Guyana Chronicle E-paper 12-01-2018

SATURDAY 1st December, 2018

New Chief Citizen

No.105475

President Granger to return to Cuba on Tuesday 08 PAGE

Scotia staff to join Republic Bank 05 PAGE

…Ubraj Narine elected Mayor of Georgetown

…APNU restates commitment to youths …lauds election PAGES of youthful 03&11 mayors

New Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine taking the oath of office on Friday. In the background are former Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green and Councillor Oscar Clarke

… allays fears of customers, says deal is the best

$376.9M pump station commissioned at Buxton 09 PAGE

Mahdia eager for solar farm

PAGE

08 … as gov’t pumps $600M into energy diversification

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 1, 2018

New Chief Citizen 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 1, 2018

… Ubraj Narine elected Mayor of Georgetown

By Telesha Ramnarine PROMISING to “lead by example” and to provide residents of Georgetown with services that are “uncompromisingly excellent,” Pandit Ubraj Narine was on Friday morning voted mayor-elect at City Hall.

Narine’s fellow, ‘A Partnership for National Unity’ (APNU) Councillor Alfred Mentore, was chosen as deputy mayor-elect.

While the new council will take effect from January 1, 2019, the ‘old’ Council,

seconded by Chase-Green.

Twenty-one councillors voted in favour of Narine’s nomination; six voted against; and two abstained.

New People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor Dion Younge rose to nominate fellow PPP Councillor Bishram Kuppen to the mayoral chair; this was seconded by another PPP Councillor Nalissa Ferguson. Kuppen, however, received only six votes, while 21 councillors voted against his nomination and two abstained.

APNU Councillor Grego-

nation.

Twenty-two councillors voted for Mentore, though; six against him; and one abstained. Six voted for Younge and 23 against him.

Meanwhile, each member of the new council was sworn in by Acting Town Clerk Sharon Harry, while pledging with their right hands up and left hand clutching the religious book of their choice (Bible, Koran, and Bhagavad Gita).

The APNU councillors sworn in apart from Narine and Mentore, were David

Mayor-elect Ubraj Narine (at left) congratulates Deputy Mayor-elect Alfred Mentore. headed by Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, will continue to sit until December 31, 2018.

Narine, representing Constituency One (Alberttown, Kingston, Queenstown, Cummingsburg, Thomas Lands and Non Pareil Park), is a “proud” member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

The father of one was nominated by Councillor Ivelaw Henry during the mayoral elections; this was

ry Fraser nominated Mentore for the post of deputy mayor and this was seconded by Councillor Yvonne Ferguson.

Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor Ayodele Roache nominated her fellow AFC Councillor Michael Leonard for deputy mayor, but this nomination fell through because no other councillor seconded her nomination.

Kuppen nominated Younge, and Nalissa Ferguson seconded this nomi-

Allicock, Eon Bollers, Oscar Clarke, Eketa Edwards, Dexter Forte, Cynthia Stewart, Mark Griffith, Clayton Hinds, John Vanveen, Akeem Peter, Ivelaw Henry, Gregory Fraser, Shonelle Smith-Daniels, Heston Bostwick, Yvonne Ferguson, ChaseGreen, Trichria Richards, Denroy Tudor, and Cilesia Hall.

The PPP Councillors sworn in were Bishram Kuppen, Coleen Sampson, Dion Younge, Nalissa Ferguson,

Social Protection Minister Amna Ally (standing; black and white dress) offering congratulatory remarks following the mayoral elections.

Dimitri Ali, and Param Persaud. The seventh PPP councillor, Patrick De Santos, was unable to attend yesterday’s proceedings and will be sworn in at a later date.

The two AFC councillors sworn in were 10-yearold Adodele Roache and Michael Leonard.

RETURN OF DEMOCRACY Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally, who sat through the swearing-in ceremony and the mayoral elections, said in congratulatory remarks that she was happy to witness the return of democracy that citizens of Georgetown struggled to realise over two decades.

“We must be proud of this moment,” she offered, adding, “It’s not APNU, PPP or AFC – it is Georgetown, Guyana.”

Minister Ally called on councillors to work collectively towards the development of Georgetown and ultimately, Guyana.

Mayor-elect Narine, a resident of Cummingsburg who has been the priest at the Maha Sabha in that area for the past 11 years, offered that the affairs of Georgetown must be managed in an honest, transparent and fair manner.

“We must speak to each other and reach across the aisle of politics, race, religion and creed and engage our thoughts and arrive at consensus,” he urged, adding, “In Georgetown, the environment must be protected; the residents must be given services that are uncompromisingly excellent; businesses must thrive and the

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green being sworn in as a member of the new council to take effect from January 1, 2019. She will remain mayor until December 31, 2018. young must be provided with achieved, and to work on the opportunities for their talents areas that the City Council and energies.” has fallen short on. He said Narine observed that his intention is to work hand challenges for the municipal- in hand with the new mayor, ity at the moment include a and to work as a team. ballooning budgetary deficit, Mentore thanked APNU late payment and non-pay- for supporting his candidament of staff, debts mount- cy, especially Public Health ing to hundreds of millions Minister and Chairman to private contractors, and of the PNC/R Volda Lawstruggles of collection of rence; along with his family rates and taxes. and friends.

“The bitter campaign is over; the sweet challenges of NO ADDITIONAL hard work and cooperation BURDENS must be embraced. To Volda APNU Councillor IveAnn Lawrence, thank you for law Henry told the Guyana your faith in me and embark- Chronicle that he will be ing me upon this journey. tackling the cleanliness of I endeavour from the first Georgetown, drainage and dawn of my brief tenure to be irrigation, the cleaning of the chief citizen of George- alleyways, lighting in the town, leading by example for city, and more interaction the good of all.” with vendors.

The deputy mayor-elect Councillor Bishram pledged to build on the sucSee page 5 cesses that have already been

Councillors voting during the mayoral elections.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, December 1, 2018

‘PC’ students get own dental centre --conveniently located on premises

ALMOST 300 resident President’s College students will be in receipt of greater access to dental care with the commissioning on Friday of a dental centre at the institution.

The centre is conveniently located on the school’s compound at Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and is also open to other schools and residents in the neighbourhood.

According to the school’s principal, Carlyn

Canterbury, the facility is as a result of the Ministry of Public Health’s realisation that supervised dental care is essential to live-in students who oftentimes are only able to visit home once per month or term.

And on top of this, nurses previously had the tedious task of taking students to the dental school in Georgetown whenever they experienced a dental problem.

As such, the school was tasked by the Public Health

Ministry with providing a suitable building for housing of the Centre, while it took care of the equipment and staffing.

Canterbury explained that while at present students are being examined as the need arises, soon there will be a mandatory screening system in place, as a more efficient means for them to take good care of their oral hygiene.

“We’re in the process of putting together a screening programme where we make it mandatory that every class be examined, which will determine the need,” she said, adding: “And who has to return will be given an appointment date, while those who are okay may be given just a check-up date.”

“We know the culture in Guyana: We go to the dentist when we’re affected.

But that is what we want to move away from.”

Dentist-in-residence, Dr. Collin Waterman doing an oral examination on this year’s top National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) student, Quacy Issacs at the new centre.

Among those looking on are school Principal, Carlyn Canterbury (third right), and Principal Dental Officer, Dr. Kester Sullivan, second left (Photo by Delano Williams)

OPEN DAILY The facility will function from Monday to Friday, with Wednesdays reserved exclu-

Saturday, December 1, 2018 - 13:00 hrs

sively for students and staff.

While it began functioning earlier in the year, it was only officially commissioned on Friday.

The center’s dentist, Dr. Collin Waterman told the Guyana Chronicle that residents in and around Golden Grove have come to appreciate the free dental services offered by the college.

“They’re very thankful,” he said: “In the morning hours, we actually work on outpatients from the community, and in the afternoon hours we look at persons from President’s College.”

As Dr. Fiona Perry of the Ministry of Public Health observed, oral health is integral to overall health, and that while it is still a global challenge in this day and age, Guyana is pretty much on top of the game.

“The Ministry of Public Health has made great strides in improving oral health overall in the years,” Dr. Perry said.

“It has placed strong emphasis on educating people about dental care. It has been

said ‘If a patient cannot clean his own teeth, no dentist can clean them for him,’” she added.

That said, she used the occasion to urge the public to keep in mind that tobacco and alcohol are contributors to dental issues, and to thank those who worked on making the new facility a reality.

“The Ministry of Public Health,” she said, “recognises the importance and value oral health services a school dental centre like this can provide.”

“Dental professions in particular have a contribution to make in an integrated approach, and on placing emphasis on our preventative aspects.”

Principal Canterbury also expressed her appreciation on behalf of the school for the assistance rendered them by the Ministry of Public Health.

During the commissioning, several presentations came in the form of song, skits and poems from children of a number of nursery and primary schools in and around the community.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 1, 2018

Scotia staff to join Republic Bank New city... … allays fears of customers, says deal is the best From page 3

By Gabriella Chapman SCOTIABANK has sought to allay the fears of customers who have already started making a run on the bank following the announcement that it has sold its operations to Republic Bank. It also disclosed that all of its impacted staff will join the Republic Bank as per the agreement.

In a newspaper notice the Canadian-headquartered bank said until regulatory approval is obtained and closing conditions are met and the transaction closes, “all Scotiabank operations in these countries will continue as usual.” The Bank added: “Customers do not need to make any changes to their accounts, loans or other banking services at this time.”

The bank said in its statement that “we are proud to have entered into this agreement with Republic-a leading financial institution with operations across the Caribbean that is committed to investing in the business and delivering enhanced financial products and services that best serve customers’ need.” The bank said it is confident that the agreement “provides the best long-term solution for our customers. We will work closely with Republic to provide as smooth a transition as possible for all customers and employees and as part of the transaction, all impacted employees will join Republic.”

On Tuesday Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Scotiabank’s banking operations in Guyana, St. Maarten and the Eastern Caribbean territories, including Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The purchase price is US$123 million, which represents US$25 million consideration for total shareholding of Scotiabank Anguilla Limited; and a premium of US$98 million over net asset value for operations in the remaining eight countries, the Trinidad-headquartered bank said in a release.

This price does not include any amounts required to capitalise the branches post-closing, Republic Bank said. According to Republic Bank, the agreement executed on November 27, 2018, signalled the commencement of a transaction that is subject to all regulatory and other customary approvals

and conditions. In making the announcement, Ronald F de C. Harford, Chairman of RFHL, said “This acquisition represents another major milestone for the Republic Group. As we grow and acquire significant positions in our existing markets, it is important that we continue to broaden our footprint, regionally and internationally.”

He added: “This agreement, which is subject to all regulatory approvals, affords us the opportunity to reach more clients in the Eastern Caribbean and Guyana, two markets we are familiar with, and build new relationships in St. Maarten. We are confident that our expanded presence or entrance in those markets will redound to the benefit of Scotiabank’s clients and employees as well as Republic’s existing stakeholders. I would like to thank Scotiabank for the confidence expressed in our ability to look after their valuable clients, and we are pleased that all impacted employees of Scotiabank in the nine countries will join the Republic Group.”

According to Republic Bank, its group’s total asset base as at September 30, 2018 stood at US$10.5 billion, with equity at US$1.5 billion and profits attributable to shareholders for the year ended September 30, 2018 of US$198 million.

