Guyana Chronicle E-paper 12-19-2018

WEDNESDAY 19th December, 2018

Twisted sinister plot’ 02 PAGE

…Braithwaite urges gov't to amend confidence motion before voting on it

Bandits 11 strike thrice on Corentyne PAGE

‘Coalition strong’ No.105493

PAGE

… says 03 successes numerous, impressive

… reaffirms commitment ahead of no-confidence motion

Every capable small business must have 10 a ‘bite’–SBB CEO PAGE

The Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) kicked off its Christmas celebrations on Tuesday with its annual grand Christmas Tree Light Up. At the simple ceremony, employees of the company and their children were feted as they revelled in the Christmas spirit. In this Delano Williams photo some of the children pose with their gifts and goodies alongside Santa and acting General Manager Donna Todd

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

‘Twisted sinister plot’ …Braithwaite rips PPP ‘evil agenda’

… urges coalition to amend confidence motion before voting on it THE no-confidence motion against the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government is a “twisted” and “sinister” plot, Cultural Activist, Barrington Braithwaite has said, as he alluded to glaring attempts by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to capitalise on President David Granger’s illness to unseat the prime minister, and forge ahead with its agenda.

The motion, which will be debated in the National Assembly on Friday, was submitted to the Parliament Office in mid-November, days after it was announced that President Granger was suffering from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, a type of cancer,

and would require constant treatments abroad.

The opposition, in December, then requested that the Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo vacate his seat in the National Assembly whenever he performs the functions of the President but the Speaker of the House, Dr. Barton Scotland has asked that the matter be dealt with by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform.

Putting his life at risk Describing the President as a “decent and incorruptible person,” Braithwaite contended that part of the plot was intended to have the President put his life at risk by flying home against medical precautions. “To callously exploit the condition of the

President’s illness during this period with such a plot requires the condition of a psychopath, in the absence of any legitimate grounds leaves no other explanation, but to allude to the fact that there are mental defects masquerading as normal in our political opposition, so obsessed with power and the pillage of power that nothing is above or below what they will do,” Braithwaite argued. “This is an evil motion and an evil agenda,” Braithwaite said.

According to him, the APNU+AFC must address the matter. “Amend this motion; treat this desperate and callous move to impose self-serving carnage as it should be treated,” he urged.

Braithwaite asked “what are the opposition’s grounds,

when the sugar workers are paid, the nation is moving towards a ‘Green’ sensible future; our streets and communities are experiencing uplifting developments from efforts made; our creative citizens will benefit from laws to protect them.” “In a worldwide economic contraction, our lives are not malaise by drive-by shootings and lawlessness. We understand better our survival conflicts and at least can envisage a way forward.”

In one of his most recent actions, the opposition attempted to defer the motion to January, 2019 but the prime minister objected.

In a statement on Monday, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said “let it be heard and let it be defeated,” noting there

is no point in taking this deadweight motion into the new year.

“Jagdeo is acutely aware that the motion has no prospect of success, and it is an abuse of parliamentary time and waste of taxpayers’ money to convene a sitting of the National Assembly only to be told that he (Jagdeo) is not ready or prepared. As the mover of the motion, he would be better advised to withdraw the motion, not to defer its rejection.

The prime minister also called out the opposition leader and team for exploiting the President’s illness.

“We know too that the Jagdeo-led opposition has caused the Guyanese people some distress and hurt by unconscionably attempting

Cultural Activist, Barrington Braithwaite to exploit the illness of President David Granger to unseat me as prime minister. They then resisted the pro-people $300.7 Billion 2019 Budget. Both gambits failed to derail the parliament and government. The resort to a no-confidence motion is the third in a tripod of destabilisation, and it is also doomed to failure. The correct and honourable thing for Jagdeo is not to postpone his defeat but to withdraw the motion,” he said.

Observers believe that the occurrence of all of these events in succession is no coincidence, and is all a part of a conscious plot by the opposition to heartlessly put pressure on the President during a most vulnerable time in his life.

‘Coalition strong’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

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… says successes numerous, impressive … reaffirms commitment ahead of no-confidence motion ITS impressive track record over the past three years makes the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government a force to reckon with even with a pending no-confidence motion filed against it.

“The coalition government has restored Guyana’s credibility in the world, protected our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensure that there is an independent judiciary, an autonomous Parliament and other constitutional agencies such as GECOM which are all guaranteed full financial independence,” it said in a statement on Tuesday night.

At its Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the coalition government re-affirmed its patriotic commitment to Guyana, and strengthened its resolve to realise the good life for all.

While admitting there were challenges and a few miss-steps, the government said its success cannot be understated.

It was under the current administration that local democracy was restored. Local Government Elections were held in March 2016 after 22 years. The government in November 2018 recorded history for second time when Local Government Elections were held as required by the constitution. For over two decades, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) – the mover of the motion – failed to hold the elections, and reduced many of the town councils and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to Interim Management Committees (IMCs) with handpicked leaders.

Additionally, under the Coalition Government, national defence and security have been high on its agenda and resulting in a marked reduction in serious crimes.

“Our coalition has promoted social security and lifted the image of our indigenous peoples as Guyanese citizens, enjoying equal rights and opportunities. Our government has upheld multi-cultural cooperation and facilitated social cohesion.

There have been, during the three and a half years of the Coalition Government, the disappearance and complete suppression of acts of torture, extra-judicial killings, summary executions, and the existence, with impunity, of death squads and drug gangs

which had stalked the land under the PPP administration,” the APNU+AFC pointed out as it builds its case ahead of Friday’s debate.

The coalition government said there has also been a marked reduction in corruption under its stewardship of the country, which has resulted in the restoration of confidence in public offices.

“We combatted rampant, pervasive corruption among persons holding public offices, reconstituted the Integrity Commission and appointed a Public Procurement Commission to handle state procurement,” it posited.

Significant successes were also recorded in the areas of education, health, agriculture and public infrastructure, the government said, as it pointed to the fact that pass rates in a number of subject areas have improved.

“We have maintained free access to reliable public healthcare and provided safe, potable water even to hinterland communities.

We ensured low and reasonable tolls across the Demerara and Berbice river bridges.

Our coalition undertook the completion of West Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara and East Coast Demerara highways and delivered five pedestrian overpasses and a major roundabout,” it further pointed out.

The expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the upgrading of hinterland aerodromes, and airstrips have contributed to the improved confidence in the airline industry.

“We have worked on securing better and more markets for rice along with launching more seed paddy varieties for farmers who also benefit from several new, high capacity pumps and access to fertilisers.

“We have delivered 132 ICT Hubs and six, world class regional radio stations in Mabaruma, Bartica, Mahdia, Orealla, Lethem and Aishalton. Guyana can now boast of having a truly national public information network that links the Coastland and the hinterland. Our people all across Guyana have free access to the internet and are connected and communicating with persons all over the world,” the government added as it alluded to its achievements over the past three years.

It noted too that Georgetown, the garden city which was covered in garbage prior to

Flashback! President David Granger (left) and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo before the 2015 elections 2015, has been restored. “It is cleaner and more beautiful, and not cluttered with garbage and no longer prone to chronic, pervasive flooding,” the government said.

Reducing Value Added Tax (VAT) was among its campaign promises in the lead up to the May 2015 General and Regional Elections, and once in office, the coalition government made good on its promise to the people of Guyana. Today, VAT which was 16 per cent under the PPP is now 14 per cent but the government said it has done much more to relieve Guyanese of their financial burdens.

“VAT has been reduced, public servants salaries increased by 63 per cent, the tax threshold lifted to $780,000 annually while personal income tax has been reduced. The business community has been incrementally expanding and launching new ventures which demonstrate confidence in the economy, the prudent management of the national affairs and future prospects.”

“Working people who still carry the burden of past neglect and starvation wages are better off under this coalition government and

have every reason to be hopeful that their lot would further improved in the near future,” it explained.

Even with the closure of some estates, and the right-sizing of GuySuCo, the jobs of 10,000 sugar workers have been protected and production at only three estates has netted, so far, 105,000 tonnes of sugar for 2018, the government boasted. According to APNU+AFC, it has rescued the sugar industry from collapse.

“Guyanese have every reason to feel and believe that their country finally is in clean and safe hands and the coalition government urges all, both here and in the diaspora, to rally around their government.”

“We also urge all patriotic Guyanese and their organisations to let their voices be heard: ‘No’ to the motion! ‘Yes’ to confidence!”

Against this background, the coalition government is certain that the no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo will be resoundingly and comprehensively defeated in the National Assembly on Friday.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Judge excoriates Trump ex-adviser Flynn – delays Russia probe sentencing A U.S. judge fiercely criticised President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Tuesday for lying to FBI agents in a probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, and delayed sentencing him until Flynn has finished helping prosecutors.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan told Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and former director

of the Defense Intelligence Agency, that he had arguably betrayed his country. Sullivan also noted that Flynn had operated as an undeclared lobbyist for Turkey even as he worked on Trump’s campaign team and prepared to be his White House national security adviser.

Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about his December 2016 conversations with Sergei Kislyak, then Russia’s ambassador in

Washington, about U.S. sanctions imposed on Moscow by the administration of Trump’s Democratic predecessor Barack Obama. The conversations took place between Trump’s November election victory and his inauguration in January 2017.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller, leading the investigation into possible collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia ahead of the election, had asked the judge not to sentence Flynn to prison because he had already provided “substantial” cooperation over the course of many interviews.

Lying to the FBI carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. Fly-

nn’s plea agreement stated that he was eligible for a sentence of between zero and six months.

Sullivan sternly told Flynn his actions were abhorrent, noting that Flynn had also lied to senior White House officials, who in turn misled the public. The judge said he had read additional facts about Flynn’s behavior that have not been made public. At one point, Sullivan asked prosecutors if Flynn could have been charged with treason, although the judge later said he had not been suggesting such a charge was warranted.

“Arguably, you sold your country out,” Sullivan told Flynn. “I’m not hiding my disgust, my disdain for this

criminal offense.”

Flynn, dressed in a suit and tie, showed little emotion throughout the hearing, and spoke calmly when he confirmed his guilty plea and answered questions from the judge. Sullivan appeared ready to sentence Flynn to prison but then gave him the option of a delay in his sentencing so he could fully cooperate with any pending investigations and bolster his case for leniency. The judge told Flynn he could not promise that he would not eventually sentence him to serve prison time.

Flynn accepted that offer.

Sullivan did not set a new date for sentencing but asked Mueller’s team and Flynn’s attorney to give him a status report by March 13.

Sullivan later imposed travel restrictions on Flynn, ordering him to surrender his passport and to obtain court permission before traveling outside the Washington area.

The curbs are typical for people released on their own recognisance, the judge said.

Prosecutors said Flynn already had provided most of the cooperation he could, but it was possible he might be able to help investigators further. Flynn’s attorney said his client is cooperating with federal prosecutors in a case against Bijan Rafiekian, his former business partner who has been charged with unregistered lobbying for Turkey.

Rafiekian pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to those charges in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. His trial is scheduled for Feb. 11. Flynn is expected to testify.

Prosecutors have said Rafiekian and Flynn lobbied to have Washington extradite a Muslim cleric who lives in the United States and is

accused by Turkey’s government of backing a 2016 coup attempt. Flynn has not been charged in that case.

Flynn was a high-profile adviser to Trump’s campaign team. At the Republican Party’s national convention in 2016, Flynn led Trump’s supporters in cries of “Lock her up!” directed against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. A group of protesters, including some who chanted “Lock him up,” gathered outside the courthouse on Tuesday, along with a large inflatable rat fashioned to look like Trump. Several Flynn supporters also were there, cheering as he entered and exited. One held a sign that read, “Michael Flynn is a hero.”

Flynn became national security adviser when Trump took office in January 2017, but lasted only 24 days before being fired. He told FBI investigators on Jan. 24, 2017, that he had not discussed the U.S. sanctions with Kislyak when in fact he had, according to his plea agreement.

Trump has said he fired Flynn because he also lied to Vice President Mike Pence about the contacts with Kislyak.

Trump has said Flynn did not break the law and has voiced support for him, raising speculation the Republican president might pardon him.

“Good luck today in court to General Michael Flynn. Will be interesting to see what he has to say, despite tremendous pressure being put on him, about Russian Collusion in our great and, obviously, highly successful political campaign. There was no Collusion!” Trump wrote on Twitter on Tuesday morning. (Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

People smugglers arrested across Americas

A crackdown on migrant smuggling networks across the Americas has resulted in 49 arrests.

The operation was co-ordinated by Interpol which said organised crime networks were helping to smuggle South Asian migrants into the US. Nearly $2m (£1.6m) has been recovered during anti-smuggling operations across 11 countries, Interpol says.

The arrests come amid rising tensions over US immigration policy along its southern border.

They also highlight how

the US-Mexico frontier is still a major entry point for illegal immigration from outside the continent.

Interpol’s four-day Operation Andes was co-ordinated across nearly a dozen countries in South America and the Caribbean, including Brazil and the Dominican Republic.

Migrants from India, Nepal and Bangladesh were reportedly paying between US$15,000 and US$30,000 for each journey into the United States.

Chilean authorities also found Bangladeshi migrants

trying to obtain temporary visas by posing as crew members of a shipping company with the help of smugglers.

Interpol says 22 African and Haitian migrants were also rescued in Nicaragua after being “left to their fate in the mountains” by smugglers.

“With another 13 investigations opened across the region, what we are seeing is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Jürgen Stock, the agency’s Secretary General.

Immigration, especially across the US southern

Migrants run after crossing the Mexico-US border fence in Tijuana, Mexico

border, has been a central issue of Donald Trump’s presidency.

Last month, Trump sent nearly 6,000 troops to the US-Mexico border to help authorities deter what became known as a caravan of migrants trying to enter from South America.

He also signed a proclamation denying asylum for migrants crossing the US-Mexico border illegally. The decision was later blocked temporarily by a federal judge.

This week, the US government faces a potential shutdown during national

El Salvador court frees woman jailed under anti-abortion laws A woman who was jailed for attempted murder under El Salvador’s strict anti-abortion laws has been freed.

Imelda Cortez, 20, says she became pregnant by her stepfather who sexually abused her for many years.

Doctors suspected she had tried to perform an abortion after she gave birth to a baby girl in a latrine in April of last year.

The child survived, but Cortez was arrested and spent more than 18 months in custody as she awaited trial.

Prosecutors argued that her failure to tell anyone

about the pregnancy and seek medical help after giving birth amounted to attempted murder, which carries a possible 20-year sentence.

