Guyana Chronicle E-paper 12-02-2018

2nd December, 2018

No.105476

Time to recharge, retool 05 PAGE

… Lawrence calls on PNCR to embark on a massive membership drive

No need to panic –– MoPH says there’s enough TB medication to last another year 03 PAGE

Dead: Shondell Sparrock

Woman 09 killed after hit by truck PAGE

CoI recommends immediate criminal, civil proceedings 09 PAGE

– against errant City Hall officials

Top management of the Guyana Chronicle including General Manager (ag) Donna Todd and Editor-in-Chief, Nigel Williams along with the winners of this year’s PAHO Media Awards and other reporters pose for a photograph following the ceremony held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel (Delano Williams photo)

Guyana Chronicle 10 tops at PAHO awards PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 2, 2018

Scotia declares Republic deal a win-win decision – assures customers it’s in their best interest

FOUR days after the announcement was made that Scotiabank signed an agreement to sell its banking operations in nine countries in the Caribbean to the Republic Financial Holdings Limited, the banking company reassures customers that the agreement will provide the best long-term solutions for them.

In a release sent out on Friday, the bank said, “We are confident that this 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.”

However they also pointed out that the agreement is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Until the regulatory approval is obtained and closing conditions are met and the transaction closes, all Scotiabank operations in the nine countries will continue as usual.

Scotiabank said they are proud to have entered into this agreement with Republic, which they deem as 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’ needs.

The agreement gives ownership to RFHL 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.”

CDB loans to enhance transport, water programmes

THE government has entered into two external loan agreements with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for enhancing the water and transportation sectors.

According to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at his weekly Post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday, the loans are in the sums - “US$1,265,000 for the water sector enhancement project and US$4,367,000 to finance the transport sector enhancement project.”

The water sector enhance-

ment project will include a study to determine the feasibility of utilising the Hope Canal as a source of potable water, the crafting of a National Water Policy and financing the institutional strengthening of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Ministry of Communities.

Meanwhile, the minister of state said, “The transport sector enhancement project will include the construction of a new bridge at Wismar, Linden, Region 10, a new Stelling at Parika, Region Three and upgrading the aero-

drome at Lethem in Region Nine.”

The agreements are to be laid before the National Assembly in keeping with the laws of Guyana.

“Cabinet approved the loan agreements and directed that they be laid in the National Assembly in accordance with Section 3:6 of the external loans act chapter 74:08 of the Laws of Guyana,” Minister Harmon stated.

With regards to the Lethem Aerodrome, the objective of the consultancy is to conduct a feasibility

study and to prepare detailed designs, drawings, cost estimates and bid documents for design workers for the upgrade of the Lethem Aerodrome to an appropriately specified airport.

The airport will be key to the improvements in Region Nine. With a bridge at Taku-

tu River, linking the country, Lethem has been officially named a town and there are ongoing developments for commercial zones, among other development, with increased trade with Brazil being eyed.

Construction of the new bridge at Wismar, Region

10, will take eight months.

The almost 50-year-old bridge is deteriorating and the alarm was sounded last year about its condition.

The structure connects Wismar and Mackenzie and is a critical gateway to the hinterland.

Hope Canal study on the cards –– to test feasibility of using surface water for domestic purposes

AS the government works towards increasing access to potable water, funds have been set aside for a feasibility study on using surface water at the Hope Canal for domestic consumption.

Allocations in the 2019 National Budget under the Ministry of Communities include provisions for the study under its Water Supply Improvement Project.

A sum of $150M has been budgeted under the programme for the Hope Canal study, as well as others on how best to improve water supply in other areas across the country. Funding is expected to come from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

In May this year, the CDB approved a loan of US$1.3M for Guyana, aimed at upgrading the water sector here, and as it noted at the time, the monies will be used to provide consultancy services to develop a national water policy, as well as to provide designs and estimates for the construction of water-treatment plants and the upgrade of related infrastructure.

The bank had also noted that the Hope Canal project was catered for under the loan. According to its Director of Projects

Daniel Best: “We expect that these funds will be used to provide technically viable solutions for the improvement of water supply to approximately 68,000 people who live along the coast, as well as in the hinterland regions.”

The Hope Canal was built several years ago to provide drainage from the East Demerara Water Conservancy into the Atlantic Ocean.

In the 2019 National Budget, the Ministry of Communities has also set aside sums of money to upgrade the water-supply network at the mining town of Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) at a cost of $81M. Under the project, titled Linden Water Supply in the budgetary estimates, the ministry plans to expand the water-distribution system at South Amelia’s Ward.

In addition, the sum will cater for the rehabilitation of the West Watooka and Wisroc Water Treatment Plants, as well as the intake dock at West Watooka.

The ministry will also upgrade the Amelia’s Ward water-treatment plant, as well as the water-supply system at No. 58 Miles.

No need to panic 3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 2, 2018

–– MoPH says there’s enough TB medication to last another year

THE Ministry of Public Health has confirmed that the rumoured shortage of one of the medications used to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis has been addressed.

The drug at reference is Ethionamide, one of four used in the treatment, which had been inadvertently out of stock, but according to the ministry in a statement there is no need to be alarmed as it is working assiduously on remedying the situation.

“All TB patients would be adequately treated,” said Director of Pharmacy Oneil Atkins.

Dr Jeetendra Mohanlall, Manager of the National TB Programme confirmed Friday that emergency supplies of the drug arrived this week and were dispensed to their patients.

Explaining the reason for the shortage, Dr Mohanlall said the National TB Programme has been looking around for quality second-line medication to address the problem of drug-resistance in their patients, but that due to some global challenges the delivery was unavoidably delayed.

This being the case, he said, they had to resort to sourcing emergency supplies, which took longer than expected to arrive.

The four second-line drugs currently used in their treatment regime, he said, are sourced from South Korea, Japan, India and Cyprus, through the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

He, however, said that the emergency supplies that came in will be enough to treat all their patients for another year, and that this is the first time in four years that the ministry “has had a brief interruption” of one of the medications for patients.

According to Dr Mohanlall, the National TB Programme has made great strides in programmatic management of the multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB).

He said that not only is there a dedicated Focal Point Person in Dr Eshwar Ghanshiam, but that Guyana has implemented nine

of the 10 recommendations made in 2016

by PAHO-WHO’s Green Light Committee.

He also pointed to the increase in screening to identify all possible drug-resistant TB patients here from 150 in 2014 to 1,540 in 2017.

Dr Mohanlall said that of the 2015 cohort of drug-resistant TB patients, 40 per cent successfully completed the two-year treatment. This figure climbed to 60 per cent in 2016.

The 2017 cohort of DR-TB patients is continuing treatment. Other strides in the sector include improving the management of patients. With this accomplishment, there needs to be more dedicated resources in the Direct Treatment Observe Short-course (DOTS) programme to do daily visits to patients, he said.

“Even doctors attached to the TB Programme visit patients in their homes with the mobile teams that are established,” he said.

He said TB patients generally have socio-economic challenges and they need psycho-social support in their management.

To strengthen his position, the National TB Programme Manager is strongly advocating boosting the social protection of these patients, whom he said are in line with the END TB Strategy.

Although Guyana has a 90 per cent coverage of DOTS. there are still many challenges presented by defaulting patients such as drug addicts, the homeless and the internal migrant population such as miners and loggers.

In 2017, it was observed that a fifth (20 per cent) of the TB patients also habitually abuse drugs and alcohol.

“These can be difficult to manage under the DOTS strategy and there are some who need to be in specialised-care facilities such as the TB Step Down Care Unit set to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2019,” Dr Mohanlall said.

Farmer’s body found at Leguan THE body of a pensioner was found floating in the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of La Bagatelle, Leguan Island early Saturday morning.

Dead is 69-year-old George Dove of La Bagatelle Leguan Island. Dove, a farmer, was discovered between the rocks at around 06:45hrs.

Reports indicate that police observed abrasions on the left side of the head, which they suspect may have been caused while his body was bracing against the rocks.

The man’s wife, 49-year-old Ann Ramroach Singh, told Police that he left home on November 20, 2018, for his farm at Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo, where he would spend two to three weeks before returning home.

She also claimed that he was an alcoholic but never had problems with anyone. Dove’s body was taken to the Leguan Mortuary for a post mortem examination. Police are continuing their investigation.

The body of George Dove washed up on rocks in the vicinity of La Bagatelle, Leguan

MoPH’s Dr Quacy Grant, Oneil Atkins and Dr Eshwar Ghanshiam

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Former US President George Bush dies at 94 REUTERS - Former United States president George H.W. Bush has died at the age of 94.

Bush was the 41st president of the United States and the father of the 43rd, George W. Bush.

His death has come less than eight months after that of his wife, Barbara.

They were married for

73 years.

Mr. Bush had been ailing for some time and in recent years used a wheelchair or motorized scooter.

On several occasions this year, he had to be hospitalised.

Bush was the last veteran of World War II to serve as US president.

His presidency soared

Former US President George H. W. Bush

with the coalition victory over Iraq in Kuwait, but plummeted in the throes of a weak economy that led voters to turn him out of office after a single term.

Bush presided during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the final months of the Cold War. He died late Friday night, said family spokesman Jim McGrath.

French police clash with ‘yellow vest’ protesters in Paris, 129 arrested PARIS ? Police fired tear gas, stun grenades and water cannon in battles with “yellow vest” protesters around the Champs Elysees in Paris on Saturday, and clashes erupted in other cities across France in a third weekend of demonstrations against high living costs Police said 129 people had been arrested amid concerns that violent far-right and far-left groups were infiltrating the “yellow vests” movement, a spontaneous grassroots rebellion over the struggle of many in France to make ends meet.

For more than two weeks, the “gilets jaunes” (yellow vests) have blocked roads in protests across France, posing one of the largest and most sustained challenges Emmanuel Macron has faced in his 18-month-old presidency.

In Paris, masked and hooded protesters picked up and hurled crowd barriers and other projectiles in running battles with police

around the world famous Champs Elysees boulevard and beyond into other parts of the capital’s central tourism districts.

Six policemen and 14 protesters have been injured, Paris police said.

Several hundred yellow vests, who have no leader and have largely organised themselves online, sat down around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the avenue, singing La Marseillaise, France’s national anthem, and chanting, “Macron Resign!”

On the facade of the towering 19th-century arch, protesters scrawled in big black letters: “The yellow vests will triumph.”

After several hours of skirmishes in the morning, police had appeared to clear the area around the Arc, but rioters and peaceful protest-

ers subsequently returned.

Clashes in adjacent streets also broke out where barricades were put up, car windows were smashed and at least a dozen vehicles set alight.

Along the Champs Elysees, which was cordoned off, peaceful demonstrators held up a slogan reading, “Macron, stop treating us like idiots!”

Macron said on Tuesday he understood the anger felt by voters outside France’s big cities over the squeeze that fuel prices have put on households, but insisted he would not be bounced into changing policy by “thugs”.

Philippe said there were 5 500 protesters in Paris and some 36 000 elsewhere in France. Police unions reported 582 road blockages. (Reuters)

G20 leaders skirt trade tensions, back WTO reform in statement BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The G20 grouping of industrialized nations skirted current global trade tensions but threw their weight beyond the reform of the World Trade Organization in a copy of their joint statement obtained by

Reuters.

The United States reaffirmed its commitment to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, while G20 signatories to the agreement declared the pact irreversible and said they would fully implement it.

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‘Time to recharge, retool’ SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 2, 2018

… Lawrence calls on PNCR to embark on a massive membership drive

CHAIRMAN of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence on Saturday told members that it was time that party retool and recharge its base as it heads into the 2020 general elections.

Lawrence was at the time addressing members at the party’s final General Council Meeting of the year at its Sophia, headquarters. In her maiden address to the General Council as chairperson,

councils. The chairwoman congratulated all the candidates who participated in the recently concluded LGEs, especially those who have been elected to serve.

During the feature address to the General Council, Lawrence also called on party leaders to re-engage and talk to members and supporters, “… if this means that ministers and party leaders must get out of their offices and work regularly within these communities, we must

tecting our citizens’ fundamental rights.” The party’s chairperson iterated that the PNCR remains committed to achieving national unity and to improving relations with all communities and groups.

Looking to the future, Lawrence said that now was the time for the PNCR to recharge and retool its base, “… no one must be left behind. Now is not the time for armchair service. Now is the time to work the ground tirelessly and dutifully.” In

A section of the members at the PNCR General Council Meeting on Saturday (PNCR photo) Lawrence welcomed the participants to the meeting of council and sent best wishes for a speedy recovery of good health, to His Excellency President David Granger, Leader of the PNCR and President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Lawrence said that the PNCR had so much to be proud of especially in the area of local democracy. She noted that in just three years the coalition government had held two local government elections (LGEs), established four new towns and eight new neighbourhood democratic

put programmes in place to make this happen. Service must be people-centered…,” Lawrence declared.

The chairwoman called on the party to embark on a massive membership drive to broaden and strengthen the organisation’s base. She said; “we must be ready to fortify grass-root democracy by playing a greater role in local government countrywide and by providing solutions to rural and agrarian problems. With this, the party must be totally committed to enduring equality for all and to pro-

closing, she called on all ministers of the government and party leaders to recommit themselves to service to the people and promised that the coalition government would continue to work towards delivering a good life to all Guyanese.

Meanwhile, in her report to the General Coun-

cil, Party General Secretary (GS), Amna Ally brought the council up-to-date on the state of the party and the work of its secretariat over the last quarter. She noted that the period under review was a very active one for the PNCR. In August she said the party hosted its 20th Biennial Delegates Congress and commemorated the 33rd death anniversary of the Founder Leader of the PNCR, Forbes Burnham; in October the Party celebrated its 61st anniversary; campaigned throughout the nation for local government elections and held regional conferences in nine of the ten regions.

The focus of her report was mainly on membership, achievements, local government elections, projections and other related party affairs. A panel discussion was held on Budget 2019.

The panelists were: Winston Jordan, Minister of Finance; Volda Lawrence, Minister of Public Health; Ronald Bulkan, Minister of Communities; Dr. George Norton, Minister of Social Cohesion; Dr. Nicolette Henry, Minster of Education; and Annette Ferguson, Minster within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

A plenary followed to discuss the chairman’s re-

Party Chairperson Volda Lawrence delivering the feature address at the General Council Meeting marks, the general secretary’s report and Budget 2019. Reports for the last quarter were presented to General Council by representatives of the National Congress of Women (NCW), Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM), North

American Region (NAR), Georgetown District of the PNCR and the ten administrative regions.

The General Council is the second highest decision-making forum of the PNCR and meets once every quarter.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Reducing tobacco use, illness and death THE 2019 budget, viewed as comprehensive, visionary, targeted, and progressive, has strengthened the country’s systems aimed at reducing the negative health effects of tobacco abuse. With the new measures of taxation on tobacco, government clearly intends that cigarette smoking be discouraged, thereby decreasing illness, suffering, and death caused by one of the most dangerous substances on earth.

In his presentation of Budget 2019 under the theme, “Transforming the Economy, Empowering the People, Building Sustainable Communities for a Good Life,” Minister of Finance Winston Jordan announced a new tax regime for cigarettes.

In addition to the existing VAT, an excise tax of $2,500 on each 1,000 cigarettes and customs duty of 100 per cent were introduced. While a mi-

nority will undoubtedly take issue with the provisions, government’s actions – aimed at protecting the population from preventable harm – are most welcome.