This acquisition will increase the group’s asset size by approximately US$2.5 billion and will be accretive to the earnings of the group by approximately US$ 0.20 per share. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. is advising RFHL on this transaction.

“Scotiabank is proud to work with the Republic Group – a leader in financial services in the Caribbean who is well positioned to invest and grow the business, and to provide customers across the region with leading financial solutions that meet their needs,” said Ignacio (Nacho) Deschamps, Group Head, International Banking at Scotiabank.

Harford explained that RFHL’s focus on seeking out expansion opportunities in the Caribbean is a testament to the group’s confidence in and commitment to the Caribbean Region.

He added, “We have a proven track record of adding value to the markets we enter, and we look forward to partnering with the teams in these territories to deliver excellence in customer satisfaction,

employee engagement and social responsibility.”

GUYANA ASSESSING Meanwhile, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon told a news conference on Friday the move by Scotiabank to sell its operations to Republic Bank is being assessed by the government. Asked about the government’s position at his post-Cabinet press briefing, he reminded that Finance Minister, Winston Jordan recently issued a comprehensive statement on the issue.

Referring the move by Antigua, Minister Harmon noted that a similar move would not be granted permission.

He said that each country has its own peculiarities.

“While Scotiabank is in all these countries, the situation in Guyana is not the same…

What Minister Jordan has said is that the proposal, which has come out, is for Republic Bank, in buying out the ownership of Scotiabank in Guyana, to actually own 51 percent or 53 percent of the banking services in this country and that is unacceptable.” The Minister of State said that the government will determine what is in Guyana’s best interest. “I believe the statement made by the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda is a good statement.

It deals with his situation. Our Minister of Finance has made a statement also, on the matter here, and I believe we are going to assess the situation and we will make a determination as to how it affects us here.”

CONCERNS RAISED Minister Jordan, in a statement on Tuesday last, said the agreement which sees Republic Bank taking ownership of Scotiabank, raises a number of issues for the banking sector in

Guyana and for the public which the Finance Ministry, the Bank of Guyana and the Government of Guyana will need to carefully consider.

It noted that Republic Bank currently holds 35.4 per cent of the banking systems assets and 36.8 per cent of deposits and the acquisition will up this to 51 per cent of both assets and deposits.

This raises concerns about an over-concentration of banking services, market domination and the ‘too big to fail’ risks. The statement also noted that “The Scotiabank decision is made when Guyana’s economy is on the cusp of financial transformation with the onset of massive new oil and gas sector raises concerns and is regretted.

Among other concerns is the effect on competition and the potential for Republic Bank to have too much influence on the pricing of banking products and rates, issues related to correspondent banking options and loss of jobs as a result of Republic Bank consolidating branches were other concerns.”

The ministry has pointed to the Financial Institutions Act (FIA), which has clear stipulations regarding ‘acquisition of control’ and requires approval by the Bank of Guyana following the submission of an application and due diligence being conducted. The FIA also addresses the issue of ‘fundamental changes’ as it relates to mergers and transfer of assets or liabilities. The Finance Ministry emphasised that the announcement is not Guyana-specific but is part of a region-wide refocusing by Scotiabank.

The public is being assured that the ministry will continue to stay abreast with the matter and will act in the best interest of the citizenry and issue updates as necessary.

Kuppen said the PPP councillors will be looking to ensure that no additional burdens are placed on residents of Georgetown, whom he said are already overburdened.

“We plan to stand up for the rights of all citizens and to insist on accountability and transparency,” Kuppen noted, adding that they will also be seeking to ensure that responsible financial decisions are made, immediate action is taken to prevent flooding in Georgetown, and that the issue of non-payment to garbage contractors is resolved.

Kuppen said the PPP batch will also be looking to address the plight of vendors and look at improving security in the city. He recalled that he had called for a forensic audit to be done since back in 2016, and that he will be repeating that call in time.

Outgoing President of the Guyana Association of Municipalities, Carwyn Holland, offered that Narine’s ascension to office signals a new day for Georgetown and for the young people of Guyana.

“It signals a new day for our democracy. I commend all the parties for taking part in local government elections,” he said.

Holland encouraged Narine to work in the interest of all Guyanese regardless of their political backgrounds, and urged councillors to become familiar with their roles and responsibilities, so that they can best represent their constituencies.

“At the end of the day, if the mayor fails, then it’s a reflection of the council failing; if the council fails, then it’s a reflection of the mayor failing. By extension, if you fail, then you will be failing the people who elected you,” Holland expressed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, December 1, 2018

Water security for Rupununi residents

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esidents of the Deep South Rupununi now have water security for the first time as a result of positive action by the APNU+AFC administration.

Eight wells have been drilled, commissioned and handed over to communities in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region, and, as a result, no longer will residents have to suffer during annual droughts in the area.

The wells, which were handed over to community representatives last Wednesday are located in the communities of Aishalton, producing 5,000 litres per hour; Chukrikednau, producing 6,000 litres; Karaudarnau, producing 4,500 litres; Achiwuib, producing 6,000 litres; Awarawaunau, producing 4,000 litres; Marunranau, producing 6,000 litres; Shea, producing 4,000 litres; and Baisahidrum, producing 6,000 litres per hour. The wells have been drilled to various depths to optimise water flow rates.

As a consequence of government’s commitment to providing a good life to all Guyanese, residents of the area need no longer worry about water availability, as the wells will provide steady, reliable supplies of water throughout the year.

Last month, this column had reported the details of the initiative. In December 2017, President David Granger and other officials, travelled to Brazil to concretise bilateral cooperation agreements between our neighbouring countries.

One of those agreements was the “Technologies to Reduce the Effects of the Drought in Region Nine of Guyana.” The

Op-Ed

By United States Ambassador Perry L Holloway

C

OLOURS can be powerful. They can invoke emotions, stir memories, and awaken our senses. Red has a particular strength: it is fierce, bold, and alive. And so I wear a red ribbon today – a small but mighty symbol of solidarity against a disease that continues to affect the lives of thousands in Guyana and millions throughout the world. This disease is HIV. Approximately 8,200 people are living with HIV in Guyana. To support them, the Embassy and PEPFAR, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, work hand in hand with the Ministry of Public Health, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, and multilateral partners: these include PAHO/WHO, UNAIDS, and the Global Fund. It is these partnerships that can make an HIVfree Guyana a reality.

For the first time in modern history, we have the opportunity to control a pandemic without a vaccine or a cure.

Collectively, we are accelerating progress toward controlling and, ultimately, ending the HIV epidemic as a public health threat. Thanks to the generosity of the American people, 13 countries with significant HIV burdens are now poised to achieve epidemic control by 2020. Millions of babies have been given a chance at healthy lives. Whole societies have been empowered to flourish and AIDS-related deaths have declined by nearly 50 percent globally, since their peak in 2005.

agreement facilitated technical cooperation and collaboration to permit the construction of wells in the Rupununi.

Additionally, it allowed the transfer of technical knowledge, administrative capacity, and other information from Brazilian experts to Guyanese. That important aspect of the arrangements would allow Guyanese to maintain the wells, and even build additional wells in the future.

At the time that government announced the collaborative undertaking with Brazil, The Toshao of Aishalton Village, Michael Thomas said that residents in the areas slated to benefit have welcomed the initiative, even as he noted that it will bring significant relief. The Toshao said too, “I would like to thank the Government for the initiative placed in our region and our sub-district and in our villages. We are glad for the 8 wells that will be drilled in our villages. We are going to benefit tremendously and the residents are already excited to have access to water.

We have been suffering for a very long time in the Rupununi where we have to divert creeks in the dry season but after a time, that runs out of water too, so this initiative is going to benefit us.”

Guyana’s Ambassador to Brazil George Talbot had told the media that the Brazilian authorities were in the process of preparing the framework under which Brazil would build the wells. Alluding to capacity-building, the Ambassador had said, “The element of capacity training is very important on this project which makes more than just a single intervention of drilling and leaving and building of capacity so that

in the future Guyanese will be able to perform the works.”

It was projected, at that time that the project of eight wells would be completed in four months. However, obviously, the project, which commenced drilling on October 1, has been finished before the projected completion-date; a commendable achievement.

At the handing-over ceremony on Wednesday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said that while the project faced challenges, it was successfully completed on time because of inter-agency cooperation. He iterated that this project is a concrete example of government’s commitment to providing all citizens with a good life regardless of where they live.

Among many officials present at the ceremony was Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge. The minister emphasised the importance of cooperation between Guyana and other countries. He pointed out that this achievement is a direct result of the good relations, cooperation, and collaboration between Guyana and neighbouring Brazil.

He noted too, that the project comes at a time when Guyana and Brazil are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations.

While the people of the Rupununi celebrate, all Guyanese should recognise the efforts and evident results of such efforts by the administration. Including the conception, initiation, and completion of projects that will benefit citizens. Not to mention successful foreign policy, which have, and will continue to produce cooperative undertakings to the advantage of our country.

World AIDS Day: Approximately 8,200 people are living with HIV in Guyana Between September 2014 and September 2017, more than 20,000 individuals received HIV tests as a result of PEPFAR-supported programmes. Individuals testing positive were linked to HIV care and treatment services. Each year, the total number of patients receiving treatment has steadily increased. At the end of September 2017, more than 3,000 patients were enrolled in care at PEPFAR-supported facilities across Guyana. We also contributed to putting approximately 1,100 Guyanese on treatment over the past two years, through the procurement of HIV medication.

I commend the Government of Guyana for adopting the “Treat All” policy – the global standard for HIV treatment that says every individual who tests positive for HIV should rapidly initiate antiretroviral treatment. In June, Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence sent a communique to all treatment sites emphasising the importance of this policy. We applaud this important step forward in ensuring that Treat All is the practice throughout Guyana. In addition, I celebrate the leadership of First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger, who is working to elevate awareness of and attention to HIV in the Caribbean. Via the Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network, the First Lady has become a leading advocate on important issues, including mother-to-child HIV transmission, adolescent pregnancy, and violence against women and girls. I hope the First Lady’s involvement can help to raise the profile of the many challenges related to the country’s HIV epidemic.

Today, the HIV response is guided by the UNAIDS’

“90-90-90” metric, which aims for 90 percent of those infected with HIV to know their status; 90 percent of those diagnosed to be on antiretroviral treatment; (ART), and 90 percent of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression. In Guyana, according to the UNAIDS 2017 report, 68 percent of people living with HIV know their status. Of those, 84 percent are on ART. And, of those, 82 percent have achieved viral suppression. While we should celebrate the achievements in treatment coverage and viral suppression, it is estimated that there are over 2,600 people in Guyana who have not yet been diagnosed. And so, it is fitting that the theme for this global World AIDS Day is “Know Your Status.” As the adage goes, “knowledge is power.” In the case of HIV/AIDS, the knowledge of one’s HIV status empowers that individual to initiate treatment that enables a long, healthy life. Even if they are not sick, those who test positive should immediately start a treatment regimen in order to maintain their health. If people consistently take their prescribed medications, they can achieve viral suppression. This is the path to effective epidemic control — and a Guyana free of HIV/AIDS. On this World AIDS Day, I hope you take a moment to think about those living with HIV and AIDS in Guyana. Wear a red ribbon or red clothing; and, while we stand in solidarity with those living with HIV, ensure that you know your own status as well, no matter your lifestyle and no matter your gender. Together, we can end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Guyana.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, December 1, 2018

What does the Scotiabank ‘Hint to Baniba mek acquisition mean for Guyana Quashiba tek notice’ Dear Editor,

B

Y now it should be clear that Scotiabank Guyana and eight other Caribbean territories have been bought/acquired by Republic Financial Holdings Ltd, a Trinidad-based company and the transfer/ integration is being held back by regulatory requirements and consensus.