But on Monday a court ruled that Cortez, who was unaware that she was pregnant, had not tried to kill her child.

Her lawyers said that to avoid a harsher sentence she had admitted to neglecting her newborn baby, an offence that carries a one-year jail term.

But the court ultimately decided that she was not guilty of any crime and was free to go home.

“This sentence... represents hope for women who are still in prison and are also being tried for aggravated homicide,” defence lawyer Ana Martinez told reporters following the verdict.

Cortez was greeted outside the court in Usulután by cheering relatives and human rights activists bearing signs with messages of support.

Prosecutors say her stepfather has been arrested and

is awaiting trial.

El Salvador is one of a handful of countries in the world where abortions are completely banned and carry heavy sentences.

While the country is not alone in Latin America in having a total ban on abortions, it is particularly strict in the way it enforces it.

Doctors have to inform the authorities if they think a woman has tried to end

her pregnancy. If they fail to report such cases, they too could face long sentences in jail.

The result is what human rights groups are calling a criminalisation of miscarriages and medical emergencies, with more than 100 people convicted of abortion-related crimes in El Salvador since 2000.

(BBC)

budget talks as Democrats hope to block plans to build a border wall with Mexico.

In a tweet, President Trump said illegal immigration costs the United States more than $200bn (£158bn) a year, adding: “How is this allowed to happen?” (BBC)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Kaleidoscope of Christmas

We are approaching Christmas in just a week’s time.

Most Guyanese are aware of the religious aspects of the festival and ofcourse, its celebratory joyousness, but Christmas has other dimensions.

Christmas celebrates the birth of Lord Jesus but he was not actually born on 25th December. In the pre-Christian religions of Europe, the Winter Solstice occurred on 24th December. On this day, the Earth is furthest away from the Sun in its yearly revolution around that planet that is it is at 23/2 degrees latitude. That day is accordingly the darkest day of the year.

From the 25th December, the days begin to become longer as the Earth continues in its revolution. Since the Winter Solstice was already a pagan festival and since the Roman festival of Lupercalia mostly fell on that day, the early Church decided to celebrate the birth of the Lord on 25th December so that the pagans could easier transition to Christianity in Guyana, older people would speak of the “Christmas weather” which

they regarded as beginning in December. The nights become noticeably cooler while the days are also cooler with the sunlight being of a lighter gold than in August when the Earth is nearer the Sun. The December clouds seem to be lower and softer and the skies appear to be of a lighter blue and the sunsets, though beautiful, are more pastel.

The green of the vegetation is brighter and flowers like the poinsettias or the lanciana orchids bloom at this time. The climate in Guyana becomes very pleasant and resembles the best days of Spring in the Temperate Zone. Guyanese associate the pleasant weather with Christmas and it is regarded as part of the Christmas Season.

Guyana, like Europe and other regions of the world, has its historical traditions surrounding Christmas. Christmas is the oldest Guyanese festival. It was celebrated when Europeans settled here in the 17th century and when they brought slaves from Africa to work on their plantations. Christmas was the only holiday allowed to the slaves

and they were permitted to play their African drums and dance and sing and visit their friends and relatives.

In the early 19th century when most of the slaves had been Christianized, the religious element was introduced into the celebrations and church attendance became an essential part of Christmas.

After Emancipation, indentured servants were brought from many parts of the world to work on the plantations.

Portuguese Catholics were brought from Madeira, freedmen were recruited from the West Indian islands, Chinese from southern China and Hindus and Muslims from India were also indentured. Each of these groups made their contributions in enrichening of the Guyanese Christmas. By the beginning of the 20th century the Guyanese Christmas had evolved, absorbing the many cultural and religious influences which came first, with the Europeans and Africans, and then later with the 19th century immigrants. The Guyanese Christmas became a festival which synthesized the religious and secular and

one which Hindus, Muslims, Christians and people of every Faith and cultural background could celebrate with full involvement as they do today.

Christmas has always been a time of celebration and joyousness and as pointed out above, it was the one day of festivity allowed to the slaves. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, Christmas took its present form where its celebratory aspects completely enveloped and suffused Guyanese society: Homes as well as the commercial houses were colourfully decorated mainly with the Christmas colours of red, green, blue and gold and to awaken the fantasy of Christmas, there was snow and Father Christmas with his sleigh and reindeer.

Fairy lights in different shapes were everywhere, even on the neighbouring vegetation and trees. All shops were fully stocked with various types of Christmas goods. The groceries had Dutch cheeses, temperate zone fruits such as cherries, peaches, pears, plums, figs and apples and

grapes and dates from the Arab world. The haberdashers had cloths and curtains of every description, gift items to suit every taste and requirement and ingenious toys and children’s games. People came out in thousands to pick up bargains and to enjoy the joyous milieu. They also brought their small children who could meet Father Christmas in person and who were transported into wonderland.

Ordinary folk mad their own contribution to the Festival especially in the department of food. They produced various wines such as jamoon and rice and ginger beer and sorrel and mauby and special cakes like the famous black cake. They made cook-up rice, pepperpot, garlic pork for those who ate pork, and other delicacies. Relatives and friends visited and always had to have a meal. The spirit of goodwill towards all men reverberated everywhere.

Accordingly, the poor were always remembered and given meals and other gifts.

Bringing homes into the Christmas mode was a de

rigeur requirement in the week before Christmas and this old custom was practiced from the smallest hut to the richest mansions. All rubbish and unwanted things were disposed of and houses were thoroughly cleaned. Walls were repainted and furniture was renewed or cleaned and varnished or polished. This renewal was a catharsis and prepared people to enter the New Year with strength and optimism.

Over the years, some Christmases have been more memorable than others with new customs being born and old ones fading away but the essence of the festival has been the same: The pervasive and energetic joy, the celebratory splurge, the goodwill it generates in the society, the remembrance of the poor and differently abled and its cathartic quality of preparing society and individuals to enter the New Year with optimism. Christmas 2018 has the same perennial spirit residing in it. For this year we wish you an even Merrier Christmas!

GAWU concerned about GuySuCo-NICIL conflict Dear Editor THE GAWU was indeed very concerned after reading an article titled, “GuySuCo managers, staff to up protest against NICIL,” which appeared in the December 17, Stabroek News.

From the news report, our union learnt that relations between the GuySuCo and the NICIL-SPU have now descended to the point that protests by GuySuCo personnel are being planned to ventilate their seeming frustration with what they feel are the unhelpful actions of NICIL regarding

the revitalisation of the sugar corporation.

We recognised the Stabroek News reporting that the “…National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) is not working in the best interest of GuySuCo and that a NICIL takeover will further destabilise the corporation and the country.” This could very well be the case if the situation is left to fester as it has been for several months now.

For the GAWU, and more so the thousands of sugar workers employed by the corporation, the esca-

lating public spat--though it can be argued that it has now escalated to full blown conflict--is most disturbing, especially considering the consequences such actions could have on many ordinary Guyanese. Indeed, the sugar industry in the period of this government has been treated with what appears to be clear scorn and unconcern. When we look at the treatment and approach to sugar in the approximate three and a half years of the APNU+AFC administration, it is hard not to get that feeling. On that score, we recall the disowning of the industry

earlier this year by both the Ministers of Agriculture and Finance.

The government’s concern--or lack thereof--was recently manifested in the utterances of officials during the just-concluded 2019 budget debate. Most significantly, we recall Vice-President and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, according to a Demerara Waves report, labelling sugar workers as “your people,” notwithstanding that in the 2015 elections campaign he had promised Guyanese not to close the sugar industry.

Then his colleague, Prime

Minister Moses Nagamootoo in his contribution to the 2019 budget debate, was reported as saying “[i]t had become unsustainable to operate the sugar industry without bringing the entire economy down!”.

Indeed, the current confusion in the sugar industry has to be laid squarely and fully at the door step of the government. While the Stabroek News reports that “[t]he discord between GuySuCo and NICIL is seen as deeply embarrassing to the government,” we do not believe this is the case. If it were as troubling as the Sta-

broek News points out, then, in our view, the administration had more than ample time to fully and comprehensively address the matter.

Nevertheless, it is in the interest of the country and its people for the discord that has reached a boiling point to be addressed. The GAWU, once more, reiterates its call for the administration to address the issue frontally. It has been allowed to prolong for far too long and with an eye on the industry’s future.

Regards GAWU

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Some things are not right at Noble House Seafoods Inc Dear Editor,

SOME things are better left unsaid, but then there are other things that just can’t be kept quiet. I am an employee of Noble House Seafoods Inc and I must say that I am very much dissatisfied with the way things are being run here.

Let me just address but a few of these concerns.

Firstly, let us start with my salary. My current salary is eighty-five thousand dollars ($85,000). Now my contract requires me to work from Monday – Saturday.

Overtime from Monday-Friday is paid at time and a half and overtime on Saturday is paid at double. I kid you not when I say that every single day from Monday-Saturday I work from 7:00 AM to sometimes 8:00 PM in the nights

as the work can be a bit demanding. However, when we as the employees collect our pay slips, we are paid a maximum of only five thousand dollars ($5,000) in overtime.

When we query with the relevant departments, they have the audacity to say that most of the money is being contributed to the NIS and this is very frustrating, as they think we are some kind of dumb animals that don’t understand what’s going on.

Secondly, since we are on the topic of salaries, let us discuss the fact that senior management in the company are being paid exorbitant amounts of money. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue to me, but considering they come to work whenever they feel like and do nothing almost all day is quite unfair.

Thirdly, we as employees

are entitled to be paid our bonuses in a timely manner. Let me make this clear by saying that our bonuses are paid on the last day of the year. What kind of a company pays their employees their bonuses on the last day of the year? Bonuses are quite handy around the Christmas season and we can’t even provide for our families because of the incompetence of senior management.

Lastly I would like to close by challenging the relevant authorities to take a closer look at this company. They are withholding our salaries and are claiming it’s paid to the tax authorities. They require us to work all week from morning until night and when it’s time to get paid they act as if we don’t deserve this money. This is becoming too frustrating and

All matters pertaining to GuySuCo, NICIL are being addressed at the highest levels Dear Editor THE Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) has taken note of the front page headline article in the Stabroek News on 17 December, 2018, titled ‘GuySuCo managers, staff to up protest against NICIL,’ which has not been been sanctioned nor communicated by GuySuCo’s management nor board of directors. The corporation, however, notes that the concerns raised in the article are currently being addressed at the highest levels of the government, board of directors of GuySuCo and the chief executive officer.

Due to the efforts at various levels to

resolve the issues stated in the article, the corporation would like to assure managers and staff that these matters will be resolved and as such, individual staff members should not be persuaded to resort to any suggested protest action on 20 and 21 December, 2018.

Employees of the corporation will receive regular updates on the progress of these engagements.

Regards Audreyanna Thomas Corporate Communications Manager Communications Department Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo)

overbearing. We cannot even complain to the Human Resources Department because they are in league with those persons who refuse to pay us our salaries.

No one likes when their salaries are being tampered

with, so I am urging the authorities to carry out an investigation into this company to determine where our monies are going. We have families to provide for and we can’t do that under incompetent management.

We can’t even leave the job because jobs are so hard to get in this country at the moment.

Regards Noble House Seafoods Inc Employee

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

APNU+AFC Coalition Government Statement Of Confidence

THE APNU+AFC Coalition Government reasserts that it is united strong and stable.

At our Cabinet meeting today, Tuesday, December 18, the Coalition reaffirmed its patriotic commitment to Guyana and strengthens its resolve to realise the good life for all.

Though not without challenges and a few missteps, the successes of this Coalition Government are numerous and impressive after over three years in office. The

Coalition Government has restored Guyana’s credibility in the world, protected our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensured that there is an independent judiciary, an autonomous Parliament and other constitutional agencies such as GECOM which are all guaranteed full financial independence. Parliament is a vibrant and functioning participatory forum that meets regularly (110 sittings of the National Assembly to date compared with 105, 62 and 88 for the 6th, 7th

and 10th Parliaments).

Guyana is a multi-party, open democracy with strengthened institutions of electoral democracy. Two Local Government Elections have been held in 3 years as compared to none having been held for over two decades during the PPP administration.

Guyana today enjoys a plural, free media with full protection for journalists.

Our Coalition Government has been hard at work for the people and has met more

The APNU+AFC coalition says it remains strong and united often than some previous governments. This Cabinet has met 219 times since May 2015 (43 months) while, by comparison the PPP Cabinet met 212 from January 2011 to May 2015 (53 months).

The Coalition Government has ensured that national defence and security take high priority, resulting in a marked reduction in serious crimes and the halting of piracy, which was rampant and had reached epidemic proportions on the high seas. Our Coalition has promoted social security and lifted the image of our indigenous peoples as Guyanese citizens, enjoying equal rights and opportunities.

Our Government has upheld multi-cultural cooperation and facilitated social cohesion.

There have been, during the three and a half years of the Coalition Government, the disappearance and complete suppression of acts of torture, extra-judicial killings, summary executions, and the existence, with impunity, of death squads and drug gangs which had stalked the land under the PPP administration. The Coalition Government has restored confidence in, and integrity to, public life. We combatted rampant, pervasive corruption among persons holding public office, reconstituted the Integrity Commission and appointed a Public Procurement Commission to handle state procurement.

The Coalition Government has improved access to education resulting in better attendance and pass rates, and has maintained affordable college and university education. We have maintained free access to reliable public healthcare and provided safe, potable water even to hinterland communities. We ensured low and reasonable tolls across the Demerara and Berbice river bridges.

Our Coalition undertook the completion of West Coast

Demerara, East Bank Demerara and East Coast Demerara highways and delivered five pedestrian overpasses and a major roundabout. We have delivered a newly expanded international airport and better hinterland aerodromes and airstrips. Confidence in the airline industry has been restored with major airlines coming to Guyana and serving as host of a global airline conference. We have worked on securing better and more markets for rice along with launching more seed paddy varieties for farmers who also benefit from several new, high capacity pumps and access to fertilizers.

We have delivered 132 ICT Hubs and six, world class Regional Radio Stations in Mabaruma, Bartica, Mahdia, Orealla, Lethem and Aishalton. Guyana can now boast of having a truly national public information network that links the Coastland and the hinterland.

Our people all across Guyana have free access to the internet and are connected and communicating with persons all over the world.

Guyanese today can seeand feel the change.

There have been the construction and renovation of numerous bridges and police facilities, the surfacing of roads along with the installation of thousands of streets lights.

