Guyana Chronicle E-paper 11-20-2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Youman

1

TUESDAY 20th NOVEMBER, 2018

Nabi Greetings to all Guyanese No.105464

ICJ has jurisdiction to hear border case …Guyana says Venezuela’s non- jurisdictional claims baseless

PAGE

16

President returns today

President David Granger

…completes first round of chemotherapy, to return for more treatment

PAGE

03

GTT backs down from pay phone cut 14 PAGE

…consumer body, residents were up in arms against proposed move

Chef jailed for cocaine ‘meal’ in stomach 25 PAGE

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan presenting the budgetary recommendations for the various constitutional agencies which were passed in the National Assembly after much debate (See story on page 9. Delano Williams photo)

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

‘Small States part of the solution’ – PM Nagamootoo …LDCs/SIDS must be engaged and given a seat at the table

PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo, in acknowledging the contributions being made by developed states in enabling the presence of least developed countries and small-island developing states at the decision-making table, said such collaborative approach should eventually become the only acceptable standard of engagement.

At the time, the Prime Minister was delivering an address during the opening ceremony of the United Nations Human Rights Council Workshop for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States (LDCs/SIDs) at the Pegasus Hotel on Monday. President of the United Nations Human Rights Council Vojislav Šuc; CARICOM Assistant Sec-

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

retary-General, Directorate for Foreign and Community Relations, Colin Grander-

son; and Head of the Human Rights Council Branch, Office of the High Commis-

sioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Eric Tistounet were among the dignitaries present.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo said it is commendable that the Human Rights Council has made it possible, through its Trust Fund Initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean, for participation by LDCs/SIDS in the work of the Human Rights Commission. He noted that for the first time, one of the regional states – the Commonwealth of The Bahamas – has been elected to the Human Rights Council.

This prime minister said is a step in the right direction as he took stock of the contributions made by developed nations.

“It is important to note and acknowledge the contribution of the many big and more prosperous states to enable the presence of least developed countries and small-island developing states at the common table to review the changing landscape of human rights issues and to hammer out solutions to specific as well as global challenges.

“This is a collaborative approach. It should eventually result as the only acceptable standard of engagement among, and participation by, all UN member states at the level of the Human Rights Council,” he told the officials

President of the United Nations Human Rights Council Vojislav Šuc

present.

He explained that during the two-day workshop, the mandate of the Trust Fund will be to build capacity with regard to international human rights laws and systems; conduct training on the overall functioning of the Human Rights Council; promote human rights e-learning tool; and provide a platform for LDCs and SIDS to discuss challenges, achievements and lessons.

The prime minister said the 70th year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is being observed at time when troubling developments are unfolding

across the world where human rights are challenged.

For this reason, he said, countries should not only share opinions on these developments but should reaffirm commitment to fundamental human rights, which include respect for the sanctity of human life, the protection of journalists, free speech and plural, even critical, media.

“While the declaration affirmed that the inherent dignity of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, after 70 years, we continue to battle with problems over respect for basic human rights. In several parts of the world these rights are compromised on untenable grounds of race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, gender and sexual orientation, immigrant or refugee Turn to page 3

3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

President returns today

PRESIDENT David Granger will this evening return to Guyana from Cuba after spending some three weeks there for medical treatment, during which he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, a cancer that starts in the white blood cells.

The President’s medical

of his doctors.

“Thus far, His Excellency, the President, has received the first round of chemotherapy treatment and, according to the medical team, has responded very well. With the President’s highly specialised medical care and treatment for nearly three weeks–and his positive

ses Nagamootoo, who is performing the duties of President, also updated parliamentarians on the return of President Granger during Monday’s sitting of the National Assembly.

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira expressed words of comfort on behalf of the opposition during

medical team,” the statement from Havana said.

While in Cuba, the Head of State met with several top Cuban government officials.

On Friday, November 9, 2018, President Granger met Cuba’s First Vice President, His Excellency Salvador Valdes Mesa, who was performing the duties of the President President David Granger

From left to right : Halim Majeed, Guyana´s Ambassador to Cuba, President David Granger, Cuba’s First Vice-President, H.E. Salvador Valdes Mesa; the Cuban Interpreter; and Vice-Minister Ana Teresita Gonzalez Fraga (MINREX) . (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of the Presidency)

team of Cuban specialists has given approval for him to travel home, Guyana‘s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed, said in a statement on Monday. The Head of State is expected to fully recover under the supervision

response to the medical interventions and treatment,” the statement which was released by the Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency said.

Prime Minister Mo-

Monday’s sitting.

The President would depart Havana this morning and will arrive in Guyana in the evening. ”The President continues his daily routine of work, treatment and rest under the supervision of his

of Cuba, and Vice-Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), the Honorable Ana Teresita Gonzalez Fraga, to discuss a number of matters of mutual interest.

The statement said that President Granger wishes

to reiterate publicly his deep appreciation to His Excellency, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermuda, President of the Republic of Cuba, Army General Raul Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, the Honorable Jose Angel Portal Miranda, Minister of Public Health, His Excellency, Narciso Reinaldo Amador Socorro, Ambassador of Cuba in Guyana and, indeed, the Government of the Republic of Cuba for the excellent arrangements that were put in place for his arrival in Cuba and his subsequent extraordinary medical treatment in CIMEQ. He also reiterated his public gratitude to Guyanese in the homeland and in the Diaspora; the office of the United Nations in Cuba, to the many Prime Ministers, former Prime Ministers and Presidents; to the Dean of the CARICOM Diplomatic Caucus in Cuba and the entire Caucus; the Guyana

‘Small states part of the... status, and colour and nationality,” he stated.

It was pointed out that most Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries such as those in Caribbean have diverse, multi-ethnic populations, and have tried to promote integrated human rights – political as well as socio-economic and cultural rights; in addition, fundamental civil rights such as free speech, free movement and association.

In the case of Guyana, the prime minister said the country has an enviable record for full protection of all fundamental human rights. “The Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana guarantees freedom of the individual, equality of women, (and here, in local parlance, we say “women run things”) the right to education, etc.

Citizens are protected from discrimination on the basis of their race, ethnicity,

sex and gender. This is true in other Caribbean states as well. But, for us, human rights go beyond periodic elections and the election and/or removal of governments,” he explained.

Guyana, he boasted, is developing a system of open, participatory democracy, which protects the fundamental rights of citizens to choose their leaders directly, at the level of what is called “the grassroots.” But he acknowledged that human rights in the region have assumed a broader dimension such as treatment of economic refugees.

“Faced with a feared economic melt-down next-door, Venezuelans have crossed the border into Guyana as refugees. We provide food, medicine and shelter on a humanitarian basis, and grant temporary stay to those who enter our country with valid travel documents. We believe that refugees also have human rights,” he pointed out.

President of the Human Rights Council, in delivering the keynote address, said the workshop is the first of a series for LDCs and SIDS mandated by the Human Rights Council in 2017.

“Today, in this interconnected globalised world, the challenges we face are not challenges of just one State or one region but of the entire world. Dialogue and cooperation on all levels, and especially between the Human Rights Council and regional mechanisms are essential in order to effectively confront these challenges and ensure the enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all,” he explained. Šuc reported that as of January 2019, 114 out of 193 UN member states will have served as members of the Human Rights Council, as he welcomed the Bahamas as the first CARICOM state to the Human Rights

Red Cross Society; the Central Islamic Organization (CIOG); to his friends and colleagues and all those who sent their best wishes for his full and complete recovery – and his speedy return to Guyana to again serve the national interest. “He is ever grateful for their prayers and support. His Excellency, the President, would like to publicly thank the Management of CIMEQ; his Team of Medical Specialists; the Team of Nurses; the other medical staff of CIMEQ, and his Security and Protocol Detail for their professionalism, the special care and attention which he has received and for the excellent facilities in which he has been accommodated,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the President may be required to return to Havana in a time prescribed by his Medical Team in order to examine and evaluate the progress of his recovery and to extend his schedule of treatment.

From page 2

Council membership in the period of 2019-2021.

According to him, Bahamas’ presence at the decision making table will enrich debates in the council.

“In 2019 Fiji, a fellow member from the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) will also begin its three-year membership of the Human Rights Council. This will make the next year composition of the Council particularly important for the Small Island Developing States,” he further reported.

He hopes that this will serve to encourage other members of CARICOM and SIDS to consider putting forward their candidacy for membership in the council.

That aside, he said the continuous and increasing support of states, the Trust Fund to Support the Participation of LDCs and SIDS in the work of the

council enabled the participation of 25 delegates in its regular sessions this year. Among these government officials, 10 were from Africa, five were from the Caribbean and Latin America, and 10 were from Asia and the Pacific, he reported.

The workshop marks the first official visit by a President of the Human Rights Council to the Region. It was organised by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Government of Guyana, and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat. Today, the officials from 14 member States of CARICOM will continue to interact, exchange information, experiences and ideas on how to better engage with the Geneva-based Council.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

US briefly shuts Mexico border crossing –so as to beef up security NORTH-BOUND traffic, and half the pedestrian crossings at the San Ysidro border point were on Monday shut to install new movable wire-topped barriers.

Around 110,000 people enter the US daily through

Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018

Saturday 17, November, 2018

03 05 12 22 23 27 20

D

the crossing.

In the Mexican border city of Tijuana, residents held protests, demanding the migrants leave the area.

Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum said on Friday he expected the number of migrants arriving in the city

in the coming weeks to reach 10,000, warning the city was not prepared to handle the “avalanche”.

The new arrivals say they are fleeing persecution, poverty and violence in their home countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Another migrant caravan of around 150 people reportedly set off from El Salvador for the US on Sunday.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has since reopened many of the closed lanes at San Ysidro. Southbound traffic into Mexico was not affected.

San Ysidro is the busiest

land border point of entry into the US, according to the Department of Homeland Security. About 40,000 cars make the journey between Tijuana and San Diego daily.

Despite its size, San Ysidro only processes about 100 asylum seekers a day.

US President Donald Trump has characterised the migrant caravan as an “invasion”, and has deployed thousands of US troops to the border.

He tweeted on Sunday that the US is “ill-prepared” for the migrants, and “will not stand for it”.

(BBC)

A CHINESE writer has been given a 10-year sentence for writing and selling a novel which features gay sex scenes.

The writer, identified as Liu, was jailed by a court in Anhui province last month for producing and selling “obscene material”.

Her novel, titled “Occupation”, featured “male homosexual behaviour, including perverted sexual acts like violation and abuse.”

But her lengthy jail term has sparked protest across Chinese social media.

According to the Beijing News, Liu, better known by her Online alias Tian Yi, has now filed an appeal to the court. Pornography is illegal in China.

‘TOO MUCH’ On October 31, Liu was sentenced to jail by the People’s Court of Wuhu for making and selling “obscene material” for profit, according to local news site, Wuhu

03:00hrs. - 04:30hrs.

14:30hrs. - 16:00hrs.

03, 06, 09, 17, 26

Chinese writer jailed for gay sex novel

8, 9, 0

5, 0, 1

news.

However, details of the hearing only emerged on Chinese media outlets this week. Police officials were first alerted to her novel after it started to gain popularity Online.

Liu is said to have sold over 7,000 copies of ‘Occupation’ and other erotic novels, and made 150,000 yuan ($21,604, £16,782) in profit, reported State news outlet, the Global Times.

But many social media users argue that the sentence she received was excessive.

“10 years for a novel? That’s too much,” said one social media user on Weibo.

Another referenced an incident in 2013, where a former official was sentenced to eight years in prison for raping a four-year-old girl.

“Those found guilty of rape get less than 10 years in jail. This writer gets 10 years,” another Weibo user added. (BBC)

05, 06, 15, 16, 17 16, November, 2018

03 04 07 08 20

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Thousands evacuated Ex-policeman found guilty –of sex-related charges in Guatemala –as volcano erupts

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) Nearly 4,000 people were evacuated on Monday from areas around Guatemala’s Fuego volcano, which began violently erupting overnight, the country’s disaster agency, Conred, said.

The volcano spewed out dangerous flows of fast-moving clouds of hot ash, lava and gas early Monday, and more than 2,000 people have taken refuge in shelters so far, officials from the agency told reporters.

There were no immediate reports of

injuries.

More dangerous flows of hot ash and lava could be expelled, said Juan Pablo Oliva, the head of the country’s seismological, volcanic and meteorological institute, Insivumeh.

In June, explosive flows from Fuego killed more than 190 people.

This is the fifth eruption so far this year of the 3,763-meter (12,346-feet) volcano, one of the most active in Central America, about 19 miles (30 km) south of Guatemala City.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – A former police officer will be sentenced on December 7 after he was found guilty on six counts of having sex with a 12-yearold child four years ago.

Eugene Noel, 32, who was sentenced to nine months in jail for attempting to abduct a 15-year-old girl in 2013, is alleged to have committed the latest crimes between January 13 and February 14, 2014.

A nine-member jury returned a guilty verdict in the trial in which Noel, who represented himself, was prevented from cross-examining the virtual complainant directly as a result of the mea-

sures contained in the Witness Special Measures Act. Instead, the cross-examination was done by a lawyer hired by the State to perform this duty on behalf of the accused man. The High Court heard that Eugene was involved in a “relationship” with the child, a secondary school student, whom he befriended after meeting her on the street.

The prosecution said that on the first encounter, Noel kissed the child on a bus and later gave her a ring and a cellular phone so that he could remain in contact with her.

Noel had unprotected

sex with her on three occasions, the first being inside the restroom of a fast-food restaurant on the first day of school in January 2014. He reportedly had sex with the girl multiple times, including on his birthday, February 3, when he invited her to spend the day with him.

Justice Bryan Cottle ordered that a social inquiry report be prepared ahead of the December 7 sentencing.

Noel has been remanded into custody until then.

In 2013, the Serious Offences Court jailed Noel for nine months, after finding him guilty of attempting to abduct a 15-year-old girl.

Several killed in Haiti –as protesters demand Moise’s resignation

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – At least six people were killed and several others injured as opposition demonstrators took to the streets on Sunday demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moise, and a full investigation into the use of the funds under the PetroCaribe, the Venezuela oil initiative to assist countries in the region.

“There is only one option: Jovenel Moïse is a political corpse that must be brought to the cemetery. It’s over for him; we cannot do anything with him anymore; he must leave without delay to avoid chaos,” said André Michel, one of the organisers of the protest.

Police have confirmed that the deaths occurred across the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, and that several arrests had been made.

The spokesman for the National Police of Haiti (PNH), Michel-Ange Louis Jeune, said that six people were killed, five others injured and 20 arrests were made, but the opposition organisers speaking at a news conference late Sunday said that 11 people had been killed, 47 wounded and 75 others arrested.

The Secretary of State for Communication, Eddy Jackson Alexis, while he congratulated the police and law enforcement

authorities for their “professional work” deplored and condemned the attacks against companies, residences, private property and some diplomatic residences.

President Moise cancelled the planned trip with members of his cabinet to Cap Haitien on Sunday to commemorate the 215th anniversary of the Battle of Vertières.

The movement of the democratic opposition later described the decision of President Moise as “cowardly” even as leader of the opposition Pitit Dessalines, party, Jean-Charles Moise, took credit for the decision of Moise to cancel his trip.

In a pre-recorded message, President Moise said “the symbolism of Vertières calls for dialogue, union and understanding”.

On Sunday, several people took to the streets in the capital as well as in some of the provincial cities, burning tires,

paralysing public transport and waving black and red flags and demanding answers also to PetroCaribe.

PetroCaribe is an oil alliance of many Caribbean states with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment. The alliance was launched on the 29th of June 2005 in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. In 2013, PetroCaribe agreed for links with the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA), to go beyond oil and promote economic cooperation.

Haitians have been taking to the streets in recent months demanding an inquiry into the use of Petro Caribe funds.

Prior to the demonstra-

Demonstrators took to the streets on Sunday demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moise

tions, the opposition Famni Lavalas party called on the population to remain vigilant, amid reports that Nicolas Duvalier, the son of former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, is being promoted by Haitian politicians abroad as the new leader of the country.

“The black and red flag of François Duvalier is being promoted. Stop irritating the people, stop putting the people’s struggle as a comedy,” Famni Lavalas said in a statement, adding “today the battle is not that of the colour of the flag.

“The battle is to do what our ancestors did on November

18, 1803, to free the country from these authorities. The battle is to put no matter the cost at the head of the country a power of transition so that we can make a PetroCaribe trial and a National Conference to establish in the country a good political system that will allow Haiti to really develop,” the party said.

The party said it was urg-

ing supporters not to “fall into the trap of the division on the colour of the flag, and to remain mobilized”.

The opposition has called on supporters to stay home on Monday, but Jackson Alexis, said the population should ignore the advice and that the police would be out in their numbers to ensure their safety.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Guyana’s respect for human rights GUYANA government’s commitment to the respect for human rights is unequivocal, absolute, and evident.

Presently, Guyana is hosting an unprecedented meeting and workshop in Georgetown, opened by Prime Minster Moses Nagamootoo, to discuss ways to improve and maximise relations with the Geneva-based Human Rights Council (HRC). The HRC is the arm of the United Nations that responds to global human rights issues.

