Guyana Chronicle E-paper 11-22-2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

1

THURSDAY 22nd NOVEMBER, 2018

No.105466

President thanks ministers, nation for support

‘It’s for gov’t to decide’ PAGE

03

PAGE

14

…hearing of no-confidence motion rests with gov’t …clerk says Standing Orders silent on requirements

Woman miner killed in 10 Arakaka Backdam PAGE

PUC approves rates for GTT call-blocking service

PAGE

11

Air transport confab opens …PM sees opportunity for expanded connectivity among regions Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and other government ministers and officials of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) at the opening of the three-day conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (Samuel Maughn photo)

PAGE

02

2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

Air transport confab opens …PM sees opportunity for expanded connectivity among regions

By Navendra Seoraj THE three-day conference of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on air transport opened here on Wednesday with Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean looking to expand linkages with non-traditional markets in the aviation sector.

International aviation is going through a period of “unprecedented change,” said Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo; he added that Guyana is poised to take advantage of that change with its new, expanded runway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the new terminal with state- of-the-art facilities.

The conference is being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. “Guyana is in a better position to handle larger aircraft and process more passengers,” said the prime minister (PM)

during his address to the participants. The PM noted that the air transport meeting will take the country one step closer to that possibility, as stakeholders commence discussions under the theme, “Promoting Connectivity for Sustainable Air Transport Development.”

Prime Minister Nagamootoo said stakeholders from the ICAO, CARICOM and the African Union are meeting at a time when Guyana’s aviation industry has strengthened itself with a revised civil aviation law; this was approved by the National Assembly on Monday last.

The revision of the old law over the past two years has brought the law fully in line with the Chicago Convention, and has enhanced safety and security provisions.

“Our aviation sector is moving in the right direction and is growing. In 2017, Guyana recorded its high-

est international passenger movement in the history of the aviation sector – in excess of 650,000 passengers,” said Nagamootoo; he added that Guyana’s compliance with ICAO standards and recommended practices are up, increasing from 44 per cent to 64 per cent, with a projection to reach at least 80 per cent by December 31, this year.

He believes that Guyana is becoming an attractive market for airlines, especially since the nation will start to produce oil in 2020. Testimony to this was the newest addition to air services in Guyana, American Airlines. The country appears to be making its mark as a preferred business and tourist destination, as connectivity has increased the number of destinations being served out of Guyana.

Guyana remains connected to major hub networks of the world such as Panama, JFK, Miami, Toronto, Port of Spain and Barbados.

“While Guyana is pleased to display its achievement within the aviation sector, this ICAO Air Transport

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo speaking about the aviation industry at the launch of the air transport meeting on Wednesday

Meeting is not mainly about Guyana, but about promoting connectivity among and within the different regions of the world,” said Prime Minister Nagamootoo. Additionally, he posited that here in the Caribbean Region, air transport is a critical factor for the viability and sustainability of the tourism product which the Caribbean sells.

The Caribbean Region is always looking at new ways to promote connectivity. This is because of the spread of the different states across the Region and the small size of many of the islands in the

President of the Council of ICAO Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu

within the CARICOM Region to operate unimpeded

A section of the gathering at the ICAO air transport meeting which is being hosted by Guyana (Samuel Maughn photos)

Region. In July 2018, the Heads of Government of the various CARICOM member states approved for signature a liberal, multilateral air services agreement. This allows for free movement of airlines

in any member state.

In keeping with the agreement, government is aiming to promote connectivity because that is the initiative which is necessary to Turn to page 3 ►

3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

‘It’s for gov’t to decide’

…hearing of no-confidence motion rests with gov’t …clerk says Standing Orders silent on requirements CLERK of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs says that the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Guyana are silent on the requirements of a no-confidence motion, even as he opined that the hearing of such a motion is determined by the government and not the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Isaacs’ comments are contained in a release from his office on Wednesday as he responded to enquiries from the media about the procedure. In the 10th Parliament, a similar motion was moved by the then majority opposition, but before the matter was called the then President Donald Ramotar prorogued Parliament. The current motion was filed by the leader of the opposition against the government which holds a one-seat majority in the House.

In his release, Isaacs said during the past week several persons including the media have contacted him with respect to the procedure which deals with no-confidence motions. He said over the years, he has conducted extensive

research on no-confidence motions. “I have observed that no-confidence motions are dealt with differently in various Commonwealth Parliaments. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Guyana are silent on the requirements of a no-confidence motion. However, Standing Order No. 113 (1) of the National Assembly of the Parliament of Guyana states: “In any matter not herein provided for, resort shall be had to the usage and practice of the Commons Assembly of Parliament of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which shall be followed as far as the same, may be applicable to the Assembly, and not inconsistent with these Standing Orders or with practice of the Assembly.”

According to Isaacs, the 24th Edition of the Parliament Practice of the Commons Assembly of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Erskine May, page 344, states: “From time to time the Opposition puts down a motion on the paper expressing lack of confidence in the Government or otherwise criticizing its general con-

duct. By established convention the Government always accedes to the demand from the Leader of the Opposition to allot a day for the discussion of a motion tabled by the official Opposition which in the Government’s view, would have the effect of testing the confidence of the House. In allotting a day for this purpose the Government is entitled to have regard for the exigencies of its own business, but a reasonably early day is invariably found….”

Isaacs said against this background in keeping with the British practice, when a motion of no-confidence was brought against the PPP/C government in 2014, having regard to the exigencies of the government’s business, it was published on Notice Paper and dealt with like other Private Members’ motions that require notice. “It was placed on the Order Paper for consideration by the National Assembly twelve (12) days from the day on which the notice was published on a Notice Paper.” “In my view, the day for the hearing of a no-confidence motion is de-

Air transport confab ... facilitate the movement of people, goods and services.

According to the prime minister, the removal of traditional restrictions on ownership configurations of airlines and the liberalisation of cargo markets using open skies air services agreements with provision for seventh freedom traffic rights for cargo movement, are needed to improve connectivity and access.

FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK President of the Council of the ICAO Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu was hopeful that there would be similar decisions coming out of the meeting.

“We hope to have far-reaching decisions like the establishment of an aviation development financial framework for the African and Caribbean regions” said Aliu.

He added that the framework will be structured to “meaningfully” integrate planning between the African Union

and the Caribbean. Stakeholders including Aliu agreed that states must not only improve compliance, but also foster an operating environment under which the aviation industry can enjoy sustainability.

Aviation is a crucial driver of economic, social and cultural development. The industry supports more than 62.7 million jobs globally and generates US$2.7 trillion in economic activity.

According to the ICAO, 37 million aircraft carried 4.1 billion passengers and 56 million tonnes of cargo in 2017.

These figures are expected to double in the next 15 years.

“It is therefore important for countries to create policies which accommodate modernisation, harmonisation and promote connectivity, security, competition and transparency,” said Aliu.

Director-General of GCAA Egbert Field also agreed that it is imperative for the Caribbean Region to remove itself from the rigid

From page 2

regulatory impediments that hinder development as a Region and foster ideas towards harmonising regulations.

The ICAO meeting is expected to address most of those concerns, since the objective of the meeting is to create solutions to remove impediments to air-transport liberalisation and to finance the development of quality aviation infrastructure. Representative of the Inter –American Development Bank (IDB) to Guyana Sophie Makonnen was in support of objectives of the ICAO; this is because she believes that aviation policies are restrictive in certain countries, while some have not been able to keep up with infrastructural changes. She said the IDB has invested US$175 million in aviation throughout the Caribbean where modernisation of the aviation sector is essential for growth.

Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs

termined by the government and not by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Parliament of Guyana,” Isaacs asserted.

JAGDEO’S TAKE On Monday at a news conference, Jagdeo told reporters that he hopes the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Barton Scotland

would treat with the no-confidence motion with much professionalism. Jagdeo, while fielding questions from reporters, said while he understands that the no-confidence motion puts the “speaker’s job at risk,” he is responsible not only to the government, but all parliamentarians as well. “We expect that once the speaker was appointed that he has a duty to not only members of the executive, the APNU+AFC coalition, but to all parliamentarians and that he would exercise that duty and responsibility fairly and imperially. We also expect the speaker not to depart from the international practice and norms as it relates to no-confidence motions; that the professionalism of the speaker will prevail,” Jagdeo said.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo while dismissing the no-confidence motion, said the opposition leader has ill motives. “It [the motion] has other motivations, to breed disaffection in the country; to be able to stir the fever of divisiveness that the PPP invested in the communities because I know, I

come from Berbice, [and] the level of ethnic division and hate…that they have sown in that community, they have to now find a ‘fig leaf’ to cover their shame of what they did during the campaign. So, they want to show that they have a moral obligation out of these elections -- that there was some sort of a referendum in the local government elections—so that they can move to say ipso facto the government should resign,” Nagamootoo said.

He then added: “This is not Donald Ramotar, this is Granger and Nagamootoo.

There will be no surrender.”

The prime minister said the Speaker of the National Assembly holds the ultimate decision on whether the motion is admissible, especially at a time when the House is moving towards consideration of the budget estimates. Jagdeo was hoping to have the motion debated before presentation of the budget, which is slated for Monday.

E’DO responds to Dem Waves article on employee dismissal clause GUYANESE oil-and-gas services company El Dorado Offshore has hit back at an article published in the local press which said that an employee of the company could be dismissed for disclosing information such as wages and salaries. The company said that it had no such policy and that in three short years it has grown significantly due to the hard work and dedication of its management team and the value it brings to its employees.

“On Friday, November 16, an article was published in the Demerara Waves online newspaper titled “El Dorado Offshore -- hired seafarers could be fired for disclosing wages.”

“This headline stemmed from a clause in El Dorado Offshore’s (E’DO) employment contract which states that an employee may be terminated for disclosing confidential company information inclusive of information on wages and salaries.

Demerara Waves, however, failed to mention that E’DO’s contract allows any employee to disclose any company information under legal process,” the company said in a press release.

E’DO pointed out that every employee in Guyana has a legal

right to engage directly with his/ her trade union, ministry or any other legal entity that represents employees’ rights. It said that no employee of E’DO can suffer any repercussion if they were to do so. “E’DO has and will continue to open our organisation to any entity working to promote workers’ rights in Guyana,” E’DO said.

The company noted that some sections of the press have attempted to portray E’DO as a Trinidadian company. However, in response to this, E’DO said it was founded in Guyana and is 100 % managed and operated

by Guyanese. It said that the members of E’DO’s leadership team are wholly young, vibrant individuals below the age of 35, who are products of a “sound Guyanese education system” and background.

“All of us at E’DO are familiar with the struggles and scarcity of opportunities for young and educated persons in Guyana, even when they have bright ideas and are willing to work hard,” the release said. It said that Trinidadian company Ramps Logistics saw the potential in the E’DO team and provided the capital to get E’DO started. “Not only did they provide capital, they also

provided coaching and mentoring. We were able to access their management systems and most importantly their network of oiland-gas contacts internationally.

In just three years, E’DO now employs more than 140 Guyanese in the oil-and-gas sector.

In fact, we have already begun to export our locally trained personnel to work in places such as Suriname,” E’DO said.

It added: “These are wellpaid jobs. Even at the lowest levels, for 28 days work E’DO employees earn more than five to six times the average wage in Guyana.”

It said its clients include Edison Chouest, Seacor Marine, Halliburton, Tenaris, Schlumberger Stena Offshore, SBM Offshore, among other global multinationals.

“This new energy industry provides an opportunity to those who have not traditionally been involved in business in Guyana. There is a new generation of youthful entrepreneurs in Guyana and we deserve to be part of this sector as much as anyone else. For the first time in a long time we feel we can stay right here in Guyana and make a great life for ourselves and our families,” the release said.

4

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

Small fire erupts at Church’s Bartica branch

WWF supporting sustainable agriculture

…and human resources development A MORE natural approach to farming, the development of human resources and their input around the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) in Guyana were the focus of the threeday visit by World Wildelife Fund (WWF) President, Pavan Sukhdev.

When Sukhdev visited earlier this year, he met with President David Granger and other government ministers and discussed a number of issues including ‘green’ jobs, sustainable farming, transitioning into a ‘green’ economy and the country’s oil and gas prospects.

This time around saw a more practical approach to the issues. Suhkdev visited several farmers and farming stakeholders in New Amsterdam, Berbice, earlier this week.

“We’ve had discussions in New Amsterdam about agriculture and how agriculture can really help shape the green development,’ Williams explained.

“Agriculture is about biology, it’s not about chemistry, so instead of adding chemicals and trying to grow crops off of chemicals… look more at the natural way of doing so using the elements of the soil, the things that we have around us, so we can grow healthy crops.”

The WWF has been working with 28 nations to change the way those economies operate by generating circumstances for sustainable development.

Country Representative of WWF Suriname, Laurens Gomes, who was also present at Wednesday’s press briefing, noted that Guyana is poised to set the example for others where the GSDS is concerned.

“Guyana has the best opportunity globally. So this is a laboratory for the world, one which we wish that Guyana succeeds in, so you have the best opportunity for decisions to bring this at a global platform,” Gomes said.

A FIRE Wednesday evening, which reportedly started when a fryer caught fire at the Church’s fastfood outlet in Bartica, has left extensive damage in its wake.

Reports are that around 20:00hrs staff observed the fryer on fire and quickly raised an alarm. The fire service was called and the blaze was contained to the building.

According to an eyewitness, “the whole kitchen flare up” and persons quickly ran out of the building. There were no reports of injuries.

WWF International President Pavan Sukhdev

The scene of the fire

Thursday, November 22, 2018 04:30 hrs - 14:30 hrs

T h i s w a s S u k h d e v ’s second visit to Guyana for the year, and WWF Guyana Country Manager, Aiesha Williams, said it underscores how important WWF feels it is to support Guyana in its green state development process.

“These are two very, very central parts of Guyana’s green development. Approximately 65,000 people depend on their jobs for agriculture in Guyana and energy is a key input to production and a key input to development.

