Guyana Chronicle E-paper 12-12-2018

WEDNESDAY 12th December, 2018

NDIA 17 takes over cleaning of city canals PAGE

Man kills wife, then takes 18 own life PAGE

Baby drowns in drain at Cane Grove 11 PAGE

Over $286M for BBCI No.105486

… to keep tolls down, rehabilitate PAGE 03 pontoons

… Min. Patterson insists gov't does not manage bridge operations

President back home … doctors say responding well to treatment

President David Granger returned to Guyana Tuesday night after completing the second round of chemotherapy for cancer. The President, who was accompanied by First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger departed Guyana for the Republic of Cuba on December 4, 2018. (MoTP photo) See story on page 2)

No.105483

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

President returns after second round of treatment

PRESIDENT David Granger returned to Guyana on Tuesday having completed the second round of medical treatment and evaluation at the Centro de Investigaciones Médicas Quirúrgicas (CIMEQ) in Havana, Cuba.

In a statement, Guyana’s Embassy in Cuba said on Monday the Cuban Team of Specialists reiterated their

complete satisfaction with the President’s response to medical treatment and explained that they will continue to monitor his progress in the coming weeks.

Also on Monday, President Granger received a courtesy call from Mr. Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba. President Granger took the opportunity

again to express his gratitude to the Cuban government and the Team of Specialists for the treatment that he is being afforded in Havana.

According to the release, he told Foreign Minister Rodriguez Parrilla that he was very satisfied with the high level of care and attention that he is receiving at CIMEQ and praised the professionalism and expertise of

President David Granger meets Mr. Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba in the presence of Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed and another Cuban official his medical specialists. The Cuban Foreign Minister remarked to President Granger that he had brought greetings and wishes for his speedy recovery from His Excellency, Miguel -Diaz Canel Bermudez, President and Head of State of Cuba and Army General Raul Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba. He pointed out that the medical treatment of President Granger at CIMEQ was the fraternal duty of the Government of

Cuba and that Cuba will do everything in its power for his full recovery so that he could resume his official duties as quickly as practicable on a full time basis.

During the course of the meeting, Foreign Minister Rodriguez Parrilla expressed complete satisfaction with relations between Cuba and Guyana and viewed President Granger’s acceptance of the Official invitation from President Miguel-Diaz Canel Bermudez to pay a

State Visit to Cuba next year as further evidence of the close relations between the two countries.

The release added that President Granger is appreciative of the concern that has been demonstrated for his wellbeing and sincerely thanks all those individuals and organisations in and out of Guyana that have continued to send their best wishes for his speedy recovery.

Christmas in jail for teen robber A TEENAGER will be spending his Christmas in prison, after being remanded on Tuesday for robbery under arms.

Samuel Forde, 19, of Albouystown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required plead to the indictable charge.

The charge alleges that on December 8, 2018 at Charlestown, Georgetown, while being armed with a knife, he robbed one Patrick Paul of one gold finger ring valued $50,000, one cell-phone valued $3000, and other articles bringing the total to $183,000.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail, due to the fact that the victim is hospitalised as a result of injuries he sustained to his head.

The prosecutor also took into account the fact that the accused gave the court one address and the police another.

An arrest warrant has also been issued for his accomplice, Trevor Glasgow, who managed to escape from the police while in custody.

Forde’s next court day is January 2, 2019.

Over $286M for BBCI

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

… to keep tolls down, rehabilitate pontoons … Min. Patterson insists gov't does not manage bridge operations

THE Berbice Bridge remains under the control of the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) and Government does not collect any funds from revenues earned by the company, said Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson.

“The BBCI continues to manage the operations of the bridge and all tolls collected are deposited in whatever account the company chooses,” said the minister in his response to questions from Opposition Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill during the consideration of the proposed $38.5 billion budget for the Ministry of Public Infrastructure on Tuesday.

The budget which was eventually approved cleared the way for Government to provide a subsidy of $166.3 million to the bridge company. Minister Patterson said Government has been providing the subsidy for the benefit of residents of Regions Five and Six since 2016. According to the agreement between the BBCI and the Government, the provisions from Government would subsidise the toll for cars by $300 and 10 per cent for other vehicles.

When questioned if the subsidy is adequate, the minister responded in the affirmative, noting that Government will continue to provide the subsidy. According to reports, in 2016, the government came to an agreement with the BBCI to reduce its toll fees. Tolls were reduced by 10 per cent and $155M per annum subsidy paid from January 2016. Despite the agreement met in 2016, the BBCI wrote to the government requesting increased tolls in March 2016, 2017 and July of 2018.

Following the BBCI’s failure to get government’s approval for increased tolls,

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson it was revealed that the 39 pontoons, an integral part of the bridge’s infrastructure had not been serviced for two- and one-half maintenance cycles. In the interest of public safety, Minister Patterson had approached the Cabinet to undertake the maintenance of these pontoons. The ministry in its 2019 budget has made a provision of $120 million for the rehabilitation of those pontoons.

Only recently the BBCI had announced plans to increase the bridge tolls over threefold, with a view to meeting operational costs and making up for the company’s accumulated loss of over G$2.8B. The rates announced by the company are as follows: Cars: G$8,040; Pickups: G$14,600; 4WD: G$14,600; Minibuses: G$8,040;

Small trucks; G$14,600; Medium trucks: G$27,720; Large trucks: G$49,600; Articulated trucks: G$116,680; Freight: G$1,680 and Boats: G$401,040. These the company said would be implemented on November 12, 2018.

However Minister Patterson objected to the proposal. The BBCI later commenced legal proceedings against Minister Patterson, and the Attorney General over government’s decision to temporary supervise the bridge after the company had threatened to hike tolls by over 300 per cent.

The matter was called last week. Minister Patterson had stated that the decision was in accordance with the powers conferred upon the minister by Sections 4 (1) and 11 of the Berbice River Bridge Act. A portion of Section 4 (11) states: “A function exercisable by the concessionaire may be exercised by the government — (a) in the event of a national emergency declared by the President; or (b) if the minister determines that – (i) its exercise is necessary or expedient in the interest of public safety; or the concessionaire has defaulted in the performance of its obligations under the Concession Agreement…” An Order regarding such, cited as the Berbice River Bridge (Public Safety) Toll Order 2018, was gazetted on November 1, 2018, and signed by the minister.

Patterson’s statement took into consideration that the Board of Directors of the Berbice Bridge Company Limited (BBCI) had demanded a 360 per cent increase on the toll for all users, set to take effect from November 12, 2018. Patterson referred to the move as “draconian”, “unreasonable” and “unwarranted”, which will only become burdensome to Berbicians and the public at

large.

He further stated that the demand for an increase in toll is based on a “flawed formula and computation” and, as such, the government will do everything in its powers to alleviate disruption and ensure smooth function. “On the basis of correspondence between both sides as recently as over the past few days, we do not envision a swift resolution to this crisis. Therefore, in accordance with the powers conferred upon the minister by Sections 4 (1) and 11 of the Berbice River Bridge Act, in the interest of public safety, the minister issued (today) an Order declaring that the functions of the concessionaire to maintain and operate the bridge shall be exercised by the Government of Guyana as of 5th November, 2018 until the date the minister specifies by notice on the cessation of the threat to public safety,” Patterson stated.

He added that no staffing complement, contractors or suppliers would be affected during the temporary arrangement and that the government will be continuing its dialogue with BBCI in expectation of an amicable resolution. “The truth is, too many of our citizens are dependent on the continuous operations and use of the Berbice Bridge and we should not allow anyone to unreasonably and capriciously endanger their livelihood and public order in one of our vital regions.”

“The Ministry of Public Infrastructure would like to assure the citizens of Berbice and the public in general, on behalf of the Government of Guyana, that there will be no change to the present toll structure and all exemptions presently in place will remain in effect,” Patterson said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

In rare on-camera clash, Trump, top Democrats feud over border wall

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump openly fought with the top two Democratic lawmakers in the Oval Office on Tuesday about government funding, throwing into question whether a deal was possible ahead of a deadline later this month.

In a remarkable public argument, the likes of which is seldom seen before cameras, Trump brawled with U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi about funding for the

wall he has promised to build on the southern border with Mexico.

“If we don’t get what we want, one way or the other - whether it’s through you, through a military, through anything you want to call - I will shut down the government,” Trump said as the heated argument drew to a crescendo. “I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck, because the people of this country don’t want criminals and people that have lots of problems and drugs pouring

into our country,” he said before reporters left their ringside seats.

Vice President Mike Pence sat beside Trump, silent and stone faced.

Congress is seeking to finalize spending before some federal government funding expires on Dec. 21. While Trump’s fellow Republicans control both the House and the Senate until next month, Democratic support is needed to pass any spending legislation.

Trump has asked Congress for $5 billion for border security, while Schumer and Pelosi said they offered to extend funding at current levels, around $1.3 billion.

That is less than the $1.6 billion a bipartisan Senate committee has approved. The

U.S President Donald Trump talks with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as he meets with the Senate and House Democratic leadership at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 11, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

meeting did not last long after reporters were ushered out of the Oval Office. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement it was a “constructive dialogue” and said Trump was “grateful”

Wednesday, December 12, 2018 05:00hrs. - 06:30hrs.

the cameras captured him fighting to protect the border.

Back on Capitol Hill, Schumer accused Trump of throwing a tantrum. But he said Trump told the Democrats he would consider their budget proposals, Schumer told reporters. Pelosi, who told reporters she thought the Democrats had left things “in a pretty good place,” said she had prayed with Trump during the private portion of the meeting, recounting the biblical story of King Solomon asking God for wisdom.

After the meeting, the Democratic House fundraising arm immediately sent out an email asking supporters for money.

‘IT’S CALLED TRANSPARENCY’ It was the first time Trump met with Pelosi and Schumer since the Democrats won control of the House of Representatives in Nov. 6 congressional elections - a rocky start to the relationship the White House will have with the opposition party, with which it needs to deal to advance any priorities.

The fight kicked off when Pelosi told Trump that Amer-

icans did not want to see a “Trump shutdown,” touching a nerve. Trump cut off Pelosi, arguing that he could not advance a funding bill without Democratic votes in the Senate. “If I needed the votes for the wall in the House, I would have them in one session, it would be done,” Trump bragged.

“Well then - go do it, go do it,” Pelosi shot back.

Senior White House staff watched the melee from the corners of the room, among them Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, outgoing Chief of Staff John Kelly, immigration adviser Stephen Miller and Shahira Knight, his legislative director.

“I don’t think we should have a debate in front of the press on this,” Pelosi said. “We’re doing this in a very friendly manner,” Trump said. Then Schumer brought up “Pinocchios” that Trump had been awarded by the Washington Post for misstatements on the issue and accused him of wanting to get his own way. “Let’s call a halt to this,” Pelosi said as the two went at it.

“It’s not bad, Nancy - it’s called transparency,” Trump said. When Pelosi brought up Republican election losses in the House, Trump quickly retorted that his party won the Senate. “When the president brags that he won North Dakota and Indiana, he’s in real trouble,” Schumer said to the astonished press capturing the back-and-forth.

Trump said that both sides agreed there was a need for border security.

“Yes, we do,” Schumer said. “Good,” Trump said.

“We do,” Schumer said.

“See, we get along,” Trump said.

Saturday 8, December, 2018

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08, 11, 13, 20, 21

5, 8, 2

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

CDB-funded multi-million dollar street lighting project launched

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Dec 11, CMC – St. Kitts-Nevis has launched a multi-million dollar street lighting programme that is projected to save the twin-island Federation an estimated US$2.2 million annually.

The US$6.4 million energy-efficient street lighting project is being funded by the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and will result in 10,650 street

lights being replaced with more energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lamps.

CDB approved US$5.8 million in financing for the project in December 2016 with the government and the St Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) and the Nevis Electricity Company (NEVLEC) expected to contribute approximately US$700,000 through supporting implementation and installation of the new street lights.

CDB Portfolio Manager, Economic Infrastructure Division, Alexander Augustine, speaking at the launch noted that the country had a higher-than-average electricity consumption and like many other Caribbean countries, high dependence on imported fossil fuels for electricity.

“St. Kitts and Nevis, like many of CDB’s borrowing member countries, exhibits a high dependence on imported

petroleum products to power its economy. It also has a high electricity consumption per capita, about 20 per cent higher than the Latin American and Caribbean average,” said Augustine.

He said in light of this and with approximately 87 per cent of the Federation’s energy supply being imported, electricity-related fuel imports are equivalent to approximately eight per cent of the country’s

gross domestic product. “Such heavy reliance on imported fuel has obvious adverse consequences for this twin-island state. This project, with an overall goal of improving energy efficiency across the two islands, will undoubtedly contribute to a reduction in the country’s fuel imports.”

The CDB said as a result of the project, the government will also be able to reduce greenhouse gas

emissions associated with the consumption of fossil fuels in electricity generation.

The project also includes a grant for the completion of a climate risk screening study and the CDB said the study will help both SKELEC and NEVLEC examine their vulnerability to projected climate change impacts. The new LED street lamps project is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

Financial advisor goes to Antigua PM reiterates position regarding prison, charged with fraud sale of Scotiabank to Trinidad-based concern ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Dec 11, CMC – Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the Antigua and Barbuda government will not be held responsible for any run on Scotiabank as he reiterated his administration’s position in not providing a vesting order to facilitate the sale of the financial institution here to a Trinidad-based Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL).

“What if there is a run on the bank?

Whose problem is it? It will be the problem of Scotia Canada who will have to spend millions of dollars to fix the problem. If Scotiabank fails to provide some form of local participation then whatever happens to the branches here and the Caribbean is their problem,” Browne said at a ceremony in memory of the island’s first prime minister, VC Bird in the heart of the capital on Monday.

“I say here we cannot be a coward people, when Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Senior and the 39ers were fighting the planter class they had to get involve in unconditional activities in order to fuel change. “I say publicly without any fear of contradiction that if Scotiabank fails to provide some form of local participation then whatever happens to the branch here and in the Caribbean that is their problem,” Browne told the

audience. A RFHL statement said that the banks being acquired are located in Guyana, St. Maarten, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It said that the purchase price is US$123 million, which represents US$25 million consideration for total shareholding of Scotiabank Anguilla Limited; and a premium of US$98 million over net asset value for operations in the remaining eight countries.

The Suriname-based CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) says any impact the proposed acquisition of Scotiabank by the RFHL will be assessed in accordance with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) that governs the regional integration movement. Antigua and Barbuda and Guyana have expressed reservations about the proposed acquisition, with St. John’s indicating that it would not be issuing a vesting order to facilitate the move. Browne told the ceremony that also coincides with the birthday of VC Bird that the government was standing firm on its position that no vesting order would be granted unless a consortium of local banks is given the first right of refusal to acquire the bank’s operation in the country.

“We will not be issuing the vesting order unless we get a deal that is satisfactory to us. In that case they will have to go to court because we will not voluntarily do it,” Browne said, ‘adding “we are doing so to ensure that we can get a piece of the pie, to build resilience within the indigenous banking sector to make our banks stronger.

“One of the reasons why our bank is not stronger is because we don’t have the type of economies of scale, the size and the scope”. The St. Kitts-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), which serves as a central bank for several countries in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean states (OECS) including Antigua and Barbuda, has urged citizens of and residents of the sub-region to remain calm, in light of the proposed sale.

The ECCB confirmed it had received an application from Republic Financial Holdings “seeking regulatory approval to acquire the Bank of Nova Scotia’s operations and businesses in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU),” and that it has since commenced a review of this application, pursuant to the Banking Act”.

Bail has been set at $300,000 for a 32-yearold financial advisor and managing director of an investment company.

Sheldon Powell appeared before the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court on allegations of fraud on Tuesday.

However, he was was unable to secure bail and remanded in prison custody until the next court appearance, which is expected to take place on January 8. Powell was arrested on Monday at his home along Palmiste, San Fernando, by officers of the Fraud Squad, led by Snr Sup Lindon Greenidge. He was questioned and charged by Corporal Lewis.