Government’s attention to human rights and the recognition that such rights are important is to be commended, even as many other countries’ neglect of those rights is condemned.

The workshop – organised by the Government

of Guyana, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, the Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – marks the first time that a president of the HRC, in this case Mr. Vojislav Suc, has ever visited the region. Government representatives from across the Caribbean, including some forty local participants, are interacting and discussing how our region can better engage with the HRC. Guyana’s participants include senior government officials.

The workshop, being held on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR), offers an ideal opportunity for CARICOM States to reaffirm our commitment to

the provisions of the UDHR, while strengthening administrative structures for the enforcement of those rights.

Human rights are moral principles that describe standard behaviour that protect the inalienable, fundamental rights to which a person is entitled by virtue of being human. Those moral principles arose out of ideas developed after the Second World War, particularly in light of the Holocaust. Those principles were clarified and resulted in the adoption of the UDHR by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.

Such rights are set out in the articles of the UDHR. Article 1 states, “All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should

act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

The UDHR enshrines too, the rights to equality, dignity, liberty, security, privacy, and citizenship, among others. The UDHR lists too, additional freedoms and entitlements. The document affirms that humans are entitled to freedom of religion, association, free and fair trials under the law, and freedom from enslavement or involuntary servitude. The workshop, therefore, is evidently important.

Human rights and freedoms are enshrined in numerous articles throughout Guyana’s constitution. Article 40 (1) states, “Every person in Guyana is entitled to the basic right to a happy, creative and productive life, free from hunger, disease, ignorance, and want. That

right includes the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to the respect for rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely – (a) Life, liberty, security of the person and the protection of the law; (b) Freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association; and (c) Protection for the privacy of his home and other property and from deprivation of property without compensation.”

In addition to the fundamental rights to which all humans are entitled,

Guyanese enjoy many other constitutional rights and entitlements. For example, the right to free education (Article 27), and the right to free medical attention (Article 24). It is in the interest of all Guyanese to know their rights under the law.

The Guyana government, by hosting the twoday, international workshop, reaffirms its guarantee to the upholding of human rights in Guyana, and iterates is commitment to working towards fortifying the administrative and legal arrangements that give reality to the respect for such rights in all territories. The leadership demonstrated by Guyana’s government by hosting this workshop is, again, noted and applauded.

Major parties attitude to shared governance remain unchanged Dear Editor,

DR. HENRY Jeffrey in his “Future Notes” column that was published on Wednesday, December 14.2018, in the Stabroek News (SN), captioned “Guyana has never been the home of all Guyanese”, gave his response to the observations I made in relation to his shared governance proposal in his previous SN column on O7. 11.2018.

Interestingly, in his defense, Dr Jeffrey resorted to putting the onus/responsibility on me, and readers of his column, to believe that he had not intended to convey the impression for the president to act unilaterally and not to consult with his party, his allies and the PPP. Dr. Jeffrey in his letter contended that it was absurd for me to think that the president will ‘make an offer without first having some discourse with the PPP…’ Many years ago when I ventured into writing politically for public consumption, I was advised by brother Eusi Kawayana, that care should be taken to avoid writing in a manner that puts the burden on the reader to guess your intention. This advice is something I believe that Dr. Jeffrey should give consideration to and, if he sees merit in it, adopt in his writings.

Dr. Jeffrey is an academic of high repute and should be aware of his obligation to his readers as a writer. If he had assumed that obligation in the first instance, as he has since done in his reply, I would not have engaged the proposal and would not have felt the need to point out the pitfalls in his well-intended initiative.

Dr. Jeffery said, that I was utilising, ‘… devices such as consultation and unilateralism‘, to defend the government’s inaction on its election commitment to constitutional reform and national government - shared governance. This was never my intention.

My primary concern was the possible consequences of the president acting unilaterally given the implications for African and national politics. Having cleared the air on that matter, I will now address Dr. Jeffery’s primary political question, which he posed to me in his polemic.

He wrote: ‘…. and perhaps informed us whether he, a long-time supporter of shared governance, has now become a rejectionist’. Without hesitation, I wish to assure Dr. Henry Jeffrey and the nation that my commitment to shared governance and my conviction that this is the solution to the national historic race/politics and winner

take all governance, has not wavered one iota post-2015 defeat of the PPPC. Almost on a daily basis in discussions with people, activists, and non-activists, I deliberately seek every opportunity to point out that the solution to our political and economic problems require shared governance. I see no reason to do otherwise, given our known reality.

I have for some time, refrained from public advocacy or polemics on shared governance. This position was explained in a letter which I had written very early in the life of the present government.

Notwithstanding the fact that I cannot, at this moment, locate the letter, I distinctly recall saying that the bad blood which flows between the two forces post elections, the PPPC ‘s insistence that the elections have always been rigged to deprive them of power, and the obvious triumphalism among APNU+AFC coalition leaders and supporters post 2015 elections, make advocacy for shared governance in the present situation, wishful thinking, since neither side is really interested in that form of governance. I had also pointed out that the PPP’s attitude toward shared governance will only change if that party loses the 2020 General and

Regional elections.

It is my considered judgment that the attitudes of the major political parties to shared governance remain unchanged. But since Dr. Jeffery, who is better informed than me on the PPPC’s disposition on the matter advises otherwise, I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt and accept his opinion that my position on the PPPC/s perceived non-interest is too rigid.

Finally, the local government elections are over and the results are known. Dr. Henry Jeffery now has his work cut out.

My question, now that the PPP had strong showings and many victories at the just concluded LGEs, is Jeffery still optimistic that the results of those elections can be the basis for meaningful shared governance discussions between the two major parties? The victorious and triumphant PPP leader Bharrat Jagdeo, is on record as saying that the PPP is now turning its attention to the 2020 elections. Presumably, the APNU+AFC are in the same mood. It is anyone’s guess where this leaves Jeffery’s very patriotic proposal.

Regards, Tacuma Ogunseye

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

I am disappointed with the results Dear Editor, THE Caribbean has been a hot spot for the European Colonial powers for many centuries. Territories changed hands regularly as wars of possession flared up time and again. The people living in them had no say in what was happening.

However, gradually the masses began to insert themselves in these fights. First, they abolished slavery, then indentureship and later began the fight for freedom, independence. The intensity of that struggle varied in each territory. However, the forward looking leaders were always for clean break with colonialism. In the post-independence period attempts were made to establish a Caribbean Community. Progress has been made over the years.

Admitting though, that very often it has been so slow as to make the tortoise look like a sprinter.

Recently, the movement towards integration has suffered some serious setbacks.

The referendums held in An-

tigua and Grenada to decide whether those two countries should withdraw from the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, as their court of final jurisdiction and for them to join the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) delivered results that are very disturbing. Those two referendums rejected the proposition to join the CCJ. It is worrying because this is not a case where the British or the Privy Council are fighting to keep the Caribbean states with their jurisdiction. In fact, it is the opposite, they have been encouraging the region to leave because they are aware that the judges at the CCJ are more familiar with the culture of the people of the region, the nuances of life here, etc.

The fact that the people of the region have a lot in common is important. Generally, we have a common history and experience has shown that our people interact with each other with great ease. There are positions to promote and facilitate integration. Why, therefore, is

Why the silence?

Dear Editor, Attorney–at–law Ryan Crawford, appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, last September, charged on five counts in breach of the laws which arose out of an incident on a public highway, when he was stopped by a police rank on patrol duty.

It was a most shocking, shameful, and offensive display (reported) which has ever been publicly displayed by an attorney. After all, the policeman was only carrying out his lawful duties. Mr. Crawford, it had been reported was accompanied by an 11-man team of attorneys. Was this a preponderant show of legal representation, designed to cow the sitting magistrate?

One wonders!

Based on media reports, this matter had been adjourned to October 11; however, it has been more than a month since the latter date has passed, and I cannot recall, whether by way of print or electronic media, any information as to

whether this matter had indeed been further dealt with, if at all, and its conclusion.

Editor, I am curious about this particular case because I am in no doubt, though I speak in layman’s language, when justice is allowed to take its course that this citizen can be found guilty of the charges for which he is arraigned, especially those pertaining to use of obscene language, and riotious behaviour. However, there is a tradition in this country, of members of the professional class not being sanctioned for offences, similar in nature as those committed by ordinary citizens who

it proving so hard to build institutions that can facilitate greater integration?

After all, via CARICOM we have established a common market and we have expressed our intention to work harder to unite our economies. We have often coordinated our position on international issues. Working together has helped the region to punch way above its weight. We are often courted in appointments to import international bodies.

While I don’t profess to have all the answers I believe that while we have independence, our colonial past still weighs heavily on our mind. The influence of centuries of colonial domination has not yet been overcome.

I recall when I made my maiden speech at the CARICOM Heads meeting in St. Lucia I raised this issue.

I said then, that it does not speak well of us that after 50 years of independence all the territories are not members of the CCJ. I had called for all the territories to join and strengthen this important in-

stitution. I must admit that I did not fully grasp the depth of the colonial domination on people’s and leaders mind. I now marvel at Bob Marley’s exertions, to emancipate our minds from mental slavery or the regular exertion of the Mighty Chalkdust to do the same in many of his calypsos.

I say this because most of the region’s territories are still outside the CCJ. It is clear that the important leaders, people in politics, law, media, etc. are not convinced of the importance of CARICOM. They do not think the benefits of integration are significant. Many still hold the view of things outside. We are living in a world of great fundamental contradictions. On the one hand the international economy has now interlinked but it is producing a greater nationalism even among highly developed nation. Under the slogan of making America great again, President Trump has been pulling the US out of many important bodies and agreements. He is using the power of the US not to

are always surely and swiftly made to suffer legal penalty.

It is time that this nonsense, and this is being charitable in description, ceases as it is a continuation of citizens being treated by law, based on their social status.

One would hope that this attorney, has not been given the let off, or a slap on the wrist penalty, or a simple reprimand and discharge, and that this would not have been done without the presence or knowledge of the media. This would be tantamount to the law, not wanting the public to be informed as to whatever conclusive decision has been made concerning one of its officers.

A further concern was what has been the definite refusal by the Guyana Bar

Association (GBA) to reprimand this clearly disrespectful attorney. This is despite the association issuing a statement which reiterated that it, “holds is members to the highest standards of ethics…..befitting that of our most noble and esteemed profession”. Surely, something has to have gone absolutely wrong with this representative body not understanding what kind of conduct, should warrant its disapproval.

Regards, Observer

assist in building a better world but to extract more benefits for the US. At least that is how he sees things.

The withdrawal of the UK from the EU is another manifestation of this growing nationalism. The movement for withdrawals from internationalism is strong in France, Spain and Germany as well.

I believe that this is so because of the failure of this neo-liberal model of globalisation to improve people’s lives. Figures are numerous to show that the benefits from an increased production and productivity go mainly to the one per cent of the very rich internationally. The, dog eat dog mentality, which dominated our world for centuries is still the strongest sentiment internationally.

Ordinary working people have experienced stagnation and decline in a world of great abundance. This direction of isolation will not help the people as they are being told, it could make things worse. The task is to change the model of globalisation.

Therefore, CARICOM lead-

ers and opinion makers must consider carefully their position on this issue. The CCJ has shown great capacity and integrity. It can become even stronger. This act of rejection of the CCJ has with it the seeds of greater harm.

It shows the mentality that many still believe that we in the region are inferior to others. It can be interpreted that we still believe that things from abroad are always superior to what we have or produce. This, in the global environment, can lead to disintegration. It can threaten the other gains that have already been made, however, modest they may be. On the other hand, with boldness the region can become a region of hope and serve as an alternative experience on the need and benefits of integration for the world.

We must work to overcome the recent setbacks or else face the consequences of great reversal.

Regards, Donald Ramotar Former President

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

CARICOM crime stats experts to benefit from training Technical experts involved in the production of crime and criminal justice statistics in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), will benefit from capacity building at a Regional Workshop to be held on 2123 November 2018, at the Community’s headquarters, Georgetown, Guyana.

According to a CARICOM Secretariat release, the workshop is an activity of the Crime and Violence Prevention and Social De-

velopment Project component of the European Union/ CARIFORUM Crime and Security Cooperation Programme, being implemented under the Tenth European Development Fund (EDF).

The CARICOM Secretariat has collaborated with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to implement this capacity building initiative. The workshop is intended to introduce participants, who are mainly experts from the

main criminal justice institutions dealing with crime and criminal justice statistics, to the International Classification of Crime and Statistical Purposes (ICCS), its main uses, tools and challenges for its implementation.

Another highlight of the workshop is the establishment of a Regional Steering Committee (RSC) for the development of crime and criminal justice statistics.

The committee will provide the enabling environment for

necessary in-country support for the implementation of the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS).

The committee will comprise the Chairs of the Standing Committee of Commissioners of Police, the Standing Committee of Heads of Corrections and Prison Services, the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians, the Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, and the Chair of the meeting

of Chief Medical Officers.

Other expected outcomes of the three-day workshop are increased awareness about the importance of establishing and applying statistical concepts on crime and criminal justice data and guidance on the implementation of the ICCS across institutions and jurisdictions. The ICCS is an international statistical standard for data collection.

It provides a framework,

which allows for statistical data to be systematically produced and compared across different criminal justice institutions and jurisdictions. To this end, the ICCS is applicable to all forms of crime data, whatever the stage of the criminal justice process (police, prosecution, conviction, imprisonment) at which they are collected, as well as to data collected in crime victimisation surveys.

Governance is about attending to the people’s business Dear Editor

REFERENCE is being made to Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan’s 18th November 2018 letter, which is a response to my article “Local Government Elections, though disappointing, were not unexpected” (KN 18th November, 2018). It is unfortunate as the minister attempted to fact check me, and had his views distributed via the Department of Public Information (DPI), that he apparently did not think it worthwhile to ask of the said department to fact check him before placing same in the public domain. Was this fundamental element considered, the undermentioned “facts” below as stated by him, could have been corrected.

Fact 1. – “President David Arthur Granger has not benefitted from any salary increase since coming to Office.” The truth is, on 18th November 2015, the government issued a statement, via the Director of Public Information, Imran Khan, which said, “His Excellency President David Granger received a 5% salary increase.” For easy and credible reference refer to the state-owned Guyana Chronicle, 19th November, 2015 article, “Jagdeo, Ramotar received tax free salaries.”

Fact 2- “The Prime Minister (PM) benefitted from a one-time, very small (5%) increase in salary in 2015. When the coalition government acceded to office, it found that the salary of the Attorney General (AG) was not only tax-free, but it was also higher than the Prime Minister’s salary. To correct this anomaly, the Prime Minister’s salary was adjusted slightly above the AG’s salary.

Please note however, that unlike the AG, the PM pays income tax.” The truth is, in this instance it is being acknowledged the PM received an increase. Further, it must be noted that the rationale for the AG receiving a higher salary than the PM has its genesis in the era of the Forbes Burnham government, where this emolument was made to attract the best legal mind to head the Attorney General’s Chamber. To now just look at it as an “anomaly” without taking on board the history and context for same, undercuts the spirit and intent of its originality.

Fact 3: “The salaries of Cabinet Ministers, Speaker of the National Assembly and Leader of the Opposition were increased by

50 per cent; those of junior Ministers by a lesser percentage; and those of the other Parliamentarians by an even lesser percentage.”

The truth is- Fact 1, 2 and 3 are consistent with my statement that, “The administration should not forget that the 50 per cent and other increases paid to the President, his ministers and all the parliamentarians, in less than six months coming to office….” (Eye on Guyana with Lincoln Lewis- “Local Government Elections, though disappointing, were not unexpected”- KN 18th November 2018).

The public is invited to objectively judge, having read the above, whether the minister’s position that my article is “the triumph of propaganda and ‘fake news’ over truth,” has merit. It is becoming more evident that within the coalition government the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing (or saying), or none dares/cares to check the other, and collectively save themselves unnecessary embarrassment. Now to what the minister described as the, “second erroneous assertion of Mr. Lewis is the following: ‘Taking away the subsidies in water and electricity from this vulnerable constituent that lives on significant reduced income (pension), remains heartless.” There is an admittance by the minister that these subsidies “were incorporated (not removed) into the pension.”

The minister is the politician. I’m the trade unionist. You don’t take away or incorporate a benefit; what you do, is to seek to maintain the benefit but find ways and means to have those that are eligible receive same.

The fact that the subsidies are no longer identified separately as was done previously, they are considered as being taken away.

In addressing my statement that the low turnout by the Disciplined Services had to do with the removal of the yearend bonus of a one-month salary, another fundamental factor eluded the minister. This issue is not about increase in pay and what the PPP/C government did in its manipulation in paying increases in wages and salaries; it is about a year-end bonus. This is the subject. Bonus, whether put in by the employer or agreed to by the parties, becomes a condition of service. The removal of same has to be agreed upon by the parties.

In my traverse to and from home, I would pass at least three police stations and often meet these officers in the communities. They

have been continuously expressing their dissatisfaction over the removal of the bonus, which I wrote about before. If the government had a concern that the bonus was only benefitting one group in the public sector and its intention was to bring about parity across the entire sector, the act ought to have been to make all recipients, i.e. pay the bonus across the board and don’t even consider reducing or removing it.

