Guyana Chronicle E-paper 12-13-2018

FRIDAY 14th December, 2018

Online 03 payment solutions PAGE

…WiPay launches E-commerce system in Guyana

No.105488

Nandlall loses bid to stall theft-charge trial PAGE

… as Chief Justice throws out application to stay proceedings 02 Guyana among 02 countries Del Monte PAGE

recalls corn

Guyana and Brazil strengthen ties 13 PAGE

… sign investment cooperation and facilitation agreement

Gov't boosts spending on food for PC 12 PAGE

Education Minister, Dr Nicolette Henry enjoying breakfast with students of President’s College

No.105483

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Nandlall loses bid to stall theft-charge trial … as chief justice throws out application to stay proceedings

CHIEF Justice (ag) Roxanne George-Wiltshire on Thursday threw out an application by theft-accused, Anil Nandlall effectively allowing the High Court trial regarding his alleged theft of law books to go on.

And the court also directed him to satisfy it has the jurisdiction to hear the substantive matter before any further document is filed.

The case was heard in camera in the CJ chambers.

Two weeks ago the Magistrate’s Court committed Nandlall to stand trial after finding that a prima facie case was made out against him. The former attorney general and opposition frontbencher later moved to the court to stay the proceedings and also asked the court to strike out the charge against him. Observers say Nandlall will be desperately trying to fight off the charge even as he cast his eyes on being the PPP’s Presidential Candidate for the 2020 general elections.

His lawyers in their application had stated that Magistrate Fabayo Azore who committed him to stand trial made numerous errors during the trial thus far. They argued that the “justice of this case”

demands that his application for a stay of the proceedings in the lower court be made urgently.

In the appeal filed in the High Court, Nandlall’s law-

to the Laws of Guyana. The lawyers are arguing, too, that the magistrate erred in law by failing, refusing or neglecting to give sufficient reason or at all on November

PPP, MP Anil Nandlall yers are contending among other things, the magistrate erred in law when she overruled the submission of the applicant’s attorneys-at-law that the offence of “Larceny by a Bailee contrary to Section 165 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01” is an offence unknown

23, 2018, when she made her decision that the no case submission as required by the Judicial Review Act Chapter 3:06, Laws of Guyana. “The learned magistrate committed an error of law by overruling the submission that the Ministry of Legal Affairs is not a legal entity and has no legal

persona and is therefore incapable of legally owning any property although the particulars of the charge allege that the law reports in question are the property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs,” the lawyers stated.

In the application, Magistrate Azore and Superintendent Trevor Reid have been named as the respondents.

Nandlall was asking for the matter to be stayed until the hearing and determination of the Fixed Date Application which challenges the validity of the charge.

Nandlall is on trial for the alleged theft of the Lexis Nexis Law Reports of the Commonwealth that cost some $2M. The law reports are the property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the charge contends. Nandlall has been saying that while he was AG, the law books were purchased for him by the State with approval by former President Ramotar.

He had also boasted that the law books were in his possession and he has no intention of returning them to the State.

He subsequently secured an order in the High Court which bars the police from seizing the books.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Guyana among countries Del Monte recalls corn

GUYANA is among 12 countries Del Monte Foods is recalling more than 64,000 cases of incompletely sterilized canned corn that could cause life-threatening illness if consumed.

Walmart and Target are among the retailers in 25 states in the United States and 12 countries that sold the recalled product, the food producer said. The recall of 64,242 cases of “Fiesta Corn” seasoned with red and green peppers was due to under-processing, the company said in a notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The missed steps from the commercial sterilization process could result in spoilage and possible contamination with life-threatening pathogens, if eaten, Del Monte warned. There have not been any reports of illness as a result of the products, the company added.

A central concern with under-processing canned food is the potential growth of bacteria, including clostridium botulinum, which creates toxins that cause botulism poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016, there were 205 confirmed cases of botulism in the U.S., with 29 illnesses, including two fatalities, resulting from tainted food, the CDC’s figures show.

The current Del Monte recall involves 15.25-ounce (432g) cans with the following UPC number printed on the label: 24000 02770. The product will also have one of the following “Best if Used By” dates stamped on the bottom of the can: Aug. 14, 2021; Aug. 15, 2021; Aug. 16, 2021; Sept. 3, 2021; Sept. 4, 2021, Sept. 5, 2021, Sept. 6, 2021; Sept. 22, 2021, or Sept. 23, 2021.

It sold in 25 states: Alaska, Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri and North Carolina. Also New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

It also sold in the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, El Salvador, Haiti, Guyana, Uruguay, Aruba, Panama, Saint Lucia and Suriname. Consumers who purchased the recalled product can return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or exchange, Del Monte said.

Those with questions can call (800) 779-7035 during business hours Monday through Friday. (CBS News)

Online payment solutions

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

…WiPay launches E-commerce system in Guyana

By Tamica Garnett

WiPay, an e-commerce payment system that will allow Guyanese businesses to accept payments online, was officially launched on Thursday at the Pegasus Hotel’s Savannah Suite, where founder of the system, Aldwyn Wayne, noted the system will revolutionise the way payment is done in Guyana.

The system will open the door for more businesses to be encouraged to make online payment an option to their customers.

WiPay noted that the drive for businesses in Guyana to get on board with accepting payment online has been slow, due in part to the difficulties encountered by businesses in setting up an efficient payment portal for customers to pay online. This is leaving the country behind as the rest of the world advances

more and more towards e-commerce.

“In every developed country, payments are made using online or electronic method. The Caribbean is still behind where we are still very cash-heavy or cash-based; so now is the perfect time to join that e-commerce revolution. Perfect time for the Caribbean to be a part of that e-market,” noted Aldwyn Wayne, founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WiPay. “Taking your business online in Guyana has been a difficult, technical and costly process. Due to credit card penetration being as low as 10 per cent, the drive to go online in Guyana has been slow. Now is the time that Guyana can take part in the worldwide trade of e-commerce,” Wayne said Wayne, a Trinidadian, previously headed ColdWater, a business that

specialized in setting up individual payment portals for businesses wishing to allow their customers the option to make payments online.

However, this process was time-consuming, taking an average of two months, and required much ground work with each company. Wayne then started thinking of ways to make the process easier.

Out of that though WiPay was born some three years ago. Now, instead of waiting for a payment portal to be set up on their website, companies can download the WiPay plug-in and install the WiPay payment button on their website.

Best of all, the service is free for the companies.

“WiPay’s new online payment gateway offers a world-class payment solution for Guyanese businesses who want to sell their products and services online, and getting started

is free, quick, easy and secure,” Wayne related.

WiPay will work in similar fashion to other payment systems such as PayPal, but is somewhat more versatile because it offers more means by which Guyanese consumers will be able to make payments when using the system. Consumers can make payments to businesses with or without a credit or debit card, and even with or without a bank account. Aside from facilitating the use of a credit/debit card, WiPay also allows for customers to also set up a WiPay account and pay via an online wallet, or to pay through the use of a WiPay top up voucher system.

With the top up system, customers do not need either a credit/debit card or a bank account. They load cash directly to a voucher, and the voucher can then be used in the same way

CEO of WiPay, Aldwyn Wayne that one would use a debit/ credit card.

WiPay has partnered with Grace Kennedy to have the top up vouchers retailed at Bill Express locations across the country.

When a consumers goes to a business’s website and chooses to pay via the WiPay option, they will be sent an invoice to their email inbox, whereby they can pay the WiPay-generated invoice using either

their debit/credit card or a WiPay voucher using their 12 character voucher number.

With the WiPay account, consumers can load the account with money from a purchased voucher, from a debit/credit card, or directly from a customer’s bank account. Money from the WiPay account is then used to make payments.

Aside from offices in Trinidad where the company has its origins, and now Guyana, WiPay is also established in Barbados, St Lucia and Jamaica.

Telecommunications adviser, Andre Griffith, gave the initiative the blessing of the Ministry of Telecommunications.

“Anything that works to enhance financial transactions is welcomed by government. We also appreciate anything that reduces the flow of cash walking around on the street,” he noted.

Maritime schools join forces to train locals –– to meet local-content demands of emerging O&G sector MATPAL and TOTALTEC, two companies with like interests, on Thursday launched their Maritime Safety Training Institute (MSTI) to meet the growing demands of an emerging oil and gas economy.

As Totaltech’s Senior Vice-President Mike Henzell explained, the alliance between the two institutes provides a new integrated training and educational solution geared to accelerating the development of a world-class Guyanese workforce to participate in the maritime and petroleum industry locally and internationally.

“MATPAL and TOTALTEC are both pioneering Guyanese companies and market leaders in their respective training

offers in Guyana,” Henzell said.

Totaltec, he said, is the only institution of its kind here to offer a full-immersion safety and operational training programme in the oil-and-gas industry, including practical training on industry-specific equipment and machinery.

He explained that through the proposed alliance, the MSTI will develop state-ofthe art facilities for maritime and safety-related training.

“We are investing in Guyana’s future by employing qualified instructors, equipment and new physical facilities to deliver all facets of this highly-specialised training,” he said.

Henzell stressed that Totaltec’s in-

vestment in the training and development of young Guyanese men and women is unparalleled, and shows a strong commitment to investing in people now for the future.

The courses being offered by MATPAL are certified by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) which is the United Nations specialised agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping, and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.

Those being offered by Totaltec’s International Petroleum and Maritime Academy (IPMA), on the other hand, are tailored to suit the UK-based Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) standards.

MSTI graduates will have IMO certification, while MATPAL’s will have access to IPMA’s curriculum, which comprises 63 modules of oil and gas industry-specific safety and operation courses.

MATPAL CEO Coleen Abrams noted that the partnership will bring world-class training to Guyana, as to develop local content for the oil-and-gas sector continues.

“Through this strategic collaboration we are committed to addressing the issue of local content through training as well as adopting and enforcing the standards that are nationally and internationally accepted, so as to set and keep the bar high as it relates to knowledge and skill transfer,” Abrams said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

U.S. Senate rebukes Trump on Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate delivered a rare double rebuke to President Donald Trump on Saudi Arabia on Thursday, voting to end U.S. military support for the war in Yemen and blame the Saudi crown prince for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The votes were largely symbolic because to become law the resolutions would have to pass the House of Representatives, whose Republican leaders have blocked any legislation intended to rebuke the Saudis.

In a historic move, Senators voted 56-41 to end U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen’s

civil war. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and spawned what the United Nations calls the world’s most dire human

crisis, with the country on the brink of famine.

It was the first time either chamber of Congress had backed a resolution to withdraw U.S. forces from a military engagement under the War Powers Act. That law, passed in 1973, limits the president’s ability to commit U.S. forces to potential hostilities without congressional approval. Seven of Trump’s fellow Republicans joined Senate Democrats to back the measure. Immediately after the Yemen vote, the Senate backed a resolution blaming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Khashoggi’s murder and insisting that Saudi Arabia hold accountable anyone responsible for his death.

Khashoggi, a U.S. resident who was a columnist for the Washington Post, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.

The Senate vote, which was unanimous, puts pressure on House leaders to allow a vote on the Khashoggi resolution this month, before Congress adjourns for the year. “Unanimously, the United States

U.S. President Donald Trump

Senate has said that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

That is a strong statement. I think it speaks to the values that we hold dear,” said Republican Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and sponsor of the resolution.

Trump has said he wants Washington to stand by the Saudi government and the prince, despite a CIA assessment it was likely he ordered Khashoggi’s killing. He promised to veto the war powers resolution.

Opponents of the resolution are reluctant to take any action to disrupt the strategic U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia, seen as an essential counterweight in the Middle East to Iran, arch-enemy of close U.S. ally Israel.

Administration officials also see Saudi support as a linchpin for an Israeli-Palestinian peace plan yet to be unveiled by the Trump administration. And they have argued that ending U.S. support could complicate Yemen peace talks.

‘SHARED STRATEGIC INTERESTS’ Asked to comment on the Khashoggi resolution, a White House spokesperson noted sanctions imposed on 17 Saudis over the killing and said, “Our shared strategic interests with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remain, and we continue to view as achievable the twin imperatives of protecting America and holding accountable those responsible for the killing.”

But backers of the resolutions, including some Republicans, promised to press ahead. On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of senators promised to push in the new Congress legislation for humanitarian sanctions and a ban on weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. “What’s next is to do everything possible to demand that the House of Representatives do what the members of the House want done, an opportunity to vote on this,” Senator Bernie Sanders told Reuters.

Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said he would bring the resolution up again after the new Congress convenes in January, when Democrats will control the House of Representatives. The measure could pass the Senate

again, given the bipartisan support it received on Thursday, even though Trump’s Republicans will have a larger majority in the upper chamber next year.

“I think we’re going to win in the Senate and I think we are going to do what the American people want, that is to end our participation in this horrific and destructive war,” Sanders said. There was no immediate word from House leadership on whether they would allow a vote on either resolution.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, who briefed House members on Thursday, urged senators during a briefing last month to keep supporting the Saudi-led coalition.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said her members supported congressional action. “There certainly is an appetite in our caucus for that,” Pelosi, who is expected to be the next House Speaker, told reporters. Yemen’s warring parties agreed on Thursday to cease fighting for the Houthi-held port city of Hodeidah and withdraw their troops, the first significant breakthrough for U.N.-led peace efforts in five years of conflict.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Regional stakeholders urged to get ready for strong winter tourist season

MIAMI, Dec. 13, CMC – Director General and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Frank Comito has urged Caribbean’s private sector to generate strong profits in the new year with the unprecedented quantity of airlift coming into the region.

Comito, whose team is preparing to host the 37th annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the Caribbean’s largest tourism marketing event, in Jamaica next month, has encouraged regional stakeholders to get ready for what the asso-

ciation believes can be an especially strong winter season. “With new routes and upgraded aircraft announcements over recent months, market-savvy hoteliers are positioned to increase occupancy and generate additional business.”

He said that while the 2017 storms affected yearover-year growth, with new, re-opening and upgraded hotels the region is poised for growth. Destinations which were impacted by the 2017 hurricanes are seeing a return to pre-2017 flight levels while many other destinations in the region are seeing

increased service. “We are confident that hotels participating in Marketplace this January in Jamaica will be in a great position to promote their properties, especially with the added airlift,” added Comito.

He cited JetBlue Airways’ continued growth into the region with additional flights and upgraded Mint service starting in early 2019. Meanwhile, another US based carrier, Delta Air is bumping up its service to The Bahamas; Kingston, Jamaica; St. Kitts and Portau-Prince, Haiti. Similarly, American Airlines has added

capacity to Aruba, Bahamas, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, St. Kitts, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Turks and Caicos, and is increasing its service to Barbados, Curaçao, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and St. Lucia.

Also on CHTA’s radar are new Southwest flights to Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean; Grand Cayman; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Turks and Caicos. The airline is also expanding its service to San Juan, Puerto Rico.Copa Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Iberia, LATAM Airlines,

Norwegian Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sunwing, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic are also extending their reach into the Caribbean.