After years of equivocation due to lobbying by the tobacco industry, the United States Surgeon-General Dr. Luther Terry finally declared tobacco-smoking to be harmful. His declaration followed the landmark document, “Smoking and health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon-General of the United States.” The report, published on January 11, 1964, put to rest the question of whether or not smoking is dangerous. This event laid the foundation for the international community to begin gathering data in earnest and taking concrete steps to curb the smoking epidemic.

It is now known that tobacco smoke, containing more than 50 can-

cer-causing chemicals, negatively affects almost every organ of the body.

It harms mainly the lungs, heart, and liver and results in heart attacks, strokes, cancers of the lungs, mouth, throat, bladder, and pancreas; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); emphysema, bronchitis, pneumonia, erectile dysfunction in men; miscarriages in women; premature birth and death.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that globally, tobacco use causes about six million deaths (10 per cent of all deaths), making it the single greatest cause of preventable illness and death. The WHO concludes that in the last century tobacco- smoking has killed 100 million people. The New England Journal of Medicine has calculated that, “If current smoking patterns persist, tobacco will kill about 1 billion people in the 21st century, half of them be-

fore the age of 70.”

The health effects of smoking have multiple impacts on families, communities and national economies. The breadwinner of a home, having become ill through smoking, may be unable to work, and may die, placing unnecessary financial and emotional burdens on families. Second-hand smoke may also impact the health of non-smokers in the household, particularly children.

Economic productivity is impacted, since the financial burden of caring for persons made ill by smoking costs countries billions of dollars annually. The WHO says that smoking reduces life expectancy (and economic productivity) by 10 to 17.9 years. Evidently, there is simply no upside to smoking. Guyana’s government, through its continuing efforts to discourage smoking, is therefore only doing its job of taking care of the individ-

ual interests of citizens by working to combat a major national problem.

Guyana, in 2005, subscribed to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), an international convention spearheaded by the WHO. The FCTC articulates a framework for global efforts to combat tobacco use. The implementation of the Guyana Tobacco Control Act in August 2017 was another milestone.

The Act, being implemented in a phased manner, provides for a ban on smoking in indoor public spaces, including workplaces, restaurants, and public transportation. Additionally, some outdoor public spaces are also protected, those include school compounds, and health facilities. Violation of the provision carries a fine of $10,000 for a first offence and higher fines for repeat offences.

The Act went further: it mandated that product packages must warn of

the dangers of smoking by featuring images of the effects of tobacco on the body, prohibition of the sale of cigarettes to minors, and prohibition of cigarette-advertising, among other provisions.

Considering that according to national statistics, 57 per cent of Guyanese suffer from a non-communicable disease, many of them caused by tobacco use, and that 70 per cent of local deaths are caused by heart disease, cancers, hypertension, lung disease, or diabetes – all of which may be caused by exposure to tobacco smoke – any and all measures which government takes to reduce the use of tobacco, including increasing taxes, are much desired.

Need for a lot more education and sensitisation on PrEP Dear Editor, PRE-EXPOSURE Prophylaxis (PrEP) is medicine that can reduce the chance of getting HIV by more than 90% and can reduce the chances even more when combined with condoms. The medication works by stopping HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout the body if there is exposure to the virus; and it has been proven to be safe and effective in high-risk groups all over the world. For the last four years the World Health Organisation has been recommending PrEP as an additional HIV prevention choice, but uptake in the Caribbean has been slow, but steadily increasing. Currently, The Bahamas and Barbados are the only two countries who provide PrEP to persons who meet the criteria for use, but Suriname, St. Lucia, Grenada, Cuba, and Jamaica either provide PrEP to certain populations or have plans to start provision in 2019.

Guyana’s Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD Guyana) conducted an assessment on the knowledge, attitudes and delivery preferences on PrEP among

men who have sex with men and transgender persons earlier this year, and from the focus groups held in five regions, it was found that 60% of the participants had never heard of PrEP before. This was especially the case for persons who lived outside of Region Four. Once persons became aware of it however, almost everyone was interested in taking it for their personal protection. This led to the conclusion that there is the need for a lot more education and sensitisation on PrEP, especially involving NGOs within this effort, and that the time has come for the provision of PrEP within the Guyanese public healthcare system.

Starting PrEP in Guyana will entail the use of a medication that is already present in the country and that is already procured at fairly low cost. Studies in other countries have demonstrated that the savings a country receives from the HIV infections avoided by using PrEP make it a cost-effective prevention measure.

The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is, “Know your status” which emphasises HIV testing as a strategy that also empowers people to make choices about HIV

prevention, so they can better protect themselves and their sexual partners. Before persons can be placed on PrEP, they must know their status because the medication is only for HIV-negative persons. Being on PrEP helps to strengthen the entire HIV care continuum in the country, because persons must present for initial and regular testing, increasing engagement with the health service system and also providing opportunities for linking any HIV-positive persons into care and treatment. Know your status so that you can know whether you should be using PrEP as an additional prevention measure to continue to stay HIV-negative.

Regards Dr. Nastassia Rambarran Dr. Roger Welch and Joel Simpson for SASOD Guyana

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Op–ED

Village Revival

By Basil Williams (Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs) NEXT year – on the 7th November 1839 to be precise – we will be marking the 180th Anniversary of the purchase of Plantation Northbrook by 83 free men and women from five plantations – Ann’s Grove, Dochfour, Enmore, Hope and Paradise. These men and women pooled their savings and courageously agreed to purchase this Plantation Northbrook, which they renamed Victoria; this I consider to be the mother of the village movement.

That simple financial transaction by unlettered men and women transformed the then colony of British Guiana. The purchase of a single plantation and conversion into a village laid the foundation for establishment of a nation. As you are aware, it ignited the greatest movement of freed persons within the Anglophone Caribbean. It was an ineffaceable moment whose importance cannot be diminished.

The village movement was described as: “The most spectacular and aggressive land-settlement movement in the history of the people of the British Caribbean and a movement which seemed to one planter in British Guiana to be certainly without parallel in the history of the world!”

The village movement precipitated a peaceful but powerful exodus of persons off the plantations and into the villages. Within the first decade of Emancipation, more than 44,000 Africans lived in villages and by 1856 the village population accounted for half of the entire coastal belt. Every great movement in history is driven by an idea whose time was ripe. The village movement was no different. Underlying this mass movement of personnel were two powerful ideas, both of which were minted by the newly emancipated Africans.

The first was the ideal of economic independence and the second was the notion of the village as a centrepiece of human and community solidarity.

ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE Emancipation on the 1st August, 1838, brought an end to the barbaric and dehumanising system of slavery. The free Africans were convinced that their emancipation lay not merely in a declaration of freedom, but

in them securing economic independence.

Economic independence for them was to be the cornerstone of the new society which they sought. The basis of this quest for economic independence lay in them acquiring their own lands on which they would establish a peasant economy. The acquisition of lands was not made easy. The establishment of villages by free Africans represented a threat to the existence of the plantations.

The depopulated plantations led to a shortage of labour.

The planters reacted by using their political muscle to engineer the passage of a series of ordinances between 1839 and 1848; these were intended to limit new land purchases by freed slaves by proscribing joint ownership of land by more than 20 persons; requiring the partitioning of lands purchased by more than 10 persons and by doubling the upset price of Crown lands so as make them to make these lands unaffordable for purchase by the free population.

High taxation, poor drainage, flooding and physical destruction of produce were used to undermine the economies of the villages.

High transportation costs, lack of access to capital and the fragmentation of plots inflicted misery on village economies. Africans nonetheless persevered in the face of these difficulties. They continued to view the plantation as a symbol of their oppression. Consequently, distancing themselves from the plantation was seen a means of improving their economic independence.

They saw the villages which they were establishing as a means to ensuring their economic survival.

The peasantry was a product of villages. African-Guyanese established homes, farms and economic enterprises in their villages. Households maintained kitchen gardens; farms produced fruit, ground provisions and these produce were sold in markets. Micro-businesses such as bakeries, clothing stores, retail shops, cottage industries and parlours mushroomed.

Artisans-- including blacksmiths, tinsmiths, painters, carpenters, cobblers and joiners-- honed their skills within the villages.

This is the village model which has been bequeathed by our ancestors. It is a model which is now being made more relevant to the present time and to extant challenges. Village revival is a work in progress.

In so doing, we must

powering of villages to have a greater say in the management of their communities.

Local government elections are over. We are committed to respecting the democratic will of the people and working with all elected local authorities – regardless of which party or group is in control – to reboot the economies of our villages and ensure improved public services to residents.

Attorney General Basil Williams, SC

be careful not to discard those central ideas which inspired the village movement – the notions of economic independence and communal solidarity. Your government is committed to ensuring that our villages are transformed into centres which can support economic independence. Your government – the government which I represent – is placing emphasis on revitalising the economies of villages, so as to ensure the provision of sustainable livelihoods.

Development, if it is to be impactful, must reach down to the grassroots. Development for us should permeate through to our villages and percolate within them. It is the philosophy of your government that the economies of villages must be revived if people-centred development is to be prioritised. We are therefore committed to improving the economic infrastructure – roads, bridges irrigation and electricity – to support village economies, including the development of your farmlands.

Your government is stimulating entrepreneurship and enterprise in order to invigorate the economies of villages, particularly in developing cottage industries and small and medium-scale enterprises.

Your government is supporting the continued quest of people for economic independence. We see villages as important to generating jobs and wealth for our people.

We will continue to support the development of economically vibrant villages. The reintroduction of local government elections in 2016 was a first step in the em-

COMMUNITIES OF SOLIDARITY The second major idea undergirding the historic village movement was the notion of villages as communities of solidarity.

Many of the lands which were developed into villages were purchased by groups of individuals. The joint proprietors had the task or

organising and planning the development of these communities. They also set about establishing places for worship, education and recreation.

The imperative of working together to provide common services spawned human and communal solidarity; villages developed a spirit of oneness. Everybody knew everyone else; they supported each other in times of distress and sorrow; they practised self-help and they worked collectively for the benefit of the community. Elders were respected. People helped one another. These are the values around which community life should be revived. Villages should become socially cohesive units promoting inter-ethnic harmony and promoting cultural activities

on weekends. The playfields must come alive after school with athletic and other physical pursuits for young people. Villages should be made safer, more secure and more caring.

This is what your government is seeking to achieve. It is to this mission that we are committed, a mission consistent with the spirit of 1839. That spirit is being rekindled right across communities. Village economies are being revitalised; community spirit is being rejuvenated. I thank the people of Victoria for their efforts in reviving and rejuvenating the spirit of 1839. I thank the organisers for hosting this special event. I thank you for turning out in your numbers. The sprit of 1839 lives!

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PROMISE, PAYMENT & PROSPECTS

OVER the weekend the balance in severance payment that was owed to the sugar workers who lost their jobs as a result of the closure of some estates, was paid.

The Coalition Government has kept its promise and made payment amounting to just under $5,000,000,000.00 (five billion dollars) together with interests calculated at another $85,000,000.00 (eighty-five million dollars).

On Friday last, when my staff raised a toast to me, I remarked that payment of redundancy benefit to sugar workers was my best birthday gift. I recalled how our Coalition Government could not find $5 billion in a lump-sum earlier this year but managed to scrape up one-half of the payment.

Those workers who were entitled to $500,000.00 and less were given full payment, and the others one-half, with a promise to pay the balance by the end of the year.

CRIPPLED SUGAR ESTATES Severance payment was a GuySuCo obligation, but the state’s sugar corporation was grounded into bankruptcy under the previous (PPP/C) government, with a debt of $85 billion.

That regime left us with badly-managed and crippled sugar estates that could not earn enough to pay weekly wages to sugar workers. That government started the cash bailout of GuySuCo, with a limited interest in ensuring that the industry was milked to pay union dues, and in keeping the sugar belt as a PPP ethnic-based, voting machine.

Our Coalition Government, just elected into office, had inherited that burden and so, whilst there were other critical areas that badly needed money, we took the tough decision, time and again, to bail out the sugar industry. We doled out some $37,000,000,000.00 (thirty-seven billion dollars) in bailout sums.

The decision to close four estates was done to save the sugar industry from total collapse, and to keep the job of some 10,000 workers. Since then, a $30,000,000,000.00 (thirty billion dollars) bank loan, which the Coalition Government has guaranteed, was raised to upgrade and modernize the remaining grinding factories. These now have prospects of success.

I have been writing this over and over because I feel

strongly that sugar workers must understand the root of the problem, as well as the efforts by our government to find a solution that was least painful. They must be reminded that the previous regime had tried to fix sugar, but failed.

It had rolled out successive “turn-around plans”, but instead only succeeded politically in turning the industry upside down.

SQUARE PEGS They not only put what the Guyanese people knew were “square pegs in round holes”, but threw away some $50,000,000,000.00 (fifty billion dollars) on the Skeldon factory to produce more sugar at less cost.

The then president had said that without Skeldon, “sugar is dead”. Well, Skeldon never came on stream and has remained a white elephant since. So now, the sugar workers know who to blame!

Earlier this year, sugar was a big lump in my heart and had driven me to a near-death experience. But, as I look back, I can say for sure that the decision to sever some estates was a sensible one, and the three factories that remain, like my triple-heart surgery has done for me, have been given a new lease on life.

I have seen also comments from sugar workers who have accepted their severance with gratitude. Some have already joined the work force at Albion, Blairmont and Uivtlugt estates.

Some others have taken up employment with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) right in the sugar belt; others as security personnel and staff at

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 2, 2018

medical and sports facilities that have been absorbed by the state.

GLOOM AND DOOM PROPAGANDA They did not succumb to the gloom and doom propaganda.

They are talking up that they wished that they had left the sugar industry earlier; that they have invested their severance in small businesses, and that they have moved on with their lives.

I have seen reports of children of sugar workers being trained, and even employed, to do on-shore work for oil and gas-related business. The first batch of our girls has been inducted into the ranks of the petroleum cadets. Some have been selected for graduate, degree programmes in foreign countries such as the People’s Republic of China and Mexico. Children of sugar workers have enlisted in information communication technology (ICT) work and on-site training at several call-centres.

At the time of writing, I am aware that bids for divestment of sugar estates are being processed, and opportunities would be opened for employment of former sugar workers in noncane activities. The transformation would be part of the new initiatives to focus on food security, even as Guyana prepares for first oil, and the immense new wealth that would flow in the years ahead.

Former sugar workers and their off-springs must be counted among all of our people who would enjoy the bright prospects ahead.

Harmon: National oil-spill plan under review – still has some ways to go THE National Oil-Spill plan is at a stage where it is still being reviewed by the Department of Energy, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said on Friday during his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing.

“Since then, we have had the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency, who has brought on board important skills when looking at these issues,” he said.

“It is going through some additional reviews on these different skillsets, which is now being brought

to our attention,” he told media operatives here on Friday.

When the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) held a Stakeholders’ Consultation on the draft National Oil Spill Contingency Plan earlier in the year, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman had reassured the public that the government will spare no effort in preparing for the eventuality of an oil spill.

He had said back then that the contingency plan was being prepared in accordance with what obtains internationally and with the

involvement of such key partners as the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the United States Coast Guard, and that training had already commenced.