Adding insult to an injured position, the minister found it “nauseating” that in articulating, a demotivator by a demographic, in voting, is equivalent to an easy and callous sacrifice for the proverbial “40 pieces of silver.” I would not want to believe the minister is a callous thinker or writer. The reference to “40 pieces of silver” is grounded in the Holy Bible and has to do with the story of Judas betraying Jesus, which is treated with reverence by believers of the faith. To assert, explicitly or implicitly, that those members of the Disciplined Services who withheld their votes, is tantamount to betrayal, is an insult and taking a lot for granted. No group or party owns the vote of any group or individual. However, if the Disciplined Services is considered a reliable constituent there is corresponding responsibility to treat them with dignity and respect.

To the minister’s reference to salary increases, while not relevant to the present discourse, it ought to be said that the process by which these increases were made is in conflict with the principles of Collective Bargaining. This administration came to office on a campaign promise to restore Collective Bargaining and has reneged on it.

The trade unions had to fight or are fighting tooth and nail to have same respected. To boast of paying increases with no regard for the principles that should undergird same, is a display of contempt for the fundamental dignity and respect of others. It is hoped the promise of future increases will see departure from imposition and realise the beginning of constructive engagement with the trade unions.

The bonus, subsidies and salaries issues are not about numbers. They are about upholding established and time-honoured principles and noting the responses of the citizenry to the treatment and decisions of the government in these regards. The con-

cern in this society is that the coalition is not prepared to take on board concerns raised by the citizenry, and seek to address them to the satisfaction of the people. What is instructive is that the politicians believe that whatever decision they make must be accepted by the people regardless of the circumstances.

The concerns that were raised in that Eye on Guyana article emanated from various groups in society, and while I may be the author, I am not the originator of many of them.

Governance is about attending to the people’s business, and those tasked with the responsibility of managing same have a duty to listen to the people and their cries. To deny that the issues raised are not contributory factors to the poor turnout at the Local Government Elections, which resulted in a humiliating loss to the APNU and AFC, is tantamount to behaving like ostriches, burying their heads in the sand.

There has not been one justifiable reason given by the principal leaders of these groups as to the reason for the poor turn out and losses in many districts and their strongholds.

Rather than taking on board the observations and put corrective measures in place to glavanise their base, some representatives of the government are taking serious umbrage to constructive criticism.

Having the opportunity of entering many of the villages on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) and West Coast Berbice (WCB) and walking around Georgetown, prior to the elections, many said they were not going to vote and stated their reasons why. Some of these were stated in the 18th November article. Conscious of the ground swell against voting, it informed my 11th November article, “Tomorrow is Local Government Election, Vote for…,” which called on people to vote. 2020 is a short period from now. The coalition leaders are urged to take note of their failure to accept that the course they are travelling is not embraced by a significant portion of their supporters. Unless they accept and review objectively the errors being identified by their supporters and members of civil society, including their opponents, they stand the chance of returning to the Opposition.

Regards, Lincoln Lewis

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Over $11B approved for constitutional agencies …PPP fails in bid to restore adjustments

By Lisa Hamilton The Opposition on Monday failed to restore adjustments made to the budgets of several constitutional agencies during a testy sitting that was interrupted by a two-hour suspension of the House.

In the end the National Assembly approved over $11B for the 2019 fiscal year for the bodies. Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, in his presentation of the current and capital estimates of the constitutional agencies, provided comparative data on the requests of the agencies; the recommendation of the Government and how it compares with previous allocations.

Although $1.845B was requested for the Parliament Office, the sum of $1.700B was approved which Jordan stated is 92 per cent of the requested amount and some 13 per cent above what was given in 2017.

Prior to its approval, the figure was met with resistance from Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira who questioned the cut of some $145M from what she referred to as the country’s “highest supreme law making body”.

There was also objection from Opposition MP Juan Edghill who questioned whether specific forms were

filled out by the budget agencies and whether these forms aided Jordan in the arrival at his decision.

In response Jordan stated that the figure recommended takes into consideration the economic outlook for 2019; revenue; expenditure; growth in the economy; the annualisation of salaries and the overall national development.

The economic outlook for 2019, he expounded, is positive economic growth and while the Government anticipates a slight increase in revenue, he said expenses were high and the various agencies have to exercise good financial management.

Edghill also queried whether the minister could give the assurance that, after one month, the lump sums being approved would be transferred to the constitutional agencies in keeping with the law. To this Jordan responded: “The law requires that and we follow the law strictly”, adding that the amount budgeted for constitutional agencies in the past is exactly what the agencies have collected over the years.

Audit spending Meanwhile the sum requested for the Office of the Auditor General was $894M but a sum of $872M was approved. Opposition MP Irfaan Ali questioned whether the sum was adequate taking

‘Shoe-lace’ to be sentenced Dec. 3 –for murder of Annandale businessman A 12-member jury on Monday afternoon found guilty, by unanimous decision, Philip Paul, called “Shoelace”, of the 2012 murder of Annandale businessman Kamal Ramsahoye.

The verdict was reached, around 13:00hrs, at the Demerara High Court after several hours of deliberation, and the summation of the case by trial judge Sandil Kissoon.

After the verdict was announced, an expressionless Paul stood as his attorney, Brandon De Santos requested that a probation report be prepared.

In granting the request, Justice Kissoon said that the

probation report will be read followed by sentencing on December 3, at 15:30hrs.

According to the indictment, Paul murdered Kamal Ramsahoye, called “Vickie”, in the course or furtherance of a robbery between December 8 and 9, 2012.

The North Annandale, East Coast Demerara businessman was found dead in his fortress-like residence in which was housed a grocery shop.

A post-mortem revealed that he had been stabbed 10 times, and that he had died of shock and hemorrhaging.

The State is represented

by Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan presents the current and capital estimates of the constitutional agencies in parliament on Monday (Delano Williams photo)

into consideration the impending oil and gas sector; the new capital projects coming on stream and the country’s growing capital budget.

Jordan rebutted by providing statistics which show that the $872M represents 98 per cent of the requested sum and is 16 per cent more than what was allocated in 2017.

When asked to indicate the considerations taken into account when the deductions were made to the sum proposed, the Finance Minister reiterated that these were the economic outlook of 2019, expenditure; revenue; growth

in the economy and the annualisation of salaries.

When challenged, Jordan added that he does not believe that the sum being recommended will restrict the Office of the Auditor General from conducting its duties or maintaining its staffing. Before the sum of $5.317B was approved for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as opposed to the $6.368B requested, there were questions from the Opposition on how the figure would cater for house-to-house registration planned for the New year by GECOM. In response, Jordan stated that the sum is roughly 84 per cent of the requested amount and almost double what the Commission was allocated in 2018. He stated his position that the 16 per cent reduction of the amount requested would not interfere with the smooth conduct of the houseto-house registration planned

by GECOM. Meanwhile, Opposition MP Anil Nandlall, when the sum recommended for the Supreme Court of Judicature by Jordan was stated as $2.308B, recalled instances in which the Government returned to the House for the approval of additional funds.

Nandlall therefore questioned why the sum being suggested accounted for an over $500M reduction from the requested figure of $2.801B.

Jordan clarified that the cases of requests made by his Administration for additional funds involved the employment of magistrates and judges of the Court of Appeal which the Government has no control over.

The Opposition then switched things around when Nandlall questioned the lack of reduction of the budget recommended for the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions which remained as requested by the agency at $219M. This, however was bypassed when the House granted the approval as requested by the agency which was viewed by Jordan as sufficient amount.

On the Government’s recommended $194M for the Ethnic Relations Commission, the Opposition highlighted the some $84M reduction and the over $29M supplementary that the Commission recently benefited from.

Prior to its approval, Jordan stated that this represents an increase of 275 per cent on budget 2017. The sum of $146M was also approved for the Public and Police Service Commissions which Jordan stated is 94 per cent of the requested amount and

62 per cent above the 2017 allocation.

Then, with Minster Jordan recommending the sum of some $34M for the Human Rights Commission Teixeira questioned the increase of a budget for a commission she referred to as “non-existent”.

Teixeira queried when the rights commission would be constituted arguing that she had been raising this issue for the past two years. The body came into being under the PPP but was never constituted. The sum was nonetheless approved by the House.

Other approvals included: $109M was approved uncontested for the Teaching Service Commission; $74M for the Office of the Ombudsman; $62M for the Public Service Appellate Tribunal; $10M for the Judicial Service Commission; $30M for the Indigenous People’s Commission; $47M for the Rights of the Child Commission; $47M for the Women and Gender Equality Commission and $218M for the Public Procurement Commission.

Collectively, while a total of some $13.270B was requested by the constitutional bodies a total of some $ 11.446B was ultimately approved.

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Guyana closer to HIV elimination targets

Dr Martin Odiit

GUYANA is closer today to meeting its UNAIDS 90–90– 90 target as 86 per cent of all people living with HIV now know their status; 74 per cent of those diagnosed are receiving sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART) while 65 per cent of those on ART have achieved viral suppression.

This accomplishment forms part of the UN strategy which aims to diagnose 90 per cent of all HIV positive people; provide ART for 90 per cent of those diagnosed and achieve viral suppression for 90 per cent of those treated, by 2020.

The news of Guyana’s progress towards meeting its first goal was announced on Monday at the launching of ‘Know Your Status’ Guyana Campaign organised by the Ministry of Public Health’s National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS).

Information provided showed that, at the end of 2017, Guyana was recorded as having some 8,215 living with HIV resulting in a 1.6 per cent population prevalence.

In the same year, around 75 per cent of those living with HIV in Guyana knew their status with the govern-

Members of the audience (Samuel Maughn photos)

ment serving as the largest funder of the HIV testing and treatment service.

Of this number, 7,100 were aware that they were HIV positive; 5,237 were receiving sustained treatment and 3,414 were found to be virally suppressed.

“Clearly you can see from this that Guyana is not too far away from achieving the first 90. However, we have a lot more work to do in achieve the second and the third 90,” said NAPS Programme Man-

ager Dr. Rhonda Moore.

“We still have some 13.6 per cent of persons that are still unaware of their status.

These are the persons that we really need to reach out to ensure that they seek the testing service.”

Addressing the gathering in the NAPS compound she added that while men test less for HIV, Deputy Programme Manager Dr. Nicolette Boatswain said that men, more than women, are found to be HIV positive.

In addition, the age groups 25-49 and 15-19 are still the most affected by HIV while the 30-34 age groups continues to be the group receiving late diagnosis therefore accounting for the most deaths in 2017.

Meanwhile, marginalised communities account for the most positive tests of HIV and multiple sexual partners continue to be one of greatest contributors to HIV. In her presentation, Dr. Moore reminded HIV pos-

itive persons that comorbidities such as high blood pressure and diabetes can become more aggressive with the presence of HIV which is why these should receive similar attention.

The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day, to be observed on December 1, is similarly ‘Know Your Status’ and sets its efforts on the first component of the 90–90–90 target.

SEE PAGE 11

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Guyana closer to...

FROM PAGE 10

Dr Rhonda Moore

As such, Dr. Moore said: “World AIDS Day observances provide us with an opportunity to pause and take stock not only of what we have achieved, which is as a result of our collective efforts, but they also allow us to examine what remains to be accomplished, what strategies should be utilised and what are the obstacles that we need to overcome in our aim to end this epidemic.”

Meanwhile, UNAIDS Country Director for Guyana and Suriname, Dr. Martin Odiit, in his remarks stated that about one quarter of persons worldwide do not know

that they are living with HIV while, in general, some 37 million persons are living with the infection.

At the same time, only 59 per cent of all persons living with HIV in the world are accessing treatment as HIV infections worldwide are not reducing fast enough.

Dr. Odiit urged HIV positive persons to be consistent with their treatment and reminded that couples engaging in normal sexual intercourse can still be discordant whereby one partner is HIV positive and the other is not.

With these in mind, he stated: “People living with

HIV should not die from AIDS and people who are HIV negative should be supported with HIV prevention, knowledge and tools so that they can stay negative.”

Dr. Boatswain in her presentation said that the campaign seeks to educate, empower and encourage Guyanese to embrace the responsibility of knowing their status.

The strategy in effect has two components: the first of which is to reach out to strengthen collaboration with stakeholders to provide HIV testing and sensitisation services. Second is the component which sees collaboration with health care providers to ensure that those seeking health services receive Provider-Initiated Counselling and Testing (PICT).

As such, for the purpose of the campaign, NAPS will be working along several health institutions for the next three months which include the Kitty, Campbellville, Dorothy Bailey and Beterverwagting Health Centres; Dental School and the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

“It is important that we revive the culture of HIV

testing. It is important that we re-empower the Guyanese public to know their status and to understand the responsibility that they have.

It is important that we help our health care providers to recognise the importance of having that conversation

with clients and patients,” Dr. Boatswain said.

The campaign will additionally see awareness walks; school essay competitions; site and mobile HIV testing and more being conducted extending all the way into the New Year.

The UNAIDS 90–90–90 target was launched in 2014 targeting 30 million person while Guyana embarked on its HIV response 31 years ago with its first AIDS case diagnosed in 1987 followed by the establishment of NAPS in 1992.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

‘Speak out against reckless road use’ – Minister Ferguson

The procession of persons who raised awareness on Sunday for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

ON the observance of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, urged citizens to speak out against reckless road users.

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is observed annually every third Sunday in November and recognised yesterday in Guyana by an awareness walk from the Kitty Roundabout to the Seawall Bandstand.

The event was hosted by the Guyana National Road Safety Council in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department and the Ministries of Public Security, Public Health and Public Infrastructure.

It was guided by the theme: “Stop Accidents before it stops you. Be Alert, Accidents Hurt”.

In addressing the topic of road safety, Minister Ferguson said, “Many of us who use the road, who use the public transportation can speak out and let these drivers understand that our lives are indeed important because when they crash and lives are lost they continue with their lives, they move on to another vehicle and other lives are also in danger. So as road users, as users of public transportation, the time has come for us to speak out;

to let these reckless drivers know that our lives are important.”

Minister Ferguson also addressed the traffic chief, stating that it is high time that police patrol becomes constant at nights to arrest drivers who break the law or drive with high-beam lights affecting the vision of other drivers.

She stated: “The time has come for your officers too to patrol at nights because we have these reckless drivers at nights with these high [powered] white lights outfitted on vehicles so that the oncoming traffic is at a disadvantage…traffic chief the time has come for us, for you and your team to step up and carry this campaign seriously. Too many lives have been lost on our roads and the time has come for the police to be what they’re place there to be; especially the traffic department.”

She stated further that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure will continue to play its role in ensuring that safe roads are constructed, especially catering for sidewalks, which help to keep pedestrians out of harm’s way.

“This year and last year we would have installed a lot of sidewalks in major areas in Georgetown and to some extent we will be going out of Region Four.

That in itself will say to you that the government is indeed

serious to ensure that the majority of our pedestrians and also those who use the roads would indeed adhere to the features being outfitted on our roads,” she said.

With this in mind, she also urged pedestrians to play their role by using the road safely and adhering to the road safety rules in place to protect them.

Presenting remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Health was Head of the Emergency Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Tracy Bovell.

She stated that from January to October 2018 there have already been some 1,385 road traffic accident victims while 77 per cent of all trauma-related deaths are males.

Treatment of road accident victims, she added, remains very costly for the public health system; destroys families and can cause mental health issues for those would have caused or experienced the traumatic event.

As such, she urged persons not to drink and drive; to desist from texting and driving; to always wear seatbelts or helmets and to never transport children on motorbikes, squashed in the middle and without a helmet.

Remarks came too from representative of the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO)

Paul Edwards; Regional Vice Chairman of Region Four Earl Lambert and Supt. Traffic Officer Linden Isles.

Edwards urged citizens to get serious about addressing the stagnant problem of traffic or road accidents.

He stated that each year some 1.2 million persons are killed in road accidents in events which can be prevented.

With this in mind he stated: “All stakeholders, including government, represented here today need help us all to take action to address road safety in a very holistic manner. This requires involvement and engagement from multiple partners including

transport, police, health, education and actions that [ensure] safety of roads, vehicles and road users.”

Meanwhile, Lambert urged citizens to prevent accidents by being their brother’s keeper and speaking out against careless driving, while Isles posited that persons should understand the damage accidents can cause to families and they will need in turn.

Group presentations also came from the Mothers in Black/Alicia Foundation while an educational road safety simulation was depicted by the Guyana Red Cross.

Members of the Mothers in Black march with photos of their loved ones who were lost to road accidents (Samuel Maughn photos)

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

GTT backs down from pay-phone cut …consumer body, residents were up in arms against proposed move

Clayton Hinds and PAC Commissioner, Denise Fraser (right) thanked GTT for withdrawing their application (Samuel Maughn photo)

By Tamica Garnett THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GTT) on Monday withdrew its application before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to discontinue providing public pay phones services in 18 areas.

Several public-spirited persons and representatives turned up at the meeting at

had received an email the day before from the GTT announcing that they were cancelling that application.

“We’ve looked at it on a broader context and there needs to be further consideration given to the service, and as such we withdraw it on that basis,” Reynolds declared.