The charges stem from allegations that he fraudulently converted $160,000 entrusted to him in November 2015. The money was given to him in order to invest in a UK Investment company namely Shard Capital Partners LLP on the investor’s behalf. However, the investment was never made, despite several communiques between the investor and Powell, and it was believed the money was used for the 32-yearold’s personal expenses. A report was eventually made to the Fraud Squad, which led to the investigation, and to Powell being charged.

(Trinidad Express)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Self-sufficiency

GUYANA must take her pride of place among resource-rich nations. Should our resources be exploited in a sustainable manner, they would not only ensure the people’s self-sufficiency, but make the nation a formidable competitor in external markets.

Our unexploited potential gives rise to the nagging question, ‘Why Guyana is not further along the developmental continuum?’ The answer varies and it is not unusual to see responsibility placed at the feet of polarising politics,the absence of visionary and nationalistic leaders and competitive disadvantages of small-state societies.

It is true that in earlier years of independence, Guyanese produced many things.

This country had a thriving, though young, manufacturing sector. Innovations were encouraged, facilitated, and allowed. Today this sector is a mere shadow of its earlier self.

Though the truism ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ can be brought to bear in explaining indigenous efforts at survival during the period of economic downturn, it is equally true that the nation had at independence embarked on an aggressive self-sufficiency programme.

Today, Guyanese have cultivated an unhealthy reliance on imported products they once produced and are capable of producing. The severity of this situation is seen with the importation of items such as matches, co-

conut water, cane juice, and plantain chips. Guyana, an Amerindian word meaning ‘land of many waters,’ sees scarce foreign exchange diverted to the importation of bottled water-- spring, artesian and flavoured.

Here exists a situation that should be revisited as a matter of national priority and developmental planning.

Local production not only makes use of indigenous resources, but can see foreign exchange diverted to critical areas, even as employment and economic opportunities are created, redounding to growth and development for citizens and country. Guyana’s membership in several regional and international trade agreements and organisations should see efforts aimed at exploiting such

access.

The ability to access products not made in Guyana does not remove the necessity for self-sufficiency.

Where products such as food threatens a nation’s security, as in instances of creating dependency on others, unnecessary utilisation of foreign exchange, reduction in employment and economic opportunities, such stifle the process of development and empowerment.

President David Granger, in his 26th August, 2016 address to the People’s National Congress Reform Delegates Congress, referred to the party retaining the socialist ideology as espoused by its Founder-Leader, Forbes Burnham. Though there can be debates as to whether this is so or not,

what was striking after this view was made known is the interpretations and conversations generated.

It is to the people’s intellectual growth that this concept be looked at through holistic and objective lens.

A tendency to view this ideology through a repressive prism retards and hinders growth and development, personal and national. Socialism was the driving force and major player behind the unleashing of the self-sufficiency potential of Guyanese in the post-independence period.

Guyana emerged from a colonial society, where the merchant class was few and primarily within the ranks of the coloniser, inequities and unemployment high, public infrastructures limited

or practically non-existent, and a dependence on foreign products.

It may be fitting as policy-makers zero in on the importance of sustainable development, to examine the possibility of creating the enabling environment to harness and unleash the people’s potential. Such can factor in incentives through accessible and affordable lending, specialised training, research and development, concessions, and synergies among and between stakeholders in our tri-sectoral economy.

It ought not to be lost sight of that an empowered people are more inclined to want to stay and participate in the nation’s growth and development, given its intrinsic link to theirs.

DPI responds to malicious Newsroom/eNetworks articles The Department of Public Information (DPI) provides the following information in response to two malicious articles appearing on the Newsroom website which is operated by the eNetworks cable company.

Firstly, in an article under the headline, ‘Gov’t fires Commissioner of Information Charles Ramson’ the following is reported, “[t]he Government has fired Commissioner of Information Charles Ramson and has left funding for this office blank.’

This is incomplete reportage and therefore appears to be deliberate mischief. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo clearly advised the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly that funding for the office of the Commissioner of Information is provided

for under line item 6284 of the budget of the Office of the Prime Minister.

Secondly, an article under the headline, ‘DPI gets $310M subsidy; lone contracted artist is AFC Executive,’ reported that the DPI engages a single provider for layout and design services. This is patently and completely false. For the year 2018, the DPI engaged the services of five graphic artists, four of whom have worked on the seven newspapers produced by DPI. In addition, the graphic artist named in the Newsroom article provided services to the DPI long before his spouse came into the employ of the department. Any insinuation that his spouse influenced his engagement with DPI is malicious and false.

The Newsroom article is framed in a way

that is meant to misinform and deceive the public and create mischief. Further, the DPI notes the deliberate identification and persecution of young Guyanese professionals by Newsroom/eNetworks and their agents, having been baited by opposition PPP Member of Parliament Juan Edghill. MP Edghill raised this issue in the Committee of Supply with an inflammatory and reckless question, clearly with a view to incite the public persecution which is now being gleefully executed by Newsroom/eNetworks.

DPI recognises the right of all Guyanese to work and proudly has on staff persons of various political persuasions (including persons who are openly supportive of the opposition PPP), religious beliefs, ethnici-

ties, etc. DPI also engages a diverse range of Guyanese-owned and operated businesses from time to time for various services.

DPI has proudly sought out Guyanese small businesses owned and operated by young Guyanese entrepreneurs, both for the provision of services and to showcase on our various platforms. All engagements are done in conformity with all relevant accounting and applicable procedures and DPI is fully audited by the Auditor General’s Office. DPI calls on Newsroom/eNetworks, in whose employ there are known anti-DPI and anti-government agents, to embrace responsible journalism, difficult as this may be for those with ulterior motives and thinly veiled agendas.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Convenient in its plan, wicked in design and intent Dear Editor IT is evident that Bharrat Jagdeo and his PPP/C Members of Parliament (MPs) have been exposed for the naked lies that they presented in response to Budget 2019. Their fake statistics and other fictitious information, presented as supporting their madeup mathematics, were not only cruelly countered and dissected, but also comprehensively refuted by the coalition government during the debate. Those five days of parliamentary exchanges underlined a political opposition party which only strategy when confronted by truth and reality, is to dig deep into the recesses of its dark minds for the weapons of deviousness, deception; and dangerous lies.

It is evident that the PPP/C is reeling from its abysmal debate performance in the National Assembly; entirely wooden and void of any rational understanding and realistic sense as they frantically tried to continue their deliberate and unfair crusade against a government,the latest budget of

which is another manifestation of a country that is on the move.

It then should come as no surprise of Jagdeo’s announced intention of seeking the prime minister’s removal from the National Assembly, because of his performing the duties of acting president in the absence of President Granger. It is another act of attempting to destabilise a government and by extension the nation that is on a trajectory of a very bright future of benefiting all Guyanese.

For all it is worth, this is another brick in an orchestrated strategy by the Jagdeo-led Freedom House cabal to grab power at any cost.

Along with his filed motion of no-confidence, this is a patently clear attempt intended to create an ungovernable country, casting doubt about the government’s ability to govern, thus making for an environment of uncertainty that will lead to a crisis.

This is about uncontrolled desperation; effecting any wild act which the opposition has theorised will bring the government down, including attempting to defeat the passage of the Appropriations

Bill, which gives parliamentary approval to Budget 2019.

But there is also another element, though not directly related to this attempt at power-grabbing, but incidental: the continuous attack on the dignity of the prime minister, the Leader of Government Business in the House.

For the leader of the opposition to state “that the presence of the prime minister will not be missed…”, again underlines the continuous, shameful, and disrespectful behaviour which he continues to lead, aid and abet, towards the prime minister, an elected member of the House. Of course, the pain of defeat is still felt by the Freedom House bullies, led by Jagdeo; for they cannot accept the latter’s decision to quit a party because of its stifling undemocratic culture, and refusal to question its nature, relevance, and continuation in a world that has undergone exponential change since 1992.

Of course, Prime Minister Nagamootoo’s decision has been credited for ending the disastrous reign of the PPP/C government in 2015. It is a crass and unenlightened

A grave injustice which must be corrected

Dear Editor

GOVERNMENT’s decision to provide funding for a martyrs’ monument in Linden, commemorating the victims of the persons gunned down during the Linden protests in 2012, is appropriate, as it is just.

After all, these three men were only protesting against a decision by the then PPP/C administration which, had it been accepted, would have caused an even more onerous economic burden to be foisted on the citizens of a community that had already sunk deep in the mire of economic depression.

Those men died in defence of the human rights of their community. They paid the ultimate price for daring to be among the many thousands of Lindeners who confronted what had been

clearly an unconscionable plan that never took into consideration the realities of their daily economic condition. Instead, they were shot down by security forces, no doubt on the orders of the then political administration. It is only fitting that their memories be remembered and honoured.

Thus, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan’s statement which indicated his intention to ask government’s consideration for an increase of the compensation that had been mandated by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) is not only just, but an intention to correct a situation that flies in the face of fairness and natural justice.

E v i d e n t l y, t h e s u m s awarded were an insult to fairness and natural justice. It was as if those persons’ lives had not any price

or value, because of their working-class status, contributions to life and that of their families.

Proper compensation in any circumstance, whether death or maimed injuries, ought to take into consideration factors such as age, potential for earnings, inclusive of future opportunities for such, and of course, family responsibilities. Therefore, to learn that each of the commissioners received emoluments that were more than the compensatory sum paid to each of the victims, exposes a blatant denial of human rights and social discrimination.

The minister is correct in his view and statement: there should be consideration for correction of this social injustice.

Regards Dillon Goring

brand of political conduct that reeks of personal spite and vindictiveness, which says a lot about what the PPP/C understands of and respect for political plurality.

Jagdeo especially, does not possess the political wit, eloquence, and intellectual gravitas of Prime Minister Nagamootoo; PM Nagamootoo’s contribution on any matter in the House continues as a rebuke to the nasty, insultive, and uninformed content of Jagdeo and fellow PPP/C MPs parliamentary contributions, as evidenced by the recent Budget 2019 debate. He speaks with an informed mind, setting the

historical facts as they ought to be set.

Certainly, such a political mode represents a party that is just surviving and intends to do so at any cost. This has been its political way of life: playing to its political base, applying the dangerous deception of crude, ugly racism; this is supported by dubious statements about national issues, repeated often to give a veneer of truth in its desperate bid to convince supporters of its relevance to a changing political plateau-a plateau which continues to gradually render its anti-national political culture, obsolete.

Guyana can ill afford any of these continuous displays of selfish political designs that have become the daily pre-occupation of Jagdeo and his party, the only focus of which is about grabbing power. In this regard, the government must continue its focus to advance the best interests its people as outlined in the budget, and not allow itself to be distracted by actions that are incompatible with the mission of providing “The Good Lif” for all Guyanese.

Regards Troy Garraway

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

NTC gets $20M gov’t subvention for 2019 THE National Toshaos Council (NTC) will receive the sum of $20M in subvention from the government in 2019, a $4M increase when compared to 2018.

The increased sum was catered for in the proposed 2019 National Budget under subventions and contributions for local organisations, for which a total of approximately $80.5 was allocated. The Bina Hill Institute in the North Rupununi, Region Nine, received $56M, an increase of $5 M, and the Kanuku Mountains Regional Group (KMRG), $4.5M. During consideration of the budgetary

estimates on Tuesday evening, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe told the National Assembly that the increased sum is to facilitate the work of the NTC Secretariat in 2019. When asked by Opposition MP Pauline Sukhai why there was a significant amount of monies allocated to the Bina Hill Institute as against the NTC, Minister Garrido-Lowe explained that while the NTC is mandated to support the 215 villages, it can raise its own funds; however, she said that the Bina Hill Institute is in need of the government’s support

to continue operating at a minimum standard.

As it relates to support for construction of the NTC Secretariat, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock noted that the design is still being advanced; once completed, support for the project will be discussed. Asked by the opposition why the designing requires some length of time, Minister Allicock explained that “We have been speaking about FPIC [Free, Prior and Informed Consent] and this is part of that process. We cannot dictate for the NTC, who are also working; we will continue to have a

dialogue with them.”

He made it clear that a title for the land earmarked for the NTC Secretariat was handed over to the body. The NTC, comprising leaders from 212 indigenous villages across Guyana, had received a $12M subvention in 2015, which was subsequently increased to $16M in 2017 and 2018 respectively. A total of $1.9 Billion was approved for the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, $1,115,286 under current expenditure and $815,348 for capital expenditure. (DPI)

Please take good care of these buses and boats Dear Editor, ABOUT eight years ago I caused a letter to appear in our daily papers in which I referred to the school bus that carries the children attending the Al Madinah Islamic Academy at Anna Regina.

In that letter I commended the person or persons whose idea it was and who were financially responsible for providing and maintaining that service. The David Granger- led government has provided a bus in this region and other regions as well, along with boats and bicycles, which

is an excellent idea as well.

I am not sure if these buses and boats are under the supervision of the Ministry of Education or the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), but I am sure that those persons would recognise the importance of the buses and boats

and strive to maintain them, so they can be roadworthy and seaworthy, that our schoolchildren and by extension this nation can benefit.

Regards Archie Cordis

Government has tangibly demonstrated its commitment to all municipalities Dear Editor, ON November 19, 2019, Minister of Communities the Hon. Ronald Bulkan in a missive to me announced that mayors, deputy mayors, town clerks, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and overseers will all receive stipends come January 2019.

“In keeping with the recommendation of delegates of

the eighty-one (81) organs, and central government’s commitment to building the capacity of local leadership, at the request of the ministry, Cabinet has granted approval effective January 2019 for the payment of stipends to mayors and their deputies, town clerks, NDC chairpersons and overseers,” Minister Bulkan said in his missive.

I’m heartened by this correspondence and I believe this is a mammoth move by

the administration, since the largest roadblock to a council’s success is finances.

This correspondence, I believe, is testimony of the APNU+AFC coalition government’s commitment to local democracy and its efforts in strengthening the integrity of the system. Councils struggle to pay, where required, for the execution of services and more so salaries and stipends, because residents still believe they should not

pay for services provided by municipalities and more importantly, their residential taxes. In one municipality, vendors in the municipal market pay approximately GY$5000 monthly, which represents GY$1250 weekly and GY$208 daily.

Despite the low rates, some vendors believe the aforementioned amounts are unreasonable. Burial fees in another municipality is GY$2500. This is a one-off

payment and the municipality is expected to continuously maintain burial grounds. This fee is also deemed unconscionable by those who are required to make the payment.

In the same breath, the said residents complain about the deplorable state of the burial grounds.

Mr. Editor, it takes much more than GY$5000 per resident a year in taxes to fulfil the basic needs of any municipality. This gov-

ernment, the APNU+AFC coalition government, has tangibly demonstrated its commitment to all municipalities. The responsibility is now with the residents to also tangibly support the elected bodies by paying the required municipal fees and taxes.

Regards Gifford Marshall Mayor, Municipality of Bartica

Government’s approach to accountability, transparency working Dear Editor, PLEASE permit me some space in your letter column to articulate on the issue of corruption in Guyana.

As last week came to a close, I was gripped by the internet coverage of the on-going soap opera in the National Assembly. The 2019 Budget speeches had everything--high-drama, pathos, comedy, accusations of betrayal and numerous references to corruption.

This is the one thing that stood out to me -- corruption.

The fact that our politics is primarily attached to corruption and the misuse of taxpayers’ money rather than the common character-driven political killers of sexual exploits or “Watergate” style lies.

Much has been said this week about corruption from both sides of the House.

So, I hit the internet to see how corrupt Guyana is perceived by the world or to be more precise, the U.S. News and World Report for 2018 that states, “the phenomenon [corruption] is as

old as human history…”, it has certainly been a constant companion of our country’s lack of development and it’s intrinsic to our politics, since our independence in 1966.

We haven’t really been able to get a handle on it.