Comito noted that regional carriers are also undergoing considerable expansion and some are entering into new partner agreements, helping to improve connectivity, particularly to those destinations with fewer nonstop flights. These among other travel, tourism and hospitality trends will be discussed in Jamaica during Caribbean Travel Marketplace from January 20-31.

Comito explained that

while demand for the region is strong, major investments in airport expansions were contributing to the growth in airlift, which bodes well for the destinations and travelers. Airports in Antigua, The Bahamas and San Juan, Puerto Rico have recently benefited from upgrades, while those in Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Curaçao and St. Maarten are under construction.

Officials in Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Haiti, Kingston, Martinique, St. Lucia and the U.S. Virgin Islands are each examining expansion plans.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Dec. 13, CMC -Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, has described crime as one of the glaring challenges facing the country even as it celebrates its latest achievements.

Chastanet spoke against the backdrop of a recent sharp upsurge in gun violence, as he delivered a message Thursday to mark National Day. “This year’s National Day finds St Lucia virtually on the cusp of a new beginning as far as development is concerned,” he observed.

“We have begun to see some positive projections for our country regarding the economy, the lowering of unemployment and the

advancement of necessary social and infrastructural projects.” He stated that the government this week made a significant step towards building the infrastructure necessary to facilitate growth. He made reference to the upgrade of sporting facilities around the island as presenting the opportunities for more young people to chart a course in the sporting arena. The Prime Minister said this is complemented by the after school sports programmes and the development of the school focused on sports excellence.

Chastanet explained that his administration is also about to start major developments in the country, in-

cluding finally the redevelopment of the International Airport and the upgrade of road networks. However, he lamented that even as St Lucia celebrates these latest achievements, “we are fully aware of the challenges that face our fair Helen,” among them – the issue of crime. “Strategically we have taken decisions as a Government to strengthen our police force and justice system and we recognize we still have a long way to go,” Chastanet asserted.

“The key however is to steer our youth away from a life of crime and this takes all of us as a society. Our country’s ability to combat this scourge means all hands on deck for us to be suc-

cessful. Therefore we must support the police and each other in efforts to combat crime,” the St Lucia Prime Minister declared.

“As a Government, National Day inspires us

to remain focused on the task ahead which is to once again put St Lucia on the path to prosperity. Now more than ever, we cannot start doubting ourselves as a country.

We must be “ALL-IN”,” Chastanet stated. “Let this time, this National Day, be an awakening for us, as we recognize the greatness and possibilities for our country,” he said.

St Lucia concerned about upsurge in crime and violence

Cop charged with threatening woman and son at gunpoint A Police Constable attached to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), is in police custody after being charged with two counts of common assault and obstruction of justice. Constable Angelo Cedeno 40, was arrested and charged on Thursday 2018, at the IATF Base, following advice received from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard.

Charged: Constable Angelo Cedeno

The charges arose from separate incidents which occurred between December, 2017 and November, 2018. PC Cedeno is alleged to have physically assaulted and threatened the lives of a woman and her son at gun point at the victim’s home.

A report was made to the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB), which reportedly resulted in the accused repeatedly physically and verbally abusing the victim, and demanding that she drop the charges. Charges were laid by W/Cpl. (Ag.) Marshall, of the PSB, and enquiries are continuing.

Meanwhile, a Special Reserve Police Constable is expected to appear before the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court, charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Constable John Baynes 40, attached to the Arima Police Station, was charged on Wednesday 12th December, 2018, based on the

advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard. The accused, was charged following an investigation into a matter where PC Baynes allegedly physically assaulted a man at the Arima Police Station, on April 22, 2018.

Charges were laid by Cpl. (Ag.) Mohammed, of the Professional Standards Bureau. (Trinidad Express)

Charged: SRP John Baynes

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Playing politics with sugar

F

OR years it was public knowledge that the stateowned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has been in trouble and limped along heavily reliant on the Consolidated Fund to the tune of tens of billions to keep it functioning. Many have argued, not without some justification, that the sugar industry has been used as a political weapon. In our polarised politics, it also subliminally carries racial connotations.

In the period of the People’s National Congress (PNC) government, strikes in the industry, also with other alleged acts of sabotage, when it was fully known the sugar unions had the Opposition People’s Progress Party’s (PPP) support, did not help. Whether these strikes were in keeping with usual industrial agitation to improve working conditions, political statements, or a combination of both, await objective analyses. However, what cannot be denied the financial loss to the economy with Guyana’s inability to sell and source scarce foreign exchange reverberated throughout.

The fact too that when the PPP/Civic was elected in October 1992 and thereafter, almost like magic, young sugar canes were no longer being burnt, presented a source of evidence the industry suffered the influence of partisan politics which hurt both country, communities and workers. This is a reputation the workers and their unions bear. Also lurking in the background is that they were causalities of a political agenda that didn’t place their interests first.

Albeit, strikes continued, along with poor policy directions of the boards, waste of over US$200m with the disinvestment in the Skeldon Factory, loss of revenue and preferential market, and decrease price for sugar in the international market cannot be ignored. Earlier attempts in the 1970s at diversifying, which was resisted because of which government initiated the programmes, outside of exemplifying the small-thinking nature of our politics, hurt efforts to make the corporation viable.

It would take much more than an editorial to analyse the

problems in GuySuCo, including the role played by successive management, board, government, and the workers and their unions. Suffice to say, there is more than enough blame to go around. But now where it is evident that the coalition government has moved determinedly to reshape the future of sugar and GuySuCo, it will have reverberating national impact.

The centuries of sugar to the building of Guyana and the contributions of various groups in the process are forever etched in the annals of history. That sugar is also no longer sustainable is undisputed. Where disputes continue to percolate are concerns about the welfare of the workers, the communities where they reside, and the economic opportunities created for others as a result of their wage labour.

The sugar industry affects the welfare of all on the coastland. Where the private sector has seized the opportunity to now speak out against future plans and stayed silent in the past to its impending implosion is regrettable. That the sugar unions in addition to utilising protests and the media to express their views and GuySuCo sees it most appropriate to respond through the media via letters would create speculation whether the approach would further aggravate relations between the two or heal it.

More importantly that the PPP/C has used every opportunity to make the proverbial political hay with the crisis cannot be ignored. The PPP/C had several opportunities before 2015 to put GuySuCo on a path to self-sustainability if the assumption is being taken that that is the party’s interest. Ensuring the sustainability of the corporation would have seen the party making a presentation to the Stakeholders Consultation that started in 2016, doing fan-out with the communities in Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6, which would have given the impression it cares. Instead, the sugar workers were once again used and betrayed by a party who only sees its survival making them their footstool.

The excuse that was given for not submitting a proposal is that government must first conduct a socio-economic impact study is an exemplification of the PPP/C’s inept management of

the corporation. The PPP/C could not have awakened in 2016 and realised the necessity for such an approach, they would have had to know whether this was needed or not in their 23 years in government. Outside of making the corporation board and management the party’s source of giving their colleagues fat pay cheques without delivering, they looked on uncaringly at the industry imploding.

Though much work is required to turnaround GuySuCo, which hinges on the full roll out of the diversification and privatisation plans, Guyanese must have been heartened that to read on Thursday that the corporation is poised to achieve its production target for the year 2018 which is 103, 000 tonnes of sugar and will be paying a bonus to workers. In a statement, GuSuCo said as at December 12, 2018, 100,485 tonnes of sugar has been produced for the year. This is 12,000 tonnes more than what was achieved for the entire year 2017, from the three estates – Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt.

Thus far, the three estates have collectively surpassed their weekly targets on 26 occasions for the year which translates to payment of Weekly Production Incentive (WPI). The qualified employees will therefore receive a bonus for the year 2018, as a reward for their performance and the value of which would be dependent on the final production. Added to this, government has finally paid in full the severance of all the retrenched sugar workers, leaving the opposition with no other string to pull in their daily beating of the sugar issue, although Ms Priya Manickchand was seen trying desperately to eke out some mileage by asking whether the school feeding programme was meeting children of sugar workers.

Attorney General Basil Williams was right when he said recently during his budget debate presentation that “inclusivity has triumphed over divisiveness that hitherto permeated the politics of this country” and that the “divisive politics of the past will prove to be the death knell of the People’s Progressive Party.”

We need to change how we think about local content Dear Editor, “My personal view is that we have started the discussion on local content from, perhaps, the wrong perspective.” This is the view of Nigel Hughes, Director of the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA), which he shared last Saturday at the Shipping Association of Guyana’s 8th annual dinner and gala event.

Mr. Hughes couldn’t be more correct. We have been blessed with a very rare opportunity, but if we do not begin implementing forward-looking growth and development strategies, we will never be able to reap the full benefit of our oil and gas development.

As we debate about how best to craft local content regulations, we need to ensure that these policies are focused on long-term economic development. As Mr. Hughes stated, “we should look at getting our possible

contributions in the oil and gas industry as efficient and competitive as possible so that we create a world-class industry for the provision of goods and services in the oil and gas industry.” We will all benefit far more if we view local content through this lens, instead of just how much is guaranteed and reserved for locals right now.

This process begins with Guyanese businesses and entrepreneurs.

For instance, Georgetown-based ActionCOACH Guyana has been active in establishing links with foreign businesses and markets. The company is part of the Aberdeen-Guyana Gateway, and recently entered into a joint Venture with a Canadian firm to take capitalise on our oil discoveries. Another Guyanese business looking towards the future is Guysons Oil and Gas Services. In October, the Georgetown-based oil and gas services provider became the first local company to become ISO

certified. ISO certification signals to the global oil and gas industry that this is a company you can trust.

As Guyana’s oil and gas industry grows, these kinds of certifications will become increasingly important for Guyanese businesses. Guysons Oil and Gas Services has established itself as a leader in the field, which will lead to enormous opportunities for growth both here as well as around the world.

Mr. Hughes confidently declared last Saturday that Guyana could become a first world destination in less than 12 years. However, this is conditional on us instituting local content policies that promote Guyana’s transformation into a preferred destination for investment.

Regards Patrick Davis

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Distrusted politicians Dear Editor,

T

he Parliament or National Assembly whichever is described, is the constitutionally designated place where the elected representatives of the people meet, for the purpose of discussing the affairs of the nation; or in simple terms the business of the people.

It is a legitimate responsibility that each of its participants, properly designated Members of Parliament, would have accepted, and fully cognizant of its solemn understanding.

As Members of Parliament, it is a legitimate expectation by the people who they represent that they should exhibit the highest standards of propriety at all times. Members are expected to be accountable to the electorate and to serve with honesty and integrity in the best interests of Guyana. This is a very key aspect, because of the more than mixed opinion which citizens in general tend to have about the conduct of politicians, which consensually point to the fact that they are a category which cannot be trusted. This mostly centres on the perennially known issue of politicians making promises which they do not fulfil for one reason or the other. Of course, Representatives of the people have a right to fulfil their promises; but when unable to do so they are obligated to explain to those who they represent.

But do politicians have the right to lie? And must lies be accepted as part of the moral behavior of politicians, inclusive of Members of Parliament?

It is one thing for politicians to lie, which must not be accepted; but to do so within

the august environment of a national Assembly/Parliament is at best disrespectful to the dignified assembly of the House; to the nation; and to those who they represent – the people.

Any politician who is prepared to lie, without due recourse to, or consideration of the consequences is one who intends to secure power at any and at all costs. And it is doubly dangerous when such a highly odious line is taken in a country where there are the problems of race and ethnicity.

It is a recipe for strife; deepening the fissures already in existence; pushing any strived for efforts of unity and cohesion further away from the grasp of a hopeful nation and citizens, while at the same time, sowing the seeds of further strife, fear, and division.

Guyana, a nation where ethnicity and race has been a constant in its modern political life, and continues to be a lifesapping hindrance to its efforts at nation building, has been witnessing an unprecedented avalanche of lies, dangerous in its construct, by a political opposition determinedly bent on discrediting the government, in its efforts at socio-economic programmes for rebuilding communities; the lives of its citizens, and the country in the process.

These are horrible lies, for what their wicked framers have set out to achieve. A few examples will suffice.

It is astonishing, that financial figures for presidential visits abroad, had been monstrously distorted to reflect a one-billion-dollar sum, since 2015, when the actual sum has been much lower. And this shocking example was represented by an opposition MP who would have had recourse

to the actual financial sums before he stood up to make his budget presentation. Then there was another shameless presentation of total dishonesty and deceptive lies, when an Opposition MP recently reported that it was the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) that sold rice farmers on the Essequibo coast, a degraded quality of paddy which did not offer any growth to the purchasing farmers for their rice crop. Subsequent investigations not only exposed his lies, but also pointed to the fact that it was his Rice Producers Association (RPA) which sold the faulty seedlings to the farmers; had received complaints from them, but has not reimbursed the planters their money to date.

There was even a prominent Region Six MP, during a parliamentary presentation, who uttered the unproven story of domestic violence murders and suicides taking place in his region, because of workers being terminated from GuySuCo. Adding to this deception was the even more dangerous one that the government had decided to sever workers from the sugar industry because they were Indo-Guyanese. Certainly, this grave lie excluded the fact that African-Guyanese workers were also affected.

And the list can go on for numerous examples, both in and out of the National Assembly,

by MPs from the political opposition, whose main strategy has been to concoct lies in all its deceptive forms, in their dangerous mission to assume power at all costs.

These persons cannot in fact be responsible as representatives of the people. Nor can they be seen as acting in the best interests of the nation,

Time to upgrade the Suddie Hospital Best wishes to Dear Editor,

T

he sound of the siren of the ambulance taking patients to the Supenaam Ferry Stelling and at times the speed boat stelling, to be taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital has all become familiar.

It is certainly time that the Ministry of Health does an upgrade of the Suddie Public Hospital and or have more experienced and qualified doctors placed there.

Over the years that institution has had the number of doctors increased, but the

quality of service apart from the foot care clinic and the ophthalmology department remains the same.

The residents have been travelling regular to the city to seek medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital and other private medical institutions. The only increase we have is the amount of trips the ambulance make to Georgetown and referral of patients to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Regards Archie W. Cordis

President Granger Dear Editor,

W

e learn that our incumbent President of Guyana Mr Granger, has returned home from Cuba! where he underwent medical treatment pertaining to cancerous growth in his throat.

We wish him a restful recovery time and that he, erelong would be back to his desk managing this land of ours. Rest well Mr President and keep smiling! as tomorrow is another beautiful day!

Regards Rooplall Dudhnath

even if they may believe to be doing so on behalf of their constituents. In fact, not only are they disrespecting the Assembly because of their dishonest statements within, but also are guilty of using the House for highly dubious purposes via conduct that prejudices the honour of the House.

Politicians who emit such dangerous lies, especially within the sanctum of a National Assembly anywhere, not only disrespect the mission for which such bodies have been established, but also the nation and its people.