In the application first seeking to remove the service, GTT had noted that it was operating at a loss to upkeep the 36 public call boxes that were still in service. GTT says for

al. Two main pay phones generated most of the income. The phone located at Develdt Benab, Upper Berbice River made $1, 185,934 in 2017, while a pay phone at Gateroy Benab made $569, 726. As such the company was seeking to cease operation at these 18 pay phones. However they have now reconsidered, noting GTT’s corporate obligations to providing universal services to the public.

Following the application, the Guyana Consum-

pays out-of-pocket to fly GTT personnel up to the Kaieteur Park to service the pay phone, doing so as recent as last August, Commissioner Denise Fraser was taken aback that the PAC was not even notified about plans to cease the service. “That is the thing that I was mad about, that we would discover this by accident, and they know that this is a critical service at Kaieteur, we have staff there without that phone we’re cut off,” Fraser argued.

“God forbid that there’s any kind of emergency, even

hear the news of the withdrawal.

Reynolds acknowledged GTT’s corporate responsibility to provide communications services in areas with little options.

“It is heartening to hear that there are so many persons coming out in support of the service. I can tell you that at GTT we are committed to investing in the country of Guyana, and even despite what is said in the media, we do have a vested interest in

the Duke Lodge on Monday, ready to argue against the company’s move which they first requested back in October. However, before the Commission could hear submissions from persons in attendance, the GTT Legal and Regulatory Affairs Director Mark Reynolds announced, that the company was withdrawing the application.

PUC Chairman Dela Britton confirmed that she

The head table at Monday’s PUC meeting

2017 only 18 of the 36 pay phones made money, totaling $1,815,172, while the company spent some $10,713,000 in costs to keep the pay phones operation-

er’s Association (GCA) had written a response to the PUC challenging GTT’s right to discontinue the service in the locations. The GCA welcomed the announcement of the withdrawal and registered their hopes that it is not brought back in the future.

It was said that in many of the areas the pay phones are the communities’ only means of communicating with the coastland. Eight out of the 18 areas listed for removal has no cellphone service, one has only marginal cellular coverage.

Moreover, it was noted that GTT itself contributes to the low income of some of the pay phones as some of the phones do not work for months at a time.

The pay phone at the Kaieteur National Park was one of those on the list to be removed. But it is the primary means of communication between persons located in the area and persons on the coastland.

Given that the Protected Areas Commission (PAC)

the airlines depend on the phone to call get the weather, figure out flights and so on.

There’s no cell phone service there so that phone is the only means of communication.”

Clayton Hinds came out to Monday’s meeting to represent the interest of the people of Bara-Cara Benab.

After hearing of GTT’s application to remove the phone, he made a special effort to go into the area and see what the situation was like on the ground.

The community was not aware that plans were afoot to take the service away from them.

“They don’t know because it was just in the papers and normally the radio and television system there is not so effective, so they don’t know. It was sheer curiosity on my part that caused me to see it and seeing it I decided to go there. They don’t know about the application, but I know so I came to represent their interest,” Hinds explained.

They were all happy to

ensuring there is communication. There are plans a foot but these things take time,” Reynolds said.

Going forward, however, he hopes to see more collaboration to ensure the provision of such vital services to such areas.

“It really has to be a collaborative effort, it’s not meant for GTT to carry it by themselves. We have certain obligations to universal services which should not be only incumbent on not only GTT, but other service providers that are existing and also on the government. We need to have stronger collaboration in terms of ensuring that the persons in the hinterland areas and outside of Georgetown receive services. So it has to be a collaborative approach between the government and the service providers,” Reynolds said.

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

North Georgetown Secondary Natural Resource Fund Bill tabled to get new e-library … as school celebrates Jubilee Anniversary

NGSS Treasurer, George Vaughn (left) and head of the 50th anniversary organising committee, Rear Admiral Gary Best (Delano Williams photo)

GARNERING funds for the implementation of a new e-library will be one of main focus of the fund raising activities during the celebrations of the North Georgetown Secondary School (NGSS) Golden Jubilee Anniversary, which was launched on Monday at the school’s auditorium.

The library is expected to be a collaboration between the school and its North American alumni chapter, and the local old students, led

by Rear Admiral Gary Best, who had formed a committee to organise the celebrations.

“Why an e-library? The committee consulted with the administration and they said that they’re in dire need for a digital library, which will enable students and teachers to access educational content, instant access and to have easier information retrieval and access to a wide range of needed items,” Headmistress, Willa Williams explained at Monday’s launch.

“Our school’s vision is to provide students with exemplary instructions designed to educate the whole child to become productive members of society.”

The presentation of the e-library to the school is expected to be the signature event of the jubilee celebrations. According to Best, it is hoped that the project can be completed by September of next year.

Committee treasurer, George Vaughn estimates

that the library will cost an estimated $7 million to execute, financed partly by the overseas and local chapters.

Locally, to garner the funds the NGSS has a number of activities planned, beginning with a barbeque to be held this Saturday, November 24, at Kaikan Street, South Ruimveldt.

There will be a walkathon and breakfast on January 26; a games night in February; an old school reunion party in April, and an anniversary reunion dinner at the Pegasus, as well as another barbeque in August 2019.

Souvenirs will also be on sale during the period. Best noted that while it has not been done as yet, reaching out to the Ministry of Education for support with the project has not been ruled out.

The $7 million will go towards the purchasing of computers, with the hopes that the project can start out with some 24 computers; as well as infrastructural renovations to develop the area that will house the library.

THE Natural Resource Fund Bill was tabled in the National Assembly by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, and read for the first time on Monday.

The Bill was crafted with the intention of paving the way for the establishment of a Natural Resource Fund to manage natural resource wealth. “It seeks to mandate the parties involved with managing the fund to ensure that the resource wealth benefits both current and future generations of the people,” the Explanatory Memorandum of the Bill states.

Part III of the Bill will set the foundation for the establishment of a Public Accountability and Oversight Committee, which would be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the compliance of the government and other relevant persons. Additionally, the committee, if brought into effect, would monitor and evaluate the management of the fund and aligning it with the principles of transparency, good governance and international best practices, including the Santiago Principles.

Under this section as well, the committee would be empowered to provide an independent assessment of the management of the fund and utilisation of withdrawals, in addition to facilitating public consultations on the fund’s management.

Meanwhile, Part IV of the Bill seeks to place the fund in the care and operation of the

Bank of Guyana (BoG) and to place the general responsibility to manage it with the finance minister. Additionally, it seeks to establish an Investment Committee that will advise the finance minister on investment options.

That committee, once the Bill receives the approval of the House, and it is brought into effect, will include a Senior Investment Adviser and Analyst to assist the minister and the committee with planning the overall investment of the fund. The finance minister will be empowered to appoint an Investment Advisory Services Company to assist him with drawing up investment plans.

“It also seeks to give the bank the power to appoint asset management companies as private managers, to manage the fund according to instructions agreed upon.

It further seeks to establish a Macroeconomic Committee to recommend, for the minister, what amount can be safely withdrawn from the fund early,” the Explanatory Memorandum states.

Importantly, the Bill aims to require the government to seek Parliamentary approval for withdrawals from the fund, as well as, the provision of additional documentation in annual budget proposals to the facilitate proper management in the form of Supplementary Appropriation Bills, seeking financing from the fund in times of major natural disasters.

‘Aunty Sarah’ turns 100 “THE key to long life is to have a close relationship with God.” This is the secret of Sarah Moses called ‘Aunty Sarah’, who is celebrating her 100th birthday Today November 20.

The Guyana Chronicle visited Aunty Sarah at her Middle Road, McDoom, East Bank Demerara home where she recalled all her memories from years ago like it were yesterday.

Mrs. Moses was born on November 20, 1918, in Saint Laurent-Du-Maroni, French Guiana and relocated with her parents to Guyana in her early childhood.

Reflecting on her childhood and teenage days, she reminisced on her love for dressing and being self-determining. “I was living by myself and independent,”

she said.

She had her first child at age 20 and in November, 1954, she got married to Mr. George Moses. She spent most of her life in Albouystown with her 10 children.

She was well known in the community for her sewing and catering skills, especially for her spectacular designs on wedding cakes.

This was her means of income to help sustain her family. During her life, she worked various jobs to provide for her family; even if it meant walking to work every day.

During the year of 1972, her family moved to Hadfield Street, Lodge where she continued to be a seamstress and provide her catering services to the community.

FLASHBACK Sarah Moses in her younger days.

In 1983, she suffered the

loss of her husband and was

determined to make it for her children. “I had to make it on my own,” she said as she did jobs such as babysitting and domestic work.

In 1988 she began working with the late Ms. Debra Backer, Attorney-at-Law and Member of Parliament, conducting light duties.

Six years later, at age 76 years, she was employed by then Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), Ms. Sonita Jagan and was stationed in Bel Air Park, Georgetown where she served for approximately 10 years.

During these years, Mrs. Moses worked and lived on her own but in 2003, she lost her sight which made life very challenging. Currently in the care of her eldest

daughter, Mrs. Moses provides words of advice, love and imparts wisdom on her remaining eight children, 29 grandchildren and 75 great grandchildren.

The 100-year-old chatty personality would invite anyone to sit down and turn a stranger to a friend.

“I think the most important part of living this long is to think of the maker, trust, believe, listen and we would go well…Don’t turn away from hearing him because his words are faithful. He never leave you and will never forsake you,” she stressed.

Today the Moses family is planning a birthday service as everyone comes together to celebrate the life of ‘Aunty Sarah.’

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

ICJ has jurisdiction to hear border case …Guyana says Venezuela’s non-jurisdictional claims baseless

THE Government of Guyana, in its submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Guyana/ Venezuela Controversy, argued that Venezuela’s contention that the means of settlement outlined in Article 33 of the UN Charter must be exhausted before recourse to the court can be chosen is baseless.

As scheduled, on November 19, 2018, the Government of Guyana submitted to the ICJ its Memorial on Jurisdiction in the case brought against Venezuela to confirm, in a final and binding judgment, the full legal validity of the arbitral award that established the international boundary between Guyana and Venezuela more than a century ago. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge made the disclosure on Monday in the National Assembly.

“Guyana’s Memorial shows there is no foundation to Venezuela’s contention that the means of settlement listed in Article 33 of the UN Charter must be selected by the Secretary-General successively, such that the means

listed ahead of judicial settlement have to be exhausted before recourse to the ourt can be chosen,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs said.

He maintained that nothing in the text of Article IV of the Geneva Agreement, which provides a menu of options, supports Venezuela’s interpretation. The minister added: “Nor is Venezuela correct in arguing that, as it has recently asserted, the controversy must be resolved exclusively by friendly negotiations, a claim that is belied by the express terms of the Geneva Agreement and contemporaneous statements by the parties during its negotiation and ratification.”

Guyana filed its memorial in accordance with the Order of the Court dated June 19, 2018 that determined it would first resolve the question of the court’s jurisdiction in light of Venezuela’s refusal to participate in the proceedings based on its claim that the court lacks jurisdiction.

Greenidge noted that Guyana prepared its memorial with the court’s instruction in mind that it should be

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge

informed of all the legal and factual grounds on which the parties rely in the matter of its jurisdiction.

“Guyana’s submission accordingly sets out how the boundary with Venezuela was established by an arbitral tribunal constituted pursuant to a treaty concluded by Venezuela and Great Britain in 1897,” Minister Greenidge explained.

Pointing to the facts of the matter, the minister of

Foreign Affairs said Venezuela accepted the unanimous award rendered by five eminent jurists on October 3, 1899. The Spanish-speaking country had also participated in a joint commission to demarcate the boundary on the ground, and insisted on the award’s strict implementation.

“Only decades later did Venezuela, in anticipation of Guyana’s independence, cease recognising the award’s validity and binding nature, using that pretext to lay claim to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s territory,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs noted.

In an effort to ensure a final resolution to the controversy through peaceful means, the Government of British Guiana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom concluded the Geneva Agreement on February 17, 1966.

Article IV of that treaty authorises the Secretary-General of the United Nations to decide which of the means listed in Article 33 of the United Nations Charter shall be used to resolve the controversy. Notably, it includes binding adjudication by the

ICJ. In agreeing to Article IV, Venezuela consented to the court’s jurisdiction in the event the Secretary-General decides that the controversy should be resolved by the court, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

“Efforts over more than half-a-century, including a four-year Mixed Commission (1966-1970), a twelve-year moratorium (1970-1982), a seven-year process of consultations on a means of settlement (1983-1990), and a twenty-seven-year Good Offices Process under the UN Secretary-General’s authority (1990-2017), all failed to end the controversy. On 30 January 2018, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, acting under the authority bestowed upon him by the Geneva Agreement, chose adjudication by the court as the means for resolving the controversy with finality,” the minister further outlined.

It recalled that Guyana commenced proceedings before the ICJ on March 29, 2018 in accordance with the secretary-general’s decision.

“Guyana has no doubt that the court has jurisdiction

to resolve the controversy that has plagued its relations with Venezuela and undermined its ability to develop its sovereign territory and natural resources,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs said.

Guyana remains hopeful that Venezuela will reconsider its refusal to participate in the judicial process that the UN Secretary-General has decided will be the means by which the controversy will be resolved.

Guyana’s representation before the court is led by Greenidge; and by its coagents, Sir. Shridath Ramphal and Ambassador Audrey Waddell.

Just days ago, the US called on both Guyana and Venezuela to respect the 1899 Arbitral Award, thereby shifting its position on the issue. Originally, the US had called for a timely resolution to the controversy. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has also thrown its support behind Guyana, acknowledging its effort to resolve the age-old controversy.

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

‘People are putting their trust in you’ – Griffith tells nurses UNIVERSITY of Guyana Vice Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith reminded the Class of 2018 Bachelor Degree in Nursing, that as nurses they are expected to uphold the value of respect, honesty and continuous pursuit of excellence, as he delivered remarks at the Annual Awards Ceremony to honour the graduands at the Pegasus Hotel, Savannah Suite.

Griffith urged the nurses not to embarrass their profession, using the case of the recent incident with the firefighters who assisted at the site of the Fly Jamaica plane crash, and went on to steal items found at the crash site.

“You may see fancy stuff, it’s not your stuff don’t take it. The business of the value of integrity is just as important as having the technical skills to heal. People are putting their trust in

you, you are not allowed to betray that trust. You have to be caring not only for the physical but for the personal items of your patients,” Griffith said.

Griffith went on to charge the students to not see their Bachelor Degree as the end of their academic pursuit and to continue to strive for greater heights.

“The value of excellence has a preposition and a proposition related to continuous improvement. We’re not accustomed to mediocrity.

Sometimes we’re so comfortable with mediocrity, we don’t pursue excellence. The more progress you gain the more progress you can make,” he said.

This year some 29 students graduated from the programme, eight of them doing so with distinction.

The distinction students were bestowed with trophies and

tokens, while there were a number of other awards given out, some carrying monetary prizes.

The “Best Research” award went to nurses Na-

thoya Munroe and partner, Alana Sparman for their research on the “Perceived needs of parents caring for children with special needs”.

The “Best Innovation”

award went to Anesha Hamilton. A special award, the Gwen Tross Award, was won by Marguerite Hoyte, who also won the “Best Graduating Student”

A section of the audience at the award ceremony

award. Hoyte who was conferred with a trophy and $100 pounds sterling, graduated with a 3.9 GPA.

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Guyana taking aviation a step further with drones

–– Says GCAA Director- General

Director- General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Egbert Field

DIRECTOR-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lieu-

tenant Colonel (retired) Egbert Field, has affirmed that the local aviation sec-

tor will continue to adapt and develop as focus is being directed to mainstreaming drone technology now.

Speaking at the Drones and Tourism Expo held on Sunday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Field said: “Drones are here to stay. Drone technology entered into the aviation industry and it’s not to be used as a toy but for commercial activities.”

The expo was held as part of the activities for tourism awareness month because drones are changing the way Guyana is portrayed through the angles of photographs and videos they are able to give. And since drones are part of transportation also, Field said it was only logical to ‘marry’ the two into the

Local photographer, Marceano Narine and his team showcase their contributions to the drone industry

expo.

While the drone industry is a newly emerging one, compared to the orthodox modes of aviation transportation, the director-general told the drone operators that the industry is in no way on the “backburner”.

In fact, ahead of the massive meeting of 192 countries at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Guyana this week, Field shared that much emphasis is being placed on drones globally.

The expo also featured an entry-level drone race, which was aimed at getting Guyana into a new sport emerging on the global arena.

Cognisant of this, Field said: “I think Guyana can be the drone capital for racing. It has not taken off to the extent it has taken off here, in the rest of the Caribbean.”

He also highlighted that Guyana is in fact generally ahead of the rest of the Caribbean when it comes to this type of technology, even though it is only dabbling with the smaller drones.

The entire expo, he said, is indicative of the country’s attempts to mainstream the sector and stay ahead of the curve. And according to him, it is only a matter of time before the larger drones, which include those unmanned aircraft, penetrate the local airways.

