Guyana Chronicle E-paper 12-20-2018

THURSDAY 20th December, 2018

MISCHIEVOUS

No.105494

GAP throws support 09 behind gov’t PAGE

–– ahead of confidence vote on Friday

… Ramjattan calls out PPP/C on disturbance rumours

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… assures all security arrangements in place for Friday’s debate

Defaulters Business booms downtown warned 09 PAGE

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–– Integrity Commission to take legal action against defiant public officials

President pardons 10 three female inmates for Christmas PAGE

Georgetown was abuzz on Wednesday as Guyanese intensify their shopping for the Christmas holidays. In this Samuel Maughn photo, shoppers could be seen in this Regent Street store purchasing various items

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Gov’t drafting national plan to tackle teenage pregnancy … hinterland region recorded highest incidence

IN Guyana, teenage pregnancy is most prevalent among indigenous peoples and in the hinterland regions.

The problem is especially prevalent in Barima-Waini (Region One), Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven), Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight), and Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo (Region Nine); and First Lady Sandra Granger has appealed for more work to be done to tackle the issue.

Mrs Granger made the remarks as she delivered the feature address at the launch of the “Situation Analysis of Adolescent Pregnancy in Guyana,” a qualitative and quantitative study that looked at the factors that contribute to adolescent pregnancy and proposed viable solutions that can be used to reduce its prevalence.

The study, which began in 2010, was a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Health, the Unit-

ed Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and was conducted by Dr. Morris Edwards, Monica Millier and Dr. Christine Glover.

The launch was attended

by UNFPA Representative Adler Bynoe and UNICEF Representative, Sylvie Fouet. The First Lady has made addressing the issue of teenage pregnancy one of her primary tasks over the past few years. “This is a subject [in]which I have a continuing interest… given the huge impact on the social and economic growth and development of teens,” Granger said.

“It is heartening that the MoPH has launched adolescent-friendly services at its health centres and provides contraceptives to adolescents.”

Granger also made a call for the deficiencies as it pertains to contraceptives being made available to adolescents. A finding contained in the report is that a lack of

access to, and knowledge about, contraceptives is a major contributing factor to teenage pregnancy. Though Guyana’s legislation stipulates the legal age of consent at 16 years, there is a “practice of limiting access to contraceptives to persons below the age of 18 years.”

“Most of the adolescents knew where to get condoms, many didn’t know where to get contraception,” explained Edwards during the presentation of a summary of the report. The study utilised a combination of a desk review and focus groups, and found that in Guyana, approximately five per cent of young women have had sex by the age of 15 years.

The analysis showed that Barima-Waini prevailed with the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in 2015, with over three times the national average; however, in 2016, Barima-Waini was displaced by the Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo region, which went from

UNICEF Representative, Sylvie Fouet (centre) presents copies of the “Situation Analysis of Adolescent Pregnancy in Guyana” to First Lady Sandra Granger (left) and Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence (Adrian Narine photo) ranking fourth to ranking first.

For this reason, priority will be given to these two regions when the Ministry of Public Health rolls out an Inter-ministerial National Plan to address the issue.

“We would like to work in Region One and Region Nine. Region Nine came up

so aggressively, they were doing better in 2015 and in 2016 they made a jump, so we want to focus on those two; we’re not neglecting Seven and Eight, but those would be the two primary regions we will be focusing on,” said Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence.

“We’re all aware of the

challenges such an undertaking entails… I’m happy that the team was able to collect sufficient pertinent data from which a plan of action can now be set up. It is important to have empirical evidence-- too many areas lack the data from which meaningful discussion can be made.”

Commission Chairman, Desmond Sears, said.

On the streets of Georgetown, especially Regent Street on Wednesday, there was no indication that business would slow before Christmas. Late shopping has already started and businesses are enjoying the Christmas rush. Many are offering promotions to attract customers.

“We’ll be open straight through to Christmas Eve,

opened from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm,” shared Saeed Hamid, Floor Supervisor for Household Plus.

Selling a variety of products from clothing to home furnishing and appliances, Hamid said customers look forward to the one-stop shop advantage of coming to Household Plus.

“The home furnishing department has been extremely busy, with everybody trying to get the new blinds and curtains and stuff. A challenge that we’ve been facing is that there are a lot more competitors in the market but a lot of people prefer to

come shop with us because we’re a one-stop shop. You get everything you need in one building,” Hamid said.

Several customers were out and about cashing in on the business’s many promotions, including a rush on the discount on carpets.

At Torginol Paints, there was a swarm of customers.