People--both staff and citizens--are seeing this as a shock.

Some may be saying that this is business as usual and it’s how the corporate world works. What is being overlooked is the significance this has to the Guyanese economy and people.

There are a few who happen to glance at the underlying strategy and are asking important questions as to why would Scotiabank do this. Why would the bank sell assets significantly under the market value? Why sell to RBL and not another foreign bank trying to enter the Caribbean market? Surely, first world banks would have paid more for such a profitable opportunity. Why leave Guyana when they are on the verge of significant oil revenues?

To answer this, you need to use the age-old cliché of follow the money. Who has the most to gain from this acquisition?

Who were the players involved in the negotiation of this deal, specifically for Guyana? How is this going to impact business and the economy?

If you dissect the acquisition into small bits, it is clear that the ultimate winner of this is the twin-Island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. When the acquisition is completed, RBL Guyana will own more than 50% of the banking market for the entire Guyana. Think about that for a second. All your loans, credit, debt and other facilities will be controlled by RBL and in turn all the profits generated will be moved from Guyana and enter Trinidad.

The private sector of Guyana is already highly controlled by Trinidad entities, which means again that local Trinidad-owned businesses will be doing further business with a Trinidad-owned bank. Additionally, when the oil money starts to flow, most of those monies will more than likely be channelled through RBL.

The Guyanese people will be further cut out of the possibility of having the “better life” promised as money generated from the local economy keeps going to Trinidad. Who were the key players involved in the acquisition that we know of? From the Guyana end, both Scotiabank and RBL Guyana are headed by Trinidadians. At the Trinidad end, more Trinidadians. Is this all coincidence? What about the government and hierarchy of Trinidad, who by the way are going through a strong economic recession at present; did they have knowledge? Is this their way of attempting to control Guyana’s oil sector? Again, follow the money and the answers always become clear as day.

Interestingly enough, the government of Antigua & Barbuda has taken a strong stance against the acquisition. They are insisting that Scotiabank sell to a “local bank,” more than likely to save themselves from what will happen to Guyana, i.e. the further drain of wealth from the country. What will our Guyanese government do? As is, they themselves have begun to ask questions; but will they take a similar stance and see past the smoke and mirrors Trinidad has erected? What will the Ministry of Labour do? Will they advocate for Scotiabank staff who do not want to be a part of this transition fiasco to get their well-earned and deserved severance? What about the customers who do not want to move their facilities to RBL or the customers whom Scotiabank has convinced over the years to move their facilities from RBL to Scotiabank; what are they supposed to do?

What about specialty products such as Mastercard or Scotia’s Internet banking? What competitive alternatives are available to our loyal customers?

Only time will tell, but the wise know that money always supersedes what is right and just. Fortunately, integrity is something that money can’t buy and we Scotiabankers are full of integrity. This opinion is being shared, so that the people of Guyana can begin to ask questions of their own.

One People, One Nation, One Destiny. What impacts us at Scotiabank will impact us all…

Regards Concerned customers, Scotiabank

UG needs academic advisers Dear Editor,

A

BOUT three weeks ago, the curtains closed on the 52nd Annual Convocation of the University of Guyana (UoG) – a joyous occasion for many parents and students.

In this humble letter to the public I am here to represent the tears of disappointment and broken trust shed by those on the other side of that curtain. This institution failed to exercise the care and concern for its students, letting down parents and others who invested so much time and in their future and paid fees on behalf of those students in good faith. Where one would expect that a noble academic institution would want everyone to succeed, even weak and failing students because the more that succeed and graduate, the more qualified citizen resources Guyana would get to help the nations as a whole to succeed. But my experience and that of others indicate this lofty sentiment is not shared by the administration of UG. Both its lecturers and administration officials this past semester acted more with antagonism than affection for helping such students in their time of need. Mr. Editor, today my purpose is not to dwell on that, as I know your media house has more than enough resources to interview the current, past, and recent graduates of UG about such grave problems, as you may have done many times in the past. Today, I am humbly bringing a potential solution for a public discussion.

It is something that UG lacks at present: academic advisers. UG miserably lags behind many colleges and universities around the world, who make the services of academic advisers available to their students throughout their academic life, ensuring that students appreciate the need to meet regularly with these knowledgeable education specialists. When such advisers are assigned to students by their academic major, students can rely upon these advisers who will likely be well versed in specific departments’ policies and programmes; and be in a position to help them work through any issues that may arise, such as those that accounted for some of my colleagues being at the gradua-

tion in tears of disappointment in themselves and the institution.

Indeed, some lecturers attempted to fill this role as academic adviser, but only for their favourite few or, as is commonly known on UG campus, to students whom they exploited– a sad situation that continues unabated despite media attempts to highlight it in recent years. Even if the university disciplines or removes predatory lecturers, department heads or administration officials, what recompense or justice do victims get.

But apart from that, even among those who graduated, there can be no doubt that they could have been more successful in benefiting from their degree and working for a company/building one on their own that best matches their capabilities. If only students could have benefitted from an honest assessment of their academic and interpersonal strengths, weaknesses and interests and were given counsel accordingly by an academic adviser. UG seems to not care about such an opportunity to add value for its student body pre or post-graduation. Where students need help to raise their GPA to be qualify for graduation or to pass courses that their advisor knows would be essential to a best career path for them. Their adviser would be able to assist/advise them on the respective courses that they need to complete in each semester that will put them in a better position/ advantage so that they strive to achieve their degrees in the most efficient manner.

Based on the actual heart-breaking cases about which I have heard, if the university were really interested in making Guyana, a more educated nation; it would have done more to help every student achieve graduation by making course grades available to academic advisers, who could then be assigned to those students to monitor their performance and suggest remedial actions (e.g. tutoring services or remedial courses to help correct any deficiencies in certain subjects) that could be taken before it was too late. Sadly, for a number of my student peers, it was too late.

Regards Concerned Graduate - UG

Dear Editor,

W

ELL, it is ‘belly wuk’ time at the Georgetown municipality as they say here in Guyana. Now that sales have dropped at the travel agencies around City Hall, with the ‘King and Queen’ and their entourage having to cut back on their constant official travels with money no longer ‘deh dora dora’, it is logical to assume that business must have skyrocketed at the nearby pharmacies for Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol, Imodium A-D and other antidiarrhoeal medications, and bathroom tissue. Dem latrine at City Hall full, full, full. With the headlines screaming in one newspaper ‘Criminal charges recommended against top city officials,’ couple well persons there ‘ginching’ and ‘deh pon plimpla’. People no longer doing things ‘braddar’.

Some officers stop driving their fancy SUVs to work and catching bus instead.

The big question is, ‘What does Santa Kennard have in his bag of goodies for them?’

Will they be reporting shortly to SOCU headquarters rather than to the grand old fairytale building as old and dilapidated as it is?

There have been quite a few scandals at City Hall before, but this is the Grand Daddy of them all. Never before has there been so much greed, vice, corruption, arrogance and venality. There had to be a day of reckoning coming there. Then all of the nieces, nephews, daughtersin-law, cousins, girlfriends of the ‘Tin Gods’ there must be wondering if their ‘dance done’, as they know that they were only featherbedding and destroying the finances of council whilst doing nothing productive.

It is the hope of the citi-

zenry that a full audit of the finances of the council for the years gone by, will be ordered by the commission, as it is clear that what was uncovered by the inquiry is merely the tip of the iceberg.

‘Hint to Baniba mek Quashiba tek notice’. And will the investigation be widened to outside of Guyana, to where large sums of money have been transferred, properties acquired and businesses invested in? Will there be a proper investigation into the parking meter scandal?

But one wonders if only the intractable officers will be dealt with for their misdeeds, or whether the reprobate councillors who were the policy-makers, who knowingly condoned the many wrongdoings, who served on the Finance Committee and signed approving vouchers totalling billions of dollars for contractors who were unfit, for excessive travel, for goods that did not go through the tender process, and who personally added to the nepotism, cronyism and favouritism at City Hall will also be dealt with? To add insult to injury, some of these very persons have been re-elected to serve on the new Finance Committee. How could this be? Do we want a continuation of the financial malfeasance that has existed over the last three years? It will be the same persons holding the purse strings of the city. So sad!

Everyone had been hoping that when rotten apples are removed from the barrel, there would have been a new day at City Hall?

But it seems as though the council will never learn from its mistakes. Making the same mistakes, over and over again, is a source of unremitting pleasure for the Fathers and Mothers of our capital city.

Regards Kwasi Sanderson

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President Granger to return to Cuba on Tuesday HEAD of State, President David Granger will be returning to Cuba next Tuesday to continue treatment for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said on Friday at a post-cabinet press briefing.

Harmon also said that President Granger remains “in command” and “in charge of the business of the State” despite a reduced workload following his close to three-week visit for medical tests and subsequent treatment. The President’s decision to reduce his workload, his office earlier revealed, was “consistent with advice from his team of specialist doctors at the Centro de Investigaciones Medico Quirugicas (CIMEQ) in Havana, Cuba”.

President David Granger Minister Harmon said President Granger heeded advice by his Cuban medical specialists to scale back public engagements. Adding that the President is having meetings and is giving directions, Minister Harmon said the treatment regime will require him visiting Cuba on a number of occasions.

Minister Harmon also said that the President has conveyed his appreciation, to all who have expressed concerns about his illness and wished him a full recovery.

The minister explained that the government “continues to work assiduously to ensure that his visions are kept. The ‘Green’ State Development Strategy, which is a brainchild of his that we continue to push…

Our concern for climate change, our concern for the security of our borders, our concern for the safety and happiness of our people are all principal concerns of our President and he continues to send notes and memoranda in that regard.”

President David Granger, along with First Lady Sandra Granger, returned to Guyana from Cuba on November 20, 2018, after spending about three weeks there.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 1, 2018

Mahdia eager for solar farm … gov’t pumps $600M into energy diversification

… new mayor sees economic spin-offs NEWLY-ELECTED Mayor of the town of Mahdia, David Adams says the town’s economic development will be boosted once its electricity supply increases with the establishment of a solar farm at the Potaro-Siparuni Town.

In the 2019 budget, government has allocated a sum of $600M for the Energy Matrix Diversification Programme which is being undertaken by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

Among the projects budgeted for under the programme is the installation of mini-grid systems at Mahdia as well as two other towns; Lethem in the Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu Region and Bartica in the CuyuniMazaruni Region. ”Yes we are ready for the solar farm project, with it, our power supply would increase to 24 hours,” Adams, who was elected on Friday, told the Guyana Chronicle.

He said that residents have been looking forward to the project’s fruition. At the moment the community receives power from midday daily until 08:00hrs the following morning.

“It’s a very good thing, ever since electricity was introduced to Mahdia it has always been rationed,” said Carol Baptista who grew up at the town. She said that since the area is now a town, “it’s time for improvement.”