But before that time comes, he stressed that Guyana must integrate the technology it is already exposed

to; this includes using drones to fertilise crops and inspecting power lines. And young people must be the ones involved in making this a reality, according to him.

Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes added to Field’s statements and noted that drones are being used in agriculture, building and construction, advertising and racing for just fun.

In fact, she related that earlier this year, her ministry showed farmers in Berbice just how they could use drone technologies on their farm and they seemed very receptive. More importantly, she explained that drones do not give off harmful emissions. Field also said that this ties into Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), because of how environmentally friendly they are.

“There are so many opportunities [and] sometimes we fail to take to take advantage of the opportunities that are lying right in front of us,” Hughes related and urged the young people at the expo to take up these opportunities.

And as the expo intended to focus on drones and tourism, the former minister of tourism contended that tourism is being developed by technology all over the world and said: “Technology in tourism is inevitable [and] drones in tourism marketing in today’s world is almost like ketchup on fries.”

And at the expo local

photographers showed just how they intend on marketing Guyana by using drones to get the best shots possible.

STANDARDS President of the Guyana Drone Operators Association (GDOA), Lancelot Khan shared: “While many of the countries and citizens have banned [drones], our country has embraced those but clearly there is the need for protocols and guidelines.”

Field shared similar sentiments where he explained that the authority is in no way trying to stymie the industry, but in fact is only pushing for proper regulation.

“We aim to work hand in hand with the industry to take aviation to the next level… we are not here to stifle it but to let it flow in a structured format,” he said.

All of the drone operators present at the expo were all properly licensed and equipped with their requisite permits, he noted. This is in keeping with what the authority functions to do.

He also noted that the civil aviation act—which he hopes will find favour in Guyana’s Parliament this week—also places focus on concrete guidelines for the drone industry.

“My message is clear, we are regulators but [also] facilitators and we are willing to work hand in hand with the industry,” the officer said.

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

IAC urges AFC salutes Muslims on Youman Nabi celebrations prayers for peace …

THE Indian Action Committee (IAC, on the occasion of Youman Nabi, extends greetings to all Guyanese especially those who are adherents of Islam.

Youman Nabi is a national holiday, which commemorates the birth of (and the death) the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Upon Whom Be Peace).

The IAC, a message to observe the occasion says it recognises that followers of Islam were present in this country since the days of slavery, as many of the enslaved Africans were Muslims. Also, that new influxes of Muslims to this occurred during the period of indentureship, as approximately one out of every five East Indian immigrants was a follower of the teachings of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Upon Whom Be Peace), The organisation, therefore, calls upon all Guyanese “to remember the moral pathways outlined by the

Holy Prophet Muhammad (Upon Whom Be Peace), in which he called upon all mankind to the way of peace and to the belief in supreme being, and thus reminded them of the importance of principles such as faith, repentance, honesty, simplicity, equality and concerned for the dispossessed and the poor.”

The IAC notes the significant commemoration of one of the greatest human who ever lived and who preached the value of love, sacrifice and compassion, so that our everyday interactions with each other, irrespective of ethnic, religious and class origins can be positively influenced.

The IAC is therefore pleased to join with Muslims here and worldwide to observe this auspicious day, and urges that special prayers be offered for peace, so that our country can move forward with prosperity, the message added.

Heed the messages for tolerance and peace – PPP ON this auspicious occasion of Youman Nabi, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends best wishes to all Guyanese, particularly the Muslim communities, here in Guyana and across the Diaspora.

“The day of Youman Nabi is very dear to our Muslim brothers and sisters as both the birth and death anniversaries of Islam’s Holy Prophet Mohammad are observed. Its significance offers much pertinent lessons in humility, contentment, respect and love among mankind.

“In reflecting on the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet there are also universal lessons for forgiveness and tolerance,” the party said

in a message.

It added that the party firmly believes that the messages from these lessons “offer much guidance and if heeded by all can aid in the realization of peace, love and brotherhood across the world.

Our national festivals and holidays continue to be that vital conduit of togetherness, tolerance and the forging of unity as we work collectively towards achieving the national goal of one people with a common destiny.”

Best wishes to all who will be involved in the various activities and for peace to continue to prevail.

AS Muslims celebrate the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Unto Him, today, the Alliance For Change (AFC) extends greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters, on the occasion.

The AFC, in a message said that “The life of the Prophet Muhammad is a unifying example to all mankind and one

which we, as Guyanese of all walks of life, can celebrate and emulate. The Prophet Muhammad preached and embodied peace and sought to bring people together.

“Today, in Guyana, we need to strive for greater unity and cohesiveness as we embark on a new horizon of prosperity and we can look to Prophet Muhammad as an

exemplar.

“We must also find the courage to accept and respect each other’s cultures and religions in order to strengthen the fabric of our nation. We in Guyana can be proud of the fact that we have been woven from several cultures and religions—a truly unique Guyanese identity—one which we have more reason to celebrate.”

The AFC added that it hails the Prophet Muhammad’s life as an example of devotion, love, and sacrifice and urges our Muslim brothers and sisters to celebrate the birth of this Prophet whose teachings will live on as shining examples of how to live at peace in our communities, country and the world.

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Fly J’ca to remove aircraft from crash site …Min. Patterson assures independent probe ongoing

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson

MINISTER of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, has announced that the Fly Jamaica aircraft involved in the recent runway accident has been officially handed over to the airline for removal from the crash site as investigations continue.

Patterson also extended condolences to the family

of 86-year-old passenger Rookia Kalloo, who died due to injuries sustained during evacuation. He pledged his ministry’s support to ensuring that all claims and compensatory mechanisms are met. The minister made the announcement on Monday at the 99th sitting of the National Assembly.

There, he reiterated that

an independent investigation is ongoing to examine the aircraft’s operation on the morning of the incident and to review its standard operating procedures.

An investigative team has been set up which includes representatives of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), representing the state of

occurrence; the National Transportation Safety Board of the United States (US), representing the state of registry and two Boeing commercial airplane engineers, representing the manufacturer.

These were organised after local authorities notified the Jamaica Civil Aviation

welfare of the passengers remains top priority,” Patterson said.

He also re-expressed his dissatisfaction with the behaviour of the officers of the Fire Service who were accused of stealing the belongings of the passengers while on site and offered the

Authority (JCAA) and the US National Transportation Safety Board of the situation.

In addition, the Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TBS) and the South American Regional Accident Investigation Mechanism (ARCM) were also advised and invited to provide technical support to the GCAA. Meanwhile, the deceased passenger, Rookia, suffered a head injury while exiting the aircraft and succumbed on Friday, November 17 at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after initially being treated at a private hospital.

She was among the 10 injured passengers who were rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Center and later to the GPHC to receive treatment.

“I wish to personally assure all passengers that my ministry remains committed to working along with the authorities of CJIA, GCCA and specifically the Airline Operators in meeting all required obligations and reviewing all claims and compensatory mechanisms to ensure the

apologies on behalf of his ministry.

“The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has further requested continued investigations into reports of missing items from passengers’ cargo and luggage onboard. The ministry in no way condones the reported actions and behaviour of the fire service officers on the morning of this accident,” he stated.

“At this time, I would wish to take this opportunity to make an apology on behalf of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to all passengers for having to endure this experience.”

There were 120 passengers and 8 crew members onboard the plane when it overran the runway during an emergency landing. The Toronto-bound OJ256 flight was forced to return to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on November 9, 2018 after encountering hydraulics issues shortly after departure.

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Public meeting in Sophia spurs residents into action ra; APNU MP John Adams; Chairman of the GYSM, Ryan Belgrave; Councillor in waiting, Pandit Ubraj Narine and AFC Executive Member, Arnold Sukraj.

Williams urged the residents to take the 2020 elections seriously and not waste their votes by staying home or voting for the opposition.

Meanwhile, Pandit Narine blasted the PPP as a party which only appeals to race stating that he was proud to be a Guyanese and belong to a coalition government which advances the Guyanese identity and not a racial identity.

Throughout the evening the atmosphere was one of cheering, shouting and laugh-

City Mayor Patricia Chase-Green having a chat with a Sophia resident

THE first in a series of public meetings to be hosted by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) began with a bang on Saturday in the community of ‘C’ Field Sophia.

Residents of the area and neighbouring communities were invited to a Love and Unity Rally hosted at the ‘C’ Field Playground, in collaboration with the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM).

It was attended by top party members such as Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and Minister of Public Health, Volda Ann Lawrence; General Secretary of APNU and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; General Secretary of the PNCR and Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally.

Also present were Principal Political Secretary of the PNCR and Minister of Public Affairs, Dawn Hastings and Treasurer of the PNCR and

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan.

Minister Lawrence told the residents that soon the community of Sophia can expect its own hospital and that, furthermore, every Guyanese will have a first class health facility less than five kilometers from their home.

Meanwhile, Minister Harmon stressed that the proceeds from Guyana’s impending oil revenues will go primarily to the agricultural, education, health and infrastructure sectors.

At the same rally, Minister Dawn Hastings called out the opposition leader on his ill-conceived no-confidence motion, stating that it seeks to question a government which corrected the wrongs of the PPP/C such as the phantom squads, the rampant corruption and discrimination.

Present at the rally were also General Secretary of AFC Marlon Williams; APNU Member of Parliament (MP) Jermaine Figuei-

ing as residents, during periods of entertainment, danced to the Eddie Neblett song, Love N’ Unity.

Earlier that day, members of the PNC/R Georgetown District, including Mayor Patricia Chase Green and Councillor Lyndon Hicks, conducted a walkabout to listen to the concerns of residents of ‘C’, ‘D’ and ‘E’ Field Sophia.

A clean up exercise was also conducted in the area spearheaded by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force and residents of the area.

The exercise saw the clearing of a plot of land

Residents during the clean-up exercise

which would be converted into a play space to cater for young men who had resorted to playing football on the road ways.

Sophia residents at the rally on Saturday

Both efforts were lauded by the residents and they were entirely involved throughout the day in both projects.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Trinidadian admitted to local bar --pledges to bring considerable experience to bear to nation’s benefit

TRINIDADIAN lawyer, Danté Selman-Carrington was on Monday admitted to the bar of Guyana by Justice Sandil Kissoon, and petitioned by Attorney Ronald Burch-Smith.

Burch-Smith told the court that Monday’s admission was quite unusual, since Carrington has already been practising for eight years in Trinidad, but that his aim is to utilise his Legal and Commercial competencies and experience to achieve sustainable commercial value and national development, with a regional and global reach.

The 32-year-old, whose father is a Guyanese, was born in Trinidad, but spent the first five years of his life in Guyana. He moved back to Trinidad at five, but shared residency between the two countries.

In 2005, he enrolled in the LLB programme at the

University of Guyana and completed one year of studies, before moving to Barbados to do the other two years at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus.

After receiving his Bachelor of Laws from Cave Hill, Danté went straight for the Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at the Sir Hugh Wooding Law School and graduated in 2010.

After graduation, he started to practise law in Trinidad and served as a State Prosecutor with the Ministry of the Attorney-General’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Between October 2010 and February 2014, Selman-Carrington conducted criminal litigation on behalf of the State within the courts of Trinidad and Tobago; initiated Bankruptcy and Asset Recovery proceedings on behalf of the State; represented the office of the

DPP at Strategic Planning sessions regarding the control and manufacture of illicit drugs; and represented the Attorney-General on bilateral trade negotiations between Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala, and CARICOM and Canada.

He then took a break from legal practice, and went to the ESAN Graduate Business School in Lima, Peru where he obtained an International Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialisation in International Leadership in Business.

This enabled him to serve as a Senior Associate from August 2015 to March 2017 with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), where he developed strategies for local and international corporate clients on commercial issues; researched and drafted opinions and advised on local and international taxation frame-

Attorney-at-law, Danté Selman-Carrington

work; drafted, reviewed, and analysed international commercial and energy supply contracts; assisted with the drafting and settlement of clients’ tax appeals; and contributed to pre- and post-national budget publications.

He then went on to serve as a consultant for C.L. FINANCIAL, and later into private practice with Caribbean Commercial Law Chambers.

Justice Kissoon said that he was very much impressed with the Curriculum Vitae before him, and has no doubt that Selman-Carrington will

be a valuable addition and great influence to others, given his wealth of experience.

And on that note, he was officially sworn in to the bar of Guyana.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Selman-Carrington said: “It is my earnest wish to bring my corporate, commercial and taxation experience, particularly with respect to the Oil-and-Gas industry, to bear at the bar of Guyana to the benefit of the nation.”

Palm Court assault accused ‘contacted’ victim’s relatives …in alleged attempt to have case dropped

Abdul Imran Khan

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has granted attorney-at-law Latchmi Rahamat fiat to prosecute the case involving Abdul Imran Khan who is charged for attempting to murder Romario Baljeet called ‘ Short Boss’.

The 32-year-old Khan who lives at 11 Austin Street, Campbellville and who is the owner of a construction company made another appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Prosecutor Rahamat told the court that Khan had contacted the victim’s father to drop the case and even went as far as showing up at the victim’s home. Rahamat

Romario Baljeet called ‘ Short Boss’

noted that a report has been lodged at the police station and the matter is being investigated. Additionally, the victim will be returning later this week to the hospital for further treatment. His doctors still consider his injuries as life-threatening since he suffered a ruptured vein in his left side face.

Khan’s attorney Glenn Hanoman and Everton Singh-Lammy made an application for bail but it was denied by the Chief Magistrate who further remanded him to prison until November 26. According to the prosecution, on the day in question around 02:00hrs the virtual complainant went to the Palm Court night club where

he and a friend spent an hour. As they were about to leave, the accused and another male were standing at the gate in the path of the duo. Baljeet and his friend decided to walk between the accused at which point Khan dealt him two punches to his head and face causing him to fall.

The accused then took a glass bottle and drinking glass and smashed them on the right side of the disabled man’s face. He also allegedly kicked Baljeet while he lay on the ground.

Baljeet was picked up in an unconscious state and was taken to the Woodlands Hospital where two surgeries were done on his face.

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Crime Chief urges...

Use ATMs more this Christmas –– look out for counterfeit $$$US

CRIME Chief, Deputy Commissioner of Police Lyndon Alves is advising that persons rely more on their ATM cards this Christmas than liquid cash.

He made the observation on Monday during a function at the Police Officers’ Mess in Eve Leary, where he said that businesses should also be on the alert for fake managers and personal cheques as well as counterfeit US money, especially at weekends.

He has also suggested that business owners who have CCTV security cameras at their properties to ensure that they are in good working order, and to properly secure the DVRs so as to preserve the valuable information on them in the event of a police investigation.

He is also advocating that businesses move large sums of cash under security escort, and that firearm holders should not leave their weapons and important documents and cash in their vehicles.

“Beware of con artists and pickpockets,” Commissioner Alves said, adding: “A couple of scams to be aware of are: Three-card games that are rigged; persons pointing to money that you have supposedly dropped then use the opportunity to take your briefcase and luggage when you bend down to pick up the money.”

He also had a word of advice for the women, in that they should avoid carrying bags that make them easy targets, as bags that dangle from the shoulder can be easily yanked off. He is suggesting that they use instead those types of handbags that can easily be carried close to their body and well tucked in.

As for those that drive, Commissioner Alves is advising that they

Crime Chief, Deputy Commissioner of Police Lyndon Alves

keep their windows up and doors locked at all times, and if they have to, they should park the vehicle in a well-lighted and safe area to discourage a personal attack and reduce the chance of auto theft.

“On entering your car,” he said, “look inside first to make sure no one is hiding in the back seat. When leaving your vehicle, make sure it is locked.

“On your way home, have your keys at hand and alert someone you are coming. If a stranger asks to use your phone, don’t allow them.

“If you arrive home and find your door open, DO NOT GO INSIDE; call the police immediately.”

Warning of an increase in cellphone theft, which seems to be a favourite target for thieves, the Crime Chief said to reduce the chances of becoming a victim, persons should always be aware of their surroundings.

Said he: “Thieves may be watching you; use your cellphone with security lock. Avoid being too long on phone calls, or messaging while walking or on duty; you may be tracked. Switch the ringer off to avoid attracting the attention of thieves, put your phone on silence if necessary.”

For taxi drivers, he recommends that they install safety equipment that are available on the market, such as distress signal lights, cellular phones as well as other equipment that can greatly reduce their vulnerability to crime.

“Familiarise yourself with the location of police stations, gas stations, and other 24- hour establishments,” he said.

“If you are confronted by a criminal, DON’T RESIST!! Notify the police of any criminal act as soon as possible!”

As for male visitors to Guyana, the Crime Chief is advising that they carry their wallets in an inside jacket pocket or a side trouser pocket and not their rear pockets.

And to the women, he said: “Keep purses on your lap when dining out; not dangling over the back of a chair. Leave valuables and important documents, such as jewellery and passports, secured in your hotel’s safe deposit box.

“Beware of unexpected persons coming to your hotel room; contact the front desk if you have any doubts.”

Budget Day set for Monday

THE 2019 National Budget will be presented to the National Assembly on Monday November 26, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan has announced.

He made the announcement during the 99th Sitting of the National Assembly on Monday.

