Guyana chronicle e paper 12 09 2017

New look Mash with big promises Page 10

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017

Price: $80

Don’t blame the gov’t No. 105121

(VAT Inclusive)

–– blame GuySuco’s predicament on poor management under PPP, Jordan says

Page 4

‘Santa in the House’

Page 9

…Woman dressed as Santa invades Parliament with gifts for Jagdeo

A security officer at Parliament trying to keep out this woman dressed like Santa Claus bearing gifts of a Dictionary and a cake of soap for Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo (Adrian Narine photo)

‘Born to be better’ Page 5

…PM says sugar workers must not be condemned to cane fields

Exxon money Bandit shot for ICJ during attack legal fees …Trotman sees ‘evil’ intention Page 3

in leaking of letter

Page 10

on female guard

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

Gov’t to rework Petroleum Bill … to give commission more independence, remove semi-autonomous status

By Ariana Gordon IN the light of criticisms that the Petroleum Commission Bill makes provision for too much government control, government announced on Friday it will revisit the legislation with the aim of ensuring that it illustrates transparency and is inclusionary.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman told the National Assembly on Friday that “Government has chosen to pause the implementation of the Petroleum Commission Bill, so that we can receive all fit and proper proposals that may be out there.”

Trotman noted that “This moment will not come again and how we prepare to manage this resource, in particular, will determine the long-term future of the country; so I will recommend to Cabinet that the format is changed from the standard semi-autonomous one to make the Commission more independent and inclusive, so that it can enjoy national support.”

Since 2015, United States (U.S.) oil giant ExxonMobil announced a significant oil find in its Liza 1 well located in the Stabroek Block, which is located approximately 120 miles offshore Guyana. Since then, there have been other oil finds. In fact, Turbot 1 is the latest and fifth new oil discovery in the 6.6M acre Stabroek Block. The Stabroek Block is estimated to contain at least a ceiling of 2.75 Billion Barrels of recoverable crude oil.

That decision comes months after the parlia-

mentary opposition, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said that the Bill must be properly scrutinised.

Opposition Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali back in June, when the legislation was sent to the Special Select Committee of the National Assembly explained that “the independence of the Petroleum Commission is vigorously challenged in numerous sections” thereby affecting its ability to operate in a fair, open, objective, and non-discriminatory manner as envisioned in section 6 subsection 1.

Under Section 8 of the Bill, he said the power of the minister to give directions to the Commission shows that the Commission would be incapable of working without the intervention and control of the minister. He contended that under Section 8, the minister is allowed to provide policy guidance and give direction to the Commission regarding the size of the establishment, the employment of staff and the terms and conditions of employment, the provision of equipment and use of funds among other things.

As such, Ali stated that Trotman would be empowered to dictate the number of persons the Commission should employ, the terms and conditions of the employment of staff of the commission, and how the commission should use its funds.

However, Trotman had maintained that the Petroleum Commission of Guyana Bill 2017, which was sent to a Special Select Committee for bi-partisan

deliberations, was the subject of extensive consultation on the legislation which provides a legal framework for regulating and monitoring of the sector.

Trotman said the legislation, which provides a legal framework for an efficient, safe, effective and environmentally responsible exploration, development and production of petroleum in Guyana, was drafted by the Oceanic and Natural Resources Advisory Commission of the Commonwealth Secretariat and then sent to the government for extensive consultations.

On Friday, he stressed too that his ministry has undergone significant institutional changes this year and it is envisioned that for 2018 the Petroleum Commission will pave the way for the Petroleum Commission of Guyana to be the fourth regulatory agency under the purview of the ministry. The three other agencies are the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Guyana Gold Board.

GREEN ECONOMY “Mr. Speaker, in 2018, the Ministry of Natural Resources will continue to discharge its mandate “to develop, implement and oversee policies for the responsible utilisation, development and exploration of natural resources as part of the green economy programme” In doing so, the ministry will focus on implementing policy and project-led initiatives under its three

programmatic areas: Strategic Planning & Administration, Natural Resources Management and Petroleum Management, which will require a financial commitment of GYD$1, 110,030 to cover re-current costs and capital expenditures under these programme areas. Additionally, he told the House that the Natural Resources Ministry has recognised that there is need for a clear legislative regime that enables improved governance and the development of a sustainable extractive sector.

Following the legal reviews conducted on a number of legislative and policy instruments in the sector, they were deemed outdated and contained many loopholes which led to revisions in 2017.

“Mr. Speaker, in 2017, the Ministry of Natural Resources updated its policies and laws relating to the conservation, management, protection and sustainable development of the nation’s patrimony, its mineral and forest resources,” said the minister, who told the House that draft Oil & Gas policies and legislative documents represent Guyana’s attempt at setting out specific policy and legislative objectives, and management measures for the exploration and potential development of upstream oil and gas resources found in the country.

Trotman noted too that government has recognised the need to improve the policy and regulatory framework by including issues such as licensing and contracting, fiscal framework, transparency and account-

ability, local content and environmental management.

He informed the House that several pieces of legislation and policy documents are currently in draft form.

Those include: Revisions to the 1986 Petroleum Exploration & Production Act & Regulations; Oil and Gas Policy; Local Content Policy; Petroleum Commission Bill; Environmental Regulations; Health and Safety Regulations; Petroleum Taxation and Fiscal Legislation; and Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill.

In 2018, the said legislative and policy instruments will be disseminated for stakeholder consultations and then tabled in the National Assembly.

PETROLEUM MANAGEMENT In the case of Petroleum Management, a financial commitment of GY$178M is necessary to cover the ministry’s re-recurrent expenditures “to support the exploration and production of oil and gas resources by regulating, managing and monitoring the industry to ensure that the resources are developed in a sustainable manner”.

“Petroleum management rests on pillars that flow from the undergirding policy that the sector must be built on a body of implementable rules, credible institutions and the public’s trust,”Trotman stated. As a result, the Ministries of the Presidency, Finance, Public Infrastructure, Business and Natural Resources are in the process of fashioning the appropriate fiscal architecture to prepare for

the revenue, establishing a regulatory authority, a multi-stakeholder committee to provide guidance and bringing order to the geological surveys and storage of data.

Additionally, the ministries will also critically examine the question of whether or not to have a national oil company, implement policies which aim to maximise benefits to the local economy, support capacity building and skills training, implement a public information campaign aimed at keeping the populace informed and engaged; develop an infrastructural and social development plan and establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

“Mr. Speaker, the ministry will actively be involved in the drafting of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, although the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) will be leading the process. Activities will range from stakeholder engagement, to risk assessment and the construction of an oil spill response storage and training facility.” Additionally, Trotman disclosed that there will be the creation of a communications system with ongoing survey vessels, drilling rigs and production facilities as a first alert system.

He said that by developing the National Contingency Plan, the nation will benefit from a structured response system with a clear communication and action plan in the event of a spill.

“The Oil Boom equipment that has been procured under the Department in 2017 will ensure Guyana is fully prepared and trained for an oil spill event. Mr. Speaker, the Government of Guyana intends to establish an Onshore Oil and Gas facility in the country, as it seeks to fully optimize opportunities in the petroleum sector.” Several locations have since been reviewed for the establishment of the facility and this was done in collaboration with the private sector.

Crab Island – Berbice was deemed a suitable location for the logistical base. “Mr. Speaker, the Government of Guyana, with support from our many partners, seeks to build the capacity of our policy-makers, officers, technicians, private sector professionals and all stakeholders on the issues and challenges surrounding this emerging sector,” the Natural Resources Minister said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

Exxon money for ICJ legal fees …Trotman sees ‘evil’ intention in releasing letter

By Ariana Gordon MINISTER of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, on Friday disclosed that the Government of Guyana has accepted funds from United States oil giant ExxonMobil to assist with protecting the country’s territorial sovereignty.

In fact, the “large sum” received from the oil giant is geared towards the payment of legal and associated fees should the Secretary-General of the United Nations refer the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for final ruling.

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, appointed Dag Nylander, his Personal Representative on the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, to work with both Guyana and Venezuela with a view to resolving the border controversy. Both countries have steadfastly maintained their positions, while observers have noted that taking the controversy to the ICJ for a final resolution will prove costly for Guyana.

Speaking on the final day of the budget debate, Trotman said, “Mr Speaker, yes, the government received a large sum,” noting that his administration was advised that the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration when faced with a “terrible situation” when a company attempting to explore with its rig had been chased from the country’s waters, had gone the same route. The Guyana Chronicle understands that the former PPP

government had entered into a similar agreement after CGX Energy was chased out of local shores by the Surinamese coastguard.

The Natural Resources Minister said too that the APNU+AFC government was advised by the same advisors who were in office prior to the coalition government taking office in May 2015. “And so, Mr Speaker, this government took the advice that had been given to the previous government and we adopted Mr Speaker. And yes, Mr Speaker, we did what we did to preserve the safety and well-being of the people of Guyana and to safeguard the sovereignty,” declared Trotman, who called on the opposition to blame his administration for securing the country’s territorial sovereignty.

“Let us be blamed! Let us be blamed for doing what is right,” said Trotman, much to the approval of his colleagues on the governing side. “Mr Speaker, we don’t have war planes and fighter jets…what we have always had since independence is our legal prowess and our diplomatic abilities and those are our best tools Mr Speaker,” the Natural Resources Minister stated, while noting that it is his administration’s wish for the Region to be a zone of peace. “Mr Speaker, in matters of state, certain things have to be done…the state must be protected. Mr Speaker, I am not ashamed and I am quite relieved … there is no slush fund, jetting off by ministers and spending money. All we are doing is… preserving the

good state,” said Trotman, who added that by the end of the month, the entire ExxonMobil contract will be made public.

Trotman said unlike the former administration, his administration is transparent and accountable. “We are coming and bringing everything to the light,” the minister stated, even as the parliamentary opposition objected to the statement.

“Why didn’t you release the contract before…why wait until pressured?” one opposition parliamentarian heckled. Government has been called upon repeatedly by civil society, Transparency International Guyana, the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), as well as the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), one of the parties forming the APNU+AFC coalition government to release Guyana’s agreement with the U.S. oil giant.

In fact, recently, Petroleum Advisor Dr Jan Mangal, told reporters that as an emerging oil-and-gas country, Guyana needs to place significant emphasis on transparency. The expert who has over 18 years’ experience in the sector, noted that Guyana is on the verge of an economic transformation and though success cannot be guaranteed, he believes transparency will aid in success.

In response, Trotman had said government was advised by external advisors and lawyers that it should not release the full contract with Exxon Mobil, noting that a number of extenuating and external issues are

being attended to, some of which have foreign affairs, sovereignty and national security implications.

THEY MEANT EVIL Meanwhile, the Natural Resources Minister said the ExxonMobil contract with Guyana is no different from any other signed by the previous administration and believes many would be disappointed when the contract is revealed. Trotman said the leaking of a letter penned by Finance Secretary Hector Butts on the signing bonus granted

by ExxonMobil requesting the opening of a bank of account to receive the signing bonus was “deliberately organised to cause some embarrassment to this government.”

“What Mr Speaker, I would say is…they meant evil by releasing this letter,” said the minister. The letter was published by the Stabroek News and the Guyana Times newspapers. But Trotman said, “This government, Mr Speaker, is neither ashamed or embarrassed nor afraid of any attempt to stymie or cause it to cover in fear.”

The minister noted that it is no secret that the coalition government has entered into a contract with ExxonMobil and its partners Hess and Nexen and sought to highlight some of what he described as “salient points.”

According to Trotman, when his administration took office, there was no legal obligation on the part of Exxon to renegotiate the contract, adding that his government respects

Hadfield St. man to stand trial –– for attempted murder

A 26-YEAR-OLD Hadfield Street, Lodge man was on Friday committed to stand trial at the High Court for attempted murder by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

Following months of preliminary inquiries,

Osafo Swain, called ‘Saffo’, was committed to stand trial before a judge and jury.

The matter was prosecuted by Inspector Neville Jeffers, while Swain was unrepresented.

Swain is charged with discharging a loaded firearm at one Hubert Blair in an attempt to commit murder on July 26, 2017 at Georgetown.

He, after the Magistrate’s ruling, made an application for bail pending his hearing in the High

the sanctity of contracts.

He admitted that the initial contract was a good one.

“We also recognised that the contract of 1999 was not a bad contract; I have said so many times publicly… it represented at the time, a good contract.”

But notwithstanding that, Trotman explained that his administration was able to receive a 2 per cent royalty when there was no royalty within the initial contract.

The law, he said, requires that there should be at least a 1 per cent. “We have now secured a 2 per cent royalty from the gross, which would give this country $US380M at today’s prices per annum.

We have raised the annual fees for the licence from US$250,000 to US$1M per year,” the Natural Resources Minister noted.

Additionally, the coalition government through its negotiations included US$300,000 per annum for capacity-building and training and scholarships, as well as US$300,000 for corporate social responsibility projects, a portion of which was given to the government recently to assist Caribbean and CARICOM sister states who were suffering as a result of the ravages of two hurricanes.

That aside, Trotman reminded that Guyana has been warned by many about the global upheavals over the past decade relative to oil.

He said Guyana must ensure that none of those negative experiences become a reality for Guyana. “We should not let it become our vision of the future…oil has the possibility to bring about change…we need an oil

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman change in this country. Our century-old engines are failing and our drivers, in every sense, have to be changed.

“We have a new product and we must create the new country where we retain and retool our old and young to take advantage of this,” Trotman stated. Additionally, the Natural Resources Minister believes it is critical that ahead of the 2020 production of oil here, efforts continue vigorously to address the country’s laws and policies.