He had also said that as a signatory to the United Nations International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC), there are certain regulations that Guyana will have to put in place.

As far back as 2010, Guyana signed on to the Cartagena Convention and all three of its protocols,

including the “Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Oil Spills in the Wider Caribbean Region.”

The Guyana government’s ‘Green-State Development Strategy (GSDS)’ which prioritises the protection and preservation of the environment for current and future generations, has as one of its guiding principles the sustainable management of natural resources.

This includes the entire coastal area where fishing and farming are done, as well as the country’s water resources, both freshwater and offshore, which make

up our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

In 2017, the Ministry of Natural Resources conducted training of personnel from several key agencies and ministries in both theoretical and practical oiland-gas management and oil-spill response.

Four containers of oilspill-response equipment and accessories, including booms, skimmers, dispersants, and personal protective kits were procured, and are presently stored at the CDC’s Alternate National Emergency Operations Centre (ANEOC) at

Minister of State Joseph Harmon Timehri.

The equipment will soon be pre-positioned at various locations to facilitate easy and timely deployment, should the need arise.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 2, 2018

CoI recommends immediate criminal, civil proceedings –– against errant City Hall officials

By Telesha Ramnarine

THE recently concluded Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the operations of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has recommended that Town Clerk Royston King and other senior officers of the municipality be terminated for poor management of the city.

The final report, compiled by CoI Chairman Justice (Rtd) Cecil Kennard, has been handed over to Chairman of the Local Government Commission, Mortimer Mingo.

King was cited for gross misconduct, abuse of office, recklessness, dishonesty, conspiracy, and misappropriation of funds.

Acting Town Clerk Sharon Harry-Munroe; Assistant Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick; Chief Constable Andrew Foo; and City Engineer Colvern Venture were all cited for dereliction of duty and incompetence, while Internal Auditor Omodele Umojo was named for incompetence and conspiracy.

Human Resources Manager Paulette Braithwaite was recommended to be terminated for incompetence, while Assistant City Engineer Rashid Kellman was named for conspiracy.

Justice Kennard has also recommended that City Treasurer Ron Mc Calmon proceed on early retirement,

since he has been unwell.

Other recommendations are that a yearly audit of the council’s finances and systems be conducted; that the council build suitable storage for all financial documents and employ a qualified accountant to hold the office of internal auditor; that former employees of the council be paid their severance packages, and their families be paid survivors benefits; that the contractors be paid their outstanding payments, and that the recommendations of the Keith Burrowes Report be implemented immediately; and that the recommendations of the consultant firm, Sandra V Jones and Associates be implemented immediately.

According to the report, when the city engineer was summoned to appear before the CoI, it appeared that he was overwhelmed with work due to a lack of staff. “This officer appeared to be compromised, as he provided information to the CoI which indicates that a senior officer takes instructions from the town clerk, and approves payments for works done without any written contracts.

It appears as if this officer is afraid of the town clerk, whom it seems has rendered all his senior officers incompetent and is directly issuing orders to their juniors,” the report said.

CONFLICTING STATEMENTS Noting that it was apparent during his oral submissions at the CoI that the chief constable had made conflicting statements, Justice Kennard declared: “It appeared from the outset that this officer lacks credibility, integrity and competence to manage the department which is under his control. The CoI received several complaints against this officer in respect of his dereliction of duty, and the cronyism which exists within the department.”

The report also referred to one Constable Easter Grant, who appeared at the CoI and accused the chief constable of improper conduct. Said Justice Kennard in his report, “When this was put to him, he was unable to deny the accusation.”

The CoI also heard complaints from another junior officer, one Quacy Baveghems, in relation to Foo’s conduct. “These officers and others, via letters to the CoI,” Justice Kennard said, “accused the chief constable of having a relationship with a junior officer who was promoted to sergeant and performs duties of the secretary to the chief constable. It is alleged that senior officers cannot speak to this junior officer about her conduct; if they do, they feel the wrath of the chief constable.”

During his oral evidence

to the CoI, the question of his relationship with the junior officer was put to him, and he responded that he is not in any relationship with her.

However, the town clerk’s bodyguard provided information that there is a relationship between the chief constable and the officer in question, and that she sells food during her active duty hours. It was also said at one point that she would even cook meals on location.

When the issuance of a firearm to the town clerk’s bodyguard was put to Foo, he failed to provide any logical explanation.

According to the report, “The handling of an investigation into the alleged break-and-enter of a storage facility and the removal of books also surfaced. And when questioned, this officer gave a story and caused a report to be prepared to corroborate his story. This is more than improper conduct; it borders on criminality.

This officer is corrupt and incompetent, and should be dismissed.”

It further said that when Harry-Munroe was summoned to the CoI, she made inconsistent statements, which inconsistency can be as a result of lack of knowledge or an attempt to conceal facts.

Said the CoI Chairman in conclusion: “The CoI is of the view that there seems to be some sinister motive on behalf of the council to

Woman killed after hit by truck

A WOMAN died on Saturday evening when she was struck by a truck on the Bagotstown Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Dead is Shondell Sparrock , 45, a clerical worker of Peter’s Hall East Bank Demerara. Reports indicate that the motor lorry, GMM 1121, was proceeding east along the northern side of the Demerara Harbour Bridge access road and was negotiating a left turn onto the Bagotstown Public Road while the pedestrian was crossing the road.

This resulted in the left side of the lorry colliding into the woman.

Dead: Shondell Sparrock

As a result of the collision, Sparrock fell onto the surface of the road and suffered injuries. She was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is currently at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination. When contacted, police said a breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver but no trace of alcohol was detected.

The driver was taken into custody and investigations are ongoing.

cover up the corrupt dealings of the town clerk. When one takes into account the fact that this officer had acted in this capacity for just over one month, but held the substantive position of deputy town clerk for some time; one believes that this officer possesses certain knowledge of the dealings of the town clerk.”

Justice Kennard also rec-

ommended that a detailed forensic audit be done into all transactions between April 1, 2015 and October 31, 2018, “as I have found that there is prima facia evidence to support skulduggery.

Moreover, where there is evidence of such activities, criminal and or civil proceedings should commence forthwith.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Chronicle leads the way in Health Journalism –– as PAHO awards local media corps LOCAL journalists were reminded of their critical role in sensitising the public on pertinent health matters, as they were awarded for their contributions to the field of health journalism throughout the year.

At the annual Pan-American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) Clare Forrester Media Awards for Health Journalism held at the Marriott Hotel on Saturday, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo delivered the feature address where he noted that health journalism—and journalism on a whole—is not a “sexy profession”.

According to him, the role of a true journalist is to bring issues to the attention of the people by bringing out the facts without sensational-

ising the topic.

And specifically, he stressed, “The job of the journalist in health journalism is to be able to learn most times.”

Echoing these sentiments was Junior Minister of Health Dr. Karen Cummings who explained that everyday journalists are tasked with taking complex (and even highly scientific) issues and presenting them in such a way that all citizens can digest the information readily.

The prime minister urged that journalists remain fearless in the pursuit of truth and facts, even in the sometimes daunting profession and stressed that emphasis must be placed on reporting on what is happening in the health sector.

But President of the Guy-

Editor-in-Chief of the Guyana Chronicle, Nigel Williams, receives the award for the overall winning entity from President of the GPA Nazima Raghubir

Vishani Ragobeer collects her prize from Chief Judge Dr Paloma Mohamed- Martin

Popular Journalist Handell Duncan collects the overall prize from Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Young journalist Naomi Marshall receives her award from PAHO/WHO Country Representative Dr. William Adu-Krow

ana Press Association (GPA) Nazima Raghubir noted that while media workers must be diligent in their work, public officials too must understand the role of the media in enforcing democracy and transparency.

“The media [are] important... they are critical members of the health sector,” she said while explaining that often, the general public turns to the media first for answers and insights.

This year, the awards were held under the theme: “Strengthening health systems to achieve universal health, through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Guyana.” To this end, PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana, Dr. William Adu-Krow said that the awards continue to be supported in order to foster progressive journalism in Guyana and to improve the overall standard of journalism in Guyana.

Leading the field of health journalism was the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL)/ Guyana Chronicle, which emerged the overall winning entity once again after media workers from this

media house chalked up 11 awards—the most from an individual media house.

Earning accolades for this newspaper were six journalists and two photographers. Senior Reporter Michel Outridge kicked off the awards after copping third place in both the Best News Story (Print) and News Story (Online); Deputy Chief Reporter Rabindra Rooplall copped the second place prize for Best News Story (print), but won the Best News Feature (print) award; Senior Reporter Lisa Hamilton copped the second spot for Best News Feature and Photographer Samuel Maughn also scored second in the Photojournalism category. Chronicle’s Chief Photographer Adrian Narine won the Photojournalism category.

Senior Reporter and Linden Correspondent, Vanessa Braithwaite copped the best Radio Story; and finally, young freelance journalists Naomi Marshall and Vishani Ragobeer won first place in the Best News Story (Print) and Best Feature Story (online), respectively. Ragobeer also won a special prize for the Best News Story in

Chief Photographer Adrian Narine scores big in the Photojournalism category

Deputy Chief Reporter Rabindra Rooplall collects his Best News Feature award

support of the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis.

PAHO/WHO also awarded other media workers in the categories of Television (News and Feature) and Edutainment. Notably,

popular Journalist Handell Duncan emerged as the overall winner after chalking up three top awards throughout the night.

These awards came out of a pool of some 104 entries submitted this year.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Victorians celebrate 179th anniversary

…AG assures residents gov’t laying groundwork to revitalise village economies

By Michel Outridge VICTORIANS on Thursday celebrated the village’s 179th anniversary with a cultural programme, during which Attorney-General Basil Williams reminded residents of the great struggle and sacrifice of their ancestors and his government’s plans to revitalise village economies.

The event was coordinated by the Victoria Youth Development Organisation Under the theme, “Commemorating our ancestry and redeeming our legacy.”

The programme, held outside of the Victoria Community Centre Ground, was attended by scores of villagers. It was punctuated with prayers, songs, poems and cultural activities in the form of drumming and dance in keeping with the theme.

Willams, who delivered the feature address, said he was pleased to be in the village, which he considered the mother of the Village Movement, given that it was the first village bought by freed slaves. Williams related that next year around this time, they will be marking the 180th Anniversary of the purchase of Plantation Northbrook by 83 free men and women from five plantations such as Ann’s Grove, Dochfour, Enmore, Hope and Paradise, who pooled their savings and agreed to purchase the plantation Northbrook which they renamed Victoria. Williams told the gathering that, that simple financial transaction, by unlettered men and women, transformed the then colony of British Guiana.

The minister added that the purchase of a single plantation and its conversion into a village laid the foundation

for establishment of a nation.

He told the large crowd that Victoria is a model village which has been bequeathed “by our ancestors. It is a model which is now being made more relevant to the present time and to extant challenges. Village revival is a work in progress.”

Williams said, “In doing so, we must be careful not to discard those central ideas which inspired the village movement – the notions of economic independence and communal solidarity. Our government is committed to ensuring that our villages are transformed into centres which can support economic independence. Our government – the one I represent – is placing emphasis on revitalising the economics of villages so as to ensure the provision of sustainable livelihoods.”

He stated that development, if it is to be impactful, must reach down to the grassroots. “Development for us permeates through to our villages and percolates within them. It is the philosophy of your government that the economy of the village must be revived if people-centred development is prioritised.

We are therefore, committed to improving the economics infrastructure – roads, bridges, irrigation and electricity – to support village economics, including the development of your farmlands,” he said.

Williams noted that the government is stimulating entrepreneurship and enterprise in order to invigorate the economies of villages, particularly in developing cottage industries and small and medium scale enterprises. “Your government is supporting the continued quest of people for economic independence. We see villages as

Two members of the Youth Movement of the Victoria SDA Church hoisting the flags

important to generating jobs and wealth for our people.

We will continue to support the development of economically vibrant villages,” the minister said.

He stated that the reintroduction of local government elections in 2016 was a first step in the empowering of villages to having a greater

say in the management of their communities.

Williams said local government elections are over and the government is committed to respecting the democratic will of the people and working with all elected local authorities-- regardless of which party of group is in control – to reboot the

economies of our villages and ensure improved public service to residents.

SOCIALLY COHESIVE Williams said one of the key planks that undergirded the historic village movement was the notion of the village as communities of solidarity.

He said many lands, which were developed into villages, were purchased by groups of individuals. “The joint proprietors had the task of organising and planning the development of these communities. They also set about establishing places for worship, education and recreation,” Williams told residents.

He said the imperative of working together to provide common services spawned human and communal solidarity, noting that villages developed a spirit of oneness. “Everybody knew everyone else; they supported each other in times of distress and sorrow; they practised self-help and they worked collectively for the benefit of the community.

Elders were respected. People helped one another.”

According to the attorney general, these are the values around which community life should be revived. “Villages should become socially cohesive units promoting inter-ethnic harmony and promoting cultural activities on weekends. The playfields must come alive after school with athletic and other physical pursuits for young people.

Villages should be made safer, more secure and more caring. This is what your government is seeking to achieve. It is to this mission that we are committed, a mission consistent with the spirit of 1839. That spirit is being rekindled right across communities.

Village economies are being revitalised; community spirit is being rejuvenated.”

He thanked the people of Victoria for their efforts in reviving and rejuvenating the spirit of 1839 and also lauded the organisers of the programme.

PANCAP calls for better environment to allow people to be tested for HIV/AIDS

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — The Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) is urging all stakeholders, including regional governments, to ensure that the necessary actions are taken to allow people who want to know their HIV/AIDS status to “come forward with the knowl-

edge that they will not be treated differently”.

PANCAP Director, Dereck Springer, in a message marking World AIDS Day yesterday, said such persons if they are tested positive should receive “the treatment, care and support they need to enjoy good quality lives and achieve viral suppression.

“Only then can we get them to know their status and begin the journey towards ending AIDS as a public health threat in the Caribbean,” he warned.

World AIDS Day is being observed under theme “Know your status” and Springer said that it encourages people to be tested.

“This theme is very

relevant as the world has committed to fast track actions towards achieving the 90-90-90 treatment targets by the year 2020. The UNAIDS 2018 Global AIDS Monitoring (GAM) report informs us that there are an estimated 310,000 adults and children living with HIV in the Caribbean, of which nearly 55,000 are unaware

that they have HIV.” Springer said that while many people experience anxieties when contemplating being tested, it is good to know that the majority of them will test HIV negative.

“What is important is those who know that they are HIV negative have an incentive to keep themselves free from HIV by

adopting changes to their lives that can reduce their risk and vulnerability to HIV. The few who test positive for HIV can have immediate access to life-saving antiretroviral drugs that would enable them to enjoy a good quality life and live much longer.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 2, 2018

Guyana Association of Women Police observes sixth anniversary THE Guyana Association of Women Police held a grand parade on Friday morning which saw the attendance of hundreds of persons including senior and junior officers of the Guyana Police Force, along with a delegation from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service led by Assistant Commissioner Patsy Joseph.

The women turned out in their numbers, smartly dressed to celebrate their place in the Guyana Police Force. The contingent of five platoons comprising of female ranks from the Guyana Association of Women Police, the Special Constabulary, Felix Austin Police College, Police Divisions (A-G) and the foreign delegates, who travelled to celebrate this milestone with their Guy-

(Centre) Commissioner of Police Leslie James flanked by Deputy Commissioner Maxine Graham and foreign delegate, Assistant Commissioner Patsy Joseph along with female ranks from Guyana Association of Women Police anese counterparts.