Hours before the official announcement, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, while noting that he is upbeat about Budget 2019, said the budget will respond to the needs of the Guyanese people. “I believe that this will be a budget with a social content,” the prime minister told reporters on the sidelines of a United Nations (UN) Human Rights forum with Small Island States at the Pegasus hotel.

On Sunday, the finance minister, in a letter to the editor, said salary increases for all public workers are in the pipeline as he hinted to the pending budget. It was also announced that old-age pension which now stands at $19,500 per month will be further increased.

The national budget will be presented to the House following extensive

consultation with government and non-governmental entities including organisations such as the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and that the Guyana Manufacturing Services Association (GMSA).

In the case of GMSA, it made a case for the government to impose measures that would result in tax relief in several sectors and the expansion of tax net in several others. There were also requests for revised legislation and the need for the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to monitor overseas companies for the possible dumping of cheaper products which would be detrimental to local manufacturers. The 2018 National Budget totaled $267.1B which represented a 7.1 per cent increase when compared to the 2017 National Budget which totaled $250B.

24

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Grenada to focus on climate change resilience –during new parliamentary session

ST. GEORGE’S Grenada, CMC – A new session of the Grenada Parliament began on Monday with the Keith Mitchell administration emphasising the need to build resilience in an era of climate change.

Governor-General, Dame Dr. Cecile La Grenade, delivering the traditional Throne Speech outlining the priorities of the government, said that urgent and decisive actions are required to make the environment, the people and the local economy more resilient to the increasingly grim and devastating impacts of climate.

She said as a result, the government, which controls all 15 seats in the Parliament, will during the parliamentary term focus on building resilience, advancing social development and transforming

the local economy.

“These priorities are framed within the context of my government’s medium-term agenda that is being prepared for the period 2019 to 2021, which will anchor a whole-of-government approach to development planning, and will guide my government’s strategic development interventions over the medium term,” she told legislators.

She said that Grenada, like other small-island states, is highly vulnerable to natural hazards, and is among those countries at greatest risk to the impacts of climate change.

“Vivid images of the utter devastation wreaked upon some of our neighbouring islands last year by Hurricanes Irma and Maria will be forever etched in our memories,”

she said, noting that last August, the island was severely affected by the heavy rains that caused widespread and massive flooding.

She said Grenada and Caribbean countries have also had to deal with earthquakes, and while there had been no loss of lives, “those natural events brought to the fore, once again, the daunting reality that climate change is real, and its impact intensifying.

“The experts have warned that more intense hurricanes, heavier rainfall, hotter spells and rising sea levels are expected for the Caribbean region,” Dame Cecile said, adding that the government will be intensifying its efforts at spearheading all activities aimed at making Grenada a climate-resilient country.

She said this will include

formulating and executing strategic policies and programmes that are geared towards protecting the oceanic, marine, coastal and land environments; improving drainage; and strengthening our disaster preparedness and management systems, among other policies.

“Building a more resilient nation will ensure that families, communities, businesses and the government can better prepare, manage and recover faster from extreme climate-related events,” Dame Cecile said, adding: “The first phase of the ban on styrofoam products is the outcome of collective action towards the promotion of environmental sustainability, and the attainment of the resilient nation we aim to be.”

She said the government‘s climate resilience agenda is one that is grounded in sound policy, developed through extensive national stakeholder consultation, and that the recently-approved National Adaptation Plan and National Determined Contributions identify Grenada’s climate change adaptation and mitigation needs.

She said the government has also approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to conduct a Climate Change Policy Assessment that “would seek to examine our plans to manage climate change, from the perspective of its macroeconomic implications and suggest macro-relevant reforms that could strengthen the likelihood of success.”

Dame Cecile said that while the government has recorded some successes, and has utilised the funds provided by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), it will step up its efforts at climate screening all public investment projects to ensure that new physical infrastructure is climate change and disaster-resilient.

“This will ensure that public infrastructure is built to withstand major hurricanes, heavy rains and floods. My government will also push ahead with its plans to improve Grenada’s energy security and diversify our energy mix, through the use of renewable energy,” she said.

The Governor-General said that work is ongoing on Grenada’s geothermal development, and that to date, over US$2M have been provided in financial and technical assistance by the governments of New Zealand and Japan

to assist in investigating the island’s geothermal potential for electricity production.

“Through the Sustainable Energy for the Eastern Caribbean programme, economically viable investments will be made in renewable energy and energy efficiency to reduce our dependency on imported fossil fuels. To date, energy audits have been completed for fourteen public buildings and the search for a project manager has commenced for the investment phase of this initiative.”

She said another ongoing initiative is the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership, which is aimed at supporting Grenada’s advance to inclusive low-emission, risk-resilient development.

Dame Cecile said that this will be achieved by improving “our energy security and integrating medium to long-term planning for adaptation to climate change.

“The partnership provided funding and is supporting the implementation of eight climate change adaptation pilots in the areas of Climate-Smart Agriculture, Water Resource Management, Climate-Smart Resilient Infrastructure and Renewable Energy.”

She said the government will continue to make climate change information available and mainstreamed into its decision and policy-making processes.

“It will also continue raising environmental awareness in our communities, our schools, our churches, our workplaces and the wider society. Indeed, the protection of our environment and the building of resilience is everyone’s business, not just the business of my Government.

“In this regard, the private sector, including the financial sector, must also play its part in promoting an environmentally-conscious and climate-resilient Grenada. Financial lending institutions can channel resources to sectors and industries that can help to promote climate resilience and energy efficiency. They are therefore well-placed to support climate change adaptation and mitigation, and by extension, promote environmental sustainability,” the Governor General added.

Regarding the need to advance social development, the Head of State said that the government will give more prominence to building

social resilience, by expanding the reach and enhancing the impact of its social policies and programmes.

“In this regard, greater emphasis will be placed on providing adequate psycho-social support systems to help individuals and communities cope better in the event of natural disasters. More focus will also be given to protecting and empowering vulnerable and at-risk households and communities. This will be done by systematic and strategic targeting of social protection and safety net programmes so that the neediest benefit the most.”

She said advancing social development would also require the mainstreaming of gender equality and social inclusion issues in decision and policy making, to which the government is firmly committed Dame Cecile said that while the economy has shown growth in 29 of the past 38 years, the island’s home grown structural adjustment programme has ensured a robust economy in the past five years.

“Indeed, macroeconomic stability has been restored, our public finances have improved and continue to do so, and our public financial management and accountability systems have been strengthened.

“Our signature Fiscal Responsibility Law has ushered in a new fiscal era, one where strong fiscal discipline has become the norm and where the management of public finances is systematically monitored and reported to the Parliament by an independent Fiscal Responsibility Oversight Committee.”

But she acknowledged that the government is mindful that transforming the economy to one that is more dynamic, diversified, competitive, innovative, and prosperous, will not happen overnight.

“Economic transformation is a long-term affair, but with the right foundation in place, the process towards its attainment can be better accomplished,” she said, adding that an immediate priority of the government will be the diligent pursuit of projects that have the potential to contribute to Grenada’s economic transformation in the long term.

She said four of these projects have already been identified and the details will be provided when the 2019 budget is presented.

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

400MW Mabaruma solar farm soon

THE 400MW solar farm at Khan’s Hill in the town of Mabaruma in the North West District will be commissioned soon as the contractor is working to synchronise the power supply offered by the facility with the power grid there.

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the automatic switching from the solar power to generator power during cloudy days or during the rainy season is being synchronised.

“The system is a hybrid system whereby during the day when the sun is up the whole town would be powered by the solar farm. Solar is intermittent so therefore, you may be having a 100 percent solar, then a cloud passes over and you drop from 100 to 80 percent. On a cloudy or overcast day, the difference between what the solar power is producing and what the town needs will have to be augmented by the generator,” Minister Patterson related.

The construction and installation of equipment on the the $264Million solar farm has been completed.

According to Minister Patterson, there are half-hour storage batteries in place.

In instances when it area experiencing overcast con-

ditions for more than half of an hour, the generator will automatically switch on. “It [solar farm] produces 400 kilowatts so we have batteries for 400 kilowatts for half an hour if there is no sun. On the 31st minute, the batteries would die and the generator is will switch on and power the town; that switching has not been synchronised so when the generator is on it takes all the load as opposed to waiting until the battery runs dead,” Minister Patterson said.

The DPI said that the contractor is working assiduously to complete finalising the switching mechanism so that the solar farm can be commissioned. In the interim, the town is being run by power generated intermittently by the farm as well as by generator.

The initiative is part of the government’s plan to move Guyana towards becoming a ‘Green State’ and will serve as a medium to reduce the country’s fossil fuel bill and prevent carbon emissions. Other solar farms at Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo); Mahdia in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and at Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) are on the cards.

Chef jailed for cocaine ‘meal’ in stomach A 34-year-old Guyana Pegasus Chef will be stirring the pot for the next four years behind bars after he was jailed on Monday for drug trafficking.

Hosania Moses of Fort Street Kingston made his appearance before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman and admitted to the charge when it was read to him since he did not want to waste the court’s time. He was also fined $1.8M. Moses confessed that between November 14, 2018 and November 16, 2018 at the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation he had 888 grams of cocaine in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

“I’m sorry for my negligence,” Moses said, while his attorney Everton Singh-Lammy bagged the magistrate to be lenient.

According to the facts presented by Police Prosecutor, Inspector Arvin Moore, on the day in question, ranks from the Police Narcotics Branch at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport intercepted Moses who was a pas-

JAILED Hosania Moses

senger of Suriname Airways.

He was searched and no drugs were found in his possession. The ranks noticed that Moses was acting in a suspicious manner and he was questioned on whether he had ingested drugs.

Moses admitted and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Co-operation and underwent an X-Ray. The machine showed that Moses had foreign objects in his stomach. Within the next few days Moses excreted 89 pellets with cocaine inside.

He was taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters where he admitted ownership of the drugs.

A section of the solar farm at Khan’s Hill, Mabaruma during misty conditions.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

UG unions reject ‘imposed’ salary increases Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith

THE university unions have completely rejected what they termed the “the imposed increases” in wages and salaries announced last week by the university for 2018, noting that the entire situation is “deeply disrespectful” and vowed to fight it.

“Not only are the imposed increases a violation of good labour relations practices, but some might

say that arrogance and hypocrisy are displayed in this action,” the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association and the University of Guyana Workers’ Union said in a joint statement Monday. Last week the university’s administration announced that its Finance and General Purposes Committee unanimously approved the request of Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw

Griffith for salary increases at the rate of three per cent for all eligible UA staff and four per cent for all eligible UB staff, retroactive to January 1, 2018. These increases will be paid to staff members of the University of Guyana

by Thursday, December 20, 2018, the institution said in a release. “Considering the increases granted for 2017, this makes the combined increase over two years nine per cent for UA staff and 12 per cent for UB workers,” UG said.

According to Vice-Chancellor Griffith, “although the 2018 negotiations with the unions never moved beyond differences over the agenda, I felt obliged to act on what we had planned all along to do; that is, to offer a salary increase for 2018.” He further emphasised that, “the administration maintains the principled position that performance will be a factor in this exercise, and that no academic staff with outstanding grades will be granted the increase.”

The university said as with previous salary increases, this salary adjustment requires finding money for the allowances that are pegged to salaries.

“For example, housing allowances are tied to salaries at the rate of 20 per cent.

Overall, the adjustment this year will cost the University G$ 81.34 million.”

The vice-chancellor noted that while the percentage increase is modest, it is guided by the principle of affordability; G$81.34 million is what the university can afford at this time.

Additionally, the increase is granted knowing that there is an understandable expectation by staff members for some form of financial relief for the year.

Meanwhile, the unions said in October, the vice-chancellor asked for the award of his second bonus of the year (the first one was awarded earlier in the year for 2016-2017). With the assistance of the chancellor, he was finally given that bonus at the Annual Business Meeting of the university on Thursday 8th November 2018. “He fought for his bonus while resisting an objective assessment of his performance. Affordability was never an issue when his bonus was under consideration. Now staffers are being asked to accept a minuscule

unilateral increase on the grounds of affordability,” the union charged.

The university unions said they have attempted to negotiate this year’s salary increases with the administration since 12th January 2018, when they first wrote to the vice-chancellor to request the start of negotiations. “The agenda for the negotiations could not be agreed because the administration refused to let the unions’ agenda items be discussed first, and to delay other matters until a promised transformation had occurred at the university. The unions’ number one agenda item was wages and salaries for 2018. It is disingenuous for the vice-chancellor to claim that he has been forced to ask for the unilateral increase because he could not get us to agree to discuss these matters. The administration has refused to negotiate wages and salaries with the unions, going so far as to fail to attend a conciliation meeting requested by the unions. This meeting was scheduled by the Department of Labour for 25th October 2018, and the unions showed up, but the administration never did.”

DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED Noting that they are deeply disappointed that the Finance and General Purposes Committee of the University was a part of such an action against the staff of the university, the union said “last year, when the administration refused to negotiate with the unions, Council requested that they do so and so negotiations began.

Now by appearing to endorse the administration’s actions, in not negotiating with the unions, F&GPC (which exercises Council) not only acquiesced in the violation of labour principles, but also violated the principles for the award of salary increases outlined by the Government of Guyana,” the unions said.

It charged that the Coalition government has been clear that salary increases should be negotiated and not imposed, as has been the case in the past. The F&GPC has participated in a very retrograde step, the release concluded.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

27

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

29

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

FROM BACK PAGE

Impressive...

He managed to avoid the chaos and took the lead, running untouched, with Mikhail Persaud finishing second and Gianni Carpenter finishing third.

In the earlier rounds, Mikhail finished ahead of Elan, Mohamed, Carpenter and Rayden, while in the pre-final, Rayden moved one spot up on Carpenter.

In the senior class, the battle was even hotter with one tenth separating Mikhail from John Phang and Steven

Nobrega, in that order.

Phang got the better of Nobrega and Elan Rahaman in the pre-final after race leader, Mikhail persaud spun out; he finished fourth with Faraud fifth.

The race result was no different and while Nobrega had the lead for a bit, Phang was able to get by and take the win with Mikhail finishing third.

The second round of the KFC Mega Cup is billed for December 9.

FROM BACK PAGE

Golden Jaguars...

Bonds plays in England’s National League – the fifth tier of English football. The squad includes US-based striker, Emery Welshman, whose FC Cincinnati team will play Major League Soccer in 2019, along with Bury FC’s Captain Neil Danns.

The top 10 will qualify for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, while the top six will qualify for Concacaf Nations League A alongside the United States, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica, Panama and Honduras.

Teams placed 7th to 22nd will compete in Concacaf Nations League B. After the important clash

with French Guiana, Guyana will play their final qualification against Belize at Leonora Stadium on March 23rd 2019.

Goalkeepers: Kai McKenzie-Lyle and Akel Clarke.

D e f e n d e r s : Te r e n c e Vancooten, Sam Cox, Kevin Layne, Kevin Dundas, Jake Newton, Walter Moore, Colin Nelson and Ronayne Marsh-Brown.

Midfield: Neil Danns, Elliot Bonds, Brandon Beresford, Anthony Benfield, Daniel Wilson and Stephen Duke-McKenna.

Forwards: Emery Welshman, Marcel Barrington, Trayon Bobb, Kadell Daniel and Sheldon Holder.

Fakenham 09:00 hrs Lazarus 10:00 hrs Foxtrot Juliet 11:30 hrs Slainte And Thanks Southwell 08:50 hrs Ulis De Vassy 09:20 hrs Valleyofmilan 09:50 hrs Toosey 10:20 hrs Supremely Lucky 10:50 hrs Prophets Prayer 11:20 hrs Stop Talking 11:50 hrs Emmas Joy American Racing Tips Finger Lakes Race 1 Pure Quality Race 2 Ogeechee Race 3 Magic Roy Race 4 New Material Race 5 Beach Splash Race 6 Giant Boo Boo Race 7 Emperor;s Gold Race 8 Ever Young

South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:25 hrs Against The Grain 09:00 hrs Crimson Royale 09:35 hrs Catkin 10:15 hrs Nordic Rebel 10:50 hrs Rock Pigeon 11:25 hrs Certifiable English Racing Tips Lingfield 08:10 hrs Thresholdofdream 08:40 hrs Alexis Carrington 09:10 hrs Human Nature 09:40 hrs Unforgiving Minute 10:10 hrs Shining 10:40 hrs Keswick 11:10 hrs Originaire 11:40 hrs Big Bad Lol

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Debutant Ajaz Patel stars with 5-59 in Kiwis thrilling win over Pakistan

PAKISTAN suffered a dramatic collapse in the first Test with New Zealand as debutant Ajaz Patel took the clinching wicket that gave Gary Stead victory in his maiden five-day game as coach.

The designated hosts appeared in complete command in Abu Dhabi as they chased a target of 176, Azhar Ali (65) and Asad Shafiq (45) steering them to 130-3.

However, New Zealand’s attack, led by the outstanding Patel (5-59) produced an unbelievable turnaround, Pakistan losing their final seven wickets for just 41 runs and falling five shy of victory in an agonising defeat.

A nervy finish saw Mohammad Abbas survive a review after a huge appeal for caught behind from New Zealand but, after being denied what he thought was the final wicket, Patel delivered the goods to trap Azhar in front, the decision held up on review to spark jubilant scenes among the tourists.