She said currently, areas

which receive electricity are Mahdia Plateau, homes in the vicinity of the airstrip, parts of the nearby village of Campbelltown and Republic Avenue.

The project, among other listed under the ministry’s diversification programme, will see improved reliability and energy security as well as improved capacities. Government will seek financing for the project from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

At the moment, the $264M mega-farm at the town of Mabaruma in the Barima Waini Region at Khan’s Hill is being prepared for switching on as synchronisation of the system with the power grid there is being finalised by the contractor. That project is the first of its size in Guyana.

The project will see power being provided to the town and the surrounding areas by the Mabaruma Power Company for approximately 17 hours daily benefiting over 700 residents and commercial consumers.

The solar farms, in addition to powering the towns, will reduce the power compa-

Newly elected Mayor of Mahdia, David Adams as he was sworn in as the town’s first chief citizen on Friday ny’s reliance on fossil fuels. batteries among other forms According to the National of infrastructure. The docuEnergy Policy of Guyana ment states that government (draft) green paper, the gov- will support the development ernment intends to provide of independent micro grids support and facilitate the by hinterland communities.

Hinterland Electrification It was noted too that Co. Inc. (HECI), and the programme support will Ministry of Public Infra- prioritise electrification structure to expand and im- for productive uses and key prove its programmes in social services. The main rural electrification with an sectors include health, edemphasis on micro-grids, so- ucation, water supply and lar photovoltaic systems with agriculture.

U.S. fugitive ordered extradited

PRINCIPAL Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Friday ordered that A United States (U.S.) fugitive Troy Anthony Thomas be extradited to face a charge of murder in that country.

Thomas, of 32nd Street, South Ozone Park, Queens, New York, U.S.A., had tried to fight the extradition. He was represented by Attorneys Nigel Hughes, Bernard Da Silva and Darren Wade. The attorneys contended that the defendant was not Troy Anthony Thomas, but Marvin Williams.

However, the magistrate in her ruling noted that the defendant signed police and court documents as Troy Thomas. In court, he also answers to Troy Thomas; additionally, U.S. court documents revealed that his date of birth matches the same he gave the local court.

The magistrate highlighted that there is a valid extradi-

tion treaty between the United States and Guyana; and she stated that Judge Kiyo Matsumoto in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York had made this ruling in the case against Guyanese Marcus Bisram, who too had tried to fight off being extradited here to face a murder charge .

The United States signed an extradition treaty with the United Kingdom on December 22, 1931, while Guyana was under the United Kingdom’s control and the treaty remained in effect after Guyana obtained its independence from the United Kingdom.

It was noted too that the United States Executive Branch has unambiguously stated that it considers the treaty to be in effect.

However, the magistrate explained that Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has the final say as to whether Thom-

Troy Anthony Thomas as is to be extradited. The police had said that an intelligence-led operation which commenced on January 31, 2018, resulted in the arrest of Thomas who allegedly murdered Keith Frank on December 11, 2011.

Keith Frank, who had moved to Queens from Guyana at age 12, died shortly before his 21st birthday. The New York Police Department suspected that Thomas shot him once in the torso at around 4:45 a.m. Dec. 11, 2011. At the time, Frank’s daughter was just eight months old.

Thomas had fled the U.S. after an arrest warrant was issued for him

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 1, 2018

$376.9M pump station commissioned at Buxton CONSTANT flooding within the East Coast Demerara villages of Buxton and Friendship during heavy rainfall will now be drastically reduced with the commissioning of a new $376.9M pump station at Buxton on Friday.

The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Flood Risk Management Project, has commissioned five pumps to date, starting with the one at Lusignan in April.

The Friendship-Vigilance Pump Station was done in May, and the Enmore pump in July. The Ministry of Agriculture, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), commissioned one at Three Friends, on the Essequibo Coast in October.

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder said the commissioning of pump stations is in keeping with the holistic approach to drainage and irrigation, so as to create an enabling and sustainable system by increasing Guyana’s resilience to floods and droughts.

The pump, he said, will pull off the excess water during heavy rains from the drainage network and discharge it directly into the Atlantic Ocean. He said that the pump’s discharge capacity has been increased dramatically, from the approximately 80 cubic feet of water per second under the former system, to 200 cubic feet of water per second now.

Its catchment area, the minister said, is the villages of Buxton and Friendship, which were traditionally dependent on the cultivation of sugarcane, ground provision, cash crops, and fruits.

“It covers some 712 hectares (1,760 acres),” he said. “Furthermore, it will benefit 859 households in Buxton and a proportion of the 552 households in Friendship.”

The government, Minister Holder said, believes in the development of the village economy through infrastructural projects such as drainage, which play an important role in the stability and prosperity of the country as a whole, and our coastal zone in particular.

In Guyana, he said, there is an enormous need for infrastructural investment in drainage and irrigation, the estimated cost

of which, according to the World Bank, is approximately US$123M. Underscoring that Guyana’s main economic activities are concentrated on its low-lying coastal zone, Minister Holder said the mere idea that this area is some six feet below mean sea level makes the country particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change.

“It is anticipated to have potentially disastrous impacts on the economic viability of the agricultural sector,” he said, adding: “The potential negative impacts are significant, with both direct and indirect impacts on Guyana’s economy, due to the high risk placed on both agricultural activities and human settlements.”

One study, he said, has even put the maximum direct loss from extreme climatic events at approximately US$300M. Noting that in the three short years since taking office, the coalition government has experienced at least two episodes of extensive flooding, and a drought, Minister Holder said what this means, therefore, is that Guyana needs to be able to adapt quickly to climatic changes where water resources management is concerned.

He said: “We must enforce measures to withstand the effects of climate change in two distinct ways: Through mitigation of its effects, or long-term adaptation to minimise its effects, while ensuring continued agricultural development.”

He said that his ministry is currently implementing the Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development Project (RAID) in small-scale farming communities in Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Five (Mahaica- Berbice), and that Buxton is one of the beneficiaries.

Said he in closing: “The Government of Guyana cares for the people of Buxton, and wishes to give you all the supporting infrastructure required for you to experience the good life.

“We will continue to work closely and provide necessary support to farmers and the entire Buxton-Friendship community.”

The $376.9M pump station commissioned at Buxton on Friday

9

–– will help ease flooding there, Friendship during heavy rains

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder activates the new pump during the commissioning ceremony

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Chase-Green says happy to hand over Mayorship

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 1, 2018

–– to someone younger OUTGOING City Mayor Patricia Chase-Green said Friday that she continues to stand proud, with her head held high, due to the enormous support that she has received from her constituency despite all of the negativity that has been heaped on her lately.

She told the Guyana Chronicle before the start of Friday’s mayoral elections and swearing in ceremony, that she was happy to be handing over the ‘baton’ to someone who is younger, and whom she can provide guidance to. Ubraj Narine of the PNC/R emerged the winner of the mayoral election.

Chase-Green said at no time was she vying to be mayor for the new council; but she decided to run for her constituency because the people requested that she continues to be their representative.

“I think it is time we have a matured party, the PNC, of which I represent. We’re all talking about youths, and I think it is the best time as we transition into 2019 that

someone youthful… I’m still in the council to give guidance but I will represent my constituency, which is Constituency 12, and you know this came out with the largest amount of votes,” she expressed.

She further told this publication that despite all of the negativity she received, along with the disgraceful remarks that were made about her; her constituency represented her to the highest. “So today, I am happy to hand over the baton to someone who I will be able to give guidance to, if needed.”

In offering congratulatory remarks to the new mayor, Chase-Green pledged to support Narine 100 per cent, but not before offering him some advice. “Not every smile, not every skin teeth is a laugh; not every shut-eye is sleep, and there are many wolves in sheep’s clothing. I’m telling you that from experience. You will sit around a horseshoe table with 29 people and you will gain your experience over the days.”

Apart from representing Constitu-

Outgoing Mayor Patricia Chase-Green offering some advice to Mayor-elect Ubraj Narine following the mayoral elections. ency 12, Chase-Green was also appointed Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee on Friday, with Councillor Oscar Clarke returning as Chairman.

The five other members of that committee are Councillors Alfred Mentore, Ivelaw Henry, Trichria Richards, Bishram Kuppen and Yvonne Ferguson.

Clean-energy plan to soon gather steam

–– saving gov’t some $114M in costs annually

THE government has plans to annually and help discourage criminal activities. save some $114M in energy costs, while Minister Jordan told the House that by boosting local capacity in solar energy the first quarter of next year, the Hosororo with its focus on cleaner, safer and more Hydropower Project and the Mabaruma PV efficient energy options.

Farm will be ready to be commissioned.

The main objective of the plan is to The Hosororo project, he revealed, will further propel the country into an ener- entail the construction of a 20kW run-ofgy-efficient and ‘green’ future, by relying the-river-type micro-hydropower plant; it primarily on renewable energy to meet its will also ensure that the community and needs. nearby villages receive electricity for adThe presentation of Budget 2019 last ditional hours.

Monday outlined that 400 stand-alone so“Feasibility studies,” he said, “have lar- powered streetlamps will be installed been completed for the installation of solar across the country in the coming year, PV farms in the townships of Bartica, Letwhile some 80 government buildings will hem and Mahdia.” be outfitted with Addressing the solar photovoltaic United Nations (UN) (PV) panels.

Summit on SustainIt also revealed able Development in that in 2018 alone, New York in 2015, over 10,000 LED President David lights, 1,000 motion Granger reaffirmed sensors, as well as Guyana’s commitPV panels were inment to the 2030 stalled countrywide; Agenda for Sustainthis represents some able Development.

1,942 kW of addiGoal seven of the tional solar energy UN’s 17 Sustainable capacity.

Development Goals A c c o r d i n g t o Stand-alone solar-powered streetlamps (SDGs) deals with the Finance Minister accessibility to affordWinston Jordan, the able, reliable, sustainstand-alone, solar- powered streetlamps, able, clean and modern energy for all by once installed, will replace the previously 2030; and Guyana is aiming to achieve this. common 250W high-pressure sodium As such, areas where there were not vapour (HPSV) lamps and 175W mercury enough street lights for years will become the vapour lamps across the country, thereby key focus of the government in the new year, saving the government millions of dollars through projects such as the $750M Adequate in the process.

Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme.

Features of this type of streetlamp Under the programme, apart from include: harnessing the sun’s energy by the construction of core houses for sinconverting it into electricity; storing this gle-family households and families living energy throughout the day; less mainte- in uninhabitable homes, communities such nance and no external wires, therefore as Sophia will receive ample street lights minimising the risk of accidents. among other communal facilities.

The LED lights, meanwhile, are waAn additional $780M has been alloter-resistant; burn less energy; operate on cated for consolidation efforts across the very low voltages; work well in a wide rest of the country, and will include the range of operating temperatures; are envi- procurement and installation of 100 LED ronmentally safe; improve highway visuals; street lamps.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 1, 2018

APNU restates commitment to youths … lauds election of youthful mayors

A PARTNERSHIP for National Unity (APNU) said it is committed to ensuring that the young people of Guyana get the opportunities to lead and to enjoy the good life.

“Our Partnership recognises that young people are the trustees of our nation’s future and they deserve to be given the best opportunities to be educated, employed and most of all empowered,” APNU said in a statement.