They discredit themselves in the eyes of the citizens, and distrusted.

Regards Dillon Goring

Is the PPP using the budget scrutiny processes only for cheap public relations?

Dear Editor,

I

read that the minority PPP will vote against the 2019 State Budget which provides $300.7 billion for public spendings.

I have been listening to live coverage of questions and answers on the estimates. Minister Bulkan was grilled on all regional allocations for infrastructures, health and education services etc.

The opposition cannot complain that it was not allowed to scrutinise the budget, from 10 am to 10 pm, running now into five days.Voting against the budget therefore does not make sense and seems to be opposition for opposition's sake. Is the PPP using the budget scrutiny processes only for cheap public relations?

Regards, Earl Hamilton

9

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

CARDI pushing coconut industry in Linden

By Vanessa Braithwaite

THE Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) held its 2018 ‘CARDI DAY’ in the mining town of Linden under the theme, “Celebrating the potential of the region’s coconut industry”.

The event saw the hosting of several activities geared towards educating students in Linden, particularly those pursuing agriculture, on the strides made under the EUACP funded Regional Coconut Industry Development Project.

Linden’s renowned coconut farmer and agro-processor Owen DeSouza is CARDI’s featured Region 10 farmer and the students were able to experience firsthand, the stages of coconut production, manufacturing of coconut bi-products and the shredding of the coconut husk during a tour of De Souza’s coconut farm and factory. The students then witnessed how virgin coconut oil is produced as well as soaps made of the virgin coconut oil and other agricultural produce grown right on the farm.

During the tour, DeSouza highlighted the uses of several medicinal plants in his farm such as the moringa and how same is also processed into various packaged products.

CARDI representative in Guyana, Dr. Cyril Roberts noted that the coconut industry development project is

not only focusing on coconut production, but more importantly, intercropping of coconut palms to diversify and generate additional income streams.

“A coconut tree takes different times before it starts to produce coconuts, there

we are encouraging farmers to instead of trying to weed the space, to plant different things in there, they can plant crops that take a little while to grow and they can plant cash crops, so this is a demonstration on how we can maximise the space within

In addition to diversification on the coconut farm, the students also toured the coconut seedling nursery which is used to generate addition planting material.

DEMONSTRATION Demonstrated as well,

means of generating income.

The husk when shredded can be used as a substitute soil for planting delicate crops and the fibre that is separated after being shredded, can be used to produce mats, hand bags and other

Owen DeSouza demonstrating the use of the moringa fruit to the students in his coconut farm at Block 22 Linden are some that come in 18 months, some that come in three years, some that come in five years and when you plant it, the space in between the trees is generally about 20 feet. We feel that waiting that long and having that space, it can be better utilised, so

a coconut farm,” Roberts related. This, he said, is the trending way in agriculture since in the eventuality of the coconut not reaping as expected, the farmer is able to diversify his/her income stream to cushion what the coconut may bring forth.

was the coconut husk shredder which shreds up to 3000 green or 1000 dried coconuts per hour. Roberts noted that rather than to look at the coconut husk as a waste, it should be looked at as a material for another industry and an additional

Three assaults, three charges – equals $20,000 bail

A TWENTY-four-year-old man was on Thursday slapped with three assault charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Kerwin Eswick, of South Amelia’s Ward, Linden denied the charges, the first of which alleges that on October 21, 2018 at Lovers Lane, Linden, he inflicted bodily harm on one Sharon Clarke.

The second charge alleges that on December 11, 2018 at South Amelia’s Ward, with intent to prevent lawful apprehension, he assaulted Police Constable Keston Peters.

It was also alleged that on the same day at the same location, and with intent to prevent his lawful apprehension,

Eswick assaulted Police Constable Shaquille McIntosh.

He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Paul FungA-Fat whose bail application was approved by police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield on certain conditions.

According to the facts presented in court, Clarke and the defendant are known to each other as they once shared a home, and on the day in question, their paths happened to cross and they became embroiled in an argument.

In a bid to prevent the argument from escalating, Clarke reportedly attempted to leave in a vehicle, but the defendant became so incensed, he pulled her out of the car, causing her to injure her right foot.

Eswick’s release on $20,000 bail was on condition that he report every Monday to Amelia’s Ward Police Station until the matter is called again on January 7, 2019.

craft products.

Roberts noted that in addition to DeSouza, there are nine other farmers across Guyana who are being used as pilot farmers to encourage and train other farmers in coconut production. DeSouza is

one of the pioneers of coconut agro-processing in Linden and made major headways with his sensational virgin coconut oil as well as the multi-purpose oil. His soaps are also gaining momentum as he professes the plethora of benefits these have to the skin and hair.

The students were able to see how DeSouza concocts the various oils, herbs and fruits, before placing it in a mold and baking it for 24 hours. The virgin coconut oil is made from grated coconut husk, which is left for 24 hours after which the oil is scooped from the top. The same husk can also produce the fried coconut oil.

Roberts noted that CARDI made a decision to have the students involved in CARDI Day as this would boost their motivation to get involved in agriculture and change their perception of the field being a boring and dirty one. “We have to make agriculture attractive to them, in these times, agriculture cannot be seen by young people as sun and rain and fork and mud; we have to make it sexy, so to speak.” CARDI also honoured Mackenzie High School’s agriculture top student Gabrielle Williams, who placed third in the Caribbean.

This award is given annually to the most outstanding performer in agriculture at the CXC examination in the Region.

Lindener charged with intent to traffic A LINDEN technical Institution (LTI) student appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and was charged for possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Marex Williams, 22, of Wismar, Linden appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and denied the charge.

The particulars of the charge stated that on December 12, 2018 at Victory Valley Wismar, Linden, Williams allegedly had 27 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

The man was represented by attorney-at- law Paul Fung-A-Fat, whose application for bail was granted in the sum of $50,000.

The matter has been adjourned to January 7, 2018 and transferred to the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

10

Man freed of poultry farm worker murder MAHENDRA Bishundial will spend his Christmas at home with his family as he was freed from a murder charge on Thursday afternoon.

The young man, who ran out of the courtroom in tears with his family, was remanded to prison since 2012 for the murder of Edun Poultry Farms employee, Aga Khan, at Buzz Bee Dam, Craig, East Bank Demerara.

Six months ago, Bishundial, called ‘Tyrone’ appeared before Justice James BovellDrakes and a 12-member mixed jury at the High Court in Georgetown, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder indictment. The charge against him alleges that on November 6, 2012 at Buzz Bee Dam, Craig, East Bank Demerara, he murdered Khan during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

A police release had stated that Khan was attacked by four men, one of whom was armed with a handgun and the others with knives. One of the men approached Khan and demanded cash.

Khan was driving motor lorry GJJ 2806, owned by Edun Poultry Farms, east along Buzz Bee Dam, when the men walked into

the path of the vehicle, causing the driver to stop. The driver was shot to his neck in the process. Three men were arrested in connection with the matter. However, only Bishundial was charged for the crime.

The 12-member jury could not reach a verdict for the accused, however, he had been going through a retrial over the past month, before Justice Sandil Kissoon.

The prosecutors, Orinthia Schmidt and Lisa Cave, presented the state’s case to the court in a voir dire (absence of the jury) trial.

After listening to their arguments, Justice Kissoon found that they did not have substantial evidence to prove that Bishundial was guilty. As such, he deemed that the evidence was inadmissible, so the jury was directed by the judge to return with a not-guilty verdict.

As Justice Kissoon said “Bishundial, you’re free to go”, his family burst into tears and waited for him to exit the courtroom before running into his arms. The prosecution gave notice that they will file an appeal, until then, Bishundial is a free man.

He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Family of Bishundial flocked him as he was exiting the courtroom in tears of joy

Spreading HIV could become a crime in Jamaica KINGSTON, Jamaica – Knowingly infecting someone with HIV could become a crime in Jamaica.

That’s if the government accepts a recommendation made by a parliamentary committee that has been reviewing several pieces of legislation – the Offences Against the Person Act, the Sexual Offences Act, the Domestic Violence Act, and the Child Care and Protection Act – over the last two years.

The committee acknowledged there was a deficiency in the law in relation to the deliberate spreading of HIV – the virus that causes AIDS – and other sexually transmitted diseases.

And it said, the Offences Against the Person Act should be amended to make it a criminal offence for someone to willfully or recklessly infect a partner with a sexually transmissible disease which can inflict serious bodily harm, as is the case in other jurisdictions like Canada and the United Kingdom.

The committee made several other recommendations. Among that was a deletion of Section Five of the Sexual Offences Act, which contends that rape cannot occur within the context of a marriage, unless conditions set out in the provision were met.

“This was viewed as placing married women in a disadvantageous position, when compared to other women in relationships,” the committee’s report said.

However, it said it had decided against recommending a change to legislation related to forced anal penetration because it could affect existing

buggery laws.

“We wanted to include a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for forced anal penetration, and sought to achieve this by recommending that non-consensual anal penetration be treated as an element of grievous sexual assault, with an expressed intent that this

approach may not have the desired effect, because any attempt to amend the law, so as to recognise difference between consensual and forced anal penetration, could be interpreted as impliedly amending the buggery law, thereby creating the possibility that the provision could lose the protection un-

should not be construed as impliedly amending or repealing any provision in the Offences Against the Person Act, since this would be a different offence from buggery,” it reported.

“We were advised that taking this

der the Saving Laws Clause, and could therefore be open to challenge.

“We also learnt that amending the law in this manner would be incompatible with the current policy position of the Government that the provisions

related to buggery be put to a referendum with other matters of broad public divide,” it added.

The committee also suggested that any amendment of the existing law concerning abortion should be examined “by Parliament as a whole”.

It further recommended: aggravated sentencing for the murder of pregnant women, as well as other vulnerable individuals including the elderly, people with disabilities and children; a new offence of ‘predatory sexual assault’ in cases where a sexual assault victim is a child under the age of 12 or someone with a mental disorder; prohibiting the employment of children in massage parlours, betting, gaming and lottery activities, and the promotion of parties and events outside of commercial sale within an establishment; prohibiting corporal punishment in all schools, public institutions for the care, instruction or guidance of children in the care of the State, and in all public places; and expanding the court’s ability to make a Parental Order to bind parents over for the good behaviour of a child, with a penalty of being sent to parental seminars.

However, it refused to increase the age of consent from 16 to 18; make incest gender neutral; decriminalise living on the earnings of prostitution; restrict judges’ discretion in allowing evidence of sexual history; and approve detention of children below the age of 12 in juvenile correctional centres or remove the special authority under which children under 12 can be detained in a juvenile correctional centre. (Caribbean 360 News)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

TT to take steps for free movement of all CARICOM nationals NEWSDAY – Trinidad’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley says a comprehensive review is required for this country to move towards full free movement of CARICOM nationals in the next three years.

He made the announcement while reading a statement in Parliament on Wednesday on the Eighteenth Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy

(CSME) which was convened in Port of Spain from December 3-4.

“At the meeting, member states reaffirmed their commitment to the integration movement – CARICOM, and to taking heightened action towards the full implementation of the CSME,” Rowley said.

He said the St Ann’s Declaration was issued at the conclusion of the Special Meeting and, with the intent to bring new impetus to the implementation of the CSME, he listed

the next steps for TT on a number of key commitments.

These steps included commitments made with regard to the Free Movement of Persons including a move towards full free movement within the next three years (by 2021) for willing member states.

“Once ratified, TT would be required to undertake a comprehensive review of the relevant legislative and administrative frameworks governing the entry and stay of CARICOM nationals

as well as benefits to be accorded to them.”

Commitments had also been made to include agricultural workers, beauty service practitioners, barbers and security guards to the list of skilled CARICOM nationals entitled to move freely and seek employment within the community.

The skilled workers originally allowed free movement were artistes, sports persons, musicians and media workers.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley (Newsday photo)

Cocaine surge to Europe fueled by new gangs, violence: report UNAIDS chief stepping down LISBON (Reuters) - New gangs are muscling into cocaine markets in Europe, setting up smuggling networks straight from producers in Latin America to consumers, a business which used to be dominated by the mafia, the Lisbon-based EU drugs agency said on Thursday.

In a study, which aimed to identify the causes of surging amounts of cocaine smuggled into Europe, the agency found that new gangs from the Balkans, Morocco and elsewhere were joining Italy’s mafia to supply Europe’s most popular stimulant drug.

Rising supplies of purer cocaine to Europe is mainly

the result of growing production in Latin America, especially by the biggest producer, Colombia.

That has led to growing numbers of gangs setting up their own smuggling lines straight from producers, which has kept cocaine prices lower. New gangs now include Moroccans, who use their established smuggling routes for cannabis.

“The fragmentation of the cocaine trade in Europe appears to have resulted in increased competition among crime gangs for national and cross-border territories in cocaine supply and retail,” the report said.

“One of the consequences has been an increase in

violence and drug-related homicides.”

The emergence of more gangs has led to new marketing and transport methods, such as by couriers who dispatch the cocaine to consumers who contact special, dedicated call centres.

Such courier services exist in Britain, France and Belgium, where buyers get in touch with call centres located in Spain or the western Balkans, the report said.

“These new methods, reflecting an ‘Uberisation’ of the cocaine trade, are clear signs of a competitive market in which sellers have to promote additional services beyond the product itself, such as fast delivery any-

where at any time,” it said.

The increasing supply of cocaine in Europe has coincided in the past few years with changes in traditional smuggling routes from Iberia to large ports in Belgium, France and Germany.

The port of Antwerp is now the single, biggest entry point for cocaine into Europe, with 41 tonnes seized in 2017. In 2016 70.9 tonnes of the drug was seized in all in Europe.

The report warned that the new smuggling routes through ports “may represent only the tip of the iceberg, as other routes and trafficking modes, such as private aviation, may simply go undetected.”

Nicaragua lawmakers block operation of NGOs critical of President Ortega MANAGUA (Reuters) Nicaraguan lawmakers on Thursday blocked five non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that had been critical of President Daniel Ortega from formally operating, after previously blocking five others, including a prominent human rights group.

International human rights organisations said the move was retaliation against the groups for highlighting human rights violations committed during eight months of anti-government protests.

The protests left at least 322 dead and more than 500 people in jail, according to the Nicaraguan Centre for Human Rights, or Cenidh -

one of the organisations that was stripped of legal status on Wednesday by Nicaragua’s Congress, which is controlled by Ortega’s allies.

the registry of NGOs and can ask Congress to cancel their legal status.

“We are not going away,” said Cenidh President Vilma

Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega (REUTERS photo)

Without legal status, organisations cannot keep bank accounts, receive funds or carry out projects. The interior ministry oversees

Nunez in a phone interview.

“I will use all the energy I have left to defend these offices.”

Pro-government law-

makers accuse the organisations of receiving money to finance a “coup” seeking to oust Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo.

The government is likely to keep wiping out more organisations, said political analyst Eliseo Nunez.

“Their strategy is one of revenge to eliminate any sign of domestic opposition,” he said.