Until now…because out of the 180 countries surveyed, Guyana’s Corruption Perception Index of 2018 is 38 (ranked # 91). The higher the index number the less corrupt your country is perceived. To put it into perspective, New Zealand is perceived as the least corrupt

country in the world with a CPI of 89 (ranked # 1).

So, Guyana isn’t doing too badly, only 51 index points off, 37 to go in the rankings. What is even more interesting is the fact that in 2012 our CPI was 28! It has only been in the past three years that Guyana has risen in this table, confirmed clearly by the “score and rank changes of 2016-2017” which puts Guyana as the ninth (9th) highest rise in the world with a 4 point rise in CPI and a whopping 17 point rise in the rankings!

Surely, this is cause for celebration. This shows that Guyana is getting a handle on corruption and with its new approach to government accountability, transparency and administrative systems, it seems to be working. The opposition can bleat on about corruption in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Education and Finance, but this is all that they can do because the statistics, the current facts, not the ones from 1984, do not lie.

After three years, the government ministries are

still trying to unravel and solve the numerous problems from the previous administration; but there is still work to do. I trust that the government looks at the Corruption Perception Index, pat themselves on that back and then get straight back to the task at hand, rebuilding our nation for all Guyanese and maybe we will be able to be one of the 80 countries in the 2020 U.S. News and World Report, Best Country rankings.

Regards Mark Thomas

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

$1.4B approved to boost, forestry mining sectors IN 2019, the Ministry of Natural Resources will utilise some $1.4B to continue a number of projects targeting development and ‘green’ transformation in areas such as mining and forestry.

The provisions allotted for these and more were approved in the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly during the Consideration of Budget Estimates 2019 on Tuesday.

Two of the projects Junior Minister of Natural Resources Simona Broomes expounded on were: the ongoing Forest Carbon Partnership Project (FCPP) and the Forest Inventory Study.

The FCPP is a framework for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+-) and, with an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

$400M allocation, will work to advance Guyana in this regard.

In detail, the project will preserve and sustainably manage the country’s forests while enhancing forest carbon stocks thereby adding value to standing forests and enabling Guyana to access future REDD+ funding through performance-based payments.

It will also facilitate the establishment of the function of the REDD Secretariat and provide institution strengthening and capacity building for the National REDD Working Group (NRWG) inclusive of Guyana’s National Toshaos Council (NTC) and Indigenous Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s).

Meanwhile, $35M has been allocated to procure additional equipment to continue the Forest Inventory Study

which Broomes said will be used to purchase computer systems, a vehicle, an ATV motorbike and other items.

Challenged by Opposition Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall on the allocation for this cause, she defended the decision. “The equipment is for this same study because in order to execute this study,” she explained, “They have to go into the field; they have to get the Geographic Information System and all of this. The study, honorable member, is not a study that will be done in Georgetown; it is something that has field activity so we have to complement them.” She told the committee that 100 per cent of 2018’s phase is complete which represents 30 per cent of the entire project.

Speaking on phase two, she said that $244M will be allocated directly to this.

Gov’t plugs $35M into marketing Guyana …CPL, major racing meets to get funding SEVERAL national and other events are to receive over $35M worth of funding for tourism development and promotion in 2019 through the Ministry of Business.

Presenting the figures at Monday’s Consideration of Budget Estimates 2019, Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin stated that the greater aim of the funding is to continue to market Guyana as a viable tourist destination.

In the category of sport, the Caribbean and International Motor Racing Championship will receive $1M; the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Cricket will receive $1M while sports tourism in general will receive $4M. Speaking to the latter, Minister Gaskin explained: “It’s to support various types of sports tourism activities; it’s not for one particular occasion. They’re various sports activities whether its football, swimming, inter-Guyana games, whatever brings people to the country that is supported by the Department of Tourism.”

Questioned further by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Gillian Persaud on how these various types of sports will help to bring revenue to the country Gaskin used the most recent experience as reference.

“We’d only look back a few weeks and we’d realise that during the recently concluded Women’s World Cup Cricket tournament, all our hotels were full. So, sports tourism is very real and it does benefit our economy and we cannot deny it and we need to increase public awareness and this is what this budget is intended to do,” he said.

In the South American country where six races reside, the Ministry of Business will also facilitate the celebration of a number of holidays across the ethnic spread.

These include Easter celebrations to be supplied with $500,000; Phagwah celebrations - $500,000; Diwali celebrations - $200,000; Youman Nabi -$200,000; Arrival Day - $300,000; Emancipation Day - $500,000 and the annual Christmas tree light up - $500,000.

Other events gathering more attention each year are also high on the agenda and include Mashramani celebrations to be funded with $1M; Independence celebrations - $700,000; Wedding Destination tourism - $500,000; Linden town week and expo - $500,000 and Jamzone summer Break at $500,000.

The Ministry of Business has also catered for out-of-town regions and their numerous tourism opportunities. Some of these events and their allocations are: Bartica Easter Regatta - $650,000; Birding tourism - $1M; sport fishing - $1M; Rupununi Rodeo - $650,000; Bartica Summer Regatta -$250,000; Wakenaam Night -$250,000; Moruca Expo - $250,000; Nereid’s Yacht Rally - $200,000; Lake Mainstay Summer Regatta -$300,000 and the Rupununi Music and Arts Festival -$300,000.

Other interesting events like the annual King’s Duck Curry Competition, was allocated $500,000 and have also begun to attract a large audience.

Not to be forgotten are the allocations to cultural heritage tourism, set to receive $3M and the Regional Tourism Development Strategy to support tourism flagship projects in all 10 regions which will receive$10M. For Tourism Awareness Month celebrated each November, a grand sum of $5M has been awarded while, to recognise those in the ministry’s department, the sum of $100,000 will be spent on an appreciation lunch.

“We’ll be looking at zoning of the forest, meaning that the forest commission will be going to look at all types of species that we have; where they are, even with the wildlife and how do we zone them.

So, it’s an extensive project; very robust but it’s about tagging and labelling,” she said.

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Junior Minister of Natural Resources Simona Broomes

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Treasury overdraft a little over $60B – Min. Jordan MINISTER of Finance, Winston Jordan has refuted statements in Tuesday’s edition of the Kaieteur News which suggests that the 2019 National Budget will push the treasury overdraft to $210B. Minister Jordan said the statement, attributed to former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, is misleading and devoid of facts. According to the finance minister, the Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga, when contacted yesterday, confirmed that the overdraft of the consolidated fund account as of December 7, 2018, stood at $62,156,904,935, a far cry from Goolsarran’s $210B. The minister noted further, “he [Bank of Guyana’s Governor] sent me another message this morning, as of yesterday, December 10, the overdraft at Bank of Guyana was $60,258,036,100. Now, I don’t know where Goolsarran got his figures from and what interpretation of our bank accounts are being used.”

To move from $60B to $210B by 2019, Minister Jordan said, is not just a stretch but “a mile.” “As you can

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan see within a short space of time from the 7th to the 10th [of December] the overdraft had gone down by two plus Billion dollars … It tells you that the overdraft is moving every day. It depends on what you put into the account and what you take out of the account,” he noted.

Minister Jordan said he is unaware of what period the former auditor general is referring to in the article and how he arrived at the outrageous figure.

The finance minister reminded that the overdraft is constantly moving, hence the figures will continue to vary. (DPI)

Guyana to have consulate in UAE GUYANA is expected to construct a diplomatic mission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and have a diplomat at the African Union, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge said.

Greenidge told the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly on Monday that Guyana is also looking to collaborate with these countries in the areas of social and infrastructural development.

Much knowledge can be gained from them, the foreign affairs minister said.

“These are also states that are seen in a position that can assist us in developing our own capacity and support [in the petroleum sector],” he said.

He also noted that the construction of a Guyana embassy in Brazil will be completed at the end of 2019.

Some $6.8 billion from the $300.7 billion 2019 budget has been allocated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This sum will cover some $6.3 billion in current expen-

diture and $535.6 million for capital expenditure.

“The government remains committed to advancing the country’s multilateral, regional and bilateral trading interests, identifying new markets for goods and services through the formulation of a coherent and effective trade policy,” the foreign affairs minister, who was at the time responding to questions from the opposition on economic diplomacy, said.

There was an increase in allocation to the Foreign Trade Department and Minister Greenidge explained that the bump up in allocation was made to strengthen the office, including hiring a head of mission with experience and analytical skills.

This is in keeping with an arrangement between the government and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

As part of the arrangement, Guyana is partnering with the commission to craft a foreign trade policy and provide other services.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Small business loans pegged at 222

A TOTAL of 222 loans and 559 grants were received by small businesses in Guyana in the last few years under the Micro Small Enterprise Development (MSED) programme.

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin told the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly during the Consideration of Budget Estimates 2019 on Tuesday,

that the loans together surmounted to US$3.6M while the total costs of grants stood at GY$171M. The MSED $1.04B (US$5M) programme began in 2013 and was executed in two parts: Access to Finance and Business Development Services and came to an end in October, 2018.

The disbursement of loans and grants is man-

aged by the Small Business Bureau (SBB) which also provides other technical services regarding training and awareness campaigns.

SBB’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Lowell Porter had stated when the programme ended back in October: “Through our monitoring and evaluation it shows that 78 per cent of small businesses five years

Baby drowns in drain at Cane Grove

AN eleven-month-old baby, Alvin Matthew of Sarah Village Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD) died by drowning after he fell into a drain close to his home.

Matthew, who was home with his mother on Monday, crawled away from his family unnoticed.

According to a report from the police, the toddler’s mother after recognising he was missing decided to search for him but,

when she found him, he was face down in a drain which is approximately 10 feet wide and 3 feet deep.

Matthew was rushed to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

No marks of violence were seen on the exposed parts of his body. The body of Matthew is at the Mahaicony Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination.

Friend almost kills friend – in eddoe-leaf callaloo fallout A FEMALE vendor on Tuesday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on an attempted murder charge.

Jewey Ferguson, 34, of Victoria, East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and was not required to plead to the charge because the matter was laid indictable.

The charge alleges that on December 7, 2018 at the Bourda Market, with intent to commit murder, Ferguson wounded Nigel George.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield had no objection to bail, but asked that conditions be attached.

According to facts presented in court, the accused and the victim are known to

each other, as they are both vendors at the Bourda Market, but a while back, the accused gave the victim 10 bundles of eddoe-leaf callaloo to sell, from which she’d hoped to make $600 in profit.

But the victim presumably had other plans, as he reneged on the deal, and when confronted by the defendant, an argument ensued, which ended with him being stabbed in the chest.

As George told the court: “I had to do surgery; I could have dead, and I need justice.”

Ferguson was released on $250,000 bail, on the condition that she reports to the Alberttown Police Station every Monday and Friday. The matter was adjourned to January 3, 2019.

Intrepid pair rob policeman –– not knowing he was ‘undercover’ TWO teens were on Tuesday released on $15,000 bail each, after they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for attempting to rob a policeman.

Eon Gittens, 19, of East Ruimveldt, and Akeem Primo, also 19, of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara (EBD) appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, charged with the offence.

The charge alleges that on December 7, 2018 at Avenue of the Republic and Robb Street, Georgetown, the duo attempted to rob Jillious Bowlin, a po-

liceman, of a cell-phone valued $80,000, which they both denied.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail, due to the seriousness of the offence, but bail was granted on condition that they report to the Brickdam Police Station every Monday and Friday.

According to the police, the victim was at the time working undercover with some of his colleagues when the phone was snatched out of his hands.

Both defendants are expected to make their next appearance in court on December 21.

later are still alive today.”

He added that this is commendable since 50 per cent of small businesses in other countries disappear within the first five years.

Over the life of the MSED project, one improvement that ensued was the increase of the collateral guarantee offered to clients seeking loans, from 40 to 70 per cent.

“That [the previous percentage] I felt was unfair when you look at what’s

happening in Jamaica and Barbados, so we wrote them asking for a change and so from now we can offer a guarantee up to 70 per cent which is more in line with what’s happening in the rest of the Caribbean,” Porter had told media operatives during a press briefing earlier this year In addition, grants once limited to G$300,000 can now be increased up to G$1M through a new system which the CEO says

will make it easier for small businesses to be developed in Guyana.

For 2019, a total of $100M will go towards the Small Business Development Fund aimed at improving access to training and financing for micro and small businesses.

This will serve as a revolving loan fund to address the needs of businesses that cannot meet the requirements of the traditional banking system.

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Vieira denies knowing what was in wood

“I HAVE no knowledge of any drug or narcotics being placed in any wood,” said motorcycle racer Stephen Vieira in an unsworn state-

ment in his defence as the trial in the May 12, 2017 $550M cocaine-in-lumber bust resumed on Tuesday.

Former Customs Officer,

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

–– as cocaine-in-lumber trial resumes Sherwayne DeAbreu, Stephen Vieira, Nazim Gafoor and Tazim Gafoor Sherwayne DeAbreu of Street Eight, Section ‘A’ Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown; Vieira of Middle Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown; and

businessman Tazim Gafoor and his son, Nazim Gafoor, a motorcar racer, both of Menzies Street, Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, are all accused of aiding Hakim Mohamed in trafficking 84.986 kilogrammes of cocaine between March 1 and May 2, 2017.

The trial is presided over

by Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, with evidence being led by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford.

The magistrate in November, found that there was enough evidence to make a case, and called upon the four defendants to lead their defence. The men are represented by Attorneys-at-law Latchmie Rahamat, Everton Lammy-Singh, Glenn Hanoman and Nigel Hughes.

Vieira was the first to lead his defence, and opted to give an unsworn statement which lasted less than three minutes.

“I have absolutely no knowledge of any plan between Hakim Mohamed (the main witness in the case) and Narine Lall (owner of the sawmill) to export cocaine in lumber. I wish to say when Narine Lall hired me to help him with his papers to export lumber, it had nothing to do with narcotics,” Vieira told the court.

“I would have never ac-

cepted employment if this was told to me,” he said, adding: “I must state that all paperwork was never filled out by me but

by Hakim Mohamed.”

Vieira made it clear to the court that he was not involved in the preparation and packing of the wood to be shipped; that on the day of the inspection at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) wharf in Georgetown, he’d gone there in the company of the inspector.

“Hakim Mohamed brought the wood, and it was inspected in my presence. And nothing was found in them,” Vieira said.

“Hakim Mohammed told the inspectors that the other truck had a mechanical problem, and the inspection was called off. I left and I went home,” he added.

The motorcyclist also denied having knowledge of where the second truck of lumber was coming from, or who had packed it.

“The only wood I saw that day was the one Hakim Mohamed brought to the GMC wharf, and same was inspected in my presence,” he said.

The matter continues tomorrow, when the other co-accused are expected to lead their defence as well.

According to reports, the bust was made after CANU officials received a tip-off on May 12 last year. When the

ranks acted, dressed lumber boards were being packed onto a truck.

The truck driver and porters were arrested, but were subsequently released, after it was discovered that the vehicle and its workers were hired to transport the timber.

The drug agency, in a release, said that ranks conducted a search on the parapet in front of Mohamed’s premises and searched a truck laden with several pallets of 1×6 dressed lumber boards prepared for export. Several pieces of boards were drilled randomly by the ranks, and a whitish substance, believed to be cocaine, was revealed.

The lumber, which belonged to Narine Lall, was packed at a sawmill at Lookout, East Bank Essequibo, to be transported to a wharf in Georgetown before being shipped to the US, CANU said.

According to reports, Vieira is listed on the shipping documents as a representative of the shipper, Lall, for whom, according to CANU, an arrest warrant has been issued.

Tazim was placed before the court, charged for his role in another cocaine matter.

The 43-year-old was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice last year September, following the discovery of over nine kilograms of cocaine.

C’ville man makes bail –– in Ogle causing-death A TWENTY-year-old resident of Campbellville, Georgetown was on Tuesday slapped with two cause-ofdeath by dangerous driving charges for the accident at Ogle, East Coast Demerara which claimed the lives of two teens last Saturday.