“We have a battery of advisors so we are confident that we are on the right track. We have utilised the services of world-renowned law firms - Jones Day of the United States and Michelet & Co. of the Kingdom of Norway,” said Trotman, who noted that the journey to the good life continues and all Guyanese will benefit.

Court, but the prosecutor objected on the grounds of the victim’s safety and that he poses a flight risk among other factors.

In the end, the Magistrate ruled in the prosecutor’s favour, and remanded Swain pending his hearing at the High Court.

According to reports, Swain, who had known Blair for the past five years, had accused him of withholding the identities of the two men that had torched his home earlier that year.

On July 26, Swain rode up on a motorcycle while the victim was in his yard and discharged several rounds at him.

The victim was hit in the groin and about his body.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE,Saturday December 9, 2017

Don’t blame the gov’t

--blame GuySuco’s predicament on poor management under PPP, Jordan says

By Svetlana Marshall THAT the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) lost in excess of €30M is no fault of the government’s, Finance Minister Winston Jordan says.

Rather, it was all due to poor management and oversight by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration, he told the House on Friday evening as he responded to criticisms from the parliamentary oppositiom over the government’s handling of the sugar industry.

As the 2018 National Budget debate wrapped up on Friday, Minister Jordan reminded his parliamentary colleagues that in 2006, the European Union (EU) entered into an arrangement with the Government of Guyana to facilitate the transfer of funds under what was called the Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol. That money, he explained, was divided into two tranches, namely: fixed and variable.

However, in order to access the agreed funds, the

government and the sugar corporation were mandated to reach a number of criteria with respect to financial management and accountability.

But according to the Finance Minister, GuySuCo failed to meet a number of benchmarks set out for the disbursement. At first, he said, things went pretty smoothly, in that the agreed Variable Tranche of €1.63M was met and duly disbursed.

That was in 2006. But by 2007, GuySuCo had begun to fall short of reaching the criteria. In that year, the Variable Tranche was €13.213M, but only €6.60M was disbursed.

“GuySuCo failed to meet the targets; they failed to meet over 50% of the targets, and therefore less than 50% was disbursed,” Minister Jordan told the National Assembly, the composition of which at that point comprised mostly government Members of Parliament.

That was primarily because all but one of the opposition MPs had staged a walkout ahead of Prime Minister Moses Naga-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan delivering a passionate presentation as he wrapped up the debate on the 2018 National Budget on Friday (Photo by Adrian Narine)

mootoo’s taking to the floor to make a presentation before Minister Jordan did.

Moving on with his presentation, Minister Jordan said GuySuCo’s trend of failing to meet its targets was to continue in 2008, in that of the agreed €12.860M, only 7.25M was disbursed.

The same thing hap-

pened in 2009, whereby of the agreed €8.9M, only 6.264M was disbursed.

In 2010, it was 3.255M of €9.3M, while in 2011, €12.35M was agreed but only 7. 41M was disbursed.

However, in 2012, things began to look up somewhat, as the agreed €18.56M was met and disbursed, but the euphoria was short-lived, as more money was lost in 2013.

“In 2013, €16.1M was agreed, but only 12.884M was disbursed,” Minister Jordan said, adding that while there were no arrangements between the government and the EU in 2014 and 2015, a €20.74M target was agreed in 2016, but only €17.524M was disbursed.

According to Minister Jordan, the aggregate sum agreed on was €112.879M, but only 81.385M was disbursed. “So, GuySuCo lost critical funding of in excess of €30M; you must know this,” he told his colleagues.

Giving a breakdown on what obtained under the fixed tranche, Minister Jordan said that not only was the government able to reach the targets, but a series of funds was also made available through the agreement.

“Credit to the then gov-

ernment, they never failed any of those targets, so money was disbursed in each year, identical to what was agreed,” he said, adding: “So, for example in 2006, €3.27M was the fixed tranche, and that was disbursed. In 2007, the fixed tranche of €13.213M was agreed and disbursed.

“In 2008, €12.086M was agreed and disbursed.”

And so it continued up until 2016. “So, for a total of between 2006 and 2016, €77.55M was agreed and disbursed under the fixed tranche,” Minister Jordan said.

Though acknowledging that the sugar industry has been a mainstay for the country, he said the painful crisis it is currently experiencing is all because it was poorly managed under the previous PPP Administration.

He posited that the EU had long said that the Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol was coming to an end. Though the EU signalled this over a decade ago, Minister Jordan argued that it was ignored, and the PPP Administration took a decision to invest over US$200M in the Skeldon Sugar Factory and the Modernisation Project for the

sugar industry.

“In fact, on the loan side alone, over US$125M was borrowed. We have roughly about US$29M borrowed from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); another US$40M was borrowed from the Exim Bank of China; and another US$56M in a combination of World Bank loans and Government of Guyana reserves, making it a total of US$125M of borrowed money,” Minister Jordan told the National Assembly. Additionally, funds were pumped into the modernisation project, using revenues from GuySuCo. “Not a penny of this money is being repaid by GuySuCo; not a penny,” the Finance Minister lamented, while positing that the corporation does not have the capacity to repay those loans.

“They do not have the money, so this is being paid with taxpayers’ funds; the very taxes that the honourable member, the opposition leader said we were raking in,” Minister Jordan said.

Under the 2018 Budget, government has set aside $6.3B for GuySuCo, as it forges ahead with its divestment programme for the Industry.

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5

‘Born to be better’ …PM says sugar workers must not be condemned to canefields

By Ariana Gordon STATING that right wing ideologues in the opposition would rather see sugar workers condemned to working in the fields all their lives, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo says they deserve better and urged that everything must be done to guarantee them and their families suitable alternatives as a result of the adjustments in the industry.

Nagamootoo was at the time wrapping up the government’s side of the budget debate Friday afternoon when he observed that the opposition had been using the sugar industry’s misfortune

PPP TORMENT “From day one right to the end they (PPP) were unfailing in their torment of the sugar workers…That you came here with your hands… and pretend that you didn’t know where the descent of sugar began…They have desecrated an industry which we were all once proud of,” the Prime Minister stated. The leader of the House reminded the National Assembly that it was the former government which had closed the sugar estates at both Providence and Diamond and demarcated lands for their friends. “…not a single sugar worker was offered a piece of land after Providence was closed, after Diamond was closed

House that the PPP is painting a picture that what is happening in the sugar industry today is political and not economic. Since taking office in 2015, the APNU+AFC coalition government has pumped billions of dollars into the sugar industry to keep the industry afloat. The Prime Minister also referenced the $50B Skeldon Sugar Factory.

The opposition has said that sugar will die should the Skeldon close. “Well sugar died and we didn’t get Skeldon. The $50B was like water on ducks back except that duck at Skeldon never quacked; it died and it broke down the sugar industry,” the Prime Minister declared. He made it clear

Enmore Estates until 2018 since no system has been put in place for the sugar workers following the closure.

The workers and their union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) have been calling on government to push back the closure of the estates. Prime Minister said the sugar workers are caught in the middle of a process which did not start recently. “Today Sir, I would say that I am not happy at the manner in which all of this is being done,” he said while noting that he expected GUYSUCO to work out a severance plan for the workers and speak to them about it

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo (Adrian Narine photo)

The parliamentary opposition absented themselves from the National Assembly, but for one member, Nigel Dharamlall, Friday during the 2018 budget debate presentation by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (Delano Williams photo)

as a 'whipping boy' to spew racist and divisive messages.

He warned that this was a dangerous path even as he called on the workers not to be fooled by the empty rhetoric of the opposition.

“They are not born to be cane cutters,” the prime minister said of the children of sugar workers “they are not born with a bundle of canes on their heads, not born to walk barefooted on the dams of the sugar estates. They are born to be better than their parents,” he said. He noted that his government will work with all stakeholders to ensure that they offer a ray of hope and light for the sugar workers. “I will continue to light a candle for the sugar workers,” said Nagamootoo who noted that for too long sugar workers have been used as a political tool by the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

---many of their friends were given the first preference,” he stated.

“Political expediency cannot be prudent management, cannot be proper decision making,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo stated as he reminded the former government of its intent to de-recognise the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers' Union (GAWU).

“They wanted to know what to do with GAWU by 2010…

I lived through this. It is in my system, in my DNA, my revolt against the attack in the sugar industry and sugar workers under Mr Jagdeo when he was then the president,” he stated noting that he risked being expelled from the PPP, of which he was a member then.

Closure of estates he said had been a political decision though the opposition argues differently. Ironically, the Prime Minister told the

in that in this situation blame should not be cast on sugar workers. “…today sir, I am sad, I am sad because the sugar workers are not to be blamed; they want jobs and they want alternatives to move on.

We know that wherever sugar factories were closed and people shifted …they turned to cash crops,” noting that with diversification, former sugar workers stand to benefit.

BADLY HANDLED Meanwhile, Nagamootoo expressed much dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) handled the retrenchment of hundreds of sugar workers.

This week the sugar workers began receiving severance letters even as government had recently announced that there will be a delay in the closure of the Rose Hall and

before the issuance of the letters.

Notwithstanding, the Prime Minister said he is pleased that Finance Minister Winston Jordan has said severance will be paid to the workers. On Thursday, Minister Harmon told the House that “a huge chunk” has been allocated towards the payment of severance to the workers. “Even if it is not paid in full there should be a sum, and I understand there is a sum that could be used to deal with the issue of severance but it should have been discussed before,” Nagamootoo stated as he lashed out at GUYSUCO for failing to make available an inventory of the workers.

The sugar company, the Prime Minister said ought to look at the inventory to see how many workers could be retained given that GUYSCUO managed the drainage and irrigation for

a number of communities.

“They should be able to start the process of identifying how many of these workers should be retained in handling the Drainage and irrigation system or how many would be absorbed by the National Drainage and Irrigation System. How many would be absorbed in the health care system, how many would be absorbed in the community centers…how many people would be retrained? How many persons would be given lands, these things are the responsibility of GUYSCUO,” the Prime Minister declared.

He said though the entity has an autonomous (independent) board, “it is a state board, but we do not give it political direction,” said Nagamootoo who in a passionate presentation on the final day of the 2018 budget debates said, “I believe the sugar workers need a fair deal”.

He called on all stakeholders to come together and have discussions on the way forward in the best interest of the sugar work-

ers. He believes there needs to be a plan for alternative jobs to be created and the involvement of non-governmental organisations also to help the former sugar workers access loans, skills training and potential markets. The Prime Minister said rather than foreseeing the death of the sugar industry, there is need to see the existing challenges as part of a new “sparkle of hope [that] the children of sugar workers can be helped to access quality education and trained in relevant skills to make them available for the oil and gas sector.”

6

Editorial

Stand up for someone’s rights today NOT only is Guyana a plural society, we pride ourselves on our plurality. Our history, our constitution, our culture could not reflect greater plurality for a people of less than a million, at the risk of falling into the sea so closely do we cling to the coast.

In a plural society, we accept and celebrate diversity, rule by majority and protect minorities. To do so, we default to the ‘commons’–common principles, commonsense, a common conscience, common concerns and common courtesies. Human rights are arguably the most common principles of a plural society. In the face of different, often divergent, sometimes opposing views on everything that matters and much that does not, human rights principles ground us. They remind us of the most fundamental ‘common’–our humanity. Scientists tell us that genetically, human beings are somewhere between 99.0% and 99.9% identical.

This scientific assertion is no surprise to anyone who has spent some time with a ‘stranger.’ How quickly we discover that we have the same hopes and dreams, the same fears and frustrations. We basically are born,

grow up, grow old and die, and along the way we take the same materials and create myriad recipes and styles and melodies. Unfortunately, we also make war to make peace, often because we are not content to dream our own dreams, but wish to dictate to others, and while we revel in the variety of flowers, (attempt to) protect ‘our’ bio-diversity and cherish tourism as a past-time and a source of income, we are scared, if not resentful, of the ‘other’. The result of such fears and resentments is the violation of the very rights each of us holds so dear, and the ensuing quotidian deprivations, discrimination and discord which we seem to have accepted as a matter of course.

The idea and ideal of our collective pursuit of human rights challenge our civil, political, economic and social status quo. Pursuit of human rights suggests and asserts that as a human race we can and must do ‘better’. That our fear and resentment of other ways of being are not merely irrational, but harmful to ourselves in the long-run, and that finding mutually tenable ways of expressing and addressing such fear and resentment, even

GUYANA CHRONICLE,Saturday December 9, 2017

transforming these into acceptance and respect, is likely to yield individual and collective benefits far beyond what we currently enjoy. Acceptance and respect for the ‘other’ must never, however, be misconstrued as an invitation to ‘say what I want, do as you please’. The three fundamentals of any viable plural society – the rule of law, peace and security, and decent work – are born of and engender respect for human rights.

So, what are human rights? Simply put, they are civil, political, economic, social, cultural and group entitlements each of us holds because we are human, regardless of geography or demographic markers.

Because these rights are indivisible and interdependent, their realisation is interrelated. But perhaps the most fascinating and enduring attribute of human rights is that at one and the same time each of us is always both a rights-holder and a duty-bearer.

For states are made up of people, and government in viable states are for, by and of the people. In the pursuit of my rights, therefore, I must respect the rights of the ‘other’. As we prepare to commemorate International Human Rights Day on Sunday, let us stand up for someone’s rights today! (Reprinted)

Sexual grooming allegations a matter of grave concern

Dear Editor,

THE revelations of alleged sexual grooming and abuse by a teacher at one of the nation’s most venerated secondary schools -- and possibly several other schools spanning the better part of two decades -- is a matter of grave concern to the Child Rights Alliance (CRA). This is coupled with alleged attempts to “cover up” the cases of alleged sexual grooming by the school’s administrators.