New Zealand take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series but that prospect could hardly have looked more unlikely in the morning session as Pakistan recovered from losing the wickets of Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez and Haris Sohail in the space of eight balls.

Azhar and Shafiq guided Pakistan

Ajaz Patel starred on debut with five wickets in the fourth innings, adding to the two wickets in the first innings, to spark a dramatic collapse

into a position of apparent complete command and, though the latter fell to Neil Wagner before lunch, what followed after the interval could scarcely have been believed.

A mix-up between Azhar and Babar Azam (13) brought about the fifth wicket through a run-out and Pakistan’s lower order crumbled in short order, Sarfraz Ahmed and Bilal Asif joining Patel’s list of victims, while Yasir Shah nicked Wagner to wide slip to leave Azhar and Abbas as the last line of resistance.

It looked as if they would hold firm after a review proved Abbas had not edged behind to BJ Watling and Pakistan inched to within a maximum of victory.

Yet Patel would not be denied and produced a superb delivery that pitched just in line and struck Azhar high on the pad, the review upholding the decision on the field as New Zealand successfully defended their second-lowest target in Tests, leaving Azhar and the sparse number of Pakistan fans devastated as Stead and his charges celebrated wildly.

The victory, New Zealand’s narrowest in the longest format, gives them a chance to clinch a first series win over Pakistan on foreign soil since 1969-70 in the second Test in Dubai, which starts on Saturday.

Smith, Warner, Bancroft bans to stand as CA rejects submission sanctions handed down to the three players.

“The original decision of the Board to sanction the players was determined after rigorous discussion and consideration. CA maintains that both the length and nature of the sanctions remain an appropriate response in light of the considerable impact on the reputation of Australian cricket, here and abroad.

“Steve, David and David Warner (left) and Steve Smith played against each Cameron are working other in Sydney club cricket match hard to demonstrate their commitment to cricket CRICKET Australia (CA) the spotlight on the entire has rejected the submis- CA set-up that the players and have our continued supsion by the Australian were not solely responsible port to ensure their pathway Cricketers’ Association for the events that led up to to return is as smooth as possible.

(ACA) that the bans hand- Cape Town.

“We believe the oned to Steven Smith, David CA interim chairman Warner and Cameron Earl Eddings said: “The going conversation about Bancroft for the Newlands Cricket Australia Board reducing the sanctions ball-tampering scandal has carefully considered all puts undue pressure on should be reduced. elements of the ACA sub- the three players - all of The ACA had said that mission and has determined whom accepted the sancin light of the cultural re- that it is not appropriate to tions earlier this year view findings which threw make any changes to the and the Australian men’s

cricket team. As such, the Cricket Australia Board doesn’t intend to consider further calls for amendments to the sanctions.

“Though we recognise that this decision will be disappointing for the ACA, we thank them for their submission. Our commitment to continue building a strong relationship between CA and the ACA in the interests of cricket in Australia remains and we look forward to meeting with them shortly to that end.”

ESPNcricinfo revealed yesterday that Warner and Smith could make their international returns against Pakistan in April with talks underway to move those matches beyond the date their bans expire on March 29.

Bancroft will be able to resume his state career at the end of December and could swiftly come back into the Perth Scorchers BBL team.

SCOREBOARD NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 153, Pakistan 1st innings 227, New Zealand 2nd innings 249 Pakistan 2nd innings o/n 37-0 Imam ul-Haq lbw Ajaz Patel 27 Mohammad Hafeez c Colin de Grandhomme b Ish Sodhi 10 Azhar Ali lbw Ajaz Patel 65 Haris Sohail c&b Ish Sodhi 4 Asad Shafiq c BJ Watling b Neil Wagner 45 Babar Azam Run Out Ish Sodhi 13 Sarfraz Ahmed c BJ Watling b Ajaz Patel 3 Bilal Asif b Ajaz Patel 0 Yasir Shah c Ross Taylor b Neil Wagner 0 Hasan Ali c (Sub) b Ajaz Patel 0 Mohammad Abbas Not Out 0 Extras: 4b 0lb 0nb 0pen 0w 4 Total: (58.4 overs) 171 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-40 ul-Haq, 2-44 Hafeez, 3-48 Sohail, 4-130 Shafiq, 5-147 Azam, 6-154 Ahmed, 7-154 Asif, 8-155 Shah, 9-164 Ali, 10-171 Ali Bowling: Trent Boult 7-0-29-0, Colin de Grandhomme 3-0-15-0, Ajaz Patel 23.4-4-59-5, Ish Sodhi 12-0-37-2, Neil Wagner 13-4-27-2.

Gascoigne charged with sex assault on Durham train

Paul ‘Gazza’ Gascoigne will appear before magistrates in December

FOOTBALL legend Paul Gascoigne has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman on a train from York to Durham.

The former England midfielder was arrested at Durham station on 20 August.

British Transport Police said the 51-year-old has now been charged with one count of sexual assault by touching and will appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on 11 December.

Mr Gascoigne shot to international fame during the 1990 World Cup. After leaving his home-

town club Newcastle United in 1988, he enjoyed success at Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio and Rangers.

He has had a well-documented struggle with alcoholism in the past.

A spokeswoman for British Transport Police said Mr Gascoigne, of Leicester, was “charged via postal requisition with one count of sexual assault by touching, contrary to Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003”. “The charge relates to an incident on board a train on 20 August this year,” she added.(BBC Sport)

32

BBC African Footballer of the Year 2018: Nominees named for award

THE five-man shortlist for the 2018 BBC African Footballer of the Year award has been announced.

This year’s nominees are Medhi Benatia (Morocco), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal), Sadio Mane (Senegal), Thomas Partey (Ghana) and Mohamed Salah (Egypt).

The vote opened on Saturday, 17 November at 19:00 GMT and closes on Sunday,

2 December at 20:00.

The final results will be announced in Focus on Africa on World News and World Service Radio on 14 December, starting at 17.30 GMT. The shortlist has been compiled by a panel of African football experts.

Liverpool forward Salah won last year’s award, with previous winners including Jay-Jay Okocha, Michael

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Essien, Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Riyad Mahrez.

Medhi Benatia, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sadio Mane, Thomas Partey and Mohamed Salah (from left to right) are the nominees.

Juventus centre-back Benatia, 31, won his fourth consecutive league title this year - two with Bayern Munich and two with Juve - and captained Morocco at this summer’s World Cup. Napoli defender Koulibaly, 27, played his part in his club’s battle with Juve for the Serie A title, including

the winner against the eventual champions in the run-in.

He played all 270 minutes for Senegal in the World Cup. Liverpool forward Mane, 26, also played in all of Senegal’s World Cup games, captaining his country in two and scoring against Japan.

He was the joint-second top scorer in last season’s Champions League - with 10 goals

The contenders

for Liverpool, including one in the 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the final.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Partey, 25, established himself as a first-team regular for Diego Simeone’s side, including a late appearance as a substitute in the Europa League final win over Marseille. He scored in international friendlies for Ghana

against Japan and Iceland.

Liverpool forward Salah, 26, won the Premier League Golden Boot with 32 goals in May and, like Mane, scored 10 Champions League strikes in their run to the final. He scored both of Egypt’s World Cup goals - 40% of their all-time total at the tournament.

(BBC Sport)

Waldron, McPherson lead GDF to Windies bowlers get in match practice in drawn two-day game 40-over win against Ace Warriors C H I T TA G O N G , B a n gladesh, (CMC) – Pace spearhead Shannon Gabriel took two wickets as West Indies bowlers got in crucial match practice on Monday’s final day of the drawn two-day match against the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI. Replying to West Indies’ overnight 303 for seven declared, the BCB XI finished on 232 for five at the MA Aziz Stadium, with Soumya Sarkar top-scoring with 78 and Shadman Islam getting 73.

Mohammad Mithun chipped in with 27 while Najmul Hossain got 21.

Gabriel, who will lead the Windies attack in the absence of injured skipper Jason Holder, claimed two

Shannon Gabriel

for 24 from eight overs.

West Indies toiled in vain for an early breakthrough as openers Sarkar and Shadman frustrated with a stand of 126.

The left-handed Sarkar, with 10 Tests to his name, produced an attacking knock with 10 fours and three sixes in 103 balls and nearly 2-½ hours at the crease.

Shadman, meanwhile, also a left-hander but who is uncapped, faced 169 deliveries in just over 3-¾ hours and counted 10 fours and a six.

Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican eventually accounted for Sarkar but Shadman combined with Najmul in a 47-run, second wicket partnership.

Both batsmen fell within five overs of each other before Gabriel grabbed two wickets late on to find his touch ahead of the opening Test starting Thursday.

AN all-round performance from Damian Waldron and solid batting by Quacey McPherson propelled the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to a seven-wicket win over the Ace Warriors Cricket Club when action in the New Building Society second division 40-Over cricket competition continued on Saturday.

GDF won the toss at the Camp Ayanganna ground and bowled first, but Raul Enmore defied the soldiers.

The opener struck three sixes and three fours in a top score of 55; his half-century proved the best resistance before Waldron was introduced into the attack.

The off-spinner got wickets in his second and third overs to peg back

Damian Waldron took five wickets and scored 47 runs for the winners.

the visitors. In total, he grabbed five wickets for 20 runs from eight overs to restrict the visitors to 122 in 37 overs.

Enmore’s only support was from Selwin Collier.

Batting at number eight, Collier struck three fours and

a six in a score of 29.

GDF lost their opening pair in the chase. Medium pacer Murtland Ward got the wicket of the dangerous Leon Andrews in his first over, while D. Ross fell a few overs later for three, which left the score on 13-2 before Waldron joined McPherson.

The pair added 108 runs for the third wicket and would have carried their team to victory if Waldron did not look to play an expansive shot with the aim of pushing his team over the finish line and himself to another half century. He went for a well-played 47 (5x4s, 1x6).

McPherson, who struck 10 fours, finished unbeaten on 62 as the GDF reached the target in 21.2 overs.

South Africa end with win but Bangladesh leave empty-handed GROS ISLET, St Lucia, (CMC) – South Africa held off a spirited Bangladesh as they wrapped up an otherwise disappointing ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup campaign with a 30-run win here Sunday night.

Once again, the Proteas batting struggled and they could only mount a meagre 109 for nine off their 20 overs with Marizanne Kapp getting 25 and opener Lizelle Lee, 21.

Salma Khatun, who bowled the new ball, finished with three for 20 while fellow off-spinner Khadiza-Tul Kubra picked up two for 18.

In reply, Bangladesh were restricted to 79 for five off their 20 overs despite Rumana Ahmed’s unbeaten 34 off 40 balls.

The defeat was Bangladesh’s fourth straight leaving them bottom of Group A while South Africa’s win was South Africa’s Faye Tunnicliffe looks back to see her stumps rattled during only their second, which was good enough for a third the final preliminary match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup against place finish in the group.

Bangladesh on Sunday. (Photo courtesy ICC Media)

With both teams eliminated from semi-final contention, there was only pride to play for but neither side managed to lift their game significantly.

Sent in, South Africa were cruising at 60 for one in the ninth over behind a 35-run, second wicket partnership between Kapp and skipper Dane van Niekerk (17).

But as has been the case in the tournament, once Kapp was well caught in the deep top-edging a slog at Rumana, South Africa once again capitulated, losing eight wickets for 49 runs.

Despite the small target, Bangladesh never looked like seriously threatening, and were already facing an uphill task when they crawled to 33 for three at the halfway stage of the innings.

Rumana resisted, striking two fours, but the knock was never likely to change the outcome as South Africa’s bowlers restricted any free scoring.

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Shomari Wiltshire reigns supreme at Farfan and Mendes Junior Skill Level Tournament

SHOMARI Wiltshire was crowned king while Nicholas Verwey was presented with a well deserved special award of Most Outstanding Boy, when the curtain came down on the Farfan and Mendes Junior Skill Level Tournament on Sunday, which was the last local Junior competition for 2018.

The Most Outstanding Girl award went to Kirsten Gomes. The other special awards: Most Improved Boy and Girl went to Grant Fernandes and Shriya Persaud respectively.

The day’s matches included categories from A to H. The brilliant Wiltshire didn’t drop a game despite Samuel Ince-Carvalhal making a firm bid in the third game of the final match.

Spectators were treated to an impressive display of precisely placed shots, hard hitting and smooth court

Shomari Wiltshire

movement from both players.

After an 11/2 loss in the first and an 11/5 in the second, Ince-Carvalhal was able to move into retrieval mode and rally it out to reach 10/10 before succumbing 10/12.

Demetrius DeAbreu and Ethan Jonas battled through their Category B match, but

Respective winners and other awardees of the GSA Farfan and Mendes-sponsored Junior Skill Level Tournament.

DeAbreu’s perfect signature drops kept Jonas moving and dominated the first game 11/5.

Jonas answered with solid straight drives to take the second game 11/4, but DeAbreu got back in his groove in the next two, keeping Jonas at 6 in each game to win 11/5,

4/11, 11/6, 11/6.

In category D, Teija Edwards fought hard against Joshua Verwey, but the youngster held on in close games of 11/6, 10/12, 11/13. Both players have improved recently but Verwey’s spirit pushed him past Edwards for the win.

Breno DaSilva bested

Tianna Gomes to secure second place in Category G and in novice category H, Solomon Ince-Carvalhal came from 1/0 down in games to rally out Jnae Singh for a 2/1 win.

Tiffany Solomon, GSA Tournament and competition organiser, as always, ensured

a smooth and enjoyable tournament with the help of assistant coaches, Nyron Joseph and Taylor Fernandes.

The Guyana Squash Association thanked Farfan and Mendes Ltd. for their continued support and sponsorship of the tournament.

Aussie Meg Lanning wary of Windies women in WorldT20 semis ...praises India’s Smriti Mandhana for her brilliance in Group B decider

By Brij Parasnath MEG Lanning, Australia’s Women captain, talked about their chances against West Indies in the ICC Women’s World Cup T20 semi-final.

Australia finished as runner-up to India in Group B at the Guyana National Stadium (Providence) last Saturday while West Indies topped Group A when they overpowered the highly-touted England outfit in the Group decider on Sunday at the Darren Sammy Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia.

India, as table-toppers of Group B; will clash with Group B runner-up England in the other semi-final encounter. Both matches are carded for the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Thursday.

Lanning has established herself as one of the superstars of women’s cricket and her record of achievements stands above those of her female counterparts.

Yet, she was realistic and accepted that her team was

outplayed by the youthful Indian women team that has rebounded from their debacle and disappointment in the recent Asia Cup T20 series when they were humiliated and beaten in the final.

Based on those results and not having made the semi-finals of the Women World T20 since 2010, not many people in the cricketing fraternity gave them a chance to even make it through to the semi-finals, especially in such a strong grouping that also consisted of New Zealand, who was considered as second favourite to three-time World T20 champion, Australia, which has assembled their strongest combination ever, in the hope of celebrating global success once again.

But India, with their stylish left-handed strokeplayer, Smriti Mandhana, along with superlative performances by their captain, Harmanpreet Kaur and their battery of spinners, registered a convincing 56run victory in their Group B decider at Providence.

Mandhana stroked her way to her personal best of 83 and India’s highest ever total by any of their players, both female and male, against Australia at the World T20 level. She struck three huge sixes while Kaur also recorded three glorious sixes and impressed again with another brilliant cameo of 43 as they propelled India to a challenging 167 for 8 in 20 overs.

Australia were bowled out for 119, with injury to their star opener Alyssa Healy, who suffered concussion while wicketkeeping and was unable to bat and contribute to her team’s cause.

Healy collided with her bowling partner, Megan Schutt, when both attempted a catch offered in the 19 th over. She was jolted and had to be treated on field, and forced not to play any meaningful part for the remainder of the match.

Australia missed her explosiveness at the top of the order and it reflected in their overall total and defeat. There will be major concern for her sta-

bility and readiness for the semi-final against West Indies.

During the post-match press conference on Saturday, Lanning was generous in her praise of Mandhana’s superlative performance that put them under severe pressure to chase down India’s total.

She remarked that: “Mandhana played extremely well today, as did Kaur.

We had some plans coming in. But you’ve got to adjust as you go along with the conditions. It was very windy out there today; you have to adjust to that as well. Mandhana is an excellent player and when she gets going, definitely difficult to stop.”

“Kaur was also outstanding with the bat and they helped India to a very good total” Healy will be closely monitored over the next few days and everyone in the Australian set-up will be hopeful that she recovers in time for their semi-final match.

Lanning pointed out that: “She’s got a mild concussion. So obviously we

will treat that carefully and monitor that over the next few days. But hopefully she will be alright for us come semi-finals time.”

Commenting on her team’s overall performance against India, Lanning stressed that: “We thought 160-164 was about par. We thought we would be chasing 200 at one point. We were pleased to bring them back.

We know we will have to chase totals like that if we want to win this World Cup. It was a challenge for us. And we were not up to it today.”

She blamed herself for the team’s predicament and lamented: “We just never got going. The powerplay, we did not really get off to that flyer. And then myself, I kept hitting the ball to the fielder, and then played a big shot and got out. And I think that happened a fair bit throughout the innings.”