The parade marked the observance of the sixth Anniversary of the Guyana Association of Women

Police which commenced at the National Park, Carifesta Avenue and traversed onto Young Street where the Commissioner

of Police Leslie James, flanked by his deputies took the “Eyes-Right” and proceeded to the Officers Mess Annex where the annual Church Service begun under the theme “Women Embracing Positive Change in Law Enforcement”.

The celebration continued as the women invited God into their presence with a heart-warming opening prayer by Women Inspector Marcia Sealey.

Thereafter the programme got underway with a pleasant welcome by Women Superintendent Charmine Stuart who paid homage to the women who laid the

foundation for the association to be formulated. They also paid homage to those exceptional women who broke through the glass ceiling with their outstanding achievements in the Guyana Police Force.

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes, Deputy Commissioner Maxine Graham, President of the Association, and other ranks of the Guyana Police Force withal the foreign delegates and their leader Assistant Commissioner Patsy Joseph, were all among the packed audience of this humbled ceremony.

Scriptures taken from Luke 1:35-38 and 1:3945 were read by Women Inspector Shevon Jupiter and Women Constable 25056 Mars, respectively followed by hymns and instrumentals by the women of the police band.

Woman Sergeant Mitchell Calder delivered an inspirational message urging the women police to stand up and be counted and also to stay strong and be a guiding light for not only police women but for all women.

The program then concluded with a closing prayer, followed by the National Anthem.

JSC receiving gov’t attention – Harmon THE Judicial Service Commission (JSC) came to an end over a year ago but it is receiving the government’s attention, according to Minister of State Joseph Harmon during post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday.

“As soon as that is ready for public disclosure I will do so,” Harmon said.

Minister Harmon gave the assurance that efforts are in train to have it reconstituted.

The composition of the JSC is set out in Article 198 of the constitution. It states that the members of the commission shall be the chancellor, who is the chairman, chief justice, chairman of the PSC and such other members appointed in accordance with provisions listed in Section 2 of that article.

The members, it states, shall be ap-

pointed by the President as follows, that is to say “(a) one from among persons who hold or have held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth; or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court, acting after meaningful consultations with the leader of the opposition and (b) not less than one and not more than two from among persons who are not attorneys-at-law in active practice, after the National Assembly has meaningfully consulted such bodies as appear to it to represent attorneys-at-law in Guyana and signified its choice of members to the President, after the President has also consulted such bodies as appear to him to represent attorneys-at-law in Guyana…”

SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 2, 2018

Cabinet approves sale of Stockfeeds’ shares THE government has agreed to sell its seven per cent interests in the Guyana Stockfeeds Limited (GSL), Minister of State, Joseph Harmon disclosed on Friday at a post-cabinet press briefing.

Harmon said that the offer to purchase government’s holdings of 5,437 ordinary shares at $25 per share, by Robert Badal, CEO of the Guyana Pegasus was the only response to two separate

requests for proposals; the last being published over the period October 29 to December 7, 2017.

“Cabinet approved the sale of the shares as proposed and authorised NICIL to complete the sale transaction,” Minister Harmon said.

Following the administration’s advertisements in 2017, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had accused the coalition government of being “in bed” with Badal

who had secured a court order validating the reduction of government’s shares in GSL from 38 per cent to the current seven per cent. The reduction, which occurred under the former PPP-administration, was first nullified by an order of the court which was later challenged and upheld by the High Court.

In response to the opposition leader’s claims, Badal, the majority shareholder in GSL

Linden to soon have its first monument –– in memory of township’s 2012 Martyrs THE 2019 Budget has made provisions for the funding of a monument in honour of the three Linden martyrs, Ron Sommerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Allan Lewis who were gunned down during a bloody and fiery protest on the July 18, 2012.

The announcement was made by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan during the budget presentation on Monday, and follows the

the martyr.

Lindeners took to the streets for 36 days to send a strong message that they will not be surrendering to the hike in electricity tariffs which had been proposed by the former administration to raise it from $5 per Kilowatt to $65.

To date, the government continues to pay billions of dollars in electricity subsidies for Linden. Figures show that from 2012 to

The three Linden Martyrs: Ron Sommerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Allan Lewis repeated call of relatives, friends and residents at large for the building of a monument in the men’s honour.

It’s also a nod to the holding of a memorial service on July 18 every year since the incident on the very spot on which they were killed.

Former Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon, who was at the forefront of the protest and played an integral role in ensuring that the martyrs are remembered yearly, said that the monument is welcomed sincerely, not by the relatives only, but the residents as well since it has been their desire ever since. She said that it is long overdue, and will surely signify the ultimate price paid by the trio.

Allan Lewis’s son, Rodwell, said that he is happy that it is finally coming to reality.

A street in Wismar Housing Scheme was named ‘Allan Lewis Avenue’ in memory of

now, the government would have expended over $18B in subsidies for Region 10, paying approximately $3B yearly. That is more than the region would have benefited in total budgetary allocations over that same period.

During the 2012 protests, the entire town was shut down, while main roads became impassable. Several government buildings, including a school, were gutted by fire. Public roads and bridges were also destroyed. A Commission of Inquiry found that the martyrs were shot by law enforcement officers.

Only recently it was made public that Shemroy Bouyea’s mother is in dire need of help, as she currently lives in a dilapidated apartment under inhumane conditions. Several sections of the house are also exposed to the elements.

Several persons have already come on board a drive to rehabilitate her home.

had said, Bharrat Jagdeo is seeking to – “scheme, lie and cause mischief … my business is an open market; it is growing. My business doesn’t depend on government contracts. I received no favours from the current government.

My business is competitive, and it is serving the economy of Guyana significantly.”

National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) serves as a holding company and carries out the role as a custodian and overseer of the government’s shares and interests in subsidiaries and affiliates various entities.

13

Malicia Andrews on the mend MALICIA Andrews, a mother of six who suffered multiple chop wounds last Wednesday is said to have improved following surgery.

She was reportedly assaulted by her partner who later allegedly took his own life after the assault.

He was laid to rest on Friday.

The couple, who had been living together for three years were experiencing domestic issues and in a fit of rage, 39-year-old Ian English inflicted multiple chop wounds on Andrews, who is the mother of their three year-old child. She bled profusely in the living room of her mother’s home at Swan Village, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, where she had gone to seek refuge following a heated argument with English, who after committing the act, fled into some nearby bushes and hanged himself.

According to a relative, Carmelita Adams, Andrews is doing much better and is attempting to speak but cannot due to the tubes that are in her mouth.

She is reportedly opening her eyes and the body swelling has reduced significantly and she is accepting ‘liquid’ feeding.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 2, 2018

Guyana to pilot novel prison reform project shortly

SOME 65 trainers from across the Caribbean on Friday began training at a five-day “Regional Train the Trainers Workshop on Restorative Justice: The Sycamore Tree Project” here at the Grand Coastal Hotel, on the East Coast Demerara.

The in-prison programme is intended to contribute to recidivism reduction, and prisoner rehabilitation, through interaction between

unrelated victims and offenders to discuss crime and its impact.

The programme is being funded by the European Union (EU) as a component of the 10th European Development Fund Crime and Violence Prevention and Social Development Project, and is expected to be first rolled out in Guyana, Trinidad, and Suriname in the coming weeks.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop on

Friday afternoon, Head of the European Union Delegation to Guyana and Suriname, Jernej Videtic, noted the need for alternative measures from punitive policies in dealing with prisoners.

“Contrary to common belief, lengthy severe punishment does not change behaviour; we have to move beyond increasingly punitive policies which have caused prison populations to grow at much faster rates than report-

ed crime,” he noted.

In Guyana, the prison population at several prisons is grossly overpopulated.

Like most Caribbean countries, Guyana, too, suffers from a high recidivism rates.

The Sycamore Tree Project has been known to help reduce the recidivism rate.

According to its website: “The programme can have profound effects on the victims and offenders. Many victims have reported receiv-

ing a measure of healing.

“Offenders confront, many times for the first time, the harm their actions have had on other people. Studies have shown that offenders who go through the Sycamore Tree Project have significant changes in attitudes that make it less likely they will reoffend once released.”

The Sycamore Tree Project is one of several ventures in prison rehabilitation that the EU has been promoting across the Caribbean. Other projects include the “Drug Demand Reduction Project”, “Crime Prevention Project”, “Support to the Security System in the Caribbean”, and the “Support Criminal Justice in the Caribbean”.

“The objective is to decrease the level of incarceration, and particularly pre-trial incarceration, in the Caribbean. We have to break the vicious circle that people get out prison only to land back in court and find themselves once again behind bars for repeat offences,” Videtic said.

Videtic stressed that these programmes are by no means to be seen as a way of taking away from the effect of punishment for criminals.

“We don’t want to be soft on crime, but effective on crime,” he explained “It is fundamental not to see restorative justice as

some kind of alternative to the criminal justice system.

What is needed is that restorative principles are embedded in the criminal justice system as a whole.”

Giving an insight into how the project will work in Guyana, CARICOM Secretariat Crime and Security Programme Manager, Sherwin Toyne-Stephenson said that prisoners and victims will sit down and go through an eight-week programme, where a facilitator leads the participants in conversations about subjects related to crime and justice.

As each eight-week programme ends, another will begin.

It is expected that each eight-week programme will involve some 30 participants, ideally hoped to comprise of half prisons and half victims.

According to assessments, Toyne-Stephenson noted, the project is expected to be very sustainable.

This project comes on stream as Guyana looks towards doing several upgrades to prisons and the prison system. Some $35.6B (US$170.1M) has been allocated to the security sector in the 2019 Budget, of which sum $4B will go towards the development of the country’s prison system.

New café franchise to ‘Rock’ Guyanese THE Hard Rock Cafe Guyana promises to be an archetype of the brand’s authenticity with new design and state-of-the-art finish and located to the east of Movie Towne Mall.

Hard Rock Café Guyana had its first Job Fair on November 19, 2018 at Herdmanston Lodge From 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Over 150 candidates lined up to be interviewed for various job openings advertised via newspaper, radio and social media.

A job awareness campaign was done from the November 9th-17th encouraging persons to apply early and providing information about the culture of the Hard Rock brand in the effort of creating some excitement.

The café will be designed for both local/international traffic to create an amazing atmosphere for all. It will be a haven for fans of music, food and great times, whether you are down for a legendary burger, live music, a classic tea, a rock star suite or the latest collectibles…there’s something for everyone.

Every Hard Rock Café around the world serves up authentic experiences that “Rock.”

Since its establishment in 1971, Hard Rock has also been committed to a wide variety of philanthropic causes and activities with their mantra being Love All- Serve All.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE December 2, 2018

‘Hydromet’ forecasts below-normal rainfall –– for usually wet May-June period next year

THE Guyana Hydrometeorological Office has predicted that the El Niño months of May to July next year will see below-normal rainfall.

Specialist Meteorologist, Komalchand Dhiram says that although the ‘Met Office’ found it difficult to

concern in coastal Guyana,” he said.

“People could expect a week of moderate El Niño; wet days and wet spells will become less frequent towards February,” he told participants at the Fifth National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF) at the Herd-

kutu-Upper Essequibo) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), Dhiram said that going forward, the ‘Met Office’, with the help of data from the forum, will be in a better position to make more accurate forecasts by working together with key stakeholders.

Participants at the fifth NCOF on Friday (Samuel Maughn photo) forecast the weather during the corresponding period this year, persons can expect less than normal rainfall during the traditional rainy May-June season come next year.

“Extreme wet spells remain possible through January; there is not much

manston Lodge on Friday.

And neither will heat stress be a problem during the period at reference, Dhiram said, as the cool season will start to build up from March.

Recalling the devastation brought by recent flooding in Regions Nine (Upper Ta-

The success of the NCOF, he said, will enable them to enhance and produce monthly seasonal outlooks such as the farmers’ weather bulletin and a drought bulletin.

Among some of the objectives of the forum is building partnerships to

help reduce the impacts of climate change in sectors which are susceptible to the harsh effects of the phenomenon.

“We hope to provide climate information and products; clear all uncertainties, and look at ways to get information to farmers,” Dhiram said.

He said that whatever information they happen to share is always useful because it empowers societies to manage the risks arising from climate variability and change, and aims to strengthen the interaction between climate service providers and those who make use of the service.

The ‘Met Office’ has been developing tools to add value in the interest of both government and commercial customers by providing special services for organisations to practise tactical decision-making for weather sensitive operations.

According to Dhiram, the ‘Met Office’ has been guided by the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), which accelerates and coordinates the technically and scientifically sound implementation of measures to improve climate-related outcomes at national, regional and global levels. As a framework

The Met Office’s Komalchand Dhiram (Samuel Maughn photos) with broad participation and agenda, the NCOF will serve reach, the GFCS enables as a platform for promotthe development and appli- ing regular dialogue and cation of climate services inter-agency coordination to assist decision-making in responding to natural at all levels, in support of hazards. addressing climate-related Representative of the risks.

Caribbean Institute of MeteThe GFCS focuses on orology and Hydrology, Dr. developing and delivering Roche Mahon commendservices in five priority ar- ed Guyana for hosting the eas, which address issues NCOF, and said that studies basic to the human condition and focus on climate resiland present the most imme- ience has improved responsdiate opportunities for bring- es in affected areas. ing benefits to human safety She said that during the and wellbeing. These areas drought period in 2014include agriculture, food se- 2015, there was a decline curity, water, health, disaster of about 25 per cent in rereduction and energy. ports of losses from farmAs a subsidiary of this ers.

Budget 2019: A good historical document – Harmon

BUDGET 2019 was exceptional and can be used as a good historical document that can be used by universities and people in academia since there is so much to be gained, according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during his post-Cabinet media briefing on Friday.

Harmon was at the

time responding to a question which noted harsh criticism from Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, over what he described as the “visionless and disappointing” National Budget presented in the National Assembly.

“We hear the cries of the people on the ground, and therefore we are not deaf to those realities and

so you have a budget that has education as its primary focus, it has the largest chunk of the budget, the budget also deals with the health of the people, this is the next large chunk of the budget,” he said.

He explained that the budget also deals with enhancement of the infrastructure of the country, social protection and cohesion along with all developmental projects.

“The budget is not all

about dollars and cents, it about promoting a ‘Green’ State Developmental Strategy in the initial stages and moving Guyana forward into the 2020’s and onto 2040,” Harmon said.

Meanwhile, commenting on the recently concluded Local Government Elections, Harmon said the election was a gauge to the mood of the electorate and the APNU is reviewing strategies which

address citizens’ concerns.

“As far as it being a census on the coalition government, I think that might not be an accurate statement because if you recognise the turnout was low, what you were looking at were percentages of a low turnout,” Harmon said.

However, he said it will be used as a guide for the future.

When questioned on the LGE awareness cam-

paign, Minister Harmon said both GECOM and Ministry of Communities have a dual responsibility in voters’ awareness.