Improvements in community facilities such as schools, health centres, parks and playing fields are further evidence of the change that the Coalition Government has brought everywhere in Guyana. Georgetown, is being restored as a capital, garden city. It is cleaner and more beautiful, and not cluttered with garbage and no longer prone to chronic, pervasive flooding. VAT has been reduced, public servants salaries increased by 63%, the tax threshold lifted to $780,000

annually while personal income tax has been reduced.

The business community has been incrementally expanding and launching new ventures which demonstrates confidence in the economy, the prudent management of the national affairs and future prospects.

Working people who still carry the burden of past neglect and starvation wages are better off under this Coalition Government and have every reason to be hopeful that their lot would further improve in the near future.

Teachers, nurses, doctors, soldiers, policemen and women, pensioners, young people, single parents, everyone in public service deserve to enjoy the good life.

Guyana is today in a transformation mode.

Even with the closure of some estates, and the right-sizing of GuySuCo, the jobs of 10,000 sugar workers have been protected and production at only three estates has netted, so far, 105,000 tonnes of sugar for 2018.

Our Government has rescued and save the sugar industry from collapse. Many sugar workers were rehired and all were paid severance with interest.

Guyanese have every reason to feel and believe that their country finally is in clean and safe hands and the Coalition Government urges all, both here and in the Diaspora, to rally around their government.

We also urge all patriotic Guyanese and their organizations to let their voices be heard: “‘No’ to the motion! ‘Yes’ to confidence!”

Against this background, the Coalition Government is certain that the No Confidence Motion brought by the Opposition Leader will be resoundingly and comprehensively defeated in the National Assembly on Friday, December 21st.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Business ‘Help Desks’ for all regions POTENTIAL and existing small business owners are set to benefit from increased access to business help from the Small Business Bureau (SBB), as help desks will be established in all 10 administrative regions.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SBB, Dr. Lowell Porter explained: “We began the process [of establishing help desks] in 2018 and we have seven help desks in six regions—there are two desks in region six.”

In 2019, Porter explained, the goal is finish the process of establishing help desks in the other administrative regions—i.e., Regions One, Three and Eight.

These desks, according to Research and Marketing Officer at Small Business Bureau, Shamane Headley, are there for persons in other regions to access information and to garner assistance with completing prerequisite forms and other documents necessary to access the services offered by the SBB. Furthermore, Headley un-

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SBB, Dr. Lowell Porter

derscored that these desks aid the bureau to provide critical services to persons since the office of the SBB is located in Georgetown, and employs 15 staff members.

“With 15 staff, it is very difficult to always to meet the needs of the clients outside of Region Four,” she said and highlighted that these desks will afford the opportunity to connect with more clients.

And as said by her, these desks will also be a point for mobilisation for the SBB. Here, awareness sessions used to sensitise persons

about the services offered by the bureau can be conducted.

In September, during the Indigenous Heritage village celebrations held at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Finance Officer of the SBB Sheridan Lochinvar, highlighted that these desks will be key in providing services to indigenous communities.

Importantly, she noted that indigenous groups— whether they are involved in craft-making or making food and food products—will be able to access services from the SBB, particularly finan-

cial aid.

In light of this, Toshao of Bumbury Hill, in Region One, Elizabeth Romascindo told this newspaper: “I think [establishing these help desks] would be beneficial to the people especially the small business here.”

According to her, “It has alot of small business in the region and I think people would be glad for that help. [And] in other communities, not only in Bumbury, they would like the help… the loans and so.”

Man to spend Christmas in jail for multi-million dollar fraud A 38-year-old former Rutherford Holding Inc. employee was on Tuesday remanded to prison for allegedly swindling over $5.7M from his employer and two businesses for the Imbaimadai Landing, Mazaruni River area.

Rudolph Braithwaite of McDoom, East Bank Demerara appeared before Senior Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Court and pleaded not guilty to the three charges when they were read to him.

The first charge alleged that between April 27, 2018 and June 7, 2018 at Imbaimadai Landing Mazaruni River, with intent to defraud, he obtained a quantity of mining equipment and food stuff valued $313,000, property of Devika Persaud, by falsely pretending that the items were bought on the account

of his employer, Rutherford Holding Inc. It is further alleged that between January 1, 2018 and February 28, 2018 at Imbaimadai Landing, with intent to defraud, he obtained a quantity of food and fuel valued $580,000 property of Grant Ali, by falsely pretending that the items were bought on the account of his employer, Rutherford Holding Inc. Lastly the court heard

Stolen police gun found in garbage pile …cop recovers stolen items after robbery A POLICE officer who was robbed on Monday evening has recovered all of the items which were stolen.

According to a press statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the officer who is stationed in `C’ Division, was robbed of his jewellery,

cellphone and a force-issued handgun at Greenville Park, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Police credited the recovery of the items to diligent police investigations which also led to the apprehension of two suspects.

Meanwhile, a force-is-

sued handgun which was reportedly stolen from a policeman at a night club in Alberttown has also been recovered. The gun was recovered among a pile of garbage in South Ruimveldt.

Investigations in both matters are ongoing.

that between December 1, 2017 and July 9, 2018 at Imbaimadai Landing, he stole 19 ounces of raw gold valued $4.9M taken from the account of his employer Neville Rutherford.

Prosecutor, Assistant

Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Telford objected to bail and told the court that Braithwaite, after committing the offences in the Imbaimadai area, left the location and did not return. However he

was arrested by the police.

The magistrate ruled in the prosecution’s favour and remanded Braithwaite to prison until March 19, 2019 where he is scheduled to appear in the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Every capable small business must have a ‘bite’ –– as SBB ramps up procurement programme

–– $1B disbursed over the past 4 years, $10M for grant fund EVERY small business which is capable of satisfying the needs of a government project would be able to successfully bid and have the same opportunities as the large

businesses, said Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Small Business Bureau (SBB), Dr. Lowell Porter.

The constitution makes provision for small busi-

nesses to enjoy 20 per cent of the government procurement but the law was not enforced over the years.

“Every small business that is capable must have a bite… from next year busi-

nesses will not only benefit from the 20 per cent procurement but they will be able to benefit from all contracts starting January next year,” said Porter, during a press conference CEO of SBB Dr. Lowell Porter (Delano Williams photo) at SBB on Tuesday.

In order to benefit from the programme, businesses would need to be registered with the SBB and be approved as a supplier. “We will do proper screening to ensure that the bigger businesses do not pose as small businesses,” said Dr. Porter, adding that they thoroughly screen and do site visits for businesses which approach the SBB. Around the world, most small businesses which start, fail within two years, but according to SBB 78 per cent of their clients which started five years ago are still in business.

This proves that the local small businesses are capable and efficient.

Over the past four years, the bureau has facilitated the disbursement of over $1 billion in loans to proprietors. Dr. Porter said the delinquency on loans is low, primarily because of the partnership between

small businesses and the SBB. He said there is a .5 (point five) per cent delinquency on small business loans because the SBB works with businesses to stay in the “paying mode.”

“The SBB does not lend any money, we work along with two commercial banks- Republic Bank and GBTI- which do the lending and although the delinquency rate is low, the rejection rates are high… only 50 per cent of the loans are approved,” said the Dr. Porter.

The CEO believes that many clients are rejected because they cannot provide documentation which justifies their ability to repay the loan.

Commercial banks were urged to be more favourable to small business financing going into the next year.

According to Dr. Porter, it is a similar case for the disbursement of grants.

There is an external grant committee which approves and rejects grants.

This year $10 million was allocated to the grant fund but, as seen in previous years, not everyone would be able to benefit from grants.

“I think the time has come to focus on businesses which have the potential to contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” said the Dr. Porter.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Bandits strike thrice on Corentyne seas-based relatives came into the country for the funeral and were staying in the village but not by them. Sukhu related, she lost three gold bangles valued at $150,000, one pair earrings valued at $63,000, one chain valued at $100,000, three rings valued at $30,000 and US$150.

“I had those jewellery for many many years. This is the first time something like this happen to me in this village and it left me scared. Me feel like meh nah go able sleep back

Robbery victim Kalawattie Dhanpersaud

THREE families living in separate homes in one yard secured their homes and left for a wake in the village four houses away on Monday night. They were left in a state of shock, when they returned to find the homes ransacked and cash and jewellery stolen.

back to the wake to alert them boys cause we were scared. After the boys come and check we go over to my house which was at the back and then my house door open too. We go up and check, next thing I see them try bruk the lock but it was too big so they pull out the whole facing and

Ransacked closet of Kalawattie Dhanpersaud

Between 21:00hrs and 00:15hrs, bandits broke into the dwelling home of Jasodra Budhran 80, Kalawattie Dhanpersaud called “Wattie”, 53 and Kowsilla Sukhu 41 of Lot 100 Second Street, Alness Village, Corentyne. The trio lives in first, second and third house respectivel, which are located in the same yard.

According to Dhanpersaud, a single mother of two, upon her return from the wake and as she opened her gate, she noticed two pickets from the fence were removed.

Recalling that was not how they left the place, she told her neighbour to step back since she felt something was wrong. “When I watch up I see the door open too so I turn around and say look upstairs too; so we turn back and went

break down the door”.

She went on to explain that as they entered the house, the entire upper flat was on a state of disarray. Upon checking she realised the intruders had carted off several pieces of jewellery and a small sum of cash. The first house which is occupied by the elderly Budhran was also broken into, but nothing was stolen.

The family believes since the house faces the street, where there was a lot of activity due to the wake nearby, it would have prevented the bandits from carrying out the act on the home of the elderly woman.

Meanwhile, Sukhu, who is a widow and lives alone, explained she is fearful. She believes they were targeted because several over-

One of the handbags the bandits emptied

there by myself in the night.

Meanwhile, one of the overseas-based relative Deonarine Budram related, that he is now forced to pack up and leave earlier than expected since he is fearful but he is also thankful it is not worse. He also expressed disappointment on part of the Police who he alleged never returned to the scene since the incident. The police were called in and arrived promptly.

An investigation has been launched.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

‘Take off your political caps and govern for all the people of your community’ –– Min. Bulkan THE swearing-in ceremony of the 14 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara was held on Monday in the auditorium of the West Demerara Secondary School.

Delivering the welcome and opening remarks was Regional Chairman Julius Faerber, who congratulated all the newly elected leaders and appealed to them to work for the development of their communities. “You are now holders of prestigious offices and therefore you must carry yourselves in a dignified manner. I offer words of congratulations to all of you and look forward to working with all of you for the upliftment of this region.”

Administering the oath of office was Regional Executive Officer (REO), Denis Jaikaran. Taking the oath of office for chairpersons and vice-chairpersons respectively, were: Sheik Ahmad and Jenette Harrilall for the Wakenaam NDC; Lachman Dwarkha and Jainarine Singh for the Leguan NDC; Jaideo Sookhoo and Raywatti Outar for the Parika / Mora NDC; Parasram Persaud and Hemraj Ragnauth for the Hydronie/ Good Hope NDC; Adhunauth Bhola and Indranie Bhagwandin for Greenwich Park/Vergenoe-

gen NDC; Vishal Ambedkar and Karanjeet Mangalsingh for Tuschen/Uitvlugt NDC; Jainarine Narine and Paul Narine for the Stewartville/ Cornelia Ida NDC; Kenton Hilliman and Junette Green for the Hague/ Blankenburg NDC; Rajesh Kadarnauth and Abdullah Wajidali for La Jalousie/ Nouvelle Flanders NDC; Umesh Balram and Rohan Bheir for Best/ Klien Pouderoyen NDC; Dollis Edie and Sarafina Allen for the Malgre Tout/Meer Zorgen NDC; Anjanie Narine and Carlos De Freitas for the La Grange Nismes/ NDC; Yogieraj Das and Kushaldeo Bepath for the Canals Polder NDC; and Mark Khan and Roy Bennett for the Toevlugt/ Patentia NDC. The charge to the newly sworn-in leaders was delivered by Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, who reminded the officers of their constitutional obligations to the citizens of their NDCs. “Your masters are the people of your community and you must be the servant to them. I charge you to take off your political caps and govern for all the people of your community.

I have no intention or desire to dictate or dominate for we, in central government, will partner with you for the development of your

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan [centre] along with Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Three Denis Jaikaran [back row sixth from left]; Regional Information Officer Ganesh Mahipaul [back row third from left] and the newly sworn-in NDC chairs and vice-chairs communities. I charge you not to become dysfunctional because you chose to take up this mantle and therefore you must serve and serve well... All the necessary documents and guidance that will be required will be provided and may I remind you that our ministry provided two volumes of a handbook capturing the necessary information from Chapter 28:01, 28:02 and 28:09 of the Laws of Guyana which will answer most, if not all, of your issues should you have any; and I will provide the updated version to all NDCs again, so as to continue to strengthen the NDCs,”

the minister noted.

He also notified the sworn-in local leaders that early in 2019, the second meeting of the National Council of Local Democratic Organs (NCLDO) will be hosted, in which they are

expected to participate. Delivering the closing remarks was newly elected Chairman of the Wakenaam NDC Sheik Ahmad, who urged those sworn in to “Work for all our people whether they supported us or not.

Today, we are sworn in for the entire NDC which we represent and not just our support areas, so together I call on all to work, so that we will be able to develop Guyana.” (DPI)

Bina Hill’s Green Enterprise poised to ensure hinterland development

MINISTER of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock said the government will continue to support the Bina Hill Green Enterprise Development Centre, noting that it is a laudable initiative that has as its core the holistic development of hinterland youth.

The minister also noted the government’s commitment to bridging the gap between the hinterland of Guyana and the coast, as it seeks to develop human resources which would include the hinterland peoples.

The centre is being constructed at a cost of $200 million and will be equipped to accommodate and train 120 youths from across the country, annually. They will benefit from training in ‘green skills’ such as Natural Resource Management, Community and Village Rangers, Ecosystem Management, Forest Rangers, Village mapping and eco-tourism guides among others, Minister Allicock is quoted in a release by his ministry.

Significantly, the minister assured that this is all in readiness of the development to come, not only in Region Nine but throughout the length and breadth of Guyana. Speaking to the specific target group, the minister said “the centre provides our indigenous out-of-school youth with skills and academic training in areas which are in demand within their respective communities, thereby reducing the need for relocation in search of jobs and other economic opportunities” The ministry has envisaged youth across the hinterland becoming more competitive and productive in the national workforce, and an increased number of young entrepreneurs within the villages

and communities who are geared for success like never before. “This will ensure there are options for our youth to pursue higher levels of training or to market their skills in the world of work”, the minister noted.