Umesh Boodram appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul and pleaded not guilty to the two charges which alleged that on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at Ogle, he drove motor jeep PGG 8844 in a dangerous manner to the public and caused the death of Rameshwar Singh, 18, and Jason Harris, 19.

Boodram was released on a total of $600,000 bail on

Rameshwar Singh each count, and will return to court on January 16, 2019.

According to the police, the accident occurred at around 23:20hrs and involved motor jeep, PGG 8844, which was travelling east along the northern carriageway of the Ogle Public Road.

Eyewitnesses reportedly told the police that upon approaching the intersection at the Ogle Access Road, the

Jason Harris driver of the jeep was about to turn right, when the motorcycle, which was travelling west along the public road, ran into it.

Both Harris and Singh, who were reportedly knocked off the motorcycle and fell unconscious onto the roadway, were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), but died early Sunday morning.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

The cruel lesson of democracy average voter.’ This is a reference to the fact that the blind loyalist, the unthinking voter or the ethnic automaton will have little or no grasp of the issue or a party’s manifesto; but he participates in the democratic process guided by

HISTORY reminds us that Adolf Hitler, whose face has become synonymous with evil, rose to power in free and fair democratic elections in 1933. Driven by fear and anxiety brought about by depressing economic conditions in the global economy and Germany, the people democratically elected this demagogue as Chancellor. It was the beginning of a vile reign that resulted in the execution of 5.5 million Jews and the Second World War. One cannot ignore the fact that this monstrosity was unleashed to the world by the political system of democracy. It begs the question: how could the masses support unpalatable candidates who do not meet the most basic standards to govern?

Joseph Ellis, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning, ‘The Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation,’ stated that ‘Democracy meant mob rule. Democracy meant conceding the issue to people who don’t understand it.’ The latter part of this quote assists with the aims and objectives of this documentation. The masses, under the influence of tribalism or some other nefarious factor, might not grasp the dangers of giving their vote to certain representatives. A detracting opinion would argue that it is the task of the opposing candidates to convince them. To that, I say it is difficult, nay, nearly impossible to exorcise the tribal spirit; your argument can be as solid as Mount Roraima and majestic as the Jaguar.

Democracy quivers in the presence of racism and tribalism.

The founding fathers of the United States, the country that represents the great global exemplar of democracy were so fearful of the ordinary voters, they introduced a hybrid system to elect the President through the Electoral College.

They knew the nature of democracy could produce the worst leaders if not carefully managed.

This brings me to the unforgiving and cruel nature of democracy as a political system in a plural society context. The great and well-intentioned leader with a decent, unblemished record who is also incorruptible and has the nation’s best interest at heart could lose in an open democratic process to leaders who are criminal, corrupt and downright unfit for any office. This occurrence obtains in a scenario where there are multiple races and there is one race that enjoys the majority.

The leader with the less racial numbers could embark on the most grandiose transformative projects, the most unprecedented development in infrastructure and more. When he faces the ballot box, he has to face the diabolical ethnological monster which invariably gets its way. Some may wish to argue, ‘you are too negative Mr. Austin.’ This ominous theory holds true when we examine the electoral numbers of numerous communities in the recently held local government elections. Having received asphalted roads and lights for the first time in their existence, some of these communities still voted in favour of a party that denied them these basic things for decades.

Desmond Hoyte, arguably the most astute national leader this country has produced, had 600 transformative developmental projects under the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) ready to be executed in Guyana and the good gentlemen lost the elections in 1992. Now, one can argue about numerous variables that can lead to that conclusion; but one would be hard pressed to show that these voters were not driven by phylogenic considerations. Hothead rabble-rousers in countries around the world are being swept to power by appealing to the basest emotions of the masses, dog-whistling messages of racial fears to get the electoral cake. The Western Liberal order with democracy being the nucleus of that system has never been under so much threat.

Winston Churchill once remarked, ‘the best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the

kith-and-kin deliberations. After all the hard work and honourable intentions to do good for your country and its people, you can fall victim to the ethnic monster; and this makes democracy, at times, very cruel.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Crime, deviant behaviours don’t pay – Commander Cooper tells students

“CRIME and deviant behaviours don’t pay,” ‘D’ Division Commander, Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper said in a charge to Uitvlugt Secondary school students on Tuesday.

The commander offered the advice after ranks made presentations in the areas of Drug Abuse Resistance Education, sexual offences, traffic and road safety, among other areas at the West Coast Demerara school.

He said young people can keep on the safe side of the law by educating themselves which will also enable them to lead healthy and productive lives.

According to Commander Cooper, many youths commit minor offences infre-

quently which do not come to the attention of the police and noted that their actions are due to several reasons.

These, he said, includes being born into a family that values anti-social behaviour or lacks effective parenting skills, peer group influence, neighbourhood and community factors, and low socio-economic status.

He noted that it is not just the external environment that negatively affects some children and pointed to their transition from primary to secondary school as an example.

“It involves the movement from one teacher to multiple teachers, a few subjects taught in one classroom by one teacher to multiple subjects taught by a num-

Divisional Commander Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper. ber of teachers in different classrooms, differing teaching styles, greater and more complex academic demands, and greater demands for

Deputy Commander, Superintendent Dion Moore (standing on stage) addressing students of Uitvlugt Secondary School

self-monitoring and self-reliance, with the need to move around several classrooms,” he said.

This transition period, he said, is especially risky for girls, who are more likely than boys to experience pubertal maturity at the same time as they experience the transition from primary to secondary school.

“Because they assemble together, large numbers of at-risk youth, schools can become breeding grounds for the development of criminal offending, especially where there is little adult supervision. Both inside and outside the classroom, students develop social hierarchies and groups that have a significant influence on their performance and play a large role in shaping both their appropriate and inappropriate behaviours,” Commander Cooper underscored.

He said early intervention plays an important role in keeping minors from embarking on deviant behaviour or even a life of crime.

The Guyana Police Force, he said for its part, plays an important role in educating students and improving communications between law enforcement and youths.

“It keeps officers safer and helps officers develop relationships with youths that can yield helpful information. Good communication means that interactions don’t escalate into complicated situations and result in unnecessary arrests.”

The senior superintendent also said a single conversation cannot address every issue affecting youths, noting that the process requires multiple conversations before the youth and the police could find common ground.

Deputy Commander, Superintendent Dion Moore, who also spoke to the students, said the division will continue its outreach to schools in the new year.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

$$$ set aside to train broadcasters

A SUM of $80M under the Office of the Prime Minister for 2019 will see the training of broadcasters at newly established radio stations, community outreach projects and civil society and human rights initiatives, among others.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo provided the breakdown on figures on Monday – sub-headed under the ‘Prime Minister’s Secretariat’-- during consideration of the 2019 budgetary estimates.

He stated that a portion of the sum will go towards the education of

youths, with 50 schools to be facilitated with school tours at the cost of $3M; and stipends to be paid to those on work study at $250,000.

Meanwhile, some $5M will go towards the prime minister’s community outreach programme; the Governance Office will receive $2M to retain technical experts to review treaty obligations and report on their implementation.

Inter-agency collaboration and consultation sessions will receive $1M; civil society consultation sessions based on issues of human rights

Funds allocated for office of Commissioner of Information … but Ramson remains dismissed, PM says PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo Monday evening said that former Commissioner of Information (CoI) Charles Ramson (Snr.) rendered the office dysfunctional and as a consequence government was forced to terminate his services.

“He has rendered no report to this National Assembly, has provided no account of what he has done,” the prime minister said,” according to a Department of Public Information bulletin.

In addition, Prime Minister Nagamootoo told the National Assembly that funds for the office of the CoI have been allocated under a different “line item” as the government actively considers a replacement. “We recognise that this is a statutory office and the contractual employment of the last commissioner having been terminated, the Department of Governance and the Office of the Prime Minister will be looking at what measures we have to fill the void…No provisions have been made under [line item] 6321, but we are re-examining the issue of the office of the Commissioner of Information under [line item] 6284” he explained.

The prime minister also disclosed that the government and the former CoI Charles Ramson Snr are engaged in court in a “series of litigations” for monies which the commissioner claims are owed him.

The prime minister emphasised that it is necessary to assign someone who is fully qualified and of high integrity to function in the capacity of CoI.

concerns have been allocated $2M; work on open government partnership is to receive $2M and the universal periodic review regarding human rights treaties will be funded with $3M. The supervision and the consultancy for radio trainees will cost $16M, while provision of their meals and stationery and ongoing training at the six newly commissioned radio stations will be funded with some $2M. For constitutional reform, a total of $38.6M

has been set aside, but spending is dependent on the formation of the Constitutional Reform Committee.

The prime minister also announced additional funding of $1M to go to the repairs of furniture; $1.8M to upkeep the ministry’s email domain; $2M for website-hosting and maintenance; $250,000 for e-networks; $40,00 for the purchasing of power strips and $400,000 for purchasing cellphones.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

UG Press to launch first book …Vice-Chancellor hails achievement as historic

THE first publication of the recently established University of Guyana Press (UGP), Dynamics of Caribbean Diaspora Engagement: People, Policy, Practice, will be launched on Thursday at the Education Lecture Theatre of the university’s Turkeyen Campus.

The 452-page book was edited by Professor George K. Danns, Professor of Sociology at the University of

North Georgia, USA; Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The University of Guyana; and Dr. Fitzgerald Yaw, Director of Strategic Initiatives at UG. According to Vice-Chancellor Griffith, “the launch of this book—in print and kindle versions—is an historic milestone in the journey along renaissance road, as we boost our academic

enterprise in the area of research and publishing. This is one of several initiatives to strengthen research and scholarship by faculty and students, to make UG a place of pride in relation to research and scholarship.” The Vice-Chancellor explained that, “UG Press will not only publish books; we soon will release the first monographs in an occasional paper series called ‘The Renaissance Pa-

pers’, with the first authors being Professors Jay Mandle, Michael Scott and Gomathinayagam Subramaniam, and Mr. Charles Ceres.”

Building on UG’s first Diaspora Engagement conference, which was held in 2017, this ground-breaking volume highlights the multidimensional points of diaspora engagement and commences the conversation towards a systematic

and structured approach to harnessing all the diaspora has to offer, UG said in a release. In his endorsement of the book, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of the UWI, said: “The Caribbean nation-building project was conceived within a development discourse that sought to eliminate political boundaries that kept citizens apart. It has not fulfilled its potential. Now, a new discursive leadership is emerging within academia that shows how diaspora is to be deposited in the heartland of the nation in terms of both policy and praxis. This is the key to unlocking a new ‘Caribbeanness’ in energetic and innovative ways. Our editors, Danns, Griffith and Yaw have given us a text that serves as the manifesto for the mission.”

The volume brings together contributions from over 30 authors, from the academy, government and non-governmental organisations, and they include scholars, diplomats, and entrepreneurs. It is organised into seven sections: Overview of the Caribbean Diaspora, Enhancing Development through Diaspora Engagement, The Role of Hometown Associations, Identity Issues in the Caribbean Diaspora Experience, The Lived Experience, Diaspora Policy and Practice Lessons from Another Diaspora Experience.

As well, it covers economics, culture, migration, politics and development, scholarly perspectives as well as the lived experiences of the Caribbean Diaspora, all explored with a view to enhancing diaspora engagement.

Professor Neville Ying, Pro-Chancellor of Mico University College and Executive Director of the Jamaica Diaspora Institute, described the book as “an important addition to the literature on Caribbean Diaspora Issues that can inform policy development and practices for effective diaspora engagement

by CARICOM countries.”

He further said, “I invite the authors and readers—researchers, practitioners and policy-makers to interrogate the content and focus on the practice aspect of the theme of the book. A useful starting point is using this book as a source document for initiating dialogue and collaborative initiatives with institutions and agencies in the CARICOM Region such as the Jamaica Diaspora Institute and the Planning Institute

UG Vice-Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith

of Jamaica, which have done and are doing important and ground-breaking research and development initiatives that contribute to the development of policies and practices for effective diaspora engagement.”

His Excellency Dr. Riyad Insanally, Ambassador of Guyana to the USA and the OAS, is “confident that Dynamics of Caribbean Diaspora Engagement: People, Policy, Practice will prove to be an invaluable contribution to the burgeoning national conversation on the role of our diaspora and the need for a more systematic and structured approach to go beyond nostalgia and patriotism and tap into the huge reservoirs of talent and finance available in our large and far-flung diaspora.” He believes that, “ it is hugely significant that this is not only the first title to be published by the recently-established University of Guyana Press, but also purports to be the first comprehensive collection of published materials on diaspora engagement in the Caribbean.”

Ambassador Insanally further commended the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ivelaw Griffith, “for having convened the First Diaspora Engagement Conference in Guyana in July 2017, and for following-up in collaboration with co-editors: Prof.

Ken Danns and Dr. Fitzgerald Yaw, with this publication as a concrete output of the conference. In drawing on the more thoughtful presentations made regarding experiences across the Region but with a primary focus, of course, on Guyana, they have provided us with indispensable reading, integral to building engagement and charting a course towards a brighter and more inclusive future.” The book is available for US$39.95 or GYD$ 8,400 at the UG Campus Store and the UG Press Office at Turkeyen.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Minister of Citizenship attends UN migration forum in Morocco MINISTER of Citizenship Mr. Winston Felix is currently representing Guyana at the Inter-governmental Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco, to formally adopt the International Community’s first Global Compact for Migration, as agreed by member states of the United Nations (UN) on July 13, 2018.

In his presentation to the conference, the minister explained that “Guyana with a diaspora at least as large as its internal population, is conscious of the unique role migrants can play in the transformation of societies.”

The Guyanese delegation represents the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries as vicechair on the Bureau of the Conference and serves as Rapporteur General of the Conference. Minister Felix also presided over the Plenary Session of the Conference and presented the Rapporteur General’s Report.

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, negotiated and agreed at UN Headquarters in New York, establishes a series of agreed principles and commitments made by member states to address

the issue of international migration in a holistic manner.

It is expected that once implemented, the compact will make an important contribution to global governance and enhance international coordination on international migration; present a framework for comprehensive international cooperation on migrants and human mobility and deal with all aspects of international migration.

Minister Felix noted that the “Compact will also play a crucial role in the furtherance of our commitment to the pursuit of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

The local delegation also included Principal Foreign Service Officer and Head of the Diaspora Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michael Brotherson; First Secretary of Guyana Mission in Geneva, Ms. Bibi Ally and Foreign Service Officer II in the Diaspora Unit, Ms. Stephanie Savory.

Prior to the conference, Mr. Brotherson and Ms. Ally represented Guyana at the 11th Summit Meeting of the Global Forum for Migration and Development which was also held in Marrakesh. That Forum served as a pre-

Drainage authority to take over cleaning of city canals MINISTER of Agriculture, Noel Holder says the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will take responsibility for the maintenance of primary drainage infrastructure in Georgetown.

This was announced as the Committee of Supplies of the National Assembly today approved more than $17Billion for the 2019 capital and current expenditure of the ministry.

According to the minister, the decision follows the recommendations of a Cabinet sub-committee chaired by himself, the minister of public infrastructure and the minister of communities. “Cabinet approved the recommendations of the committee which gave the responsibility for drainage and irrigation in the capital city and coastal Guyana.”

Minister Holder added that “come January 1, the NDIA will be responsible for all the main canals to ensure that …the outfall channels are cleaned.”

In addition, the agriculture minister said part of the agency’s capital budget will see the acquisition and installation of mobile pumps to alleviate flooding around the city. “When the pumps come in from India, four mobile pumps will be allocated to Georgetown. The internal ward drains will be the responsibility of the Mayor and City Council; certain prime drainage will be NDIA’s responsibility and you should see a tremendous improvement in the drainage of Georgetown and hopefully the entire coastal area commencing January 2019.”

cursor to the Inter-governmental Conference and brought together a number of stakeholders in a voluntary, informal, non-binding manner to advance understanding and cooperation on the mutually reinforcing relationship between migration and development.

