnes Primary.

The earlier matches featuring the remaining schools playing for the 9-16 places, will see Tucville playing Parfaite Harmonie and South Ruimveldt taking on Den Amstel Primary.

The other two matches will pit Mae’s against St. Ambrose and Goed Fortuine against F.E. Pollard.

The action commences at 11:00.

Archery Guyana’s Chair, Mr. Nicholas Hing handing over the National Development Plan to Minister Dr. George Norton.

Looking on are Directors, Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, Mr. Steve Ninvalle and Mr. Ryan McKinnon.

Busta Champion of Champions Softball Tournament …

Grill Master, Spartan, Terry Grocery and Hard Knock advance to Semifinals Grill Master, Spartan, Terry Grocery and Hard Knock have advanced to the Semifinals of this year’s Busta Champion of Champions Softball Tournament, organised by the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club.

The tournament started on the 15th October, 2017, and would conclude with the Semifinals and Finals scheduled for this Sunday, October,29th, at the same venue.

The Quarterfinals started with Grill Master defeating Toopoo by 27 runs. Batting first after losing the toss, Grill Master amassed 133- 2 off their allotted 10 overs, with Keith Fraser top-scoring with 51 runs inclusive of three boundaries and four massive sixes. Vishal Phillips, 23, and Fraser added 69 for the first wicket in five overs while Balram Samaroo supported with an attractive unbeaten 35.

Needing to score 134 from 10 overs, Toopoo reached 106-8 when their overs ran out. S. De Freitas 15 and S. Ramdeo 20 were the only batsmen to reach double figures, as Kevon Sinclair and Vishal Phillips bowled well to take 2-12 and 19 respectively.

Hard Knock advanced to the Semifinals by easily defeating Set Up by 46 runs. V. Sommersal 30, L. Mendonca 20, Paul Tyn-

Grill Master Is in the Semi Final of the Busta Champion of Champions Softball Tournament

dall 26 and Michael Chase 16,not out, all batted well as Hard Knock amassed 1134. In response, Set Up was bundled out for 67 from 9.5 overs. Michael Fraser was the only batsman to offer resistance with 34 as E. Mendonca claimed 4 wickets for 12 runs. In the third Quarterfinals, Terry Grocery XI spearheaded by an aggressive innings of 46 from Khemraj Mahadeo and an unbeaten 21 from Delbert Hicks, defeated Toopoo by five wickets to advance. Toopoo led by 46 from Roy Lester, Naren Magalay (28) and Balchan Baldeo (42) reached 114-3 from their 10 overs. Michael Hicks 2 - 2 and Junior Sin-

clair 1 - 17 bowled well for Terry Grocery XI. In the last Quarterfinals, Spartan defeated Rising Stars of Port Mourant by 52 runs after blasting their way to 120 - 7 from 10 overs. David Luknauth top-scored with 30 and received support from K. Sankt (20) and J. Diaram (29). Bowling for Toopoo, Eon Hooper took 5 wickets for 18 runs. In response, Toopoo was restricted to 68 for 8 off their allotted overs as Spartan bowled and fielded well. Ganesh Garbaban top-scored with 20, while Chandar Arjune supported with 18. Gobin Gangaram, David Lucknauth and Sunil Madrimutoo each took two

wickets for 11, 13 and 17 runs respectively.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the Semifinals, 3rd Place Playoff and Finals would be played on Sunday starting at 11.00 hours. A Female 10/10 match between Rose Hall Town Metro and Trophy Stall would be played from 09.30 hours.

The Winning Team would cart home $150 000.00, the Runner-up $75 000.00 and 3rd Place $50 000.00. Patrons attending the Finals would also be given the opportunity to win attractive Busta prizes while children games would also be available for kids.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday October 28, 2017

G/Town Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ set for November 22 Playoffs commence November 11

THIRTY-TWO teams from Georgetown will kickstart the popular Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ football championships on November 22. The event concludes on December 16.

The winner will pocket $500,000 and will have a chance to represent the ‘City’ at next year’s National Playoffs. The runner-up will receive $250,000, while third and fourth place finishers will collect $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.

Sixteen teams received an automatic berth for the group stage of the tournament, and as such, on November 11, there will be a ‘playoff’ in order in select

the other 16. The play,off rounds will occur following a registration period that officially starts today.

The registration timeline ends on Wednesday November 8. According to the coordinators, forms can be uplifted at the Caesars Place Banks DIH Limited, Durban Street location. Forms can also be uplifted from Referee Coordinator, Wayne Griffith, who can be contacted on tele # 697-7777.

The official playing dates are November 22, 23, 25, 30, December 2, 7, 9 and 14. The playing venues for the championship are Demerara Park, National Cultural Centre

Tarmac, Burnham Basketball Court, Albouystown Tarmac and the East Ruimveldt Tarmac [California Square].

The coordinators revealed, “It is a new and colourful era in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship, which is expected to be exciting and evenly contested in every zone.”