The coalition calls atten-

Mayor-elect of Bartica Mr. Gifford Marshall

tion to the more than one hundred youth candidates who participated in the recently concluded Local Government Elections. “Further, we note with pride that most of them have now been elected to serve at the municipal, district and neighbourhood levels of government.”

The party congratulated the Mayor-elect of the City of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine; Mayor-elect of Bartica Mr. Gifford Marshall and Mayor-elect of Linden Ms.

Tower Suites owner extradited to US for cocaine trafficking

GUYANESE businessman Shervington “Big Head” Lovell who was arrested for drug trafficking in Jamaica in October was extradited to the United States on Friday, local law enforcement sources have confirmed.

Reports are that the businessman, along with Agimero Castro and Surinamese Steven Antonius were hauled in by the authorities in Jamaica in October and were transported to the US on Friday. The trio was held for violating United States

Construction worker remanded for simple larceny A CONSTRUCTION worker was on Friday remanded to prison on a simple larceny charge.

Adams Dounce, 26 of old Road Craig, East Bank Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The charge alleged that on November 7, 2018 at Agricola Public Road, Dounce robbed Syaid Hamid of one gold chain valued $250,000 and $120,000 cash.

The father of two denied the charge which was read out to him in court by the magistrate.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne objected to bail due to seriousness of the offence.

Dounce was remanded to prison by the magistrate.

The matter was adjourned to December 12, 2018.

maritime drug enforcement laws in Guyana, Jamaica, Colombia and elsewhere, court documents indicate.

The US has already started making moves to seize the assets of Lovell. According to court documents, the businessman was allegedly part of a ring of drug traffickers who were conspiring to ship 624 kilos of cocaine to the Netherlands via the Azores islands, an operation United States investigators said was planned and partly funded with money from South Africa.

According to the Grand Jury Indictment, the US Government asked that the defendants forfeit, among other things, all real estate, including any rights, titles and interests in the whole of any lot or tract of land,

any drug paraphernalia and any firearm used or intended to be used to facilitate the sale, receipt, possession or concealment of property and proceeds traceable to such property.

The indictment also says the government will seek forfeiture of any other property of the defendants up to the value of the above described forfeitable property.

Locally, the authorities have stated that Lovell, who was arrested once by the police here during several crimes in 2010, owns seven properties in Guyana and one in Jamaica. Lovell is said to be the owner of several hotels here, including the Tower Suites on Main Street and a posh facility in Berbice which is equipped with a gym.

Mayor-elect of Linden Ms. Waneka Arrindell Waneka Arrindell (all young persons under 40 years old) and wish them every success during their tenure at the helm of their municipalities. “APNU recognises the importance of empowering our youth. The APNU+AFC government is mainstreaming youth development. We have promulgated a National Youth Policy which has been adopted by the National As-

Mayor-elect of the City of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine sembly. The ‘Policy’ aims at odious practice of removing accelerating youth involve- elected municipalities and inment in decision making, stalling the ignominious interimproving their social, emo- im management committees.” tional and cultural skills and According to APNU, producing an enterprising and these local elections have educated youth population. empowered “our youth, Our coalition government energised our communities has re-invigorated the system and eliminated one of the of local democracy. We have sources of strife and stagended the previous regime’s nation.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 1, 2018

Min. Hughes praises budget measures for tourism sector MINISTER of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes has praised the budget measures that cater for the tourism sector.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle recently, the minister, who was previously responsible for tourism, said: “There are so many concessions that are available now in this budget for the private sector-- especially in the tourism sector.”

The minister explained that one bugbear to real advancement of the tourism sector is the high cost of

investment; but to this end, she noted that budget 2019 provides timely concessions for businesses, property and vehicles.

During his presentation on the proposed 2019 National Budget on Monday, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan highlighted some of the measures that cater for development of the tourism sector in Guyana.

He reminded the House that in 2018, he had alluded to the critical nature of the transportation sector in the economy; as such, the rates

of the Excise Tax on overland transportation imported for tourism purposes in the interior/rural and riverine areas were reduced, thereby bringing relief to businesses operating in those areas-especially in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine.

For 2019, Jordan said: “I now propose to add Region 10 to the regions identified to benefit from this concession.”

The Private Sector Commission expressed its appreciation that plans were announced for construction

of the Linden-Lethem road; this will ease the woes of businesses and residents dependent on this corridor for their livelihoods.

Additionally, Minister Jordan proposed the introduction of a tax credit equal to 75 per cent of income and corporate taxes payable on profits from tourism activities, for persons investing in the sector in Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10.

And he proposed exemption of payment of import duties and excise taxes, motor buses with twelve (12) or more seats, not exceeding four years old. These must, however, be purchased and used exclusively for the transportation of tourists anywhere in Guyana, and the owners must be registered and licensed as a tourism operator by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).

For this measure specifically, he said: “The GTA will also verify that the said operators satisfy the registra-

tion and licensing conditions for five years, subsequent to receiving any concessions, and all such vehicles will have painted stripes similar to the zoning for minibuses.”

Hotels in the named regions will also benefit from the proposed amendments to the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax (In Aid of Industry) Act that will allow the grant of wear and tear and initial allowances on hotel buildings.

Lauding these measures and the continual thrust to develop the tourism industry as a premier sustainable industry, the former tourism minister said: “Those are the kinds of real things that I think will spur on growth.”

Though the aforementioned measures are specific to the tourism sector, all of the budgetary measures, according to Minister Jordan, will result in a net loss of revenue of $3.5 billion.

But according to Hughes, “The fact that the minister

Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes has lost some $3.5B through these measures, just goes to show that $3.5B comes back to real people-- in their pockets.”

Jordan too had said that the money would “clearly redound to the benefit of the taxpayers.”

Teen remanded for attempted murder

A TEENAGER was on Friday charged with attempted murder after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The 17-year-old resident of Alexander Village was not required to plead to the matter as it is indictable.

The particulars of the charge states that on November 10, 2018 at Campbell Head, Kaneville Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), the teen unlawfully wounded Ryan Sumire with intent to commit murder.

The teen was represented by Attor-

ney-at-Law Stanley Moore, who respectfully applied for a bail application.

Police Prosecutor, Neville Jeffers objected to bail due to the seriousness of the offence and the penalty that it attracts and also the fact that a gun was used to commit the act.

The court heard that the teen allegedly shot the victim two times to his chest. He was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation (GPHC) and admitted as a patient.

However the Magistrate refused bail and the teen was remanded to prison until December 18, 2018.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 1, 2018

STEM Guyana welcomes focus directed to ICT, Robotics

FOUNDER of STEM Guyana, Karen Abrams, has said that she welcomes the initiatives outlined in the 2019 National Budget that are geared towards the development of youth through technology.

Speaking exclusively to the Guyana Chronicle, Abrams said: “I do believe that the government has focused on bringing technology to young people… and providing resources that will help to prepare them.”

Among these moves to provide the nexus between young people and technology, Finance Minister Winston Jordan highlighted that there is the exemption from Value Added Tax (VAT) on Educational Robot Kits, in order to boost the `Reading & Robotics’ programme directed to children in communities all across Guyana.

Also, more hinterland communities-- including Kaikan, Paruima and Jawalla in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Kato in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni)--will be connected to the e-governance network through the installation of Information Communication Technology (ICT) hubs.

The co-founder noted that expansion of the ICT hubs would be “extremely helpful” to the work being done

by STEM Guyana.

In fact, it was reported that from December, STEM Guyana will be engaging in training sessions for outof-school youth in Regions Two, Three Six and 10.

These sessions, according to Abrams, will see members of the Department of Youth being trained by the organisation in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Robotics and Coding/ computer programming.

through competitions to get them “excited”, Abrams said; but she also noted that revising the current curriculum to include robotics could be “ideal”.

Though Abrams noted that she has not perused all the initiatives in their entirety, for the few that she has

STEM Guyana Founder Karen Abrams Abrams explained that this training relies on use of the ICT hubs, which have been a huge boost to delivery of services in these areas.

“A lot of work needs to be done, but for 2019 we have some more resources [to do the work],” Karen related.

Added to the measures being provided, government is also exploring the possibility of integrating a greater extent of technology into the education sector.

In fact, Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry told this newspaper: “We will be introducing robotics across primary schools and selected secondary schools; we will expand the SMART classrooms programme and we will be looking at artificial intelligence (AI) and animation and things that we have not done, or attempted in the past.”

Commenting on the possible integration of robotics into schools curricula, Abrams shared that she believes this is a great idea.

What STEM Guyana has been trying to do was engage youth after school and

Malicious wounding case against alleged Stabroek Market arsonist dismissed A 23-YEAR-OLD woman, who is the main suspect in the fire that was allegedly set at the Stabroek Market Wharf, appeared on Friday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for unlawfully wounding her common law husband.

Quiana Major of Tucville, Georgetown, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charge, which alleged that on November 19, 2018, at Stabroek Market Wharf, she unlawfully and maliciously wounded Compton Ferreira.

The victim did not wish to proceed with the matter and as such the magistrate had no choice but to dismiss the matter against the defendant.

The court heard that Major stabbed Ferreira with a knife; however, the man explained that it was a “slight wound.”

According to reports, following an argument with her partner, the irate woman allegedly set alight a stall aback the Stabroek Market. The blaze razed several other stalls leaving millions in losses in its wake.

Reports are that the fire began sometime between 22:00hrs and midnight that Monday.

The investigation into the fire is still ongoing.

knowledge of, she is generally pleased with the measures being undertaken.

Minister Jordan also told the House during his presentation that the government will continue to implement its targeted interventions; these are geared at “stimulating innovation, including

coding and programming camps, robotics camps, Girls in ICT programmes and Hackathons.”

He said that under the foregoing programmes the youth population will continue to benefit from investments in the ICT sector, as many of them have already

begun to demonstrate their affinity for technology and desire to innovate.

“The investments in all of those groups are extremely important,” Abrams said and affirmed: “I support anything that supports young people for the preparation of the future.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 1, 2018

Alleged stabber Ivor Gillis remanded

AN East La Penitence resident on Friday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was remanded to prison for allegedly stabbing his reputed wife several times about her body with a scissors.

Ivor Gillis of Middle Street, East La Penitence, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charge which stated that on November 26, 2018 at East La Penitence, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded the woman with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail based on the seriousIvor Gillis ness of the offence and the penalty it attracts.

According to facts, on day in question, the victim came home from work and was relaxing in a chair when the defendant came home and told her he would like to speak to her concerning the relationship. She reportedly ignored him and went to have a bath. The court heard that the defendant then follow her and started to argue. However, the victim still continued with her bath and after doing so she changed her clothes and went back in the chair and sat.

The defendant reportedly started talking to her again and she continued to ignore him as such he picked up a pair of scissors a stabbed the woman several times about her body. She was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she was admitted as a patient.

Bail was refused by the magistrate and Gillis was remanded to prison.

The matter was adjourned to December 7, 2018.

Clayton Allen jailed for 36 months … for fraud related to obtaining vehicles by uttering a forged cheque

A MAN who is well known to the court for numerous fraud charges was on Friday found guilty on one and sentenced to 36 months imprisonment after he appeared before magistrate Fabayo Azore in Georgetown Magistrates’ Court Clayton Allen, 56 of South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, first appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan where he denied the allegation when the charge was read to him.