Minister of Citizenship Mr. Winston Felix addressing the Inter-governmental Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco

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Kuru-Kururu man kills reputed wife

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

–– then takes own life after heated argument

By Leroy Smith THIRTY-four-year-old Naco Malika Hale was on Monday night murdered in the home she shared with her reputed husband and their four children.

The suspect, said reputed husband Alwayne Butcher, was also found dead in the same house, and is believed to have taken his own life.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the couple had shared a very tumultuous

relationship, and at the time of the incident, the suspect should not have even been at the house as he had been placed on a bond by the court.

Butcher is said to have been in the habit of physically abusing Hale and their four

The Kuru-Kururu house where the murder-suicide took place children, to the extent that he once threw a rock in one of the children’s back, rendering him unconscious. On another occasion, they said, he slit another child’s tummy because the youngster forgot to clean the pig pen.

Persons in Kuru Kururu where the incident took place told this publication that the suspect never got along with anyone in the community, as he is easily offended, and did not like seeing Hale and the children socialising with anyone.

They said that it was only last week he was released from prison, either on bail or otherwise, for the tummy-slashing incident, and had called Hale, asking her to mend matters. She, however, told him that she needed time to think about it; to let the matter wear off, as the child was still traumatised by what he had done to him.

They say he had also asked her to drop the matter, but she told him in no uncertain terms that she was not prepared to do that.

WANTED OUT Word is that because the house in which they lived belonged to the suspect, Hale was looking for a place to rent so she could move with her children.

Butcher reportedly inherited the property from an uncle who was killed in the very house.

On Monday, Butcher made his way into the house and after some time he and Hale began arguing and fighting. The children reportedly told the police that it was around 22:00hrs when they heard their parents arguing, but after not hearing anything more after a while, they assumed that the matter was settled and went back to bed.

It all became clear what had happened during the

Killed: Naco Malika Hale night when they woke up on their own on Tuesday at around 07:00hrs, which was not normal, as they were accustomed to being awoken by either parent.

On that day, it was the eldest, who is 14, got up first, and after not seeing his parents, went straight to their room where he made the gruesome discovery.

What he saw when he pushed the bedroom door open was blood all over the bed, and his parents lying there motionless.

On seeing this, he hurried back to the bedroom he shared with his younger siblings, and taking them by the hand, shepherded them over to a neighbour’s house where he broke the news that their parents were dead.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that Hale had made several reports to the police outpost in the area in the past, but every time the police went to make an arrest, he could never be found. Sources say it was not until he slit his son’s tummy that the police in another area were able to arrest and charge him.

Sources also told the Guyana Chronicle that Butcher was referred to in the community as ‘The Killer’ and ‘The Chopper’, as he had had a number of cutlass-related incidents with residents in the past.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

UG receives $8M in lab equipment from ExxonMobil

THE Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Mathematics, Physics and Statistics (MPS), at the University of Guyana (UG) has received laboratory equipment valued at about US $40,000 ($8M GYD) to

space. Resultantly, there was a significant reduction in the delivery of teaching services and he highlighted: “Lecturers struggled to improvise and compensate.”

ExxonMobil’s country manager, Rod Henson noted

ExxonMobil Country Manager, Rod Henson bolster the delivery of educational services.

The donation, received from American multinational oil and gas corporation Exxon Mobil, was made following a request from the University’s Philanthropy, Alumni & Civic Engagement (PACE) Office, after a fire devastated a section of the Natural Sciences building in 2015.

Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Calvin Bernard shared emotionally, “After the fire, the physics programme was crippled by the inability to deliver the quality learning experiences necessary for the success of the students due to the lack of equipment for practical work.”

That fire had destroyed all of the equipment in the physics laboratory, equipment from the Computer Science department, specimen collections and equipment from the Biology department and other valuable items.

Exacerbating the situation, Bernard said, was the unavailability of a teaching

that the company was all too happy to render some assistance to the university since the promotion of education is important to the company.

He also said that this donation is part of a “strategic investment” for the future generations. “STEM skills, in particular, are critical in ensuring today’s students are going to be prepared for the future opportunities both in Guyana and the broader world,” Henson related.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, on the other hand highlighted that when struck with disaster, the university did not cower but rose bravely to reinvent itself. “[The investment] recognises the vital importance of rebuilding physics in a significant way–not only quad physics but physics because of its importance to the other enterprises of the university,” Griffith said.

He also shared that the university is in the process of bolstering the physics programme, and will be hiring a new physicist to offer teach-

ing services. As such, he urged the students to make the best of the resources offered to them.

Bernard too, shared that this particular investment is particularly See on page 20

19

A physics lecturer at the University of Guyana (left) demonstrates how some of the equipment work to ExxonMobil Country Manager, Rod Henson (second left), Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Ivelaw Griffith (centre) and ExxonMobil (Guyana) Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Deedra Moe

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

GNSC achieves new ISO 9001:2015 standards A PIONEER among ports in Guyana in implementing the ISO 9001:2008 standards, the Guyana National Shipping Corporation Ltd. has been successfully re-certified in line with the newly revised ISO 9001:2015 standard.

In a release, the company said it previously earned certification under ISO 9001:2008 in 2012 and has

been audited and registered annually by SGS Certification Services. Three Departments of the Guyana National Shipping Corporation Limited (the Shipping Agency, Insurance Division and the Coastal Shipping Department} are ISO 9001:2008 Certified and this early adoption underlines our positioning ‘we care your cargo’ and our commitment to quality,

efficiency, consistency and high levels of customer service and satisfaction.

International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 9001:2015 is the most updated standard of its kind and focuses on quality management systems and performance. It assists companies in developing a management system that aligns quality with their wider business

From left: Mr. Rajesh Parmanand (Insurance Manager/ISO Coordinator)), Ms. Karen Clarke (ISO Project Officer), Mr. Andrew Astwood (Managing Director) and Mr. Gidel Thomside (Shipping Manager) strategy. There is a focus on risk-based thinking and accountability in all organisational processes that helps to improve communications, efficiency and implementation of continuous improvement.

“Our passing of the audit with flying colours and re-certification proves that we just don’t talk about QUALITTY, we live by it every day,” says Managing Director Mr. Andrew Astwood. “We are excited to earn certification to ISO 9001:2015 and feel it provides additional assurance to our customers that we are focused on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction” said Mr. Rajesh Parmanand, GNSC’s ISO Coordinator.

“Our move from ISO 9001:2008 to the updated standard demonstrates our desire to always perform at the highest levels of quality and efficiency. It’s essential to delivering innovative, high quality and customer-focused solutions for our customers’ shipping, cargo and insurance needs” said Mr. Gidel Thomside, Shipping Manager.

He also added: “GNSC wishes to thank all employees for their contribution towards achieving re-certification and invites all stakeholders, port users, cargo owners, customers and the community for their active involvement in the continual improvement of the services we provide.”

UG receives $8M in lab...

From page 19

A section of the equipment donated by ExxonMobil impactful in what it will do in terms of transforming the physics education offered at the campus, particularly in wake of Guyana’s oil and gas industry and developing local skills.

Among the highly specialised equipment purchased were: one Baader Multi-Purpose Coma Corrector, one Bsc Optics Diode Laser; Wireless Temperature Sensor; Demo Mirror Concave; one Meade Series 5000 HD-60 Eyepiece Kit; one Orion XX 16G GO-TO Truss Dobson Ian Telescope; ZWO ASI 071 Pro Cooled Color CMOS Telescope and others.

The equipment were purchased from two companies (PASCO and OPT) at a cost of US$37,071 and arrived in Guyana in September 2018.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Mother of Linden martyr pleads for help Jordan made the appeal after revealing that monies have been allocated for the construction of a monument in honour of the three martyrs. “I am asking my section here to revisit the compensation that was given to those people; they were unarmed people protesting for their rights and they were killed.”

Responding to the news of the martyrs, relatives noted that they are happy that the monument will now become a reality since it

The unfinished house of the Bouyeas

THE mother and other immediate relatives of Shemroy Bouyea, one of the three men who were shot dead during the 2012 Linden protest, are currently living under deplorable conditions which include an unfinished house located in the community of Wisroc, Linden.

The house has no sanitary facilities and no running water. There are no proper washroom facilities, no walls separating rooms, no proper security, no cooking facilities and the roof is also unfinished.

Bouyea, who is a security guard and is facing health issues, tried to improve her living conditions but her meagre wage as a security guard cannot take care of her needs. She is the sole breadwinner of her household of six, while the others do odd jobs around the community.

Before his death, Shemroy was the breadwinner of the family as he did odd jobs around the market to ensure that food was on the table.

After July 18th 2012, Miss Bouyea sought employment as a security guard.

She attempted to use the $3M in compensation received from the CoI to complete the home but was unsuccessful, moreso for the lack of guidance. Family members advised her to purchase a car with the remaining monies, with the aim of it being a form of income, but it was however repossessed because she could not have honoured her

monthly instalments with her salary. It was now back to square one.

Some public-spirited persons in Linden were trying to solicit funding for the completion of the home but were unsuccessful in making any real strides. One of these is philanthropist Lester Glen, who believes that the family as well as the others should be given more compensation.

He said that the living conditions are beyond what one would imagine and believes that while the family may not be mentally capable of handling large sums of money alone, guidance should be given in ensuring that the house in completed this time around. On the other hand, Miss Bouyea seems very humble and is thankful for any assistance she can receive in an effort to improve her living conditions. She is also hoping to continue benefiting from the public assistance she previously received before the compensation.

These appeals came weeks before Minister of Finance Winston Jordan made a public appeal for government to do better by the martyrs’ relatives. Following the findings of the Linden CoI, it was reported that the estate of Lewis was awarded $3M; that of Bouyea, a 24-year-old Linden Technical Institute (LTI) student $3M as well; and that of Somerset, who was just 18 when he died, $1M.

was a request made in 2012.

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

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

Former Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon, who was at the forefront of the protest and played an integral role in ensuring that the martyrs are remembered yearly, said that the monument is welcomed sincerely,

not by the relatives only, but the residents as well, since it has been their desire ever since. She said that it is long overdue, and will surely signify the ultimate price paid by the trio.

Lindeners had taken to the streets for 36 days back in 2012 to send a strong message to the then administration that they had no intention of bowing to the pressure imposed on them by way of a hike in electricity tariffs from $5

per kilowatt to $65. During the unrest, the entire township was shut down, while main roads were rendered impassable.

Several government buildings, among them a school, were gutted by fire, while public roads and bridges were also destroyed. The CoI into the incident would later conclude that the bullets which killed the trio came from the guns of law-enforcement officers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Xi’s Europe, LatAm trip boosts ties

C

HINESE President Xi Jinping’s latest trip to Europe and Latin America boosted China’s ties with cooperation partners and steered global economic governance on the right path, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said.

Wang told reporters that Xi’s nine-day trip, which was concluded on Wednesday, also helped guide China’s relations with other major countries on a path of longterm stable development.

From Nov. 27 to Dec. 5, Xi paid state visits to Spain, Argentina, Panama and Portugal, and attended the 13th Group of 20 (G20) summit in Buenos Aires.

Xi also met with leaders of other major economies, including U.S. President Donald Trump, on the sidelines of the summit.

The trip, said Wang, helped “increase stability in the international situation at a critical time, provided a sense of direction for the international system that has been undergoing profound changes, and inject positive energy into the international community troubled by worries and anxieties.”

Promoting G20 cooperation, major-country relations One of the highlights of Xi’s trip was his attendance at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, 10 years after the first G20 summit was convened by the world’s major economies to jointly tackle common challenges.

At the closely-watched summit, Xi suggested the group steer the world economy responsibly, stay committed to openness and cooperation, and play a leading political role in nurturing favorable conditions for international trade and fighting climate change.

On the sidelines of the summit, Xi and Trump had in-depth discussions in a friendly and candid atmosphere and charted the course for the two countries to properly resolve their existing problems and push forward bilateral relations.

Xi also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other

… steers governance on right path world leaders for bilateral and multilateral talks, and attended an informal leaders’ meeting of the emerging-economy bloc of BRICS. Thanks to China’s efforts, said Wang, the G20 summit reached consensus on major international issues and released a declaration, sending out a right, positive and stabilizing signal to the world.

EXPANDING COOPERATION WITH EUROPE Xi’s state visits to Spain and Portugal ushered in a new era in China’s bilateral ties with the two countries and infused fresh vigor into China-EU relations, said Wang.

During Xi’s visits, China and the two countries demonstrated their joint commitment to strengthening partnership and expanding cooperation in various fields.

Both Spain and Portugal are actively involved in the international cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and China will work with them to further synergize development strategies and create new space for practical cooperation, Wang said.

Xi also reached consensus with leaders of the two European countries on consolidating the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and supporting multilateralism and free trade.

Noting that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said Xi’s trip will further energize cooperation between

China and European countries.

China and the EU’s joint efforts to safeguard multilateralism and build an open world economy not only conform to both sides’ interests but also benefit world stability and prosperity, Wang said.

CEMENTING CHINA-LATIN AMERICA RELATIONS Xi’s state visits to Argentina and Panama, Wang said, not only enriched China’s relations with the two countries but also strengthened the overall cooperation between China and Latin America.

In Argentina, the two sides agreed to jointly usher in a new era of their comprehensive strategic partnership, and signed a joint action plan for the next five years and some 30 cooperation documents.

In Panama, which established diplomatic relations with China 18 months ago, Xi’s visit further fortified the basis of bilateral ties.

The visits to the two countries were also “a reflection of the robust growing relations between China and Latin America,” Wang said, adding that BRI cooperation is expanding rapidly to Latin America.

China and Argentina agreed to extend their comprehensive strategic partnership to cover BRI cooperation, and China and Panama vowed to synergize the BRI and the National Logistics Strategy of Panama 2030.

“The Latin American countries are enthusiastically embracing the Belt and Road Initiative and looking forward to closer ties and

deeper shared interests with China,” Wang said.

Presenting China’s development path Throughout the trip, the Chinese president also made efforts to expound China’s development path and philosophy and help the rest of the world to better understand China, Wang noted.

Xi told the world that his country, which is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its reform and opening-up policy, will carry out a new round of reform and opening-up at a higher level, so as to promote its development and create more opportunities for worldwide common development.

On China’s foreign policy, Xi reiterated that China will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a guardian of the international order.

During the trip, Professor Peng Liyuan, wife of the Chinese president, took part in a variety of activities to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges and enhance China’s friendly ties with other countries, which Wang said demonstrated China’s unique soft power.

Facts have once again proved that Xi’s vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind is drawing together the aspirations of people across the world for peace, development and prosperity and becoming increasingly popular, Wang said.

“President Xi’s latest trip is yet another successful practice of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics,” he said.

(Xinhua)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

China to study dark side of the moon

CHINA’S Chang’e-4 lunar probe was launched in the early hours, and it is expected to make the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the moon.

A Long March-3B rocket, carrying the probe including a lander and a rover, blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province at 2:23 a.m., opening a new chapter in lunar exploration.

Since the moon’s revolution cycle is the same as its rotation cycle, the same side always faces the earth. The other face, most of which cannot be seen from earth, is called the far side or dark side, not because it’s dark, but because most of it remains unknown.

The Chang’e-4 mission will be a key step in revealing the mysterious far side of the moon.

“The soft landing and exploration of the far side, which has never been done before, will gain first-hand information about the terrain and lunar soil components and other scientific data, which will help enrich our understanding of the moon and the universe,” said Zhang He, executive director of the Chang’e-4 probe project.

The scientific tasks of the Chang’e-4 mission include low-frequency radio astronomical observation, surveying the terrain and landforms, detecting the mineral composition and shallow lunar surface structure, and measuring the neutron radiation and neutral atoms to study the environment on the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced.

China has promoted international cooperation in its lunar exploration program, with four scientific payloads of the Chang’e-4 mission developed by scientists from the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Saudi Arabia. Three scientific and technological experiments, designed by Chinese universities, will also be carried out during the mission.