During his presentation on Budget 2019 in the National Assembly recently, Minister Allicock said : “Budget 2019 provides these young people [with] greater scope and improved opportunities through the Green Centre, to be fully involved and prepared for the transition from the ‘business as usual’ path into the good life within our future Green State”. The government, with support from the Ministry of Education, is looking to have the institute fully accredited, so that the achievements from the youths who gain an education there can be recognised both nationally and internationally.

Since the government’s ascension to office in 2015, in excess of $146M has been invested to develop the Bina Hill Institute with more than 200 youths graduating to date with a 90 per cent pass rate.

Minister Allicock also noted that little or no support is forthcoming from the opposition with regards to realistic developments which are being employed by the ministry, since “they would have failed to seize opportunities umpteen times to contribute meaningfully, or it is hard to leave that comfort zone, or perhaps the reason is as Thomas Edison once said – Opportunity is often missed because it looks like work.”

He noted that Guyana is poised to see significant development therefore the opposition must come on board in support.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Over 40 aircraft maintenance engineers graduate

FORTY students on Monday graduated from the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School (AWHWAES) with most already applying for their Guyana Civil Aviation Authority Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s licence.

The school boasts a higher than average pass rate, with students qualifying with merit, credit and multiple distinctions.

According to Director of the school Captain Malcolm Chan-A-Sue, this success rate is quite notable.

During her address, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson stated that since 2015, Guyana’s compliance in the area of civil aviation has improved greatly.

She also noted that the government continues to show its support for the development of this sector by ensuring that proper, updated legislation was in place. “The Guyana Civil Aviation

[In the photo, sixth from left] Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson; Director of Aviation SAFETY Regulations of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Christopher Kirkcaldy; Chairman AWHWAES and CEO Fly Jamaica, Captain Ronald Reece; and Director of the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School, Captain Malcolm Chan-A-Sue; Master of Ceremonies Kit Nascimento [in the back] along with some of the graduates Authority would have given their signal to us that they are ready for another validation which should be done before December 2018. And the

director-general has assured me that after this is done we should see Guyana moving from a mere 64.4 per cent to nearly 80 per cent,” Minister Fergu-

son said.

Only a month ago, the Civil Aviation Act was passed in Parliament bringing Guyana’s aviation law into conformity

with primary legislation, regulating civil aviation currently found in other parts of the world.

The Bill makes provisions for the enable-

ment of the Chicago Convention and the Agreement establishing the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System. (DPI)

Anthony ‘phantom drug bond’

14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

… Min Lawrence unaware of rental of Princess St drug bond

… says Kingston, Diamond bonds to be completed next year WITH the rental of the controversial Sussex Street Bond now pinned to the past, Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence has provided information on other rentals being undertaken by the ministry and their purposes.

Prior to revealing these, however, she answered the lingering questions of Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Frank Anthony on the Sussex Street Bond during the consideration of the Budget 2019 estimates last week.

Dr. Anthony had queried about the ministry’s activities at the location but Lawrence responded that it is public knowledge the Public Health Ministry

is no longer in a rental agreement with the Sussex Street Bond.

Lawrence had stated earlier in 2018—and kept her promise—that by the end of this year, the controversial Sussex Street Bond which cost the ministry millions of dollars for rental would be no more.

The bond was rented by the ministry to house a CT scan machine as the expensive piece of equipment requires stringent specifications for storage.

Prior to being terminated, the agreement saw the ministry paying $12.5M in rent from July 2016 to December 2018.

With the allocations provided in the 2019 budget, the ministry will com-

plete the construction of its own state-of-the-art bonds at Kingston and Diamond, eventually ceasing, generally, the rental of bonds for the storage of drugs.

As of September 2018, the $250M drug bond at Kingston was 65 per cent completed and “way ahead” of schedule.

Moving past the particular rental, Dr. Anthony had also laid questions in the Committee of Supply about a particular “Princess Street warehouse”.

However, Lawrence stated that she has no knowledge of such a building being rented by the ministry.

The two also spoke on the ministry’s Ocean View Hotel storage.

Asked to state the cost

for the rental of rooms at the building, Lawrence was please to notify the sitting that the company extended its social responsibility by offering the ministry a space to keep some of its supply items free of cost.

Dr. Anthony then queried whether the rooms there meet certain standards for the holding the items.

Lawrence confirmed the same and clarified further that contrary to the opposition’s belief, there were no damages incurred to the items stored at the location in question.

She then provided a detailed list of the buildings being rented by the ministry.

Buildings being rented to house the Cuban Med-

ical Brigade include three two- story buildings at the 114 Duke Street, Kingston at the cost of $260,00 per month; a building at 21 Craig Street, Campbellville for $600,000 and another in Herstelling at $90,000.

Another house in Atlantic Gardens is serving as the home of the Cuban doctors and their coordinator at $570,000 Meanwhile, a one-story building is being rented in New Amsterdam for nurses in the region undergoing training at $190,000; another in the same town for nursing students at $260,000 and at Silverbali Street, Linden to house the same from the interior at $240,000.

The ministry is also

renting a three-story building at 217 Lamaha Street, Cummingsburg at $1.5M; a two-story building at Fort Street, Kingston at $25,000; and a five-story building at 126 Barrack Street, Kingston for the National Industry & Commercial Investment Ltd (NICL), the old Citizen Bank Building at $4.7M per month.

In 2019, the sum of $165M current expenditure has been approved for the ministry for the rental of buildings regarding policy development and administration; $2M for disease control; $44M for regional and clinical services and $16M for health sciences education.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

‘Operation Hernia’ effective

THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was able to clear its backlog of hernia patients awaiting surgery by some 70 per cent over the last weekend through a collaborative initiative called “Operation Hernia.”

The city hospital was also joined by the New Amsterdam Hospital, both of which worked in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health.

At the GPHC, 64 surgeries were completed on 50 patients with the help of eight lead surgeons; 13 surgical residents; 32 persons from the Department of Surgery and a number of medical officers.

Meanwhile, the Department of Surgery at the New Amsterdam Hospital completed 21 surgeries for 18 patients with the support of two lead surgeons and other government medical officers.

The numerical difference is attributed to patients who had multiple surgeries or hernias.

On Tuesday, a press conference was hosted at the Georgetown Hospital to provide details on the initiative.

“Operation Hernia was a unique opportunity for us at the Georgetown Public Hospital in conjunction with our colleagues from the New Amsterdam Hospital to try to bring relief to some of the patients

who were awaiting surgeries for hernias,” said GPHC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) George Lewis.

GPHC’s Head of Orthopaedics Dr. David Samaroo said on November 26, 2018, at a meeting with the CEO, a mandate was given to complete the

team together, I realised it was very possible for us to clear a large part of the backlog of patients that we have for hernia repairs.”

To facilitate the process, surgeons at GPHC were asked to give up their elective list of patients on Thursday, Fri-

eral months of hernia surgeries undertaken.

To ensure the smooth flow of the initiative, he explained that several considerations were made: one of which was the capacity of the General Surgery Ward to hold only 52 patients.

However, over two

we do these interventions, such as these projects, there should be no compromise to the care of other patients seeking emergent care; and we were very careful to ensure that this did not occur; that we used the resources in such a way that they were not unavailable for other

GPHC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) George Lewis (third left) and Head of the Department of General Surgery Dr. Navindranauth Rambaran (at left of Lewis) with others at the press briefing on Tuesday (Delano Williams photo) backlog of surgeries.

“I thought at that time it might have been an impossible task because of the volume of repairs that we had waiting for surgeries and the number of surgeries we wanted to get done within a short period of time of planning,” he began.

“But having left that meeting and having found out from surgeons and having started to put the

day and to some extent on Saturday and surgeries for hernia cases were conducted for a period of time.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT To put it into context, Head of the Department of General Surgery, Dr. Navindranauth Rambaran said the works achieved in the short period represents sev-

days, the medical team brought in 50 patients for surgery.

Dr. Rambaran stated further that the team “challenged the cultural norm” with most of the patients being discharged within 24 hours.

He added: “Whenever

patients who needed it in case of emergencies.”

However, although the hospital has conducted more surgeries this year, some 4,015 compared to 3,621 in 2017, there is still a general backlog.

Moving forward, Dr. Rambaran recommend-

ed that the project be examined for areas of improvement and determine whether it could be a template for other hospitals and other areas in hospitals experiencing backlogs.

“There are certainly research potential benefits for the future and we’ve already started collecting the data for this,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lewis noted that plans are already in place for the project to expand to other conditions and locations.

“I believe that Operation Hernia was successful and I can say that it is not one-off; it is something that we’re going to continue to do in the future. In addition to that, other phases of operations that the Georgetown Public Hospital will undertake –perhaps in early next year--- we’re going to attempt Operation Fibroids and we’re going to initiate operations whereby we’re going to reduce backlogs in other departments,” he said.

The CEO added: “We will continue to partner with the Ministry of Public Health so that other hospitals can also be a part of similar activities in the future.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Linden’s hospitality industry upbeat following Restaurant Week

THE Region Ten Tourism Association hosted Linden Restaurant Week, with the aim of showcasing Linden as a culinary destination, thus boosting its tourism industry.

The week has been described as a successful one according to member of the association who also holds the hat as President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Victor Fernandes.

The various restaurants and mini eating bars were advertised for the week on social and mass media as a marketing strategy in getting persons au fait with the foods, drinks and other culinary and entertainment services they offer. Counting back two years ago, Linden was lacking significantly it its entertainment and hospitality sector. Lindeners were forced to travel to the capital city to enjoy a formal restaurant setting for dining or to enjoy mixed drinks, cutters and cocktails. Today, the narrative has changed, with at least two first class restaurants opening their doors and several mini bars and hang out spots where cocktails, mixed drinks and appetizers are served in a cool and relaxing atmosphere. Lindeners now have a variety of

culinary choices rather than that of fast food.

Lindeners can now enjoy a variety of ‘jerk’, grilled and roasted dishes.

After realising the upgrade in Linden’s hospitality industry, with several restaurateurs investing in this regard, the Region Ten Tourism Association found it fit to now market these restaurants and mini eating bars, through the hosting of Restaurant Week. “We realised that they were lacking somewhat in marketing and what we try to do is to make them known, what we did is every day put the menu up, take pictures of what they actually have. We dined at a few of them so persons can actually know what is offered in Linden,” Fernandes said. He noted that the aim is to also attract out of town visitors to the mining town, since persons may be interested in visiting to see the many tourism scenes the town has but might be discouraged by the limited choices of dining. Now that the choices are no longer limited, those choices need to be placed on the map. In visiting these restaurants, Fernandes noted that the aim was to observe the standard of the food and the waiting services offered.

He believes that there still needs to be a

Members of the Linden Chamber of Commerce dining during Restaurant Week at Kingdom Style Restaurant little improvement in this regard but realising that the hospitality industry is a relatively new one in Linden, he has optimism that things will get better as time progresses. “We are getting there, so we need to be a bit patient and understanding in that regard, being in that kind of business calls for patience.” Dining and eating out are relatively new to Lindeners and so, there is still very little traffic at these restaurants, he noted.

Fernandes blames the economy of Linden for stifling Lindeners’ spending power. “Linden needs real investment, we are basically surviving on a service oriented economy with public servants and so, we need real investment and my hope for Linden is that the economy will improve.” In this regard Fernandes commended the restaurateurs for taking the risk of investing in such an industry in a town where the spending power of the residents is relatively low. Some of these are: owners of Kingdom Style Restaurant and Movie Theatre, Tropical Reflection Restaurant and Bar, Tone Wall Entertainment Bar, Bamboo Rhythm Café, Tro’s Grill and Chill, Country Grill Restaurant etc.

Owner of Kingdom Style Restaurant Kellon Nedd, related that the story behind the establishment of the restaurant is one written in faith, prayers, tears and sweat and it is the realisation of a dream he had since he was a little child. “It was always my desire to do business on a large scale. It was always my desire to become a businessman with at least 20 employees. I grew up with my mom who was a caterer for years. I am the eldest child for her. She used to sell at some schools and I am always in the kitchen with her. Since then I have always desired this passion for cooking,” Nedd related. Knowing the economic dynamics of Linden, Nedd made a leap of faith and started a road side chicken business called ‘dollar wings’ in Mackenzie, which soon became the craze in the town. He then decided to invest in the first class restaurant located at the Amelia’s Ward Toucan Mall.

Kingdom Style restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner which include three course meals. The cuisine is a mixture of local and international dishes. Persons can also order take out such as steaks, ribs, pork chops and other American ‘soul’ food. Reservations can be made and the restaurant will also be hosting events such as birthdays and weddings.

The restaurant can accommodate 180 persons at once. The movie theatre will be showing

week old premier movies and a confectionary bar will have available ice cream, popcorn, soda, candies etc. He is optimistic that the restaurant will prosper and its clientele will continue to grow.

Owner of Tropical Reflection Restaurant and Bar Hilton Lyle also took the leap of faith in investing in this regard and has no regrets in doing so. While Kingdom Style is a more formal dinner setting, Tropical Reflection is a mixture of formal with sassy and it also has an open bar and hang out spot. It is conveniently located at the ‘Five Corner’ of Mackenzie Linden and also offers both local and international cuisine, especially Jamaican delicacies such as ackee and saltfish, oxtail, ‘manish wata’ and goat curry. A Jamaican chef was specially hired to afford Lindeners these delicacies. The cuisines, Lyle said, are prepared very health consciously, being cognisant of the plethora of non-communicable diseases that are on the rise in Linden.

While the only intention was to establish a restaurant, Lindeners, he said, being starved of entertainment became creative. “ We were just proposing to have a restaurant, but the residents turned it into a restaurant and bar and so we have 100 per cent support from the people of Linden…..we would have special events such as one man band and so on…”

Lyle revealed. Other services offered are a restroom facility, where travellers can freshen up during their sojourn to the interior as well as a 24-hour hot and cold meal service.

There is also a dining area for the hosting of celebratory or business functions. “Our mission is, ‘clean, fast and friendly’, because I saw the need for standard in the restaurateur industry,” Lyle said.

Lyle posited that taking the risk of opening a restaurant of such high standard has not failed as he has taken the risk of many other business ventures in Linden. He urged other potential investors to come to Linden to invest as there are many needs of the people to be met as he has met their need for entertainment and dining standard. “I am a business man; I always look at the area and see the needs of the people and to cater for their needs and you would not fail.”

In an effort to assist these restaurateurs in raising the standard to that of real first class, the Linden Chamber will, in the near future, embark on hospitality training for the waiters and waitresses, chefs and other staff members.

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Hope Secondary stuns

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

… beats Mackenzie High in GPF debating contest THE Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department Inter-Secondary School Debating Competition came to an end on Monday afternoon with Hope Secondary, East Coast Demerara, emerging champion Mackenzie High School took second place.