Working in a way to ensure agriculture is sustainable and designed and planned in a way that it earns more money for the people who are farming,” Sukhdev said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

Wednesday, NOV. 21, 2018

5 6 11 21 25 28

3

K

Nov. 16, 2018 5

6

13 16

22

5

1

2

2

3

7

1

7

9

14

16

3

4

7

8 20

5

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

Grenada gov’t unveils EC 1.134B budget ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Nov 21, CMC –Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell Wednesday presented an EC$1.134 billion (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) budget to Parliament saying the fiscal package is intended to give Grenadians hope and confidence.

He announced a reduction in personal income tax, corporation taxes and an increase in ex-gratia payment to Grenadians. “We have to be optimistic about our future, because we cannot build a country on pessimism. Let us approach our future with confidence; the confidence that emanates from the acceptance of our collective ability to overcome difficulties; the confidence that emanates from the economic growth being experienced after years of shared sacrifices,” Mitchell told legislators.

He said that the Recurrent Revenue is estimated at EC$780.4 million, while Recurrent Expenditure has been pegged at EC$637.8 million.

Prime Minister Mitchell, who is also the Finance Minister, said that as part of the initiative to build a better Grenada and improve the lives of individuals, his administration had agreed on an increase in ex-gratia payments to a minimum of EC$350 commencing in January 2019.

“This would result in increased incomes for 280 persons,” Mitchell said, adding that the government maintains an unwavering commitment to the people of this country, particularly to those most vulnerable. He said at the start of the new tax period next year, personal income tax would be reduced to 28 per cent for income in excess of EC$5,000 per month. Similarly, Corporate Tax will be reduced by the same margin.

Mitchell said that the percentage points reduction will obviously affect the government’s revenue collection, “but more importantly, it will help to stimulate the local economy, putting more disposable income in the hands of workers and for companies, affording them extra capital to potentially re-invest and grow their respective businesses”.

The prime minister said that persons who would have secured judgements against the government for various infractions, relief was on the way, adding “government is keen to finally settle these claims, some of which will

be done posthumously”. He said the US$30 million loan received on concessionary terms from the World Bank makes provisions for the government to reduce public debt.

He said a portion of the funds will be used to compensate claimants, including those whose claims pre-date his administration. He said the government in partnership with the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association, The Tourism Authority and the Grenada Development Bank, have teamed up to provide support to small indigenous hoteliers. “The support would be in the form of a soft loan facility at the Grenada Development Bank.

The revolving fund will finance training and marketing programmes to support the efforts of small hotels that are members of the hotel association. An initial three million EC dollars would be made available for the programme.”

Mitchell said that the vision of his administration is for a Grenada where confidence emanates from the economic growth being experienced after years of shared sacrifices. He said history would record that Grenada is not defined by its borders or the boundaries of its land mass, but rather, it is defined by people who have been unified by a cause, who share a common value system and who are committed to a common vision for the type of society they wish to live in and one which future

generations will inherit. In his address, Mitchell underscored the importance of the country having to deal with the impact of climate change noting that “our efforts to successfully incorporate disaster relief provisions into some of our loan instruments are well documented” FISCAL POLICY He said this is a major step towards building fiscal resilience, and the amendment to the fiscal legislation in 2015 provided an important anchor for sound fiscal policy and has contributed to a much stronger fiscal and debt position. He said the amended legislation not only seeks to entrench fiscal discipline through the rules that are enshrined, but it also mandates the establishment of a Contingency Fund upon attaining a debt-to-GDP ratio of 55 per cent. “This fund is geared towards assisting response and recovery efforts in the event of a natural disaster. Mr. Speaker, we are living within our means, which is allowing us to generate fiscal surpluses that are being saved and invested to build buffers against economic shocks. In short, we are providing another avenue to build our fiscal resilience.”

But Mitchell told Parliament that there cannot be talk of transforming the economy without addressing public sector modernisation in a real way. “Although this concept was the subject of numerous discussions over a decade ago, we must amplify our

efforts to ensure that goods and services are efficiently and effectively deployed to our citizens. Accordingly, we have agreed to take a phased approach to this process.”

He said as a result the government has reached out to the World Bank for support, which gave life to the Grenada Digital Governance for Resilience Project with the objective being to build a smart, resilient government that adopts a “Whole-of-Government” approach to the implementation of critical public policies and services by modernising public service management; leveraging digital technologies to deliver integrated services to citizens and promote sectoral transformation and forging inclusive strategic partnerships to promote change and drive Reforms.

He said the project will identify, improve, and fortify the core institutional functions, processes, and information systems that constitute the backbone for the development of e-government services to citizens.

“It would also lay the foundation for critical public sector systems that keep the government functional, including in times of natural catastrophe or other challenges,” Mitchell added.

TT school boy pleads guilty to threatening life of Police Commissioner PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Nov 21, CMC – A 12-yearold primary school boy Wednesday pleaded guilty to issuing death threats to Police Commissioner Gary Griffith and has been released into the custody of his parents until his sentencing.

The child, who cannot be identified because he is a minor, pleaded guilty to misusing a telephone to send a threatening message when he appeared before Master Nazeera Ali in the Port-of-Spain Children’s Court.

The magistrate has since requested a report from the Probation Services Division to assist in determining the appropriate punishment.

Under Section 106 of the Summary Offences Act, the offence carries a maximum penalty of a $200 fine or up to a month in prison.

The child will be sentenced on January 16 next year. The court heard that a call had been received by the E999 operator from a mobile phone with a male caller saying “we are coming to kill Gary Griffith”. The call was then transferred to the E999’s police corporal on duty, where the caller repeated his threat to kill Griffith.

The caller then extended his death to the police corporal who took the call.

The call was traced to east Port of Spain and the boy surrendered to the police on Tuesday. Meanwhile, police are investigating another incident in which a caller threatened to kill the Police Commissioner and his wife, Nicole. The male call-

er, whose number is known, said: “I want to summon Gary Griffith for defamation of character against me tomorrow in court, or else I will call him and chop off he (expletive) mother (expletive) head. How you like that? And kill he wife Nicole Dyer… huh mother (expletive), the police said. The Trinidad Express newspaper Wednesday quoted Griffith as saying that “I would expect to get these desperate threats on a regular basis.

“Certain criminal elements felt that they were in full control and this nation belonged solely to them to do as they pleased. Well there is a new kid on the block who would not allow these thugs to bully law abiding citizens as easily as they did before, so these threats are expected.

“Bullies do not like being bullied. I would ask them yet again to stop clogging up our E999 and Command Centre with these threats. If they want to do something, don’t talk. Just do. It may be their last act,” Griffith told the newspaper.

6

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

Government’s holistic vision for development

P

RESIDENT David Granger has spoken and written on the subject of various aspects of national development on numerous occasions. An analysis of those pronouncements reveals that His Excellency has a holistic vision of his administration’s developmental goals, as well as a comprehensive roadmap towards those goals.

In fact, the overarching goal has been clearly articulated: a good life for all Guyanese. This approach to national development is welcome and refreshing, as we have not had the benefit of such a logically consistent methodology before now.

Unlike under the previous regime when the word “development” was shouted whenever a government crony or known drug trafficker erected a new building in Georgetown, the current administration defines development in terms of improvement of the quality of life of citizens. Such development is tangible and quantifiable; and Guyana’s developmental agenda is tailored to local realities, while being premised on the internationally accepted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2015.

The SDGs are a list of 17 global goals declared in UN Resolution 70/1 titled, ‘Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.’ It should be noted here that the UN defines sustainable development as, “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

The 17 goals are: no poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being for people; quality education; gender equal-

ity; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reducing inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life below water; life on land; peace, justice and strong institutions; and partnership for the goals.

Each of those broad goals is broken down into sub-headings, with target dates and clearly defined criteria for measuring to what extent the goal has been achieved.

Guyana’s developmental agenda is set within the construct of those 17 goals, which Guyana intends to fully realise. The local agenda, though, takes into consideration our particular geography, population-makeup, natural resources, government structure, and national objectives; these include our intention to become a “green” state with an inclusionary democratic mode of governance.

President Granger has articulated the administration’s objective of a good life for all Guyanese. Within that particular construct, which coincides with the SDGs, he has listed a 10-point plan for hinterland development; plans for improved employment opportunities; access to healthcare; access to education; housing; sustainable environmental practices ; clean-energy initiatives; democratic governance, ownership of regions; elimination of extreme poverty; infrastructural development; closing the gap between conditions in the hinterland and those on the coast, among others.

The APNU+AFC administration, therefore, has a stated vision and a roadmap to its achievement that is custom-made to fit Guyana’s needs. This is what makes the government’s approach to development an admirable one.

Another example of government moving towards development goals while taking local realities into account, is the idea of Plans of Action for Regional Development (PARDs). President David Granger at the swearing-in ceremony of regional chairpersons following the 2015 general and regional elections charged them to create PARDs. Those plans would take into account the resources and other unique features of each region, with the objective of regional development; moreover, those plans would be created by the elected regional councils. Those facts are consistent with the requirements of Guyana’s constitution.

Specifically, Article 77 which states, “The development programme of each region shall be integrated into the national development plans and the government shall allocate funds to each region to enable it to implement its development programme.” And, Article 13 which mandates that, “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.”

One may reasonably conclude, therefore, that Guyana’s developmental objectives are in good hands. No longer are plans made in a haphazard manner, or with corrupt motives, as was the case under the previous regime. Today, there are efficient systems in place to comprehensively implement realistic initiatives with the sole objective of creating a good life for all Guyanese.

GWI is trying but more needs to be done

Stop Discriminating Against Them!

Dear Editor,

A

BOUT three weeks ago, I wrote about a leaking Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) water main in north-eastern Georgetown. The problem has since been rectified.

As a citizen of this country I challenge others to make their contributions, however fractional, to its development and progress in word or deed. Most persons do not go beyond word, which is for the most part complaining. I believe that even after complaining, one should be prepared to propose feasible solutions. I also believe that we must be honest when there is meaningful change or resolutions and the appropriate credit or praise be given. It is in this good spirit that I must publicly recognise the remedial action of GWI by ending the leak and loss of hundreds of gallons of water.

The GWI, under the good stewardship of a former Health Minister Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, has made several interventions since 2015 to improve water distri-

bution nationally. However, the quality of potable water to households appear to be an ongoing challenge for that entity. There is just too much discoloration, high iron and sedimentation content in the water entering most of our homes.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency considers iron in well water as a secondary contaminant.

There are no proven results of its direct impact to health based on the secondary maximum contaminant level set at 0.3 milligrams per litre. Nevertheless, the high iron content is known to cause other forms of damage; some of the most notable effects are stains, clogs, odours and unpleasant taste.

GWI’s management team is encouraged to further address the concerns of its water quality, and in so doing fulfil the CEO’s commitment when he was appointed in October 2015.

Regards Orette Cutting

Dear Editor,

M

ANY, like me, have observed the way persons react to a certain religious group that is well known for going around house to house and preaching the Bible. Often, some persons would quarrel, even use indecent language, when they see members of this religious group walking along the street or coming toward their homes. In other countries too, people oppose this religious group, speaking strongly against them, slamming their doors in the faces of these visitors.

(Matthew 24:9; Acts 28:22) In some countries, this religious group is even banned. (Acts 4:17 to 20) I am kindly asking those persons who discriminate against this religious group to try to become more tolerant. True, a person has the right to agree or disagree with the beliefs of another religion.

But even if we disagree, there is no need to be aggressive and verbally abusive against any religion.

If one does not wish to have a conversation with members of this religious group, he or she can respectfully decline without being rude to them. I commend persons who are tolerant and do not discriminate against this religious group or any other group. Let us all be willing to allow this religious group to carry on peacefully with its beliefs and practices. Freedom of religion is part of our constitution. Avoid discriminating against any religion!

Regards Kenneth Kayman

7

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

Some questions for the coalition government Dear Editor,

AFTER the recent debacle that was local government elections for the governing APNU+AFC coalition, I believe they would be in reflection mode as to what the heck happened. The PPP as expected is gloating about how many votes they got and what it means for general elections come 2020.

The PPP would like Guyanese to believe that they won a resounding victory based on less than 40% of voters showing up at the polls!

That argument is utter balderdash if less than half of eligible voters exercised their franchise. The truth of the matter is, the PPP is a very good opposition party and are motivated to get back in power, so they had no choice but to put up a good showing. However, despite some of their gains, they too should be concerned that many of their supporters also did not show up at the polls.

The question they have to answer is what would have happened if government supporters had showed up in massive numbers?

They would have been wiped out and today would have found some other talking point to drum up propaganda. At the moment, they can milk the results and claim a massive and resounding victory, but that claim is hollow at best when looked at in the context of the low voter turnout and the government’s lackadaisical performance thus far.

As a supporter of the current Guyana government, I would like to pose some rhetorical questions for the coalition in the hope that they would seriously ponder and reflect on the issues mentioned therein. By no means is this a bucket list of all that need to be reflected on, but I hope it will be a start.

2. Can the government of Guy-

ana pay the people of Guyana (especially the public sector workers) more wages and salaries? The answer is YES, they can! Guyana has less than one million people (approximately – 750,000) and in fact the workers in Guyana probably number a paltry 450,000, including the private sector. My point is with the proven reserves of oil the government can and should be able to give Guyanese the good life now.

The people of Guyana do not want to hear about the government cannot afford not to pay them more – the fact is the government cannot afford not to. Wake up coalition government. Stop buying the argument of the PPP about debt – some debt is good, pay the people now, worry about debt later. With the proven oil reserves in the ground get with the Payment Programme, People (PPP)! The PPP will for obvious reasons yell that you are bribing the people or buying votes!

Well hell, YES! If that is how they see it, then that is their problem!

The question is, how will the PEOPLE of Guyana see it – you got that right; they will see it as a REWARD (not bribe) for supporting the policies and programmes of the government. The point is, you have to do what you have to do and not let the opposition dictate your next move, you are the government so please govern!!! Remember your last elections slogan – “THE TIME IS NOW,”- and time is running out!