The charge alleged that between December 2 to December 13, 2016, in Clayton Allen Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained from Jeetendra Ram of Fantasy Auto Sales six motorcars valued $26,300,000 under or by virtue of forged Republic Bank Ltd. managers cheque #GDAA 0108766 in favour of Fantasy Auto Sales.

Magistrate Azore in her ruling told the court that she is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that police prosecution has made its case.

She added that she also believed the evidence of the prosecution’s witnesses, which was led by Police Prosecution.

Before the sentence was handed down, Allen asked the magistrate to be lenient when passing sentence because he is a father of seven and only breadwinner for his family.

However Allen was sentence to 36 months imprisonment.

According to facts, the two parties entered into an agreement of sale to purchase six motorcars from Ram’s company and he paid with a manger’s cheque. The court heard that when Ram tried to encash the cheque he realised that it was forged.

Allen also has matters in different courts pertaining to similar offences.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, December 1, 2018

Islam, Shakib make West Indies toil

(CMC) – OPENER Shadman Islam struck a half-century on debut while captain Shakib-al-Hasan notched his 24th, but West Indies shared honours on day one of the second and final Test here yesterday.

Opting to bat first, the hosts ended the day at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on 259 for five, Shadman top-scoring with 76, and Shakib unbeaten at the close on 55.

Shakib was partnered

by Mahmudullah on 31 not out while Mominul Haque and Mohammed Mithun both scored 29.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo proved the most successful West Indies bowler with two for 69 as the visiting bowlers kept Bangladesh in check without ever taking command of the crucial contest.

Bangladesh started cautiously with Shadman and Soumya Sarkar (19) putting on 42 before parttime off-spinner Roston Chase, introduced from as early as the fourth over, got the breakthrough on the stroke of the first hour, when he had left-hander Sarkar caught at slip by Shai Hope, driving at a wide ball.

Mominul, who struck two fours in a busy 46-

ball innings, arrived to join Shadman in a 45-run second-wicket stand which saw Bangladesh through the next hour.

The persevering Kemar Roach was rewarded with the penultimate ball before lunch when Moninul tugged a short ball to mid-on where Chase took a simple catch.

On 87 for two at the break, Bangladesh controlled the game for the first hour following the resumption as Shadman and Mithun put on a critical 64 for the third wicket.

While the left-handed Shadman faced 199 and counted six fours, Mithun lasted 61 deliveries for his knock.

However, West Indies hit back strongly to grab control as tea time approached, with Bishoo removing both batsmen in the space of 16 balls for the addition of 10 runs.

He claimed Mithun about half-hour before tea,

the right-hander missing a pull at one that cramped him for room and had his stumps shattered while Shadman played down the wrong line and was lbw.

When Mushfiqur missed a drive at an in-swinging delivery from rookie Shermon Lewis and was bowled for 14 in the fifth over after tea at 190 for five, West Indies were well-poised to run through the lower order.

But Shakib came to his side’s rescue, stroking one boundary in 113 deliveries as he added 69 in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand with Mahmudullah.

Shakib reached his landmark in the sixth over before the close, as West Indies struggled to break the stand, which also saw Mahmudullah face 59 balls and hit one four.

West Indies are trying to avoid their first series defeat on Bangladeshi soil after losing the first Test in Chittagong by 64 runs.

SCOREBOARD Bangladesh 1st Innings Shadman Islam lbw b Bishoo 76 Soumya Sarkar c Hope b Chase 19 Mominul Haque c Chase b Roach 29 Mohammad Mithun b Bishoo 29 Shakib Al Hasan not out 55 Mushfiqur Rahim b Lewis 14 Mahmudullah Riyad not out 31 Extras: (b-2, nb-4) 6 Total: (5 wkts, 90 overs) 259 Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-87, 3-151, 4-161, 5-190.

Bowling: Roach 15-1-38-1 (nb-1), Lewis 12-1-35-1, Chase 21-0-611 Warrican 19-2-46-0, Bishoo 19-1-69-2 (nb-3), Brathwaite 4-0-8-0.

Canadian Racing Tips Woodbine Race 1 Place the Blame Race 2 Einstein’s Babe Race 3 Water Polo Race 4 Dublin Diva Race 5 Peut Etre Race 6 Ami’s Link Race 7 Adios Muchacho

08:20 hrs Against The Grain 09:00 hrs Wrecking Ball 09:35 hrs Rivarine 10:45 hrs Coral Fever 11:25 hrs Fiorella 12:00 hrs Epic Dream 12:35 hrs Arte 13:05 hrs Lone Survivor 13:35 hrs The Dazzler

American Racing Tips Aqueduct Race 1 Cullum Road Race 2 Lion Dance Race 3 Lemon Blitz Race 4 Positive Spirit Race 5 Something Joyful Race 6 Marley’s Freedom Race 7 Frisky Magician Race 8 Maximus Mischief Race 9 Mendelssohn Race10 Quest For Fire

English Racing Tips Newcastle 08:25 hrs Copper West 09:00 hrs Beakstown 09:35 hrs Polydora 10:05 hrs Buveur D’Air 10:40 hrs Champagne Platinum 11:20 hrs Big River

Irish Racing Tips Fairyhouse 08:15 hrs Flawless Escape 08:50 hrs Timefor West 09:25 hrs Duca De Thaix 09:55 hrs Column Of Fire 10:30 hrs Eclat Des Mottes 11:05 hrs Jetez 11:40 hrs Valdieu South Africa Racing Tips Turffontein

Doncaster 08:35 hrs Outofthiwworld 09:10 hrs Shiroccan Roll 09:45 hrs Boreham Bill 10:15 hrs Simply The Betts 10:50 hrs Inchcolm 11:25 hrs Book Of Invasion Newbury 08:45 hrs Santini 09:20 hrs Rocklander 09:50 hrs Speedo Boy 10:25 hrs Global Citizen 11:00 hrs Ms Parfois 11:35 hrs Forest Bihan

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, December 1, 2018

Indian fast bowlers made to work missed his charge. An inexperienced batting line-up was not the toughest challenge he will face, but he settled

Mohammed Shami reacts in the field. (BCCI)

(ESPNCRICINFO) - INDIA’S time in the field on the third day at the SCG was dominated by the ankle injury to Prithvi Shaw which sent him to hospital and saw him return to the ground on crutches, leaving India’s opening plans for the first Test in Adelaide - and perhaps beyond - needing a rethink.

It was an unconvincing performance from India, as Cricket Australia XI reached 0 for 114 and then were able to see out the day through an unbroken stand of 122 between Aaron Hardie and Harry Nielsen, although the bowlers did improve during the afternoon session.

RUSTY QUICKS The opening spells of Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav were poor as Cricket Australia XI openers, D’Arcy Short and Max Bryant, cantered along at five-an-over. Virat Kohli wore the expression of a frustrated captain as he watched his quicks struggle to settle, although his main concern soon became the wellbeing of Shaw.

However, the value of a few miles in the legs showed during the afternoon. Shami removed Short before lunch to a top-edged hook and later got one through Jake Carder - who faced 139 balls for his 38 before playing around a full delivery - then had Jonathan Merlo caught behind.

Yadav, meanwhile removed Sam Whiteman when the lefthander edged a booming drive. Ishant Sharma ended wicket-less from 16 overs, in just his second match since the Oval Test in early September, but did beat the bat on occasions on what remained a slow pitch.

“Initially we conceded a few runs with the new ball and then we realised what lengths we had to bowl and what sort of fields we need to keep,” R. Ashwin said. “Practice matches are those where you are looking to get something out of it for yourself and as a bowling group when you go out there on the park.

ASHWIN’S ROLE R. Ashwin’s Test numbers in Australia are not pretty - 21 wickets at 54.71 - although he may be feeling a bit of excitement at being able to target a batting order with plenty of lefthanders in Adelaide.

Regardless, though, of the wickets he takes he will also have a role to play in keeping a hold on the scoring rate to allow the three quicks to rotate and not exhaust themselves in the manner Graeme Swann did on England’s successful 2010-11 tour.

He was the first bowler to offer Kohli control after the rapid start by the CA XI and broke the opening stand when Bryant

onto a steady line and length as he clocked up 24 overs in the day.

“I thought the ball came

out pretty well,” Ashwin said. “I haven’t played an international game for a while so it felt good the way

it came out. Obviously the next four to five days I will prep up a bit more for the game.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, December 1, 2018

No need for a mutiny - Forde

VNet pledges continued support for GCA U-13 cricket

… GFF head vows Elite League payment before December 14

By Rawle Toney WAYNE Forde, president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), is confident that their ‘Super 16’ YearEnd tournament will not be in limbo over prize money owed to the Elite League Clubs.

The GFF boss also stated that all financial settlements will be done before the tournament kicks off on December 14.

In the absence of proper corporate support, the GFF Elite League is primarily funded by FIFA. Elite League Champion Fruta Conquerors are yet to receive their $5M prize, while runners-up and last year’s winners, Guyana Defence Force (GDF), did not collect their $2M since the league concluded on September 23.

Additionally, Den Amstel ($1M) and Western Tigers ($500 000) are still awaiting their winnings.

Also, each player from the 10 competing clubs’ 18-member roster is owed $36 000, equating to $4 000 per match per player over the course of the nine second-round fixtures, meaning, that the GFF owes $6 480 000 in matchday fees. Overall, the Elite League top four finishers and clubs are owed in excess of $14M. Several clubs, who are set to feature in the YearEnd tournament, had told Chronicle Sport that their participation in the Knockout formatted competition is questionable, given the fact that the money is badly needed to help in their preparation.

H o w e v e r, a s k e d b y Chronicle Sport about the

possibility of mutiny by the club as a result of not being paid, Forde gave all assurance that the situation will be resolved by December 14.

Forde, answering the question at the GFF’s launch of their International Futsal tournament, explained that the “GFF is a funded institution and we communicated with our members that we have to make certain application to our governing body to have funds released. FIFA has changed. No longer can I pick up the phone, or any Federation president pick up the phone and make things happen.”

“We came in and inherited a federation in 2015 that had its funding restricted by FIFA because of its accounts. We have fixed that (and) we’ve now restored Guyana to full funding. It does not mean that we have the prerogative to not follow the rules, so, even though the competition has concluded, FIFA’s new regulation demands to see evidence of the competition and that it did conclude,” the GFF boss related.

The GFF president said the clubs were also told of the “long laborious process,” to access funds from FIFA, “but it is the level of governance

GFF president Wayne Forde addressed the issue of owed money to the Elite League clubs at a recent press conference.

the release of finance that all Member Associations must submit themselves too. We are confident that before the 14th, we will resolve those matters with our clubs and come the 14th of December, Guyana will have a brilliant year-end-tournament.”

The GFF teamed up with Ansa McAl Trading Limited under their STAG Beer brand, to host their ‘Super 16’ YearEnd tournament, where $4M in prize money will be up for grabs.

Elite League clubs Fruta Conquerors, Milerock, GDF, Western Tigers, Victoria Kings, Buxton United, Ann’s Grove and Den Amstel FC, along with Rivers View from Bartica, Guyana Rush Saints from the Rupununi and a representative each from Berbice and Essequibo will make up competing teams.

According to Head of Competitions, Ian Alves, the three clubs from a play-off amongst the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) champions Soesdyke Falcons from the East Bank Football Association (EBFA), as well as two Georgetown Football Association (GFA) clubs, will also be involved.