This situation has evoked widespread anger by many who have utilised social media and letters to the editor to share their views.

However, there are several issues that must be examined.

The CRA is pleased to see that the matters of sexual grooming and child abuse

are now a part of our national discourse. We commend those individuals who have protested and expressed their concerns over the allegations. We are encouraged that adults are playing their part in bringing the matter to the attention of the authorities which led to the matter being brought to the public’s attention. The members of the CRA know too well the fear, trauma and hopelessness many children are forced to endure in isolation as a result of child sexual grooming and abuse. We have sensitised over 4,000 children in Regions Three, Four and Five about child abuse and the importance of reporting child abuse through our partners Orchid Foundation, Heavenly Light World Outreach Fellowship, SOCDA and FACT. In most cases, children who reported that

they were sexually abused by an adult were forced by the perpetrator to remain silent about the abuse. In one case, the child admitted to a CRA sensitisation officer that her father sexually abused her on multiple occasions. Her grandmother was aware of the abuse, but threatened to poison her if she told anyone.

These children live in continual fear and despair because they feel no one will believe them or help them.

The allegations of sexual grooming at Bishops’ High School have seemingly continued along this line. Past students have alleged that their reports were brushed aside. If that was indeed the case, then one can only imagine the fear that those female students have endured in a place where they should have felt safe. The Ministry of Education (MoE) has

completed its investigation into the matter. Did they look into the alleged brushing aside of reports? The public needs to understand that this is a serious matter. There are laws that are applicable to every Guyanese including teachers and head teachers.

The Protection of Children Act 2009 Section 7 (1) states “Where a person has direct information that a child is or may be in need of protective intervention, the person shall immediately report the matter to the Director (of the Childcare and Protection Agency), a probation officer…or a police officer.” (Emphasis supplied). Therefore, if any child made a report to a teacher or an administrator and that adult failed to report the matter, the said individual has committed an offence under the Protection of Children Act. It is imperative

that those past students who made their allegations against the accused, give statements to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as they are currently investigating the matter.

The public should not be easily satisfied, even though efforts are being made to investigate the matter. There are systemic weaknesses that if not addressed can result in a recurrence. For example, where can a student of any school go that is readily available, easily accessible, and supportive to make reports? This episode has taught us that students are reluctant to go to the administrators for fear of further reprimand. The tape of the head teacher’s infamous address to the students suggests this.

Sexual grooming and abuse in schools are realities with which we need to come to grips and address.

The truth of the matter is, sexual grooming and even sexual assault in schools, are more prevalent than we realise. Due to the CRA’s presence in schools conducting sensitisation sessions, it is becoming evident that younger girls are being groomed and touched inappropriately by older boys. Students need more psychosocial support than is currently provided in schools. Our children are exposed to an overwhelming quantity of ubiquitous sexual content through the mass media, social media, public transportation, billboards and other forms of advertising. They need information, counselling and guidance to not only counter the tsunami of sexually explicit content so pervasive in the public domain, Turn to page 7

GUYANA CHRONICLE,Saturday December 9, 2017

7

The GFF has not exceeded its mandate Dear Editor I HEREBY refer to the above caption as it relates to Sports Scope Our Opinion- “has the GFF exceeded its mandate?” published in the Stabroek News 29.11.17.

Editor, before I divulge the harsh but sad realities of the situation as it unfolded in the publication, may I remonstrate that apart from not providing a definitive answer, or a solution to the question asked by the principal player (s) in Sports Scope, “Enhanced investigative sports journalism, along with meaningful interpretation of Constitutional Articulation, aided by the relevant application”, can go a far way towards public edification, impartiality and professionalism.

As a consequence, the “GFF has and never had a moral obligation”[sic] to entertain a private Promotional Group’s request, seeking approval to organise a football tournament.

While I would agree that three

weeks is definitely too long a period of time to elapse for a response to a previously sent letter of correspondence/email.

Nevertheless, private promoters still don’t have the right to officially launch their promotions publicly, without being assured that all systems are in place.

It’s for this simple reason that this confounded five-a-side nonsense must cease forthwith until such time as the most important ingredients--the players and their welfare are seriously regularised.

First and foremost, what percentage of players are affiliated to the GFF, via Clubs? Further, how many of them play in the GFF Elite League, which may cater for 250 players from the 10 clubs? Should an Elite League player receive an injury on an asphalted/concrete surface and is sidelined for 4-6 weeks, would a private promoter undertake the medical expense(s)? Since the insurance coverage wouldn’t

and quite rightfully so! As for the other players playing domestically in various associations for their respective clubs, they still are under the auspices of the Guyana Football Federation.

Additionally, the Guyana Football Federation, within its mandate as the governing body for the sport nationally, is responsible for: “Continued Development, Promotion and Regularisation”! Suffice it to say, the GFF is also constitutionally empowered to “sanction, discipline and ban any player(s), official(s) and club(s) that fail to adhere to its directive about participating in unsanctioned tournaments/ competitions.” In all due fairness to the GFF, it’s this august body, through the instrumentality of FIFA and CONCACAF over the years which provides funding, equipment and resource personnel to coordinate courses, seminars and workshops for the sport’s continued development in the various ar-

M&CC grateful to those who pay their rates Dear Editor PLEASE refer to an article

by James Mc Onnel captioned “City Hall would have a hard time convincing property owners to pay their rates,” published in the Friday December 1, 2017 edition of your newspaper. We at Council would like to express gratitude to those ratepayers who came forward and honoured their obligations to the Council.

The Council wants to make it clear that the payment of general rates is not

optional, but it is a legal obligation of property owners stipulated in the Municipal and District Council Act, Chapter 28:01, which states at section 204 that: “Every Council shall for each rating area within its Council area make and levy for each rating period a general rate, which shall be sufficient to meet the expenditure estimate to be incurred by the council in carrying out its functions under this Act during the rating period.”

During the period of November 15, 2017 to December 2, 2017, the Council was

able to collect approximately (50) fifty million dollars. The Council continues to see a consistent flow of ratepayers coming to the Council on a daily basis to make use of the amnesty. Also, those who are unable to benefit from the amnesty are making use of our special payment plan, which allows the ratepayer to pay a percentage of the arrears and to enter into a contractual arrangement to pay the outstanding amounts.

Regards, Debra Lewis Public Relations Officer

Sexual grooming allegations....

but to recognise and protect themselves from wouldbe sexual predators.

It is the duty of the State, parents, teachers and other caregivers to ensure that every child enjoys the rights that are afforded to every citizen and are protected from any harm or exploitation. It is the basic human right of every individual – regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or socio economic status -- to live a life that is free of sexual abuse.

December 10, 2017, is Human Rights Day. This year’s theme is, “Leave no one behind-end violence against women.” Our leaders need to take a more

proactive approach to social issues to ensure that every citizen is afforded the opportunity to progress without fear of exploitation.

The CRA commends the Bishops’ High School Old Students Association (BHSOSA) for their response to this issue. The training and support that will be provided to teachers and students will contribute in some manner to addressing the issue. However, what about the other schools? Are we that naïve to think that the issues of sexual grooming and abuse may only be possibly

FROM PAGE 6 present in one school? We would be foolish to think that the conviction of one man will end this scourge.

Central government, local government at its various levels, non-governmental organisations and all other stakeholders must invest financial and human resources, time and effort, as opposed to rhetoric, to support our children and give them every opportunity to achieve their full potential.

Regards Hasani Tinnie Communications Officer Child Rights Alliance

eas of administration, coaching, sports recovery from injuries, nutrition and refereeing, just to name a few.

Is it then fair for a private promotional group to utilise and exploit, albeit “prostitute” the “ballers” for personal financial gains? Would any promotional interest go the extra mile to have adequate security and ambulatory service in the event of a serious injury occurring?

What of a simple stretcher, mobile lavatories, more so for the females, along with changing facilities? Or is this done in public?

Interestingly, the aforementioned are just a few of the conditionalities the federation can include in a contract prior to granting approval. Prize money, referees’ fees and levy fees etc. are also compulsory before the contract is inked. However, from all indications, there are a few individuals who “Want it in bake and in cake”! They are utilising their position(s)

within the sports section of the print media to promote private promoters’ personal self-aggrandisement.

Is this the case of any sports journalist from Stabroek News?

Would it be prudent for participating teams in a five-a-side tournament to drop off their registration forms to a sports journalist at their place of employ? Isn’t this a conflict of interest? But the “Hired pens and de-facto PROs”, all are about the money. Editor, if the GFA sees it fit to organise a year-end, five-a-side tourney, surely it should be for clubs over which they have jurisdiction and not street teams. Should the GFA deem it fit to contract a private organisation to coordinate their affairs, then it’s their business.

In the final analysis, the old adage of private promoters coming through clubs or associations in seeking approval, should be reviewed.

Likewise, the “Guinness Goal” which is tantamount to match-fixing, when the chips

are down for a tournament favourite on the verge of being eliminated, resulting in the likely drop of sales.

As it relates to the Guyana Futsal Association, surely a “conflict of interest” arises with its president, as part of a “Promotional Group” that promotes a year-end tournament. While for the entire year the GFF’s affiliate is dormant. Once again this affiliate must get its act together and have an “Annual calendar of activities for futsal football only! A timely reminder--the “World Club Championship” was initially developed and promoted by a private promotional group, but was eventually taken away by FIFA, which controls it until today. In relation to disciplinary matters,” which disciplinary committee would be utilised for these adhoc, organised tournaments?

Regards Lester Sealey

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GUYANA CHRONICLE,Saturday December 9, 2017

Gov’t MPs walk out in protest of “Vulgarians” THE absence of the Government Members of Parliament (MP) in the National Assembly on Friday during the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo’s presentation, was an act of protest, against the disrepute brought upon the House on Thursday, November 2, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said during his presentation on the 2018 budget.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo, whose presentation followed that of the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly noted, “When the Honourable Leader of the opposition stood up Sir, to make his presentation you may have observed your honour, that I made a gracious exit

from this honourable House.

I believe my other colleagues have done similarly. They had walked as he was about to speak. How can we forget November 2nd 2017, the day of infamy in this House. How can we ever forget if we are honourable members of this honourable House? The disrespect shown to this august Assembly and the disobedience demonstrated towards the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly.”

In addition, the Prime Minister said the vulgar conduct of the opposition MPs during President David Granger’s address to the 72nd sitting of the 11th Parliament was an act of disrespect for the various arms of government.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

“If we say we respect the separation of power and we respect the judiciary and the legislature as we respect the executive, then you cannot under any pretext come to this house and show an outrageous contempt for the tradition of parliamentary democracy and good behaviour and in the presence of the executive of the land who we pray for every time we stand here; for his good health and happiness. How can we flagrantly disregard our own prayers, our own commitments to good behaviour and how could we in a cowardly display of a petty act of domestic terrorism hide behind a placard and behave bad, making

noise, wailing, bawling, crying, hollering, … how could we justify that behavior, which your honour has been condemned in no uncertain manner as contempt for the tradition of this House?” the Prime Minister asked.

Further, Prime Minister Nagamootoo likening the actions of the opposition as terrorism, called on all parliamentarians to condemn such actions as inappropriate. “So, we walked out Sir, because we believe it is a revolutionary act if one were to refuse to reward and recognise disrespect and hooliganism.

It is for me, a serious act, a revolutionary act, and in walking out I felt that we were sending a signal that

as the President himself had remarked that we would not give respect to vulgarians.

For all the years that I have been in this House, I have not seen anything more outrageous than has happened on the 2nd November and even if it is later in the day every member of this House should condemn this act of local terrorism,” Nagamootoo told the National Assembly.

When President Granger addressed the 72nd Sitting of Parliament on Thursday, November 2, he was greeted by placard-bearing, noisy opposition MPs led by Leader Bharrat Jagdeo who sought to prevent him from delivering his charge to the National Assembly. (DPI)

FFP, WUSC sign Two committed cooperation agreement to stand trial --for 2015 murder of Hamson’s proprietor

Murdered businessman, Abdool Farouk Ghanie

TWO men were on Friday committed to stand trial at the High Court for the April 2015 murder of city businessman, Abdul Farouk Ghanie, proprietor of Hamson General Stores.

Kemo Tyron Evans of Water Street, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, and Floyd Anthony Rammit of Kaneville, also on the East Bank, were both committed to stand trial before a judge and jury for the capital offence, after the conclusion of a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Particulars of the charge state that between April 15 and 16, at East Bank Demerara, Rammit murdered Ghanie, aka ‘Brother’, during the course of a robbery.

According to a police report, on April 15, the businessman left his Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara home to go to his place of business on Regent Street, and returned around 18:00hrs.

It further says that at around 20:00hrs, Rammit and Evans were seen beating a hasty retreat from Ghanie’s premises.

Then, at around 07:20hrs the following day, April 16, neighbours found the businessman lying at the back of his yard in a pool of blood, and with visible wounds to his left side chest and cheek.

The police were summoned, and found that the businessman’s firearm, cellphone and other items were missing.

Ghanie was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, but was pronounced dead.

Evans had reportedly provided the police with a

WUSC Caribbean Deputy Project Director, Munish Persaud and FFP Chief Executive Officer, Kent Vincent shake hands after the signing of the MoU

From front : Floyd Anthony Rammit and Kemo Tyron Evans

detailed statement on how he and Rammit robbed and killed Ghanie, after staking out the businessman’s Collingswood Avenue, Nandy Park residence.

WORLD University Service of Canada Caribbean (WUSC Caribbean) and Food for the Poor (Guyana) Inc (FFP) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for specific areas of cooperation.