2. Do the people of Guyana need a Sovereign Wealth Fund?

NOT right now! Who benefits most from a Sovereign Wealth Fund – the people who administer the Wealth Fund? What Guyanese need NOW is money in their pockets and the good life NOW! Go out in the streets, the savannahs, backdams, front dams, mountain tops, rice fields and the bottom houses and let

the people know that you will put money in their hands if they re-elect you. The proposal by Professor Thomas is a good start-- maybe US $3000 instead of US$5000 to get the ball rolling! Coalition, what do you think the PPP is doing? Don’t you get it yet? Don’t you think they are making many promises to their supporters at their bottom house and backdam meetings that would make you blush at the – US$ 5000 proposal? You are the government the last time I checked – make a decision and live with it; stop listening to the many critics and naysayers and get with the PEOPLE PAYMENT PROGRAMME (PPP)!

3. Do the people of Guyana need to hear about taxes at this time? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Make a public statement that ALL tax hikes or proposed tax hikes are frozen for three years, after which time there will be a review -- if required.

The people don’t care about what the IMF or World Bank are recommending – these institutions have shareholders that are in business to make money. With the long-term proceeds from oil it is possible that Guyana would pay off all its debts (domestic and international) in 1015 years!

4. Do the people of Guyana need mega infrastructural projects at this time that will eat up the oil revenues? NOOOOO! The ONLY mega projects that should be pursued at this time is the Brazil Road (with provision for a commercial railway track adjacent to the road for future expansion), a Demerara Harbour Bridge and a deep-water harbour in Berbice! The road to Brazil and the deep-water harbour will see thousands employed in construction work, while the bridge will facilitate and ease traffic chaos in the main corridor leading to the main airport.

5. What would the Government of Guyana have done to ensure the good life for all Guyanese, IF oil had NOT been discovered?

BORROW, BORROW, BORROW...leading to DEBT, DEBT and more DEBT! Guyana government of the day, don’t be shy, Pay the People Properly (PPP). Many Guyanese are not accustomed to living a high standard of living and that is why they are prepared to accept the current low standards.

However, most of us who have migrated are living a mostly decent high standard of living and it will be very hard to attract us back home unless we are assured of similar or comparable living standards.

It is certainly NOT a FAVOUR or a crime to give the people of Guyana decent wages and salaries. Do not hesitate to loosen the purse strings and do it NOW, because the opposition will shout you are only doing it because elections are coming up!

Your response should be, so what?

6. The final question is, do you really want to be governing in 2020 and beyond? Do you want that more than the PPP? If you do, then get off your rockers and knock on every door, talk to anyone who will listen and communicate your vision for the future in plain language and simple actions and policies that resonate with the people, especially your base. In conclusion, your vision should be BOTTOM UP and not TOP DOWN! That way the VOICE and the WILL of the people will be heard, respected and implemented

all the way to victory in 2020 and beyond.

I hope the government of the day takes the few pointers above on board and implements them as the people are watching and

waiting on your next move. The ball is in your court. Best of luck!

Clyde Pestano Brampton, Ontario Canada

Berbice Cricket Board, RHY&SC wish President safe recovery Dear Editor,

P

LEASE allow me space in your edition to wish His Excellency President David Granger a speedy recovery from his illness in my official capacity as President of the Berbice Cricket Board and Secretary/CEO of Guyana’s leading youth club, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS. As human beings, illness is one aspect of life we know is part of the package. but for which we are never fully prepared.

President Granger has been very supportive of Berbice cricket and only last month donated over $200 000.00 worth of trophies and allowed us the privilege of organising the Patron’s Cup in honour of his 73rd birthday. The President became the fifth Honorary Patron of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, on the 3rd February, 2016 and over the last two and a half years has been a very supportive Patron and positive role model to our members. His words of advice have also been very helpful to the management of the club, as we seek to make positive differences to the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate.

It is the sincere wish of the Berbice Cricket Board and Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club that the President would make a safe recovery from his illness and that God would look over his recovery.

We strongly believe that everything is possible in God’s name and we would like to urge our entire nation to join hands and hearts and pray for the President’s recovery.

May God bless the Granger family, especially First Lady Sandra Granger during these difficult moments. On a personal note, I would like to also wish the President a speedy recovery. My wife, daughter and entire family send bundles of love to the President.

Regards Hilbert Foster

8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

Linking Caribbean with the ‘motherland’ -African Union invites CARICOM to discuss linking nations

AFRICA and the Caribbean are joined by the Atlantic crossing, history and culture but not by air, something which the African Union (AU) and CARICOM will be examining carefully during the three-day International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) air transport meeting which started on Wednesday.

Stakeholders believe that the linkage between Africa and the Caribbean is long overdue but is still relevant.

“Many of you delegates attending this meeting would have travelled through two to three different time zones for a period of three days to attend this very important meeting,” said Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, in her remarks to the participants and others who were gathered at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre for the opening of the meeting.

She believes that stakeholders in the aviation sector need to develop a way to

Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission, Dr Amani Abou-Zied (Samuel Maughn photos)

reduce the time spent on traveling between the continent and the Caribbean.

Tourism is the backbone of the economy of the Caribbean region which is reached primarily through air transport. So, maintaining and expanding air connectivity is vital for economic growth and the livelihood of people across the region.

“Improved, regular and more affordable air connec-

tions facilitate greater people to people contact, enable economies to attract more tourists, conduct more trade and attract more foreign investment,” said CARICOM Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque.

The ambassador said those opportunities would be possible once the Caribbean is linked to Africa.

AU, in response to the intention of CARICOM, in-

CARICOM Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque

vited the Community to meet and further discuss the linkage between the Caribbean and Africa.

Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission, Dr Amani Abou-Zied, agreed that aviation provides a critical infrastructural link for the promotion of tourism between the Caribbean and the continent and for linking the people of the Caribbean to the motherland.

The linkage would be necessary, especially at a time when Africa’s population is projected to double by 2020.

She believes that as the population increases, it would be wiser for the nation to reach out to its diaspora which would provide opportunities for the growing population.

Guyana has already taken one step closer to creating those linkages and is expected to sign air service agreements with Ghana, Tanzania and

Nigeria, potentially bridging the gap between the diaspora, and by extension, Europe and North America.

Shaheed Sulaman, Director of Air Transport at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) had said that the GCAA is expected to sign agreements with Aruba, Tanzania, Ghana and possibly even Nigeria and is currently awaiting final confirmation from the governments of Tanzania and Ghana on their availability to sign the agreements.

“A part of this interest by the African diaspora is because they want to look at links and they will focus on linking Guyana and the Caribbean with the African continent; the objective here is to see how much and how feasible it is to implement flights between the Caribbean and Africa,” said the Director of Marketing and Operations Support at the GCAA, Franklin Vieira.

Auchlyne teen charged with murder …remanded to Juvenile Holding Centre

A TEENAGER was on Wednesday charged with the alleged murder of a 29-yearold labourer of Whim Village, East Berbice-Corentyne last Saturday afternoon.

The teen is charged with

fatally stabbing Desmond Sewdat of Sixth Street, Whim. He appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court where he was not required to plead to the indictable offence.

Bus driver on causing death charge …granted $500,000 bail A route 44 minibus driver was on Wednesday charged for causing the death of a 37-year-old pedal cyclist, who died after an accident along the Industry Railway Embankment road, ECD, three months ago.

Andre Lindey, 29, of South Vryheid’s Lust, ECD, appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that Lindey on August 2, 2018, at Industry, drove minibus BWW 283 in a dangerous manner which resulted in the death of Taquin Springer.

The unrepresented man was released on $500,000 bail and the matter was adjourned until January 4, 2019.

According to a police report, on the day in question, the

DEAD: Taquin Springer

driver of the minibus claimed that the cyclist suddenly rode out of a southern access road of Industry and turned west and then north into his path.

The driver further alleged that because of the short distance, the bus collided with the bicycle and the cyclist fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries. The minibus driver took Springer to the hospital where he succumbed six hours later to his injuries.

He was remanded to the Juvenile Holding Centre and will make his second court appearance on December 3rd, 2018. According to reports, on November 17th the teen and Sewdat

were under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred. The teen related that he and the victim had an argument over clothing that was given to him by the victim. During the alterca-

tion, the teen inflicted one stab wound in the region of Sewdat’s chest; Sewdat died on the spot. Sewdat’s lifeless body was picked up and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was

pronounced dead on arrival.

The incident occurred at First Street, Auchlyne Village, Corentyne, Berbice at approximately 15:30 hrs on Saturday afternoon.

Bartica Town Council upbraids cart vendors

THE Bartica Mayor and Town Council has rejected claims by cart vendors who alleged that they are being unfairly treated by the municipality regarding their relocation to ply their trade.

In an article captioned: “Bartica cart vendors allege unfair treatment in movement”, the article highlighted several claims against the council, in terms of where they are allowed to ply their trade and the cost they are required to pay to so do.

An excerpt from the article says the vendors alleged that they are paying $4,000 per week to the town council, while stall owners pay a total of $6,000 per month; and yet they are not allowed to ply their trade freely, but are being moved from place to place.

The vendors voiced complaints about the council wanting them to move from their current selling areas (Third – Seventh Avenue) and go to Fourth Avenue alongside the abattoir – an area the vendors claim “people do not

really go to buy greens or so.”

The vendors went on to say that they have no problem with the fact that they are prohibited from selling in First Avenue, as they might pose competition to the stallholders at the Bartica Market, but they need to make a living too. Claims that council has threatened to seize their carts if they do not abide by the new boundaries were also raised by the vendors. One vendor said he had been selling from a cart for 10 years; however, for the past three years he has been experiencing several difficulties. He further highlighted that a lot of his goods are perishable and the constant movement to desolate areas would put him, along with other vendors, at a disadvantage.

Meanwhile, contacted on the issue Town Clerk Phebe Walllerson told the Guyana Chronicle that the council is peeved by the allegations. In fact, she said that offering them the opportunity to ply their trade in the municipality

is a privilege, since they are not residents of the town and they put the Barticans who provide the same services at a disadvantage.

She explained that the $4000 weekly is the vendors’ landing, and they harass the staff of the council to pay this fee. The harassment and threats become so serious that there are cases where police intervention was needed, she shared.

This $4000 she said, does not even offset the expenses that these vendors cost them.

Wallerson said that the vendors have no regard for the town and its people and they vend wherever they please and leave a lot of mess for the council to clean. “They even vend in front of people’s homes and business places and leave all their unwanted waste for these people to clean,” Wallerson said.

She also made mention of vendors leaving their garbage on the newly constructed boulevard on the beach of the town, which is an environmental concern. “Even on the

Boulevard, where we worked so hard to beautify, to offer people a recreational space for their families, these vendors take over and leave their mess for us to clean. Because they are not Barticans, they do not feel that obligation, or see our vision to keeping our town clean,” Wallerson expressed.

The council has since then decided to restrict the cart vendors from selling on First and Second Avenues, from First to Sixth Street, since this covers the town’s market area.

In addition, Wallerson said the roads are very narrow and there has been an increase in vehicular traffic over the past few years, and they block the roads when they vend there.

However, the vendors are allowed to vend from Third to Seventh Avenue, First to Sixth Street, which the council says most Barticans live. These regulations were communicated to the vendors and they agreed, but have not been complying, Wallerson said.

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

Gov’t. making progress in public debt management – Debt Report THE Government of Guyana has made progress in the area of Public Debt Management, according to the Public Debt Annual Report 2017 which was presented to the National Assembly on Monday by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

For the year 2017, the total public debt-to-GDP increased marginally to 46.1 per cent from 45.7 per cent at the end of 2016.

According to the report, the success recorded in 2017 was a result of the implementation of a range of programmes and projects aimed at enhancing the country’s laws and operational and governance practices.

With technical assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat (COMSEC) and the Centre for Latin American Studies (CEMLA), the government through the Finance Ministry in 2017 continued the process of reviewing and modernising the legal framework for public debt management in the country. The fundamentals in public debt management, sustainable funding strategy, medium-term public debt management strategy,

debt-sustainability analysis and self-assessment performance were among areas covered during a number of technical forums attended by finance officials. It was noted too that officials were also trained in the use of tools, facilities and the new features in the latest version of the Commonwealth Secretariat Debt Recording and Management System (CS-DRMS).

According to the report, the draft Public Debt Management Bill (PDMB) remains a work in progress.

The bill seeks to improve and modernise the legal framework for public debt management. It is expected to be completed this year.

For the past four years, Guyana has worked with CEMLA with funding from the Swiss Government under the Public Debt Management Capacity Building Programme (PDP).

“One of the main outputs from this collaborative effort has been the preparation of Guyana Public Debt Management Procedures Manual, as reported in the second edition of the Public Debt Annual Report. This manual, which was formally approved in December 2016,

Finance Minister Winston Jordan (Photo by Delano Williams)

was implemented with effect from January 3, 2017,” the report states.

The manual has been adopted by the Finance Ministry’s Debt Management Division (DMD) as an official document of the government and is used as a tool when conducting debt-management operations.

“It is a ‘stepping stone’ for public debt management in Guyana, as it aids in streamlining the back-office operations with other

relevant departments and institutions,” the report states.

In the report, the Finance Minister said the government remains committed to improving transparency and accountability, in an effort to ensure effective public debt management.

Though Guyana has recorded progress in the management of its public debt, Minister Jordan said the country continues to face a number of challenges.

“As a small, open economy, Guyana is particularly vulnerable to the effects of globalisation. In recent times, we have been faced with new challenges, one of which is maintaining debt sustainability in a volatile and uncertain global economy.

The recent Debt Sustainability Analysis indicates that given the openness of the economy and its continued dependence on a narrow range of commodities for the

bulk of its export earnings, the country would continue to be susceptible to external shocks which, in turn, could affect the sustainability of our debt,” Minister Jordan explained.

He said too that the country is also highly vulnerable to commodity price shocks, as well as demand shocks, which originate in countries that purchase goods and services from Guyana.