Jose Miguel Vivanco, executive director of Human Rights Watch, said the ban was a serious attack on civil society.

“Anyone who dares to disagree with the Ortega-Murillo regime continues to be repressed,” he said on Twitter.

early after scathing report

UNAIDS Chief Michel Sidibe

GENEVA (Reuters) - The head of the U.N. agency for HIV and AIDS is stepping down in June, six months before his term ends, after an independent panel said that his “defective leadership” tolerated “a culture of harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying, and abuse of power”.

Michel Sidibe announced the decision on Thursday at the end of a three-day board meeting of UNAIDS that examined the panel’s report, the agency said in a statement.

The four-member panel, in a 70-page report issued last Friday, said that a “patriarchal culture of favouritism and cronyism” had allowed “impunity and retaliation”. Sidibe, a Malian national, has been executive director since 2009 of the Geneva-based agency which has some 670 staff worldwide.

“He informed the UNAIDS Board that its meeting in June 2019 would be his last Board meeting and he would complete his duties at the end of June 2019,” said a UNAIDS statement on Thursday night.

Sidibe was quoted as saying in the UNAID statement: “I look forward to an inclusive, transparent and open dialogue and collaboration with staff in shaping a new UNAIDS.”

“I will work to ensure a smooth transition and pledge to keep my focus on our staff and delivering results for the people we serve.”

The United Nations has tried to increase transparency and strengthen how it deals with serious accusations in recent years after a string of sexual exploitation and abuse charges were made against U.N. peacekeepers in Central African Republic.

“The UNAIDS Secretariat is in crisis, a crisis which threatens its vital work,” the panel report said, citing results of staff surveys that “painted a troubling picture of the UNAIDS organisational culture that cries out for urgent change.”

UNAIDS said last month, it had placed its country director for Nigeria on administrative leave following allegations of sexual harassment. That case is one of three under investigation, UNAIDS spokeswoman Sophie Barton-Knott said.

In February, Luiz Loures, UNAIDS Deputy Head, said he would not seek to renew his term in office, although the spokeswoman said at the time it was not reasonable to link his departure to a sexual harassment allegation that proved unsubstantiated.

12

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Gov’t boosts spending on food for PC … Minister Henry in surprise visit, eats breakfast with students

GOVERNMENT has increased the allocation for a meal at the President’s College by $1000 bringing it to $1800 and Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry on Thursday paid a surprise visit to the school where she had breakfast with the students.

Minister Henry joined the children to indulge in a meal of homemade bread, sausage, tea and fruits. During her two-hour visit at the institution, Dr. Henry used the opportunity to interface with the students to get an understanding of what are some issues affecting them and how they can be addressed. The ed-

ucation minister also addressed the school’s population and said that she felt privileged to be having breakfast with them.

Additionally, to loud applause, Dr. Henry announced that the budgetary allocation for dietary needs of the school has been increased significantly in the 2019 budget. “It is important to this government that our children are given healthy meals, and that is why we will continue to improve in this area,” a release from Minister Henry’s ministry said.

Further, the education minister said that it is known that if children have healthy meals, there is every likelihood that they will be

Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry interacting with female students of President’s College

Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry engages students as she arrives at President’s College

better positioned to learn. It is for this reason, according to Dr. Henry, that the Ministry of Education will continue to invest in the school feeding programme. Added to the opportunity for increased learning, Minister Henry said that this programme also improves attendance, which translates into more children being exposed to formal education.

During her defence of the MoE’s budgetary allocation for 2019 in the Committee of Supply, Minister Henry said that the school feeding and hot meal programmes will be significantly improved. She also said that the school feeding programme will also

have a greater focus to cater to the country’s most disadvantaged children. It was during that presentation that Dr. Henry informed that special emphasis will be given to the children of sugar workers since she believes they are a part of this group that should benefit from this intervention. The Ministry of Education’s school feeding and hot meal programmes are currently ongoing in the eleven educational districts across the country.

Thousands of children are benefitting daily from this programme and the MoE continues to look at avenues to improve this aspect of education delivery.

13

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Guyana and Brazil strengthen ties … sign investment cooperation and facilitation agreement

GUYANA’S Ambassador to Brazil, George Talbot, and Foreign Minister of Brazil, Aloysio Nunes Ferreira, on Thursday signed a Cooperation and Facilitation of Investment Agreement (CFIA) in a brief ceremony at the Itamaraty Palace in

Brasilia, home of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The agreement marks a further deepening of relations between the two countries, opening the door to closer economic ties. It provides a framework for cooperation

and support to investors from both countries. Along with other agreements already in place, including the International Road Transport Agreement for the movement of passengers and goods between Guyana and Brazil, the Partial Scope Agreement on trade

and with ongoing cooperation regarding the Linden-Lethem road, the CFIA contributes to the further consolidation of the framework of bilateral relations and to the fostering of business-to-business ties.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Talbot reiter-

Guyana’s Ambassador to Brazil, His Excellency George Talbot and Foreign Minister of Brazil, His Excellency Aloysio Nunes Ferreira signing the agreement in the presence of their aides

Guyana’s Ambassador to Brazil, His Excellency George Talbot (right) is greeted by Foreign Minister of Brazil, His Excellency Aloysio Nunes Ferreira (left) ated Guyana’s appreciation in that regard. This year for the excellent relations marks the 50th anniversaenjoyed with Brazil and ry of Guyana and Brazil expressed recognition of relations. Foreign Minister the important contribution Nunes visited Georgetown of Foreign Minister Nunes on July 12, 2018.

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

UN agencies to be housed at one location … $199.7 million cleared for year for rental

SIX of the United Nations (UN) Agencies which are in Guyana will soon be housed at the Eddie Grant Business Centre which is located in Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

T h e FA O , U N I C E F, UNDP, PAHO, UNAID and IOM which are situated at separate locations will soon be moved to one location

where over 200 persons will be operating from.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Irfaan Ali sought to enquire about the impending shift during the consideration of the proposed budget for the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

In response to questions from Ali, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patter-

son said the consolidation of the UN agencies into one facility was provided for in the 2019 budget to the tune of $199.7 million a year for rental.

Minister Patterson defended the impending shift, noting that Government is obligated to provide facilities for those agencies and now that their operations are

expanding, the UN made a request to have one consolidated complex.

According to the minister, three of the agencies were occupying buildings owned by the Government but $81 million was the yearly rental for the other three UN organisations.

“The average cost for the new facility will be about

$16.7 million a month,” said Ali as he continued to question Government’s decision.

Minister Patterson however contended that the rental of the new facility is indeed value for money because the agencies will be vacating six buildings and will be moving into one facility with adequate space.

“It will help us to save more than enough…and selection of the facility was based on the recommendation of the UN and the cost and security,” said the minister, adding that the UN and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had selected candidates which were inspected by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the UN chief of security.

Minister Patterson said although the building was

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson selected Government has not signed an agreement as yet.

Police Sergeant succumbs days after crash POLICE Traffic Sergeant Joseph Elton Ambrose died on Wednesday evening in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital days after he was involved in an accident.

Ambrose, who was stationed in the Police ‘A’ Division, crashed into a parked truck on the Herstelling Public Road last Sunday night and was hospitalised.

According to sources close to his treatment, he was brain dead and on a life support machine.

After crashing into the truck, the policeman was rendered unconscious and he was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. On the night of the accident, Ambrose was reportedly traveling on the western carriageway on the East Bank Public Road when the accident took place.

Ambrose was not on active duty and was instead on annualised vacation leave which started in the first quarter of this year.

He was reportedly on 500 days leave according Police Traffic Sergeant to a statement from the Joseph Elton Ambrose Guyana Police Force.

The policeman was described as a very humble and professional rank. Those were the sentiments expressed by his coworkers and even members of the public, who after seeing his photograph, identified and associated him with kindness during the line of duty. In a statement from the Guyana Police Force, the organisation said that it mourns the passing of the police sergeant whose regulation number was listed as 16542. The officer joined the organisation on January 11, 1995, is married and has two children.

The force also regarded him as a respected, dedicated and committed policeman.

A postmortem examination is expected to be performed on his remains today.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

More sweeper-cleaners catered for in 2019 budget

AS the government works towards fully regularising the services offered by sweeper-cleaners, monies have been set aside for the services of additional persons who provide this service to schools and other public offices across the Demerara-Mahaica region.

This came to the fore on Thursday when the budgetary allocations for the Demerara-Mahaica region, under the umbrella of the Ministry of Communities, were scrutinised by the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly.

A l r e a d y, t h e s w e e p er-cleaners are paid salaries and in the 2019 Demerara-Mahaica region budget, under the sub-heading education delivery, a sum of $200M has been budgeted for cleaners.

While being grilled by the Opposition, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan told parliamentarians that the budgeted sum caters primarily for the salaries of sweeper-cleaners. He said, too, that care-givers are catered for under the budgeted sum.

Bulkan said that a $189M sum, which was sourced via a supplementary budget this year, catered for increases

in salaries which the sweeper-cleaners received this year after a decision was made by the government to regularise the services offered by the group.

He said that the increase in 2019, from $189M to $200M, is tied to the raising of the income tax threshold.

“The principal reason for that increase of approximately $10M is to cater for some additional sweeper cleaners at a number of locations,” he said. These include a daycare centre at Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara; nursery school buildings at Strasphey, East Coast Demerara, Craig on the East Bank Demerara, and also Vryheid’s Lust North, as well as at the new wing of the Diamond-Grove Primary.

The decision by the government to regularise the sweeper-cleaners this year came after the group of predominantly-women, protested several times in Georgetown and Linden, demanding to be paid the minimum wage and also for better working conditions.

On Thursday, while being questioned on the provisions made for health services in the Demerara-Berbice region

Teen dies after bike crashes into car A MOTORCYCLIST who was allegedly speeding along the Bagotville, West Bank Demerara Public Road with no headlamps died around 20:30hours on Wednesday after the motorcycle slammed into a car which was heading in the opposite direction.

Dead is 18-year-old Dan Boston of Bagotville. He died on the spot while the pillion rider, who was also injured in the crash, was up to late on Thursday afternoon still receiving medical attention. However, police investigating the accident indicated that the young man is out of danger.

Reports are that the two men moments before the accident were seen conversing with other friends and shortly after they left on Dead: Dan Boston the motorcycle. The driver of the car attempted to take evasive measures and also applied his brakes but that still did not help the situation given the rate of speed the motorcycle was coming with.

On impact, the two were flung to the roadway where they were picked up and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. Police traffic ranks told the Guyana Chronicle that car was driving at a normal rate of speed at the time of the crash.

The car and motorcycle numbers have been recorded as HC 3870 and CJ 2217 respectively.

The police are continuing their investigation into the matter even as the car driver remains in custody.

for drugs and medical supplies, Bulkan said reconciliation of issues which arose in the delivery of drugs in the past is “a work in progress”.

Bulkan told parliamentarians on Thursday that government places emphasis on the quality of spending being made by each State agency, and that central government

is concerned about this process.

He said that Finance Minister, Winston Jordan mentioned this during his wrapup of the budget debates.

“I think that principle reverberates across all the agencies that are the recipients and beneficiaries for funding under this budget,”

Bulkan said.

A sum of $7.2B was approved for the Demerara-Mahaica Regional Administration on Thursday by the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly during the consideration of the estimates and expenditure of the 2019 national budget.

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Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

$30M Mall for Moruca … gov’t pumps $10M to kick-start project

GOVERNMENT has channelled some $10M into kick-starting the construction of a $30M Malll at Santa Rosa, Moruca in Region One and will also be pushing to complete two processing facilities in Region Nine.

The Committee of Supply in the National Assembly this week unanimously approved $1.9 billion expenditure for the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs to execute its mandate to the Indigenous peoples in 2019.

Ministers Sydney Allicock and Valerie Garrido-Lowe disclosed that in excess of seven hundred million dollars will be expended on the execution of Amerindian Development Projects or hinterland villages and communities come 2019.

The sum of $235,300M will be invested in 215 villages and communities under the Presidential Grant Programme. Minister Allicock explained that villages are expected to submit respective project proposals in support of existing livelihood projects; develop new economic, social and environmental initiatives and provide job opportunities for residents.

He said this will increase entrepreneurial capacity as part of the government’s commitment to empowering the Indigenous peoples. Further, he said the construction of a $30M Mall in Santa Rosa, Moruca, Region One is among other economic projects on the cards. This multi-year investment (three years) is a 40’x60’ two-story building with some ten million dollars allocated in 2019 to assist the village in bringing this investment to fruition.

In addition, Allicock noted that the ministry’s flagship youth programme—the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) continues to see the government invest significant financial and other support to the nation’s indigenous youth.

In 2019, he said in excess of $176M will be spent on additional support to the programme which will unravel in the form of monitoring and mentorship through cluster training.

He explained this is to ensure best practices are employed and youths receive the prerequisite skills to effectively operate and manage their business to ensure growth and sustainability.

Of the sum, he said $12M has been budgeted for some 2000 youths to receive additional support through the acquisition of small grants ($50,000 each).

Meanwhile, Minister Allicock said Kwebanna Village is also benefitting from

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock a multi-year (three years) Cassava Flour Processing Facility, while Smith Creek Fish and Crab Facility will also receive additional funding for completion. He explained that this two-year project is valued at $16.7M with $10M already invested in 2018 for the construction of the facility and startup, while the second year will see an additional $6M invested for the installation of solar panels.

The indigenous affairs minister said Warapoka Village, Region One is also earmarked for support towards improving its community-based eco-tourism initiative since the spotting of the much sought-after Harpy Eagle.

He said $5M was allocated in 2018 for upgrades to two rooms at the Villages Guest House and the construction of a benab to accommodate the village office and a museum.

Allicock explained that a further $2M will go towards completing this venture which will also aid economic activities in the village.

Meanwhile, Laluni, Region Four and St. Ignatius, Region Nine will each receive a tractor and implements to aid in Agriculture production, while the Amokokopai – Phillipai farm to market trail will receive two million dollars See page 17

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Drowned Cane Grove toddler was left unsupervised by uncle

ON Thursday, Parbatie Thomas, a mother of ten children laid her youngest child to rest. Alvin Moeylall’s remains were pulled from a canal in front of his home at Cane Grove, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

The mother of the dead child indicated that on Monday she left the eleven-month old child with his seventeen-year-old uncle while she was in the house preparing a meal for the rest of the children.

Thomas stated that after a while in the kitchen she ventured outside to check up on the pair and realised that

Parbatie Thomas’ house located near a canal they were not in the yard. It was at that point that she began looking and was joined in that quest by one of her older sons. It was at that point that the older son began searching in the canal for his young brother and he felt the child’s feet.

The baby was pulled from the canal and after enquiring of his uncle what went wrong, it was at that point family members knew that the seventeen-year-old left the child unattended. The baby was rushed to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Thomas works as a house wife while her husband works as a handyman mostly in the farmlands with persons from the community.