The MoU supports the contribution and distribution of seeds, simple tools and equipment to farmers, agro-processing and farming groups and learning institutions.

The agreement also entails promoting the adaption of climate smart agricultural practices through the establishment of shade houses and supporting small-scale

farmers to pursue crop diversification and adapt new technologies to boost efficiency and productivity.

It will promote agro-processing and farming groups with the establishment/ upgrading of agro-processing centres.

Signing for WUSC Caribbean was Munish Persaud, Deputy Project Director while Kent Vincent, Chief Executive Officer of FFP signed on behalf of the non-governmental organisation.

Speaking on behalf of WUSC Caribbean, Deputy Project Director Munish Persaud said it was a really

good opportunity for both entities using their resources to get more lasting sustainable solutions for the issues facing poor farmers in Guyana.

On the part of FPP, Chief Executive Officer Kent Vincent said it was good to link with another entity that promotes agricultural initiatives.

"The collaborative effort was very opportune and we are happy to sign this MoU," he said.

Witnessing the signing were Marissa Lowden, Country Coordinator of WUSC Caribbean and Andrea Benjamin, Senior Project Officer of FFP.

GUYANA CHRONICLE,Saturday December 9, 2017

9

Public Security to ramp up programmes to reform lives of youth

THE Public Security Ministry will continue to reshape the lives of hundreds of at-risk youths in 2018, even as it strengthens the Guyana Police Force’s capacity to combat crime.

A US$280,000 survey on women’s health and life expectancy in relation to those who have suffered and have become victims of domestic violence will also be the highlight of 2018, along with the injection of US$1M into the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) to facilitate DNA testing.

As the budget debates continued on Thursday in the National Assembly, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan told his colleagues on both sides of the House that this year, 428 youths from 20 communities across the country received technical training. Sixty-two of them were able to access loans and have launched their own businesses.

In 2018, an additional 420 youths will be made jobready – an initiative that will continue until 2020, Minister Ramjattan assured. Added

to that, in 2018 a number of at-risk youths from Regions Three, Four, Five, Six and 10 will be working along with a number of families in an effort to strengthen their resilience. Under this initiative, they will be equipped with conflict resolution and anger management skills.

This project will also seek to promote positive parenting practices through a number of campaigns, workshops and family oriented activities.

The Public Security Minister also noted that 19 community officers have been appointed and are working with at-risk youths to improve their self-esteem while preventing them from engaging in criminal and violence acts. Already, the positive impacts are being felt, Minister Ramjattan told the House. The young people were selected from communities such as Stabroek, Lacytown, Sophia, Kuru Kururu, Bel Air, Port Mourant, Adelphi Village, Annandale, Mon Repos, South Ruimveldt, Tuchen De Vri-

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

erden, Bush Lot Village, Albion, Wismar, Agricola, Enmore, East Le Penitence, Lusignan, McDoom, and Charlestown.

In 2018, the national budget will also facilitate the roll out of 10 Rapid Impact Projects through the Public Security Ministry and the

Citizen Security Strengthening Project (CSSP). Rapid Impact Projects are smallscale projects designed to rehabilitate existing or underutilized infrastructure, or build new facilities for social, recreational or educational needs of community members. Key to this is that

they are all identified by the communities themselves.

Under component two of the CSSP, the Guyana Police Force Crime Prevention and Investigation Capacity for Homicides, Burglaries and Robberies at the national level will also be strengthened.

The Public Security Minister noted that capacity building initiative is nothing new. It was pointed out that over $300M in contracts have been awarded for the upgrades of 12 police stations to include domestic violence room, Information Technology Unit, and a greater enquiries room.

“Four are also most completed. Eight will be rolled over in 2018. But in addition to that we will have six more,” Minister Ramjattan told the House. These stations include those at Whim, Springlands, Parika, Baramita and Mahdia among others.

The police performance capacity will also be diagnosed in 2018. “This assessment is expected to assist the police force in assessing based line conditions, identifying weak-

nesses and strengths,” Minister Ramjattan explained.

The Public Security Ministry will also be conducting a number of surveys to collect must needed data.

A US$280,000 survey on women’s health and life expectancy in relation to those who have suffered and have become victims of domestic violence will be conducted.

Turning his attention to the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL), Minister Ramjattan noted that there were a number of problems with the lab. “When it was designed in 2012 it had huge problems, initially, it was only for trace-evidence testing, chemistry testing and toxicology,” he told the House, noting that it was not designed to facilitate DNA testing.

Nonetheless, he said that the Public Security Ministry has been able to secure almost US$1M to improve the air quality system and the security system in 2018 to allow for DNA testing. The Guyana Prison System, he assured will also be improved.

‘Santa in the House’

…Woman dressed as Santa invades Parliament with gift for Jagdeo …clerk says it is serious breach of security

By Svetlana Marshall THERE was high drama in the National Assembly on Friday when a woman dressed as Santa Claus barged into the Parliament Chamber with a gift for the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo as he stood up to speak.

The Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs has since deemed the invasion a serious security breach. For most persons in Parliament, the invasion came as a major surprise. It was just after 11:00hrs when the majority of Members Parliament from the governing side of the House were making their way out of the Parliament Chamber as Jagdeo stood to the floor to make his contribution to the 2018 National Budget debate.

Minutes into his speech, a loud bell was heard being rung. Santa Claus was standing in the chamber ringing her bell in one hand, and holding a huge Oxford Dictionary and a bar of blue soap in the other.

The assistant sergeantat-arms with assistance from another official stopped Santa in her tracks, and escorted her out of the chamber.

It is suspected that the dictionary was intended to aid the opposition leader in spelling the word “divide”, which he had spelt incorrectly while protesting President David Granger in Parliament recently. Jagdeo had spelt the word ‘devide.’

The Clerk of the National Assembly later told reporters that the matter is being investigated, but based on a preliminary investigation,

the individual entered the Parliament Buildings dressed as a normal person. “Apparently, the person came in properly dressed and changed his or her clothes in the MPs washroom, so the person didn’t come through the gate dressed in Santa’s uniform, all of that was done inside of the Public Buildings,” Isaacs explained.

After the fake Santa was escorted out of the chamber and led down the main stairs of the Public Buildings, she was allegedly snatched from the hands of the internal police present by another unknown individual. They exited through the back gate.

“What I was told by the police at the Public Buildings is that a stranger snatched the person and whisked him or her away quickly out of the compound; the person was

escorted quickly out of the compound by another stranger,” the clerk explained. Isaacs later said that the internal security personnel was of the belief that the second individual was a police officer. He noted however that it is not protocol for strangers to use the back gate.

With no surveillance cameras in place at the Public Buildings, it can be difficult to put a face to the Santa Claus who complemented her outfit with a pair of shades.

Isaacs told reporters that the matter is a serious breach and the Speaker Dr. Barton Scotland has been asked to intervene. “This never happened and I feel it is a serious breach of security and I am encouraging Mr. Speaker to have a meeting of the Parliamentary Management

Committee shortly to discuss the matter,” the clerk noted.

Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business Moses Nagamootoo condemned the invasion, saying that it should never have happened. People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament Clement Rohee also in a statement published on his Facebook page, said the opposition has written the Clerk of the National Assembly on the matter, claiming that it was an attempted assault on the opposition leader.

“The assailant entered the chamber from the section of the parliament reserved only for government ministers,” the PPP MP pointed out, while further questioning, “how the assailant bypassed the elaborate security

arrangements including TSU guards and the scanners on the ground floor of the parliament building.” For him, it is “highly suspicious and questionable.”

Like the clerk, the opposition has formally requested that an urgent meeting of the Parliamentary Management Committee be convened and an investigation be launched into the breach of the security arrangements at Parliament and the attempted physical assault on Jagdeo.

“What is also strange about the incident is that while the would-be assailant was handed over to police ranks usually stationed at Parliament she was allowed to go scot-free without questioning and establishing her identity before releasing her,” Rohee said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE,Saturday December 9, 2017

New look Mash promises to be ‘big’ next year MINISTER of Social Cohesion with Responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton, yesterday, announced the new route for the much anticipated Mashramani Costume and Float Parade 2018.

Speaking at a press conference, the Minister said, “It has been decided that all participating bands will assemble on Thomas Lands west of Albert Street. The first judging point will be by the National Park. The parade will proceed east along Thomas Lands, then south into Vlissingen Road and into Durban Park using the Vlissingen and Hadfield Streets’ entrance.” He pointed out that his Ministry has answered the call of patrons to see Vlissingen Road included in the route but the parade will not return to Church Street.

“There is no way that we are ever going to get back to using Church Street, and we have to accept that. But we are confident that this new route that we’re going to adapt will meet everyone’s expectations,” Minister Norton told media operatives, adding that vending will be allowed along the parade route. “Prospective vendors will be provided shortly with all the information necessary, through the news media, with regard to dates for registration, vending fee, and other pertinent information,” Dr. Norton assured.

The Minister also formally announced and introduced Mr. Andrew Tyndall as the

official Coordinator of the Ministry’s Mash Committee.

According to Mr. Tyndall, the country’s 48th Republic Anniversary celebrations will boast a number of new components such as the Ju-

craft their talent and develop by the time they get to the Senior Soca Monarch Competition.” Teens from 14 years old would be eligible to vie for the Junior Soca Monarch.

and other media including text messages and so on,” Ms. Boatswain informed.

Also, since the Ministry of Social Cohesion is all about inclusion, then Mashramani committee aims to ensure

As far as reintroduced activities go, there are a number of exciting ones, starting with the usually anticipated Mash Night.

“For those of you who don’t know, Mash Night

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton flanked by Andrew Tyndall (right) and Director of Culture, Ms. Tamika Boatswain

nior Soca Monarch. “We recognise that there are a number of young persons, who are talented, and I think because of the age where they are allowed to enter the Senior Soca Monarch, sometimes they lose that enthusiasm. We want to provide an opportunity for our young talented singers to hit the stage and showcase their talent,” Tyndall said.

He added, “We feel like if we provide that opportunity from a younger age, they would be really able to

Meanwhile, Director of Culture, Ms. Tamika Boatswain announced that a “People’s Choice” component for the Calypso, Chutney and Soca Monarch competitions will also be added in the form of public voting. “This is a feature we want to introduce this year, where the public gets to vote on their favourite calypsonian, their favourite Chutney singer or Soca artiste. There will be prizes given out to the winners of those categories.

We plan to use Facebook

that its activities reflect the country’s diversity.

“The Adult Calypso Competition’s semi-finals will be held in Region Seven. The semi-finals for the Soca Monarch Competition will be held in region 10.

The Chutney Competition finals will be held in Region Three. We will have steel band concerts in Regions Eight and Nine, so persons living in all parts of Guyana will have an opportunity to experience Mash,” Mr. Tyndall explained.

is a night where we usually judge the individual pieces.

For a number of years, because of challenges with designers not finishing their costumes on time, we did not have this Mash Night celebration. But in 2018, it will be reintroduced,” Tyndall said.

He noted that next year, judges, during the Mash Night, would be able to examine all the intricacies of costumes, especially the King and Queen’s pieces.

“Also at Mash Night you

will have the Monarchs of the various song competitions performing. Due to the much appreciated support of Ansa McAl, the Adult Soca Monarch competition is back on the table,” he said.

Additionally, Mr. Tyndall and his team are working to execute a ‘Clean up; Bright up Guyana’ initiative, which is expected to get Guyanese to rally around cleaning and protecting their environment. “Clean up and decorate your building… Be part of what is happening.

Let us show our patriotism through the way we decorate our homes and buildings.

Let us really celebrate our Republic anniversary,” Tyndall encouraged. There will also be a grand Main Street Lime every Friday starting from January 26, leading up to Republic Day, February 23. “There will be a party atmosphere kind of lime, where we will have various competitors from the song competitions performing… various designers displaying their costumes. We are really trying to build the hype and vibes heading into Mash.

There will also be a Family Fun Day for persons, who want to celebrate Mash activities with their little ones. Apart from those activities, the Mashramani season, as is customary, would include a number of academic components, including a Republic Lecture Series. Organisers are also anticipating a full turn out with approximately 50 floats. “We want to make Mash very big in 2018,” Mr. Tyndall declared. (Ministry of the Presidency)

Bandit shot during attack on female guard A BANDIT was shot and injured when he “choked and robbed” a female security guard at the Republic Bank training facility on Waterloo Street early Friday morning.

In a release, the police said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting of a male suspect who allegedly choked and robbed a female security guard of her $35,000 cellular phone about 05:15hrs Friday morning whilst the victim, 35, was on duty

in the compound of the Republic Bank Training Centre on Waterloo Street, Georgetown.

An investigation has revealed that shortly after the alleged commission of the crime, the victim alerted her supervisor and shortly after, security personnel of a private security company responded and based on description, the suspect was seen in close proximity to the crime scene; on being approached, he allegedly drew a cutlass and attacked an armed guard

who discharged a round at him which struck him on the right lower limb.

The cellular phone has been retrieved and the victim had to seek medical attention for severe pains around the neck. The suspect, 27, who was treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and discharged, having been kept for observation for a short period, has since been taken into custody and is assisting with the investigation.

GUYANA CHRONICLE,Saturday December 9, 2017

11

National Aging Policy for 2018

…all will rise to the peak and enjoy the good life, says Social Protection Minister

By Navendra Seoraj IN addition to increasing old age pensions by 49 per cent since being elected to office in 2015, Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally announced that the government will roll out a National Aging Policy in 2018.