Traffic Chief Superintendent Linden Isles said that

away the best speaker trophy,as the chief judge announced that Joshua Blackman, their second speaker, was unanimously voted the best presenter.

The competition has been ongoing for the past two months among various secondary schools across Guyana, with the aim of highlighting traffic issues and hearing

The Hope Secondary debating team, (from left) Shanecia Simon, Joshua Blackman and Shoquilla Threlfall it was a delightful series of competitions that police ranks witnessed and Hope Secondary surprised them all.

“We have come to an end of a wonderful debating competition, a competition which ranks within the police force would have listened to the various schools. Hope Secondary would have come in like a ‘dark horse’ in the competition because we would have had schools like Bishops High, St. Joseph and other senior Secondary schools. They have done exceedingly well and I must applaud them,” Isles said.

Hope Secondary also took

possible solutions from the minds of the young people.

The two schools (Hope Secondary and Mackenzie High) debated in the final on the moot, “More extensive use of road safety patrols will contribute significantly to a reduction of traffic violations.”

Hope Secondary, the opposing team, argued vehemently against the statement. The points raised by these schoolchildren were enlightening and served as an eye-opener to the audience of police ranks.

They argued that in order to significantly decrease the number of traffic offences,

“we must not increase road safety patrols, but rather, we must fix the corrupt licensing system and consequently, eradicate corrupt police officers.”

In that regard, Isles said “I hope the ranks from within the traffic department would have listened carefully to the debaters because it should not

run on deaf ears. We have to take note and these constructive criticisms we have to accept. These are things that would have happened, but we as ranks of the Guyana Police Force and ranks of the traffic department should look at ourselves and put systems in place so these things cannot reoccur.”

He pointed out that since he took over as traffic officer in the month of September, they have been putting systems in place and have been looking at various issues to see how they can better the traffic situation and management. “We have introduced traffic education programmes in schools, and putting systems in place to have all those flaws corrected. We have heads from various divisions here with us, so I brought

them so that they have a chance to listen to the young minds,” he said. Isles also noted that next year they will be hosting a quiz competition for primary schools and work towards making the competition bigger and better. He hopes to have more schools involved and get television coverage for the various legs of the competition.

The winning team received $100,000 and the runners–up, $75,000.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Stanleytown man found dead with wound to chest A STANLEYTOWN, New Amsterdam man was stabbed to death hours after he was embroiled in an argument with his brotherin-law.

Dead is Nkuma La Rose, also known as, “Tall boy” 33, of Number 54 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam. His body was discovered around 07:00hrs on Tuesday.

La Rose’s common-law wife, Asha Barclay, related, that her reputed husband and her brother Jermaine called ‘Jumbo’, began consuming alcohol just after 19:00hrs on Monday and it was during that period that an argument ensued. “La Rose don’t like the company Jermaine keeping with a girl because the police always coming to our house. Jer-

Nkoma Ridley La Rose

maine got annoyed and they had a heated quarrel. They scramble knife and cutlass.

I told dem to stop. I threw out the bottle of rum before leaving the house to go to the police station to make a

report. But as soon as I was on my way, the police patrol was passing and I called them. They stopped warned them and left. But as soon as the police left they started to argue again,” the woman related.

It was just after midnight that Barclay left her home for her grandmother’s residence at Lot 40 Mudflat, also in Stanleytown. Shortly before 05:00hrs La Rose, whom Barclay met four years ago, visited his grandmother-inlaw’s house where he called for Asha but left after he was told she was sleeping.

Meanwhile, the grandmother, Silvia Mollyneaux told the Guyana Chronicle that she was in the kitchen when her grandson Jermain visited, demanding to see his

sister Asha. “At the time, of his visit he had a long and a short knife in his hand. He say, Whey Asha. I will murder she.”

The elderly woman responded, “Not here! Not here!”, before continuing her domestic chores, as her grandson left the home.

Moments later two females came calling saying “Tall boy get bore up”.

Mollyneaux recalled going to the scene where she saw La Rose lying with his face down in a drain.

A closer check revealed a deep wound in the chest.

La Rose was employed by as a security guard at Sentinel Security Company for over a year. The suspect remains at large up to press time.

West Dem man charged for allegedly stealing TV set A 23-year-old Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara labourer was on Tuesday released on $75,000 bail by Senior Magistrate Faith McGusty after pleading not guilty on a charge of break and enter and larceny.

Alfred Bamfield pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that between December 13, 2018 and December 14, 2018 at West-

minster, WBD, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Ariana Boodhai and stole a 32” Toshiba flat screen television valued $60,000 along with a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) player worth $70,000 and a $14,000 gas cylinder.

According to the facts presented in court by the prosecutor, on the day in question Bamfield was intercepted in a taxi by patrol

ranks at the western end Demerara Harbour Bridge at about 03:45hrs on December 14, 2018 with the stolen items in his possession. He was taken to the police station where the victim came and identified the items.

Magistrate McGusty however released Bamfield on $75,000 bail and transferred the matter to the Wales Magistrate’s Court for January 10, 2019.

Materialism through the eyes of a youth HOW many of us go on social media and are annoyed with other people posting up their so-called success that is based on materialism?

From fancy cars to Gucci clothing, lavish houses and getaway vacations, there are many young people who see this as ‘making it’.

Materialism is in fact the attitude of considering material possessions and physical comfort over spiritual/ ethical values. There is no fixed definition of success as everyone has his/her own idea of it.

For me, success is obtaining a Master’s Degree in Social Work and helping as many persons as I can through the things I do (for example: my column pieces).

Materialism was learned when we were children; perhaps it was the barbie doll that meant more than sharing with your sister or listening to your parents boast about their house and bank account.

I think our parents failed us when they taught us that having more than they have is more important than becoming more than who they are.

Unfortunately, there are also some persons who grew up with material possessions and their way of overcoming it defines their efforts in earning it as an adult. Having a house does not necessarily mean you have a home; having a car does not necessarily mean it can take you to your true destinations of happiness; an overflowing bank account does mean you can buy all the things you truly need in life; While owning and accumulating wealth is okay, it is more important that you do not lose who you truly are in the process, or allow it to stunt your growth as a better individual.

Here are some ways we can try to control our materialistic sides: (a) Obtaining tangible assets-- better decision making skills, better habit responses and emotional intelligence are only a few things that we can focus on. It will lessen the need of being

pressured to obtain material wealth. (b) take up a path of being compassionate. If you’ve read my column on compassion, you would recall me stressing on our need to help those who need our help. If someone is struggling by any means and you know you are able to help that person better his/her life, then help. Being compassionate truly makes you feel selfless and better about yourself. (c) money and wealth should be a form of freedom from poverty and lack of resources not a chain that ties you down and stifles your growth. If it does not serve as a form of liberation, then you are doing it wrong. (d) most importantly, I’ll tell you the same thing old Guyanese people would say, ‘yuh can’t tek it with you.’

Death is certain for all of us, none of the things we work for won’t be able to fit into our gold caskets. I have heard of flashbacks of our best memories of life right before we die and if that is true, I think that is more deserving than anything else-- make more good memories!

If you have been reading my column pieces, you’ll know that Rupi Kaur is my favourite writer; here’s a poem she wrote that helps me to overcome my thoughts of materialism, to focus on more spiritual and ethical values of life: “Most importantly love like it’s the only thing you know how at the end of the day all this means nothing, this page where you’re sitting your degree your job your money nothing even matters except love and human connection who you loved and how deeply you loved them how you touched the people around you and how much you gave them.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

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Chronicle kicks off Christmas celebrations!

The Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) kicked off its Christmas celebrations on Tuesday with its annual grand Christmas Tree Light Up. In this Delano Williams photo Chronicle staffers and their children gather around the Christmas tree

A young boy receiving his gift from the Chronicle’s own Santa Claus

Little Jonique is all smiles after getting her gift from Santa

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UG launches book

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

–– to tackle Guyanese Diaspora challenges

THE first publication of the University of Guyana Press (UGP) has been launched, and copies are now available for purchase at the University of Guyana (UG)’s Turkeyen Campus.

The publication, ‘Dynamics of Caribbean Diaspora Engagement: People, Policy, Practice’, is said to tackle challenges within the Caribbean Diaspora, and at the same time aid in the development and enhancement of our country.

As such, Guyanese are being urged to equip themselves with the said book to come to the realisation of how we can work together to establish human capital development.

Edited by UG’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith; Professor Ken Danns, Professor of Sociology at the University of North Georgia, USA; and Dr. Fitzgerald Yaw, Director of Strategic Initiatives at UG, the 452page book brings together

Editors of ‘Dynamics of Caribbean Diaspora Engagement: People, Policy, Practice’, posing with copies of their work. (from left) Dr. Fitzgerald Yaw, Professor Ivelaw Griffith and Professor George Danns contributions from over 30 authors from the academy, government and non-governmental organisations, and they include scholars, diplomats, and entrepreneurs.

It is organised into seven sections, namely: Overview of the Caribbean Diaspora, Enhancing Development through Diaspora Engagement, The Role of Hometown Associations, Identity Issues in the Caribbean Diaspora Experience, The Lived Experience, Diaspora Policy, and Practice Lessons from Another Diaspora Experience.

It also covers economics, culture, migration, politics and development, scholarly perspectives as well as the lived experiences of the Caribbean Diaspora, all explored with a view to enhancing Diaspora engagement. **Professor Yaw said that the book goes in to the various levels at which the diaspora can engage in development of the region.

“The diaspora engagement discussed in this book reflect the reality of the global world in which we live and the people’s connection in which the diaspora really represents,” he said.

Speaking on the impact ability of this new book, former presidential adviser to youth empowerment, and current Head of Office of Migration, Department of Citizenship, Aubrey Norton, said that he believes this book is what Guyana needs and it could not have come in a timelier manner.

“This publication comes at this juncture when Guyana needs access to human and other resource capabilities of its diaspora. As we move to benefit from the oil and gas discoveries in Guyana, we need the involvement of all Guyanese who have an interest in ensuring that all our people benefit from it… This publication helps

us to better understand the reach of the diaspora,” Norton said.

He further pointed out that the migration of Guyanese to other countries has long been a negative for Guyana, in that we have lost a lot of skills and resources necessary for Guyana’s success, and the responsibility before us is to confront these challenges that we face.

“At the same time, it has opened new vistas for us to turn our negatives into positives. In this regard, there is need to develop the institutional framework and the appropriate attitude that will create conditions

Head of Office of Migration, Department of Citizenship, Aubrey Norton sharing his perspectives on the Diaspora for richness. I wish to point out that diaspora engagement, like all other social phenomenon, are complex.

But with our collective abilities, our willingness to listen and learn and engage each other we can so reach our success,” Norton stated.

In his endorsement of the book, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of the UWI, said: “The Caribbean nation-building project was conceived within a development discourse that sought to eliminate political boundaries that kept citizens apart. It has not fulfilled its potential. Now, a new discursive leadership is emerging within academia that shows how diaspora is to be deposited in the heartland of the nation in terms of both policy and praxis. This is the key to unlocking a new ‘Caribbeanness’ in energetic and innovative ways.

Our editors, Danns, Griffith and Yaw have given us a text that serves as the manifesto for the mission.”

The book is available for US$39.95 or GYD$ 8,400 at the UG Campus Store and the UG Press Office at Turkeyen.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Overcrowded A&E, abandonment of elderly major challenges for GPHC

THE crowding of the Accident and Emergency Department with non- emergency issues; the sluggish removal of discharged patients and the abandonment of the elderly are some of the main challenges affecting the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

On Tuesday GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) George Lewis said that with the number of persons seeking help at the city hospital increasing annually, the highlighted challenges all eventually contribute to the issue of limited space.

“I would want to believe, as the CEO of the hospital, that that is so because people feel a sense of confidence in the medical service and they also are becoming more health conscious. And, because they are becoming more health conscious, persons are making efforts to seek the doctors, deal with complaints rather than waiting for when it really gets bad,” he said.

“The hospital hasn’t gotten bigger, so if you have more persons demanding the services then we would end up in problems in terms of space,” Lewis highlighted.

When it comes to this sore issue of inadequate space, Lewis said that those who crowd the Accident and Emergency Department with minor issues are not making the situation any better for themselves or the hospital.

“It is ‘emergency’ services.

The Accident and Emergency Department is meant to attend to certain types of patients; trauma types of patients; accidents and so on. But, the person who has a common cold, that is not the best place to go. The place to go is the Medical Outpatient Department,” he stressed.

“If you go to the Accident and Emergency Department you may be there before other persons, but if there is a person that goes

to the Accident and Emergency Department with a pain in their [sic] chest or a from multiple accidents with broken legs and bleeding, you the person that goes there with a headache will not be attended to.

The priority will go to the person whose life is threatened.”

Lewis says that this concept is where the issue occurs as many persons still go to the Accident and Emergency Department expecting immediate care, but often become frustrated when they observe others being attended to in a selective manner.

Lewis then continued: “Another challenge that we have is where patients are discharged, but then their relatives and loved ones are not coming quickly enough to take them home; and if a bed is occupied, then we have patients who would like [to have] that bed [but can’t have it].”

GPHC NOT A GERIACTRIC HOME Meanwhile, he stated that several others are using the hospital as a safe bet to abandon their ageing loved ones.

Lewis stated: “In some cases, particularly the elderly, those patients are abandoned in the hospital.

We have a policy where we can’t [remove] the person; so what we’re doing is to work with Social Services to see if we can find placement for these persons.”

In making the hospital’s position clear, the CEO called on citizens to do better by taking care of their loved ones after the doctors and nurses have done their part.

“Georgetown Hospital is an institution where we try to make people better.

It’s not a geriatric home where we can keep persons for extended periods of time.

So, I’d like to appeal to members of the public; I’d like to appeal to members of the press to please

help us to make relatives more conscious about the challenges that we have;

and I ask that relatives seek to look after the elderly and not aban-

don them at the Georgetown Public Hospital,” he urged.

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GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) George Lewis

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Communities Ministry donates to Buxton Football Club THE Ministry of Communities on Friday last handed over a cheque for $224,989 for the purchase 14 pairs of football sneakers for the Buxton United Football Club (BUSC) at the Colours Boutique on Robb Street, Georgetown.

Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Communities, Danielle Campbell-Lowe made the presentation to Secretary of BUFC, Mr. Eton Moses on behalf of the Minister, Ronald Bulkan.

The Club approached Minister Bulkan for assistance in providing footwear to members of the senior team, many of whom are students of Guyana Technical Institute (GTI), Guyana Industrial Training (GITC) and the University of Guyana (UG), the ministry said in a release.