$30M Mall ...

From page 16

for upgrade, St. Deny’s/Tapakuma trail will receive three million dollars for upgrade, Suruma trail three million dollars and Sand Creek catwalk one million dollars budgeted for upgrade.

Underscoring that monies were also approved for construction of several bridges, Minister Allicock said villages to benefit are Wakapoa, Region Two ($1M), Kangaruma, Region Seven ($4M) and Kwatamang in Region Nine ($1M).

In listing some of the other benefits, Minister Allicock said that an agro-processing facility will also be established in Maruranau, Region Nine at as ($10M), food processing facility at Bina Hill, Region Nine ($15M), Paruima Fruit Farm, Region Eight ($3M), Santa Cruz Fruit Farm, Region One ($3M), a lapidary in Monkey Mountain, Region Eight ($5M), an Eco-Tourism project in Karasabai, Region Nine ($2M), rest shelters in Chenapou ($2.5M) and Paramakatoi, Region Eight ($2.2M) and Parishara, Region Nine ($2M).

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

National Valuation Exercise expected to commence in 2019 THE National Valuation Exercise is expected to commence early in 2019, with a pilot project already underway in New Amsterdam, under the Municipal Property which will be done by a Canadian-based company.

This is according to Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, who was at the time responding to questions regarding his ministry’s 2019 budgetary allocation in the Committee of Supply on Wednesday.

He explained that the mass property evaluations will be carried out over an 18-month period at a cost of $320 million.

The House approved the Ministry of Communities’ 2019 budgetary allocation of $8,321,699 billion on Thursday.

Some $2,772,199 billion will go towards Current Expenditure and $5,549,500 billion for Capital Expenditure.

During the consideration of the estimates, opposition parliamentarians also inquired about contracted employees, to which Minister Bulkan promised to lay over the list of these staffers and their salaries. The contract workers include the permanent secretary, legal adviser and ministerial advisers.

Bulkan also explained that 15 of 21 staffers were so employed due to them being over the age for pensionable employment.

He explained that the increase in sums for mayors, regional education officers and Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) staffers was due to approved increases for salaries.

Regional chairs will receive $300,000; regional vice chairs $240,000; the four hinterland mayors $110,000 and their deputy mayors $85,000; coastal mayors $75,000 and their deputies $65,000; hinterland town clerks $78,000; councillors $55,000; and overseers $40,000.

These increases, he said, resulted from a meeting of the National Conference of Local Democratic Organs held earlier this year.

Minister Bulkan added that new municipalities will also benefit from additional funding, along with stipends for community enhancement workers.

The communities minister also informed the House that funding for national events will cover participation in 13 national holidays and events such as Heritage Month and regional and agricultural exhibitions.

It was confirmed that $124 million will be used to expedite recommendation arising from the Local Government Commission’s recommendations.

Municipality’s subventions totaling $210 million include–$30 million for Georgetown and $18 million for each of the four new townships. The five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils will each receive $5 million.

New NDC areas will be provided with funds to facilitate new officers and other personnel, the minister added.

Project Development and Assistance was allocated a reduced sum. Minister Bulkan explained that the expenditure, formally recurrent in nature, was shifted to another area; hence, there was no actual reduction.

Responding to a question concerning the increase in local travel and subsistence, the minister explained that the $3.5 million increase will allow for more field trips and monitoring of two Caribbean Development-funded projects.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Better agriculture, health and education services for Region Eight

By Lisa Hamilton

THE stamp of approval was on Wednesday given to Region Eight to receive over $2.1B in improved public infrastructure, agriculture, education and health services delivery.

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan ensured the approval in the Committee of Supply where he provided additional details of the allocations to mem-

bers of the opposition.

Allocated with the most funding was education delivery with over $1.1B to go towards wages and salaries; the maintenance of buildings; transportation; provision of equipment; training and more.

Minister Bulkan told the committee that $12.5M will go towards better delivery of the education programme, a 25 per cent increase to what was offered

in 2018.

Meanwhile, for better comfort for teachers at staff quarters in the region, the sum of $4.2M will purchase a number of stoves, refrigerators, beds, wardrobes, tables and chairs.

Asked by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament (MP) Pauline Campbell-Sukhai about the details of the $18.5M sum awarded to land and water support, Bulkan said

that it would be used to better transport school supplies to children in the region.

As such, vehicles, boats, engines, tractors and trailers suitable for the landscape will be purchased to address the needs in the villages of Kato, Sand Hill and Mahdia.

To address public infrastructure, $351M will be injected into projects aimed at connecting communities; constructing living quarters;

and repairing and maintaining existing infrastructure.

Minister Bulkan said 10 roadways will be maintained with the sum of $57.5M. There roads are in the villages of Taruka, Kopinang, Karisparu, Maruwa, Kaibarupai, Maikobi, Tumachumari, Kamana, Orinduik and Maikwak.

In addition, $45.7M will go towards the maintenance of bridges and another $67.5M under capital expenditure will go towards the construction and rehabilitation of bridges in Konawaruk, Kaliburg, Kurukabaru and Elenake.

Regarding health, the opposition questioned the sum $32M remaining unchanged for both 2018 and 2019 for drugs and medical supply in the region with an alleged “drug shortage”.

However, the minister rebutted that reports from the region, stating that the

drug supply was adequate and although it remains the same, it is a significant sum being both times 60 per cent higher than 2017.

For the maintenance of drainage and irrigation works under agriculture, $13.5M has been allotted to addresses the needs in the communities of Kato, Paramakatoi and Mahdia.

An additional, $3.5M will go towards training individuals by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).

Some $394M has been allocated to regional administration and finance and Bulkan noted that the sum will go towards furniture and equipment for staff quarters; ATV vehicles for increased monitoring of projects; field materials and other items.

Poor leadership causes break-up of Region Five RDC meetings MINISTER of Communities, Ronald Bulkan has said that the absence of leadership in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) has caused meetings of the region’s Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to be left incomplete and work undone.

The minister was at the time responding to a question from Opposition Member of Parliament, Zulfikar Mustapha who enquired why meetings were convened in the region but not completed.

Despite the odds, the minister said the administration continues and government will continue working towards ensuring that there is a cohesive working environment in the region.

As part of its continued efforts, government has allocated $3.7 billion for the region, a sum which was approved by the Committee of Supply during the consideration of the budget estimates.

Among the major projects in the pipeline for the region are the Extension of Liberty Hall Nursery School; crops and land utilisation project; construction of a bridge at Airy Hall and the rehabilitation of the Latchmansingh Primary School and Belladrum, Rosignol, Novar, Mahaicony and Bygeval Secondary Schools.

In addition, $91 million was allocated for infrastructural development in the region. Part of the development includes the upgrading of roads at Ithaca, Bath, Rosignol, Hopetown, Bush Lot, and Belladrum among others.

Government has also allocated $300 million towards the enhancement of the agriculture sector in the region.

Meanwhile, the committee also approved $7.6 billion for Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). According to Minister Bulkan some $114.3 million of that budget will go towards the construction of drainage structure at Macaw, bridges at No. 65 Village, Cromarty and Revetment; excavation of creeks and canals at No. 66 Village and Black Bush Polder and the rehabilitation of the sluice at Nigg, Revetment, Crabwood Creek and Black Bush Polder.

Government has also budgeted $173.6 million for the rehabilitation and construction of roads at Kildonan, Numbers 43, 48, 51 and 72 Villages, Canefield, Canje, Angoy’s Avenue, Edinburgh Housing Scheme, Gibraltar and John’s Settlement.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Mings Optical, Durban Park Lions get into Christmas spirit

MINGS Optical, the local optometry company located in Kingston, Georgetown on Wednesday completed the final phase of their world sight day programme for young persons.

The company teamed up with the Durban Park Lions for the initiative. The final phase, which featured the handing out of several pairs of spectacles to students of various schools, is part of their month-long activity to coincide with world sight day.

a headache from not wearing glasses.”

She noted that the screening is held every year to coincide with World Sight Day which is usually observed on the second Thursday in the month of October.

Some of the parents who were present took the opportunity to find out what were the varying reasons for their children having to wear spectacles.

Dr. Ming was eager to explain the ‘do’s and ‘don’ts of wearing a pair of specta-

A student getting her glasses fixed during the event (Samuel Maughn photo) The two entities which share a 16-year relationship were responsible for the screening and subsequent donation of spectacles to students from several different schools in the city.

This year, students from Smith’s Memorial Primary, St. Pius Primary, Enterprise Primary, Tucville Primary, St. Thomas Moore Primary, South Ruimveldt Primary, and St. Sidwell’s Primary, benefited.

Hundreds of children were screened and the children with vision defects were identified and given comprehensive eye examinations free of charge during the month of November by the optometrists at Ming’s Optical in Georgetown.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Michelle Ming said the idea is to always ensure optimal optical health among children as it can be a major hindrance to them accessing quality education. “I know the importance of having your eyes checked frequently.

If you need glasses and don’t have it, then it can make school frustrating. You can’t see what’s on the board because it’s not clear or you get

cles to the students, which included cleaning and care when handling.

Meanwhile, Durban Park Lions representative, Marcia Edwards expressed gratitude for the support they were given towards making the project a success. “We see this as giving back to the communities, especially the children. Sight and learning is important for them (the children) and World Sight Day gives us that opportunity.”

World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness held to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. This year’s call to action for World Sight Day was “Eye Care Everywhere.”

Strategies were geared at finding solutions to ensure that everyone everywhere has access to sight.

This year WSD was observed on the 12th October where the Lions Club of Durban Park hosted their annual eye screening activity at seven schools around Georgetown. The spectacles were done in collaboration with the Lion’s Club of Durban Park and were handed over to the children

Dr. Michelle Ming speaks to the children on how to care their glasses

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Members of the Cristina Heeren Foundation of Flamenco Art of Seville, Spain performing to the large audience

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Spanish group thrills Theatre Guild audience

A GUYANESE audience was on Saturday evening captivated, for about 90 minutes, by a performance from the Cristina Heeren Foundation of Flamenco Art of Seville, Spain. The production, staged at the Theatre Guild Playhouse in Kingston, was titled “Calle Pureza”.

The performance was an energetic blend of flamenco song, guitar music, and dance infused with voices,

corporation of accessories to the flamenco dance such as castanets, fans, shawls, and the train of flamenco gowns, in order to create a marvellously complex visual presentation. All of these elements were on display at the Theatre Guild Playhouse on Saturday evening.

All proceeds from the ticket sales were donated to the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre. Ms. Cynthia Massy, Administrator of

The dancers captivated the audience melodies, and rhythmic zapateados (foot percussion), a release stated.

The concert, under the patronage of Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, was put on by the Honorary Consul of Spain to Guyana, Mr. Brian Tiwarie OMC, AA, and Ambassador of Spain to Guyana, His Excellency Javier Carbojosa.

In introducing the performance, Ambassador Carbojosa noted that while Flamenco is not known in Guyana it has many influences from Africa and Asia, similar to many of the cultural influences here in Guyana. The Cristina Heeren Foundation of Flamenco Art of Seville is known for the classic style of flamenco. The foundation offers comprehensive courses of study in the in-

the centre was full of praise for the initiative stating that “the centre is a non- profit and depends on the support of a range of donors in order to provide its range of services to differently-abled children” Prior to the featured performance, a group of children from the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre danced to the song GUYANA, by Poonam Singh. Prime Minister Moses Nagamatoo and Mrs. Sita Nagamatoo, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton, and Member of Parliament Gail Teixeira were among the dignitaries attending the performance.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Mark Junor and Andrea Wilson amaze at Orange the Runway Vol. 1 from the start to the end. Patrons were happy. I say this with humility: I am proud of the show and I would personally rate it as a success not by the number of persons that came out, but by the support and the responses it received.

To hear the responses from individuals and hearing the positive feedback, it was comforting to know your job was done, and persons that you set out to reach you would have accomplished that,” McCalman said in a “She Killed Death” by Mark Junor

Andrea Wilson displayed pieces from her “Islander Swim Suit Collection” (Photos by Infinity Photography)

AS A gentle afternoon breeze caressed their faces on the lawns of the Herdmanston Lodge, patrons were stunned by the designs of local designer Mark Junor and Guyanese-born BVI designer Andrea Wilson at Orange the Runway Vol. 1 last Sunday.

Junor showcased pieces from his recently released “She Killed Death” collection, which he debuted a few months ago at Suriname fashion week. Though Junor has been marketing the pieces online for some time now, that did not take away from the awe of getting to see them live and in person.

The line included chic cocktail dresses and savoury evening gowns. Wilson’s line was all about swimwear with a Caribbean flavour, from her “Islander Swim Suit Collection”.

The show also had pieces from Rhoda Doxa, who debuted pieces from her Royal Collection, which as always stayed true to her mandate to

prove that African prints can be used in everyday wear.

Rare Findz boutique had a few of their in-store pieces on display. The curtains came down on the fashion show with pieces from Isaiah Luther’s “Unorthodox Urban Wear” line, where Luther continued to broadcast his romance with maxi pants and broad belts. The line contained a number of pieces that you could definitely see yourself donning, but it was not without its share of unusual pieces that really pushed the envelope.

Celebrated in observance of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Orange the Runway Vol. 1 was a combination of fashion and advocacy.

It was organised by the Heart to Art Foundation which was founded by local model Jamicia Mc Calman.

McCalman was very pleased with the execution of the show.

“I am overwhelmed. I am elated by the entire execution

“Unorthodox Urban Wear” by Isaiah Luther

comment to The Buzz.

McCalman couldn’t have done it without the great help that she had.

“I know that it could not have been possible without the team that I had working with me. Runway coach [Keith] Allicock worked with the models in just two days,” she noted.

Aside from the splendid fashion and wine, the afternoon was also about awards. The event honoured six young people who are activists and advocates championing the cause of women’s issues and fighting against gender-based violence.

International Guyanese model Juanite Bledman was honoured with the last and biggest award of the day, the “Award of Excellence in International Achievement” for her work. Guyanese by birth, Bledman has been living in the United States for the past few years and has been making strides on the international stage, modelling for Sephora and Fenty.

Melissa “Melly Mel” Atwell was flattered as she

received the “Trail Blazer Award”. Thirty three-year-old Atwell has been working with juvenile delinquents since the age of 21. She recently created the Melly Mel Foundation and launched the “You Are Not Alone” campaign for persons who have been sexually abused.

Founder of the ASPIRE Youth Network Guyana, Dennis Glasgow received the first award of the day, the “Male Youth Activist of the Year”, while the “Female Youth Activist of the Year” award went to writer, Akola Thompson.

Poet, Renatta Burnette known for her passionate spoken word pieces was honoured with the “Arts Advocate Award”. She gave the audience a taste of her work performing her piece “Silent Screams” which told the story of an abused woman.