The Social Protection Minister during her presentation on the penultimate day of the 2018 budget debate on Thursday, said the goal of the policy would be to promote and support the social, economic and cultural re-integration of older persons into the mainstream of society and to enable senior citizens to participate in the national development process.

The parliamentary opposition quickly shot down the idea, accusing the government of wanting to use the policy for its self-serving purposes. In response, the minister said some of the opposition parliamentarians will benefit from the same project that they criticise.

She went on to explain that care for the elderly will be improved, since the government is expected to establish an elderly welfare section in the Social Protection Ministry to monitor the daily operations of elderly residential-care facilities such as The Palms.

Benefits for the elderly however will not stop there, since the minister also announced that 20 elderly-care facilities in Guyana will benefit from a wheelchair-accessible bus. In addition, Guyanese were once again promised the good life, by Ally who said that her ministry is on a mission to formulate programmes and policies to create an enabling welfare state, one which will help people to help themselves. “We are seeing and picking the fruits of this journey which started in 2015 and with time under the coalition government, Guyana will rise to the peak where all will enjoy this good life,” she said.

The parliamentary opposition did not miss the chance to ask where the good life she spoke of is, but in quick response the minister explained that they are in a hurry to rebuild a country that was “marred” and “scarred” by the “poor” and

in 23 years.

Ally said no one will be left out of the development process, since they intend to also bat for a Gender and Social Inclusionary Policy in 2018. “Children and youths are also a part of our plan, as such, we intend to continue the Multimedia Child Abuse

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, defends her point during the 2018 budget debate on Thursday (Adrian Narine photo)

“corrupted” governance under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

As the saying goes, she “opened a can of worms” with that comment, but went on to defend her promise by pointing out that they will continue to give the unemployed youths skills to find decent jobs; give single mothers the support they need to go out and work or start a small business; provide vulnerable persons such as children, the elderly, the homeless and victims of violence and trafficking with the right care and protection needed to better their lives.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganga Persaud, who was particularly vocal, asked the minister what they have done so far for those groups. In response, Ally said the ministry has four ongoing programmes, one of which includes the First Lady Sandra Granger’s capacity-building initiative that has benefited over 900 female single parents and saw many female adults being trained in areas such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT); care for the elderly; first aid; childcare; early childhood development; self-reliance and success in business.

In addition, she argued that $100 million was allocated in 2017 for Sustainable Livelihoods and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED). Through that programme, the ministry has established 20 agricultural and commercial projects in regions across the country.

She boasted that over 253 households have benefited from those projects and as a result of their success, in 2018, the ministry will

expand the programme to support community-based, income-generation activities as well as employment.

Persaud however riled the minister by pointing out that community-based, income-generation activities were established under the PPP/C, so therefore it is not a new initiative. An argument ensued, but the Speaker of the National Assembly, Barton Scotland, managed to control the eruption from both government and opposition parliamentarians.

Ally again made an attempt to defend her topic, pointing out that the ministry has made great strides in countering trafficking in persons.

“Our political will, our programmes, our networking, something that the opposition never had, has [sic] resulted in Guyana moving from Tier 2 to Tier 1 earlier this year,” she argued, adding that their network and partnerships with the Ministerial Task Force, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Jamaica Trafficking in Persons and the Embassy of the United States of America (USA) have all contributed to their success.

The ministry is reportedly in the process of developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the treatment of human-trafficking victims. Speaking on a similar topic, sexual and domestic violence, Minister Ally said the government will establish a Victim Support Unit (VSU) in 2018, only months after they had established a specialised court for sexual offences. Amidst loud heckling, the minister added heat to the fire by saying that government has managed to do what the PPP/C did not do

Awareness Campaign in 2018, so that we can reach out to parents who should help to provide a safe and nurturing family environment for their children,” said the minister. She as such applauded the 2018 budget which has outlined a $1.7 billion investment in youth programmes. “The

coalition government has a vision. It is taking this country down the road of progress and development.

I say to all hey -- on board, work with the government and prepare to enjoy the good life,” said the minister, who called on the opposition to also join the path to development.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

Guyana preparing to go ‘hybrid’ –– already identified site for natural-gas facility, minister tells House

TWO sites have been identified, but only one will be selected for the construction of a natural-gas facil-

ity during the first quarter of 2018.

This is according to Minister of Public Infra-

structure, David Patterson, who told parliamentarians during the 2018 National Budget debate on Thursday

night that one of the sites that have been identified is here in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), while the other is in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

With regard to projects to diversify the energy mix and strengthen the power-generation sector, Minister Patterson said that the government spent 2017 engaging in discussions on the commercial use of natural gas from offshore resources as a transitional fuel for the economy.

Such a proposal, he said, would involve the landing of a pipeline onshore to pipe in gas; the construction of a new power-generating facility; and the design and mapping of an industrial park in close proximity to the facility.

“The government envisaged this proposed initiative as a means to supplement the use of renewable energy, and strengthen security of supply,” Minister Patterson said, adding that the government is currently in discussion with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank on studies for accessing the use of this form of energy here.

Patterson said the quanity of the natural gas available is between 300 to 500 cubic feet per day, which is

more than enough to power a 200-megawatt generator as well as a LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas) plant, which can provide more than four times the country’s annual requirement.

The cost of implementing such a project, he noted, is “far less in total” than that of the Amaila Falls project, and will deliver power to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and at lower cost.

As regards additional plans for the energy sector in 2018, Minister Patterson said that Phase 2 of the distribution and infrastructural development programme will see four new electricity sub-stations being erected at Wales, on the West Bank; Williamsburg, in East Berbice; Kuru Kuru, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway; and Hydronie, on the East Bank of Essequibo, as well as expansion of the existing structures.

A second transmission line will be erected between Kingston and Sophia here in the city, in the hope of addressing the frequent blackouts, he said.

Under the road improvement and rehabilitation programme funded by the IDB, the minister said that in maintaining commitment to safety, the project provides the first set of pedestrian overpasses being built in

Guyana. He said the projects are 85% completed, and the final works are expected to be done by April 2018.

He said those final works will see two lifts each being installed at the structures which are being erected on the East Bank of Demerara.

Minister Patterson noted that the Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue expansion project is coming on stream; that after delays stretching back to 2013, construction work will commence in the first quarter of 2018 and last some 24 months. He said the 2018 budget has provisions of $2B for the project.

Meanwhile, works to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project will continue in the coming year, and that with the $5B that has been allocated to the project for 2018, the new arrival section is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter.

The departure section will be completed shortly after. As regards expansion of the runway, he said that for safety reasons, the contractor was asked to re-examine the foundation of the south-western section of it, since several slippages were experienced there.

The project is 77% completed, Minister Patterson told parliamentarians.

Big drop in malaria cases in 2016 –Min. Lawrence ONE of the major achievements for the Ministry of Public Health has been the significant decrease in detected malaria cases throughout Guyana.

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence during the budget debates, said that there has been a “15 percent reduction of malaria cases; from 13,245 in 2015 to 11,149 in 2016.”

The Minister credited the reduction to the interventions made by the Ministry of Public Health’s Vector Control Services (VCS), in identifying and treating cases of malaria in a timely manner. More specifically, she noted the VCS has intensified malaria testing and treatment in the hinterland and mining areas where the virus is more prevalent.

Minister Lawrence explained that the department has managed to pilot Rapid Diagnostic testing for malaria at the community level. This new programme has been

critical to the diagnosing and treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Region Eight.

“This is a proposed model for countries with malaria and has been endorsed by [the] World Health Organisation (WHO) with the aim of early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of deaths,” she explained.

Meanwhile, other successes achieved include the adjustment and updating of the National Malaria Treatment Guidelines. Mosquito-borne diseases have been identified as a major cause of illnesses and deaths, so these guidelines will facilitate advanced research and tools to fight malaria. This will help transform how other infectious diseases, like the Zika Virus, are combatted, the Minister said.

A National Malaria Oversight Committee has also been established to help combat malaria based on the recommendation of Malaria Policy Advisory Committee, WHO.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

‘December Murders’ continues to haunt Suriname

By Ivan Cairo

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – Thirty-five years after 15 prominent opponents of the then military government in Suriname were rounded up, shot and killed at an army fort in the capital, the “December Murders” still provokes emotional outburst in the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

On Friday, during a sober ceremony, wreaths and flowers were laid at Bastion Veere in Fort Zeelandia where on December 8, 1982, the 15 political opponents of the then military government of President Desi Bouterse were executed.

Among those attending the ceremony were former president, Ronald Venetiaan, relatives, friends, trade union leaders and representatives of the Dutch and American embassies. A memorial service will be held at the Cathedral Basilica later on Friday evening.

The 15 people, including journalists, trade union leaders, military officers, businessmen, lawyers and university lecturers, were arrested at their homes, tortured in Fort Zeelandia and then shot dead.

Bouterse and 24 other suspects have gone on trial for the murders, and relatives believe that closure is on the horizon.

The military prosecutor, Roy Elgin has sought a 20-year jail term for Bouterse, who has insisted he is innocent.

Sunil Oemrawsingh, a relative of one of those killed, said given that the trial is in its final stages, there could be at least some closure to this dark page in Suriname’s history.

“This not easy,” said an emotional Oemrawsingh, adding that the victims were fighting for democracy, justice and truth when they were killed.

Reverend Marjorie Slagtand, who spoke at the ceremony, gave words of encouragement to the attendants, while the president of the Organisation for Justice and Peace (OGV), Betty Goede, said, “Everybody is welcome to the church.”

Her remarks were in response to an earlier statement from Dew Baboeram, whose brother was one of the persons that were killed.

He was quoted in the media as saying that neither he nor the members of the ‘Committee of Victims and Relatives of Political Violence’ had been invited as yet to attend the annual memorial service.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

Guyana on path to achieve first-class education standards

– Min Henry

By Svetlana Marshall GUYANA is on a path to achieving first class educational standards and the 2018 National Budget will aid the process, Minister of Education Nicolette Henry told the National Assembly on Thursday, before ending her presentation on a rather emotional note.

Minutes before ending her presentation, Minister Henry broke down in tears as she expressed gratitude to the thousands of men and women who are immensely

contributing towards the improvement of our education system. Even as she was being consoled by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, the Education Minister said: “Indeed, we have done so much in education with the sole purpose of making a difference in the lives of others in this country. “I look forward to an even more rewarding year in 2018, as I have every confidence that we will persevere and deliver as we continue the journey of laying a solid foundation

for the good life of all our students who are the future of this country.”

But for the Opposition– People Progressive Party (PPP), Henry’s tears were part of a “grand theatrical performance.” PPP Member of Parliament Clement Rohee, who spoke seconds after the Education Minister, said the Bible did spoke of the “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in the last day. According to him, Henry’s tears are just the beginning of what is to come.

“What we have witnessed…in terms of the weeping and the gnashing of teeth is obviously a manifestation of what is

to come by 2020. There will be more weeping and gnashing of teeth,” said Rohee.

GUYANA’S JOURNEY TO FIRST CLASS EDUCATION Nonetheless, amid periodic heckling from the opposition benches, the Education Minister said the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government continues to invest heavily in the Education Sector as it seeks to achieve “first class education” in Guyana.

“In 2017 we invested significant sums at the nursery, primary and secondary levels. Apart from routine activities, some of the initiatives we rolled out included emergency intervention for Mathematics at the Primary Level with a strong focus on content and methodology, expansion of the music programme, where we trained in excess of three hundred teachers in the areas of Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts and Physical Education with a view to creating more rounded students,” she told her colleagues on both sides of the House.

The intervention, the Education Minister boasted, resulted in increased student performance in test scores at national and regional examinations. She assured that Government in 2018 will keep up the momentum. “So monies have been allocated in the 2018 budget for curriculum review, the Interactive Radio Instruction Programme review, leadership training for senior teachers, development of a handbook for teaching method / strategies for primary teachers, and the development of standards for Primary Mathematics from Grades 1-6,” Minister Henry told the National Assembly.

It was pointed out too that Government took a decision this year to increase the number of schools approved for community-based school feeding programme in the hinterland. The number was increased from 110 to 202.

“While this may not seem like much, depending on where you sit in this house, I can tell you, to the ordinary people, especially the additional 30,000 stu-

Education Minister Nicolette Henry delivering an emotional presentation to the National Assembly as she defended the 2018 National Budget dents who are benefitting for the first time from school feeding, this is a big deal,” Minister Henry said with a sense of accomplishment.

The move has created job opportunities for residents, in particular women in the various communities. A similar breakfast programme, she boasted, was implemented on the coastland and is positively affecting the lives of students.

Based on the positive impact it is having on children across the country, the School Feeding Programme will be scaled up this initiative, the Education Minister told the House. According to the United Nations, there is evidence to show that school feeding programmes enhance enrollment in school and better educational outcomes.

Alluding to another of the Ministry’s achievement, Minister Henry reminded her colleagues that it was this year that the first smart classroom launched. But that initiative was just a tip of the iceberg. “In 2017 the Ministry of education launched its first smart classroom, hosted a series of stakeholders’ engagements and awarded millions of dollars in presidential grants to several secondary schools as part of the National Endowment for Science and Technology, called NEST,” she pointed out.

Closing the gaps and re-

ducing the disparities in education also formed part of the Ministry’s focus for 2017. As such, several buses, boats and bicycles were commissioned and handed over to most disadvantaged communities like the Pomeroon, Baracara, Rivers view, Bartica and Moraikobai. “Mr. Speaker, the President’s 5 B’s initiative is a model for transforming the education landscape. From May 2015 to date, we have provided 26 Buses, nine boats and thousands of bicycles which are transporting our children across this country,” Minister Henry reported. In 2018, for the first time in over a decade, the Education Ministry will reintroduce training for teachers in Region 8. A decision has been taken to increase teachers Remote Area Incentive by 80 per cent.