Moses, according to

the release said BUFC management, in its thrust to provide opportunities to youths in the Buxton-Friendship Community, has endeavoured to accelerate developing partnerships with civic-minded organisations.

He noted that the club is exemplary for its discipline and youth development (mainly boys) through the game of football, in a community threatened by socially deviant behaviours.

The club, which currently plays in the GFF Elite League, is now a voting member of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) due to recent reforms introduced to the football arena during 2015.

Moses explained that the under 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and senior teams utilise the Buxton/Friendship Community Ground for daily

PRO of the Ministry of Communities, Danielle Campbell-Lowe hands over the cheque to Colours Boutique Manager, Robeson Brotherson in the presence of BUFC Secretary, Eton Moses

training between the hours of 5pm and 9pm as well as for competition games.

However, according to Moses, the club is continually challenged financially to meet the demands of all its departments.

He added that given

its lack of permanent sponsors, the club is forced to rely on random acts of kindness, sporadic donations along with monthly contributions from its executives. It was against this background that the BUFC

sought the minister’s assistance in an effort to support its work.

Campbell-Lowe said that the ministry was only too eager to invest in the human capital of communities and lend its support towards a cause that would

steer youths away from delinquent behaviour.

She expressed hope that the gesture would assist in creating an opportunity for youths to become productive citizens and make meaningful contributions to society.

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Authorities investigate fisherman’s drowning

ALMOST a week after a seaman attached to Pritipaul Singh Investment was presumed drowned after he fell overboard while at sea, the authorities have launched an investigation into the matter.

Navishwar Karamdatt called “Sharma”, 33, of Diamond, Housing, Scheme East Bank Demerara, died after he fell overboard last Wednesday morning.

Reports are that the Department of Labour is examining the issue and officials from the agency visited the wharf where the vessel, ‘Snook’ is moored to gather information on what occurred. Several safety issues were flagged, a source at the fishing company said

on Tuesday.

Last Wednesday morning, the fishing vessel was out at sea when the captain reported that one of the crew members was missing. He immediately instructed the vessel return to shore.

The vessel which departed on December 3, 2018 returned to shore on Saturday last and the crew was detained.

Surveillance footage provided an account of the incident. Two men can be seen working at the stern of the vessel and one of them being pushed off by turbulent waves.

The victim was swallowed up by the sea by the time the vessel turned around to assist him.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

A screen grab of the scene on board the vessel from which the fisherman was flung overboard

CDB adopts updated Climate Resilience Strategy THE Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has updated its Climate Resilience Strategy to better support climate-change resilience and sustainable development efforts in its 19 Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs).

The strategy, which covers the period 20192024, was approved by the CDB’s board of directors on December 13, 2018. It focuses on enhanced and sustained adaptation action to promote disaster risk reduction and poverty reduction. CDB’s Director of Projects, Daniel Best, said the bank is committed to supporting efforts by its BMCs to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. NDCs are the targets that countries around the world are working to achieve to stop global temperatures from rising 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

“As a consequence of climate-related disasters, our BMCs experienced an estimated USD27 billion in loss and damage during the period 2000-2017.

Recurrent disasters undermine economic growth and contribute to high levels of debt accumulation, making progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and the global Small Island Developing States agenda much harder to maintain,” Best said.

He added, “Through the new Climate Resilience Strategy, CDB will help countries deliver more robust climate solutions. It places greater emphasis on adopting sector-wide and multi-sectoral approaches in addressing the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, the strategy proposes strategic sectoral assessments to support the design of climate-resilient policies, plans and governance frameworks, to deliver transformational investment interventions, in keeping with countries’ NDC priorities.”

When implemented, the strategy is expected to enable the bank to mobilise increased levels of concessionary resources for all BMCs; improve climate resilience in vulnerable sectors; strengthen the enabling environment to support resilient climate actions; and improve capacity within the CDB for effective and efficient delivery of climate solutions.

The Climate Resilience Strategy 2019-2024 builds on the progress achieved and the lessons learned from the 2012-2017 strategy.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Salvation Army, private sector distribute 1100 Christmas hampers

THE Salvation Army once again partnered with the Private Sector Commission to bring happiness and cheer to hundreds of less fortunate persons during the festive season with the continuation of its annual Christmas Hamper Distribution.

This year the distribution exercise saw the sharing of some 1100 food hampers to mostly senior citizens and persons with disabilities, who were all too happy to receive them, and ever so grateful for how much the hampers would help them out.

“It’s a great help to me, is I alone living,” shared 83-year-old Ameena Azeez, who has been coming for some years now for the assistance of the hampers. “I must say thank God that I’m here and thank God for all the sisters and the brothers in the Army, they give me a great help; without them I couldn’t achieve what I having today, so I give praise and thanks to everybody.”

They were also several members of the Guyana Society for the Blind, they too were overwhelmingly grateful for the gesture. “We look forward for this every year

and we’re so happy that they can be doing this and hope that it can get bigger and better and thank those on board Mr. [Edward] Boyer and others, and we wish all of them all the best for the upcoming years.,” said Lavena Powlette, who was accompanied by her friend Hazel Morris.

Both Powlette and Morris are visually impaired.

Morris said the hamper came at just the right time for her as she will be celebrating her 53rd birthday this Saturday and is looking forward to it now. “We feel great. It’s a time of the year when we look forward to cheers from John Public,” Morris said.

British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen, were both on site to help distribute the hampers to the patrons. Prior to the distribution, both made remarks to those eagerly awaiting the hampers, where they noted there joy to be part of the event.

Quinn reminded that the festive season is one to think of the less fortunate, and commended the Salvation Army for keeping that as

Post-mortem on 25-year-old man reveals he was run over A POST mortem examination performed on the body of 25-year-old Intiaz Muhammad of Tushen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, who met his demise after being ran over by a motor car HC 8814 on the One Mile Public Road Sunday morning, revealed that he died from crushing injuries consistent with being ran over by a motor vehicle.

The driver, Jermaine Jackson of Wisroc Linden, still remains in police custody as of investigations continue.

The driver related that Muhammad was lying on the side of the road in an intoxicated state and he was blinded by a bright light from another car that was proceeding north. With limited visibility, he drove over Muhammad and still in denial, drove away but later reported to the Wismar Police Station where his car was impounded and he was taken into custody.

Commander of ‘E’ Division Linden Lord told this publication that there were two fatal accidents in one week in the division and he is therefore urging drivers to practice to Five C’s, more so during this festive season where intoxication will be on the rise, coupled with slippery roads. He is urging both drivers and pedestrians to be more cautious when using the road ways.

Last week, a collision between a pick-up and a truck along the Mabura trail on Friday resulted in the death of a 16-year-old boy: Clay Skybar of 111 Miles Mahdia in the Potaro/Siparuni Region. Reports are that the young man was in the tray of a pick-up which was heading to Mahdia around midday on Friday when the vehicle collided with the truck’s trailer around a turn.

He was picked-up and rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn (second from right), IDB Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen (right) and National Hardware CEO Eddie Boyer (third from right) help to distribute hampers (Adrian Narine photo) their mandate.

“There are people who are less fortunate than our-

selves and we must remain thankful that we have organisations like the Salvation

Army that never forget that message.

We should all commend

them for the sympathy that they continue to provide,” Quinn said.

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Barabina Road temporarily fixed for Christmas

RESIDENTS of Barabina Hill, North West District are breathing a sigh of relief after several days of hard work by a contractor has enabled the swampy roadway to now be accessed by vehicles.

The situation had cut the community off from the town of Mabaruma.

At the moment, the road is being tested for vehicles to traverse, and according to

Community Development Officer (CDO) Leomie Willis, persons at the hill-top community view the project as a ‘Christmas gift.’ There are 484 residents living at Barabina Hill, which is considered a part of the town Mabaruma.

Works on the roadway commenced earlier this month and from the inception, the contractor was facing an uphill task. The

A truck navigates the road leading to Barabina Hill in the Mabaruma Sub-Region

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Works progressing on the roadway at Barabina difficulty lies in the low-lying area where a move to replace a wooden bridge with a conmajor section of the road is swamped. Water crete structure at the Kumaka Junction was from a nearby creek inundated the area for said to be the cause of the woes at Barabina. close to two decades, ultimately cutting-off At the time, water from the Barabina vehicular access.

Creek flowed freely under the bridge and Reports are that when the contractor start- into the nearby Aruka River via connecting ed working on the road two weeks ago, water trenches. However, under the PPP adminisfrom the creek backed-up and loads of loam tration, the move to build the concrete bridge were washed away overnight. with no conduit for the water to flow saw Nevertheless, the workmen persisted and the water being backed-up and gradually they were able to re-align the road which had swamped the lower section of the roadway disappeared under the swamp. near Barabina.

On Tuesday, the truck transporting loam As such, the water eventually damaged and other materials to the area was able to the foundation of the roadway, and as far navigate the road and according to Willis, ve- back as 2009, a few years after, the wooden hicles will now be able to transport residents bridge was replaced. to and from their home.

The residents were left to walk across In April this year, Minister of State footpaths built at the side of the area where Joseph Harmon told reporters at a Cabinet the road once existed. press briefing that a sum of $59.9M was On Tuesday, Willis said the residents set aside for works to be undertaken on the are thankful to the APNU+AFC adminisroadway by the firm, International Imports tration as they are now able to transport and Supplies. goods and travel from Barabina Hill with Under the previous administration, a much ease.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Aussies power to Perth Test victory to level series

By Tristan Lavalette

PERTH, Austraalia (Reuters) - Australia cleaned up India’s lower order with a barrage of hostile bowling before lunch on the fifth day to secure a series-levelling, confidence-boosting 146-run victory in the second Test yesterday.

Having set India a daunting 287 runs to win on a menacing Perth Stadium pitch, Australia dismissed the tourists for 140, midway the first session to win an engrossing, low-scoring contest.

Australia’s wickets were shared around with Man-of-the-Match Nathan Lyon (3-39), who is fast becoming something of a national hero, and quick Mitchell Starc (3-46) the pick of the bowlers.

It was sweet revenge for Australia after a nail-biting 31-run defeat in the series-opener at Adelaide Oval and ensured captain Tim Paine his first win in five Tests as skipper.

“As a group we’re relieved, it’s been hard work,” Paine told reporters.

“The first two Tests in this series have been tough. It’s been a bruising Test match. To get a win like that against the number one Test team is going to give us a huge boost of confidence.”

India, looking for a first Test series win in Australia, had pinned their faint hopes on Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant when they resumed on 112-5 but they all but evaporated when the former fell for 28 in the sixth over of the morning.

When Pant miscued a slog off Lyon to be brilliantly caught by a diving Peter Handscomb at mid-wicket for 30, India simply imploded, losing their last four wickets for just three runs.

It was Australia’s first win since March 5 in Durban – before the damaging ball-tampering scandal in South

Africa that rocked the nation.

Without suspended former captain and vice-captain, Steve Smith and David Warner, Australia’s shallow batting depth has been laid bare.

This, though, was a much improved effort on a troublesome drop-in wicket; and the 326 the hosts made in the first innings after Paine had won the toss and decided to bat first was instrumental in the victory.

Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch and Travis Head each compiled half-centuries in the first innings and Usman Khawaja grabbed another as Australia tallied 243 in the second.

India, by contrast, looked reliant on their talismanic captain Virat Kohli, who contributed 123 of India’s 283 runs in the first innings with the only century of the match.

The tourists will regret their gamble at the selection table, playing without a specialist spinner in the absence of the injured Ravichandran Ashwin.

Speedster Umesh Yadav was preferred over spinning all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, but struggled with match figures of 2-139.

NO SPINNER India’s lengthy tail was also exposed on the grassy wicket with the four tail-enders mustering just 11 runs between them for the match.

Kohli defended the selection of Yadav, who claimed 10 wickets in his last Test against the West Indies in October, even though off-spinner Lyon dominated for Australia with 8-106 through his targeting of the expansive rough patches.

“If you see the rough, it didn’t have much assistance. Just the pace on the ball that Lyon bowled with ... that’s how he got the wickets,” Kohli said.

“We thought a fast bowler was going to be more productive and more helpful.”

It was a tempestuous contest at times with both skippers at the centre of the tension with several heated exchanges conjuring images of ill-feeling from previous series between the cricketing superpowers.

“Nothing compared to 2014,” said Kohli, who was part of a bitter feud with former quick Mitchell Johnson during the 2014-15 series.

“As long as there is no swearing and personal attacks then the line doesn’t get crossed. Australia played better cricket than we and deserved to win.”

The Test was the first at the new 60,000-seat stadium located in Burswood after a 47-year run at the WACA but crowds were disappointing especially when fierce heat blighted the early part of the match.

The series shifts to the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground followed by the finale in Sydney.

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA 1st innings 326 INDIA 1st innings 283 AUSTRALIA 2nd innings 243 INDIA 2nd innings o/n 112-5 Lokesh Rahul b Mitchell Starc 0 Murali Vijay b Nathan Lyon 20 Cheteshwar Pujara c Tim Paine b Josh Hazlewood 4 Virat Kohli c Usman Khawaja b Nathan Lyon 17 Ajinkya Rahane c Travis Head b Josh Hazlewood 30 Hanuma Vihari c Marcus Harris b Mitchell Starc 28 Rishabh Pant c Peter Handscomb b Nathan Lyon 30 Umesh Yadav c & b Mitchell Starc 2 Ishant Sharma c Tim Paine b Pat Cummins 0 Jasprit Bumrah c & b Pat Cummins 0 Extras: (b-6, w-3) 9 Total: (all out, 56.0 overs) 140 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-13, 3-48, 4-55, 5-98, 6-119, 7-137, 8-139, 9-140.

Bowling: Mitchell Starc 17-346-3 (w-1), Josh Hazlewood 11-3-24-2, Pat Cummins 9-0-252 (w-2), Nathan Lyon 19-3-39-3.

Mathews, Mendis tons lift Sri Lanka on wicketless day

By Greg Stutchbury

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - Former captain Angelo Mathews continued his role as saviour on Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand, as he and Kusal Mendis struck unbeaten hundreds to thwart the hosts’ push for victory on the fourth day of the first Test at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

Mathews was on 117, while Mendis was 116 not out as they took their side to 259 for three at stumps, having batted together all day and created Sri Lanka’s highest partnership for any wicket against New Zealand with a marathon 246-run stand.

It was the first time in Test cricket that a full day’s play had been completed without a wicket falling since the first day of the second match between South Africa and Bangladesh on February 29, 2008.