“To say that there has not been enough voter education is unfortunate, because these are the second set of LGEs we are holding since 2015, in fact the LGEs before was done in March 2016, so we had voter’s education over the years,” the Minister of State noted.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Gov’t commissions two more nursery schools –– in keeping with mandate of ensuring quality education for all

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry formally hands over the keys to Headteacher of the Smyth Street Nursery, Ms. Charmaine Benjamin

GUYANA on Thursday came one step closer to meeting its obligations where ensuring universal education for all is concerned when it commissioned not just one, but two new nursery schools.

The schools at reference are the Smyth Street Nursery School on the St. Phillips Green, and the Carmelita Nursery School in sub-urban Werk-en-Rust and Campbellville respectively.

One of the pillars of the 17 UN-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education, and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

According to the UN, obtaining a quality education is the foundation to creating sustainable development. “In addition to improving quality of life, access to inclusive education can help equip locals with the tools required to develop innovative solutions to the world’s greatest problems.”

As Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry observed during the commissioning of the Smyth Street school: “Another milestone has been marked in the history of Guyana’s education sector.

“I trust that, within these walls, we will go on to produce students who will reach their full potential.”

She said she was confident that both facilities will provide the type of environment that is conducive to both children and their teachers alike, as she is well aware of the relationship between physical space and

The newly-commissioned Carmelita Nursery School

The new Smyth Street Nursery School

learning.

“The Ministry of Education and the Government of Guyana understand that a building alone cannot infuse the vision and passion that guide schools and the development of young people,” she said. “It is the human spirit of interaction, and all stakeholders will make a difference.”

Underscoring that education is a lifelong pursuit, particularly given the rapid developments taking place in the field of science and technology, Dr. Henry said:

“Our education sector, just as is happening in many other jurisdictions, has been undergoing wide-ranging reforms, from nursery to tertiary.

“I am confident that through collaboration, we can make the reform journey a successful one.”

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson touched on the child-friendliness of both schools, which he said is in keeping with a global movement that encourages schools to operate in the best interest of chil-

dren.

“I believe we have the facilities here, and we must now have the other things that will go along with a school that is child-friendly,” he said.

“Child-friendly schools not only help children realise the right to basic education, but also provide quality education experiences by being child-focused and child-centered,” he added.

Noting that such environments promote the concept of inclusion, thereby equiping children with the

capacity to learn, Hutson said what happens in school goes beyond structure and staff; that what is important is what the school produces.

“We need to work with our children to the point where they will be excellent; and this is what every school must foster,” Hutson said.

“We want our children to be literate and numerate, even at the nursery level,” he added.

He explained that a nursery school should not be considered a day-care centre where children are dropped off and picked up; that rather

nursery education must be treated as the building block to primary and secondary education.

In closing, he said: “It is incumbent upon us that we care the facilities; the student coming after must walk into the facility that is conducive to learning.

“And therefore it is important that as teachers, as parents, as stakeholders we treat this building with respect, because we want it to last.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

GTA partnering with Visit Rupununi on demand-driven tourism

MOU signing between GTA Director Brian Mullins and VR President Melanie McTurk, while GTA staff, Kamrul Baksh, and VR Coordinator, Candace Phillips, look on.

THE Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Visit Rupununi (VR), and Swisscontact on Friday held a press conference at the GTA boardroom, National Exhibition Complex, to highlight details of the Demand-Based Living Destination Development & Management Map and Action Plan process the agencies are undertaking.

The GTA also penned a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Visit Rupununi, which also launched its 2019 calendar of events.

GTA Director Brian Mullis said through the development of the action plan, the GTA and its partners have become familiar with the strategic visitor flow approach, its method and tools. He added that GTA is working with Swisscontact to strengthen the capacities of leaders in the travel and tourism sector and move toward a demand-based approach to guide tourism product and infrastructure development.

Mullis told the gathering on Friday that the action plan is designed to be the blueprint for prioritising and implementing the product, attraction and infrastructure development elements of the strategy in an evidence-based manner. The plan, he said, is also designed to link to and build on the regional tourism development work, led by the Department of Tourism.

Mullis said, “This approach will enable us to capitalise on resources, avoid duplication of effort, and realise the growth potential of travel and tourism and past investments in product development (e.g., in indigenous communities).”

Rehanna Briglall of the Department of Tourism and VR President Melanie McTurk display poster of calendar of events for VR 2019.

Swisscontact Veronica Schanderl (fifth from left) poses with GTA staffers following the press conference on Friday at the GTA boardroom.

He added that the approach is also designed to foster stakeholder engagement, new partnerships and tourism investment, and improved resource efficiencies.

Mullis told the press conference that the approach to tourism development and planning in Guyana has been largely ad hoc. Although this is the norm in many destinations, oftentimes it does not work, he said.

He said in his view, Swisscontact’s commitment to empowering sustainable tourism development within destinations is unsurpassed globally and their role is to build the capacity of five leaders in tourism and train them to take the lead in developing, implementing, updating and expanding upon the action plan.

Mullins added that the methodology is based on the University of St. Gallen’s Model for Destination Management, which has been successfully implemented in destinations worldwide.

Swisscontact’s Veronica

Schanderl said her company is deemed the leader of training and capacity- building in global tourism promotion and they have had sessions with key stakeholders and other agencies to safeguard local destinations and looked at tourism on a demand basis.

Their goal, she related, is to let visitors spend more, feel more welcome and their ultimate aim is to seek the best way forward in their approach methodology.

Meanwhile, President of THAG, Mitra Ramkumar, said the effort is one of partnership which involves the stakeholders and key agencies, since tourism is a demand-driven focus and a demand-based approach is needed for visitor’s flow and how to get them to stay longer and visit more resorts and places, among other things.

President of Visit Rupununi, Melanie McTurk, said with its area and beautiful biodiversity, the warmth and richness of its indigenous and ranching culture and the inextricable connection of

the people to the land and wildlife, the Rupununi is also the birthplace of both the conservation and eco-tourism movements in Guyana and today represents the bedrock of the nation’s international tourism offering.

McTurk stated that in July 2015, in response to stakeholder recommendations to have one body to coordinate tourism efforts in the region and with support from Conservation International, Visit Rupununi was formed, becoming Guyana’s first Regional Destination Management Organisation (RDMO).

She pointed out that as an RDMO, Visit Rupununi (VR) markets the services of its members, provides support through training and capacity-building and represents stakeholder interest at the regional, national and international levels.

McTurk noted that for more than three years, VR has worked with a mixture of community-based enterprises, private operators,

regional organisations and, most notably, the RDC and GTA to provide: access to various training opportunities, representation at exhibitions, technical advice, and as a forum for information and stakeholder input on a range of issues relevant to the development and enhancement of the sector.

She told the press conference that for 2019, VR has launched a calendar of activities and signed an MOU as part of its action plan to increase the quality, competitiveness and visibility of the Rupununi Tourism Product in both local and international markets by promoting the Rupununi as a single destination with a variety of distinct products, propagating sustainable business practices, increasing community culture resources and working in collaboration with relevant agencies and groups to increase the role of tourism stakeholders in regional development.

McTurk said the calendar, for the first time, allows

visitors and prospective visitors, at a glance, to know what are the big events and more importantly, when.

Speaking on Guyana’s tourism development plans, GTA Director Brian Mullins said the national tourism boards require national tourism policies, strategies and action plans to create an enabling environment for the tourism private sector, guide tourism development, and maximize the benefits.

Guyana, he noted, does not currently have a Cabinet-approved national tourism policy. However, the Minister of Business, the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), and GO- Invest have been working with the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and key stakeholders in the tourism sector to prioritize recommendations and improve the enabling environment for sustainable tourism development. In addition, the DOT and GTA have led the development of a living Guyana Tourism Strategic Action Plan: 2018-2025.

The plan is designed to be dynamic and is continuously evolving, based on changing circumstances and priorities, lessons learned, resource availability, stakeholder input, and the like.

Mullins pointed out that the Guyana Tourism Strategic Action Plan is informed by the Green State Development Strategy and input from governmental departments, the tourism private sector, civil society and community leaders.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Bad weather puts damper on Rockstone Fish Festival –– organisers hope for better luck next time around

Ravi Persaud of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, who successfully defended his title of “Largest Lukanani” winner at Sunday’s fish festival

By Naomi Marshall THE annual Rockstone Fish Festival 2018 took a beating last Sunday due to poor planning, the deplorable condition of the road and the inclement weather.

President of the Rockstone Tourism Association (RTA) Lynette Benn said she was not surprised by the poor showing this year, and is saddened because they have not been receiving the full support from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI) as they should.

“This was expected,” she said. “I am not disappointed, because we have been asking the relevant authority to do the road.

“It was our decision; we know that it would have come to this, but we know that it is an annual event…

“It’s not only about the Rockstone Tourism Association. This is a vibrant community; we have potential for tourism and we hope that they will respect and know that citizens of Guyana are living here and need the road to be done ASAP.” According to Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Marketing Officer Ronald Smith, they were told that the event had been cancelled, but due to the overwhelming demand, the RTA decided to go ahead with it.

Smith said the GTA has always been about developing community tourism and so has always been supportive of the Rockstone Fish Festival, for as long as it has been around.

“The Rockstone Fish Fes-

RTA President Lynette Benn (left) and RTA Executive Member Faye Allicock

tival is the perfect initiative where the GTA falls in line with that. And the new approach that the GTA is taking is to make events like these self-sustaining, independent and community-led.”

Smith said the GTA’s goal is to have communities take ownership for events they’re holding and as such their role in such events is to build capacity by providing training if requested. All they ask in return, he said, is that the organisers of such events make safety a priority.

First-timer, Gewan Saw, who hails from Vigilance on the East Coast of Demerara, told the Guyana Chronicle that in spite of the rain he was impressed by the event and would like to encourage people to make every effort to be there come next year, rain or no rain.

“According to what I seeing here,” Saw said, “it is a very exciting trip for tourism, ‘cause our country need tourism. And this was one of the spot really people can venture to come have a look of our biodiversity.

“I would encourage people that they can come here and see the beauty of our country.” Saw was there with some 10 other family members and according to him, they all had a blast, even though the majority of the competitive events were called off, leaving only the one to do with fishing.

Chivnarine Gordon, who made the trip from all the way from the West Coast of Demerara, had the heaviest catch of the day, thereby living up to his call-name

among his peers in the sport-fishing community of “Fish-pro.”

A fisherman by profession, Gordon was also this year’s winner in the “Largest any fish” and “Largest Arawana” categories.

Asked to describe his experience, the West Demerarian, who has been doing ‘Rockstone’ seven years now, said: “It has always been amazing, because it’s the only sports I ever liked more than anything else.

“I love fishing bad! The catch was reasonable; I could have done better, but because the water raise and the rain.”

Another contestant named Ravi Persaud of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, was able to successfully defend his title of “Largest Lukanani” winner, and also took that of “Largest catch.”

Said he: “Having a competition in Guyana is just a great thing to have. We just need some more support, and everything is going to get good; we are going to get better and better.”

Persaud said he can’t wait for next year and is challenging more people to take part in the competitions. “Rockstone is focusing on accommodating for eco-tourism,” he said, unable to contain his excitement.

The first festival was organised in September 2006, and sold more than a thousand tickets. The event is usually held over two days, namely Saturday and Sunday.

The Rockstone Tourism Association was founded on December 21, 2006.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Anna Regina gets new Mayor

THE Municipality of Anna Regina in Region Two, Pomeroon-Supenaam, on Friday elected its fourth mayor to serve on the 28-year-old council.

Rajendra Lall Prabhulall, 58, a pastor of the Voice of Faith Miracle Ministries and a former journalist of

the Guyana Chronicle, was elected as the new major for the town. He was nominated by a councillor of the People’s Progressive Party Civic, Jewan Persaud.

He was declared the Major of Anna Regina after there were no other nominations by Town Clerk Diane

Chritchlow who conducted the elections. Rudolph Compton Gladwin Williams was nominated by Mohanlall Suelall as the deputy mayor. There were no other nomination and as such Williams was declared the deputy mayor. Prabhulall replaces Rabindranauth Mohan and

Williams replaced Dharshan Persaud.

Both Williams and Prabhulall took up their positions in front as new leaders of the Anna Regina Town Council. The statutory meeting of the Anna Regina Town Council will be held on the first Thursday of every month

Newly-elected Mayor of Anna Regina, Rajendra Prabhulall

Deputy Mayor, Rudolph Compton Gladwin Williams

starting from January,2019.

Immediately after the elections were concluded, Prabhulall thanked the People’s Progressive Party Civic for giving him the opportunity to serve on the council. Prabhulall said he looks forward to serving the people within the township. He called upon councillors to support him in moving the council forward.

He also pledged support to work with his fellow councillors to transform the town.

Prabhulall said his vision is to involve the people around the township and called on the elected councillors to represent their respective areas. He charged them to come with new ideas to the council and to work in unison. Deputy Major, Williams also called for support from all councillors in developing the areas within the township. His vision is to make Anna Regina the best town in Guyana. Williams said that cleanliness within the township is of paramount importance and that will be

the top agenda of the council come January, 2019. Improved drainage, collection of rates and taxes, effective garbage collection and upgrading of streets are also on the council’s agenda.

Lone APNU councillor Darul Hakim Khan also congratulated the newly elected mayor and deputy and pledged his support to work with the council towards the improvement of the town. He called upon everyone to work together and to put aside political differences.

Representing the PPP/C on the council are: former Deputy Mayor Darshan Persaud, Jewan Persaud, Mohan Lall Suelall, Yadunath Doobay, Roseline Thompson, Bhagwan Lall Ramlagan, Harzul Bacchus, Deonarine Persaud, Mohammed Khaleem Ally, Bibi Nazmoon Husman Ally, Muhamma Rafeeq, Herman Amrit Persaud and Lorna Fitzallen. Representing the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on the Council is lone Darul Hakim Khan.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Prince Holder wins PNCR chairmanship in Region Two Prince Holder gained 101 votes, while Mark McLean gained 15 votes.

Fitzroy Fredericks was elected Vice-Chairman, while Audrey Garraway remained secretary for the party. Yonette Obermuller was elected Treasurer, while Sherwin Holder was elected as the Central Committee Representative (CCR).

Three committee members were elected. They are: Albrin Shepheard, Shirley

Flashback! Prince Holder with President David Granger

LOUD cheers were heard last Sunday afternoon when 58-year-old Prince Holder, a rice farmer of Henrietta Village in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was elected as the new chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Region Two chapter.

The father of seven replaces Leonard Dunbar, who opted not to compete

at the Regional District Conference held on Sunday November 25 at the Queenstown community centre.

The elections commenced at 13:00 hours, with party supporters casting their votes for their favourite candidate. Competing for chairmanship for the party was Mark McLean and Prince Holder. Both candidates served the party with distinction in the past.

Teleperformance voices concern about privacy –– due to Interception of Communications Act FRENCH-based call centre, Teleperformance, says some aspects of the Interception of Communications Act could affect its business and they are seeking some relief.

On Tuesday Boris Espinel, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Mr. Luis Barreto, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Teleperformance Guyana, visited the Labour Department during a courtesy call on Keith Scott, Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection and with direct responsibility for labour.

The executives met with Minister Scott to discuss some pertinent issues that are affecting the company’s operations, a release from the minister’s office said. The executives observed, according to the release, that while Guyana has a stable busi-

ness environment, certain Sections of Act 21 of 2008, the Interception of Communications Act could affect their business operations, “in particular, Section 3:1, which prohibits the company from recording calls, a function the company maintained is critical to quality and service assurance,” the release stated.