Additionally, in 2018, the newly-constructed Special Education diagnosis and assimilation centre at Turkeyen will be outfitted with appropriate equipment and furnishings, the Education Minister told the House.

Also, the budget includes allocations for the construction of TVET Hubs at Bina Hill, Mahdia, Lethem and Mabaruma to bridge the gap between hinterland and coastland, while enhancing hinterland access to post-secondary education opportunities.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

GWI launches Christmas promotion

GUYANA Water Inc. on Friday morning launched its Christmas promotion titled, “GWI’s Holiday Slash and Cash” with the aim of strengthening its customer base.

The ceremony took place at GWI’s head office at Shelterbelt on Vlissengen Road. According to GWI’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Richard Van-West Charles throughout the past two years their staff responded well towards work in terms of striving to improve their services. He reported that some customers are compliant and pay their bills, while others are delinquent, but all that will change soon because they recognised that there are many payment facilities.

Dr. Van-West Charles stated that many people don’t have access to water and water of good quality, especially those in the hinterland regions. He added that the utility company is working to remove the inequities that exist between the coastland and the interior and for them to do more they need funding and that given by the government is for infrastructural projects.

The GWI official told the gathering that they are moving towards complete metering of their customers, so that their charges are just and fair and estimated bills will be a thing of the past.

He disclosed that they will soon be launching an app via cellphones to enable customers to check their balances and they want to make it easy to pay bills and they are in talks with GTT Mobile Money.

Dr. Van-West Charles stated that they want to prove their efficiency and at the same time provide easy access for customers to pay bills and check their balances. He said they have just over 50,000 customers, some of whom have been unable to pay their bills in a timely manner and they do not want to remove the services of its delinquent customers, but they need to honour their payments or make use of the friendly payment plans available.

The CEO however, encouraged customers to pay their outstanding bills to assist them to do more, since some far-flung communities require potable water. Also making remarks was GWI’s Customer Relations Manager Andrea Khan and Cus-

The Christmas promotion launched by GWI on Friday tomer Services and Commercial Relations Manager Marlon Daniels. The GWI Christmas promotion will run from December 11 to 29 and customers paying off balances on their accounts from $15,000 and up will be eligible for a chance to get one-month waivers on their water bills exceeding $5,000 from GWI. This amount not exceeding $5,000 will be credited to the customer’s account after the billing cycle for the following month and five customers from each regional office will be randomly selected weekly. Disconnected customers who pay 50% or more on their outstanding balances will be eligible to get 50% off their reconnection/replacement fees.

Customers who pay less than $15,000 to clear their bills will get a chance to win prizes from GWI; and five customers from each regional office will be randomly selected on a weekly basis. In addition, five pensioners will be randomly selected from each of GWI’s regional offices and will each receive a hamper during the period of the promotion.

Persons paying GWI bills at any of the payment agencies or via MMG or ScotiaOnline will be eligible to enter the promotion only if they submit their receipts to the cashier at any of GWI’s 12 locations countrywide. Only then will the customer be able to get a legitimate coupon to place in the boxes provided by GWI.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE,Saturday December 9, 2017

Clampdown on squatting …lands commission staff urged at retreat

By Lisa Hamilton The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) needs to clamp down on squatting, illegal occupation of state reserves and land degradation, says Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

These concerns were highlighted on Friday at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission’s Vision Retreat, held at De Impeccable Banquet Hall on Brickdam, Georgetown.

The retreat served to engage participants in an exercise to update the Commission’s vision and mission. Harmon used the opportunity to highlight a list of matters the GLSC needed to address in order to coincide with the government’s vision for Guyana.

Disparity of development between the coastland and the hinterland, squatting, illegal occupation of state

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon gives recommendations to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission

lands, land degradation and several controversies with land rights, were some of the topics Harmon touched on.

On the issue of squatting, the Minister of State said that the GLSC needed to be stricter with squat-

ters who were reluctant to move out of unwarranted areas onto legitimate lands provided by the government. “[Squatters] preferring to live in terrible conditions, willing to squat… when they can move to the new area,” Harmon voiced, “This gives rise to serious environmental health and social issues that are hindrances to the achievement of the good life.

“The Lands and Surveys Commission must be firm in the administration of its mandate to ensure adherence to the provisions of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Act.” Harmon also went into the issue of land rights. He said that the granting of leases for state reserves and the illegal application of state and local authority reserves are matters the GLSC must address.

This issue has a negative effect on all Guyanese, he

From left, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ms. Simona Broomes and Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Policy Analyst, Durwin Humphrey, listen on with other participants to the presentation.

said, thus the Commission must be firm in its resolve to correct these anomalies for which the former administration is largely at fault.

“The flawed policy of the previous administration has left much confusion with regards to house lot allocation, with more than one person entitled to the same land and many

And, when you check on it, some of the cultivations are on state lands,” he highlighted.

“I’m asking the GLSC to pay close attention…I’m asking that you repossess them and give them to persons who want to do legitimate agriculture that they have to do,” Harmon requested firmly. The min-

collection; movement from a state of bankruptcy to one of financial health and self-sufficiency and the reduction of the backlog of pending application for state-land leases, as some of the noteworthy improvements of the organisation.

“I wish to urge that you continue to find creative ways to increase your rev-

Participants at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission’s Vision Retreat (Photo by Delano Williams)

persons having several house lots and state lands leases, while many others have been waiting for years for an allocation,” Harmon chastised.

He then went on to reveal, “We have situations where government projects are held up or cancelled because of the occupation of state reserves that were earmarked for infrastructure expansion and development.”

On a similar topic, the minister said that there needed to be reclamation of leased state lands that are not being beneficially occupied. “Regularly, when I open the newspapers, I recognise that the police would have an eradication of some marijuana cultivation somewhere.

ster also gave equal time to matters regarding the degradation of land as a result of harvesting timber, mining and shifting cultivation.

These, he explained, have negative implications on Guyana’s eco-system maintenance and its international commitment to the green agenda. As such, the commission needs to intensify efforts to prevent, control and reverse land degradation, as well as manage the entire process of movement, exploitation and settlement in the hinterland.

Harmon did not, however, let the opportunity slip to recognise the GLSC for their substantial works and improvements throughout the years. He highlighted efforts to improve revenue

enue base, increase your finances without having the need to increase land rents for domestic use,” Harmon stated.

“I believe that we should try to find ways of ensuring that our people have access to land [domestic] that is cheap, that is reasonable.”

He further stated that he hopes that the issues and recommendations he raised would be considered in assisting the body in the development of their strategic plan for the future. The GLSC aims to effectively and efficiently manage public lands and facilitate administration of regulations for private lands, for the benefit of clients and national development.

GUYANA CHRONICLE,Saturday December 9, 2017

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EU honours journalist, NGOs with human rights awards

By Lisa Hamilton In celebration of upcoming Human Rights Day, the Delegation of the European Union (EU) bestowed Human Rights Awards to four Non-Government Organisations (NOGs) in Guyana, one in Suriname and one individual from Guyana.

The Human Rights Award Ceremony and Concert was held at the residence of EU Ambassador to Guyana and Suriname, Jernej Videti?, on Thursday, December 7. Receiving the individual award was veteran Guyanese media worker, Denis Chabrol, who entered the field of radio broadcasting in 1984 at the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).

Chabrol, in 2011 advanced in his profession to establish the online news site, Demerara Waves and was the only individual recipient of the award.

The NGO’s in Guyana being awarded for their work in the arena of Human Rights were: Merundoi Incorporated, accepted by its Executive Director, Margaret Lawrence; ChildLinK, received by Patron, Ameena Gafoor; Red Thread, collected by Halima Khan and Mahila Mandalee, accepted by Saroj Rambarran. The Surinamese NGO was: Projekta, received by Riane de Haas-Bledoeg.

Delivering opening remarks, EU Ambassador, Jernej Videti?, said that human rights works around the world must be action-centered in order to successfully contribute to the building of a free and democratic society.

“Declaration and statements are undoubtedly

Human Rights awardees take a photo with the European Union Ambassador, (fifth from left); his wife, Ruta Drizyte- Videti (third from left); his daughter, Celeste Videti? (fourth from left); and awardees (from left) Margaret Lawrence, Riane de Haas-Bledoeg, Denis Chabrol, Halima Khan, Ameena Gafoor and Saroj Rambarran. (Photo by Delano Williams)

Guests listen to musical renditions

very important but should not be solely relied on to promote human rights, these statements must be followed back up by actions,” the ambassador affirmed.

Speaking on the sidelines, Videti? revealed that the evening’s Human Rights Award Ceremony and Concert may not be the last of its kind. “We would like

to make it a yearly event,” he responded, “Every year we’ll find a new organisation or individuals who are active in human rights and who make a change in society in what they do.”

Videti? says that the EU has worked along with the awardees for many years, and, being aware of their contributions, the selection

The Clemsville Ensemble entertains the audience

was made based on their impact on the lives of Guyanese and Surinamese.

The ambassador also spoke on his collaboration with the government and the progress of the country on the interest of human rights. “We have a very good dialogue every year with the Government of Guyana. We exchanged

views and we see that there is progress in many areas,” Videti? explained.

“It is important that it impacts lives but also that we work together in the global arena in the framework of the United Nations so that we can cooperate on many, many topics.” Guests at the event were treated to a

reception, as well as a musical concert provided by the Clemsville Ensemble.

A violin performance was also done by the Ambassador’s daughter, Celeste Videti?. Human Rights Day will be commemorated on December 10 and highlights our basic rights or freedoms as human beings.

Miner remanded over possession of compressed ‘weed’ A 27-year-old miner was on Friday charged and remanded to prison following the discovery of 125 pounds of compressed ‘weed’ at his Third and Albert Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown house.

Tishan Heywood appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly

and denied that on December 6, 2017 at Alberttown, he had 56 kilograms 700 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Heywood’s attorney, Melville Duke told the court that the drug was allegedly found in his client’s yard, which is

not only open to the public, but also accessible to many other persons.

However, Police Prosecutor Richard Harris told the court that Heywood was long suspected to be a drug trafficker, and that the police, during a stakeout on the day

in question, saw him removing three ‘salt bags’ from a car.

They moved in just as Heywood was stashing the bags with the drugs inside a chicken pen in his yard.

He was remanded until December 22.

Tishan Heywood

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

Copyright legislation for Parliament in 2018

FOR years, persons in the creative industry have complained that the absence of copyright legislation was making life difficult for them.

In the near future, such cries may become a thing of the past as the government is expected to table legislation to this effect in 2018.

During the budget debate on Thursday evening, Minister of Legal Affairs, Attorney General, Basil Williams, told the House that several pieces of legislation will be tabled in the National Assembly next year. Among those pieces of legislation is a Copyright Bill.

Last June, during the airing of the television programme, “The Public Interest”, President David Granger had given his word that the government was committed to introducing such legislation. “I cannot say for sure when that legislation will be laid,” he said, “but it is a commitment on our part to protect the rights of artistes and publishers of

other forms of material. We are committed to suppressing piracy.”

On Thursday night, besides the Copyright Bill, the Attorney-General listed several others to be taken to Parliament by the government, among them the Public Debt Management Bill, Electronic Communication and Transaction Bill, Juvenile Justice Bill, the Gaming Bill and the National Accreditation Council Amendment Bill.

He also said that existing legislation will be amended to meet the government’s policy objectives for the laws to be more effective to the benefit and well-being of the people.

While providing an update on the agencies under his ministry’s portfolio, Williams complimented the staff of the Land Registry for bringing a backlog of records up to date. He said that the backlog, which existed prior to the year 2015, has been cleared and that all transactions are now current. He said,

too, that the public can now expect to have titles issued within two weeks, and to have excellent customer service.

“As of now,” he said, “there are no outstanding cases of customer dissatisfaction.”

Over 800 registers, he said, have been fully restored and the previous “loose leaf” state of the facility no longer exists, thanks to an exercise to have all volumes bound.

He said that the digitisation of records at the registry began in the second quarter of 2017 and is moving apace.

The completion date is projected at the end of 2018.

And, taking a well-aimed dig at his predecessor Anil Nandlall, who is in the habit of boasting about his “impeccable” track record as attorney-general, Minister Williams made it known that since assuming office back in 2015, the coalition government has had to be cleaning up the shortfalls left behind by

the People’s Progressive Party administration.

During his presentation Thursday night, Minister Williams provided the House with an update on Guyana’s current position now that it has assumed chairmanship of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), which he noted is a major achievement for the country.

As incoming chair, Minister Williams will be responsible for 25 countries and will be receiving support from the outgoing chair and other members.

Minister Williams has been commended for doing an “excellent job” representing the interest of Guyana.

From the inception, as the point of contact for the body, the attorney-general has ensured that all stakeholders involved in the regulation and monitoring of the financial services industry in Guyana became involved in the work of the CFATF.

GRDB reports increase in rice exports to Latin America RICE exports to Latin American countries during the first 10 months of this year were 226,925.994 metric tons (Mt) reflecting a whopping increase of 61% compared to exports to these countries for the corresponding period last year.

Information released last week by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) on rice exports for the first 10 months disclosed that exports to Latin American countries from January to October last year amounted to 140,882.243 Mt. An official said that the soaring increase of exports to these countries this year represented the attractiveness to local millers of the markets in these countries.

“My understanding is that the returns from these markets are better so the millers shifted,” a senior official disclosed.

Out of a total of 11 countries in Latin America, Mexico has been the largest market accounting for 39% of the shipments, that is, importing 88,314.180 metric tons of the 226 925.994 Mt sold to Latin America from January to October 2017.