The pair’s stubborn resistance could prove to be match-saving with rain forecast for the final day today.

They had resumed at 20 for three, needing another 276 runs to even make New Zealand bat again, after Tom Latham’s maiden double-century of 264 not

out had powered the hosts to a massive first-innings total of 578.

They frustrated New Zealand’s bowlers, who resorted to a shortpitched attack early on, changed to a fuller length towards lunch, then virtually shut down the scoring during the middle session with Ajaz Patel shoring up one end.

Nothing, however, worked against Mendis and Mathews, who were untroubled on a pitch offering little in the way of sideways seam movement, although left-arm spinner Patel got the occasional delivery to bite and bounce.

Mendis was the more fluent with some memorable drives down the ground before he brought up his sixth Test century shortly after tea when he pulled a short delivery from Neil Wagner fine for his 12th boundary.

Mathews achieved his ninth century about an hour before stumps when he drove Colin de Grandhomme through midwicket for his 11th boundary.

He then proceeded to do some pushups mid-pitch - a potential riposte at the selectors who dropped him in September from the one day squad for fitness reasons.

It was the third successive innings in New Zealand that Mathews has resurrected his

side’s fortunes when staring at embarrassment.

The 31-year-old top-scored with 83 in Sri Lanka’s first innings of 282 and combined with Dimuth Karunaratne for a 133-run partnership after they slumped to nine for three inside the first four overs.

That innings followed on from his score of 128 not out in Sri Lanka’s only warmup game against an inexperienced New Zealand selection in Napier, when they had slumped to 104 for nine before he pushed them to 210 for nine declared.

SCOREBOARD SRI LANKA 1st innings 282 NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 578 SRI LANKA 2nd innings o/n 23-3 Danushka Gunathilaka lbw Trent Boult 3 Dimuth Karunaratne c Trent Boult b Tim Southee 10 Dhananjaya de Silva b Tim Southee

0 Kusal Mendis not out 116 Angelo Mathews not out 117 Extras: (lb-2, nb-3. w-8) 13 Total: (3 wkts, 102.0 overs) 259 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-10, 3-13.

Bowling: Tim Southee 20-6-362, Trent Boult 21-3-50-1, Neil Wagner 21-2-100-0 (w-4, nb-2), Colin de Grandhomme 13-4-240 (nb-1), Ajaz Patel 26-8-46-0, Jeet Raval 1-0-1-0.

33

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Manchester United run out of patience and sack Mourinho after dire start

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho’s relationship with Manchester United reached the point of irretrievable breakdown a long time ago, but the club finally served the divorce papers yesterday as the world’s biggest club sacked the game’s most famous manager.

with immediate effect,” the 20-time English title winners said in a brief statement.

That followed Sunday’s defeat that left them 19 points behind Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool side in sixth place and 11 points off the Champions League places. The total of 29 goals they have conceded is their worst at this stage of a season for 56 years.

Jose Mourinho’s stormy reign at Manchester United came to an end as he was sacked by the club.

The decision came as United laboured to their worst start for 28 years, playing dull, defensive football, with Mourinho cutting an ever-angrier figure after each setback, but Sunday’s 3-1 defeat

by Liverpool was one humiliation too far.

After decades of being the biggest fish in the English soccer pond, United had just about come to terms with the fact that bottomless new funding had enabled Chelsea and then Manchester City to displace them in terms of spending power and trophy accumulation.

But when Liverpool, in whose shadow United laboured for so long before Alex Ferguson finally “knocked them off their perch”, brushed them aside on Sunday like the mediocre mid-table team they have become, it was the end of the line for the Portuguese coach.

“Manchester United announces that manager Jose Mourinho has left the club

For the current crop of United fans and officials who gorged on success during Alex Ferguson’s 26-year reign that is just not acceptable.

Mourinho will point to the fact that after replacing Dutchman Louis van Gaal in May 2016 he won the Europa League and the League Cup in his first season, before guiding United to second place and a place in the FA Cup final, where they were beaten by Chelsea, in his second.

His 58.33% win record is considerably better than that of David Moyes (52.94) and Van Gaal (52.43) and only marginally behind Ferguson’s 59.67.

But those figures mask the fact that he has been poor against the other top-six teams, while his tactical approach has alienated just about everyone at the club.

With every passing defeat he found new ways to blame the players while reminding his critics of his previous successes at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan

and Real Madrid.

If he had failed while trying to win with United’s customary panache he may have survived a little longer.

But while City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have been thrilling fans with their swashbuckling approach, Mourinho has become the arch-proponent of “parking the bus” - a phrase he introduced to English football’s lexicon when complaining about teams packing their defence to foil his exciting Chelsea team.

His fallout with £90 million ($114.17 million) French midfielder Paul Pogba summed up his failure.

Good enough to inspire France to win the World Cup this summer, Pogba has spent the last two weeks sitting on the bench, effectively punished for daring to suggest the team should be more attacking and play like the Wolverhampton Wanderers team who drew 1-1 at Old Trafford.

Instead Mourinho has opted for the sturdier qualities of the likes of Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini.

Mourinho, bucking the trend of “ultimate responsibility” has been ever-more critical of his players, accusing them of lacking technical expertise, mental fortitude and physical resilience.

The smiling, charming Mourinho who arrived at Chelsea declaring himself “a special one” 14 years ago, has long been replaced by a surly, haggard-looking operator, dismissive of any and all questioning of his personal responsibility.

PLAYER POWER However, a club insider close to the decision told Reuters yesterday the notion that “player power” had played any part in his sacking was simply untrue.

“The decision had been entirely down to the way the club have been playing”, the source said, also claiming that Mourinho had been committed to the principle

of fast, attacking, high-tempo football for which the club has long been famed.

Mourinho has repeatedly said he cannot compete with the spending power of City and Liverpool, ignoring the fact that he has signed £400 million of talent over the last two years.

He broke the bank to acquire Pogba, yet has struggled to find a way to make best use of him. Romelu Lukaku came in from Everton and has had success in fits and starts but Alexis Sanchez, who earns a reported mind-numbing £400 000 a week, has been an unmitigated disaster.

The defensive numbers also speak for themselves with Mourinho constantly changing his back four. Even inconsistent keeper David de Gea has not been able to patch over the holes.

His selections and tactical approach brought a tsunami of frustrated criticism from former players-turned-pundits and it became a question of when, rather than if, he would go.

“Liverpool are streets ahead,” said former United captain-turned-pundit Garry Neville after Sunday’s loss. “I find it staggering. United were awful; it’s not good enough.”

Liverpool fans certainly enjoyed it and their chant of “don’t sack Mourinho” must have made painful listening for the United board.

United, who were drawn against Paris St Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League on Monday, have said they will appoint a caretaker manager within the next 48 hours while they presumably try to earn time to prize a bigname manager away from his current role.

Zinedine Zidane, Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte are among the early bookmakers’ favourites to take over.

Young Warriors into BCB/Ivan Madray Memorial 100-ball final THE Young Warriors Cricket Club advanced to their third consecutive first-division final after making a return to the level earlier this year in the Ancient County.

The in-form club will battle either the Rose Hall Town (RHT) Gizmos and Gadgets or Tucber Park Cricket Club in the championship clash of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/Ivan Madray Memorial 100-ball Cricket tournament this Sunday afternoon at the Port Mourant ground.

three-figure mark (103 from 98 balls).

Young Warriors left-arm medium pacer, Devindra Ramoutar finished with five wickets for nine runs.

Left-arm Berbice U-19 spinner Keith Simpson claimed 4-7 for the RHT Gizmos and Gadgets.

The semi-finalists are scheduled to clash at 09:30hrs with the winner advancing to the 13:30hrs final.

The tournament is being played in memory of the late Ivan Madray, the third Berbician and member of the historic Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) to play Test cricket.

The Madray and Chintamani families are the sponsors.

BYE INTO FINAL Young Warriors defeated Albion Community Centre Cricket Club in the second round last Sunday, to draw the bye into the final, while powerhouse team, RHT Gizmos and Gadgets, crushed Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club by nine wickets to progress to the lone semi-final.

At the Albion ground, Young Warriors struggled to score quickly against the home team’s all-spin bowling attack.

They lost national youth opener Alex Algoo, bowled by left-arm spinner Gourav for 12 while fellow opener Vishal Mohabir was also bowled by off-spinner Mahendra Chaitnarine for 05.

The eventual winners never recovered and it took a few shots from former Guyana Under-19 all-rounder Linden Austin (31), Mortimer Fraser (14) and Ishwar Singh (13) to get them past the

FIVE-WICKET HAUL Bowling for Albion Community Centre, Beesham Surujnarine and Sharaz Ramcharran took two wickets each in an impressive bowling and fielding display.

Despite the solid bowling performance, Albion also found themselves in trouble in the middle, as left-arm medium pacer Devindra Ramoutar claimed two wickets in two balls and

then dismissed a careless Kandasammy Surujnarine, to push them to 14 for 4. Albion never recovered and they were eventually dismissed for 67 from 13.5 overs.

Ramoutar finished with 5-9, while fellow medium pacer Suresh Dhanai nabbed 2-9 for the visitors. Devendra Latchman top-scored with 22 for the home team.

LOW SCORING MATCH In the second match at the venue, Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club were bundled out for 48 as RHT Gizmos & Gadgets continued their dominance of the 2019 first-division season.

None of the Rose Hall Canje batsmen reached double figures as left-arm Berbice Under-19 spinner Keith Simpson claimed 4-7. He received support from off-spinners Junior Sinclair 2-8 and Eon Hooper 2-8.

RHT Gizmos & Gadgets then eased to 50-1 from 42 balls.

Kevin Sinclair was caught at extra cover off the bowling of the impressive Under-15 fast bowler Isaiah Thorne for 11, but Junior Sinclair 18 not out and Vidal Crandon 13 not out led their team to an easy nine-wicket victory.

TTCB president praises High Court decision to quash injunction blocking elections PRESIDENT of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TCCB) Azim Bazzarath said he is pleased with the High Court’s decision to quash an injunction filed in October 2016, to stop impending elections of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB).

Former Windies cricketers Dinanath Ramnarine and Daren Ganga filed the injunction alongside members of the Nations League who are also members of the TTCB, who have been campaigning for the board to introduce a one-club-onevote system.

They argue that the provisions of the TTCB constitution are flawed in that they promote an unfair election process and gives incumbent officers and persons nominated by them an advantage over other persons who are contesting the elections.

An executive team of the TTCB is comprised of six officers – the president, first vice-president, second vice-president, third

vice-president, general secretary and treasurer - as well as six nominated members after each Annual General Meeting.

TCCB president Azim Bazzarath Therefore, at the time of each AGM, those 12 persons are members of the board.

As such, the TTCB argued that there were no grounds to justify the Court’s intervention in the elections

which were being conducted in accordance with the TTCB constitution.

The Court, in agreement, ruled that the case put forward by the claimants has ‘little support in fact or law’.

The central argument of the claimants’ case is that a block of 12 votes out of a majority of 49 is assured to the TTCB’s outgoing officers and that constitutes an unfair advantage that yields an unjust result.

However, according to the High Court‘s December 17, 2018 ruling: “A block of 12 votes out of a maximum of 49 does not, by any standard, give rise to a majority.

“If the TTCB’s full membership were to participate in an election, the incumbent officers would require a minimum of 25 votes to prevail – far in excess of the stipulated 12.”

“We were very happy with the outcome. From the very beginning we knew that no judge would have

interfered with the constitution of any national body, because what happened is that the board members will make that decision, they will want will want to govern their association or board in the way they see it fit, and they will not like any institution from outside the board to interfere with their business,” Bazzarath told SportsMax.TV yesterday.

“We were confident of victory,” the TTCB president continued. “And in the end, we know people on the board and the national population is very happy with the ruling.”

He did lament that the sport had suffered in TT over the two years the matter was before the courts.

“With this matter behind us now we are looking to put things in place and to take Trinidad and Tobago cricket where it is supposed to be.”

Bazzarath is seeking a third term as president of the board.

(Extracted from Sportsmax)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Timeline of Lowpoints that spelt the end of Mourinho’s unhappy Man U tenure

Here are some of the Dorado swimmers who represented the club at the T&T competition.

Dorado finish seventh at well-attended T&T Club Invitational

THE DORADO Speed Swim Club accumulated 227.50 points to finish as the seventh-best club out of 24 at the Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT) Invitational Swimming Championships which concluded on Sunday evening.

The FINA-sanctioned event had some of the better clubs in the region with large amount of swimmers competing. The Guyanese

club, on the other hand, had several pre-teen swimmers in their 14-member squad.

In total, Dorado won one gold, six silver and four bronze medals in both the individual and relay events.

Raekwon Noel, who won the 800m freestyle, accumulated 58 points to claim a third-place finish in the 11-12 Boys’ individual division. Meanwhile Ethan Gonsalves, who won a bronze

in the 200m breaststroke, finished in seventh position on 32 points, while Elliott Gonsalves placed 11th with 13 points.

Vladimir Woodroffe, like Elliott, swam only three individual events and finished 13th on 11 points.

All four boys were outstanding in the relay events.

Dorado also had a few standout female swimmers.

Donna Carter, who won medals in the 100m and the

200m backstroke races, finished 11th in the 13-14 age division. Carter swam only three events.

In the 8-and-under Girls’ division, Jasmin Allen, who had a number of near podium finishes, amassed 25.50 points to finish in fourth position, while in the Girls’ 11-12 division, Monique Watson finished tied for 11th after registering 14 points.

The event ran from last Thursday to Sunday.

Change unlikely unless ‘somebody does the right things’- Simmons CHENNAI, India (CMC) – Ex-West Indies head coach Phil Simmons has held out little hope of a revival for his former team’s fortunes, unless key decisions are made in the Caribbean in the best interest of the game.

His comments came in light of the Windies nightmare tour of Bangladesh, where they were whitewashed 2-0 in the Test series and then went down 2-1 in the three-match one-day series.

The Test series defeat was the first for the Caribbean side on Bangladeshi soil and the first by a fullstrength team to the hosts.

“I can imagine how depressing it must be for Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards and Sir Gary Sobers. It is depressing for all of us,” said Simmons, who now coaches Afghanistan.

“Until somebody decides to do the right things where cricket is concerned, it is going to stay like that for a while.”