They further disclosed, “The tournament is going through several changes which will positively impact the overall quality. Colourful uniforms, displays and balls will be utilised to give the event vibrancy, which will certainly add to the atmosphere.”

FLASH BACK! Action in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ football championship.

Hope hopeful of ‘spin-friendly’ Queens track CMC – In-form batsman Shai Hope is expecting little different from the spin-friendly Queens Sports Club track, when the second Test bowls off here Sunday.

The wicket proved a challenge from the opening day, providing generous turn from the opening session, and Hope said he was already bracing for similar conditions, as West Indies went in search of a series sweep.

“I do think it’s going to respond the same way as the first game. The pitch is even drier than the first game but it’s about trusting your process again,” the elegant right-hander said.

“You have your individual game plans and as a team we have to make sure we are precise with those game plans and make sure we can combat anything they bring to us.”

West Indies buckled cheaply for 219 in their first innings as leg-spinner Graeme Cremer and leftarm spinner Sean Williams accounted for the majority of wickets.

But after securing a 60run lead, West Indies compiled 373 in their second

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Shai Hope believes Queens Sports Club will serve up another spin-friendly track.

innings to take command of the game, and force a 117run victory late on the fourth day last Tuesday.

“I must commend our guys for the display of batting we showed, especially Roston (Chase),” Hope said of his counterpart who scored 95 in the second innings.

“He came out and scored freely as if it wasn’t turning so credit must go to him and the batting team in general.

We played well, we responded to their spin attack and we just need to do the same in the second Test.”

Hope was also among the runs, stroking a superb unbeaten 90 in the first innings and following up with 44 in the second.

His performances saw him make yet another leap in the ICC batting rankings where he now lies 24th, as the second highest-ranked Windies player behind opener Kraigg Brathwaite at 18th.

“I just want to keep growing. As a batter, you got to this level playing decent cricket and now you have to trust your ability, trust your game,” the 23-year-old pointed out.

“You know you have the strength to get over the line to play decent quality bowlers. You have to trust your process. You work hard in the nets to go out there and do a job and you make sure you do that when you go out there.”

He added: “It’s just doing whatever you can for the team. In this format, my aim is to bat as long as possible and get big totals for the team so those things (rankings) come secondary. You see them but you don’t really go out there with those things in mind.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday October 28, 2017

Truck Master, Electronic City chip in for International Race of Champions TWO more corporate giants have stepped in to assist the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) for the upcoming International Race of Champions.

Truck Master and Electronic City are the two latest entities to signal their support for the event, billed for November 11, and 12, at the South Dakota Circuit.

According to Truck Master representative, Raymond Baksh, he is elated to be a continued supporter of the club considering his interest in racing.

Echoing his statements

Electronic City Junior Manager Tiffany Peroune (left) hands over her sponsorship to GMR&SC’s, Tina Morris.

Truck master’s Raymond Baksh hands his company’s sponsorship

were Electronic City Junior Manager, Tiffany Peroune, who also added that they are overjoyed to be associated with an event of this nature.

The twenty-seven race programme will feature local and regional competition, as well as, the Barbadian Sr3 Radicals and a professional drift exhibition.

Racing is billed for both days with Children Under 12 being admitted free on both occasions. On Saturday, Adults will be charged $1000 with Children Over 12 being charged $500, while on Sunday, Adults will be charged $2000 and Kids $1000.

CWI/PCL 4-day tournament….

Permaul spins Jaguars into total control after day 2

By Rajiv Bisnauth

AN inexplicable batting collapse left the Jamaica Scorpions staring down the barrel, as left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul six-wicket haul gave the Guyana Jaguars a firm grip after day two yesterday.

The two sides are contesting the first round of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League (PCL) four-day game at the National Stadium, Providence.

The tourists lost seven first innings wickets for just 23 runs to be bowled out for a pathetic 99, handing the momentum to the Guyanese, who closed the second day on 106-4, batting a second time.

With a 67-run cushion, the three-time defending champions pressed home the advantage by finishing the day with an overall lead of 273 runs. At stumps Leon Johnson is on 11 while Bhaskar Yadram is yet to score.

It was a sensational postlunch spell by Permaul, who captured 6-29 in just 19.5 overs, as the visitors batting crumbled in dramatic fashion after being 76-4 at one stage.

Guyanese Assad Fudadin, who opted to play for the Scorpions after refusing a local contract was the top-scorer with 39, and Captain Paul Palmer contributed 31, but the rest of their batsmen couldn’t muster

much between them.

However, when play resumed yesterday, the Jaguars’ remaining batsmen managed

the innings, while Trevon Griffith (5) went in similar fashion to Paul, at the end of the fourth over.

Gudakesh Motie had the wicket of Dennis Bulli, caught at the wicket. (Adrian Narine photo)

to survive six overs where they added just eight runs to their overnight total of 258-8.

Pacer Derval Green, who finished with figures of 4-63, claimed the final two wickets of overnight batsman, Permaul (3), and Gudakesh Motie, who went without scoring.

The other overnight batsman Romario Shepherd was unbeaten on 22.