Venezuela accounted for an increase in imports for the first 10 months, becoming the second biggest market in Latin America, purchasing 34,382.395 Mt up from a mere 4,661.474 MT for the same period last year and accounting for 15% of the exports for the first 10 months of 2017. The purchases from Venezuela represented increases of 637% in volume and value against the corresponding period last year. Panama was third, importing

29,902.989Mt followed by Nicaragua: 29,201.035Mt. Jamaica, which purchased 40, 474, 847 Mt was the largest buyer in CARICOM during the first 10 months, followed by Trinidad (22,828.552 Mt) and St Vincent (3721.426 Mt).

Portugal and Italy were two major markets for local rice in the European Union, these countries purchasing 48, 109.132 Mt and 39,892, 100 Mt respectively with Holland in third place with imports of 28,167 Mt. There was however a marked decrease in shipments to markets in the European Union, from 233,918.687Mt in the first 10 months of 2016 to 136,222.080 Mt for the same period this year.

Generally, the GRDB disclosed that Guyana exported 436,825.912 metric tons of rice for the first 10 months of 2017 against 440, 813, 936 Mt for the same period last year. However, the value for sales amounted to US$ 163,605,766 compared to US$155, 738,049 for the same period last year, representing an increase of 5% in value.

Meanwhile, the GRDB disclosed that production for the second crop, which is now coming to a close, stood at 426,195 Mt of paddy as at November 24th last.

The figures up to the end of October 2017 buttressed recent arguments by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan about the strong showing of rice in the local economy in 2017 and the optimistic projections for the industry and operators in the industry in 2018.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

STAG ‘Skills for Gold’ 7-A-Side tournament kicks off tonight at the #5 Ground SIXTEEN teams will begin the journey tonight in their attempt to claim $200 000 and 10 gold rings, when the STAG Beer ‘Skills for Gold’ 7-A-Side football tournament kicks off at the #5 Ground with a triple-header.

In the opening game to-

night from 18:00hrs, Golden Grove will take on Mahaicony FC, while Rosignol U-20 will come up against Lichfield Net Rockers. In the evening’s final game, Monedderlust A will tackle Orealla Falcons.

“Football is a big deal in West Coast Berbice and we believe that this tournament

will be big and is the first of many to come,” said promoter Borris Ross at a press conference hosted at Ansa McAl’s Beterverwagting (BV) head office yesterday.

Ross told reporters that along with some friends, the concept of the tournament was actually birthed in a barber shop, with the

aim being to bring back football to the West Coast Berbice area.

According to Ross, making the prize for the tournament attractive is one way of bringing out the best of the teams and players.

The ten gold rings, the organisers stated, are valued at $25 000 each.

The team finishing second will pocked $100 000 and also receive ten silver rings. Teams finishing third and fourth are set to collect with $50 000 and $25 000 respectively.

Lyndon Henry, STAG Beer brand representative, said that Ansa McAl was, as usual, happy to be on

board, adding “this is what we do as a company and this sponsorship reflects Ansa McAl’s eagerness to help develop sports in Guyana.”

The Number 5 Ground will be the venue used for the tournament, which wraps up on December 30.

Permaul and Gudakesh Motie claimed a wicket apiece.

Devon Smith struggled initially, but was there at the close on 49, and was the only batsman to offer any form of resistance.

Earlier, the Jaguars’ innings was built on the back of a solid 59 from veteran West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Resuming at 78-2, the Jaguars lost both overnight batsmen inside the first ten overs of the day.

Vishaul Singh failed to add to his overnight seven when he played all around a full-length delivery from left-arm pacer Delorn Johnson in the day’s fourth over, and had his leg-stump uprooted.

The senior Chanderpaul, who is West Indies’ second most prolific Test batsman, scoring 11 867 in 164 Tests, joined his 21-year-old son; but the father-son combination was not productive after the young Chanderpaul

was caught down the leg side off Shermon Lewis (3-62) for 36 off 126 balls.

Anthony Bramble (5) was then trapped lbw to Kyle Mayers (2-56) and Keemo Paul (0) succumbed moments later, when he offered a simple return catch to off-spinner Shane Shillingford (4-36).

The three-time defending champions were in a tangle at 98-6.

However, the 43-yearold and Rutherford combined to steady the innings and had steered the home side to 144-6 at the lunch interval with Chanderpaul, who hit consecutive cover boundaries off Mayers at one point during that period, on 33, and the teenager on 12.

The post-lunch session saw Rutherford last seven balls before he was bowled by Shillingford for 13.

Permaul and Chanderpaul then took the score to 178, and during that period Chanderpaul brought

up his half-century before a double blow from Shillingford saw the demise of Permaul (22) and Motie (0) in successive deliveries.

Mayers then removed Chanderpaul which brought an end to the innings. The visitors’ openers Devon Smith and Tyron Theophile cautiously guided their side through to tea on 24 without loss.

Theophile fell soon after the interval, caught at the wicket off Joseph for 16 while Rutherford

claimed the wickets of Taryck Gabriel and Miles Bascombe. Both batsmen made nine runs.

Smith was joined by Roland Cato, but his stay was also short after he was trapped lbw to leftarm spinner Gudakesh Motie for four.

Smith and Donwell Hector took the total to 102, after which Hector went lbw to Permaul for 20 while Paul bowled Mayers.

Play resumes at 09:30hrs.

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Volcanoes staring down the barrel of defeat

By Rajiv Bisnauth

THE Guyana Jaguars bowlers were able to maintain total control during the final session of play yesterday, which ultimately left the visiting Windward Islands Volcanoes with

a mountain to climb, in order to save the sixth round Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day encounter.

At the end of day two at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, the tourists, batting a second time were 127-6, an overall lead of 50 runs.

After dismissing the Jaguars for 194 in their first innings, the strong second-innings reply the visitors expected, however, did not materialise, as an impressive Jaguars bowling attack had inflicted irreparable damage.

With the clouds gathering and the floodlights on, batting became more difficult as the three-time defending champions relentlessly pressed home their advantage.

Medium pacer Sherfane Rutherford (2-19) was the main destroyer in the Volcanoes’ second innings, while Keon Joseph, Keemo Paul, and leftarm spinners Veerasammy

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SCOREBOARD GUYANA JAGUARS 1st innings (o/n 78-2) T. Chanderpaul c wkp. Smith b Lewis 36 C. Hemraj b Lewis 29 L. Johnson c wkp. Smith b Lewis 4 V. Singh b Johnson 7 S. Chanderpaul c Theophile b Mayers 59 A. Bramble lbw b Mayers 5 K. Paul c & b Shillingford 0 S. Rutherford b Shillingford 13 V. Permaul b Shillingford 22 G. Motie c Smith Shillingford 0 K. Joseph not out 1 Extras: (b-4, lb-6, nb-8) 18 Total: (all out, 71.4 overs) 194 Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-63, 3-80, 4-90, 5-97, 6-98, 7-154, 8-178, 9-178.

Bowling: Lewis 16-6-62-3, Johnson 15-7-19-1, Mayers 19.4-556-2, Shillingford 18-7-36-4,

Theophile 2-1-8-0, Cato 1-0-3-0 WINDWARD ISLANDS VOLCANOES 2nd innings D. Smith not out 49 T. Theophile c wkp. Bramble b Joseph 16 T. Gabriel b Rutherford 9 M. Bascombe lbw b Rutherford 9 R. Cato lbw b Motie 4 D. Hector lbw b Permaul 20 K. Mayers b Paul 11 Extras: (nb-1, b-5, lb-2) 8 Total: (for six wickets, 43.2 overs) 127 Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-45, 3-56, 4-71, 5-102, 6-127.

Bowling: Joseph 11-3-26-1, Paul 10.2-2-22-1, Permaul 11-0-341, Rutherford 6-0-19-2, Motie 5-0-19-1.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday December 09, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Shai Hope, Sunil Ambris & Jason Holder (1) Sunil Ambris (WI) ; Tom Blundell (NZ) Today’s Quiz:

(1) What has been the result of the first WI/NZ Test of the current series?

(2) Who was voted ‘Man of the Match’ at the end of the first Test?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

GUYANA FOOTBALL FEDERATION INC. (GFF)

Extra Time

“GFF SUPER 16 YEAREND CLASSIC” LAUNCHES TODAY The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will launch an exciting year-end tournament –“GFF Super 16 Yearend Classic” – today at the GFF’s Boardroom at 11:00hrs. The launch will feature representatives of the key partner – Top Brandz Distributors – and representatives from the participating clubs.

DURATION: Start date: 15th December End Date: 1st January, 2018 (Grand finals and third-place playoff)

PARTICIPATING CLUBS: It will feature 10 elite clubs, five of the country’s top non-elite clubs and an Indigenous All-Stars team as follows:

Guyana Defence Force FC Fruta Conquerors FC Victoria Kings FC Buxton United FC Ann’s Grove FC Camptown FC Cougars FC Den Amstel FC Grove Hi-Tech FC Indigenous All-Stars MileRock FC NA United FC Police Sports Club FC Pouderoyen FC Western Tigers FC Winners Connection FC PRIZES: 1st prize – $2,000,000 2nd prize – $1,000,000 3rd prize – $500,000 4th prize – $250,000 (+balls, cones etc)

PRODUCED BY THE GUYANA FOOTBALL FEDERATION INC. (GFF) AND DESIGNED BY THE GUYANA CHRONICLE

For further Information or should you have questions/comments , please contact: General Secretary Guyana Football Federation (GFF) 17 Dadanawa Street, Section “K” Campbelville, Georgetown TEL: +1 592 227 8758 ext. 102 FAX: +1 592 225 2096

e-mail: gff@networksgy.com WEBSITE: www.gffonline.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/GuyanaFootballFederationInc INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/guyana_football_federation_inc/ SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/guyana-football-federation-inc LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/guyana-football-federation-inc TWITTER: @GFF_Inc_

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

Murray finds joy in representing the Golden Arrowhead THERE’S nothing that gives 18-year-old Kezra Murray more joy in her athletic pursuits than the thought of representing her country, which she finally got the opportunity to do last August when she attended the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) in Suriname.

Murray went on to win two silver medals at the event in the 400m and 800m events, and just last week she was one of the star athletes for West Demerara (District 3) at the National Schools Championships (Nationals), where she took a gold and a silver, respectively, in the Girls’ Under-20 800m and 400m.

Murray has been attending Nationals since 2014, having been involved in athletics since she was 12 years old. She says athletics was in her family so it was only natural that she got involved in the sport.

“My father and my mother both ran and I always said I wanted to be just like them,” Murray shared.

“They would always tell me about running during

their schooldays and even one of my dad’s teachers and some of the people in my village told me the same thing too.”

Inspired by her parents Murray was hopeful of following in her parents’ footsteps and making her community and country proud.

However, hailing from the village of Uitvlugt on the West Coast of Demerara this was easier said than done, as achieving her true athletic potential would require her to train with a qualified coach, and those are in short supply on the West Coast.

She did manage to find a small-time club, the now-defunct West End Athletics Club. But that did not last long.

“I was in a club in Uitvlugt, but I had to leave so I could get exposure.”

Then it was after a performance at a Guyana Police Force Gymkhana event, that her talent caught the eye of then Acting Commissioner of Police, Derick Josiah, and he encouragement her to join the Police Progressive Youth

Athletics Club.

Despite the fact that the Police club was based in Georgetown and it would be challenging for her to travel all the way from the West Coast, Murray jumped at the thought, and joined the club.

“It is a strain financially at times,” She remarked, nonetheless she knows she needs the exposure and is determined to continue despite the challenges. She’s still at her club, training five days a week as she continues to aspire to improve herself as an athlete.

Her training has enabled to her gain a number of medals at Nationals, while she continued to hope for an opportunity to represent her country.

Although improvements have been slow she’s still proud of what she has been able to achieve - her proudest moment finally coming with her IGG performance.

“My biggest achievement as an athlete is when I had the opportunity to represent my homeland Guyana,” Murray says.

Kezra Murray in action

Berbice 25-mile cycle Quarters and semis on today in MoPH/Smalta Girls football road race on tomorrow THE Flying Ace Cycling Club, in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force’s `B’ Division (Berbice), will tomorrow stage a 25-mile road race for cyclists living or based in Berbice.

The event wheels off from the corner of Main and Alexander Streets, New Amsterdam and proceeds to the Rose Hall Town Arch before returning to finish at the place of origin.

The first six finishers as well as the first veteran and the first female will be rewarded for their efforts.

The BMX riders, who will contest a shorter distance, will also be recognized for their efforts as will the first three finishers in the Boys’ 6-9 age group along with the first three finishers in the 9-12 age group.

The club’s coach Randolph Roberts and Edmond Cooper, Second-in-Command of the Guyana Police Force’s `B’ Division, are the persons in charge of staging the activity, which forms part of the Guyana Police Force Road Safety Month.

THE quarter-finalists and semi-finalists of the 2017 Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Smalta Girls U-11 football tournament will take place today at the Ministry of Education ground.

In the first of the games, St Angela’s will go toe-totoe with Tucville while F.E. Pollard play St Pius Primary from 11:00hrs West Ruimveldt will also be in action against Redeemer from 11:45hrs while South Ruimveldt and North Georgetown will clash.

After lunch, the loser of the Tucville versus St Angela’s game will play

the loser of the F.E. Pollard against St Pius fixture. The winners of the two fixtures will play for the first spot in the final.

At 13:45hrs the loser of the West Ruimveldt versus Redeemer game will face the loser of the South Ruimveldt and North George-

town fixture.