Involved in sexual and reproductive health and rights advocacy for more than five years, president of the GRPA’s Youth Advocacy Movement, Kobe Smith was bestowed the “Youth Advocate of the

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Govana comes to GT ...Organisers promise ‘clean fun and good vibes’

Los Diamantes opens the live entertainment. (Newsday photo)

Christmas spirit

at Harvard T HE Steel and Parang event hosted by the Harvard Club in conjunction with resident steelband Harvard Harps Steel Orchestra was a treat for patrons at the club’s premises in St Clair, recently.

This event returned to its past glory and had patrons basking in the spirit of the Christmas season.

Parang band Los Diamantes, led by Roy Edwards, opened the live entertainment with ‘La Pascualidad’, followed by ‘Ave O Maria Ave’, ‘Alegria’, ‘Viva’, and ‘Barlovento’.

The band then put a local flavour into their performance and gave patrons ‘Trini Christmas’, ‘Ramdhanie Parang’, ‘Gimme Love’ and ‘Margarita Christmas’, before getting back to some authentic parang with Anda Parrandero and El Gavilan.

Los Diamantes closed their highly-entertaining session

FANS of one of Jamaica’s hottest artistes, Govana, will get a chance to see him live and in action on December 21 and 22.

On December 21, What Happens in District will see the dancehall artiste at a VIP party and meet and greet while the following day he will perform his top tunes alongside other local artistes art One n’ Move at the

Sports Hall. One of the organisers, Kareem Thomas said that patrons can expect good vibes, clean fun and adequate security at both events. He stated that the promoters and organisers have worked very hard to ensure that the event is well-organised and that fans get value for their money.

For What Happens in District, ladies free before 21:00hrs while others pay

$2,000 at the door. For One n’ Move, early bird tickets are $2,000, but you’ll pay more at the gate! Tickets are available at Fireside Grill, Next Cell Phone Store, GT Shop, That Look Boutique, Larose Boutique, Extra Beer Stall ( Stabroek Market) as well as JS Supermarket and Fashion Orpha in Berbice.

You don’t want to miss it!

with ‘Rio Manzanares’, ‘Baila’ and ‘Vamos A Gozar’.

Vocalist Carlton Luison swayed the crowd with ‘This Christmas’ and ‘Give Love on Christmas Day’, before Patrice Smith, who had received a bit of personal bad news just before her performance, composed herself to deliver a fine performance of ‘Swimming To Tobago’ For Christmas and ‘We Paranging in the Sea’, and even engaging one of the Harvard elders in the process.

Harvard member D Laventillian then sang his own parang soca song Oreo, and followed with a reggae number ‘Changing World’.

DJs Stephen and Andy ramped up the tempo to get patrons on the dance floor and they remained there for Harvard Harps’ fiery performance of ‘Full of Vibes’, ‘Give It To Ya’, ‘Sweet For Days’, ‘Moliendo Café’, ‘Tell Santa Clause’, ‘Insane’, ‘Talk’, ‘Bassman’ and ‘Sugar

cake’.

Then came Grammy-award winner Anslem Douglas who entertained with ‘Dancing With You’, ‘Shadow Parang’, ‘Irie Tonight’ and ‘Stick Fight’. And upon request, he expertly delivered ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ and ‘The Christmas Song’ before closing with his 1994 hit Soca song ‘Ragga Poom Poom’.

Though Sonrie the Band, led by Antonio Flores, took a while in setting up on stage, as it got into its Latin and Caribbean music repertoire, patrons took to the dance-floor once again, making way for pannist Noel La Pierre to close the event on a high with festive songs that included ‘Eat something Before You Go’, ‘Gloria’, ‘Black Cake and Sorrel’, ‘Ayer’, ‘Fast Wine’, ‘My House’, ‘Good Morning’, ‘Feeling a Feeling’ and ‘Trini Parang’.

(NEWSDAY)

Patrons get down to some dancing. (Newsday photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

OF EDUCATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT

I

am serving on a national platform parttime, which from the inception I could not have determined the acceptance of the intrusion it would have beyond its part-time definition. The subject of this column is the realisation that if we listen and have the imagination to interpret what is said, we can indeed help to fix what is broken. I cannot place a specific timeline on when our education system was

I pray that our educators have read it, its narrative is compelling.

On a recent engagement from a local audience, a woman stood up and described herself as a ‘coordinator’. This woman was once a teacher and from that source of knowledge, she defined her predicament which seems to have been haunting her for several years now. The least but nevertheless important was the fact that school children no longer sang Na-

Guyana on what the whole of education is supposed to achieve in the end much less how to go about maximising a model of education that we can boast morphed into enlightenment. What is ironic is that we are enthralled by the dramatic models of movie heroes whose reverence comes in a package of ivory league education that permits them to also be astute in music, art and culture collectively, from Mr Bond, Indiana Jones onwards, yet this definition of

by”, “He bright , but he ent right” and others insist that we explore through proverbs the innate expectations that obviously transcend our coming to the new world, with an attitude that expects the fusion of education and enlightenment. I can recall when Disney entered Russia following the cold war truce, an analogy was made that the Russian child had lost the faculty of humour. What I have mentioned must not be confused as naive, for the

experience.

The absence of tapping into those areas of the mind might well hinder us from grappling with the social challenges that will test our capacity to interpret ourselves. A few years ago I participated in reading and evaluating some creative work.

On completion, I implored two authorities to find help for some participants, who from what they had written alluded to dark places. They indulged me, confessing

tion with the late President Forbes Burnham. Eddie was astonished that their conversation was not rooted in the politics of the day, but on books, CLR James, Franz Fanon, philosophy and the development of the creative mind.

Burnham was ahead of his time; today most of the old communist world is grounded in seeking to awaken the independent creativity the closed-minded authoritarian state re-

broken, whether it was a square peg in a round hole or the collective cluelessness of an inept political system.

This matters for the ‘Historical record’ but must bear upon what needs to be done now. So heed the petitions of the experienced voices of those who have contributed to a past but proven system and expand it to meet the needs of today. Some years ago, I read a book titled ‘Over schooled but Under Educated’ by John Abbott with Heather Taggart’. That book does not define our situation, but it relates to it in many ways.

tional songs in school, but more important was that though music, art and drama were on the curriculum these were not taught. But English, Mathematics and Science were taught, and that these were crucial to their future livelihoods yet more was required. She lamented that the rounded development of students demanded stimulation of other faculties which the untaught subjects would provide. I recognised what was being said. We have created a media cult of exam passes, celebrating passes of 17-20 subjects. No investigative analysis has emerged in

a human super intellect misses us as to what classroom exposure could have inspired scripting such characters.

I have learnt from observation like most other citizens that pay attention, recognising that there’s a lot of information that can be accessed to interpret from our mundane, grass root utterances that there is a subconscious view that defines how we perceive the metaphysics of ‘he got book education, and he’s a wise man’. Our cultural inheritance has got to be taken into context rather than ignored as just proverbs.

The terms like “Brigah Bob-

reality that both old and new religions have instructed us that from the Trickster Gods, Apep, Ahriman, Chernobog, to the Biblical Devil are all wise but evil aspects of both God and transferred human nature.

The arts are not a hindrance to a science and technology, social science education, but the child that composes colour schemes, verse and becomes a character in stage drama interacts with that universe we call the active imagination and will encounter a discourse of narratives from the stumbling dawn of the human

that some of the participants were indeed troubled and had found through the creative process a mechanism of self-counselling. So far, none of them has stepped over the edge.

Most of the areas that suicides and alcohol abuse occur in are regimented into work and the school systems that the coordinator lamented, void of sports and cultural activities, is there a connection? A good friend of mine, Hubert Edwards, a former operations officer of the Peoples Militia told me of a fascinating experience he had with a conversa-

pressed. The coordinator, the retired teacher in that southern region of Guyana understands the need for the rounded school room, as much as this quote from the book I mentioned refers to: ”What the present curriculum is not about is strengthening pupils’ all-around ability [like the wings and legs of the hens] to sustain themselves should our ways of living have to change so much that a priority is put on adaptability, not conformity” the latter section of the sentence, is where we are now.

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Christmas at the Promenade Dave Martins,

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Dave Martins during a previous performance (File photo)

IT’S time for the weekend again, people!

And Christmas is in the air so there are a few Christmas themed events to help you get into the season vibe. So don’t stay cooped up at home.

Christmas fair and much more in store

C

hristmas is coming, whether you like it or not. And if you’ve not quite caught that Christmas bug just yet, there are still surefire fixes that will get you feeling more festive than Santa’s Elf on the Shelf.

On Sunday, December 16, the Promenade Gardens will sparkle with a

traditional and delightful holiday event that will fill the air with anticipation and excitement for the season to come.

The award-winning and legendary musician Dave Martins and his band will take the stage at the Promenade Gardens to headline a special concert, culinary festival and Christmas fair named ‘Christmas at

TODAY Palm Court presents “Dancehall We Love, In Soca We Trust” featuring Machel Monday DJ Assassin Singh live.

Mandela Wings and Things presents “King of the House Juggle Off Competition Finals”. Enjoy Magnum specials, wings special and grill food as reigning champion Selector Matic takes on challenger Selector Fearless The Vintage Wine Bar, Restaurant & Lounge presents “Latin Night” Get two Desperados Tequila Beers for $1,000

the Promenade’ that will commence at 16:00hrs. Organisers are urging that if you’ve never attended a concert presented by this iconic composer, singer and guitarist, you are missing out. “You will not be able to resist tapping your toes or humming a little, as Dave gets you into the spirit with favourite tunes such as ‘Boyhood Days’, ‘Is We

Own’ and ‘Not a Blade of Grass’. This special concert will also feature other renowned Guyanese Lyricists and bands,” the organisers said in a press release.

The event will also feature a traditional Christmas fair that promises to “bring home everything that [you] love about Christmas in Guyana.”

But that’s not all, patrons will get a chance to shop till they drop right at that event via the ‘Merry Market Place’ which will feature a variety of stalls selling local specialist crafts and unique gifts, as well as bargain-priced holiday products from Christmas cards, stationery, lights, decorations, ornaments, Christmas tree stands, skirts and other accessories, stockings, wreaths, garlands, gift bags, wrapping paper & supplies, Christmas candy along with holiday party supplies.

The event will also feature a Kids Zone which will be loaded with lots of kids sized fun. From ‘piles of smiles’ face painting with unique designs to bounce houses to many, many games and other activities.

Tickets are just $1,000 and give access to the special concert and entire venue. They are available at Real Value Supermarket – Church Street, Giftland Mall, China Trading Robb Street & Avenue of the Republics, Low’s Service Station – Bel Air Park and Gizmos and Gadgets – North Road. Be sure not to miss ‘Christmas at the Promenade’.

Tower Suites presents Poolside Happy Hour from 17:30hrs to 19:30hrs. Enjoy a number of combos for just $1,000. Have a beer and burger combo, enjoy a margarita or any of their beer specials, or cutters platters, for that unbeatable cost. You don’t want to miss it.

TOMORROW It’s time to jiggle, jiggle all the way. Palm Court presents “Jiggle Jiggle Christmas” featuring King Bubba. Music by DJ Smooth, Selector Carl and DJ Ryan. Everyone FREE before 23:00hrs.

Tickets: $2,000 MM Entertainment presents “Girl Power Old School Party” at Gravity Lounge. Music by DJ Energy, Gully Ras and Diamond, and Seen Up. $300,000 in cash and prizes to be won. Tickets: $2000 Dream with your eyes open, bring all your fantasies to life as Caption Entertainment presents “Daydream Festival” at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Tarmac. Enter a mythical land where time has no meaning, and the only thing on your mind is to fete, rave and vybz to great music with great decor and Guyana’s best DJ’s nothing can top your greatest fantasies.

The Indigenous Cultural Movement of Guyana presents “Wukunarki (Let’s Enjoy Together) Wildfire Roast” at the Heritage Village in Sophia.

Head down and enjoy finger licking wild-caught meat and fish roasted on open fire, tuma pot, with all indigenous wines and drinks available. Meats and drinks served in baskets and calabash. Party to the max and enjoy the indigenous way of life.

The Grinch will be making a Grand appearance at Giftland Mall. This mean old Grinch is a fun Guy who will have your kids entertained with games and tricks. He will be available for photo sessions too.

SUNDAY Party Sundays continue at Club Privilege.

Everybody free before 22:00hrs. Drink specials all night, free Bacardi shots on entry. Music by fusion DJs, Stereo Sonic DJs, Boom DJs and other DJs passing through.

It’s Hard Drive Sunday at the Kitty Seawalls (Behind the Monument). Enjoy dance competition with lots of giveaways and get a chance to win tickets for Shenseea’s Christmas Night Show. Four Red Stripe or three Heineken $1,000, all night long.

Music by Bill Cosby and Bobby Kush All roads lead to Linden’ Blue Crush party on the beach as DJ Akelo presents a fun-filled day for party goers on Linden’s Blue Lake. DJs such as DJ Akelo DJ Garwyn and Bill Cosby will not disappoint the expected crowd ranging into the thousands.

Beach games and fun activities such as ‘tug of war’, beer drinking competition, and volleyball competition will also be featured. Prizes will be up for grabs. The ambience is expected to be spectacular with décor and lighting mimicking the blue waters of the lake. It is also a family-oriented event with games and bouncy castles for children. The event will kick off at 12:00hrs and will run into the evening. Heavy security and lifeguards will also be present to ensure safety

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Second Turbo Football Championship

Northern Rangers continue GFC title drought

NORTHERN Rangers FC are the champions of the 2018 Turbo Knockout Football tournament which concluded on Wednesday night at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

The Rangers completed a come-from-behind fairytale 2-1 win over the Georgetown Football club (GFC), to continue the latter’s search for a senior title.

M a r c u s Wi l s o n opened the scoring for the Bourda side in the 21st minute and the celebrations were wild, as they seemed to be on track to end that title drought.

Nigel Denny had the best chance to equalise when he smashed the bar from a distance

after a one-on-one with the keeper but that wasn’t the last time he was in front of goal.

Just before the half, Denny’s 41st minute header flew into the net to bring the game level again as the Rangers fans joined their team in celebration.

By the end of the half, it was clear that the Rangers had found their rhythm, raiding the GFC camp more and more but not coming away with the goals required to take the lead.

This constant raid, however, gave the Rangers more confidence to try bolder moves; moves which the GFC had no answers for, with the proverbial writing on the wall clear for all to see.

And when his skipper Stephan Reynolds (18 years old) smashed in a 25-yard strike from the left; beating GFC keeper on the near post in the 63rd minute, GFC had lost whatever sting they had.

It was that moment Rangers knew they had the $800 000 first place cash prize in the bag.

Meanwhile, earlier in the evening during the third-place playoff, Mahaica Determinators of East Coast Demerara needled city side Santos FC through an Eon Abel goal which was scored on the stroke of halftime.