“We are also faced with a number of development challenges, including: infrastructure development in a largely isolated interior; the decline of traditional agriculture; and reduced access to grants, technical assistance and concessional lending, the latter of which presents a major challenge to debt sustainability,” the finance minister added.

Nonetheless, he gave the assurance that the government is exploring new strategies to reduce Guyana’s reliance on external debt, including a domestic bond market. It was explained that such a move would reduce the country’s vulnerability to exchange rate risk, which is currently high.

New public procurement regulations coming …NPTAB Chair warns evaluators against ‘peer pressure’ GUYANA is moving towards modern public financial management systems, which will bring radical changes to the country’s procurement regulations.

This is according to Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) Berkley Wickham during his opening remarks at a two-day Inter-American Development Bank and NPTAB Evaluators Workshop that commenced Wednesday at the Marriott Hotel.

The theme of the workshop is, “Principles of tender evaluation and best practices.”

Wickham told the diverse gathering of public sector officials that poor and untested practices that happened in the past cannot be compared with proper practices. This

is especially the case when faced with legal challenges and “not knowing the rules is not a winning defence.”

The NPTAB head said new methods of procurement and evaluation criteria will

become more specific and a little more complicated.

“With the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission, local contractors are now more than ever resorting to bid protest whether frivo-

lous or not and in so doing, evaluators find themselves in the spotlight of scrutiny over their recommendations,” he noted.

Further, he said often the media engage in the process

A section of the gathering at the procurement workshop at the Marriott Hotel. (Delano Williams photo)

of second guessing procurement decisions and procurement decisions are also subject to public audit. For these reasons, Wickham said continuous training is essential and this complements training sessions done annually by the NPTAB. Recommending tips used by a consultancy firm in Canada, the NPTAB head said evaluation is a group activity; and there is need to put the activity as a priority when called upon, since there can be no defence for failing to meet fairness or timeframes required in each evaluation.

Secondly, he said defending a decision afterwards is no substitute for doing things properly the first time; and conflicts of interest and bias are bad news for the defensibility of an evaluation.

Thirdly, Wickham noted that evaluators should al-

Chairman of the NPTAB Berkley Wickham

ways have notes and records, because lack thereof means there is no defence, “you should be able to have the notes on how the evaluation was conducted.”

Wickham concluded by advising the participants that they should “Avoid peer pressure, you should be ready to stand behind what you sign for and no one involved in evaluation is above the law when it comes to protecting the integrity of the tendering process; all are involved and all are consumed.”

10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

‘Use oil revenue to fund your Haemophilia ‘Green’ Development’ – WWF President society calls

GUYANA’s push towards a “green” economy could be funded by the oil revenues which the country will earn after production begins in 2020.

The new-found wealth could be spent on promoting sustainable development, said President of the World Wildlife Fund, Pavan Sukhdev during a presentation at the Marriott Hotel on Monday evening.

Persons in the audience used the opportunity to enquire about the possibility of Guyana using oil revenues to create and develop a green economy, something which government has been passionate about for years.

“Yes it can and should be done,” said Sukhdev, adding that Guyana should be part of the overall effort to protect the world.

He made reference to countries such as Norway and Saudi Arabia which have used oil bonanzas differently and in some cases to promote sustainable development.

The Norwegians, he said, have placed its oil revenues into a fund called the Government Pension Fund, which now has approximately US$1 trillion.

From that fund, the country does philanthropy, while Saudi Arabia on the other hand has started to use its revenues to transition its economy into one which is not dependent on cheap and readily available oil.

In 2015, the government rolled out the idea of a Green State Development Strategy which is meant to be a national development plan, providing long-term vision and guidance for Guyana’s economic, social and environmental development.

“Different countries have different response strategies…countries usually say we have the oil and why not use it for the benefit of our people, but they could use it to be part of the overall effort to protect the world,” said Sukhdev.

He believes that Guyana should follow the Norwegian model but, the WWF President has concerns about the agreement between Guyana and oil giant ExxonMobil, the company which is drilling offshore Guyana.

Unlike Norway, which takes a flat charge, he said the agreement here is on a basis of profit oil, which means net profit after absorbing the cost of extraction and institutional costs.

“If you wish to optimise your income you have to ensure that the profit model works better than the revenue model,” said the WWF president.

Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway has said that Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could increase by 1000 per cent by 2025 with the advent of the oil-and-gas industry.

Guyana recorded a GDP of US$3.6 billion in 2017, a figure which translates to

approximately US$4,900 per capita.

The ambassador said based on the calculations and oil finds of U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil, the economy could grow rapidly within the space of five years.

ExxonMobil has made nine discoveries of oil offshore Guyana. The wells which were successfully drilled are Liza, Liza Deep, Payara, Snoek, Turbot, Ranger, Pacora, Longtail and Hammerhead.

Those discoveries led to the announcement of an estimated recoverable resource of more than four billion oil-equivalent barrels discovered to date; and the potential for up to five floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels producing more than 750,000 barrels per day by 2025.

Teenage girl found with .45 pistol AN 18-year-old girl is now in police custody after an unlicensed pistol was found in her possession on Wednesday afternoon.

The teen was intercepted at Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) at about 12:15 during a routine “stop and search” exercise.

Reports indicate that the teenager, who resides at South Better Hope, ECD, was searched during which the .45 pistol, which had no magazine, was found.

She was arrested and is being processed for court.

The firearm found on the teenager

Woman miner killed in Arakaka Backdam A WOMAN miner lost her life at Arakaka Backdam, North West District on Tuesday when a large piece of mud suddenly caved in from the top of the pit and covered her.

Dead is Eleen Figuera, 44, a miner of Two Miles, Arakaka ,North West District.

A team from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission is expected to head into the area to probe the mining incident. Reports indicate that the woman was punting for gold in a pit along with

other persons when the incident occurred. She was taken out and was immediately taken to the Pakera District Hospital, North West District, by her daughter where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The body is currently at the Pakera District Hospital mortuary awaiting an autopsy.

In early October, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman had ordered an immediate enforcement operation to be conducted jointly by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission

(GGMC) and the Ministry’s Compliance Division’s Corp of Wardens in the mining areas where there has been an increase in legal and illegal mining activities and accidents.

This had followed the death of Lennox Douglas, 33, of Canvas City, Wismar, Linden, who died after the pit he was working in caved in on Monday night.

“The Ministry of Natural Resources takes note of the most recent mining tragedy which occurred last evening at Issano Backdam, Region

Seven,” the ministry stated in a release . The ministry said the two agencies are expected to provide a report upon completion of the operation.

It is unclear whether that report was completed.

The October incident had occurred less than a month after two other mining- related deaths at Mowasi Backdam, Konawaruk, Potaro. A resident of Aishalton and another man, identified as Deon Sproston of Matthew’s Ridge , North West District, died in that incident.

for public support

THE Guyana Haemophilia Society (GHS) recently held a fund-raising activity in aid of assisting its members in spreading awareness in Guyana about haemophilia.

It was on the basiss of the fact that most Guyanese are uninformed of the existence and seriousness of this disease, that the society was formed, said the current President of GHS, Laurence Bakhsh.

This newspaper spoke to Bakhsh, who shared that the organisation currently has a membership of 30, but it is open to the Guyanese public to come on board to support this cause.

“Our membership consists not only [of] haemophiliacs, but also relatives and friends who are aware of the condition and want to lend their support. We are open to the Guyanese public and we are hoping that people show some kind of obligation towards us, because it is a very worthy cause, and support our fund-raising activities so we can carry out our goal to spread awareness,” Bakhsh said.

He explained that it was him and two of his family members who came up with the initiative to establish the organization, since he was diagnosed with factor A of the disease.

“The disease has different factors and each factor has a different treatment allocated to it.

One of the main reasons the organisation started was because most persons in Guyana don’t know of this bleeding condition. Most doctors are not au fait with the disease and they can misdiagnose you; and they could administer blood thinners, which is more detrimental to your condition, because your body is having problems to clot. And because having problems clotting, then you going and use a blood thinner will cause your

body to even develop more severe problems,” the man explained.

Earlier this year, when GHS was launched, Director of the Georgetown Public Hospital Complex (GPHC), Dr. Pheona Mohamed-Rambaran, said Guyana is inexperienced in management of the disease.

The main treatment for haemophilia is through a replacement therapy known as a clotting factor, which Guyana does not produce and tests are sent abroad to be diagnosed, since this service is unavailable locally.

The clotting factor is therefore received through Project Share, a US-based humanitarian programme which donates blood-clotting medicines to developing countries.

However, Dr Mohamed-Rambaran said the quantity received from Project Share is inadequate to manage the country’s identified patients, which points to a need for additional mechanisms to be put in place.

Bakhsh said that this is their major concern and what they are hoping can be done for them by the Government of Guyana, is to offer the test locally so that persons can be diagnosed. To have the diagnosis done privately he said, costs no less than 70,000.

In addition to not having access to the test locally, he also shared that the medications are not available in Guyana.

Apart from the awareness, these are some of the issues GHS said they are going to address for the benefit of Guyanese haemophiliacs.

11

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

PUC approves rates for City Hall finalising GTT call blocking service Christmas security plan

BEGINNING February 1, 2019, consumers utilising the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company’s (GTTs) landline services for the first time will have to pay a fixed monthly charge to utilise the call blocking service.

This was announced on Wednesday by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) which stated that the residential consumers will pay a fixed monthly charge of $30 while commercial consumers will pay $70.

The Guyana Consumer Association (GCA) fought sternly against the tariff introduction first petition by GTT to stand at a monthly rate of $310 but although a tariff was granted, it was significantly reduced.

The Commission’s order was officially signed on November 16, 2018, by Chairperson of the PUC, Dela Britton. After submitting its initial request on September 6, 2018 for the change, the company along with the GCA and PUC had attended a number of hearings to debate the application for a rate.

In presenting its case, GTT has stated that although it applied and was successful with previous applications for rates adjustments for several of its landline value-added services, it had not requested adjustments to the Subscriber Activated Call Blocking Feature.

GTT argued that the value-added call blocking service has been utilised by consumers for years with some 36,368 consumers currently accessing the service free of charge.

In its submission to the PUC, it stated: “This is a value-added service that provides convenience for the customer, as he or she is able to moderate the usage of the wireline where more than one person has access to that device. This is not a service that the customer must have to use the wireline service. Similar to the other feature service for which GTT currently charges approved rates, it is a service of convenience that adds value to having and using the wireline service.”

Added to this, the company claims that it pays a recurring cost of some US$250,000 for the maintenance and upkeep of the service and is considering a further US$300,000 upgrade of the system.

Meanwhile, it posited that the monthly rate of $310 sought represents a point

between the lower and upper extremities of past PUC approved rates for value added services.

The GCA had rebutted that the recurring operating cost, stated as US$250,000, in continuing the call blocking feature is unlikely to increase but in fact would provide a “free cash flow to the company”.

It debated, too, that if charges were to be approved by the Commission, it should be user-based. “GTT's new rates are subscription-based and not use-based. This implies that the consumer or customer must pay GTT a rate for which he may not be enjoying the service at all.

For example, the telephone service could be disrupted for numerous reasons - GTT's failure to effectuate repairs; force majeure; an accident to the transmission pole and so on. To avoid the consumer being exploited, charges, whatever they may be, must be use-based,” the company’s president, Pat Dial, had stated.

Taking this into consideration, the PUC ordered that where the Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) fails, consumers’ accounts are to be credited for the number of days the consumers are unable to access any of the value-added services/ features offered.

The features of the call blocking service will allow customers to deny all outgoing calls to those without possession of an Identification Number (PIN) except for emergencies GTT Help Lines and Phone Card access; out of exchange calls; cellular calls; International Direct Dialed (IDD) calls or Operator Assisted International Calls. While GTT had introduced its own packages of which call features could be blocked simultaneously, the PUC instead stipulated that the consumer will have the option of choosing any number of the features at the tariff as set by the Commission.

In addition, the PUC has ordered that GTT “shall embark upon a sensitization exercise for its consumers regarding the impending tariff, the implementation date and the option(s) available to the consumers”.

…permitting vending on Water, Regent and Robb streets

THE Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown said it is in the process of finalising security arrangements for the festive season.

The City Constabulary Department will be working in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force to ensure the safety of shoppers and commuters in the city, a release

from the M&CC said. This, the council said, is necessary to manage the anticipated increase in shopping and other activities for the holidays, in the city of Georgetown.

The arrangement includes the increased number of patrols in and around the municipal markets, and public buildings and facilities. Special arrangements

will be in place to secure the outflow of pumps and other drainage facilities.

Also, the council has given the green light for seasonal vending to commence on Regent, Water and Robb Streets.

This, the council said, will give vendors the opportunity to do business. Simultaneously, it would help council to monitor and regulate the

operations of vendors.

As a result, the council is seeking the cooperation of all citizens in this effort to bring order and safety in downtown Georgetown and other sections of the city.

All vendors are required to have appropriate refuse receptacles for the storage of waste.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

Cleaning of Front Road Canal…

M&CC workers putting up with inhumane conditions SQUATTERS along the North Ruimveldt canal, well known as the ‘Front Road’ canal, are continuing to pose challenges to persons hired by the City Council to clean the area.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen referred to the inhumane conditions that the workers have to be subjected to ever so often.

“Toilets are being flushed on them, because the sewerage goes straight into the canal,” Chase-Green pointed out during Monday’s statutory meeting. “Sometimes they in the canal cleaning and all of a sudden a black plastic bag (with faeces) hit them,” she added.

The workers are forced to remove all sorts of things

from the canal, including old stoves, fridges, bed frames.

And often, days after doing such massive cleaning, the canal is again filled with such items.

With the workers having to work under such conditions, Chase-Green questioned why they still have to endure challenges to obtain their salaries.

City Engineer Colvern Venture recently told this publication that works are currently being done in certain problematic areas of the city, including at the Front Road canal in preparation for the rainy season.