The minister noted that adherence to the new Anti-Money Laundering Legislation requirements as well as continued respect for the Labour Laws of Guyana enables all parties to maintain a stable business environment. Minister Scott reassured the executives that he will engage the Hon. Catherine Hughes M.P, Minister of Public Telecommunications, as it relates to the concerns of the company.

Barken and Jacklin Pellew.

The returning officer for the election was Aubrey Norton.

Minister of Social Cohesion, George Norton was also present at the Regional Conference and congratulated all the members who were elected to serve on the party’s executives. He charged them to do so faithfully in the best interest of residents in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region.

Immediately after the

election, the newly elected chairman pledged his energies to work for the good of the party and Essequibians. He thanked the supporters for having confidence in him and for giving him the opportunity to serve as a leader. Holder, who is a rice farmer, said that “racism” is a huge issue in the region and vowed to work in easing differences that exist amongst the various ethnic

groups. “I will work with the grassroots and ensure that the people interests are met. As leader I will work with all stakeholders to move Region Two forward, I am not just a PNC/R leader I am a ‘people-person’. I represent everyone and as such persons suffering from any issues or problem can reach out to me” Holder said.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

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India’s Vijay hits ton, Rahul back in runs ahead of first Australia Test

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SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - India openers Lokesh Rahul and Murali Vijay had useful outings on the final day of their only warm-up match yesterday in a confidence-booster ahead of next week’s opening Test against Australia.

Rahul and Vijay are expected to start the innings for the touring side, who lost exciting 19-year-old batting prospect Prithvi Shaw suffering with an ankle injury.

Shaw was taken to hospital for scans after he rolled his left ankle when he tumbled over the rope during the third day of the warm-up contest on Thursday.

Rahul has struggled for runs in recent times and India’s third opening option, Murali Vijay, is on the comeback trail after he was dropped following a poor tour of England earlier this year.

India, the world’s topranked Test side, got a second chance to bat in the tour match after the Cricket Australia XI kept them on the field for more than 151 overs,

finally getting dismissed for 544 with a first-innings lead of 186.

Rahul, who was dismissed for three in the first innings, made a stroke-filled 62, hitting eight fours and a six in his knock after an opening stand of 109.

Vijay, dropped for the home two-Test series against West Indies, scored 129, his innings studded with 16 fours and five sixes. He smashed off-spinner Jake Carder for 26 in an over to reach his hundred. The touring side finished on 211 for two with the four-day non-first class match ending in a draw.

Earlier, four batsmen from the representative side scored half-centuries, with wicketkeeper-batsman Harry Nielsen scoring 100 to make the Indian bowlers toil.

The Test series begins in Adelaide on Thursday, with further matches in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

Ninvalle feels Guyanese boxers could face stiff competition at Caribbean Championships GUYANA’s dominance at next week’s Caribbean Boxing Championships is not confirmed and the Land of Many Waters could face stiff competition from several countries.

This was the pronouncement of Guyana Boxing Association president Steve Ninvalle.

The Caribbean Championship will run from Thursday December 6th to Sunday December 9th at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

“The only thing that is confirmed at this time is that we will have the home court advantage,” Ninvalle said in an interview yesterday moments after a 34-member team was encamped at the National Gymnasium.

“The likes of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados have been exposing their boxers to major international

events over the last two years which makes the upcoming four-day championship an interesting event.”

“Trinidad and Tobago has a contingent of 38 inclusive of 2016 Olympian Nigel Paul , and Lightweight Michael Alexander.

French Guiana is fielding a team that includes several that have had extended stints in France. In a nutshell Guyana has its work cut out,” Ninvalle stated.

However, the GBA boss assured that Team Guyana would rise to the occasion and is hard at work.

Meanwhile, boxers from St. Lucia and Dominica will join Trinidad and Tobago here in Guyana to contest for championship honours.

According to reports, St Lucia will be represented by a six-member team which includes three boxers, a ref-

‘Clash of the Female Titans’ on today at GAPLF’s National Seniors Championships THE eagerly-anticipated ‘Clash of the Female Titans’, Runita White versus Natoya Robinson, will finally kick off today at the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation’s (GAPLF) National Seniors 2018 at the auditorium of the St Stanislaus College on Brickdam.

The feature event pits Natoya Robinson against record-breaker Runita White; both athletes lift well over 900lb and will be looking to outdo the other. This contest will certainly make for a thrilling spectacle for the fans and enthusiasts.

White has a best squat of 363.7lb while Robinson has recorded 364.8lb in the bench press. Robinson leads with 203.9lb and White’s best press is 148.8lb.

In the deadlift arena White has a best lift of 429.9lb while Robinson’s is 431lb. Their respective totals are 942.4lb (White) and 999.7lb (Robinson).

The competition will also feature Guyana’s oldest active bodybuilder, 70-year-old Noel Cummings as he aims to better his performance of May this year.

Also competing in the competition are Vijai ‘Ants

Man’ Rahim, 2018 Novices Overall Champion Timothy Baglia, sisters Grace and Blossom Babb, 2018 NAPF Overall Champion Carlos Petterson-Griffith, Junior 93kg sensation Bishen Sasenarine, Jackie Tony, Christopher Sookdeo and Hardat Darson.

Tickets cost $1000, and can be purchased directly from GAPLF executive members, or from Buddy’s Gym. The entrance fee at the gate will be $1500. Breakfast will be on sale Participating athletes for ‘Flight A’ are required to be at the venue for 08:00hrs for the weigh-in, which will last for 90 minutes. Athletes competing in ‘Flight B’ will be weighed in from 11:30hrs.

The Seniors Championship. which is the flagship event of the GAPLF calendar year, is being sponsored by Fitness Express, Buddy’s Gym, Trophy Stall, Dyna’s Embroidery and SannsSports ESN.

eree, a coach and a manager in Guyana’s veteran sports commentator Joseph `Reds’ Perreira who, in a correspondence, explained that his squad will include the likes of seasoned campaigners Nathan Ferrari and Linden Mursalim. The St Lucia Boxing Association is currently seeking permission to have a 14-year-old Youth boxer released from the school system to compete in Guyana.

In addition to St Lucia, Dominica has confirmed participation in this year’s championship also.

Dominica is seeking to send a six-member contingent inclusive of three fighters, a referee, a coach and a manager.

Action on each day of the tournament starts at 18:00hrs. Admission is $500 for the stands and $1 000 for ringside.

FROM PAGE

31

Mahmudullah ton; spinners SCOREBOARD BANGLADESH 1st innings (overnight 259 for five) 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 c Hope b Roach

80

Mushfiqur Rahim b Lewis

14

Mahmudullah b Warrican

136

Liton Das b Brathwaite

54

Mehidy Hasan c wkp. Dowrich b Warrican 18 Taijul Islam c wkp. Dowrich b Brathwaite 26 Nayeem Hasan not out Extras: (b-2, lb-8, w-1, nb-4) Total: (all out, 154 overs)

12 15 508

Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-87, 3-151, 4-161, 5-190, 6-301, 7-393, 8-416, 9-472.

Bowling: Roach 25-4-61-2 (nb-1), Lewis 202-69-1 (w-1), Chase 28-0-111-1 Warrican 385-91-2, Bishoo 28-1-109-2 (nb-3), Brathwaite 15-0-57-2.

WEST INDIES 1st innings K. Brathwaite b Shakib

0

K. Powell b Mehidy

4

S. Hope b Mehidy

10

S. Ambris b Shakib

7

R. Chase b Mehidy

0

S. Hetmyer not out

32

S. Dowrich not out

17

Extras: (b-4, lb-1) Total: (five wickets, 24 overs)

5 75

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-6, 3-17, 4-20, 5-29.

Bowling: Shakib 9-3-15-2, Mehidy 10-1-36-3, Nayeem 3-0-9-0, Taijul 1-0-10-0, Mahmudullah 1-1-0-0.

Position: West Indies trail by 433 runs with five first-innings wickets in hand.

26

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward football

Teams pumped and ready to rumble THE month of December for over two decades has been packed with heightened football activity and this year’s Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward/Village KO Cup has not escaped this attention.

When play in the competition resumes today at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground, it will add to the excitement that football fans have become accustomed to in the final month of the year.

In the opening fixture from 17:00hrs, Wales, who will have in their line-up the likes of Quincy Ashley, Rolando Thomas, Alexander Clark and Sharmea Jones will

lock horns with the star-studded Charlestown lineup.

Charlestown’s quest for a win will rest of the performances of Jamal Cozier, Devon Charles, Kareem Knights and Curtez Kellman.

In the game to follow, Sophia tackle Sara Lodge and the Smith combination of Ernie, Peter and Simon, along with Jason Clarke will lead the Sophia charge for victory, while Jalen Williams, Stephon Griffith, Seam Miller and Denzil Smith will aim to do the same for Sara Lodge.

Goed Fortuin then go up against Central Mackenzie and this match promises to provide plenty action for the fans.

Central Mackenzie’s ambition to advance will rely on the performances of players such as Seon Barrett, Marvin Sullivan, Orlanzo Thurman and Emanuel Atkins, while Anthony Harding, Ashley Harding, Terrence Morgan and Glenroy Semple will spearhead Goed Fortuin’s challenge for a place in the final.

Newtown Kitty then take to the field to oppose Soesdyke and this encounter too could supply the kind of action that is normal at this stage of a competition as teams battle for the final spots.

Anthony Sancho, Pernel Schultz, Steffon Reynolds

and Simeon Moore are the marquee players for Newtown, while Seosdyke will be led by Roger Dey, Delon Smith, Tyrone Khan and Dwayne Barker.

Pouderoyen and Mahaicony then go toe-to-toe for a place on final day and this could be another humdinger.

Kayode King, Keron Boyce, Dwayne St Kitts and Steffon Jupiter are all capable of match-winning performances and definitely Pouderoyen will be hoping for them to set up a win, while Mahaicony will no doubt be relying on the likes of Ruel Chester, Kenroy D’ Aguiar, Jason Wronge and Mark Roberts to enhance their chance to

Curtez Kellman

advance.

Uitvlugt will entertain Timehri and the West Side challenge will be led by national player Trayon Bobb along with Seon Bobb, Keon Duke and Daniel Floy, while the visitors’ desire to create an upset will depend on the services of Owen Denny, Prince Forde, Kevin Sobers and Monty Walcott.

The final game of the night between hosts Den Amstel and Crane must see the former start as strong favourites to progress, especially playing on home turf and the likes of national player Delon Lanferman,

Leo Lovell, Rayan Hunte, Kester Dundas and Jeffrey Perreira in the squad.

Crane’s hope of silencing the anticipated raucous support will depend heavily on Kwesi Henry, Jamal Mounter, Taylor Wharton and Oswin Boyce. Mahaica drew a bye.

The winning and runner-up teams will receive $400 000 and $200 000 respectively along with trophies, while Highest Goalscorer and Most Valuable Player will collect gifts, compliments of China Trading and AH&L Kissoon.

They will also receive trophies donated by Javon Dazzell.

Among the sponsors on board are: Ministry of Citizenship, Courtney Benn Construction Services, Techno Mills, IPA, Alfro Alphonso, Sattaur Gafoor, Ansa McAl, Top Brandz Distributors, MACORP, Starr Computers, Cummings Electrical, Ready Mix, B.K International, New Thriving, e-Networks, Namilco, SleepIn, Comfort Sleep and E.C Vieira Investments.

Banks DIH supports Jumbo Jet `Race of Champions’ horserace today … Not This Time looking to cash in on $8M cash prizes BANKS DIH Limited, under its beverage brands, has lent its support for today’s Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred `Race of Champions’ horserace meet, scheduled to commence at 12:00hrs at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne, Berbice. Ten races are carded on the programme.

The beverage `giant’ on Friday presented the organiser of the event, Nasrudeen Mohamed, with the sponsorship cheque, along with the winner’s trophy for the feature event, which is a 1300m event for colts, geldings, fillies and mares, three years and over.

Leading Sophia racehorse, Not This Time, will be seeking to make its mark on the inaugural Race of Champions meet and is known to cause upsets in big meets, winning a million-dollar purse twice this year.

The three-year-old locally bred filly won the derby for the Guyana Cup and a few weeks later, ran against West Indies-bred horses, winning

another $1M, both at the Port Mourant Turf Club facility.

With Not This Time’s name mentioned, today’s contest promises to be an exciting affair. One major match-up will see a return clash between Vera’s Finally and Just Call Me Boss, at the only track in Guyana where Vera’s Finally has lost a race.

The feature event carries a purse worth $1.936M. Other races on the day’s card include a 1500m race with a purse of $775 000 for colts, geldings, fillies and mares three years and older and is open to all West Indies- and Guyana-bred `F’ and Lower.

A 1300m race, with a purse of $446 500 for colts, geldings, fillies and mares three years and older, is open to all West Indies-bred horses `H’ and Lower and Guyana-bred horses `H1’ and Lower.

Among other races, there will be a 1300m race for two-year-old horses - colts, geldings and fillies - with a purse of $5333 000.

27

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Wiruni win historic BCB/Berbice River cricket final

THE WIRUNI Cricket Club won the final of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)-organised Berbice River 30-over tournament last Thursday after a four-wicket win over the Sandhills Friendship Cricket Club (SFCC).

The historic tournament, which was contested by three riverine teams - the two mentioned above and the Ebini Ranchers Cricket Club - in a round-robin format before the top two advanced to the championship clash, was the 19th successfully completed by the BCB in 2018.

At the Albion ground, SFCC won the toss and batted first. Leon Swammy (30 runs), captain Joshua Leacock (29) and Ryan De Nobrega (17) were the principal scorers. De Nobrega and Leacock put on 40 runs for the first wicket under cloudy conditions, but found it difficult to hit boundaries, as the eventual winners bowled and fielded well.

The second-place finishers were eventually bowled out for 125 in 28.2 overs.

and expressed pleasure at the high standard of discipline, bowling, fielding and the potential of several batsmen.

Foster urged the teams to strive for success and committed the BCB to hosting four major cricket tournaments in 2019 and to assist the clubs in developing themselves.

The BCB president also extended an invitation to the Berbice River Sub-Associ-

the BCB for the outstanding work it was doing to promote the game across the entire county.

Leacock expressed gratitude to the BCB and RHTY&SC, MS, for the items donated to the clubs.

BCB, through a release, said that it would like to express gratitude to Azad Habibulla of West Coast Berbice for his contribution towards the tournament

Organiser Floyd Benjamin hands over the winning trophy to Johnny Sinclair.

Delroy Osborne led the attack with 4-34, while Selman King and Samuel Seegolam added two wickets each.

Needing to score at 4.2 runs per over Wiruni raced to 127-6 in 18.5 overs. They were led by an unbeaten 31 from Melroy Da Silva, who

was later adjudged playerof-the-final. Support came from Kwesi Sinclair, who scored 28.

Medium pacer Swammy led the attack with 2-18, while Leacock took 2-26.

BCB president Hilbert Foster hailed the level of cricket played by the teams

River Plate reject Libertadores final in Madrid BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) - The troubled Copa Libertadores final between Argentina’s biggest two clubs ran into more problems yesterday when River Plate said they rejected the decision to face Boca Juniors in Madrid in the postponed second leg.