DARK SIDE Nobody had ever seen the far side of the moon before the Soviet Union launched the Luna 3 probe in 1959, which was the first-ever mission to photograph the far side.

The United States Apollo 8 mission sent three astronauts to fly around the moon in 1968, the first time that people saw the moon’s far side with their own eyes.

Remote-sensing images show the far side is thickly dotted with impact craters and has much fewer lunar mares than the near side. Scientists infer that the lunar crust on the far side is much thicker than the near side. But why so is still a mystery. “As no astronauts or rovers have ever landed on the far side, we know little about it except for speculation based on remote-sensing images,” Zhang said.

Astronomers are also seeking a completely quiet electromagnetic environment to detect the weak signals emitted from remote celestial bodies in deep space.

(Xinhua)

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Grieving: sister and parents of Karamchand Khemraj. (Michel Outridge photos)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Youth killed, friend injured in ECD crash

ONE of two youth, who are neighbours and friends died while, the other is listed in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital after the pair was struck off their bicycle by

Dead: Karamchand Khemraj, 15 a speeding minibus on Sunday night at Annandale Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

Dead is Karamchand Khemraj, 15, a horse-drawn cart operator who perished at the scene while his friend, Reaz Shaw, 16, who lives a few doors away is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) unresponsive and nursing broken limbs among other injuries.

Up to press time, his condition was said to be critical and he is being monitored, relatives said. At the home of Khemraj at Lot 35 Annandale West, his father, Jaipaul Khemraj was inconsolable as he spoke to this newspaper on Monday afternoon.

He said his son was on his way home with his friend when it was reported that while they were trying to cross the road they were hit by a speeding bus which did not stop but sped away. The accident was however, witnessed by his sister, Shivanie Ramprashad, who was also in tears on Monday when the Guyana Chronicle visited.

The 19-year-old said her brother and his friend passed her on the bridge which is on the public road and he told her ‘good night’ and passed and while, they were on the bicycle they crossed the road and were struck down.

She explained that the bus that hit her loved one and his friend is a silver goods bus and not a passenger bus and that it sped off even though it struck down

the youths. The bus was reportedly trying to overtake another vehicle.

Ramprashad said her brother was riding the bicycle and they both pitched from off the bicycle upon impact and received serious injuries. She is hoping the police can locate the driver soon so they will get justice for her brother.

The young woman added that her sibling appeared to be lifeless when he was picked up and rushed to the hospital on Sunday night shortly after 19:00hrs. He was said to be a willing and

Critical: Reaz Shaw, 16 hardworking youth who was trying to realise his full potential even though he dropped out of school earlier than expected. Khemraj is survived by his parents and three other siblings.

Meanwhile, a few doors down at Reaz Shaw’s residence, his sister-in-law, Chandini Tammell said the impact was so loud they heard it at their home at Lot 35 Annandale West and did not take it for ‘anything’ until they received the news that their loved one was involved in a ‘hit and run’ accident. She described the youths as ‘best friends’ who often went out together like they did on Sunday night.

Police in a statement said they are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a white Toyota Hiace ‘Pitbull’ minibus and its driver which failed to stop after the collision.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

SARA corrects erroneous Guyana Times story

SARA’s Deputy Director Aubrey Retmyer

DEPUTY Director of the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), Aubrey Retmyer has dispelled as “nonsense” a Guyana Times article published on Tuesday headlined ‘SARA Director takes home $4.7M, assistant $3.3M monthly’.

The article falsely states that the director and deputy director of the agency receive monthly salaries of $4.7M and $3.3M, respectively. “Senior ministers do not make $4M per month, I couldn’t see how someone could think that the Director

of SARA and his assistant could be making $4M and $3M respectively,” he reasoned.

Retmyer clarified that Director, Dr. Clive Thomas’ monthly salary with allowances totals $1,080,000. He further clarified his salary as deputy director is $780,000 per month with allowances.

The deputy chided the Guyana Times Newspapers for publishing the article without accurately reading the charts presented in the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly yesterday during the Consideration of the Budget 2019 Estimates of expenditure falling under the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

He explained that the figures quoted in the news article is reflective of the emoluments when gratuity, vacation and other allowances are included and not the monthly salary, as the article falsely claims.

Retmyer questioned if the information was purposely misread given the stark difference between what is paid as compared to those in the article.

27 cops awarded at Christmas luncheon

Commissioner of Police Leslie James serving junior ranks at the Christmas luncheon

THE Guyana Police Force has awarded 27 ranks of various departments as the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) hosted its first Christmas Luncheon and Awards Ceremony at the TSU Drill Square, Eve Leary on Tuesday.

The ranks were awarded with plaques, monetary gifts and hampers for their outstanding performances during 2018.

Lance Corporal D’Oliveira from the TSU also received a special award for being the unit’s best cop.

Commissioner of Police Leslie James, in delivering brief remarks, congratulated

all the ranks of headquarters for their stellar performances in 2018 and encouraged them to continue to be dedicated and committed in the discharge of their duties.

The Top Cop also urged them to reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ and do some reflection of their own in relation to their personal performances.He also advised the ranks to set realistic goals in 2019, especially for promotion or personal improvements.

All of the junior ranks in attendance were treated with goodies and were served lunch by the officers, much to their delight.

– director and deputy have monthly earnings of $1,080, 000 and $780,000, respectively

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Councillor Henry complains about garbage collectors A PARTNERSHIP for National Unity (APNU) Councillor Ivelaw Henry has raised concerns surrounding the “unprofessional” behaviour of the garbage collectors attached to the smaller contractors that were hired recently.

Speaking at Monday’s statutory meeting, Henry urged the City Council to set basic standards by which the new set of collectors should be governed by. “They are working in a whimsical and unprofessional manner,” he

granted for too long. Every Christmas time, they put us in crisis.”

The contract between the parties – Puran Brothers Disposal Services, Cevons Waste Management Inc. and the M&CC – allows for a three month credit facility.

However, the contractors have not been paid since last June.

Chase-Green is however claiming that the contractors capitalise on the Christmas season and holds the Council at ransom for payment.

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green presiding over Monday’s statutory meeting pointed out, adding that their manner of dress is inappropriate.

Complaints have also arisen that the garbage collectors are using indecent language while working, and are unlawfully demanding money from residents.

Meanwhile, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has said that it wants to re-examine its relationship with the two main garbage contractors – Puran Brothers Disposal Services and Cevons Waste Management Inc. – to see whether or not the smaller contractors can be used on a long term basis beginning 2019.

In fact, outgoing Mayor Patricia Chase-Green announced Monday that the M&CC has forwarded the contracts with the contractors to the council’s lawyers to see whether or not the contractors have been in breach for pulling their services lately.

“We don’t dance to the contractors’ tune. I’m sorry,” Chase-Green said, adding, “This council will take a stand. They’ve taken us for

She said she had to go “beg” other contractors to begin working, who are willing to wait for payment. As such, Chase-Green said the council will take its time and move forward, and that in 2019, they will be looking to move in a different direction.

Councillor Gregory Fraser pointed out that at some point, the contractors will have to stop working without pay.

He said he could not understand the position taken by his fellow councillors and why they were sitting there to chastise those contractors who have been working with the council for many years.

Fraser observed that it is the City Council’s own fault of breaching the contract which gives a three month credit facility. Those working for the council at the moment are not seasoned to the job, he said, adding, “How can we chastise people whom we know can get the work done?

Is there another motive?”

Meanwhile, the Government of Guyana has once See page 27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Councillor Henry complains ...

From page 26

again decided to step in and assist the cashstrapped Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to honour its obligations to its two main garbage contractors.

As such, this support will allow for 70 per cent of the debts being paid.

“The central government, mindful of the challenges faced by the city in discharging its obligations and of the particular status of it being the capital, decid-

ed to once again step in and provide support,” Bulkan told this publication.

The support will allow for approximately 70 per cent of the debts being paid, following availability in January of 2019 allocations.

According to the minister, the contractors have advised that they were prepared to resume services immediately. They are reportedly waiting on City Hall’s greenlight to resume their operations.

Councillor Gregory Fraser making a point on Monday

The statutory meeting in full swing on Monday

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Corentyne man found guilty of killing money changer

Dead: Mohomad Fizal Mahmood Baskh Munir

AFTER deliberating for just over four hours, the Berbice Assizes mixed jury returned an unanimous verdict of guilty against 23-year-old Philemon Boodhoo, who was indicted for the unlawful killing of 56-year-old Mohomad Fizal Mahmood Baskh Munir, called ‘Sugar Cake’, a money changer of Number 78 Village, Corentyne.

Justice Priya Sewnarine Beharry postponed sentencing, pending a probation report on the prisoner’s background.

The lifeless body of Munir was discovered at the Number 63 beach foreshore on December 24,2015, three days after he was reported missing. At the time of the discovery, a Casio wrist watch, a thousand dollar bill [local currency], and a piece of wood with what appeared to be blood stains were found nearby. The case for the prosecution, presented by State Counsel Mandel Moore, was that on December 21, 2015, the accused had telephoned Munir requesting that he meet him at the Number 64 Village Health Centre dam, as persons needed to change some foreign currency.

In the meantime, Boodhoo rented a car and after picking up Munir, drove to the Number 63 beach where he stopped at a spiritualist church in that vicinity. Finding the gate locked and no one around, Boodhoo picked up a wood nearby and inflicted lashes to the unsuspecting Munir’s ankle and head, rendering him unconscious before removing $600,000 from his four pockets.

Subsequently, the car was returned and the owner was paid $3000. Thereafter, Boodhoo bought a pair of pants and two shirts just before purchasing an airline ticket to travel to Trinidad, and depositing $480,000 at a banking institution.

The following day he flew to the neighbouring country and stayed until after the festive season. Shortly after his return he was arrested at the chambers of an attorney-at-law.

Meanwhile, in his unsworn statement from the dock, Boodhoo maintained his innocence. However, he said the car was rented to transport his goods as he is a businessman. However, not getting the required items he returned the vehicle, before leaving his sister in charge of his business and leaving Guyana to spend the holiday in Trinidad.

It was while he was on vacation he learnt he was wanted by police for questioning in relation to the murder, and his mother advised him to get a lawyer. Boodhoo denied being in possession of large sums of monies, which was seen concealed in his crotch. Defence Counsel Arundranauth Gossai had argued that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, as the call log of the phone belonging to the deceased was not available, the thousand dollar bill found at the scene was not tested for fingerprints, the blood stains on the wood was not analyzed, nor was the rented car examined for evidence.

An appeal has since been filed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 12, 2018

GFC, Northern Rangers clash tonight for Turbo KO Trophy IN a winner-take-all battle this evening, Northern Rangers will play Georgetown Football Club (GFC) in the final of the Second Annual Turbo KO football tournament.

Set for the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue, the tournament culminates with the best two teams meeting in the final according to Petra co-director Troy Mendonca.

“The final has an ever-improving GFC com-

ing up against Northern Rangers who have a mixture of experienced players and youngsters,” Mendonca said.

He believes that the entire tournament was a high-quality one with several close encounters, adding that the fan support come tonight will be integral for both teams.

The co-director added, “I just want to encourage fans to come out and witness these two great teams play quality football and lift that Turbo trophy.”

PRESSURE ON GFC IS IMMINENT Meanwhile GFC, through player/coach Dellon Cadogan, has admitted that the side will be under pressure to ensure they secure a senior tournament trophy after going to several finals.

“Yes, we do feel pressured because we need to get it done. We need to win a senior tournament.

We’ve been right up there with the best for the longest while,” he said.

He contended that, (we) are not underestimating Northern Rangers but we

are quite confident that we can get the job done.”

“You can expect a lot from GFC tomorrow (today); come and see the youths play football at the highest level. We predict to be two goals clear,” he added.

LOOKING TO BREAK JINX Nigel Denny, the representative of the Northern Rangers contended that there will be something to prove from his side.

“It will be a very good game. Kinda be a grudge match for me and my team because every time we come up against GFC, we always give us a lil fight. The last two games we played, they beat us twice.”

He echoed Mendonca’s sentiments about the team makeup, saying, “We (have) got a lot of experience with a lot of youths,” also predicting a 3-1 score line at the final whistle.

Tonight’s final is set for 21:00hrs with the third-place playoff between Mahaica Determinators and Santos set for 19:00hrs.

ITV signs three-year world-class boxing deal LONDON (Reuters) - British broadcaster ITV said on Tuesday it had agreed a multi-million pound deal to show boxing on its freeto-air channels and for top flight matches on pay-perview.

The company said it would partner U.S.-based Haymon Sports’ Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) series to show a minimum of 15 live events a year, staged in Britain and the United States.

High-profile boxing matches are comparatively rare compared to other sporting events and they often command a lot of pre-match hype, making them especially suitable for pay-per-view.

ITV said boxing fans in

Britain would be able to see bouts drawing from PBC’s more than 160 boxers, including over 60 current and former world champions.

Boxing would boost income the broadcaster receives directly from viewers, in addition to revenue from advertising and production, ITV said.

It has set a target of creating a direct-to-consumer business that will generate revenue of at least 100 million pounds annually by 2021 through services like pay-per-view and subscription video-on-demand.

The first boxing match from this deal should be broadcast in the first quarter of 2019, an ITV spokesman said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 12, 2018

MYO continue dominance in 40-over cricket with win over UG Ershaad Ali exploded with 161 for UG.

AN explosive century from University of Guyana’s (UG) in-form batsman Ershaad Ali could not stop the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) cricket team from recording another victory, when action in the New Building Society (NBS) Second Division 40-

over cricket tournament continued on Sunday at the MYO ground.

MYO, who have been extremely dominant at home, raced to a 343-7 after winning the toss. The innings was built on quality stroke-play by the middle order, especially off the bat of Vinash Rampersaud, who belted an unbeaten century.

Skipper Khemraj Ramdeen and all-rounder Chien ‘Saheed’ Gittens added 70 runs for the third wicket after the openers

were dismissed cheaply.

Gittens, who struck five fours and two sixes in his score of 38, however, lost his wicket in the 13th over with the score on 90. Rampersaud then joined his skipper and the pair added a further 39 before the latter was dismissed by his opposing number Dennis Heywood for 57 (9x4).

It was a fourth-wicket stand between Rampersaud and Safraz Issau that really defined the home team’s innings.

Anna Regina ‘B’, Cotton Field Secondary secure wins ANNA Regina ‘B’ and Cotton Field Secondary secure wins and move closer towards clinching semi-final spots in the latest round of the Ramballi and Mahadeo Under-17 Inter-secondary school competition, which is being played on the Essequibo Coast.

overs to be the best bowler.

In response, Aurora Secondary owed their close run chase to Gibson’s robust 41 containing 4x4 and 2x6 and Marvin Basdeo’s 38 (5x4).

At the conclusion of their 30 overs however, Aurora were stuck on 1699 as off-spinner Shane

other batsman to reach double figures.

Superb seam-bowling from Naeem Mohamed 4-16 from 6 overs and Eon Smith 3-14 from 5 overs stifled their opponents.

In reply, despite losing 3 wickets early in their innings, Anna Regina ‘B’ recovered nicely to score

Abdul Nazir (left) and Naeem Mohamed star with bat and ball for Anna Regina Secondary.

Last Saturday at the Affiance No.1 ground, Anna Regina ‘B’ held their nerve to defeat Aurora Secondary by 15 runs. Batting first, after winning the toss, Anna Regina ‘B’ were led by a fluent half-century from Quiney Sampson who stroked 55 (6x4) while Arian Doodnauth 43 (4x4) and Simeon Jones 30 (2x4) rallied their school to 184-8 from the allotted 30 overs.

Fast bowler Oneil Gibson bagged 3-34 from his 6

Smith had a good day with the ball, claiming 5-27 from 6 overs to seal victory for Anna Regina Secondary ‘B’.