“We’ve been busy from since last week and I can say business has been good and it’s very encouraging to see so many people out and about.

This is our season.

Right now we’re opening See page 3

Business booms downtown

THOUGH the private sector will be keeping an eye on the No-Confidence Motion set for debate on Friday, it does not expect any disruption to business for

the days leading to Christmas.

“When you look around the city, it’s business as usual, so I wouldn’t say it’s a cause for concern at this point

in time. I don’t think we need to think that far. It’s just that it’s a democratic process and we have to look at it. We’re looking forward to a lively debate,” The Private Sector

A shopper checking out the clothing on display at Household Plus

MISCHIEVOUS

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

… Ramjattan calls out PPP/C on disturbance rumours … assures all security arrangements in place for Friday’s debate

By Svetlana Marshall WHILE assuring that all security arrangements will be in place on Friday when the controversial no-confidence motion comes up for discussion in the National Assembly, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) should desist from being malicious and provide details of its claim that there “will be” public disturbance.

In what the government said is another bid to create tension, the PPP/C on Wednesday claimed that there will be public disturbance in and around the Public Buildings on Friday when the National Assembly is expected to debate the no-confidence motion against the A Partnership for National + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government.

In a letter to the Commissioner of Police Leslie James, parliamentary opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira- a former home affairs (public security) minister claimed that there are serious security concerns ahead of the debate.

PPP FANTASY “We have received information that there will be an attempt to prevent the members of the parliamentary opposition from entering the compound of the Parliament Buildings on December 21st, 2018 for the sitting of the National

PROVIDE DETAILS However, when contacted, the public security minister told the Guyana Chronicle that all arrangements will be in place; however, he underscored the

the National Assembly, the Guyana Police Force will ensure that the law is upheld and peace prevails, even with protesters on the ground. “So whatever it is, people must enjoy that freedom. This is a democratic country, and once the people want to enjoy their right to protest and demonstrate outside, they are going to do that,” he emphasised.

Hours after the PPP/C made public their letter to the police commissioner,

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo Assembly, the day that the government has identified for the debate on the parliamentary opposition’s motion of No-Confidence.

A senior government official has poured cold water on Teixeira’s claim, deeming it a fantasy and that there were no threats to the opposition MPs. “Our information points to some very ominous plans to physically disrupt the sitting by either invading the chambers, and, or, creating disruption within the chambers.

The intention is to interrupt the debate and the vote on the No- Confidence Motion,” Teixeira said in the letter. She called on the police commissioner to ensure that necessary interventions are made to ensure that the rule of law prevails.

at 8:00 am and we’re working straight into Christmas Eve; how late we go on Christmas Eve will depend on demand,” explained store supervisor, John London.

On Wednesday, the rains caused a lull in shopping traffic at Chino Store but store Manager, Shenny Lall, was optimistic about business picking up.

PPP/C PLOTTING Trotman said that the AFC has also heard rumours that the PPP/C is plotting. “We have heard our share of rumours of diabolical plots by the PPP, and of moves to disrupt the House when the vote on the Motion fails. We have cautioned our MPs to be vigilant even before and during the debate and ask our supporters to be on the lookout for agent provocateurs who we understand will try to infiltrate their

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan importance of having the PPP/C provide more details to its claims.

“Whatever the PPP is fearful of they must express it very explicitly to the police, so that we too can up [our measures] in the prevention of the activities they fear may happen on that day.

“I am certain that [they] can provide the police commissioner with those, rather than being mischievous again by saying that there will be major public insecurities on that the day,” Ramjattan said.

He assured that as in the case of previous sittings of

Leader of the AFC Raphael Trotman the Alliance For Change (AFC) said it is also concerned about security but has received the assurance of the public security minister that security arrangements for the Public Buildings, the Members of Parliament and those who are likely to congregate outside to support either side are in place.

“We have been assured that the security forces are fully mobilised and pre-

Business booms ...

From page 2

pared to ensure that there is no breach of the peace,” Leader of the AFC Raphael Trotman said.

“We will be opened now until Christmas Eve. We sell everything; we sell household, we sell electronics, we have toys, flowers and Christmas decorations and so on,” Lall said Over at the Tech Source Guyana/ Lingerie Shoppe nearby, management is promising unique experience for shoppers.

“It’s not like going into any other

store in Georgetown. There’s quite a variety of stuff. We’ve bras, panties, girdles, shape-wear, lingerie for every occasion. If you want a different experience, shop here,” proprietor Sarah Ibrahim said.