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

Semi-Finals are tabled for December 29 and the final on January 1, 2019.

The winners will pocket $1M, second-placers $1M, third-placers $500 000 and fourth-placers will each receive a trophy.

Narine. Pooran shine in contrasting fashion (CMC) – WEST Indies star Sunil Narine slammed a half-century for Bengal Tigers but Chris Gayle’s Kerala Knights still managed to beat them by seven wickets in the T10 League here yesterday.

Sent in, Tigers got up to a competitive 123 for five off their allotted 10 overs, with the left-handed Narine top-scoring with 52 off 25 balls and West Indies selectee Sherfane Rutherford chipping in with 39 off 17 deliveries.

The pair put on a rousing 57 off 27 balls for the second wicket after Tigers lost England’s Luke Wright for nine in the third over with the score on 35.

Narine belted four fours and sixes while Rutherford, who toured India for the Twenty20 series last month but failed to play a match, punched four fours and three sixes.

In reply, Gayle crunched two fours and a six in 19 off 10 balls but it was England’s Jonny Bairstow - fresh from the Test series win over Sri Lanka last week - who fired Knights to victory with a

Sunil Narine top-scored with a half-century in a losing effort.

splendid, T20 record-high unbeaten 84 off 24 balls with six fours and eight sixes.

West Indies left-hander Nicholas Pooran, meanwhile, kept up his excellent run of form with an unbeaten 45 off 18 deliveries as his Northern Warriors chased down a modest 65 to beat Rajputs by seven wickets with 25 balls to spare.

He struck four fours and sixes but lost former West Indies star Dwayne Smith (8) and Jamaican Kennar Lewis (4) fell cheaply.

West Indies T20 skipper Carlos Brathwaite had earlier failed with six in Rajputs’ 64 for eight off their 10 overs.

Alvin Mohabir, one of the outstanding players from the 2018 edition of the GCA/VNet U-13 competition, collects an award from Safraz Sheriffudeen.

VNET Communications will continue to support the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) U-13 competition since, according to the company’s CEO Safraz Sheriffudeen, it will become the bedrock of development for the future of Georgetown cricket and by extension, Guyana’s cricket.

The 36-year-old said he was impressed with the 2018 edition of the competition, which ended last Saturday with Transport Sports Club registering a scintillating one-run win over home team, Demerara Cricket Club (DCC).

The former youth cricketer said that when the GCA approached him to sponsor a competition, there were two different options available, but he instantly gravitated to the pre-teen competition, because his focus, along with that of his company, is on youth development.

He told Chronicle Sport that he was also impressed with the structure of the competition, which allowed for the full participation of the team. Everybody had a chance to bat and many of them were given bowling opportunities.

Sheriffudeen, who played at the U-15 and U-19 levels for Wakenaam, said that he is a strong advocate of grassroots development and feels that it is imperative for the development of any sport.

The CEO said that VNet has always looked to support youth development and pointed to them using 20-year-old West Indies cricketer Keemo Paul as a brand ambassador for the company.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday, December 1, 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) Frederick Spofforth (AUST vs ENG, Melbourne, 1878-79) (2) Jalal-ud-Din (PAK vs AUST, Hyderbad, 1982) (1) (2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: Who took the first five-wicket haul in Tests?

Who bagged the first five-wicket haul in ODIs?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, December 1, 2018

UDFA/GTT SENIOR LEAGUE

Eagles United declared winners

‘Hope’ for the Golden Jaguars?

Barbados’ Hallam Hope’s eligibility questioned by the GFF

By Rawle Toney WHILE it might be mathematically improbable for Guyana to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, thanks to Barbados’ Hallam Hope, the Golden Jaguars might be roaring at the June 15-July 7 tournament.

Barbados and Guyana played to a 2-2 draw at the Leonora Track and Field Centre on September 6, with Hope netting both goals for the ‘Bajans’.

By Joe Chapman THE Upper Demerara Football Association yesterday confirmed that Eagles United are the UDFA GTT 201718 Senior Football league champions.

The late decision follows the drawn result between both unbeaten teams Eagles United

UDFA/GTT Senior League Champions Eagles United

and Net Rockers. Both teams won seven games and drew one for 22 points each.

However, the decision, which caused concern on the night, was taken due to a superior goal difference on the part of Eagles who had 16 goals to Net-Rockers 15.

The ruling was confirmed through checks by the UDFA

with the football authority and rules in such circumstances.

Eagles United scored 23 goals and allowed in seven, while by contrast Net Rockers netted 25 but were breached 10 times.

Meanwhile, The UDFA is set to have a General Council Meeting today from 14.00hrs at the Linden Enterprise Network

(LEN) in Mackenzie.

The meeting is to draw the fixtures for the annual GT Beer year-end tournament which is scheduled to open next Sunday.

THE UDFA says that clubs that are interested in the tournament need to be fully registered with three guest players being allowed per registered club.

GSSF closes off 2018 with Orinduik steel shoot

ON the heels of Thanksgiving, the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) chose last weekend to end their shooting calendar with a Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) match which was sponsored by Orinduik Development Inc.

and any other calibre lesser than a 9mm while those in the Production and Limited Divisions shot 9mm or higher calibre hand guns.

As an affiliate of SCSA, a sister body of the United States Practical Shooting Association, GSSF over the years has been organising matches

fastest practical shooting competition in the world.

The competition proved to be an exciting one consisting of three different stages where competitors shot at 5 individual steel targets per stage.

Shooters were scored using an electronic timing device, penalties of added

lowest time to hit all the plates overall in the match in the respective divisions were declared the winners.

B e a u t i f u l t ro p h i e s were presented by Lt. Colonel Charles Hutson, Director of Orinduik Development Inc. which is a private Security Firm, based on the East Coast that specialises in aviation security and VIP personal protection.

PRODUCTION DIVISION 1st – Ryan McKinnon (61.39 seconds) 2nd – Rajiv Latchana (81.29 seconds) 3rd – Harold Hopkinson (95.40 seconds)

Some of the participants in the Steel Challenge Matchm sponsored by Orinduik Development Inc. (Mr Stanford Howard photo)

The match on November 24, 2018 was well attended by members and invited shooters of the GuyanaNRA, competing in three SCSA Divisions: Production, Limited and Wildcat. Wildcat Division saw competitors using .32ACP

following their strict safety policies. This simple, yet action-packed shooting sport attracts Guyanese pistol shooters from all around the country on a regular basis.

Steel Challenge Shooting is considered to be the

time were applied for any misses after the designated stop plate was shot and the total time taken was the score: all the while being closely monitored by the Foundation’s Range Safety Officers.

The shooters with the

LIMITED DIVISION 1st – Pravesh Harry (73.46 seconds) 2nd – Mohamed Qualander (76.23 seconds) 3rd – John Phang (80.37 seconds) WILDCAT DIVISION 1st – Clint McKenzie (107.64 seconds) 2nd – Jagmohan Bassoo (202.63seconds) 3rd – Lindsay Baird (235.30 seconds)

Hallam Hope

However, it was later revealed that the Carlisle United and former Bury FC forward did not have the proper clearance from FIFA and the English FA to represent the Land of the Flying Fish.

A source close to the Barbados Football Association (BFA) and the Barbados national team, revealed that 24-year-old Hope, who had represented England at U-16, U-17, U1-8 and U-19 levels, has a case similar to that of Guyana’s Matthew Briggs.

On March 29, 2015, Guyana faced Grenada in an International Friendly at the Guyana National Stadium, where Matthew Briggs, the youngest player to feature in the English Premier (with Fulham in May 2007), made his debut for the ‘Golden Jaguars’.

Guyana won the game 2-0 thanks to a double from Pernell Schultz (18th, 38th), while Briggs was impressive in the defence.

However, things took an interesting turn when FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruled that it had conducted an investigation into the participation of Briggs in what it deemed an ‘A’ friendly match.

The Committee met on October 9, 2015 and deliberated over the matter before handing down the sanction that Guyana Football Federation (GFF) was liable for the violation of Article 5 of the Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes as well as Article 55 paragraph 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code for having fielded the player Matthew Briggs without holding the Guyanese

nationality.

Guyana would later lose the match by forfeit (3-0), citing Article of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

In addition the Federation was ordered to pay a fine to the amount of 4 000 Swiss francs.

The GFF was also ordered to take all appropriate measures in order to guarantee that it strictly complied with FIFA regulations.

Similarly, the source told Chronicle Sport, that Barbados, like the GFF at the time, under the rule of the Clinton Urling-led Normalisation Committee, had breached FIFA’s Code with regard to a player’s eligibility.

Meanwhile a source within the GFF related that an appeal was filed in appropriate time and manner and when contacted yesterday, president Wayne Forde, refused to comment on the matter, stating that the Federation will make a statement in the near future.

The Golden Jaguars, following their 2-1 defeat to French Guiana in the November 20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifier tournament, saw their Gold Cup hopes come crashing down.

Jules Haabo netted on both sides of the half for French Guiana, while Guyana’s lone goal came from captain Neil Danns in a result which changed the tide for both teams; in the case of Guyana, for the worse.

The win pushed French Guiana (six points) to 11th on the 34-team standings; one spot out of qualification, while Guyana (four points) drifted five places out (15th).

Guyana will play Belize on March 23, 2019 at the Leonora Track and Field Centre in a game with crucial implications.

Curacao (1), Haiti (2), Cuba (3), Canada (4), Jamaica (5) and Martinique (6) are the top six teams in the tournament, having picked up full points from their three matches.

Bermuda (7), St Kitts and Nevis (8), Dominican Republic (9) and Nicaragua (10) are the other teams in the top 10; all having six points, picking one loss from three games.

Guyana are positioned behind French Guiana (11), their next opponents Belize (12), El Salvador (13) and Montserrat (14) who are all on six points and the results from their next game will determine Johnson’s future.

The Guyanese players, fans and other stakeholders will be paying keen attention on the outcome of the case, since a positive one, coupled with a win over Belize next year, could well see history being created.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, December 1, 2018

General Services retain BOSAI Department Championship … Terron Welch is MVP

GENERAL Services retained their title with a 70-57 win over Plant Operations in the Bosai Inter Department basketball championship final at the Mackenzie Sports Club basketball hard court.

The win represents the department’s second title.

This time Services were led by new recruit, shooting guard Terron Welch, whose national experience served him well with 17 points in the final.

In the process, he edged out teammate and centre

Clive McCalman for the top award, who gave admirable support with 16 points.

Last year’s MVP Jamar Bethune had a relatively quiet night, added seven points for the winners after showing some form in the semi-finals.

The Plant Operations’ Omisisi Williams was the game’s top scorer with 23 points in a losing cause while teammate Myron Prescott scored 15.

In the supporting game former junior national player Marlon

Pollydore singlehandedly led Mines to the third place win with a tournament-high 40 points in a 64-56 win over Plant Maintenance after his team led 33-31 at halftime.

The best players for Plant Maintenance were Anson Durant with 18 points and Mark Louis with eight.

For the second consecutive year Nickel Carr won the female free-throw competition. (Joe Chapman)

GFF sends suspected fraud case to Police and CFU

By Rawle Toney

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) says that they have handed over a case of alleged fraud to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), regarding a US-based female National player.