The series loss left West Indies in a precarious position in the ICC Test rankings, now only a single ratings point away from joining Bangladesh in ninth spot.

ty20 World Cup with West Indies two years ago but was sacked six months later for what Cricket West Indies (CWI) termed “differences in culture and strategic ap-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday, December 19, 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: Ricky Ponting-230 matches (Australia) Brian Lara-125 matches (West Indies)

(1)

(2)

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

Who was the result of the series?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

Former West Indies coach Phil Simmons

Their fortunes have also continued to slump in the one-day format, leaving them ninth in the international rankings, and only five ratings points ahead of Simmons’ Afghanistan.

Simmons won the Twen-

proach.”

His replacement, Australian Stuart Law, quit last month after two years in charge, leaving the Caribbean side with fielding coach Nic Pothas as their interim head.

LONDON (Reuters) - Timeline of the significant lowpoints this year which led to Manchester United dismissing manager Jose Mourinho: - 19 May - United lose FA Cup final 1-0 to Chelsea, ending the season without a trophy for first time in three years.

- 19 August - Defeat in second game of new Premier League season 3-2 to Brighton & Hove Albion.

- 27 August - Mourinho sees his side lose 3-0 to Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, the biggest home defeat of his career. Complains about ‘respect’ to media after the game.

- 22 September - Midfielder Paul Pogba says United should attack more at home after disappointing 1-1 draw with Wolves. Mourinho strips Frenchman of vice-captaincy in growing rift.

- 25 September - United dumped out of the League Cup at home by second-tier Derby County on penalties - 29 September - 3-1 defeat in the league by West Ham United means United suffer their worst start to a new season in 29 years.

- 8 October - Investigated by FA after allegedly swearing in Portuguese to camera after 3-2 comeback win over Newcastle United.

- 11 November - Comprehensively outplayed and beaten 3-1 by champions Manchester City away.

- 16 December - Another 3-1 defeat, this time by fierce rivals Liverpool which leaves United 19 points behind their league leading opposition.

- 18 December - Mourinho sacked with the club sixth in the Premier League.

Hetmyer scores ...

From back page

ro’s 567 and Glenn Phillips’ 457. Hetmyer also scored his maiden T20 hundred during that competition.

Rutherford, the hard-hitting left-hander, was bought for two crore (US$280 000)

by Capitals, having risen to prominence in the Global T20 Canada earlier this year, blasting 134 not out off 66 balls in a must-win game for West Indies B against eventual champions Vancouver Knights.

He also smashed 45 not out off 13 balls, inclusive of six sixes, for Guyana Amazon Warriors against Trinbago Knight Riders in the Hero CPL at Providence in September.

All-rounder Paul, who has represented Guyana, West Indies and Guyana Amazon Warriors, was sold at his base price of US$70 000 to become Rutherford’s teammate at the tournament which is cricket’s most lucrative showpiece.

Meanwhile, fellow West Indian Carlos Brathwaite got a US$700 000 deal with Kolkata Knight Riders, where he will join Caribbean counterparts Sunil Narine and Andre Russell.

Nicholas Pooran, the destructive Trinidad and Tobago wicketkeeper/batsman, joins T20’s leading run-scorer and century-maker Chris Gayle at Kings XI Punjab, after he was grabbed by the franchise for

the same price tag as Hetmyer.

Pooran, 23, also had a fantastic Hero CPL, scoring 267 runs in 10 games, at a strike rate of 144. He also struck 18 sixes in the tournament. In the recent T10 League, Pooran was the leading run-scorer with 324 runs in nine games, at an astonishing strike rate of 245.

Rajasthan Royals have bagged the service of Windies pacer Oshane Thomas for the upcoming edition of the IPL, having picked up the Jamaican at the auction.

Thomas made his international debut during Windies’ tour of India in October and impressed with his pace, regularly clocking around 150 kmph. His senior bow came after he took 18 wickets in 10 matches during the 2018 Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Thomas has taken 26 wickets from 17 T20 matches at a strike rate of 14.3 and an economy rate of 8.27.

West Indies captain Jason Holder and Trinidad and Tobago’s left-arm spinner Khary Pierre are among the group of unsold players, which includes Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Yuvraj Singh, Dale Steyn, Fawad Ahmed, Chris Woakes, Glenn Phillips and Shaun Marsh.

35

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Billingy, Thomas among top performers at TTTC’s ‘Play to Conquer’ tournament ...Kaysan Ninvalle cops `B’ Class Open JUNIOR table tennis players, Thuraia Thomas and Jasmine Billingy along with Colin Wong, Niran Bissu, Kaysan Ninvalle, Isaiah Layne and others were among the top performers when the dust settled on the Titans Table Tennis Club’s (TTTC) ‘Play to Conquer’ Junior tournament on Monday evening.

On Sunday, Niran Bissu, who made a return to the sport after some months, captured the Boys’ U-15 category by playing unbeaten in the round-robin final.

He defeated second-placed Isaiah Layne 3-1 before brushing aside Isaiah Sahadeo, Joel Rajkumar and Curtis McRae, all by a 3-0 margin to complete his championship run.

unbeaten. He defeated one of the pre-tournament favourites, Dhanesh Persaud 2-0 and followed up with 2-0 wins over Chase Outar, Narayan Goodridge and dispatched Justin Leitch 2-1.

This earned her second place while Sukhai and Outar were joint third. Billingy also copped the Girls’ U-11 category by once again playing unbeaten in the round-robin final.

contest.

The first set went to Ninvalle 14-12 before Rausch took the next two sets 11-8, 11-9 to claim a 2-1 lead. However, Ninvalle showed maturity to claim the next two sets

The overall category winners pose for a photo.

Kaysan Ninvalle captured the ‘B’ Class category by defeating Terrence Rausch.

Parents and fans were treated to two days of thrilling encounters at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) and saw competition in the U-9, U-11, U-13, U-15 and U-18 categories as well as in the Recreational ‘B’ Class category.

Layne, whose only loss was to Bissu, settled for silver while Rajkumar and McRae shared the joint third position.

Meanwhile, the Boys’ U-11 title went to the diminutive Colin Wong who played

Jasmine Billingy continued her upward progress in table tennis by copping the U-9 Open category as she eased to victory without conceding a set. She defeated Samara Sukhai, Deja Datt, Akira Watson and Chase Outar all in straight sets, 3-0.

Watson’s only loss came in her encounter against Billingy.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Kaysan Ninvalle, one of Guyana’s most promising table tennis prospects, captured the ‘B’ class Open category.

In the ‘B’ Class final, Ninvalle came from behind and exacted revenge on Terrence Rausch who had defeated him in the semi-finals of the U-18 category, to take the title 3-2 in an intriguing

11-5, 11-7 and clinch the title.

Earlier, Ninvalle had suffered a 1-3 defeat at the hands of Rausch in the Boys’ U-18 semi-final. However, Rausch was later defeated in the final by southpaw Isaiah Layne in straight sets 9-11, 8-11 and 9-11 in the final.

Rausch in his semi-final had defeated Niran Bissu who shared joint third honours

along with Ninvalle.

Meanwhile, the Girls’ U-18 title went to Thuraia Thomas who played unbeaten in the round-robin final.

Thomas dominated her counterparts but faced a much sterner challenge from Crystal Melville in her final round match which she eventually won 3-2 after trailing 1-2.

She won 11-6, 7-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-5.

Jasmine Billingy and Aneka Phillips shared the joint third in that category.

Thomas also walked away with the Girls’ U-15 title after she defeated Melville 11-5, 11-1, 11-9 and the Girls’ U-13 title with another final win over Melville (11-8, 11-5, 11-8).

Billingy and Nicky Melville were joint third place in the Girls’ U-15 category while Billingy and Deja Datt shared joint third place in the Girls’ U-13 category.

The Boys’ U-13 title went to Dhanesh Persaud who defeated Colin Wong 3-2 in the final to settle the score. Wong had bettered Persaud in the Boys’ U-11 final on Sunday.

The tournament which was the fourth of its kind to be organised by the Titans Club was sponsored by Raj Singh Insurance Brokers, Beacon Café and SBF Petroleum.

Church’s Chicken supports Curran bought for £800 000 and Bairstow for £250 000 GFF-ExxonMobil/STAG International Futsal tournament ENGLAND all-rounder 20 million.

The venue for the tour-

CAMEX Restaurants, Inc., under the Church’s Chicken brand, is the latest entity to support the GFF-ExxonMobil/STAG Beer International Futsal tournament, when the agency’s Marketing Consultant presented a sponsorship cheque to aid their interest.

The presentation was made Monday at the Church’s Middle and Camp Street outlet by Deslyn Griffith to GFF president Wayne Forde and Kashif and Shanghai representative Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major.

Griffith expressed pleasure at her company’s commitment to the success of the tournament, while acknowledging that they have been active in the community, exploring sporting and other opportunities for growth.

G r i ff i t h n o t e d t h e i r “brand is about sharing the good times with the communities and so it was an easy decision to partner with the organisation.”

In wishing the tournament well, Griffith said they are hoping the tournament will “bring more opportuni-

ties for more futsal competitions in Guyana and increase the level of awareness of the sport.”

and Tobago and a Sao Paulo selection from Brazil.

Apart from Guyana, the other local, participat-

Sam Curran was bought for £800 000 by Kings XI Punjab in the auction for the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 20-year-old attracted the third-highest bid of 72 million rupees, having entered with a base price of

Hyderabad Sunrisers signed England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow for £250 000, but Eoin Morgan and Chris Woakes went unsold in Jaipur.

The 12th season of the IPL will run from March 29 to May 19.

Camex Restaurants Marketing Consultant, Deslyn Griffith, presents cheque to GFF president Wayne Forde.

Also in photo is co-director of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, Aubrey Major.

The four-day tournament will kick off with six matches on December 27. The Surinamese are scheduled to play the fifth match of the evening against a Georgetown AllStars team.

The other international teams participating in the festival include Morvant Caledonia United from Trinidad

ing teams are an East Coast All-Stars, Linden All Stars, Georgetown All-Stars and West Demerara All-Stars.

The winning team will pocket $1.2M while the losing finalists will receive half that amount. Thirdand fourth-placed finishers will pocket $300 000 and $100 000 respectively.

Sam Curran averages 36.72 with the bat and 25.14 with the ball in seven Tests for England.

nament has yet to be decided.

Players involved in England’s 2019 World Cup squad must return from India by April 25.

RISING STAR CURRAN IN DEMAND Left-arm seamer Curran has enjoyed a remarkable six months after making his Test debut in June.

He was named England’s man-of-the-series in their 4-1 victory over India and was part of the Surrey team that won the County Championship.

He was also part of England’s 3-0 triumph in Sri Lanka this winter, although he missed the final Test with a side strain.

Curran has played two one-day internationals but no Twenty20s for England.

Kings XI won the bidding for him despite interest from Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore. (BBC Sport)

KFC Goodwill Football tournament

Annai beat Christianburg/Wismar 3-0

Annai Secondary (on the ball) proved too much for their opponents, Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS). (Delano Williams photo)

Hetmyer scores big with RCB at IPL auction … Rutherford, Paul picked up by Delhi Capitals

lengers Bangalore, joining T20 star bats Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

Hetmyer, 21, has had an outstanding year in international cricket, blasting three ODI hundreds, including one on the recent tour of India where he amassed 259 runs in five matches, striking at 140.

He was also Guyana Amazon Warriors leading run-scorer in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (Hero CPL) with 440 runs, the third most in the tournament behind Colin Mun-

Turn to page 34

parts, mixing wing play with balls through the middle of the park to overwhelm their opponents.

It didn’t help that the CWSS goalkeeper was a bit sloppy at times. The second goal was scored after he tried to push the ball out of the area but instead pushed it onto a rushing Niazz Mohammed (12th) who slammed it against the crossbar and it rebounded into the goal.

At the end of the half, CWSS looked the more frustrated team, as their chances at goal were few and far and their opponents seemed to have free rein.

On resumption, Linden side picked up their attacking spunk but were not able to penetrate the Annai net.

The third goal for the hinterland side came from Mohammed, whose swirling shot from 25 yards out was too much of a rocket for the CCWS keeper; even though it was aimed just a foot above his head.

Up to press time, the second match between Shiva and East Coast’s Annandale Secondary was at 0-0.

NSC congratulates Hetmyer, Rutherford and Paul DIRECTOR of Sport Christopher Jones congratulated Guyanese and West Indian players Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford and Keemo Paul, who have been selected to play in the Indian Premier League 2019.

Hetmyer was selected by Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rutherford and Paul were drafted by the Delhi Capitals in yesterday’s IPL auction held in Jaipur, India.

The Director of Sport also congratulates the three other West Indian players who were selected - Carlos Brathwaite (Barbados), Nicholas Pooran (Trinidad and Tobago) and Oshane Thomas (Jamaica).

“All of Guyana looks forward to exciting performances from our trio in the marque tournament and we will be all glued to the broadcast as we follow their exploits,” Director Jones said in a statement issues by the NSC. “We are assured that they will each represent our proud nation of world class cricketing pedigree and the Golden Arrowhead with dignity and pride,” Jones said.

Shimron Hetmyer WHILE Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer scored big, US$588,000 to be exact, with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), his compatriots Keemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford were also smiling to the bank, all compliments of the Delhi Capitals when the Indian Premier League (IPL) held their auction yesterday in Jaipur.

Seventy slots were available from a pool of 351 players, with a maximum of 20 to be filled by overseas players and Hetmyer, the left-handed Guyanese batsman, was snapped up by Royal Chal-

REGION Seven’s Annai picked up their first win in the KFC Goodwill Football tournament by a 3-0 margin over Linden’s Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) when the tournament continued at the Ministry of Education ground.

A cold afternoon in Georgetown, the men from the Hinterland played with fire to avenge their loss on Saturday to Trinidad and Tobago’s Shiva Hindu Boys’ College.

They were by far the superior team when things got going at minutes to six, but difficulties beyond the organisers’ control again forced a late start.

However, Annai got the ball rolling early, with some skilful use of the midfield.

They were able to create their first few changes within minutes of the game.

Their first goal followed not long after - a stunner from Orville Daniels in the 5th minute.

As the game went on, Annai team were too much for their Linden counter-

Sherfane Rutherford

Keemo Paul

OTHER WEST INDIAN PLAYERS WHO WILL PLAY IN IPL 2019 ARE: ► Dwayne Bravo (Trinidad and Tobago) - Chennai SuperKings ► Chris Gayle (Jamaica) - Kings XI Punjab ► Andre Russell (Jamaica) - Kolkata Knight Riders ► Sunil Narine (Trinidad and Tobago) - Kolkata Knight Riders ► Evin Lewis (Trinidad and Tobago) - Mumbai Indians ► Kieron Pollard (Trinidad and Tobago) - Mumbai Indians Guyanese who previously participated in the IPL include Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Christopher Barnwell.

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018