In the latest twist to the saga, River, the home team, said it was “incomprehensible” that the fixture should be played outside Argentina, although the club stopped short of saying they would refuse to play.

The hugely-anticipated match at River Plate’s Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires was called off on November 24 after the Boca team bus was attacked with stones and bottles as it approached the ground.

Several players were hit by shattered glass and some were affected by tear gas used by police to break up the attack.

The match was rescheduled for the following day but was again postponed, hours before kickoff. The first leg in Boca’s stadium had ended 2-2 one week earlier.

ation to select a combined team to play a 20/20 match under lights as part of a developmental programme.

Foster, in his capacity as Secretary/CEO of Guyana’s leading youth club, Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC), handed over a complete cricket stumps set and a scorebook to both teams while the BCB provided educational posters.

Captain Leacock and Johnny Sinclair both hailed

On Thursday, amid reports that the fixture could be played in Qatar, the South American Football Confederation CONMEBOL announced the decision to move the game to Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium on December 9.

“River Plate reject the change of venue,” the club said in a statement, adding that moving the game to Madrid “adversely affects those who bought tickets and also upsets the idea of equal conditions by taking away home advantage”.

However, River did not say what action they would take if CONMEBOL stood by its decision.

River have been fined $400 000 for the incidents and ordered to play their next two home matches in South American club competition behind closed doors.

However, Boca have said they will appeal against the decision which they consider too lenient.

Boca themselves were thrown out of the Libertadores in 2015 after River players were attacked with pepper spray by fans at half-

time during the second leg of a knockout tie at the Bombonera stadium. Boca say they want the same standards to apply to River.

River said the attack on the bus happened outside the area which was considered the club’s responsibility.

“The responsibility for the failure of the security operation was openly accepted by the highest authorities of the state,” it said.

“It’s incomprehensible that the most important fixture in Argentine football cannot take place in the country which is hosting the G20.

“Argentine football as a whole ... cannot allow a handful of thugs to stop the Superclasico from taking place in our country.”

It is the first time that the two clubs have met in the final of the competition, which is the South American equivalent of the Champions League.

From next season onwards, the final will be played in a single match at a neutral venue - a decision which CONMEBOL had already taken before last month’s trouble.

The winning Wiruni team

Man City extend lead at top, Palace end winless run

By Christian Radnedge

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Manchester City overcame a spirited Bournemouth side 3-1 yesterday, to maintain their unbeaten streak and extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points.

Crystal Palace beat Burnley 2-0 to end a run of eight matches without a win and there were victories for Leicester City, West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Manchester City were without the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez at the Etihad but took the lead against Bournemouth after 16 minutes when Bernardo Silva fired in.

The visitors went into halftime level, however, thanks to a header from inform England striker Callum Wilson.

Their hopes of producing a stunning upset were dashed as the champions struck back through Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Guendogan and City moved clear of second-placed Liverpool ahead of their derby match against Everton today.

Huddersfield Town looked set to continue their recent upturn in form by scoring after 58 seconds at home to Brighton, Mathias Jorgensen heading in the fastest goal of the Premier League season.

However, the hosts were reduced to 10 men after half an hour when Steve Mounie was sent off for a high challenge and Brighton took full advantage with goals

by Shane Duffy and Florin Andone.

Palace leapt above Huddersfield in the standings by beating Burnley at Selhurst Park to lift the pressure on manager Roy Hodgson.

Strikes in each half from James McArthur and Andros Townsend were Palace’s first goals from open play at home all season. Burnley remained in the relegation zone having slipped down to 18th after Cardiff City’s 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday.

Leicester recorded their first home win in the league since September with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Watford.

Jamie Vardy opened the scoring with a penalty after 12 minutes before James Maddison netted a brilliant volley to move Leicester up to seventh.

West Ham striker Javier Hernandez scored twice and Felipe Anderson grabbed another as the London side won 3-0 win at Newcastle United, halting the recent momentum of Rafa Benitez’s side.

28

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Professional squash player Cameron Stafford chooses Guyana to pursue coaching certification FRESH from the Professional Squash Association (PSA) circuit, 26-year-old Cameron Stafford of the Cayman Islands, recently visited his father’s homeland Guyana, to pursue his Level 1 and 2 England Squash Coaching Certificate with Guyana’s National Junior coach Carl Ince (Elite Level 4 coach).

Alongside Trinidad and Tobago’s National coach Ryan Jagessar, whom Cameron describes as “one of the best coaches in the Caribbean,” the two visitors gained a wealth of theoretical and practical knowledge from coach Ince as well as from each other.

On the final day of the course, Cameron said he felt humble through the experience he has had over the past week by both the environment and the man conducting the course.

Not many squash players from the Caribbean make it into the world circuit, but

from a young age Cameron displayed a level of discipline and commitment that is at the core of a successful player.

His hand-eye coordination was nurtured by his grandmother who tied a ball to a pole in her garden and put Cameron to stand in a hula hoop and hit the target.

He stayed out in the yard the entire day hitting his mark with no thought of food or drink.

This led to a successful junior tennis career before an attentive squash coach, Dean Watson, coerced him off the tennis court onto a squash court one rainy afternoon.

Those four walls became his home as he immediately fell in love with the game.

Following obsessive hard work and dedication under Watson’s wing, Cameron toured with the junior team to compete in Junior CASA and first met coach Ince in 2007 in Tortola. He remembers “Coach complimented me and said it was hard to coach

against me. He gave me great advice even though he wasn’t my coach and that has helped me to this day.”

Moving into his senior career, coaches Mark Forster, who focused on fitness, and Lucas Buit on court training, contributed greatly to his successful competitive outcomes, but the PSA player now wants to develop his

Professional squash player Cameron Stafford (right) and coach Carl Ince

Afghan authorities probe allegations of abuse in women’s football team KABUL, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan authorities are investigating allegations of sexual abuse of members of the national women’s soccer team after a report in Britain’s Guardian newspaper that said they were molested by officials from the Afghan football federation.The Guardian reported on Friday that senior figures associated with the Afghanistan women’s team alleged that abuse took place inside the country, including at the federation’s headquarters and at a training camp in Jordan last February.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the government took the allegations very seriously and was examining the case.

“Based on a decision from the Attorney-General’s office, a team has been set up to investigate the case,” he said.

The Afghan Football Federation (AFF) rejected the allegation and warned that the report could lead to threats being made against members of the women’s team.

coaching skills in order to help future generations and inspire young players in his home town. His passion and enthusiasm are contagious as he determines “I want to bring the next best thing into the game.”

With access to a host of other coaches for this course, he explains that the reasons he chose to take 3

“Such allegations are baseless and we will have a thorough investigation,” AFF Secretary-General Sayed Aghazada told a news conference yesterday.

Allegations of sexual contact outside marriage can have deadly consequences in Afghanistan.

Victims of sexual harassment are often extremely reluctant to come forward for fear that they will be accused of adultery.

A spokesperson at FIFA, the world football federation, said it had a “zero tolerance” policy on abuse and was looking into the Afghan case but addressing the issue in a “do no harm way” towards the victims.

“As some aspects of these allegations involve sensitive topics linked to the protection of those involved, we have sought support from relevant parties who willingly offered their support to FIFA,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

“Once the facts are established whatever remedial measures are needed will be taken.”

flights to come to Guyana is that he wanted to work with someone who genuinely cared and wanted to share his knowledge. “I have so much respect for Carl as he wants to see others in the Caribbean succeed.”

The Caymanian has always wanted to know why Guyana’s National teams were so successful and was impressed by the achievement of Nicolette Fernandes who was an early student of Ince. He wholeheartedly believes it is largely down to this man and states, “There was no hesitation in choosing to take the Level 1 & 2 in Guyana with coach Ince and learn from the master of success”.

Eager to take his new knowledge of different ways to teach, different techniques and new information back to the Cayman Islands, he outlines a few of the areas he now feels more proficient in such as programme planning, running tournaments and the

coaching approach of mixing beginners and intermediates.

He sums it up by saying, “I’ve learnt so much that I never knew existed and asked so many questions… I want to be the best and the only way to do that is to learn from the best!”

After complimenting the junior players he worked with throughout the course and the hospitality of the Guyanese people, Cameron spoke of the advantage of being out in the middle of the rainforest with no distractions giving him time to process and digest all the new information.

He smiles as he makes his final comment that he will take away coach’s life philosophy - “the only way to the top is hard work and dedication to your craft” and adopt it as his own.

Sri Lanka recall trio for two-Test tour of New Zealand COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Batsmen Lahiru Thirimanne and Sadeera Samarawickrama have been recalled by Sri Lanka after a year out of the side for next month’s two-Test series in New Zealand.

Top-order batsman Thirimanne played the last of his 29 Tests away to India in November 2017, the same series in which wicketkeeper-batsman Samarawickrama earned a fourth cap since making his debut earlier in the year.

Fast bowler, Nuwan Pradeep, who has played 28 Tests, also returns to the squad, having spent more than a year on the sidelines due to injuries.

Dinesh Chandimal is back to lead the side after missing the last two Tests of the recent 3-0 home series loss against England with a groin strain.

Batsman Kaushal Silva was dropped for his poor displays against England, while off-spinner Akila Dananjaya has been kept out of the 17-man squad as he awaits the result of tests after being reported for a suspect bowling action.

The first Test starts at Wellington on December 15, followed by the second at Christchurch on December 26.

Squad: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva, Angelo Mathews, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka,

Fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep

Lahiru Thirimanne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera.

29

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League

Grove battle back to earn exciting draw against Agricola; Timehri win big, top four close YESTERDAY’S feature match between the top two teams produced an exciting 3-3 draw between Grove Hi Tech and Agricola.

Grove, battling back from three goals down earned an equal share of the points which enabled them to maintain their slim single-digit lead over the Agricola lads who are one/ two at the top.

It was day six action in the 3rd Annual East Bank Football Association (EBFA)/Ralph Green-sponsored Under-11 League being contested at the Diamond Community Centre ground, East Bank Demerara.

Recording the biggest win on the day were Timehri Panthers who trounced a determined Herstelling Raiders 8-3, while Mocha Champs stormed to their second win in as many matches via a 3-0 margin over Friendship All Stars.

Diamond United ensured that they earned an equal share of the points against Diamond Upsetters, coming back from a goal down to draw. Swan FC, one of the three teams yet to taste defeat, maintained that record when they earned full points from their neighbours Kuru Kururu Warriors who did not show up.

Pocketing full points via the same margin were Sa-

Matthew Murray (left) and Matthew Forte - Mocha Champs

matta Point/Kaneville from Haurarruni Eagles. Both Swan and Samatta Point pocketed their three points along with two goals apiece.

By the 10th minute of the main event, Agricola were already 3-0 up against Grove thanks to goals from Mikel Morris in the 2nd minute, Seon Grant in the 5th and captain Jonathan Andries with a beautiful left-foot shot in the 10th minute.

Not deterred or fazed by the Agricola dash out of the blocks, Grove gradually grooved back into contention. On 11 minutes Jevon Pluck did pluck one out of nowhere to narrow the deficit and just before the halftime break, Jamal Cordis’ strike further reduced the Agricola advantage in the 13th minute.

The second half saw some resolute exchanges

between the top sides and the only goal that materialised in the half came from Grove through Joshua Fredericks in the 21st minute to tie the score at 3-3 which ended up being the final score.

Timehri Panthers, the best offensive team in the league which also have the best goal difference of +26 was in dismissive form in their clash against Herstelling Raiders whp, despite the loss fought back admirably.

Hat-tricks from captain Omar Sam (1st, 10th, 19th) and Keron Williams (4th, 8th, 9th) led Timehri, with Shaquelle Caleb (2nd) and Jaden Tasher in the 20th complementing their teammates.

Malcolm Hendricks with a double (13th and 26th) and Seon Carmichael in the 17th netted for Herstelling

From left, Omar Sam, Shaquille Caleb, Keon Williams and Jaden Tasher – Timehri Panthers

who put in a spirited performance despite the loss.

Mocha Champs, after giving up a number of walkovers have finally found the zest to compete and have recorded their second win in as many matches; a solid 3-0 triumph over Friendship All Stars.

Carving out the win was Matthew Murray with a brace

in the 9th and 26th minutes, Matthew Forte contributing the other in the 14th minute.

And Diamond United came back from trailing Diamond Upsetters to draw yesterday’s opening match.

United struck back through Paul McKenzie in the 24th minute, Upsetters had taken the lead in the 10th

Latest as at December 1st, 2018 # Team 1 Grove Hi Tech 2 Agricola Red Triangle 3 Swan FC 4 Timehri Panthers 5 Diamond Upsetters 6 Samatta Point KV 7 Mocha Champs 8 Diamond United 9 Friendship All Stars 10 Kuru Kururu Warriors 11 Hauraruni Eagles 12 Herstelling Raiders

P 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 6 6 6

W 5 5 5 5 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 1

L 0 0 0 1 2 3 4 3 5 5 5 5

D 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0

minute through a Timothy Ageday goal.

Matches will continue on Saturday at the same venue. The EBFA will be pushing to conclude the league early during the school holiday period with each team set to play 11 matches.

GF 22 25 20 33 10 6 12 9 9 3 4 6

GA 6 3 3 7 5 24 8 12 22 17 21 32

GD Points +16 17 +22 16 +17 16 +26 15 +5 10 -18 9 +4 6 -4 5 -13 4 -14 3 -17 3 -26 3

IAAF looking at street meets as a possible new circuit

By Gene Cherry

(REUTERS) - As athletics turns its attention to 2019, competitions in stadiums and indoor arenas will not be the only talking points.

Street meets, competitions in city centres and nearby areas emphasising sprints and field events, are growing in popularity in the United States and Europe.

Already a common practice at some Diamond League meetings, street meets will be introduced to IAAF events where and when there is the right venue, the International Association of Athletics Federations said in a statement to Reuters.

“There is currently a

working group looking at the possibility of creating a street athletics circuit,” athletics’ global governing body added.

IAAF President Sebastian Coe has led the call for the development of innovations that will bring new fans to the sport. Street meets may be one answer.

“Extensive consultation has indicated a strong appetite for an urban athletics circuit or an increase in urban athletics competitions,” the IAAF statement said.

That increase is already underway in the United States with the American Track League (ATL) expanding its offerings of high entertainment, up-close competitions to street meets next

is working with the IAAF group.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo (C) of the Bahamas leads the field to win the Women’s 200 meters straight, setting a new world best with a time of 21.76 seconds, at the Boston Games Street Meet in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., June 4, 2017.

REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

year in Atlanta (July 2-3), Greenville, South Carolina (July 6), Charlotte, North Carolina (July 13) and Omaha, Nebraska (Aug 1).

“Street meets are great for promoting the sport and featuring events that get lost in the stadium,” said ATL founder Paul Doyle, who

BOSTON BACK The popular Boost Boston Games, which this year featured middle distance races in a stadium and sprint events on a straightaway track constructed on downtown Charles Street, will also be back with world-class fields and a preliminary date of June 16.

“It’s the best way to reach people who have never been to a track meet, especially kids,” said organiser Mark Wetmore.

“When you see these athletes up close and see how fast they move, it really is something,” he added.

Street competitions are also growing in Europe, especially in the sprints, jumps and sometimes the shot put.

“All taking place as good additions to usual track programmes, not replacing them,” Euromeetings president Alfons Juck told Reuters.