A total of $1.5M prize money was up for grabs with the runners-up pocketing $400,000, third place $300 000 and fourth $200 000.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

T&T 4x100 relay team officially awarded 2008 gold medals TRINIDAD and Tobago’s 2008 men’s 4x100m relay team have been officially awarded gold medals by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The team of Richard Thompson, Marc Burns, Keston Bledman, Emmanuel Callender and Aaron Armstrong were awarded the gold after the Jamaican relay team’s members, including Usain Bolt, were stripped of their medals when Nesta Carter was found guilty last year of using a banned substance.

The Trinidad and Tobago team had finished behind the Jamaicans inside Beijing’s Bird’s Nest in Beijing.

Brian Lewis, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, said he received a letter from the IOC around 17:15hrs last Friday, went through it with staff then contacted the athletes to let them know.

He said the athletes have until January 7 to return their silver medals as part of the process.

He said the athletes have four choices regarding the re-allocation ceremony.

They can opt to receive them at the next Olympic Games, at the Olympic Museum, the World Champs or the TTOC’s annual awards on December 29.

Lewis said he is pushing for the team to receive a medal bonus which could hopefully be presented at the awards. The medal bonus programme was in-

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troduced when he became TTOC president.

“I will take a proposal to the committee that even though there was no medal bonus programme in place in 2008 or 2012 that the five athletes receive medal bonus as per the current medal bonus used for 2016 Olympics,” he said.

The bonus for the relay team’s gold medal from the Rio Olympics was US$20 000 to be shared, he said.

The next executive meeting is on December 12.

Lewis said he is happy for the team but as president of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (Canoc), he is conflicted.

“Those athletes, in particular, have served Trinidad and Tobago with dignity, patriotism, pride and an indomitable will throughout their careers. But as I said with my Canoc hat on I feel a bit of empathy for the great man and our Jamaican brothers and sisters. Usain Bolt has conducted himself with class in this difficult situation,” he said.

Lewis said the team has now joined the ranks of Olympic gold medallists Hasely Crawford and Keshorn Walcott.

In 2016, the 4x100 relay team that placed third in the London Olympics in 2012 were upgraded to silver after American sprinter Tyson Gay received a one-year ban for testing positive for anabolic steroids.

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KSM Investments Inc. throws weight behind Boxing Day horse race meeting

By Rajiv Bisnauth WITH most systems in place for Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) Xmas meet, scheduled for December 26 at the club’s track at Bush Lot, KSM Investments Inc. of Goed Hope, East Coast, Demerara made a significant contribution towards the staging of the final race meet of the calendar year.

The annual event has been one of the country’s traditions over the years and this year’s meet is being deemed one of the biggest.

According to president of the KMTC, Justice Cecil Kennard, a number of the country’s top racing stables have already confirmed their participation.

Kennard, a former Chancellor of the Judiciary, told media operatives prior to the handing-over ceremony on Wednesday at KSM Investments Inc. head office, that the sponsorship will take care of the winning stable in the two-year-old Guyana-Bred (Maiden) and L-non winner events, which carry a winning tag of $200 000 and $120 000 respectively. The winners’ trophies

were also made available by the business entity.

Kennard further thanked the business entity, which has started revolutionsing the

Investments Inc., Mahadeo Panchu, said that the company is happy to be part of the event and it’s one way of giving back to the community.

Arvind Panchu, son of Mr and Mrs Panchu, (right) presents the cheque to Justice Cecil Kennard.

concrete products sector in Guyana for its support since, according to him, not only his turf club depends on corporate Guyana, but the entire horse racing fraternity and sports in general.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KSM

He added that this is not the first time the company has supported the turf club and confirmed its continued backing of the sport.

Panchu further noted that since Guyana has a diverse culture, horseracing and sports in general play an important role

in bringing people together.

“We believe in uniting people together and horse racing is one sport that brings people together, so as a company we want to be a part of that culture,” Panchu said.

Seven races are carded for the day with the C Class and Lower event as the feature race, fetching $1.6M in prizes. It will be competed over a distance of one mile.

The top finisher will ride away with $800 000, second $400 000, third $200 000 and fourth $98 000.

The H1 and Lower race, along with the Three-year-olds and over races will see the winners taking home $250 000 and $240 000 respectively.

Meanwhile, the Two-yearold Guyana-bred (Maiden) which will be contested over a distance of five furlongs will see the winner galloping away with $200 000; the L-Open $140 000, L-Non winners: $120 000 and L-non earners $100 000.

The races will be run under the regulations of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority and entries will be closed on Sunday, December 16.

English FA chief executive Glenn resigns

By Christian Radnedge

LONDON, England (Reuters) - The chief executive of the English Football Association, Martin Glenn, has resigned and will leave his role in May of next year, the FA announced yesterday.

Glenn, a former director at Leicester City, was appointed in March 2015 and oversaw the men’s senior team rise from a poor Euro 2016 campaign to a run to the World Cup semi-finals this year in Russia.

“On behalf of the Board of the FA, I would like to thank Martin for building and leading a senior management team that has transformed our organisation,” FA chairman Greg Clarke said in a statement.

“His integrity, commitment, energy and passion for football has underpinned the improvements on and off the pitch. The resulting commercial success has funded hugely significant change in the women’s game, St George’s Park (development centre), the FA Cup and the national teams.”

Glenn’s tenure also included World Cup title wins for the men’s Under-17 and Under-20 teams, and a 40 percent increase in FA revenues.

“I am confident that we have established, in St George’s Park, a world class centre which will ensure that the teams will continue to build on their current suc-

CEO Martin Glenn of the Football Association addresses a news conference after the 132nd Annual Meeting of the IFAB (International Football Association Board) at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland March 3, 2018. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann)

However, he was unable to push through the sale of Wembley Stadium to Fulham chairman and U.S. businessman Shahid Khan, who pulled out of a £600 million ($760 million) bid in October.

“I will leave feeling proud of the success of the performance of all the England teams,” Glenn said.

cesses.

“I hope that the FA will be able to build on this by accelerating the breakthrough of English qualified players into the first teams.”

Alongside the highs, Glenn also came in for criticism last year for his handling of complaints

by senior female players Eniola Aluko and Drew Spence that they had been subject to racism and bullying from former England women’s team boss Mark Sampson.

Tw o i n d e p e n d e n t investigations cleared Sampson of racism and bullying but he was ruled to have made discriminatory remarks, leading to a public apology from Glenn to the two players.

There was also the embarrassment of sacking England men’s manager Sam Allardyce in 2016 after 67 days in charge, following a newspaper report that alleged he had advised undercover reporters on ways to circumvent restrictions on third-party ownership of players.

Nevertheless, that decision led to the appointment of Gareth Southgate, who led England to fourth place at the World Cup in Russia and then a place in the final four of the inaugural European Nations League, reviving the country’s enthusiasm for international football.

Windies Under-19s begin preparations for 2020 World Cup

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – West Indies Under-19 team will begin a one-week high performance camp next Thursday, as they begin preparations for the 2020 ICC Under-19 World Cup. They will be working under the guidance of head coach Graeme West and his assistant, Roddy Estwick, at the Coolidge Cricket Ground here.

the New Year through their territories.”

West has been head coach for last two ICC Under-19 World Cups, and was the man at the helm when the Windies won the title in Bangladesh two years ago.

Estwick, meanwhile, is one of the region’s most experienced coaches, and recently worked with the Windies Women during their impressive showing at the ICC Women’s World T20 in the Caribbean.

The squad for the camp includes three players who competed in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year: opener Kimani Melius, fast bowling all-rounder Nyeem Young and left-arm slow bowler Ashmead Nedd.

Head coach Graeme West

FULL SQUAD: ■ Matthew Forde (Barbados) ■ Nyeem Young (Barbados) ■ Nico Reifer (Barbados) ■ Antonio Morris (Barbados) ■ Kevlon Anderson (Guyana) ■ Sachin Singh (Guyana) ■ Ashmead Nedd (Guyana) ■ Kelvin Umrao (Guyana) ■ Jayden Seales (Trinidad and Tobago) ■ Joshua James (Trinidad and Tobago) ■ Rivaldo Ramlogan (Trinidad and Tobago) ■ Leonardo Julian (Trinidad and Tobago) ■ Avinash Mahibirsingh (Trinidad and Tobago) ■ Matthew Patrick (Trinidad and Tobago) ■ Elroy Francis (Leeward Islands) ■ Zawandi White (Leeward Islands) ■ Daniel Beckford (Jamaica) ■ Kirk McKenzie (Jamaica) ■ Kimani Melius (Windward Islands)

During the camp they will also engage in interactive sessions with West Indies cricket great, Sir Curtly Ambrose in a bid to boost their chances of victory in the limited overs cricket tournament.

“This is the first step of a journey that will take the players through to the ICC Under-19 World Cup in January and February 2020 with South Africa hosting the biennial event,” West said.

“This will be our first opportunity to work with the players selected from the regional age-group tournaments, played in July and August.

The main aim of the camp is to observe, assess and educate the players, introducing them to the CWI High Performance syllabus. Every player will depart the camp with a training programme that they will begin to work through in

Name change for AB Medal night

CRICKET Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) have today announced Australian Cricket’s preeminent awards event will be renamed the Australian Cricket Awards from the 2019 event onwards.

This announcement follows several changes to the awards night in past years to reflect the shifting landscape of Australian cricket and, in particular, the increasing recognition of women’s cricket and the popularity of the T20 format.

The event is held on an annual basis to celebrate the performances of Australian players across national and domestic cricket, and is headlined by the Belinda Clark Award and Allan Border (AB) Medal, awarded to the female and male cricketer of the year respectively.

“This event has a rich history and updating the name to the Australian Cricket Awards is a very positive step in recognising the current state of the game,” said Australian Cricketers’ Association CEO Alistair Nicholson.

“Whether current-day players, or our past legends, this event is a great opportunity to recognise some outstanding achievements, and for the players to celebrate with their peers.”

Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts also lauded the move.

“We are very proud of the history of cricket’s premier awards and have taken the opportunity to change the name to reflect the evolution of the sport that has taken place in the years since the Allan Border Medal and the Belinda Clark Award, were first introduced,” said Roberts.

“The Australian Cricket Awards will be a wonderful celebration of our sport and an occasion that highlights the achievement, passion and dedication of our women’s and men’s players across all formats of the game.”

The 2019 Australian Cricket Awards will be held on Monday, February 11, 2019 at The Crown Palladium, Melbourne.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

GABF boss supports basketball goals to be reassigned to MSC facility

By Joe Chapman PRESIDENT of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds, has come out in support of a request made by the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), which is seeking to have the under-utilised basketball goals at the National Gymnasium reassigned to the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) where competitive basketball is now at a standstill in the mining town of Linden.

The MSC facility is the only one that has been playing competitive basketball on a regular basis in Linden, because of the existing basketball goals in the area and being one that can stage night games and accommodate basketball fans.

The GABF boss was in Linden over the last week-

end and visited the MSC hard court to have a firsthand view of the shattered backboard and also met with LABA and its president Lawrence Simon.

After that stop at the MSC hard court Hinds said “We are part of one group. It’s showing solidarity with the absence of the basketball goal and the urgent need to have it replaced.

He opined: “The fact that we have a good pair of basketball rings at the gymnasium for the last two years that have not been used, it is ideal for the National Sports Commission (NSC) to assign it to MSC, as they will retain ownership, and at least Linden will be able to play basketball at the premier facility for teams in that town.”

Hinds added: “And we think it is very important that we get the full support

of the NSC which we expect, and that of Ministers Dr George Norton and Joe Harmon.

“Once that happens Linden could carry out their planned basketball programmes for 2019. They have the Wayne Andries Memorial, the Under-21 championships and hopefully the planned year-ending championship Malta Supreme in Linden.”

The GABF president also held discussions with president of the MSC, Avery Trim and pointed out that “LABA has already gotten the blessings of MSC to have the basketball goals located here.

“They are not the owners of this, but to accommodate it here. We see it as a win-win, because it will be utilising an asset, valued at about US$20 000, instead of having it lying unused at the National Gymnasium.”

Infantino claims wide support for 48-team World Cup in Qatar

By Eric Knecht

DOHA, Qatar (Reuters) - FIFA president Gianni Infantino said yesterday that a majority of national soccer federations were in favour of expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams.

boycott of Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism. Qatar denies the claims.

FIFA last year voted to increase the size of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams starting from 2026 but, since then, Infantino has been mulling the possibil-

FIFA president Gianni Infantino speaks during a news conference in Doha, Qatar, yesterday.

(REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon)

Infantino said a decision would be made by March, although it was still not clear whether an enlarged tournament would be feasible as it would be “difficult” to stage in Qatar alone.

Qatar has been locked in a bitter dispute with Gulf neighbours Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain that has complicated the prospect of sharing matches in an expanded tournament.

Those countries, as well as Egypt, began a diplomatic and trade

ity of bringing the change forward to 2022. “ We g a t h e re d t h e opinions as well of our members, the federations,” he told reporters.

“So far, of course, the majority are in favour because 16 more teams participating not only means that 16 more countries will have World Cup fever, but 50 or 60 countries will be able to dream of qualifying for the World Cup.” “Whether it is feasible or not is a different question.”

Infantino said it was

unlikely that Qatar, which has been planning for a 32team tournament since it was awarded hosting rights in 2010, could manage 16 extra teams on its own.

“Is it feasible to do it only in Qatar? Difficult probably,” he said, adding that he did not want to share details of discussions with Qatar, with the media.

“Is it feasible to have a few games played in neighbouring countries? Maybe this is an option.”

“Of course, I’m not naive enough to not know and read the news, and what’s going on, but we are in football not in politics and in football sometimes dreams come true.”

Infantino said a decision is needed to be made by March because the draw for the qualifying competition is in the summer.

He said that even with 16 additional teams, FIFA was committed to playing the tournament in the original 28-day period “because it was a difficult enough process to decide to move the World Cup to November or December.”

He denied that it was too late to make the change.

“For those who think it’s late, I’ve been told that the decision to move the World Cup in 1998 to 32 teams from 24 in 1994 was also taken only four years in advance so there is already a precedent,” he said.

From left, LABA president Lawrence Simon, GABF president Nigel Hinds and MSC president Avery Trim and MSC official John Trim discuss the situation at MSC hard court. Goals are in background.

Shattas survive with 2-1 win over Blueberry Hill … Winners edge Panthers 2-1

SIXTH seed Silver Shattas kept their hopes of qualifying by beating the eighthseed Blueberry Hill 2-1 as fourth-ranked Winners Connection clipped their way past Amelia’s Ward Panthers, the third seed, by a similar margin 2-1, as the Upper Demerara Football Association’s 6th GT Beer football championship continued on day two Wednesday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground.

looked a far better side from the recent league championship and tied things up when they equalised through a strike from the boot of Royston Fraser on the stroke of the halftime whistle.