At the same venue in the second match, Cotton Field Secondary gained a four- wicket win over 8th of May Secondary. Batting first, 8th of May Secondary struggled to 115 all out in 22 overs despite an impressive 48 from captain Alonzo Zamett with Trevor Rodrigues (12) being the

117-6 with Abdul Nazir 42 (6x4) and Naeem Mohamed returning with the bat to score 20 (3x4) to seal victory. Alonzo Zamett also had a good day in the field claiming 2-17 from 6 overs and Trevor Rodrigues 2-27 from 6 overs though in a losing cause.

The next round of matches will be played on Saturday at the Affiance No.1 and Reliance grounds.

From the 20th over to the 35th, the pair added 151 runs with both batsmen playing freely. Issau raced to 91 after clobbering eight fours and six sixes, while the century-maker, who saw his team through their allotted amount of overs struck 13 fours and five sixes.

Needing to score at 8.6 runs per over, UG were in trouble early, since they were unable to negate the left-arm spin of Timore Mohamed and the pace of Gittens. Four wickets fell

for 35 runs, including that of the in-form Godfrey Thakurdin 14 (3x4) before Ali came into the attack and dominated.

The all-rounder, who scored his maiden century earlier in the competition against GYO, struck 20 fours and eight sixes in an innings of 161 for the visitors.

He participated in a few partnerships, including a 94-run fifth-wicket with Almando Damon 21 (3x4) and a sixth-wicket partnership

Vinash Rampersaud led the home team with 111 unbeaten runs.

of 44 with Keon Roberts 24 (4x4s), but wickets continued to tumble. Shafiek Ishmael (3-51 from eight overs) cleaned up the tail to leave UG 52 runs short of victory.

Gittens, who did the damage early, finished with 3-37 from six overs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Sahadeo, Jonathan Van Lange impressive at Tribeca Table Tennis tournament NATIONAL Junior cadet table tennis players and Bishops’ High School students Kristian Sahadeo and Jonathan Van Lange again turned in impressive performances on the USA Junior circuit when they participated in the monthly American Asian Cultural Centre Tribeca Table Tennis tournament held last Sunday, in Flushing, New York, USA. Sahadeo, a 2016 ITTF Caribbean World Hopes product, just off of his scintillating performance in the Joola North American Teams table tennis championships, with a new rating of (1510) triumphed in the Under 1650 event, rebounding from an earlier loss in the group stages, he ousted Number 1 seed Xiao Li (1558) 3-2 in the semi-finals before

smashing past Grisel Thomas (1363) in the final.

He also participated in three other events namely under 1850 ,2050 and under 3900 Doubles In the 1850 he managed to

Jonathan Van Lange

get to the semi-finals with 3-0 victories over Shaun Abrams(1783),Xiao Li (1558) and 3-2 against Kevin Chow (1097)in the group stage.

In the quarter-final he surged past Carlos Gutierrez (1593) whom he had earlier lost to in the 2050 event before bowing out to No.2 seed Jingjing 3-0 in the next round. In the 2050 he failed to advance from his group despite picking up single games against some 1800 level players.

Van Lange (ranking 1888) partnered NYU player Michael Song (1021) to win the 3900 Doubles event defeating all the teams in the round-robin finals.

In other events he captured second place in the U-2050 event losing to William Song

(1931) 3-1 in the final.

In the 2150 he lost in the semi-finals to Amir Khan (1911) after playing unbeaten in the group stage with a victory over No.2 seed Mukaila Rabiu (2042).

Rabiu again suffered at the hands of Van Lange in the Under-2300 event in the Group stages. Van Lange, however, could not produce another whirlwind display, succumbing to Ren Lei (2008)3-0 in the quarter-finals. Lei, it must be noted, plays a similar style to Amir Khan using long pips and anti-spin rubbers.

The players are scheduled to participate in a 3-day Winter table tennis training Camp and Westchester December Open before returning home the first week in January.

The players are working under the tutelage of 11-time national champion Sydney Christophe. They will be participating in training camps and competitions aimed at improving their technical and

Krystian Sahadeo

tactical abilities in preparation for other key regional encounters in 2019. They are in the USA with their parents as part of their development.

Christophe, in an invited comment, indicated that he was very honoured to once again work with Guyana’s young table tennis talents. He expressed admiration for the attributes displayed by Jonathan and Krystian who, he believes, have the talent to excel and reach the highest level once nurtured in the correct environment. He also noted that the players are a “coach’s dream: tenacious, talented, clever, with great work ethics and disciplined”.

Christophe is an ITTF Level Three Coach and ITTF Course conductor with a wealth of experience.

RHT Metro dominate first game in Nand Persaud female cricket

The RHT Metro recorded a 124-run win.

THE Rose Hall Town (RHT) Metro dominated the opening clash of the Nand Persaud Berbice Female Cricket tournament, with a 124-run win over the Rose Hall Canje/ Tucber Park combined.

The 29th Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)

Bat flip to replace coin toss for 2018-19 Big Bash League

To u r n a m e n t f o r 2 0 1 8 bowled off on Monday with Sherica Campbelle hitting 60 runs for Metro.

Support came from S. Gajnabi, who stroked 39 and Kimmone Thomas and Dian Prahalad who scored 16 each as the eventual winners raced to a com-

manding 170-5 from 25 overs.

West Indies medium pacer Tremayne Smartt led the combined team’s bowling attack with 3-16.

National cricketer Plaffina Millington then delivered a scintillating spell of bowling as she picked

up 5-9 to restrict the Rose Hall Canje/Tucber Park combined team to 46 all out. Campbelle supported with 2-8.

The experienced Smartt led her team with the bat, as she struck 21, while A. Duggins supported with 12.

GVF holds successful U-21 trials for French Guiana trip

The participants who took part in Sunday’s U-21 trials that was held at the National Gymnasium.

The coin toss has decided who bats first since Test cricket began in 1877.

THIS year ’s Big Bash League in Australia will feature a flip of a bat to replace the traditional coin toss.

Captains will choose between “hills or flats” instead of heads or tails to decide who bats first.

BBL officials said the bat used for the flip had been modified to promote an even result.

“For me it’s a great moment which reflects what BBL

is about,” Cricket Australia’s head of the Big Bash League, Kim McConnie, said.

Cricket’s coin toss has been a topic of discussion in recent years with suggestions it should be abandoned to allow the visiting team the decision to bat or bowl first.

Plans to remove the coin toss in Test cricket to reduce the degree of home advantage were backed by the England and Wales Cricket Board in

May. The flip of the bat derives from backstreet cricket and Ms McConnie said: “Some people don’t like change but I’d also challenge people to say when was the last time anyone watched the coin toss or really focused on it?

“We are making it much more relevant to families; we are creating a moment which is much more fitting with kids.” (BBC Sport)

THE Guyana Volleyball Federation has begun preparations for an U-21 tour of French Guiana which is scheduled for February of 2019.

At the games, Guyana will be represented by both male and female teams. On Sunday last, the GVF, under new president Levi Nedd, held trials at the National Gymnasium in Georgetown.

Nedd, Errol Fingall and President and Coach of the Castrol Volleyball Club, Rod-

ney Fredericks, who also serves as VP of the federation, administered the trials.

Nedd, who is also president of the Berbice Volleyball Association, said that the event was a great success. “In as much as some key players were absent, the turnout was great.”

The long-time volleyball administrator said that a shortlist for the trip would be done at a later date.

BERBICE INVITE Initially, the invite to the

games was for the BVA, but the Berbice association decided to make it a national trip.

“The invitation was extended to the BVA, who thought it best to include all of Guyana, for the exposure and development of the game,” Nedd pointed out.

On Sunday, the GVF also took bio-data information from the players, with the intention of creating players profiles for future references and to track their performances and development.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 12, 2018

FIFA-facilitated Futsal referees’ workshop concludes THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) wrapped up a five-day FIFA-facilitated Futsal Referees’ Workshop at the National Resource Centre last Sunday, with the presentation of certificates of participation.

At the workshop, which began on December 5, 13 match officials from Berbice, Linden, Georgetown, West Demerara and Essequibo participated and were engaged in theory and practical exercises.

In giving brief remarks at the closing ceremony, GFF president Wayne Forde said he was pleased that the referees have stayed the course and completed the programme especially in light of the upcoming yearend futsal tournament. He urged the referees to invest in continuous personal and professional development.

“The referees have gotten much better for the duration of the course. Their knowledge has improved and they’re better suited to do the upcoming tournament,” FIFA Instructor Shane Butler said.

“There’s still some

THE fourth edition of the Guyana Cycling News (GCN) Awards and Party is set for Saturday (December 15).

Jamual John, Paul DeNobrega, Paul Cho Wee Nam and Ian Jackson, among others, will receive awards for their sterling performances on the local circuit throughout 2018.

The awardees, 19 in all, will be presented with plaques and cash prizes for their efforts.

The Awards ceremony, which is the brainchild of Malcolm Sonoram and Balram Narine, will begin at 19:00hrs at the St Stanislaus Auditorium on Brickdam.

The prize winners are: JUNIORS Briton John, Adealie Hodge, Ajay Gopilall

FIFA Instructor Shane Butler demonstrates the correct way to signal a call during his Futsal Workshop, which was facilitated by FIFA.

work and practice to be done on the mechanics/ techniques but I have no doubt that they will be a success in the coming weeks.

“Basic football knowledge is high but areas which require additional work include positioning, mechanics and signals, which are out-

side of the book, they have not seen before. It will not be perfected overnight. It’s a gradual learning process and the more repetition is done, the better they will become.”

Butler, who was on his first international assignment as Instructor, said it has been a satisfying experience, pointing out, “I think it has

been a great success and I look forward to more events and hopefully return to Guyana and see their knowledge and mine get better and we all grow and learn the game together.”

The practical sessions were held on Friday and Saturday at the National Gymnasium.

Joshua camp ‘begging’ for fight - Wilder ANTHONY Joshua’s managers are “begging” for a world heavyweight unification bout, says WBC champion Deontay Wilder.

The American, 33, controversially drew with Britain’s Tyson Fury in Los Angeles earlier this month.

The WBC has since sanc-

John, Cho wee Nam, Jackson among GCN Awardees this Saturday

tioned a direct rematch after a “unanimous agreement” in a meeting of the board of governors.

“They’re definitely begging now. His management team have been trying to reach out to mine all of a sudden,” Wilder told Joe Rogan’s podcast on Mon-

day.

“He could have had this opportunity, he had many opportunities; he could have fought Luis Ortiz, he could have fought me, he had a chance to fight (Tyson) Fury.

“But people want to know who’s the best, especially after seeing this Fury

The WBC has sanctioned a direct rematch between Wilder and Fury after their controversial draw in Los Angeles.

fight, and I’ve been trying to show people who is the best. I’m always going to say I’m the best until I’m defeated.”

A bout between WBC champion Wilder and Joshua - who holds the IBF and WBO, WBA belts - would unify the titles in the heavyweight division.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has previously engaged in failed negotiations with Wilder’s team.

The 29-year-old British boxer is yet to confirm an opponent for his next fight on April 13 at Wembley Stadium, with Hearn saying “it comes down to what Wilder wants to do”.

“Wilder is our absolute first and golden choice,” Hearn said.

“Anthony will then become undisputed champion and then I think it’s only right Fury gets his shot as well.” (BBC Sport)

SENIORS Jamual John (Team Coco’s), Paul DeNobrega (Team Evolution), Curtis Dey (Trojan PSL), Romello Crawford (Trojan PSL), Hamzah Eastman (Team Coco’s), Christopher Griffith (Team Evolution) VETERANS UNDER-50 Junior Niles (Team Coco’s), Paul Choo wee nam

Jamual John

(Team Alanis), Jaikarran Sukhai (Carlton Wheelers), Warren McKay (WS United) VETERANS OVER-50 Ian Jackson, Kennard Lovell, Linden Blackman MOST IMPROVED CYCLIST FOR 2018 Deeraj Garbarran Under-16 Rider David Hicks Female Cyclist-of-theyear Claire Fraser Green

Maxwell says to spurn IPL in pursuit of test berth MELBOURNE (Reuters) - All-rounder Glenn Maxwell has said he will turn his back on the lucrative Indian Premier League next year and play a full season of English county cricket in a bid to regain his spot in the Australian test side.

The hard-hitting 30-yearold played the last of his seven Tests against Bangladesh in September 2017 and missed out on a spot in the squad for the ongoing fourmatch series against India.

Maxwell will join up with former Australia Test opener Joe Burns and his former World Cup-winning team mate James Faulkner at Lancashire, and play all three formats with the county side.

“This is a pretty clear sign I still want to play test cricket,” Maxwell told Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper on Wednesday.

“To knock back a chance

to play IPL was a big decision, and a tough decision.

It’s not something you make lightly, but the thought of playing test cricket again still burns deep.

“I desperately want to get back out there and I still think I have a lot to offer the Australian test team.”

Maxwell has reaped millions of dollars playing in the IPL but had a poor tournament with Delhi Daredevils this year and was released by the franchise last month.

He was controversially overlooked for the tour squad to play Pakistan in United Arab Emirates in October, beaten out by four uncapped players.

Tim Paine’s Australia are 1-0 down in the fourtest series against India after losing by 31 runs in Adelaide on Monday. The second test starts in Perth on Friday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 12, 2018

No quick fix for Australia’s problems ahead of Perth Test

By Ian Ransom

ADELAIDE, Australia (Reuters) - Having gone down swinging in an enthralling Adelaide Test, Australia barely have time to pick themselves up off the canvas before another potentially bruising contest against a confident India in Perth.

Tim Paine’s team delivered a gallant performance in a 31run loss at Adelaide Oval but the scoreline flattered a side that tried their hearts out but still fell short against opponents with a wretched record on Australian soil.

Australia have only three days to correct a litany of problems before the second Test starts at Perth Stadium, and many of the issues fac-

ing Paine appear to have no quick fix.

The skipper’s fitness is also a concern as he nurses a sore right index finger after being struck on the glove by a short Mohammed Shami ball on the final day of play.

The wicketkeeper-captain, who was treated on the field, later said he would be fine to play in Perth but former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting noted it was the same finger that has required seven separate surgeries in the past.

If Paine proves himself fit to lead, the sore finger might be the least of his concerns.

The absences of the suspended Steve Smith and David Warner were laid bare in Adelaide, where Australia managed only 235 in the first

innings and the lower order outscored the top six batsmen in the second innings of 291.

second but it could have been even worse had Ishant not overstepped his mark when

Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Marsh

Fears about one-day specialist Aaron Finch’s place at the top of the order were confirmed after Ishant Sharma bowled him for a thirdball duck in the first innings.

He was out for 11 in the

trapping Finch lbw for a duck with his second ball.

With coach Justin Langer having repeatedly emphasised the need for a solid start from Australia’s top three, Finch seems headed in one of only

two directions — down the order or out of the team.

“Finch is obviously the major one (under pressure),” former Australia captain Ian Chappell told local broadcaster Nine Network.

“Whether they go with him as an opener in the second Test, he’s the one that’s most under pressure.”

Paine said he wanted to stick with the same 11 for Perth and selectors, who picked a squad for the first two Tests, will be reluctant to bring in new names.

But Finch could still find himself out of the side if Australia opt for seam-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh at his home ground in Perth.

The Australian vice-captain was overlooked in favour

of a sixth specialist batsman in Adelaide but could be recalled for a wicket that is expected to play fast and bouncy.

Australia’s seamers might be grateful for the help, despite an epic support role played by spinner Nathan Lyon, who took six wickets to limit India to 307 in the second innings.

Mitchell Starc led the seamers with five wickets at Adelaide but suffered major control issues during India’s second innings, costing most of his captain’s 21 byes with a slew of wayward leg-side deliveries that flew to the boundary.

For Australia to have hope of levelling the fourmatch series, they need their pace spearhead’s radar working.