“We have works ongoing in the south of the city at the North Ruimveldt canal, which persons also call the Front Road canal. These works started last week and about 14 contractors are working on this canal,” Venture informed.

Assistant City Engineer Rasheed Kellman told Chronicle recently that squatting impedes the work of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) when it comes to getting certain drains and canals cleaned, including the one at Front Road. This, in turn, contributes to flooding in the catchment area, he said.

“We don’t get to clean it the way we want to because of the heavy build-up of vegetation and squatting on the reserves,” Kellman said during an interview at City

Hall.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Yearwood, had promised to bring squatting on government reserves to an end.

She noted that the coalition government has embarked on a journey towards “the good life,” inclusive of providing accessible and affordable housing in sanitary and safe communities, with the necessities for wholesome and dignified living for citizens in need.

Squatting, however, was touted as one of the issues that affect such progress, since some people squat out of desperation. Others, though, do it as a means of economic gain.

According to the minister, those who do it for economic gain occupy a parcel of land, erect a structure and then rent it, in some instances, for as much as $30,000 per month. “Obviously, these ‘landlords’ must have other living options that they occupy. Another vexing dimension to this situation is that some of the squatters

are in receipt of house lots,” lamented Patterson.

“As a caring and responsible government, we have to and will fix it,” said Minister Yearwood, adding that in an effort to combat the issue of squatting, they have decided on a number of measures which were recommended by community leaders.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), over which the minister has oversight, is expected to continuously work with the relevant agencies to complete the process of home-ownership.

Persons from the hinterland have also been beneficiaries of housing through the sustainable housing for the Hinterland Programme, funded by a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

In addition, the CH&PA distributed over 69 housing areas within Georgetown, Linden, Bartica Union-Naarstigheid, Blairmont-Gelderland, Woodley Park-Bath and Tuschen-Uitvlugt.

AG leading Guyana delegation to CFATF meeting in Barbados ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, SC, who is also Chairman of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), is leading a nine-member Guyanese delegation to the CFATF-GAFIC XLVIII Plenary and Working Group Meetings.

The Plenary and Working Group Meetings are being held in Barbados from November 19th -23rd, 2018. Guyana’s delegation comprises members of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation Financing Committee and representatives of those members.

These persons are Dr Gobind Ganga, Governor of the Bank of Guyana; Mr Ramnarine Lal, Director of Banking Supervision at the Bank of Guyana; Mr Matthew Langevine, Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit; Ms Alicia Williams, Senior Compliance and Outreach Officer; Ms Eondrene Thompson, General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board; Mr Shaun Allicock, Legal Adviser for the Guyana Securities Council; Ms Natasha Backer of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; Ms Joann Bond and Ms Diane Woolford, both of the Attorney General’s Chambers.

The Plenary will be chaired by Williams.

The Working Group Meetings include the 29th Forum for Heads of FIU, CFATF Risks, Trends and Methods Working Group (CRTMG), Steering Group Meetings, CFATF Working Group on FATF Issues (WGFI) and Accreditation Council Meeting. Guyana’s representatives also chair the Heads of FIU and the CRTMG Meetings. At the Plenary, the Mutual Evaluation Report of The Cayman

Attorney General Basil Williams

Islands will be discussed with a view to be adopted by the Plenary.

In a release, the AG’s Chambers said Guyana’s presence at this week’s meetings and plenary provides an opportunity for the various supervisory authorities to liaise with their international counterparts and exchange ideas on how to improve compliance with the FATF’s 40 Recommendations and Methodology which are the global standard for AML/CFT compliance.

Additionally, it is an opportunity for Guyana to observe the CFATF’s 4th Round Mutual Evaluation process as Guyana will be evaluated in 2022.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

Police promise heightened Breaches, poor planning detected in security in Essequibo Education Ministry’s textbook procurement …increased mobile, beat, backlands and marine patrols

COMMANDER of ‘G’ Division (Essequibo Coast, Essequibo Islands) Khali Pareshram has assured residents and the business community within ‘G’ Division that heightened security measures will be put in place during the festive season.

Pareshram was at the time delivering his address on the division’s plans for the Christmas season and how ranks within the various departments intend to safeguard the region.

Addressing ranks, representatives from the Essequibo Chambers of Commerce and Industry, businessmen, members of the Cops and Faith, members from the Community Policing Group (CPG) during the unveiling of the division’s Christmas plans, the Divisional Commander said it is the intention of the division to minimise the activities of criminal elements, reduce traffic congestion and road accidents during the festive season. “We will continue to foster a high degree of public confidence in the Guyana Police Force, as such, we will continue with the social crime prevention plan and team policing and continue to work with major stakeholders,”Pareshram said.

Annually, he said there is an increase of social, cultural and economic activities during the Christmas season. This, he said, would result in an increase of commercial activities in the business areas; an increase of visitors especially those returning on vacation from overseas and additional increase in road traffic and congestion.

“INCREASE SUPERVISION” In dealing with those activities, the division plans to

Commander of ‘G’ Division, Khali Pareshram.

heighten its security measures by increasing mobile, beat, backlands and marine patrols, continuation of Operation Restore Order, increase of road blocks targeting the hot spots, heightened vigilance by ranks around night spots, Post offices, commercial banks, ports of entry and all commercial areas.

There will be a continuation of ‘Team Policing’ which will focus on Intelligence gathering and coordination with ‘F’ and ‘D’ Divisions. There will also be more community involvement of (C.P.G, Cops and Faith and neighbourhood police).

The commander also promised increased monitoring at the ports of entry, particularly at the Good Hope, Supenaam and Charity water fronts. Ranks will be monitoring the arrival of Venezuelan migrants and other foreigners. In doing so, the commander said the division will be broken into three sectors headed by officers and inspectors. Head of Traffic, Troy Griffith during his presentation, said there will also be an increase in traffic patrols targeting speeding and driving under the influence.

A COMPLIANCE audit of the procurement process – planning, sourcing and contract management – of textbooks has found that the Education Ministry breached the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003 in 2016 resulting in the misallocation of $35.064M. In the Report of the Auditor General on the Compliance Audit of the Procurement of Textbooks by the Ministry of Education for the year ending December 31, 2018, $35.064M was paid in excess of the ministry’s approved allocation for the nursery and primary levels.

It was explained that the sum of $506.569M was allocated, under Line Item 6224 Print and Non-Print, to the Education Ministry for the procurement of textbooks, among other things.

It was explained that the sum of $195.887M was allocated to the ministry for the procurement of nursery and primary-level text books; but instead of purchasing text books in accordance with the funds allocated, it expended an additional $35.064M, thereby breaching the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. The report, which was presented to the National Assembly by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, stated too that the suitability and context of textbooks purchased could not be determined.

“Documentation, including minutes of relevant committees’ meetings, was not received for audit. As a result, we were unable to determine how many meetings were held and what, if any, decisions were made with regard to the acquisition of textbooks. This is in contra-

vention to the Book Policy of the ministry, which states that a Textbook Evaluation Committee and an Education System Committee should be maintained to determine the suitability of texts and seek additional information about the contexts of textbooks,” the report stated.

According to the audit report, poor planning cost the Education Ministry $15.916M. “The ministry bought 3,609 ‘New 30 SEA Practice Test in Mathematics (Student Edition) textbooks in 2016 at a cost of $15.916M. Of the books bought, 3,559 were distributed. Subsequently, the ministry purchased 12,550 ’32 SEA Practice Test in Mathematics’ (Student Edition and Teacher Book) for the sum of $61.269M to replace the New 30 SEA Practice Test in Mathematics (Student Edition),” the report explained.

It was also noted that the Education Ministry fell short in the area of transparency. It was explained that contracts for the nursery and secondary levels were not published as

required by Part II, 11 (1) of the Procurement Act 2003; that part of the act states, ‘The procuring entity shall publish notice of procurement contract awards within seven days of awarding such contracts.’

To further compound the plethora of issues which surfaced during the audit, the auditor general found that the ministry received 15,000 textbooks for the contracted cost of 30,000. According to the report, the sum of $1.924M was paid for 15,000 ‘Timehri Readers/Animal Friends W/ Book 1’ textbooks, at a unit cost of $128.30; however, the ministry had contracted the same contractor to supply 30,000 of the said textbooks at a unit price of $64.15 or a total of $1.924M. Additionally, the auditor general could not determine whether the ministry received textbooks valued at $91.639M – approximately 26 per cent of the total textbooks paid for in 2016; nor could the correctness and accuracy of the payments totalling $247.668M or approximately 70 per cent of the total payments for text-

books be verified.

“The Ministry of Education did not comply in all material respects with the relevant acts, regulations and policies governing the procurement of textbooks during the financial year ending December 31, 2016,” the auditor general said in drawing his conclusion, noting that internal controls were weak and not functioning in some instances.

The Audit Office has since recommended that the Education Ministry comply with the Procurement Act 2003, the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003, the Stores Regulations 2003, and the Book Policy 2007.

The ministry is also being called upon to document its meetings and secure its documents to aid audit scrutiny.

The audit was carried out as part of an initiative by the Caribbean Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (CAROSAI).

In total, 13 Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in the Region undertook procurement audits that were to be done simultaneously.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

President Granger thanks ministers, nation for support PRESIDENT David Granger has expressed his profound gratitude to his Cabinet members, staff and the rest of the nation for their support, prayers and well wishes for his complete recovery, at a welcome home and prayer ceremony

hosted Wednesday morning at State House.

“Thank you for your expressions of concern over the last three weeks…

Throughout that time, I received greetings from you all and from other well-wishers

and, more than the greetings, prayers and I am truly grateful,” he said.

The President also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Mr. Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge for continuing to govern

President David Granger at a prayer and welcoming ceremony this morning at State House

President David Granger pays keen attention as Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three) Regional Executive Officer, Ms. Jennifer Ferreira-Dougal sings during a prayer and welcoming ceremony held this morning at State House. Also in photo are (from left to right ) Minister of Social Protection Ms. Amna Ally, Prime Minister Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Carl Greenidge, Minister of Public Security Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, Pastor Winston McGowan, Pandit Ubraj Narine and Director of Education of Central Islamic Organisation, Shaikh Moeen-ul-Hack

seamlessly during his absence.

Meanwhile, in his remarks, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said that the nation was pleased to welcome the President back home and assured him that his Cabinet and members of the National Security Committee worked to ensure that the country continued to be governed well in his absence.

“We have never been more cohesive, more purposeful than we have been in

these last few weeks,” he said.

The service, which was organised by Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally, also included the recitation of prayers by Central Islamic Organisation’s Director of Education, Shaikh Moeenul-Hack; representative of the Guyana Pandits Council, Ubraj Narine and Full Gospel Assembly of God pastor, Winston McGowan. (Ministry of the Presidency)

15

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

Credit information sharing brings stability to financial sector – Credit Info CEO IN order to increase transparency and information-sharing to improve the credit environment, credit information on someone can only be shared with their consent as Creditinfo (Guyana) Inc. aims to promote responsible borrowing which brings stability to the financial sector.

This is according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CREDITINFO Guyana, Judy Semple-Joseph, during a presentation on Wednesday at a Guyana Press Association Lunchtime Lecture on Credit Info at Moray House, Georgetown.

She explained that good quality data is an integral part of Creditinfo (Guyana) Inc. and this has been an issue in Guyana since the information was not set up in a way that allowed for better decision making.

“Data is key, data is critical, data is like the cash flow of our institution,” she said.

The CEO explained that data must be protected by high quality security systems for the database, something which Creditinfo (Guyana) Inc. has upgraded recently.

She said data providers must operate under certain guidelines in order for credibility to be maintained.

“We operate under a legal framework with the Credit Reporting legislation that is regulated by the central bank and sometime in the future, with the right legislation in CARICOM, there will be cross border sharing of information,” she explained.

“All lenders are mandated by law to share all credit data that they have in their database with the Credit Bureau, otherwise we will not be able to function,” she

said. However, “a lender cannot pull your credit report without your consent and this is one of the key things we want to assure persons.”

She explained that no lender will have access to the system if there is no signed agreement.

Adding that the key to Creditinfo (Guyana) Inc. is to promote responsible borrowing; she said this brings stability to the financial sector.

“The only way we will know you is if you present yourself to Creditinfo or present yourself to a lender and give them permission with your ID, saying I would like a loan from you and I have no objection to you pulling my credit report and of course that is signed to,” the CEO explained.

She also noted persons can visit the Creditinfo office requesting the information on their credit report; the first one would be free.

The CEO explained that the agency is an information and decision solutions company that helps lenders and businesses make better informed decisions in the entire credit life cycle for individuals and companies, and with financial inclusion as a vision.

Creditinfo (Guyana) Inc. is the second regional presence of an Icelandic conglomerate [now headquartered in Barcelona, Spain].

Operating under the Credit Report Act of 2010 and Credit Reporting [Amendment] Act of 2016, the company was established in 2013 to provide credit reporting services through Guyana's first credit bureau.

The credit bureau is an independent organisation that

Teen gets bail for robbery with violence charge SENIOR Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Wednesday released a 19-year-old Charlestown resident on $50,000 bail for robbery with violence.

Anthony Bartholomew denied the charge which read that on November 16, 2018 at Avenue of the Republic, he robbed Annalisa Kumar of a Samsung cellular phone valued $68,000 with the use of personal violence.

According to the facts, Kumar was walking along Avenue of the Republic when the defendant pushed her onto the road surface and snatched her phone. He attempted to run away but was apprehended by public-spirted persons. Bartholomew

Anthony Bartholomew

told the court that he was wrongfully held by the persons, since he did not steal any phone. The teen was released on $50,000 bail and the matter was adjourned until December 12.

CEO of CREDITINFO Guyana, Judy Semple-Joseph

collects, stores and organises credit information about consumers and businesses.

This information is sourced and collected from lenders such as banks, credit unions and microfinance organisations, as well as providers of various alternative types of credit such as hire purchase companies, telecommunication companies and utility companies such as Guyana Water Inc. and

Guyana Power and Light Company. The data is subjected to a rigorous process of matching, cross checking, merging and analysing before it is used to create credit reports.