But the Shattas would gain the ascendancy again this time from a free kick taken by Randy Pickering which came in the 50th minute and they would remain 2-1 in the lead when the final whistle

Winners Connection scorers, Marley Davidson (left) and Jevon Figuiera

Playing in Group Three, Winners Connection opened their account in the 36th minute through a header from Jonah Simon. It came after a free kick, driven by Jomaine Samuels, was not grasped by the goalkeeper and in ‘spitting the ball’ out his grasp from the force of the shot, Simon was there to head home the ball and send his team into a 1-0 lead .

However, despite that lead the Blueberry Hill

knotted the scores in the 33rd minute and that remained to the end of the first half.

However, the Winners Connection gained the lead for good when the ball was played wide. Errol David continued the forward march on the flank and sent it into the middle for Davidson to find the back of the net in the 56th minute.

The game could have seen a few more goals on either side of play, but in the

Silver Shattas scorers, Jonah Simon and Randy Pickering

came.

The Shattas now await the result of their other group game where Net Rockers will take on Blueberry Hill next Friday to complete that three-team group play.

The other game also was a tussle between Winners Connection and Amelia’s Ward Panthers. Winners gained the lead in the 21st minute when Marley Davidson netted but the Panthers’ Akeem Caesar

end the Winners Connection prevailed 2-1.

The win puts Winners Connection in a good position where they can be the team advancing but that depends on the result of the game on Sunday when Panthers face Topp XX in the second game of a double- header.

In the first game on Sunday, Capital FC will face Hi Stars in a battle of the lower rated clubs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

Make match-fixing a criminal offence - ICC to governments THE International Cricket Council (ICC) is in the process of persuading governments in cricket-playing countries to make match-fixing a criminal offence, as it renews its resolve in the fight against corruption in the game.

“The ACSU (ICC’s anti-corruption unit) is trying to be much more proactive in first of all disrupting these criminals who are travelling the world trying to corrupt the game,” David Richardson, the ICC’s chief executive, said at a promotional event in New Delhi on Wednesday.

“We are persuading governments to introduce legislation that can make attempts to fix cricket matches a criminal offence and put these people behind bars.”

The move comes amid a renewed focus on a problem that refuses to go away. Recent spotlight has centred on Sri Lanka, where former fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa was charged with three counts of breaching the anti-corruption code, just two weeks after Sanath Jayasuriya had been charged with refusal to cooperate with the anti-corruption unit.

The growing number of T20 leagues around the world has also opened up a new avenue through which players can be - and have been - approached by those trying to corrupt a game.

target at the international level to the extent that these unscrupulous elements are trying to approach players at a much lower level.

“Of course it bothers ICC when names like Jayasuriya

International Cricket Council chief executive officer David Richardson addresses a press conference. (Getty Images)

“We are also getting much better intelligence on who these people are and we have been able to do that only because more players are reporting the approaches to us,” Richardson said.

“The education programmes we have put in place have worked really well; we have hardened the

crop up, but he has only been accused of failing to co-operate. Let’s not jump the gun with that investigation.”

Richardson said the ICC was also making efforts to get the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the BCCI on the same page.

The BCCI has been opposed to Indian cricketers

coming under anti-doping regulations for the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in the past.

In November 2017, BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri had said, “It is clear that BCCI already has a robust dope-testing mechanism which is employed for both during competitions and out-of-competitions. It is also relevant to mention here that BCCI is not a National Sports Federation.

“Accordingly, NADA does not have jurisdiction to conduct dope testing of Indian cricketers in any domestic competition or international event organised by or under the aegis of BCCI.” Richardson, however, said that there was “a willingness” by BCCI to resolve the matter.

“ICC is trying to facilitate a dialogue between WADA and the BCCI,” Richardson said. “There is a willingness on the part of BCCI to resolve the situation with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). I think that can be resolved quite quickly. BCCI is not reluctant to do dope-testing, but they are not ready to send samples to NADA.”

Three players with Guyanese roots in Cricket Ontario youth squads TO R O N TO , C a n a d a Three players with Guyanese roots, Raqib Shamsudeen, Matthew Nandu and Arjuna Sukhu have been included in Cricket Ontario youth squads, set to participate in this weekend’s USA Open cricket tournament.

The three will don colours in the Under-17 category which bowls off today in Florida.

The tall and lanky Shamsudeen, who repre-

sented Canada in the West Indies Under-19 tournament, played in St Kitts earlier this year, also played a dominant role in Kaieteur B’s victory in the final of the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) second division tournament, slamming a superb unbeaten 58 and grabbing three for 17.

Sukhu, who opened the batting in the same game, also bowls off-spin, while Nandu, the son of former

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday November 30, 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: WI won by 4 wickets Shai Hope (WI)

(1) (2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: How many players have now captained the WI in ODIs to date?

How many players have now captained Bangladesh in ODIs to date?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

Guyana Under-19 leg-spinner Arjune Nandu is a competent all-rounder.

Shamsudeen and Nandu will represent Ontario Red while Sukhu will be Raquib Shamsudeen part of Ontario Te a m R e d : A d i t y a Green.

Pandya, Eshan SensarOntario Green will be ma, Ethan Gibson, Gurjot coached by Sheriff Bodhoo Gosal, Hussain Siddiqui, with Vish Jadunauth as Jash Shah, Matthew Nanthe manager, both Guyadu, Muhammad Kamal, nese-born officials, while the Raqib Shamsudeen, Rushil Red will see former CanadiPatel, Shashwat Negi, an captain Farouk Kirmani Tiaan Pretorius, Varnan perform the duties of coach Naress. and Praim Persaud, who Team Green: Afseh also hails from Guyana, will Khan, Akus Sondhi, Anindo the managerial duties. dya Das, Arjuna Sukhu, Matches are scheduled Cole Batstone, Darshil for the Central Broward Patel, Jinit Kansara. MiRegional Park and Stadium hir Patel, Mohit Prashar, with the play-offs taking Rudra Patel, Siddh Lad, place on Sunday and MonSheel Patel, Yasir Mahday. mood. (Frederick Halley)

CWI/PCL FOUR-DAY

Shepherd grabs 4-36 as Leewards bowled out for 182

Romario Shepherd snared 4-36 on day one.

THE Leeward Islands Hurricanes were bowled out for 182 by the Guyana Jaguars on day one of their second round Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day game at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua yesterday.

After a delayed start, Hurricanes batted only 62.3 overs, with Romario Shepherd being the leading wicket-taker with 4-36 while Gudakesh Motie claimed 3-23.

Keon Joseph, Veerasammy Permaul and Clinton Pestano picked up one wicket each.

The leading run-scorers for Hurricanes were Devon Thomas who made 58 and Montcin Hodge 50, while Keacy Carty managed only 28.

In response, Jaguars were in a spot of bother at 36 for 2 at the close of play; opener Trevon Griffith was run-out for 12 while skipper Leon Johnson found himself back in the hut caught off the bowling of Rahkeem Cornwall for just six runs.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul is unbeaten on 14 while Clinton Pestano is yet to score.

Both teams recorded first round wins and they are looking to solidify their position at the top of the table.

Meanwhile, scores in the other matches that started yesterday are: At 3W’s Oval: Scorpions trail Pride by 65 runs with 10 first-innings wickets intact.

Barbados Pride 167 (Jonathan Carter 51, Aaron Jones 28, Jomel Warrican 26, Justin Greaves 25; Nikita Miller 4-53, Derval Green 3-10) Jamaica Scorpions 102 without loss (John Campbell 67 not out) At the Brian Lara Stadium (Tarouba): Red Force trail Volcanoes by 127 runs with nine first-innings wickets intact.

Windward Islands Volcanoes 206 (Kirk Edwards 55, Kavem Hodge 37, Taryck Gabriel 30, Shane Shillingford 25; Imran Khan 7-47) T&T Red Force 79 for one (Jeremy Solozano 46 not out)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Friday, December 14, 2018

GDF begin STAG Beer ‘Super 16’ title defence tonight

DEFENDING Champions Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will kick off their Guyana Football Federation (GFF) STAG Beer ‘Super 16’ YearEnd tournament campaign against the Essequibo Football Association (EFA) select side today at 20:00hrs, when the event officially opens at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.

After a march past of the participating teams, Buxton United will take on Bartica’s River’s View from 18:00hrs.

First-timers River’s View said they see this as an opportunity to showcase the talent of the young players in their squad, according to head coach Kenneth Edward.

Edward pointed out that the tournament is “a great way to showcase our talent and we are optimistic of progressing past the first round.

We have been preparing for about a month now. Our team consists of a number of youth players and one of the players to watch is Handel Norton, who had been a player for the U-17 and U-20 national teams some years ago.”

Buxton United have other plans as their intention is to remain competitive and progress to the final. The club’s head coach Herbert McPherson noted, “We have been actively

training for the past month and we believe in ourselves to give a good representation throughout the tournament.

“This is a knockout tournament so the players have

this in mind as they face River’s View. While this team is a first-timer, no team must be taken lightly and I know the team will come prepared for a good game.”

Meanwhile, the feature match promises to be keenly contested, as the GDF FC come up against another first-timer, Essequibo Coast/ Pomeroon Football Associa-

FLASHBACK! Director of Sport Christopher Jones handing over the championship trophy to the GDF captain in the presence of teammates and supporters, following their 2-0 win over Grove Hi-Tech in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) ‘Super 16 Year-end Classic’ championship, at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora. (Stabroek News photo)

tion Select Team.

“There is a lot of talent available in the Essequibo / Pomeroon FA where football is the dominant sport. We have selected a competitive team and look to not only give a spirited display but also provide a ground for more exposure for our players to a high-quality team such as the GDF FC. Win or lose tomorrow, we hope to win in the longterm,” according to Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon FA’s Technical Director, Travis Bowen.

The tournament winners will walk away with $2M, a trophy and equipment.

The second-placed team will receive $1M, trophy and equipment, and third place will get $500 000 trophy and equipment while the fourthplaced team will collect a trophy and equipment.

The tournament will conclude with the grand final on January 1 at a venue to be announced. Admission to all matches is as follows: $500 (to end of the quarterfinals stage), $1 000 (semi- finals) and $1 500 for the final.

Keanu Marsh-Brown ready to GPF ranks excel at Martial ‘roar’ with the ‘Golden Jaguars’ Arts tournament

By Rawle Toney WITH Guyana facing a must-win game against Belize on March 23, 2019, in the CONCACAF Nations League qualifier in their effort to seek their first Gold Cup berth, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday announced that 26-year-old Newport County Association Football Club winger, Keanu Marsh-Brown, will be joining the ‘Golden Jaguars’.

I can’t wait to play in front of you and drive the country to success. My older brother has played and said it’s amazing,” the nifty player stated in an interview with the GFF Media.

Marsh-Brown, who plays against new Guyana teammate Neil Danns (Bury FC) in English football’s League Two, further noted, “I also can’t wait to play and bring something different to the team. I’m an exciting player, I love to assist and score goals and excite

Keanu Marsh-Brown is ready to ‘roar’ with the ‘Golden Jaguars’ in the CONCACAF Nations League.

The former Fulham FC player will now join his older brother; defender Ronayne Marsh-Brown, who made his debut when Guyana played to a 2-2 draw against Barbados at the Leonora Track and Field Centre. Guyana later had the result overturned in their favour, after CONCACAF ruled that the ‘Bajans’ fielded two ineligible players.

“To all the Guyanese fans,

people watching the game but I love to win. I’m a winner and I got high standards of myself. I will always give 100 percent so I’m looking forward to playing in front of you.”

Following the CONCACAF ruling, Guyana improved to 8th place on the 34-team table with two wins and their lone defeat (1-2) which they suffered against French Guiana in their last outing.

“The next game is huge for the nation to qualify for the Gold Cup. It would be amazing and it’s still possible. The gaffer (Michael Johnson) has done an amazing job and I’ve been watching the games. Every game has been an improvement in different things but the next game is a must-win and hopefully, in football, some results don’t always happen for them and could go in our favour but I’m looking forward to that last game,” the winger said.

Having played for England at the U-16 and U-17 levels, Marsh-Brown last featured for the Three Lions in 2013 for their ‘C’ United in a 1-0 loss to Latvia.

Asked about making the decision to play for Guyana, Marsh-Brown, who once turned out for League One side Milton Keynes Dons, called the decision a “tough one” but thanked the GFF’s head of recruitment Faizal Khan for making the move possible.

“You have to be patient with these kind of things because there’s so much paper work FIFA and GFF have to sort out to make sure everything is a go; and it’s even harder when you have played for England at youth level.

Stuff takes a bit longer but now it has been sorted, it’s over the line and I can’t wait to get started; but a massive thanks to all who helped behind the scenes to make this happen,” the former England youth player said.

in Barbados

The successful Guyana Police Force ranks who participated at the Seventh Regional Ohana Kempo karate open Martial Arts Tournament.

ON November 24, ranks from the Guyana Police Force participated in the seventh Regional Ohana Kempo karate open Martial Arts Tournament, which was held at the Lester Vaughan Secondary School in St James, Barbados.

The tournament showcased a number of breathtaking displays of karate and Martial Arts techniques performed by competitors from the two participating countries (Guyana and Barbados).

Sensei Troy Bobb led the six-member team which included Woman Constable 24420 Nyesha Carrington, Woman Constable 24488 Canesha Phillips, Constable 24252 Ijaz Cave, Constable 24521 Trevlon Clarke and Sensei Paul Ignatius.

The fighters contested in various exciting choreographed

patterns of movements with age categories ranging 19-25, 20-30 and 35-50 years respectively.

Constable Clarke, who competed in the point sparring, grappling and kick-boxing, was successful in his events and achieved one gold and two silver medals.

Constable Cave earned three medals (two gold and one bronze) for winning his kick-boxing, wrestling, grappling and point sparring.

Woman Constable Phillips, who won the kid noddle sparring, stick wrestling and self-defence, received three medals (two gold, one silver).

Similarly Woman Constable Carrington bagged three medals (two gold and one silver) for winning the kid noddle sparring, stick wrestling and self-defence respectively.

Meanwhile Sensei Troy Bobb got first place in his kata and weapon sparring and second place in his self-defence sparring, for which he received two gold medals and one silver.

Sensei Paul Ignatius collected two silver medals for empty arm and weapons sparring and one gold medal for self-defence.

The goal of the tournament which lasted for five hours was simply to give Martial Arts practitioners the opportunity to participate in an event in a relaxing and enjoyable environment.

Sensei Bobb and his team returned to Guyana on November 27, 2018 and they are expected to participate in the highly-anticipated Night of Fights, scheduled for tonight at the Tactical Services Unit Drill Square.

Second Turbo Football Championship

Northern Rangers defenders did well to keep GFC attackers (blue and white) at bay for the duration of their Turbo football final.

The winning Northern Rangers team

Northern Rangers continue GFC title drought

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T&T 4x100 relay team officially awarded 2008 gold medals Page

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Trinidad and Tobago 2008 men’s 4x100m relay team have been officially awarded gold medals by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

GDF begin STAG Beer ‘Super 16’ title defence tonight ► Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018