The strong start the Scorpions expected from their openers, however, did not materialise after both Shepherd and Keemo Paul found a good length and steady consistency which eventually left the visitors gasping for breath, at 19-3.

Garth Garvey (0), fell LBW to Shepherd off the fourth ball in

Fudadin was given a reprieve on two, when wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble could not hold on to a difficult chance off Shepherd, but Paul further complicated the tourists’ crisis when he had Brandon King caught at cover for ten.

Fudadin and fellow lefthander Paul Palmer, both survived until lunch, with the visitors 37-3.

Upon resumption, the pair gave the Scorpions a brief glimmer of hope with a fourth-wicket stand of 57 before the hosts’ left-arm spinners polished off the last seven wickets. Motie complemented Permaul, with figures of 1-7 off nine overs.

But despite the Jamaicans falling 18 runs short of avoid-

ing the follow-on target of 116, skipper Leon Johnson decided not to enforce it and batted again.

The Jaguars’ openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Test discard Rajendra Chandrika batted determinedly and were focused on occupying the crease upfront, but as the final session progressed, the pair gradually began to open up, calmly, without taking any undue risks.

But after hitting five fours and a six in his 41-ball knock, Chandrika, the West Indies reject was finally dismissed when he was caught behind off leftarm wrist spinner Dennis Bulli (2-32), for 35.

Chanderpaul Hemraj joined Chanderpaul, and the left-handed pair took the score to 85 before the Jamaicans enjoyed further success just before the close.

Chanderpaul after occupying the crease for 76 minutes, facing 74 balls with three boundaries, was trapped LBW to spinner, Fabian Allen (1-4), while Hemraj was bowled by Damani Sewell (1-35), for 17.

Motie, who was promoted up the order to perform the night watchman duty was dismissed off the last ball in the penultimate over, caught at the wicket off Bulli for nine.

However, Yadram joined Johnson and negotiated the final over of play.

SCOREBOARD

Guyana Jaguars 1st innings (Overnight 258-8) T Chanderpaul c Palmer b Bulli 14 R Chandrika c wk Morrison b Green 25 C Hemraj c Garvey B Sewell 60 L Johnson b Sewell 20 B Yadram b Bulli 0 A Bramble c Fudadin b Dawes 62 K Paul c wk Morrison b Green 12 S Rutherford b Sewell 45 R Shepherd not out not 22 V Permaul c wk Morrison b Green 3 G Motie c Garvey b Green 0 Extras: (w-1, b-1, nb-1) 3 Total: (all out; 96 overs) 266 Fall of Wickets: 1-38, 2-51, 3-96, 4-101, 5-132, 6-150, 7-233, 8-251, 9-266, 10-266 Bowlers: Dawes 16-8-37-1, Green 21-2-63-4, Sewell 28-9-69-3, Bulli 18.4-2-52-2, Allen 12-041-0, Fudadin 0.2-0-3-0 Jamaica Scorpions 1st innings T Griffith lbw b Paul 5 G Garvey lbw b Shepherd 0 A Fudadin lbw b Permaul 39 B King c Chanderpaul b Paul 10 P Palmer c Chanderpaul b Permaul 31 F Allen lbw b Permaul 0 R Morrision b Permal 0 D Bulli c wk Bramble b Motie 2 D Sewell not out 6 D Green c Rutherford b Permaul 4 J Dawes lbw b Permaul 0 Extras: (w-1, nb-1) 2 Total: (all out; 48.5 overs) 99 Fall of Wickets: 1-0, 2-7, 3-19, 4-76, 5-87, 6-87, 7-88, 8-98, 9-99, 10-99 Bowlers: Shepherd 9-2-29-1, Paul 6-0-20-2, Permaul 19.5-10-29-6, Rutherford 7-2-14-0, Motie 9-7-7-1 Guyana Jaguars 2nd innings T Chanderpaul lbw b Allen 33 R Chandrika c wk Morrison b Bulli 35 C Hemraj b Sewell 17 L Johnson not out 11 G Motie c wk Morrison b Bulli 9 Extra: (b-1) 1 Total: (four wickets; 31 overs) 106 Fall of Wickets: 1-53, 2-85, 3-89, 4-106 Bowlers: Dawes 3-1-6-0, Green 4-0-21-0, Garvey 3-0-6-0, Sewell 12-5-35-1, Bulli 7-0-32-2, Allen 2-0-4-1

GTT ‘Pinktober’ 10K winner Rickie Williams on show at today’s South American 10K in Suriname

Page 27

Veerasammy Permaul six-wicket haul put the Guyana Jaguars in total control after day two. (Adrian Narine photo)

CWI/PCL 4-day tournament….

Permaul spins Jaguars into total control after day 2 Page 31

Veerasammy Permaul and his teammates celebrates the final wicket of Jason Dawes. (Adrian Narine photo)

Pouderoyen, Kuru Kuru move on in Turbo KO Football

Page 26

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Part of the Action in the Turbo Knock Out Football tournament (Delano Williams Photo) SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 28, 2017