In addition to credit reports, Creditinfo now offers a range of intelligent information, software and analytic solutions to facilitate access to finance.

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

Take control, include populace, make projects bankable – energy experts at CSEF VI TAKE full control of the development of renewable energy (RE) in the Region.

Include the general populace in the dialogue and processes that will lead to the further development of the sector. Make RE projects bankable.

Those were some of the

key takeaways from the first full day of discussions of the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum (CSEF) VI now underway at the Belize Ocean Club in Placencia. The Forum is being held under the theme ‘Clean Energy, Good Governance & Regulations.

In a release, the CSEF formally opened on Sunday evening and discussions began in earnest on Monday morning. Former Prime Minister of Aruba, Mr. Michiel Eman, set the tone with his emphasis on the pursuit of clean energy as part of an obligation to protect the “re-

sources we have been blessed with”, as well as a journey that had profound meaning for the quality of life of citizens of the Caribbean.

Sharing information and opportunities, Mr. Eman said give the journey a “deeper” meaning to society. It would engender a

sense of commitment and shared responsibilities. He pointed out that the future was based on renewables and that the Region had to find new financial opportunities towards fruition.

He called on Forum participants to think not only of lowering energy prices, but about how those savings could benefit society and create the environment for prosperity for everyone.

SUN, WIND, VOLCANOES His was a view that the Hon. Ian ‘Patches’ Liburd, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Post, Urban Development and Transport of St. Kitts and Nevis, shared. He was a member of the High Level Ministerial Panel that led discussions under the theme ‘Establishing the Recipe and Identifying the Ingredients for Regional Security and Climate Resilience’. Traditionally, he told the scores of delegates the focus of marketing the Caribbean was on sun, sand and sea.

Now, emphasis needed to be placed on sunshine, and other “blessings of nature” such as wind and volcanoes.

The Minister urged Forum participants to see energy security as important to continuing the development and economic growth of the Caribbean. It was important, he said, that everyone, irrespective of their status, had access to affordable energy.

The achievement of energy security, and climate resilience, he said, meant that the Region had to “move away from the tired arguments” of scale and size of economies and submit to bankability of projects. “Only then can we establish the recipe for regional security and climate resilience,” he said.

TAKE CONTROL Member of the high level panel, Ms. Nicole Olivierre, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries of Trinidad and Tobago, drove home the point that the Region had to take full control of its renewable sources of energy. She

called for the “sharing and pooling” of resources to growing the renewable energy capacity of the Region and stressed that the Region had to take full control of its own energy supplies.

Countries had to find a way to finance the exploitation of their own energy sources, she added. Panel discussions and presentations during the day tackled subjects such as geopolitics, climate change and energy governance; the role of CCREEE in envisioning the acceleration of a clean energy marketing development in CARICOM; reducing the implementation deficit; island-appropriate clean energy development, making the Caribbean climate-smart and the clean energy transition in CARICOM. On Tuesday, Belize will share its experiences with energy transition. Focus during the day will also continue to be placed on energy governance as well as regulation.

Two concurrent technical workshops will be held on Wednesday. They will address Utility Business models and Innovation in rate-making and Implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the Energy and Transport Sectors.

The CSEF VI is being co-hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat and the Government of Belize, in partnership with the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) and the Organisation of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OOCUR). Key sponsorship and technical support for the staging of the CSEF VI will be provided by the TAPSEC, which is being implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ); the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE); the Organisation of American States (OAS); the Public Utilities Commission (PUC); Belize Electricity Limited; and the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF).

17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, November 22, 2018

Juveniles committing most petty robberies in city es of the law, is also very small and short of its full complement of staff.

Acting Chief Constable Laurel Gittens

CHIEF Constable (Ag) Laurel Gittens has said that most of the criminal activities being recorded so far as the holiday season approaches are being committed by juveniles.

Speaking with this publication at City Hall on Monday, she said the constabulary met with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) lately, which provided certain statistics and where the authorities are heading with those.

“Most of the criminal activities are being committed by juveniles; young school-leavers. Some of them are well educated, but because they are unemployed they are finding illegal things to do,” she stated.

Gittens noted that the parents of these juveniles are in their 20s and early 30s, and hence find it a challenge to cope. “Having to deal with these teenagers is not an easy task, because of the opposition they put up. So as a paramilitary organisation and collaboration with the police force, we should have seminars to sensitise the parents of these children as to get them involved in vocational activities,” Gittens urged.

Substantive Chief Constable Andrew Foo, who proceeded on 42 days of vacation leave earlier this week, had said that a policing plan needs to be in place to deal with the security issues arising as a result of increased shopping during the Christmas season.

Foo said in a recent interview that one of the difficulties being experienced by the City Constabulary is that it has to work with limited resources.

Earlier this year, he reported that the constabulary is short of approximately 140 staff members and that efforts to recruit more workers were not bearing much fruit.

While the constabulary is expected to provide security throughout Georgetown, Foo said the lack of resources will mean that the officers will have to confine themselves to the main shopping areas for Christmas -- Bourda and Stabroek Markets.

“We have a mandate to ensure that we establish a presence in the city. It is necessary that we have a policing plan to cover the entire city, but we are not able to do so. So we will ensure we confine ourselves to the commercial areas, Stabroek and Bourda. All of our resources are going to be deployed to the Stabroek and Bourda areas. Those are the areas that are heavy in terms of commercial activities, and therefore, it is necessary that we have a policing presence there,” Foo said.

Apart from uniformed officers, Foo said officers will also be at those locations in plain- clothes. The aim, he said, is to offer protection not just to the stallholders, but to shoppers as well.

The City Constabulary Department has responsibility for the prevention and detection of crime in Georgetown and has similar powers and privileges of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). It also has the authority to prosecute persons for offences such as assault, disorderly behaviour, urinating in public places, using indecent language, encumbering the pavements and so forth.

The department also provides security for municipal markets, day-care centres, koker pumps and City Hall buildings, among others. Providing security alone takes up much of the department’s resources.

The Enforcement Unit, which deals with itinerant vending and other breach-

…Acting Chief Constable

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

19

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

21

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

Legends Sir Viv, Lloyd backing Windies Women for WT20 title ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Two of the greatest players in the game’s history have thrown their full support behind West Indies women, in their bid to win the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup on home soil.

Sir Viv Richards, who is listed among the top five greatest cricketers of all-time and Clive Lloyd, regarded worldwide as one of the best captains of alltime, have given their backing to Stafanie Taylor’s team as they go in search of their second global title.

“Congrats to captain

and members of the team for reaching the semis, and wish them all the best in pursuit of a second consecutive World T20 title.

So far, they have shown great skill and professionalism.

Even when they were in tight situations they fought well and battled back,” said Lloyd, who oversaw West Indies’ capture of the 1975 and 1978 50 Overs World Cup in England.

“We have seen grit and determination to be the number one team in the world. They’re unbeaten (in this tournament) at the moment, and to win the title they will have to play unbeaten throughout … that would be a remarkable feat.”

Sir Viv, who was on hand for the team’s training session at the Coolidge Cricket Ground on Tuesday, backed the defending champs to repeat their 2016 performance, which saw them beat Australia in the final in India.

“I’ve come here today to wish you all the best in the semi-final against Australia and urge you all to push on to the final and make us proud.

As a matter of fact you have already made us proud … we are so proud of you,” Sir Viv told the players.

“You are two steps away from that great moment. You have done it before and we know you have it in you to do it again. Don’t change a thing, keep pushing on.”

West Indies will face threetime champions Australia in the first match at 16:00hrs at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, while England meet India at 20:00hrs in a repeat of last year’s 50-Over World Cup final, which was played at Lord’s.

Lloyd, who moulded West Indies men into one of the great units of the 1970s and 80s, said he has been especially impressed with the spirit of the players.

“I’m sure they will be able to defend the crown and I wish them the best and I hope they reach the zenith,” he added.

“I like their professionalism … when they were down they defended well … we saw that against South Africa. They have brought back that spirit of the 70s and the 80s and have been a credit to the West Indies.”

And Sir Viv, a National Hero of Antigua and Barbuda, urged fans to come out and support the Windies historic bid.

Ticket sales information from organisers suggests that today’s semi-finals could be a full house, with close to 13 000 spectators expected to attend.

“This is a truly grand occasion and the whole world will be watching the semi-finals and final,” said Sir Viv, who has remained an iconic figure in the cricket world.

“To have it being played in my lovely country is something truly magnificent and I want to urge all my brothers and sisters in Antigua and Barbuda to come out and show your support for the West Indies and for the great game of cricket.

“We are a cricket-loving nation we will show the world how we celebrate the sport on this wonderful part of the world.”

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

Aussies hold nerve to pick up narrow win in first T20 MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Adam Zampa picked up two wickets in a miserly spell of leg-spin bowling as Australia edged India by four runs in an enthralling rain-shortened Twenty20 International yesterday.

the required run rate to climb beyond their reach.

Zampa, who was brought into the Australian side after an all-pace attack against South Africa, dismissed Lokesh Rahul and India captain Virat Kohli, who made four, in successive

Australia ended their four-match losing streak in T20Is. (Getty Images)

Chasing 174 in 17 overs, after being adjusted by the Duckworth Lewis method, for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series India needed 13 in the final over but seamer Marcus Stoinis kept a cool head to concede eight while picking up two wickets.

Australia posted 158-4 in their 17 overs through a swashbuckling fourth-wicket stand of 78 between Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.

Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan kept the touring side in the hunt through a 42-ball 76 but they kept losing wickets at regular intervals to allow

overs during the middle overs to derail India’s chase.

India needed 60 off the last four overs but Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik took 25 off Andrew Tye in the 14th over to bring their side back in contention.

Karthik made 30 off 13 deliveries and fell in the final over as Australia returned to winning ways in the shortest format after a 3-0 loss to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and a loss to South Africa on Saturday.

India pacemen bowled tightly at the top but their sloppy fielding let them down

after Kohli won the toss and put Australia in to bat.

Aaron Finch was dropped on six by Kohli off fast bowler Bumrah and the Australia captain went on to make 27 off 24 balls before left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav dismissed him.

Kuldeep also sent back Chris Lynn who smashed leftarm paceman Khaleel Ahmed for three sixes in an over. Lynn spooned the ball straight back to Kuldeep after scoring 37 off 20 balls with one boundary and four sixes.

Kuldeep’s double strike reduced Australia to 75-3 but they recovered in spectacular fashion through the partnership between Maxwell and Stoinis.

Maxwell provided the fireworks with a 24-ball 46, highlighted by three consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya, who went for 55 off his four overs.

Maxwell was on 44 when he miscued Pandya to hit it straight up but the ball ricocheted off the spidercam and landed on the ground and was declared a dead ball by the umpire.

Stoinis, who scored 33 off 19 balls, was given out leg-before off Pandya on eight but he successfully overturned the decision on review with replays showing the ball was going over the stumps. He was also dropped on 30 by Ahmed off Bumrah.

The second match of the series will be played in Melbourne on tomorrow.

Venture century secures big win for Sans Souci Sports Club AN attacking unbeaten century from Seon Venture and a composed half-century from Wayne Osborne handed Sans Souci Sports Club a 118-run victory over Zeelandia Sports Club when the Badri Prasad Memorial T20 competition continued last Sunday in Wakenaam.

Venture struck 13 sixes in an even 100 off just 22 balls, while Osborne hit eight sixes in his 65 and Kamal Khan chipped in with 48 as Sans Souci SC rattled up 281-6, batting first at Zeelandia.

Mohindra Jadukool captured 2-40 and Ryan Atkinson 2-57.

Zeelandia SC were bowled out for 163 in 18 overs in reply. Ryan Adams slammed 50, while Ajay Ghansham made 35 as Tavin Budram picked up 2-8 and Kamal Khan 2-18.

In the second fixture, which was reduced to 15 overs due to rain, Sans Souci Jaguars, led by a fine allround performance from Zameer Zaman, beat Zeelandia SC by nine wickets.\ Zeelandia SC took first

strike and managed 114 all out in 14 overs. Ryan Adams made 22; Zaman grabbed 3-15 and Derwin Daniels 3-22. Sans Souci Jaguars reached 115 for 1 in seven overs in response.

Good Success, Noitgedacht Sports Club failed to show up for their fixture against defending champions Maria’s Pleasure SC. The competition continues on Sunday. At

Seon Venture

Zaman belted six fours and eight sixes in a swashbuckling 76 not out while Safraz Mohamed made 31 not out; Mohindra Jadokool took 1 for 12.

At the Wakenaam Community Centre ground in

Wakenaam Community Centre ground, Good Success SC will tackle Maria’s Pleasure at 09:00hrs and Sans Souci SC will face arch-rivals Sans Souci Jaguars at 13:00hrs.

24

Crawford Memorial Turf Club horse race meet set for Sunday THE Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club grand one-day horse race meeting is billed for Sunday at the club’s track at Alness, Corentyne, Berbice.

Seven races are listed for the day and an exciting day of racing is anticipated.

The feature event will be the Alness Classic over 1400m for a winner’s purse of $500 000 and trophy.

The other events listed on the day’s card are the I and Lower horses over a distance of 1200m with a first prize of $240 000 and trophy.

The event for two-year-old animals carries a winner’s prize of $200 000 and trophy over 1200m.

There is an event for horses classified J3 and Lower over 1000m for the take-home package of $170 000 and trophy.

There are two races for three-year-old horses. One is for animals classified L and three years and up for fillies and mares over 1400m for a winner’s take of $100 000 and trophy.

The other is for animals classified L and three years and up for colts and geldings also over 1400m for a first prize of $100 000 and trophy.

The other race is for L class animals that have not earned any money since racing over a distance of 1000m.

The winner will get $50 000 and trophy.

There will be trophies and other incentives for outstanding individual performers.

Race time is 12:00hrs.