“The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has taken note of posts on a popular social media football forum related to a historic case that predates the current administration by seven years, regarding the nationality of a former

female national team player,” the GFF said in a statement.

Goalkeeper Derienne Simone Busby is the player in question, who first featured for the ‘Lady Jags’ in November of 2011 as part of their CONCACAF U-20 team; a team that was coached by Mark Rodrigues.

The GFF, in 2016, received information with supporting documents, that there was a series of alleged fraud surrounding the GFF at the time and the way in which some overseas-based players of the female national team were

The document that was shared on Facebook got GFF’s attention, enough for the Federation to acknowledge the issue for the first time, publicly.

given citizenship to represent Guyana.

Current East Bank Football Association (EBFA) president Franklin Wilson was acting at the helm at the time, after president Colin Klass was banned by FIFA’s Ethics Committee for his involvement in the “cash for vote” scandal that had rocked world-football.

“When this matter came to the GFF’s attention in 2016, it was swiftly reported, along with all available supporting evidence, to the GPFand the CFU. The player in question has not been selected for any Guyanese national team since the matter came to light,” the Wayne Forde-led GFF said.

In the document shared on Facebook, dated October 19, 2011, Rodrigues’ name was printed in the section of “Name and Surname of father and claim to citizenship of Guyana,” while Busby’s mother’s name was given, and signed as a “native of the USA”.

Noel Adonis, the General Secretary at the time, signed as “Signature, description and residence of Information” at the Registry of Births.

Adonis would later pick up a 30-day ban by FIFA for ethics violation in the lead-up to the election in 2011 where Sepp Blatter was re-elected.

The GFF said that they welcome and support “all constructive, fair and informed criticism of its work, but kindly advises all individuals to refrain from making any statement in public that may be deemed libellous or defamatory in a court of law.”

Forde was previously pressed by Chronicle Sport on the issue, but spoke off the record on the matter and the GFF’s position. This is the first time that the GFF has publicly acknowledged the issue.

The 2018 Bosai Basketball Champions General Services pose.

At right is Most Valuable Player Terron Welch.

Smalta Girls U-11 football tournament quarter-final action on today FOUR matches to determine the four primary school teams who will progress in the Smalta Girls U-11 Football tournament will be played today at the Ministry of Education ground.

In the first of the games, West Ruimveldt play St Stephen’s from 14:20hrs with St Pius and Genesis Harmony clashing across the field on pitch two.

From 15:10hrs, South Ruimveldt face Enterprise 23 on pitch one with the opposing game pitting North Georgetown against Tucville.

Before that, however, F.E. Pollard and St Margaret’s clash followed by Smith Memorial and Mae’s - the four teams battling for spots in the 9-12 category.

FULL FIXTURES: 2018-12-01 Quarter-finals MoE ground Match # 13:30hrs F.E. Pollard vs St Margaret’s 19 9 to 12 13:30hrs Smith Memorial vs Mae’s 20 9 to 12 14:20hrs West Ruimveldt vs St Stephen’s 21 Quarter-final 14:20hrs St Pius Primary vs Genesis Harmony 22 Quarter-final 15:10hrs South Ruimveldt vs Enterprise 23 Quarter-final 15:10hrs North Georgetown vs Tucville 24 Quarter-final 2018-12-08 Semi-finals MoE ground Match # 13:30hrs Loser of 19 vs Loser of 20 25 11 and 12 13:30hrs Winner of 19 vs Winner 20 26 9 and 10 14:20hrs Loser of 24 vs Loser of 23 27 5 to 8 14:20hrs Loser of 22 vs Loser of 21 28 5 to 8 15:10hrs Winner of 21 vs Winner of 22 29 Semi-finals 15:10hrs Winner of 23 vs Winner of 24 30 Semi-finals 12/16/2018 Finals MOE Ground Match # 14:00hrs Loser of 27 vs Loser of 28 31 7 and 8 14:00hrs Winner of 27 vs Winner of 28 32 5 and 6 14:50hrs Loser of 29 vs Loser of 30 33 3 and 4 15:45hrs Winner of 29 vs Winner of 30 34 Final

Quarterfinals action in the Smalta Girls U-11 football tournament gets going today.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, December 1, 2018

Johnson says young cricketers selected should ‘use opportunity’

Members of the GFF Executive Committee

GFF Head of Referees and Referee Assessor to know fate today … ExCo to act on case of sexual harassment

By Rawle Toney EXECUTIVE Committee Members of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will meet today to deliberate and decide a course of action on the case of sexual harassment allegations that were levelled against its head of referee, Stanley Lancaster, and referee assessor Roy McArthur.

In March of this year, GFF had set up a Board of Inquiry (BoI) following allegations of sexual harassment by female referees and which was conducted by a five-member panel, led by Chairman Dr Karen Pilgrim, vice-president of the Guyana Olympic Association.

Other members of the Board included Dr Melissa Ifill of the University of Guyana; Karen Joseph, Human Resources Consultant;

Karen De Souza, Red Thread and Joy Nichola Marcus-Reid, also of Red Thread.

The report was submitted

by Dr Pilgrim on November 19 following the completion of a thorough investigation.

According to GFF, the Terms of Reference of the BoI included: to develop a policy against sexual harassment for referees in Guyana and to evolve a permanent mechanism for the prevention and redress of sexual harassment cases.

A release from the GFF stated that the Inquiry was also tasked to ensure the implementation of the policy in letter and spirit through proper reporting of the complaints and their follow-up procedures; to create a secure physical and social environment to deter any act of sexual harassment and to promote a

social and psychological environment to raise awareness on sexual harassment in its various forms.

In an article published in November 26 edition of the Stabroek News, a well-placed source revealed that it has recommended the removal of Lancaster and MacArthur from their respective posts.

When asked by Chronicle Sport about the report and the possible outcome at the recent press conference, GFF president Wayne Forde refused to comment, telling reporters “I will not comment on that matter until the GFF Executive would’ve met on December 1.”

Meanwhile, there was no word on the case against one of its Executive Committee Member Keith O’Jeer.

The GFF had announced that an independent investi-

gator has conducted and completed a preliminary inquiry into the allegation of ‘inappropriate conduct’ by O’Jeer.

Forde told one section of the media that the Executive Committee took a decision to suspend O’Jeer after receiving a report that he had behaved inappropriately.

The GFF president said, “O’Jeer ’s behaviour was brought to the attention of the GFF, following which the Berbician was questioned about the matter by members of the executive and subsequently disciplined because of the nature of his interactions.

On O’Jeer’s matter, the GFF said, “A report was submitted to the GFF, which will be submitted to the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee will review and pronounce on the matter.”

Leon Johnson

CAPTAIN of Guyana’s senior national cricket team, Leon Johnson, is calling on the young cricketers in his side to use their selection for the first game of the 2018-2019 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Four-Day Championship to prove themselves.

The 31-year-old, who led Guyana Jaguars to four consecutive four-day titles, said

THREE-PEAT!

District 10 retain title, District 11 and 13 tie for second THE 58th National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships ended in a cloud of controversy as District 5 (West Coast Berbice) athletes, led by their teachers, had three sit-down protests on the track against a disqualification of their 4x100 Males Open relay team.

However, District 10 made it three in a row and continued their historic run as the District that have now won the Championships 17 times, District 11 (North Georgetown) and 13 (South Georgetown) tied for second, while home team, District 3 (West Demerara) came in fourth.

However, despite the setbacks, the 2018 ‘Nationals’ concluded just as darkness fell. At the end of the six days, athletes including the likes of District 10’s (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) Deshana Skeete, District 3’s (West Demerara) Tonya Rawlins and District 4’s Dejuan Grant emerged as Guyana’s stars.

Rawlins, a 19-year-old student of Leonora Technical Institute, capped a sprinter’s dream performance with her third gold medal of 2018 Nationals, albeit an all-round team effort in the Girls’ Open 4x100m Relay event just edging District 10’s team by .02 seconds.

Having already won the Girls’ U-20 100m and 200m events, Rawlins produced a lung-bursting sprint on the anchor leg of the race after teammates Binka Joseph, Keliza Smith and Keira Duncan put the District 3 team in a strong position.

What made Rawlins’ homestretch sprint even more admirable was the fact that on the third leg, District 10’s Skeete had handed her team a sizeable lead. However, Rawlins produced perhaps the finest 100m of her budding career so far, to loud cheers from the large crowd at the NTFC. Meanwhile Skeete added the 400m Girls’ U-18 gold medal to her 100m and 200m in emphatic

fashion, once again leaving her opposition trailing in her wake. She ran 57.73s way ahead of second-place Jasmine Assanah (District 12) and Eliza Evans (District 4) who had to settle for bronze.

Dejaun Grant, who set a ‘venue’ record in the Boys’ U-12 High Jump, produced a gold medal performance in

the 400m event, clocking 1 minute 4.17 seconds to edge out Gary Nedd (District 12) while District 13’s John Harry settled for bronze.

In the Males U-16 400m, District 3’s Richard Blake clocked 53.94s en route to gold while Job Fraser (District 15) pipped Wesley Tyndall (District 11) to silver.

District 3’s Tonya Rawlins (right) powers her way down the homestretch to land her team the Girls’ Open 4x100m relay gold medal and her third of Nationals 2018.

Keliza Smith (District 3) copped the gold in the Females U-16 event while Brianna Charles (District claimed silver and Shaquka Tyrell (District 10) had to settle for bronze.

The full details and results along with the points standings will be published in a subsequent report.

that with a number of players away on duty for the West Indies team in Bangladesh, opportunities are available for players to impress themselves upon the selectors.

Despite missing a few big names, including Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Chandrapaul Hemraj and Keemo Paul among others, the skipper is still confident of his squad doing well.

He called the players “a very good 13-man squad” after the names for the first game were released yesterday, following the completion of a three-day practice game at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The squad reads: Leon Johnson (captain), Vishaul Singh (vice-captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Trevon Griffith, Tevin Imlach, Christopher Barnwell, Akshaya Persaud, Anthony Bramble, Romario Shepherd, Veerasammy Permaul, Clinton Pestano, Gudakesh Motie and Keon Joseph.

Secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie, told the Guyana Chronicle that while the team is relatively young, they are capable enough of representing the Jaguars at any level and in any format.

DAY AND NIGHT Johnson said that he expected the first clash, which is a day-and-night fixture to be a bit tricky. He said that the ball tends to do a lot in the nights, but the team will rise to the challenge.

The defending champions will travel to St Lucia for their first match against the Windward Volcanoes from December 6 to 9.

E E R TH !

T A E P

District 10 retain title, District 11 and 13 tie for second … Rawlins, Skeete turn in star performances

age 31

np Story o

THREE PEAT! We are the champions! District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) retain their title for the third successive year.

Islam, Shakib make West Indies toil Page

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The ball sneaks through Mushfiqur Rahim’s intended drive to shatter the stumps, Bangladesh v West Indies, 2nd Test, 1st day, yesterday. (AFP)

FLASHBACK! Barbados’ Hallam Hope (right) about to challenge his former Bury FC teammate Neil Danns during the 2-2 clash between Guyana and Barbados in the CONCACAF Nations League at the National Track and Field Centre. (Samuel Maughn photo)

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‘Hope’ for the Golden Jaguars?

Barbados’ Hallam Hope’s eligibility questioned by the GFF

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GFF sends suspected fraud case to Police and CFU

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018