The winners of those two fixtures will also vie for the second spot in the final.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

Sueria Manufacturing Inc. donates to RHTYSC SUERIA Manufacturing Inc. of Eccles Industrial Estate, East Bank, Demerara last Tuesday joined hands with the RHTYSC MS to make a positive difference in the lives of Berbicians during the upcoming festive season.

Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Frank Sukhu, a Berbician by birth expressed delight at joining hands with Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation to put smiles on the faces of less fortunate children and the elderly.

The company handed over a cheque valued $170 000 towards the hosting of the 3rd Annual Christmas Village which would be held in the compound of the Rose Hall Town Primary School from the December 21 to 24 December, 2017.

The funds would be used to provide music for four nights, television commercials and the purchasing of toys for less fortunate chil-

dren.

Sueria Manufacturing Inc also handed over a large quantity of food items and children snacks towards the

Senior Citizens Hampers Project and Kiddies Christmas Party valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The ten cricket teams

Sueria Manufacturing CEO Frank Sukhu hands over donation to Mark Papannah while Ravin Kissoonlall and Hilbert Foster of the RHTYSC look on.

Drayton carts off spoils in Caribbean Chess Cup tournament CANDIDATE Master, Anthony Drayton, defied a prolonged period of inactivity to retain his form and carted off the spoils in the inaugural Caribbean Chess Cup, staged in Bridgetown, Barbados, November 28 to December 3.

Drayton, who once held the prestigious National Junior (chess) Championship title, participated in the senior category, the Open segment, which attracted players with less than 2100 rating points.

The astute Drayton suffered a slight setback after dropping an early game to Trinidadian Frank Sears, but rebounded to win all of his other sets to amass 8 points.

His nemesis, Sears, closed off the second podium spot on 7 points.

Trinidadian player WIM Gabrielle Johnson occupied the third-place spot while Barbadian Phillip Corbin sealed off the prestigious positions in fourth place.

Drayton is now ranked #4 with rating points of 1903. The tournament attracted 37 players from several Caribbean countries.

of the RHTYSC MS - King Solomon Logistics Under-12, Poonai Pharmacy Under-13, Farfan & Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Sec-

CM Anthony Drayton

ond Division’s Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Females and Gizmos & Gadgets Under-21.

First Division would be organising the Charity Programme and the Christmas Village as part of their Annual Outreach Programme which targets youths, the elderly and less fortunate.

The RHTYSC Secretary/ CEO Hilbert Foster proudly stated that the only cricket club in the whole of the Caribbean which mandates its cricketers to make positive difference in the lives of others as part of efforts to develop all-rounded personalities.

The 2017 Christmas Village would see the transformation of the Rose Hall Town Primary School compound into a fantasy dreamland for children with over 10 000 fairy lights, a 20foot Christmas Tree, the Nativity scene, Christmas star, numerous inflatable Christmas characters, Santa and his sleigh, plyboard cut-

out Christmas characters, Christmas house, toys store, children’s games, trampoline and bouncy castles among others.

Children would also benefit from toys, free Christmas cake, compliments of NAMILCO, while lucky families visiting the Village would be given the opportunity to win some very attractive prizes.

Vice-president Mark Papannah and Asst Organising Secretary Ravin Kissoonlall both expressed gratitude to Mr Frank Sukhu and Sueria Manufacturing for their support while hailing Sukhu as an outstanding friend of Guyana’s leading youth and sports club.

Kissoonlall committed the RHTYSCto organising a Christmas Village and Charity Programme of the highest standard while assuring Sueria Manufacturing that every item donated would be used for the intended purpose.

Jaikarran re-elected president of GCC

GEORGETOWN Deputy Mayor, Lionel Jaikarran, has earlier this week been re-elected president of the Georgetown Cricket Club.

Jaikaran won by a significant majority over his challenger, Graeme Alli, to recapture the presidency of what has been described as the oldest cricket club in the region. The voter turnout, in triple figures, was the largest in recent years.

At the ceremony, at Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, Jaikarran reported on the installation of floodlights around the ground which he said has been a major achievement for the club this year. The installation, to be completed by the end of 2017, will enable the Club to utilise the ground for extended hours in 2018.

According to him, next year will also see the club maximise vacant areas on the premises to expand the list of sport and recreational activities, including table

tennis, lawn tennis and squash.

Jaikarran spoke about the challenges that have confronted the Club since 2006 to generate revenue and keep both the Club and

and Jameel Baksh as Club captain. Philip Fernandes of John Fernandes Group of Companies, Satanand Gopie and Tiffany Solomon are other committee members.

Re-elected GCC president Mr Lionel Jaikarran

cricket alive and vibrant after the loss of international cricket at Bourda.

Ramsay Ali of Sterling Products Limited was elected vice-president, Sadie Amin as secretary, Timothy Tucker as treasurer,

Jaikarran has since described his team as strong, united and prepared to advance the interests of the club and consolidate on the gains and successes achieved thus far.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, December 9, 2017

Caribbean Boxing title defence in limbo … GOA contributes $700 000 with stipulation while NSC adds $300 000

By Michael DaSilva THE Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) hope of defending its Caribbean Boxing Association Championship title is in limbo, as the many promises and pledges made by many corporate entitles among others are yet to be delivered.

This is according to GBA president Steve Ninvalle who told Chronicle Sport yesterday that to date only the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has contributed.

The contingent requires over $3M to send a full complement of boxers to the championship which is set for December 13-16 in St Lucia.

Ninvalle pointed out that the GOA made a $700 000 contribution, but stipulated that bantamweight boxer Keevin Allicock who just won the national bantamweight title be given priority.

Ninvalle explained that the $700 000 (roughly

US3000) from the GOA will be able to send Allicock to the championship, but for the

Keevin Allicock

entire 18-member team which consists of 13 boxers, two officials and three coaches, another $3.3M is still needed.

According to Ninvalle,

the return airfare from Guyana to St Lucia is US$800 for one person.

The GBA head said the National Sports Commission has pledged $300 000, but the GBA is still to receive the amount and the scheduled date of departure for the team is Monday, since the championship gets underway on Wednesday - two days after the Guyanese pugilists are scheduled to depart these shores.

Ninvalle further explained that originally, the GBA was seeking $3.5M, but with every passing day, the price for the airfare keeps increasing as this is a peak season.

“The earlier we pay for the tickets the less costly it will be.” Ninvalle informed, adding “we cannot book tickets and hope the airline’s ticketing office will hold the seats for us and we cannot come up with the money in a reasonable time. So we have to pay the costs in a reason-

able time.”

He said one week ago the total cost was $3.5M and as of yesterday, it climbed to $4M.

Steve Ninvalle

Asked why has GBA decided on sending three coaches with the athletes, Ninvalle explained that AIBA, the

world governing body has its rules and regulations when it comes to teams’ participation at international competitions and one of those rules is: when a country sends a minimum of four boxers to a championship, there must be at least one coach, but if that country sends in excess of 11 boxers, then there must be at least three coaches to accompany the team.

Ninvalle said it will be very disappointing if Guyana lose the title they won in 2015 and successfully defended in 2016 without taking the ring in 2017.

“We have won hands down for two consecutive years and now to lose the title outside the ring will be very disappointing.” Ninvalle lamented. “It’s not a case of losing all the time and still begging for assistance. No, we are winning all the time and still have to be going around with a begging bowl.”

According to reports,

Ninvalle is quoted as saying, “Last year, we were forced to walk 100 miles to raise funds to send an 11-member team to Barbados and we received very little help then. That team won 10 gold medals and one silver. My sincere hope now is that the pledge and promises made when the team returned home are now made a reality.”

Ninvalle continued, “We have dominated the Caribbean and, in recent time, have shown that we are capable of taking the best that the Commonwealth has to offer.”

Meanwhile, referee/judges Lawrence Assannah and Maynard Wilson will sit exams while in St Lucia and once successful, they will be rewarded with their AIBA One Star badges.

Guyana, along with 17 Caribbean Islands including Martinique and Guadeloupe (newcomers), will contest this year’s championships in St Lucia.

Could any of the remaining teams stop Sparta Boss? Windies to try ‘aggressive … ‘Gold is Money’ favoured against Bent Street

THE question on everyone’s lips is whether any of the remaining teams in the Georgetown Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ competition could stop reigning champions Sparta Boss from successfully defending their title.

The champs who enjoy a love-and-hate relationship with the fans have shown that they are not going down without a fight and any team harbouring ambitions of dethroning them will have to be ready and well equipped to stop their march to another title.

Tonight in Albouystown, they face nemesis Leopold Street in one semi-final, after booking their place with a 1-0 win over Queen Street of Tiger Bay, courtesy of an own goal.

On the other hand, Leopold Street progressed to the last four, compliments of the skilful Omallo Williams, whose 12th strike proved enough to send California Square crashing out of the tournament.

Also booking their places in the semi-finals were West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ and Bent Street who defeated Rising Stars and Future Stars respectively.

West Front Road first accounted for the scalp of Rising Stars thanks to a solitary goal from Randolph Wagner which came in the 17th minute of play, while Bent Street created the shockwave of the night when John Waldron netted a Guinness Goal in the 18th minute to secure a 2-0 win over the highly rated Future Stars.

What is most certain is that the two matches in the main section are high-quality matchups and fans are assured of end-toend action as the four teams fight to determine who will make the final, set for December 16, at Demerara Park.

000, $200 000 and $100 000 respectively along with trophies.

Colours Boutique on Robb Street is also on board the event.

The organisers and coordinators, Three Peat Promotions, has expressed thanks to the entire community of Albouystown

Part of the quarter-finals action in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ competition.

Meanwhile, despite the disappointment of walkovers in the Plate Section, play in this segment will see GTI Ballers take on North East La Penitence and Kingston tackle Upsetters in what are also considered to be bruising battles for the final two spots.

This segment has a winnertake-all prize of $60 000 and a trophy.

The overall winner of the G/ town Zone will receive $500 000, a trophy and an automatic berth in the National playoffs, while second-, third- and fourth-place finishers will take home $250

for exhibiting good discipline, while the ranks of the Guyana Police Force are also being complimented for their solid support throughout the tournament.

COMPLETE FIXTURES S e m i - f i n a l Gold is Money vs Bent Street - 22:00hrs Sparta Boss vs Leopold Street - 22:45hrs Plate Semifinal GTI vs North East La Penitence - 21:00hrs Kingston vs Upsetters 21:30hrs

approach’ to second Test

(CMC) – WEST Indies will adopt an aggessive approach in their quest for a series-levelling victory over New Zealand, in the second Test which bowls off here today (18:00hrs yesterday, Eastern Caribbean time).

Still smarting from a disappointing batting display in the opening Test in Wellington, the Caribbean side plan to be more disciplined but positive against the Black Caps seamers while their bowlers plan to lift their tempo in an attempt to pressure the hosts’ batting line up.

“We didn’t bat well in the first innings so once we can get a big total (that would be great for us),” said stand-in captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who replaces the suspended Jason Holder.

“Also, I’m backing the bowlers to do a good job in getting their batsmen out.

The key for us is once we can stay aggressive at them, try to get wickets in clusters, if possible.

“The key for us is that first-innings total. If we can get a good first-innings total, that would really put us in a good position.”

West Indies undergo last-minute preparations for the second Test against New Zealand. (Photo courtesy CWI Media) West Indies were always

behind the eight-ball at the Basin Reserve last week once they were rolled over for 134 in their first innings.

They put up a better fight in their second innings when they scored 319, but the first-innings deficit of 386 proved insurmountable.

Even then, the Windies were 231 for two but suffered a collapse that saw their last eight wickets tumble for 88 runs.

Brathwaite said in order to negate this, emphasis in recent days had been placed on building large partnerships.

“At times we let wickets fall (in clusters) after probably starting well but I think we have capable enough guys from number one straight down to build big partnerships,” the prolific opener said.

“We have the players but it’s just about going out there and switching on when the time is right. Building partnerships will be key. In the second innings (in Wellington) we got a few partnerships but we still didn’t get that hundred-run partnership.

“If we can get a couple hundred-run partnerships that will put us very good in terms of the batting.”

West Indies have had a luckless run in New Zealand over the years and have not won a series here now in 22

years.

And judging on their first-Test performance, pundits have already begun to write them off, with the odds on New Zealand to pull off a clean sweep.

But with the memories of their stunning comeback in the second Test at Headingley last August still fresh in their minds Brathwaite said they would draw on that experience to grab a result.

“It’s history, but I don’t think we can forget it. We had a bad start in the first game (at Edgbaston) and we bounced back. Also, we lost the first game here and it’s key for us to bounce back, and that’s what we’re looking to do,” he pointed out.

SQUADS: NEW ZEALAND – Kane Williamson (captain), Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Blundell, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult.

WEST INDIES – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Kieran Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Sunil Ambris, Shane Dowrich, Raymon Reifer, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood.

Caribbean Boxing title defence in limbo See pag e 31

STAG ‘Skills for Gold’ 7-A-Side tournament kicks off tonight at the #5 Ground Quarters and Semi’s on today in MoPH/ Smalta Girls Football See e pag 27

Ansa McAl’s Trade Marketing Assistant for the West Coast Berbice area, Lynton Luke (right) presents promoter Borris Ross with the trophies. Also in photo, STAG Beer Brand representative Lyndon Henry.

One of the ten rings which are up for grabs in the STAG ‘Skills for Gold’ tournament

See page 27

MoPH Smalta Girls U-11 football returns this weekend.

Volcanoes staring down the barrel of defeat

See page 27

The Guyana Jaguars celebrate the dismissal of Tyron Theophile. (Adrian Narine photo)

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

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017