Meanwhile, the inaugural Race of Champions Horse Racing meet, organised by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee, is set for Sunday, December 2 at the Port Mourant Turf Club in Corentyne, Berbice from 12:00hrs (noon). The programme features several exciting races.

Zeeburg to face Rising Stars in T20 final

Andre Seepersaud (left) and Malcolm Hubbard had all-round performances for Zeeburg in Tuesday’s clash.

ZEEBURG Cricket Club booked a place in the inaugural Major Premier League T20 cricket final after a 37run victory over Dynasty in the semi-finals of the competition on Tuesday at the Meten-Meer-Zorg ground.

Dynasty won the toss and decided to field in overcast conditions in a match that was reduced to 15 overs due to rain. Zeeburg batsmen, however, played their shots. Malcolm Hubbard had a boundary-laden 42 to lead the attack.

The former Guyana National U-19 cricketer stroked nine fours, while Andre Seepersaud hit three sixes and two fours in a score of 40. Mark

Jeffers, who scored 16, also played a few shots to push Zeeburg to 119 for eight in 15 overs.

R. Bharrat spun his way to three wickets for Dynasty, but he had little support from the team’s batsmen in the middle as they succumbed for 82 in 13 overs, despite 30 runs from Ryan Shun.

National U-17 all-rounder Seepersaud grabbed four wickets for eight runs with his off-spin bowling, while his off-spinning counterpart Hubbard finished with 3-25.

Zeeburg will face the host club in the championship clash at the same venue this Sunday.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

Participating teams at the launching on Saturday

Ramballi and Mahadeo Inter-Secondary School cricket launched in Essequibo

By Elroy Stephney SEVEN Secondary Schools in Region 2, including team ‘A’ and ‘B’ from Anna Regina Secondary, are participating in the Ramballi and Mahadeo Inter-Secondary School 30 overs Under-17 cricket competition which was launched last Saturday at the Imam Bacchus ground in Affiance.

The impressive opening ceremony cum march past was witnessed by a wide cross-section of stakeholders, including sponsor Harrischand Ramballi, Member of Parliament Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, Regional Executive Officer Rupert Hopkinson, Secretary of the Essequibo Cricket Board Autto Christiani, overseas-based Guyanese Nizam Kadir of the Mahadeo Foundation of Canada and Charlie Persaud, CEO of Excellence Business Consultancy of the USA, as well as Managing Director of Imam Bacchus Group of Companies, Sam Bacchus, teachers and parents.

Regional Chairman Davenand Ramdatt bowled the first ball to open the tournament on Tuesday. .During his brief presentation, Mr Ramballi expressed delight in partnering with the Mahadeo Foundation, Essequibo Cricket Board, Department of Education and the business community in having such a tournament played in Essequibo.

He disclosed that “cricket needs to be promoted consistently in the county and especially at the grassroots and school levels”.

He added: “I am prepared to make the sacrifices in providing a dream for young and aspiring cricketers.”

He said the concept of staging the competition was first shared with him by Mr Yog Mahadeo – Director of the Mahadeo Foundation and co-sponsor - who has played an instrumental part

Regional Chairman Davenand Ramdatt bowls the first ball.

in organising the competition.

The tournament will now become an annual event with the expectation that players will emerge to play at the National level.

Similar sentiments were also expressed by Region 2 REO who gives his unequivocal support including from the level of the RDC. Meanwhile, the eight teams have been sponsored by business enterprises as follows - Anna Regina Secondary ‘A’ by H. Ramballi General Construction, Anna Regina Secondary ‘B’ by Bhowan’s Machinery Import, Charity Secondary by Dellip Singh of Double ‘D’ Mart, 8th of May Secondary by Excellence Business Consultancy, Cotton Field Secondary

by Hyper Sounds, Abram Zuil Secondary by Reaz Sporting Gear, Aurora Secondary by Anna Regina Fire Station and Johanna Cecilia Secondary

by Roy’s Seasoning. All the teams have been provided with clothing. Cricket balls and transportation have been made available by the sponsor.

Trophies, medals and cricket gear will be presented at the conclusion of the

round-robin competition which will see the teams play each other. The four top teams will qualify for the playoffs.

Matches will be played at several venues includ-

American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Lem Me Have It Race 2 Elizabeth Nicole Race 3 Wicked Grin Race 4 Hot Sriracha Race 5 A I Initiative Race 7 Empire Of War Race 8 Runaway Lute Race 9 Competitionofideas Arab Emirates Racing Tips Meydan 10:30 hrs Mawahib 11:05 hrs Lady Parma 11:40 hrs Lavaspin 12:15 hrs Kawasir 12:50 hrs Etijaah 13:25 hrs Muhtaram 14:00 hrs Mightily South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:50 hrs La Bastide 09:30 hrs Big Bang Theory 10:05 hrs Sail For Joy 10:40 hrs Knysna Rose Irish Racing Tips Thurles 08:35 hrs Forge Meadow

ing Affiance No.1 ground, Imam Bacchus, Cotton Field and at Reliance. After the final a team will be selected to tour Berbice for a series of matches against their counter-parts.

09:35 hrs Monition 10:05 hrs Tillys Delight 10:40 hrs Cold Shoulder 11:10 hrs Pegi Browne 11:45 hrs Osmotic English Racing Tips Market Rasen 08:25 hrs Earlof thecotswolds 08:55 hrs vQueen Of The Wind 09:25 hrs Jersey Bean 10:00 hrs Drovers Lane 10:35 hrs Love The Leader 11:05 hrs Derrynane 11:40 hrs Little Jack Wincanton 08:45 hrs Helf 09:15 hrs Eragon De Chanay 10:15 hrs Rhythm Is A Dancer 10:45 hrs Chilli Romance 11:20 hrs Clondaw Rigger 11:55 hrs Starsky Wolverhampton 13:30 hrs Peters Pudding 14:00 hrs Panmolle 14:30 hrs Finoah 15:00 hrs Walk On Walter 15:30 hrs Motajaasid 16:00 hrs Laieth 16:30 hrs Waneen 17:00 hrs The Last Debutante

25

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

World soccer bodies awarded just Wells available for $2.63 million in U.S. bribery case Bermuda’s final qualifier

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK, USA (Reuters) - A U.S. judge said the world soccer governing body FIFA and two regional soccer federations deserved to recoup just $2.63 million (£2.06 million) from two former officials convicted on bribery charges, a small fraction of the roughly $125 million (£97.82 million) they sought.

Juan Angel Napout.

Chen said FIFA was entitled to just $108,268 of the roughly $28 million it wanted.

CONCACAF, the North American, Central American and Caribbean governing body, was awarded $1.74 million, after requesting $9.8 million. CONMEBOL, which oversees soccer in South America, was awarded $783,662, after requesting $86.8 million.

of wire fraud.

Marin was sentenced to four years in prison and a $1.2 million fine, and Napout to nine years in prison and a $1 million fine. Both appealed their convictions and sentences.

FIFA had sought restitution largely for legal and consulting fees, while CONCACAF and CONMEBOL’s requests mainly concerned lost revenue.

In her 32-page decision,

Jose Maria Marin (L), president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, and Juan Angel Napout, president of the Paraguayan Football Association, smile after an executive committee meeting, in Asuncion April 30, 2013. (REUTERS/Jorge Adorno/File Photo)

The decision on Tuesday night by U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in Brooklyn, New York is a defeat for FIFA and the regional bodies CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, which were seeking restitution from former Brazilian soccer federation president José Maria Marin and former CONMEBOL chief

Marin and Napout were among more than 40 individuals and companies charged in a broad multinational probe into soccer corruption unveiled in 2015. At least two dozen have pleaded guilty.

Jurors last December found Marin and Napout guilty in December of conspiracy charges, and Marin

FIFA ethics committee member suspended over corruption investigation ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) - A member of FIFA’s ethics committee has been suspended after being placed under investigation by an anti-corruption unit in his native Malaysia, the global soccer body said yesterday.

FIFA said in a statement that the investigation had been launched by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission against Sundra Rajoo.

It said that “Mr Rajoo will not be involved in any further activities” while the investigation was being carried out.

It did not give further details of the investigation or the accusations against Rajoo, who could not be immediately reached for comment.

FIFA’s ethics committee was set up in 2012 and banned dozens of officials following a corruption scandal in 2015, which also included around 40 soccer officials being indicted in the United States.

Rajoo is a member of the committee’s adjudicatory chamber.

Chen said FIFA did not deserve most of what it sought because it had voluntarily asked U.S. investigators to look into possible corruption, perhaps to preserve its “victim status” and avoid prosecution.

“As defendant Napout correctly argues, ‘a corporation acting out of self-preservation cannot

turn around and have its costs reimbursed through restitution,’” Chen wrote.

The judge rejected CONCACAF’s revenue claim because it lacked a “sound methodology,” and said CONMEBOL didn’t show how $85.4 million of bribes allegedly paid was a fair measure of lost revenue, “given the rampant corruption that seemingly affected all of the comparable tournament contracts.”

FIFA’s lawyer Stephen Hauss said that body was disappointed because the decision “effectively punishes FIFA for acting the way a victim should act.”

He said FIFA remained committed to helping hold the defendants accountable.

Ben O’Neil, a lawyer for CONMEBOL, noted that Chen said her revenue ruling “may seem harsh,” and said CONMEBOL will work to address her concerns as other defendants are sentenced.

LAWYERS FOR CONCACAF Ben O’Neil, a lawyer for CONMEBOL, noted that Chen said her revenue ruling “may seem harsh,” and said CONMEBOL will work to address her concerns as other defendants are sentenced.

Lawyers for CONCACAF had no immediate comment.

The case is U.S. v. Napout et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 15-cr00252.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, (CMC) – UK-based Nahki Wells, the match winner in Bermuda’s upset victory over El Salvador, says he will be available for the island’s crucial final CONCACAF Nations League qualifier away to the Dominican Republic in March next year.

The 28-year-old striker made his position clear a few days after heading Bermuda’s winner in the 1-0 victory over El Salvador at the National Stadium here last Friday, which kept alive the island’s dream of competing at the CONCACAF Gold Cup next year.

Bermudian striker Nahki Wells.

“I will be available,” Wells told the Royal Gazette newspaper. “The match against the Dominican Republic is vital and could be the start of important fixtures for Bermuda.

The Gold Cup is a realistic goal, which we are aiming for.”

Wells, on loan at English Championship side Queens Park Rangers from Premier League club Burnley, headed in a cross from former skipper Reggie Lambe, who plays for English League Two side Cambridge United, in the 70th minute in his first appearance for Bermuda in three-and-a-half years.

The Central Americans, ranked 70th by FIFA, 110 places above Bermuda, were the firm favourites going into last Friday night’s match, which was played in torrential rain and strong winds.

“We don’t always have all of our best players together, but this time I think we had pretty much everyone bar one or two and we showed up,” Wells said.

El Salvador and Bermuda have each won two of their three matches so far while losing the other.

Dominican Republic, Bermuda’s next opponents, are ranked 152nd in the world. They have won two of their three game so far, winning 5-0 at Bonaire, beating Caymans Islands 3-0 at home and losing 1-0 away to Cuba.

Venus Williams settles lawsuit over fatal Florida car crash

By Gina Cherelus (REUTERS) - Tennis star Venus Williams has settled a wrongful death suit related to a fatal traffic accident she was involved in near her Florida residence in June 2017, according to court records.

The terms of the agreement between Williams and the estate of Jerome Barson, 78, who died in the crash, were not disclosed in the court documents. The lawsuit, which was filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, was settled on November 15.

Representatives for Williams and Barson’s estate did not immediately respond to

requests for comment.

Barson, who was a passenger in a sedan that collided with the SUV that Williams

was driving, died 13 days after the accident. His wife, Linda Barson, 68, was driving the sedan.

Venus Williams

Williams was originally found at fault for the accident, which occurred near her home in Palm Beach Gardens, days before she was to compete at Wimbledon.

Police had said Williams had failed to yield the rightof-way. Later they decided not to charge her because video surveillance showed she entered the intersection lawfully and a car not involved in the collision forced her to stop in the intersection, where Williams’ vehicle was struck by the Barsons’.

Williams is currently ranked 39th in the world, according to the Women’s Tennis Association.

26

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

Win over Woods worth more than $9 million, says Mickelson

By Steve Keating (REUTERS) - Bragging rights will be worth more than the $9 million prize money to Phil Mickelson when he takes on Tiger Woods in an 18-hole winner-takes-all pay-per-view showdown in Las Vegas.

For two of the world’s richest athletes the prospect of pocketing millions for playing an afternoon round at Shadow Creek Golf Club tomorrow may not set the heart racing.

But for Mickelson the thought of forever being able to wave that cheque in Woods’ face was something priceless that left him giddy with excitement ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday clash.

“It’s great to win the $9 million but I just don’t want to lose to him and give him the satisfaction because the bragging rights are what is going to be even worse than the money,” Mickelson said at a news conference on Tuesday to drum up interest

in ‘The Match’.

“Every time I see you I want to be able to rub it in. I want to sit in the Champions locker room at Augusta and talk smack. I want that.”

That was about as close as Woods and Mickelson, two of the most fascinating and suc-

cessful golfers of their generation came to trading shots as they attempted to help sell the pay-per-view duel which can be seen for a modest $19.99.

Despite their best efforts the obligatory trash talk around the golfing cage match has been forced and

limp.

Fifteen years ago the dislike was real and palatable, the jabs they took at each other stung.

But that once frosty relationship has thawed to the point that they play practice rounds together.

Phil Mickelson (left) and Tiger Woods address the media during a press conference on Tuesday in Las Vegas before The Match: (Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

LOVE-IN Anyone expecting the sort of foul mouth baiting that is part of boxing and UFC promotions were left sadly disappointed as the news conference turned into a love-in.

The 42-year-old Woods and Mickelson, 48, spent so much time lavishing praise on each other that it was hard to remember there was a time when they actually disliked each other.

Even an attempt to end the news conference with a traditional boxing noseto-nose stare down ended in farce with neither man able to keep a straight face for more than a few seconds before breaking into laughs and a hug.