However, even Doyle does not think track and field should become exclusively street competitions.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “The stadium meets still need to exist. But I think these street events are great ways to promote the sport and promote different events within the sport.”

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Pepsi Hikers edge defending champions in Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival THE battle between arch nemeses, Pepsi Hikers and defending champions of the Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival male competition, Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC), was won by the home team when they met on the third night of this year’s event.

The clash at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, which finished early yesterday morning, had the crowd at the edge of their seats as the Trinidadian club staged a comeback after being down 1-4 at the half.

Captain of the Guyanese club, Robert France, and Aroydy Branford scored two goals each in the first period to carry their side to a commanding lead, but

Aidan De Gannes answered in the 35th minute, before Shawn Lee Quay scored his second goal just prior to the final whistle, which kept the crowd tense until the last shot.

Hikers, who won the Open Men’s Division in 2016 and who have seven titles under their belt were unbeaten up to yesterday afternoon.

They recorded a 5-4 victory over the Bounty GCC on Wednesday evening, before beating Saints 7-1 on Thursday night and Old Fort 5-2 on Friday afternoon.

VENTURES TAKE LEAD In the ExxonMobil Open Female division, the

Old Fort’s Omar Hopkinson on the attack against the visiting Shacar team; he scored thrice in the 8-0 win.

Ventures from Trinidad got past the GBTI GCC team 4-2 yesterday afternoon to take over the lead.

GCC, who won the title last year have won three

and drawn one of their five games (10 points), while Ventures are on 12 points from four wins in an equal number of games.

Yesterday was a good

day for the Woodpecker Hikers. The Guyanese team, who lost their opening three encounters, bounced back with two wins.

Maria Munroe was the architect of the victories.

Yesterday morning she fired in three goals while Nicole Eastman added a pair to lead Woodpecker Hikers to a 7-1 win over Saints.

Later in the day, Hikers defeated the Shandy Carib Magnolia 4-3 with Munroe scoring twice (first-half goals). The game proved to be a come-from-behind victory since the Mags led 3-2 at the break, before Kenisha Williams levelled the game in the opening minute of the second period. Ten minutes later Cher King sealed the victory.

The STAG Over-35 battle is also heating up with defending champions QPCC dominating the competition. They were unbeaten with four wins from five games (one draw) to lead with 13 points. In their lone clash yesterday, they whipped the Antonio’s Hickers 7-1.

Eighteen teams are playing 54 games over five days in the festival. The finals of the competition are scheduled to start from 16:40hrs today with the Over-35 clash, followed by the Open Women’s and the Open Men’s championship contests.

Boxing still on the ropes after IOC freezes planning for Tokyo 2020

By Jack Tarrant

TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) put planning for the Tokyo 2020 boxing tournament on hold on Friday, in a move that could see the governing body AIBA frozen out of the Games over a governance dispute.

The IOC said in a statement it had also launched an investigation into the In-

ternational Boxing Association after AIBA submitted a progress report focusing on governance, financial management and sporting integrity.

It referred to that enquiry as “the initiation of a procedure which can lead to the withdrawal of recognition for AIBA” but said it still hoped boxing would be part of the programme.

“The IOC Executive Board makes all efforts to

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday December 02, 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) Albert Shaw-5/38 (ENG vs AUST, Melbourne, 1876-77) (2) Dennis Lillee-5/34 (AUST vs PAK, Leeds, 1975) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is the first player to record separate hundreds in a Test?

(2) Who is the first player to hit a double century and a hundred in the same Test?

protect the athletes and ensure that a boxing tournament can take place at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 regardless of these measures,” the statement read.

The IOC Executive Board said planning for the Olympic boxing tournament had been frozen, with immediate effect, and contact suspended between AIBA and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee.

“This will also include the freezing of any ticket sales for the boxing competitions or any approval or implementation of the qualification system,” the IOC’s Sports Director Kit McConnell said in Tokyo on Friday.

No deadline was set for further action but any decision to withdraw recognition from an international federation would have to be made at an IOC session. The next one is scheduled for June 2019.

McConnell said AIBA had been given adequate time to address the IOC’s concerns.

“The timeline from the time we raised these questions is not short in that regard,” he said.

“These questions have been on the table throughout the whole of 2018 and to-

but that it had now attainted financial stability,” he said.

AIBA president Gafur Rahimov

morrow is December.”

AIBA has been in turmoil for years and the IOC has warned the Swiss-based body to sort out its finances and governance, as well as anti-doping issues, or risk missing out on Tokyo.

In a statement issued later on Friday, AIBA said it had made “great strides in a short period of time”.

The body’s president, Gafur Rahimov, said he too had been concerned about its finances earlier in the year.

“However, I can assure our Olympic friends that after making significant cuts to our spending, securing new sponsors, securing trusted host cities for our major events and negotiating with our past partners, I am very proud to say that AIBA has achieved financial stability

‘SIGNIFICANT CONCERN’ The IOC executive board said AIBA had made progress but points of “significant concern” remained.

They included doubts about AIBA’s ability to continue as a going concern.

“This means basically (being able) to operate under normal financial circumstances with revenues to match the expenditure,” said McConnell.

“Equally, there are elements of the audited and financial reports which are still omitted and are not included in the information that has been provided to us and not available on the AIBA website.”

The IOC on Friday noted uncertainty about the role of Rahimov, an Uzbek, resulting from his “designation as a key member and associate of a transnational organised criminal network by the U.S. Treasury Department”.

Rahimov was one of two Olympic officials barred by the Australian government from attending the 2000 Sydney Games for security reasons.

In the AIBA statement, Rahimov downplayed con-

cerns about his personal situation.

“I can assure the IOC that the situation with U.S. authorities based on false allegations by the previous regime of my country is being addressed and that my legal team is working hard to correct this,” he said.

Despite its concerns, the IOC said it remained determined to feature boxing at Tokyo 2020.

“The goal again is that, by the time of the session in 2019, (the IOC will) be able to confirm, while protecting the integrity of the sport and while protecting the athletes ... an Olympic boxing competition here in Tokyo,” said McConnell.

Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya said Games organisers were very keen to work closely with the IOC to address any impact on planning.

Boxing has featured in all but one of the Summer Olympics since 1904 with Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Anthony Joshua and Katie Taylor are among those to have won gold medals and gone on to claim professional world titles.

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, December 2, 2018

Professor Seecharan launches History of Cricket in Guyana - Volume 2 VOLUME Two of a History of Cricket in Guyana is not just about the accounts of cricket games played over 100 years ago in British Guiana; it underscores how those games galvanised our people and the impact the sport had on our society.

Professor Clem Seecharan, though the support of the Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies, encapsulated these achievements in an entertaining and informative way in his 758-page second book of the series, which he officially launched at the world-famous Georgetown Cricket Club on Friday night.

The accolades for the author were great and the audience included generations of cricketers from the legendary West Indies players Lance Gibbs, Roger Harper, Dr Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and current national captain Leon Johnson, to a few cricketers now trying to make their names in the sport.

Among the notables who addressed the audience were Chairman of Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies John Carpenter, Dr Ian McDonald, the author himself, Harper,

came a work of art.

The renowned author also called Seecharan the “most appropriate author” to do the volumes.

Also showing adoration for the cricket series was Minister Norton, who called the professor’s series a well-researched publication and an inspiration.

cricket in Guyana.”

The minister added that he was confident that the series of books would serve to educate and enlighten many generations about Guyana’s past cricketing heroes.

In highlighting how integral a role cricket has played in our past, Gibbs pointed out that there were some aspects

DCC discussion: From left, former Guyana cricketer Mark Harper, former West Indian cricketers Lance Gibbs and Roger Harper having a nostalgic moment.

Gibbs, Minister of Social Cohesion with responsible for Culture, Youth and Sport Dr George Norton and Sales Manager of the Group of Companies Shanomae Baptiste, who gave the vote of thanks.

Carpenter said that Handin-Hand was honoured to have played a part in the venture and that the series, which analyses cricket from 1865 to 1867 (Volume One) and 1898-1914 (Volume Two), begs a Volume Three.

It was also emphasised

that the Hand-in-Hand Company which started in 1865 also played a part in the integral development during the time of the publications.

This year marks 140 years since construction started at the company’s head office.

WORK OF ART Dr McDonald, who has known Seecharan for over three decades, paid respect to his commitment to his craft.

He said that the author’s dedication to work, combined with his narrative skills, be-

Some of the notable names at the launch, from right, Dr Ian McDonald, John Carpenter, Dr Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Lance Gibbs and Professor Seecharan.

“Your book helps us to better appreciate the importance of cricket in our society. As a politician, I would be happy if more of us can understand the importance of

of the game that the book did not cover, since backyard and alleyway games were not documented. The 84-yearold then took the crowd on a nostalgic journey when

different versions of cricket were common and makeshift apparatuses were used as bat and ball.

STAGNATION OF CRICKET Seecharan, who read for a doctorate in History at the University of Warwick in 1990, examines the stagnation of the game in colonial Guyana in the decade and a half before the Great War. He said that despite the flamboyance of GCC - founded in 1858 - which was vibrant in fostering regional cricket, “Guyanese cricket was marooned on a plateau of underachievement”.

He added that the topography of the land and the share magnitude of the rainforest was a breeding ground for malaria which was one of the main hindrances when it came to the quality of cricket being played by our former cricketers.

The 16 years of analysis filled many holes that existed about our past - one that will be kept alive through Seecharan’s undertaking.

Mahmudullah ton; spinners put Bangladesh in command DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC) – Beleaguered West Indies were left needing a miracle to avoid a historic series defeat after yet again failing to survive a trial by spin, as Bangladesh took a stranglehold on the second and final Test after completely dominating the second day here yesterday.

Behind Mahmudullah’s career-best 136, captain Shakib-alHasan’s 80 and an attacking 54 from Liton Das, Bangladesh piled up a mammoth 508 – their second highest-ever total against West Indies – before the innings folded half-hour after tea at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan then snatched three for 36 while Shakib supported with two for 15 with his left-arm spin, to leave the West Indies innings in strife at 29 for five.

It was left to rookie left-hander Shimron Hetmyer with an unbeaten 32 and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, on 17 not out, to save West Indies from total embarrassment and guide the innings to the close on 75 for five.

The pair have so far added a gutsy 46 in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand and with the Windies still trailing by 433 runs, much will lie on their shoulders on today’s day three as the last recognised batsmen.

Having suffered at the hands of the Bangladeshi spinners during their first Test defeat in Chittagong last weekend, West Indies fared little better in their attempt at redemption, as they were once again mesmerised by the slower bowlers.

All five dismissals were bowled, marking the first time in 128 years bowlers had achieved the feat.

Stand-in captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s wretched run continued when he fell to the sixth ball of the innings, bowled through the gate by Shakib without a run on the board.

His left-handed opening partner Kieran Powell survived 15 deliveries before he too followed in similar fashion, bowled between bat and pad by Mehidy for four and Sunil Ambris’s charge at Shakib was as desperate as it was ambitious, as he missed the drive and was also bowled, for seven.

Three balls later in the next over, Shai Hope’s 30-ball grind over 10 came to an end when he became the fourth bowled victim of the innings by one from Mehidy which crept from back of a length and hit the base of off-stump.

When Roston Chase played down the wrong line first ball and lost his off-stump to Mehidy, West Indies were falling apart spectacularly.

The second day belonged to Mahmudullah, who batted through to his third Test ton, finishing on 136, and taking Bangladesh to a 500-plus first-innings score. (AFP)

But as they did in the first Test, Hetmyer and Dowrich once again came to the Caribbean side’s rescue, resisting the Bangladeshi spin assault for the remainder of the session.

The 21-year-old Hetmyer has so

far struck three fours in a typically breezy 43-ball innings while Dowrich has opted for the sheet anchor role in a knock that has lasted 37 balls and included a single boundary.

Hetmyer suffered a scare on 10 when he was adjudged lbw to 17-year-old off-spinner Nayeem Hasan before finding a reprieve courtesy DRS. He carried on seemingly unfazed, however, using his feet to the spinners and finding boundaries down the ground.

Earlier, West Indies bowlers toiled in frustration as Bangladesh, starting the day on 259 for five, batted themselves into a near impregnable position.

Mahmudullah, unbeaten on 31 at the start, produced a magnificent innings which spanned 6-¼ hours, 242 deliveries and included 10 fours.

Pivotally, he stretched his overnight sixth-wicket stand with Shakib to 111, keeping West Indies without any early success and seeing Bangladesh past the 300-run mark.

The left-handed Shakib played freely after resuming on 55, taking three consecutive boundaries off off-spinner Chase in the morning’s fourth over, before falling three overs later when he edged a loose drive at seamer Kemar Roach (2-61) and was caught at gully.

That breakthrough failed to im-

prove the Windies fortunes as Mahmudullah and Das combined in a 92-run, seventh-wicket partnership, which propelled Bangladesh to lunch on 387 for six.

Das played with abandon, striking eight fours and a six in a 62-ball cameo, reaching lunch on 53 before finally perishing in the fourth over afterwards, bowled by off-spinner Brathwaite (2-57) missing a sweep.

While Mehidy followed soon afterwards for 11, caught at the wicket off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican (2-91), Mahmudullah provided even more pain for the Windies by anchoring a ninth-wicket 56-run with Taijul Islam (26) which pushed Bangladesh up to 471 for eight at tea.

Mahmudullah, unbeaten on 75 at lunch, reached his third Test hundred 20 minutes before tea when he cut Chase to the point boundary.

He was the last to fall, bowled by a full-length delivery from Warrican after being dropped by Hope at slip three balls earlier in the same over.

TURN TO PAGE

25

Professor Seecharan launches History of Cricket in Guyana - Volume 2

St Pius, South Ruimveldt march into Smalta U-11 Girls’ semis … West Ruimveldt, North Georgetown also advance

PAGE

31 Professor Clem Seecharan displays the second volume of his book, The History of Cricket in Guyana.

Ninvalle feels Guyanese boxers could face stiff competition at Caribbean Championships

Defending champions South Ruimveldt were in no playful mood when they took on Enterprise in their quarter-final match.

PAGE

25

GBA president Steve Ninvalle

‘Clash of the Female Titans’ on today at GAPLF’s National Seniors Championships

PAGE

25 Runita White will be going all out today at the GAPLF’s National Seniors 2018.

Part of the action between North Ruimveldt and Tucville (Delano Williams photos)

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A DELIGHTFUL bliss filled the Ministry of Education ground, as South Ruimveldt, defending champions of the Smalta Girls’ Under-11 Pee Wee football tournament marched into the semis.

The side registered a 4-2 victory over Enterprise in their quarter-final clash yesterday afternoon.

2017 MVP Fayon Henry was in her usual clinical mood and netted a hat-trick in South’s two-goal win while Shakira Barker added the fourth.

West Ruimveldt were not to be left out and they also scored four goals in their quarterfinal against St Stephen’s Primary who didn’t have an answer to any of the successful strikes.

Ashanna Rajkumar, Teneshia Persaud, Seona France and Rondella Anderson each netted one goal in the commanding win.

Meanwhile, Martha Chase bagged a brace in North Georgetown’s lasteight win over Tucville and St Pius beat Genesis Primary 3-0, courtesy of two goals from Christal Archer and one from Akiela Blake.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018