RHTYSC/Busta Champion of Champions cricket

Albion, RHTGG, Tucber Park and YWCC claim victories THE Rose Hall Town (RHT) Gizmos and Gadgets, Albion, the Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) and Tucber Park registered first round victories in the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC)/Busta Champion of Champions 40-over first-division tournament last Sunday.

Four venues were used for the opening round of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) competition - the 28th of the year.

At the Bush Lot ground, Albion defeated West Berbice by seven wickets. West Berbice batted first and reached 112 before they were bowled out in 20 overs. David Latchaya led the attack with 4-39, while Kevin Umroa supported with 3-19. Keith Fraser (34) and Rennison Mitchell (21) were the only resistance for West Berbice.

In reply, Albion, led by

solid batting from Kandasammy Surujnarine (47) and Sharaz Ramcharran (43), reached 113-3 in 19 overs.

RHT Gizmos and Gadgets also registered an easy win, which stemmed from an allround effort from Kevin Sinclair. He, Shawn Pereira, and Junior Sinclair picked up three wickets each to restrict Rose Hall Canje for 90 in 22 overs.

Kevin Sinclair then stroked 40 and Eon Hooper an unbeaten 35 to lead RHT to 92-2 off 21.4 overs.

Meanwhile,,Tucber Park claimed a four-wicket victory when they battled against Blairmont.

Batting first, Blairmont reached 141 in 37 overs. They were led by Kevin Jawahir (47), Marvon Prashad (27) and Javed Karim (26). Devon Clements and Nial Smith did the damage with the ball for the eventual winners with 4-26

and 3-18 respectively.

Garfield Benjamin (39), Clinton Lindee (36) and Steve Deonarine (22) then led Tucber Park to 142-6 off 30 overs. Shabeer Baksh and Seon Glasgow picked up two wickets each for Blairmont.

Young Warriors CC were the only team that recorded a victory batting first. They raced to 225-8 in 36 overs with Ricardo Ramdehol 44, Mortimer Fraser 39, Alex Algoo and Suresh Dhanai 25 leading the charge. Lloydel Lewis led Port Mourant’s bowling attack with 4-53.

In reply, Port Mourant could muster only 130 runs in 33.2 overs as Ishwar Singh (312) and Jermaine Henry (2-30) did the damage.

Daniel Samaroo (26) Dorasammy Mahadeo (18) and Trishan Ramcharran (15) were the main scorers for the defeated side.

Young Warriors whipped Port Mourant by 95 runs.

Kane Williamson breaches 900-point barrier NEW Zealand captain Kane Williamson soared in the ICC Test rankings and became the first batsman from his country to breach the 900-point barrier fol-

lowing a stellar performance in UAE that paved for his team’s first away win against an Asian team in 49 years.

ICC Hall of Fame induct-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday, December 12, 2018)

COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) (1) (2)

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: Mashrafe Mortaza Courtney Walsh

(1)

(2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: What was the result of the first ODI of the recent WI/ Bangladesh series?

Who was declared Man of the Match at the end of the recent first ODI of the WI/Bangladesh series?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

ee Richard Hadlee was the only other player from New Zealand to achieve 900-plus points - going up till 909 on the bowlers’ charts.

Williamson has had a commendable 2018 in Tests, scoring 510 runs in five matches at an average of 63.75.

As many as 228 of those came in the last Test of the three-game series in Abu Dhabi that turned out to be the clincher for the visitors. The exceptional batting effort didn’t just take him past a high points-threshold, but also helped him usurp second-placed Steve Smith - (901) points - who hasn’t played since the Newlands Test in March.

Williamson’s co-conspir-

ator in the famous Abu Dhabi win, Henry Nicholls, has also jumped up the queue - moving up eight places to break into the top-10 - on the basis of his fine second-innings batting display. Another performer from that Test match - albeit from the losing side - Azhar Ali, also moved up and sits tight at 10th spot.

Azhar was one of the two centurions who ensured Pakistan had taken a sizeable first-innings lead, which was eventually squandered away in dramatic fashion.

The leader of the batting pack, Virat Kohli, managed just 37 runs across the two innings in Adelaide, thereby dropping 15 points and leading Williamson by a mere sev-

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson

en-point margin that could close down further based on how the rest of the series pans out for the India captain.

While Kohli may have not lit up a venue where’s

he’s enjoyed great success on two previous tours, his No.3 batsman Cheteshwar Pujara put in two match-defining performances (123 and 71) that went a long way in helping India win the first Test of an away tour in Australia for the the first time.

He ascended two places to fourth position, ahead of England’s Test captain Joe Root.

Among the bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah’s matchhaul of six wickets took him to a career-high ranking of 33. Nathan Lyon, who bowled 70 overs and picked six wickets in Australia’s Adelaide defeat, has consolidated his 14th spot, and is now breathing down the neck of New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner at 13th - with the two divided only by eight points. (Cricbuzz.com)

43

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Hope mastercalss levels ODI series for Windies … hits career-best 146 not out

DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC) – Elegant Shai Hope struck a superb career-best hundred to headline a successful West Indies run chase, as the Caribbean side edged Bangladesh by four wickets in the second One-Day International, to level the three-match series here yesterday.

Under pressure throughout the innings and losing partners, the 25-year-old showcased not only his class but maturity as he unfurled a high-quality unbeaten 146 off 144 balls, as the Windies overhauled a moderate target of 256 with two balls to spare at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

All told, he stroked 12 fours and three sixes, notching his second century in six one-day innings and the joint second-highest individual score for West Indies in a successful ODI chase.

Hope enjoyed little by way of support as veteran right-hander Marlon Samuels chipped in with 27 and lefthander Darren Bravo got 26, but no other batsman passed 20.

However, Hope found a cool head in 20-year-old Keemo Paul, with whom he fashioned a pivotal unbroken, 71-run, seventh-wicket stand which hauled the Windies over the line.

Paul spent 31 balls at the crease for his 18, and it was he who struck the win-

ning runs when he pulled off-spinner Mahmudullah to deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Bangladesh had earlier stuttered to 255 for seven off their 50 overs with topranked all-rounder Shakibal-Hasan top-scoring with 65 and Mushfiqur Rahim (62) and Tamim Iqbal (50) also punching half-centuries.

F a s t b o w l e r, O s h a n e Thomas, playing only his fourth ODI, finished with three for 54.

West Indies, who lost Sunday’s opener by five wickets, will now travel to Sylhet for the series finale at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Opting to bowl, West Indies tasted early success when Thomas had Imrul Kayes taken behind by Hope in the fourth over without scoring with the score on 14, after opener Liton Das had retired hurt in the second over.

Bangladesh then assumed control of the game as Tamim and Mushfiqur put on 111 for the second wicket which kept the hosts ticking along at over five runs an over.

The left-handed Tamim struck four fours and a six off 63 deliveries while Mushfiqur counted five fours in a patient 80-ball knock.

They fell within 20 balls of each other with seven runs added, Tamim holing out to

Caribbean to benefit from hosting CONCACAF Gold Cup matches MIAMI, ( CMC) – Football administrators are expecting Central America and the Caribbean to reap major benefits from the hosting of the CONCACAF Gold Cup matches for the first time next year.

There will be an increase from 12 teams to 16 in the 2019 edition of the confederation’s marquee competition, and countries in the Caribbean and Central American zones will host matches in keeping with a promise made by CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani.

Costa Rica has already been announced as the Central American host, however no host has been named for the Caribbean.

The upcoming tournament , the 15th edition of the competition, scheduled for June 15 to July 7.

“The increase in the Gold Cup was not only a promise, but we delivered on it… obviously Central America is very happy to host, and that is basically a continuation of our One CONCACAF Vision, which is more than just a vision, but the implementation of that vision and delivering on it,” Montagliani told the Jamaica Observer.

The Canadian businessman campaigned for the presidency two years ago on his One CONCACAF Vision manifesto which today shapes the foundation of the administration.

mid-wicket off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and Mushfiqur edging a cut behind off Thomas.

Shakib then rode his luck in a stroke-filled innings, putting on 61 for the fourth wicket with Mahmudullah whose 30 came from 51 balls and included three fours.

The left-handed Shakib struck six fours and a six in a 62-ball innings, providing crucial momentum early in last power-play. On 46, he tugged Thomas to captain Rovman Powell at mid-wicket in the 45th over, only to be reprieved by a no-ball.

He cleared mid-wicket with the resulting free hit to raise his 40th half-century in ODIs, before becoming the last batsman out in the 48th over, bowled by seamer Kemar Roach.

In reply, West Indies were pegged back as early as the second over when lefthander Chandrapaul Hemraj played down the wrong line to off-spinner Mehidy Hasan and was lbw for three with five runs on the board.

However, Hope then anchored a couple of key partnerships to get the Windies’ noses in front, putting on 65 with Bravo for the second wicket and a further 62 with Samuels for the third wicket.

The stylish right-hander played himself in, scoring just seven runs from his first 24

deliveries before exploding with an imperious straight hit off seamer Mustafizur Rahman (2-63) for six in the ninth over.

He added another six – another straight hit, this time off captain and pacer Mashrafe Mortaza – as he marched to his half-century off 67 balls in the 24th over.

Hope lost Bravo, bowled round his legs by pacer Rubel Hossain (2-57) in the 17th over and Samuels, feathering a catch through to the keeper off Mustafizur at the end of the 33rd.

And when Shimron Hetmyer (14), Powell (1) and Roston Chase (9) also followed cheaply, West Indies were 185 for six after 39 overs and in danger of losing their way.

Unfazed, Hope completed his second fifty off 51 balls, raising three figures for the third time in his career when he punched Mashrafe to deep over in the 41st over. Even when the required run rate climbed from six to 10, Hope kept his wits about him, rotating the strike and frustrating the Bangladesh bowlers.

With 32 runs required from 18 balls, he flaunted nerves of steel with a straight six off Rubel at the start of the 48th over, and smashed three boundaries in the following over off Mustafizur which cost 16 runs, leaving West Indies with a mere six runs to get off the final over.

Shai Hope goes on the attack during his unbeaten 146 in the second ODI against Bangladesh on Tuesday.

SCOREBOARD BANGLADESH innings Tamim Iqbal c Roach b Bishoo 50 Liton Das c Hetmyer b Paul 8 Imrul Kayes c wkp. Hope b Thomas 0 Mushfiqur Rahim c wkp. Hope b Thomas 62 Shakib Al Hasan b Roach 65 Mahmudullah Riyad c Hetmyer b Powell 30 Soumya Sarkar c Bishoo b Thomas 6 Mashrafe Mortaza not out 6 Mehidy Hasan not out 10 Extras: (b-1, lb-3, w-9, nb-5) 18 Total: (7 wkts, 50 overs) 255 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-125, 3-132, 4-193 5-208, 6-234, 7-239.

Bowling: Roach 10-0-39-1(w-2, nb-1), Thomas 10-0-54-3 (w-3, nb-2), Chase 3-0-22-0 (w-3), Paul 10-0-68-1 (w-1, nb-1), Bishoo 10-1-27-1 (nb-1), Powell 7-0-41-1.

WEST INDIES innings C. Hemraj lbw b Mehidy Hasan 3 S. Hope not out 146 D. Bravo b Rubel Hossain 27 M. Samuels c wkp. Mushfiqur Rahim b Mustafizur Rahman 26 S. Hetmyer c (sub.) Nazmul Islam b Rubel Hossain 14 R. Powell c Soumya Sarkar b Mashrafe Mortaza 1 R. Chase c Tamim Iqbal b Mustafizur Rahman 9 K. Paul not out 18 Extras: (lb-5, w-6, nb-1) 12 Total: (6 wkts, 49.4 overs) 256 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-70, 3-132, 4-155, 5-157, 6-185.

Bowling: Shakib-al-Hasan 10-0-28-0, Mehidy Hasan 9-0-39-1 (w-1), Mustafizur Rahman 10-1-63-2 (w-2), Mashrafe Mortaza 10-1-52-1 (w-1, nb-1), Mahmudullah 1.4-0-12-0, Rubel Hossain 9-0-57-2 (w-1).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: SHAI HOPE

Salah fires Liverpool into Champions League last 16

By Peter Hall

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - Mohamed Salah’s delightful firsthalf strike gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Napoli at Anfield yesterday that sent them into the Champions League’s last 16 and the Italian side crashing out.

Liverpool knew that a 1-0 win, or a victory by two goals or more, would be enough to seal a top-two spot in Group C, and Salah was again the hero for the hosts, scoring what proved to be the winner in the 34th minute.

Napoli pressed for a leveller in the second half, with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson denying Arkadiusz Milik in stoppage time, but the home side’s resolute defence - which has conceded just six Premier League goals all season so far - stood firm.

Paris St Germain’s 4-1 victory at Red Star Bel-

grade meant they finished top with 11 points while Napoli, who started the day leading the way, exited the competition as Liverpool snatched second spot on goals scored after both teams finished with nine points.

Jurgen Klopp stuck with the midfield three that struggled against PSG in their last

Champions League match and it was Napoli who found their rhythm first, creating some promising openings early on.

Salah was then presented with a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock, but his touch let him down at the last moment while at the other end, Marek Hamsik could not find the target from a good position.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scores their first goal.

(REUTERS/Jon Super)

Kalidou Koulibaly was doing a fine job of marking Salah, until the Egyptian produced a moment of magic to score the only goal of the game, skipping past Koulibaly before slotting in from a tight angle — his 34th goal for Liverpool in 2018 in all competitions.

Liverpool really should have extended their lead in the second half, with Salah firing wide from a good position, before Sadio Mane was denied by a fine save from David Ospina.

Napoli saved their best attacking play for the latter stages, with Jose Callejon firing over from close range, before Mane somehow shot wide when he should have scored.

Milik almost broke Liverpool hearts right at the death, only to be denied by Alisson, who raced from his line to make a game-saving block.

Hope

GFC, Northern Rangers clash mastercalss tonight for Turbo KO Trophy

levels ODI series for Windies

Page

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… hits career-best 146 not out

West Indies cricketer Shai Hope (R) hugs his teammate Keemo Paul (L) after winning the second one-day international (ODI) between Bangladesh and West Indies.

Northern Rangers Nigel Denny(left) and GFC’s Dellon Cadogan are set to clash tonight for the Turbo KO trophy.

Tridents owner up for extradition, court rules LONDON, England (CMC) – Exiled Indian business magnate, Dr Vijay Mallya could face fraud charges in his homeland after a court here Monday ruled that he could be extradited from the United Kingdom.

The 62-year-old, who has been battling extradition in recent years, is the owner of the Caribbean Premier League franchise, Barbados Tridents.

He is wanted in India to face alleged bank fraud and money-laundering charges amounting to nearly US$1 billion but has been holed up at a mansion in Hertfordshire

in east England, after fleeing India two years ago.

Monday’s ruling, issued in Westminster Magistrates’ Court, has to be approved by the Home Secretary and Mallya has 14 days to appeal.

“My legal team will be reviewing the judgment in detail and determining the next steps forward,” Mallya said following the hearing.

Mallya has been out on bail following his arrest last year.

India’s Central Bureau of Investigation welcomed the ruling and said it was anxious to have

Barbados Tridents owner Dr Vijay Mallya

Mallya extradited.

“We hope to bring him back soon and conclude the case,” a spokesman was quoted as saying.

“CBI has its own inherent strengths. We worked hard on this case.

We are strong on law and facts and we were confident while pursuing extradition process.”

Once considered one of India’s wealthiest men, Mallya ran into financial troubles following the collapse of his Kingfisher Airlines and his forced departure as chairman from liquor giants Diageo.

He lost control of Indi-

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an Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore and Formula One racing team, Force India.

Mallya, however, has remained in charge of the Tridents franchise, ever since becoming involved ahead of the 2016 season.

Under his ownership, Tridents have struggled to remain among the elite teams, failing to make the playoffs in each of the last three years.

Earlier this year, Barbados Tridents lost eight of their 10 matches – including all five home fixtures at Kensington Oval – as they finished bottom of the standings.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2018