“I think there is a lot we can learn from it. We have got the power there to do it, but we just need to be a little more crafty about how we go about it. And we have

to make sure we are building those big partnerships and not letting those wickets fall too often,” added the Aussies captain.

Looking ahead to the semi-finals, she said: “If we are going to win this World Cup, we will have to chase the score around that. So we are definitely going to have to learn from this, which our group has done really well over the last year or so. I am very confident that we will bounce back.”

When asked about her team’s chances against West Indies women in the semi-final, based on the premise that West Indies topped their Group, Lanning said: “The West Indies team is a very strong team, with explosive batters who could change the game quickly. We have to be wary of them, strategise well and play to our strengths. We will come up with plans to stop them from scoring quickly and, hopefully, we will come out on top if we have to play them in the semi-final.”

34

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

EBFA Senior KO competition

Soesdyke Falcons down Grove Hi Tech 3-2 in extra time to lift title IT was a result that many may have only dreamt of, but on Sunday afternoon last, against the odds, Soesdyke Falcons came of age when they stormed back from being a goal down to defeat East Bank Football Association #1 side, Grove Hi Tech 3-2 to win the association’s knockout championship in extra time.

Going into the match, Grove had scored well over 20 goals as opposed to their opponents, which did not even reach 10, but on the day, Soesdyke Falcons had a point to prove and that they did when Orin Tasha rose above the Grove defenders in the 90+8th minute to head the ball past young goalie,

Usher Jones, which sealed the title as the best and bragging rights until the next knockout tournament.

As expected, Grove enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and muffed many chances as well; but Soesdyke came with a plan to absorb what the opponents brought to the table early on and frustrate them.

That plan was effective up until the 17th minute when Nicholai Matthews tucked in the first goal for Grove. But even as they (Grove) took the lead, Soesdyke grew in confidence to the extent that they fired back three minutes later to level the scores, thanks to a Delon Smith strike.

It was a balanced affair

at the half way mark of the battle, but the war was way from over. The next chapter in the book was going to be scripted by the Khan brothers who were playing on opposing sides; no brotherly love - at least for the duration of the match.

In the second half tussle, Tyrone Khan, playing for Soesdyke, finished clinically to hand his side the lead on 52 minutes, much to the delight of his teammates and supporters who outnumbered those on the Grove side of the divide. But the game had just begun and Grove continued to battle; the next chapter was scripted by Khan’s younger sibling, Tyrel, who was as clinical as his brother when

Soesdyke Falcons celebrate with their fans and supporters following their 3-2 win over Grove Hi-Tech at the Diamond Community Centre ground.

he scored the equalizer for Grove in the 74th minute.

Tyrell was so animated in scoring that he took off his jersey as part of the celebrations which drew him a yellow card from Referee Cordel Johnson. It was again an even situation but the momentum had shifted Soesdyke’s way.

A few minutes later, Tyrell Khan was evicted from the match as a result of drawing a second yellow card which meant that Grove was now playing with 10; advantage,

Soesdyke. The remaining minutes of regulation time failed to separate the sides but as the minutes went by, more pressure was building on Grove.

The first period of extra time (5 minutes) went by without a change to the scoreline and the second period seemed to be heading that way until Soesdyke won a corner with two minutes to go.

The cross came over and Orin Tasha found the spring to leap above about four

Grove players to guide the ball into the back of the nets; Soesdyke sneaking ahead at a critical juncture in the war.

They were able to protect that advantage until the final whistle was sounded which signaled a new day for the champions as well as set new tone ahead of the associations 2019 season.

Both Soesdyke and Grove have earned the right to contest the Guyana Football Federation playoffs for their year-end Super 16 KO tournament.

‘Don’t strive to be like Messi or Ronaldo’ Former professional footballer Jorge Abukhalil

By Stephan Sookram THERE are many international players who have achieved excellence, but many of the youngsters locally should not try to duplicate their styles.

Mr Jorge Abukhalil, an executive of the Trade Wind Tankers Company and a retired professional footballer, made the comment yesterday when handing over some balls to the teams of the company’s school league.

“I see a lot of footballers

wearing ‘Messi and Ronaldo shirts’; back in my day it was Pele and Maradona. It’s a mistake. I want to tell you that [you] should not want to be like them. To be like them you would have to be born them.”

Instead, he implored the youngsters to find their own style in the game and create names for themselves.

A former Chilean and Major League Soccer (MLS) player, Abukhalil added that youngsters must be able to

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday November 20, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & Cummings Electrical Company Ltd. 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Deandra Dottin (WI vs BANG,Providence-Nov 09) (2) 11 matches Today’s Quiz: (1) Which two teams are set to contest the first semi-final of the current ICC Women's T20 World Cup? (2) Which two teams are scheduled to play the second semi-final?

Answer in tomorrow's issue

understand the game fully to play it properly.

He added that, “Don’t do it [play football] because you’re going to be rich or because you want money.

That’s the wrong reason. Play it because it is your passion.”

After his remarks, Abukhalil handed over a quantity of balls to the teams participating in the ongoing GUYOIL/Tradewind Tankers School Football League.

Meanwhile, Marketing Executive of GUYOIL, Ashmin John, stated that the youngsters should take pride in what they are doing, considering that they “are winning towards a project for their school.”

She stated that the company is keen on supporting the sport on an annual basis, something that Abukhalil confirmed.

Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca commented on the progress mission of the organisation in rebuilding the grassroots level of the sport, saying that support like that of GUYOIL/Tradewind Tankers represents that progress.

He continued that they

Trade Wind Tankers Jorge Abukhalil hands over a ball to Petra co-director Troy Mendonca

are beginning to see the fruits of their labours started some seven years ago.

Meanwhile, in the latest round of matches on Sunday, Charlestown demolished Queens College 4-0, thanks to Carlos Agard’s brace (1st and 63rd), and single strikes each from Isaiah Moore (28th) and Raymond Bandhu (56th).

Queenstown went down 7-0 to Wismar Christianburg after a hat-trick from Tyrese Lewis and a flurry of single strikes from George Stephen (25th), Randy Pickering (48th), Felix Inniss (58th), Andre Mayers (62nd) and Kevin Dormick (64th).

Annandale were also triumphant over Uitvlught 4-1 after Markel Matheson (12th),

Omari Glasgow (21 st), Tiquon Taylor (25th) and Colin Haywood (53 rd ) were on target. Ruben Dainty (62nd) scored the consolation for the West Demerara side.

Lodge edged Vergenoegen 2-1, thanks to Leroy Selery (22nd) and an own goal (31st) while Vergenoegen had Ronaldo Macey (2nd) on target.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 20, 2018

GDF marches to 18th consecutive champion gym title –Keevin Allicock voted Best Boxer

By Michael DaSilva THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) marched to their 18th consecutive national open championship title when the curtain came down on the Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) Terrence Ali open championships at the National Gymnasium on Sunday night.

Despite some good individual performances from the soldiers, the spotlight was on Forgotten Youth Foundation’s (FYF) and Junior Commonwealth Games bantamweight silver medalist, Keevin Allicock, who was adjudged Best Boxer of the tournament for the two Technical Knock-Out (TKO) victories he registered in as many fights of the threenight championships.

Winning championship

titles for the GDF were Colin `Superman’ Lewis (junior welterweight), Desmond Amsterdam (middleweight), Aubrey Headley (heavyweight) and Shemear Mingo (super heavyweight).

The border patrol defence force boxers also ended the championships with six silver medals which assisted them to win the championship title.

With his sight set on the tournament’s best boxer award, as well as booking a spot on Guyana’s team for the Caribbean Amateur Championships slated for Guyana from December 6-9 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Allicock entered the ring in a no nonsense mood on Saturday night for his bantamweight contest against GDF’s Clinton Clarke and from the sound of the bell for the start

of the first round, showed his class with terrific hand speed and dominated the fight until the referee had cause to bring an end to Allicock’s onslaught at two minutes 21 seconds of the second round.

Allicock, the new Albouystown `Cyclone’, was in the same destructive mood on Sunday night when he faced another soldier in Clairmont Gibson, who had no answer for the lightning hand speed and craftiness of Allicock and after being punished for one minute, 58 seconds during the first round, referee Richard Braithwaite had no other choice but to call a halt to the one-sided contest to save Gibson from further punishment or injuries.

The second soldier to ap-

GDF’s Colin `Superman’ Lewis (right) storms forward with a flurry of combinations to the body and head of VBG’s Aubrey Moore in their junior welterweight contest on Saturday night (Photo by Delano Williams).

pear on Sunday night’s card was Delroy Fordyce who had no answer for Rose Hall Jammers’ jamal Eastman in a lightweight contest that saw both Eastman and Fordyce going at each other with telling combinations, but seconds into the first round, Fordyce was clipped with a wicked left hook and the referee administered a standing eight count.

Eastman then started to add straight rights to his armoury and caught his opponent with one such shot and the referee issued a second eight count and on resumption, Eastman once again caught Fordyce with yet another straight right and referee, Romana Agard, stopped the fight at two minutes of

the round.

From then onwards, the GDF boxers started to rack up victories. The first was a junior welterweight win for Lewis who secured a walkover win from Vergenoegen Boxing Gym’s Christopher Moore and this was followed by a TKO win for Amsterdam who caused the referee to his contest against his gym mate Dwayne July with 21 seconds left in the second round.

Headley subsequently secured a split decision verdict against his fellow soldier, Markember Pierre in their heavyweight contest and finally, Mingo edged his GDF `squadee’, Emerson Farley by earning a split decision victory.

In results from the other finals on Sunday night, Patrick Harvey (FYF) won by a split decision against Rose Hall Jammers’ Francis Sukhu in their flyweight contest, Seon Griffith (FYF), after absorbing some amount of punishment at the hands of Harpy Eagles’ Kevin Allicock in their flyweight contest, was given the fight at the conclusion of the third round, as Kevin Allicock did not have his bandage marked by the officials before entering the ring.

The other fight on the night’s card, a welterweight bout between GDF’s Quincy Boyce and Harpy Eagles Emanuel Sancho, saw Sancho securing a unanimous points victory.

GFF/STAG Beer launch ‘Super 16’ year-end tournament

$2M winner’s purse up for grabs

By Rawle Toney THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) teamed up with Ansa McAl trading Limited under their STAG Beer Brand, to launch their ‘Super 16’ Year-End tournament yesterday at the Green City Sports Bar. With $4M in prize money up for grabs, all compliments of Ansa McAl, the tournament will be contested between eight of the ten Elite League Clubs (Fruta Conquerors, Milerock, GDF, Western Tigers, Victoria Kings, Buxton United, Ann’s Grove and Den Amstel FC), along with Rivers View from Bartica, Guyana Rush Saints from the Rupununi and a representative from Berbice and Essequibo.

According to Head of Competitions, Ian Alves, the three clubs from a

play-off amongst the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) champion, Soesdyke Falcons from the East Bank Football Association (EBFA), as well as two Georgetown Football Association (GFA) clubs, will also be involved. The play-off, Alves told reporters, will take place on November 30 and December 2.

While venues were not announced, Alves said the tournament will see matches being played on December 14, 16, 21, and 23 with the Group stage matches, while quarter-finals are set for December 25 and 26. Semi-Finals are tabled for December 29 and the finals on January 1, 2019.

The winner will pocket $1M, second place $1M, third place $500 000 and the fourth-place team will receive a trophy.

Team representatives, sponsors and GFF officials at the launch of the GFF/STAG Beer ‘Super 16’ year-end tournament. (Rawle Toney photo)

President of the GFF, Wayne Forde, speaking to Chronicle Sport, stated that “Ultimately, the public has been calling for a vibrant year-end tournament.

“We’ve stated in the early days of our administration that we’re going to consolidate year-end football; this is

one step in doing that.

“We still have a lot of work to do in 2019, but ultimately our goal is to have a tournament that conveys the unity and the harmony that the football fraternity needs.

We are drafting the regulation as we speak.”

Forde pointed out that

“a large chunk of the proceeds, after we have covered our expenses, will go towards the members, so it’s all part of generating some revenues that will go back into the football.”

Nigel Worrell, STAG Beer Brand representative, made it clear that the tourna-

ment is a partnership with his company and the GFF, telling reporters that STAG will be bringing never-before-seen fan activities where patrons will benefit directly from Ansa McAl. Earlier this year, the GFF came under fire for the lengthy time taken to pay the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) their $2M first-place prize after they had defeated Grove Hi-Tech 2-0 in the finals on January 1, 2018.

Grove Hi-Tech, who along with Soesdyke Falcons, will be the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) representatives at the tournament this year, pocketed $1M for their second-place finish, while Fruta Conquerors and Milerock received $500,000 and $250,000 each for their third and fourth-place finish respectively.

KFC Mega Cup Round 1

Impressive Rahaman holds Ten-Pow at bay

Nathan Rahaman (71) trails Jeremy Ten-Pow (61) during the pre-final of the KFC Mega The races winners of the first round of the KFC Mega Cup (Leon Gonzalves/KFC Guyana) Cup Round 1. (GTRidez Photo)

By Stephan Sookram NATHAN Rahaman produced the drive of the day in Sunday’s historic opening round of the KFC Mega Cup at the GT Motorsports Cosmos Raceway.

Nathan, the son of multiple time group two champion, Ryan, completed fifteen laps of pure class to the envy of many seasoned racers as he defended against one of the fiercest competitors in the karting arena in Pure Racing’s Jeremy Ten Pow. Nathan made his move on the first corner of the opening lap, catching Jeremy off guard and immediately putting the defending GT motorsports 60cc Champion on the back foot.

From then on, Ten-Pow was forced to be the aggressor.

It seemed that Nathan had done his homework and managed to neutralise all the preferred passing zones of the champion Ten-Pow. All the while Ten-Pow was trying to get

by Rahaman, Paige Mendonca was hot on the tail of them both. She bode her time well throughout the two-thirds of the race but a momentary lapse in concentration saw her spin and allow Justin Ten Pow into third spot.

She was never able to recover and finished fourth.

While Jeremy was able to pull alongside to put himself in a passing position on several

occasions, Nathan placed his kart where it needed to be to quell the execution of a legal pass.

On several occasions, Ten-Pow was forced to put wheels on the curb to one-up Rahaman, but Nathan held true to his line and was unfazed by every attempt.

And when the chequered flag dropped, Nathan had completed the sweetest revenge on the man that had dominated both the earlier qualifying and pre-final, Justin Ten Pow, who finished third.

In the Easy cup battle, Jean Claude Jeffrey, the younger brother of Stefan Jeffrey, was able to clean sweep both the final, pre final and qualifying aspects of the day.

Golden Jaguars set to ‘roar’ today against French Guiana in Cayenne

Let’s roar! (L-R) Neil Danns, Trayonn Bobb and Captain Samuel Cox will be key in Coach Michael Johnson’s quest for victory against French Guiana tonight. (Samuel Maughn photo)

The battle, however, was for second which changed places constantly. By mid-way through, however, things had settled down and debutant Brian Woolford had cemented that spot ahead of Zachary Persaud.

Woolford’s over-under move for second could be seen as one of the sweetest passes of the night on a track which is notoriously difficult to produce a pass.

GTVibz photographer Akeem Thomas, who was also on debut, finished seventh.

In the 125cc Junior class, Faraud Mohamed was the champion of the night, having earlier watched as Elan Rahaman and Rayden Persaud collide, taking both karts out.

WITH a spot at 2019 at stake, Guyana’s senior men’s National team, the ‘Golden Jaguars’, will roar into action tonight from 18:30hrs in Cayenne against French Guiana in their third match of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Buoyed by the return of their experienced players who had missed the side’s 8 – 0 win against Turks and Caicos last month, the Michael Johnson-coached side will be hoping to take full advantage of the Frenchmen’s sour form and return to Guyana with an important win.

Guyana, apart from their win over theTurks and Caicos, had opened the CONCACAF Nations League with a 2 – 2 draw against Barbados, with goals from Bury FC’s Neil Danns and local talisman, Trayon Bobb.

However, for French Guiana, they fell 1 – 0 to St Vincent and the Grenadines, but rebounded to beat Anguilla 5 – 0.

Currently, Guyana is in 14th position on the 34-team table with four points while French Guiana is six places adrift.

Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

TURN TO PAGE 30

“We’re looking forward to the game,” Johnson said, whose team has never qualified for the Gold Cup, while French Guiana had made their debut at the CONCACAF showpiece in 2017.

The former Jamaican International stated that French Guiana is “formidable opposition,” adding “we know that they did well in the first game, but didn’t do well in their second game. But they are quite formidable at home, so we would love to go there, give them their respect, but not be fearful. But be aware that this is obviously important to them because they need to get something from it. We need to be guarded, not fearful, but we’re ready for the game, we’re looking forward to it, we know what’s at stake.”

Eighteen-year-old Dagenham & Redbridge’s midfielder Elliot Bonds has received his first call- up to the Golden Jaguars and will play alongside the likes of Walter Moore, Colin Nelson and Marcel Barrington who are all making a return to the National team.

TURNTURN TO PAGE 30 31 TO PAGE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2018