“He’s one of the greatest players to ever pick up a golf club,” said Woods, the winner of 14 major titles.

“Greatest of all-time,” replied Mickelson, who has five majors in his trophy case.

One aspect of the event not manufactured is the competitiveness Woods and Mickelson bring to the golf course.

The showdown will be highlighted by several side bets and Mickelson wasted no time throwing down the gauntlet by betting Woods $100 000 that he would birdie the first hole.

Woods took the bait but not before upping the ante, telling Mickelson, “Why not $200 000”.

“So you think you can make birdie on the first hole,” said Woods smiling. “Double it.”

The biggest bet being put down, however, is the one made

by WarnerMedia and Turner Sports who are gambling that there is enough interest to make the unique pay-per-view event a success.

“This is me versus him, this is winner-take-all and it has a unique special feel golf doesn’t have all the time, or rarely has ever had, if ever,” said Mickelson.

“I am hopeful that this is received well, I am hopeful we provide a glimpse into the future of what sport-watching is all about.”

Ramdhani’s winning streak continues in Canada Premier League opposes FA’s Brexit plans for more ‘homegrown’ players NARAYAN Ramdhani over the weekend continued his winning streak in Canada by taking the Men’s singles and copping fourth place in the Men’s Doubles at the 2018-19 ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference) Inter-College/University Tournament #1 in Edmonton, Alberta, making him the No.1 seeded player.

The four teams that took part were: The King’s University-Eagles, Olds College-Broncos, Concordia University of Edmonton-Thunder and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT).

SINGLES RESULTS: Narayan Ramdhani was seeded No.3 and representing The King’s Eagles defeated in the: Quarter-Finals: Tyler Walsh (No. 1 Seed) - NAIT: 21-17, 21-13

By Simon Evans

Narayan Ramdhani in action

Semi-Finals: Ronuelle Mendina - NAIT : 21-17, 2114 Final: Braxton Wong (No.2 Seed) - Concordia: 21-16, 21-7

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday November 22, 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) Harmanpreet Kaur-167 runs (IND) (2) Deandra Dottin-115 runs TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) Who took most wickets in the group stages of the

current ICC Women’s T20 World Cup? (2) Who had the best bowling figures in a single game?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

DOUBLES RESULTS: Narayan Ramdhani & Joel Simrose (The King’s Eagles) Quarter-Finals: defeated Colton Grier & Rylan Head Olds: 21-12, 21-14 Semi-Finals: lost to No.1 Seeds Desmond Wang & Braxton Wong - Concordia: 21-7, 21-9.

The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is the governing body for collegiate sports in Alberta, Canada.

Founded in 1964, as the Western Inter-College Conference, the ACAC is represented by seventeen schools, including one in Saskatchewan that competes in ten sports.

The ACAC is a member of the Canadian Colleges Athletics Association, and provincial champions compete for national collegiate titles.

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - England’s Premier League says it opposes efforts by the Football Association (FA) to limit the number of “non-homegrown” players in each squad to 13 after Britain’s departure from the European Union, saying “Brexit should not be used to weaken club squads”.

Currently, players from outside the EU must gain work permits and pass a series of qualification tests to get a “governing body endorsement” and work permit.

Premier League clubs must have eight “homegrown” players in their squad of 25. These do not have to be British but must have been part of the club for three years before turning 21.

The FA, which has been asked by the British government to come up with a proposal, wants to impose a limit of 13 non-homegrown players in the 25-man Premier League squads after Brexit.

It wants the government to drop work-permit restrictions on non-EU citizens, creating a level playing field

regardless of nationality.

“The proposal would allow the same current access to European players and reduce governing body endorsement requirements for non-European players to the same levels,” the FA said.

“In return for this improved access, the FA would like to ensure that the league collectively does not exceed the current number of around 260 non-homegrown players ... This is equivalent to 13 players per (Premier League) club,” it added.

The FA believes increasing access, but preventing an increase in current numbers of overseas players, “would benefit all of English football”.

It hopes that including more domestic players in first-team squads will help the national side develop talent.

But the Premier League disagrees. It says that it, the Football League - which represents the 72 clubs in the lower tiers of the English professional game and the Scottish Professional Football League all feel “that Brexit should not be used to weaken playing squads in British football,

nor to harm clubs’ ability to sign international players”.

In a statement on Tuesday it added: “There is no evidence that stronger quotas than exist now would have a positive impact on national teams.”

Citing the recent successes of England teams at youth and senior level, the statement said: “We currently operate rules that limit the number of non-homegrown players clubs can have in senior squads, while also working with clubs to operate a world-leading player-development system which delivers for England teams at every level.”

CASH GENERATOR The Premier League also highlighted its global and business success, saying the country benefited from its attractiveness internationally.

“Our competition is watched in 189 countries, 700 000 visitors to the UK per season attend a match, clubs employ 12 000 fulltime staff and Premier League football generates £3.3 billion ($4.22 billion) per season in taxes.”

The league said it would continue talks with the FA over the matter.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 22, 2018

Two visiting captains bowled over by Caribbean response to Women’s World T20

Heavy focus on pitch as Windies, Bangladesh clash in first Test CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh (CMC) – Heavy focus will rest on the pitch as West Indies attempt to rid themselves of the demons of the nightmare India tour, when they face minnows Bangladesh in the opening Test here today.

For the first time in some while, they will enter a Test series carrying the tag of favourites, and will hope to make it count against a side whom they have dominated in the past.

An emphatic series win for West Indies would help soothe some of the pain from the battering they received against powerhouse India last month when they lost both Tests inside three days, but stand-in captain Kraigg Brathwaite said past results against Bangladesh counted for little.

“I think it will be different. We won a number of games here before but I think it is a stronger unit, especially the spinners are doing a very good job for Bangladesh,” Brathwaite told reporters here yesterday.

“It won’t be the same as before; it will probably be more challenging. We just have to keep backing our plans against spinners and pacers. We have to be disciplined when we bowl.

Their batsmen are also dangerous here. We are up for it, but it won’t be easy.”

West Indies boast an impeccable record against Bangladesh, both home and away. They have won five of six Tests here, drawing one and have captured five of eight on Caribbean soil, losing two and drawing one.

A section of the crowd at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium, for West Indies’ final preliminary match against England

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – Two visiting captains at the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup say they have been stunned by the crowd sizes for the preliminary round matches at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium.

Over 6 000 spectators turned up for the West Indies’ opener at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence 11 days ago and their next two games here also attracted in excess of 6 000.

A sell-out crowd – in excess of 10 000 – witnessed West Indies’ final preliminary match on Sunday, as the reigning champions stormed to a dramatic four-wicket win over England.

“I think it was a brilliant

atmosphere – 10 000 people.

That’s huge. The sort of crowd, the sort of noise you want to play cricket under as a professional cricketer,” England skipper Heather Knight said.

“Obviously the support was there for the West Indies, and I think it’s brilliant that so many people have come out and supported, and it’s made it sort of a carnival atmosphere and a really enjoyable one.”

South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk said she was also thrilled with the response to the matches, describing it as a major boost for the women’s game.

The November 9-24 tournament is the first stand-alone ICC T20 tournament, and has been a success so far.

“I think it was brilliant.

And I heard the game (between Windies and England) was sold out,” said van Niekerk.

“Obviously I was in shock because I knew it was going to be a great game between two great teams. And to get in there and see the atmosphere!

Ten thousand people can rock out, but 10 000 really excited fans that each and every person has rhythm, it’s quite exciting to see.

“And just the women’s game deserves a fan base like that. And I hope the whole world saw how much fun the fans had … and all credit to two very good sides that put up a very good show for them.”

The preliminaries wrapped up Sunday here and the playoff matches will now be played

at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua where West Indies take on Australia and England face India in the semi-finals today.

Knight said she was hoping for another overwhelming response to these games from the public.

“I think it’s been so busy because sort of words got around, and all the staff at our hotel have been asking for tickets and saying they’ve really enjoyed watching the women play,” she said.

“Hopefully it will be the same in Antigua. Hopefully the word will get around and there will be a few in hopefully for those two semis.”

The final is set for Saturday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

Martins receives BCB award

LEGENDARY Guyanese singing icon Dave Martins received the Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB) highest award ‘Tribute to Heroes’.

The singer is the 17th awardee, and joined the likes of Mortimer George, Carl Moore, Malcolm Peters, Ancel Hazel, Lennox Phillips and the late Leslie Amsterdam.

President of the BCB, Hilbert Foster, hailed Martins as a strong supporter of cricket in the Caribbean and recalled the happy memories West Indians can associate with his song ‘We are the Champions’.

That song served for over a decade as the unofficial Anthem of West Indies Cricket.

Martins contributed to the historic BCB fund-raising

BCB Office Administrator Angela Haniff hands over the ‘Tribute to Heroes’ Award to Dave Martins.

concert, which was held on November 3 in the compound of the New Amsterdam Technical Institute. It was part of BCB’s effort to raise funds for its Cricket Developmental Programme.

Martins, in a sterling performance, rolled backed the years and had his passionate fans singing along to his famous songs including Cricket in the Jungle, Honeymooning Couple, Not a Blade of Grass and Boyhood Days.

The BCB will also like to express gratitude to Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira for his role in organising Martins’ participation in the concert.

Funds raised will be used in the preparation of the Berbice Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 teams for the 2019 Inter-county season.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo is expected to play a key role for West Indies in spin-friendly conditions.

The two defeats came in 2009 when West Indies fielded a depleted team due to a players’ strike which robbed selectors of the first-choice squad.

Earlier this year, West Indies crushed Bangladesh in a two-Test series in the Caribbean, with neither match lasting beyond the third day.

However, Brathwaite said it was important his side played positive cricket, especially since Bangladesh would be at home on familiar pitches.

“We can’t think about the past series. We have to stick to our plans. Pitches are obviously different to what we played on,” he explained.

“Whatever we do, whether fast bowling or spin, we have to do it well. I saw the pitch. It is what we expected. It is a little dry.

There may be a little movement in the first hour. I think it is a typical type of surface in Bangladesh.”

He added: “They have some good spinners but you need to have some good fast bowlers, so whatever our plans are, we have to believe in them, and back them. We must have the right attitude towards each bowler. It will serve us well.”

West Indies will be without captain and key strike bowler, Jason Holder, for the series, due to injury and will need to rely on the lesser experienced likes of Keemo Paul and Sherman Lewis.

However, they have in their arsenal speedster Shannon Gabriel and experienced seamer Kemar Roach, and Brathwaite believed his pace attack can play a key role even on the low surfaces expected.

“Obviously the pitches will take some spin but that doesn’t mean that pacers won’t bowl well so as a group we have to go out there and play,” Brathwaite said.

“I think our pacers will do well in these conditions. Obviously it won’t be easy as it’s quite hot but I think our pacers, once they get a chance, will do well in these conditions. They are quite similar to the Caribbean to be honest.

“I back our spinners to do the majority of the job but I still believe the pacers will be quite significant.”

West Indies have toured with two specialist spinners – leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican – while batsman Roston Chase bowls effective off-spin.

SQUADS: BANGLADESH – Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Mithun, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Ariful Haque, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Naeem Hasan.

WINDIES – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Shermon Lewis, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.

Legends Sir Viv, Lloyd backing Windies Women for WT20 title Page

22

Sir Vivian Richards (third from right) has the attention of the West Indies Women, during a training session. CWI ambassador, Sir Andy Roberts (fifth from right), is also present. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)

We didn’t deserve to win – head coach Johnson

By Rawle Toney

M

ICHAEL Johnson, head coach of the ‘Golden Jaguars’, said his side “didn’t deserve to win” their November 20 clash in Cayenne with French Guiana in the CONCACAF Nations League.

French Guiana defeated Guyana 2-1, and the result ultimately ended Guyana’s dreams of qualifying for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, since only the top 10 of the 34-team tournament will play in the confederation’s marquee championship.

Having played to a disappointing 2-2 draw with Barbados at home, Guyana rebounded to ‘brush aside’

Turks and Caicos and based on the other results, Johnson needed a win against French Guiana to solidify his place at the 2019 June 15–July 7 event.

Johnson, via his Facebook account, shared that he was disappointed in his team’s first-half performance where they conceded a goal just 15 minutes and failed to capitalise on a few chances of their own, to trail going into the second half.

French Guiana’s Jules Haabo completed his double just seconds into the second half and despite several efforts from Guyana, including Neil Danns’ 59th minute goal, it was not enough to see them leaving Cayenne

with a win.

“Not entirely sure why but we didn’t start which for me was so alarming. We fought back (in the) second half and scored a goal but we didn’t deserve the win in my opinion. We go again in March,” Johnson said in a very candid post.

The 44-year-old former Jamaican International was appointed the country’s head coach in June and had told reporters at his first press conference, at the SleepIn International Hotel that he was looking forward to the challenge of taking Guyana to their first ‘Gold Cup’ tournament, but more importantly, building a formidable national team during his

three-year contractual period.

Before 2007 when Guyana, behind Trinidadian Jamaal Shabazz, were ranked 90 by FIFA, Guyana’s highest ranking (86) came under coach Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover. Since then (2010), the country’s other best placing came in 2011 (91) and 2012 (92).In the latest FIFA Ranking, Guyana sit at 179 in the world.

The former Cardiff City, Birmingham City and Notts County defender believed that his goals and his expectations from the Wayne Fordeled GFF was ‘achievable’ and had explained: “I believe we can do something with the youth talent, I believe we can get

Guyana’s head coach Michael Johnson to top 100, I believe we can qualify for the Gold Cup. So that attracted me to the role; now it’s my job to go and attract other members of potentially the incoming staff.”

However, after kicking off his CONCACAF

Nations League qualifier campaign, some pundits and fans are not pleased with Johnson’s approach and even question his ability to truly take the GFF’s flagship programme to the next level.

Heavy focus on pitch as Windies, Bangladesh clash in first Test ► 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

Page

27

THURSSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2018