She added: “We have the latest technology, phones; for the camera enthusiasts, we have cameras, we have drones.”

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira numbers and cause confusion,” Trotman explained.

Nonetheless, he is calling for democracy to prevail and the outcome of the No-Confidence Motion be respected by both sides. With government having a one-seat

majority in the House, it is highly likely that the opposition-sponsored motion would be defeated.

“It is bad enough that this Motion was introduced immediately when His Excellency President David Granger announced that he was seeking medical attention and needed the nation’s support. The PPP has to understand that thousands see this as a cowardly attack on the President and are rightly outraged,” the AFC Leader said.

He, like Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, believes that the budget presented the best opportunity for a debate on the policies and programmes of the current administration.

SUPERFLUOUS Earlier on Wednesday, the prime minister told reporters that while the opposition openly criticised the $300.7B 2019 Budget, it did not vote against it, but rather opted not to vote. It is believed that the Motion is at best superfluous and vexatious and at worst, a cowardly manoeuvre against the President and should be withdrawn.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo told reporters that it is not too late for the opposition leader to withdraw the motion; however, he warned that once it is debated, it will be defeated, reminding that the opposition has the minority in the House.

Household Plus Floor Supervisor, Saeed Hamid

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

NDCs to receive $5M subventions -chairpersons, vice-chairpersons sworn in for Regions 1, 4, 9 & 10

THE Ministry of Communities has increased its annual subventions to Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) from $3 million to $5 million.

Government had proposed the increase in the 2019 budget which was approved by the National Assembly last Friday. Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan said the increased subventions would serve as tangible support which the councils would use to cater for development in their respective communities.

“You will find strong support from the Ministry of Communities and by extension central government…

next year, chairs, vice-chairs and overseers of all NDCs will receive a stipend,” said the minister during his remarks at the swearing-in ceremony for the chairpersons and vice- chairpersons for 20 NDCs within Regions One, Four, Nine and 10 at Square of the Revolution on Wednesday.

Although government is committed to lending support to the NDCs, he said the local democratic organs have full autonomy which is provided for in the constitution. “Government has been deepening our democratic governance and moving towards a decentralised approach to gov-

ernance…this administration did not have to institute new provisions to let this exercise take place, they are embedded in Article 12 of the constitution,” said Bulkan, noting the significance of the recently held Local Government Elections (LGEs) to the process.

LGEs were held for the second time in 24 years and for the first successive time since independence.

“Residents finally had a right to elect the persons who they want to represent them at the local government level…a right which was denied for far too long; that was to the detriment and development of our society,” Minister Bulkan stated, adding that the persons who were elected have a right to serve the residents of their communities and not an institution

Recently sworn chairpersons and vice-chairpersons pose for a photo op with Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, seventh, from right (Adrian Narine photo)

or entity.

Bulkan echoed the sentiments of President David Granger who once said that no more shall LGEs be postponed or withheld. Holding of LGEs is consistent with the agenda of the ministry, he said, adding that the local

Thursday, Dec. 19, 2018 03:30hrs. - 05:00hrs./14:30hrs. - 16:00hrs.

government system which was “damaged and degraded” is going to need considerable work and effort to restore functionality within the councils. “It is our hope and expectation that before we leave office, whenever that is, that this system would be so entrenched and that the people of Guyana will not allow any administration to take away this power that the people have,” said the minister.

He said the restoration of local democracy has positively impacted and improved service delivery and the conditions of residents.

The minister assured the newly sworn-in chairpersons and vice-chairpersons that central government will not dictate their operations, but would be there to assist in the development of the communities across the country.

According to Minister Bulkan, councils will have an opportunity to interact and share ideas once again during the second National Conference of Local Democratic Organs (NCDLO), which will be held in the first quarter of 2019.

Speaking at the inaugural NCDLO conference last year, President David Granger said Regional Democratic Coun-

cils (RDCs), NDCs and municipalities are bound by the constitution to provide services such as the maintenance of bridges, drainage and irrigation structures, roads, security, street-lighting, sanitation, sporting and recreational facilities; promotion of education, employment and economic enterprises, including cottage industries and health and preservation of values and culture at the level of communities.

“These are demanding duties. These are vast responsibilities. These functions require collaboration, cooperation and coordination between the various local government organs and central government. They require commitment by all and at all levels of government and society…The provision of public services is vital to improving the living and working conditions within neighbourhoods and villages,” the President said.

Some of the President’s sentiments were echoed

by Minister Bulkan and Chairperson of the RDC for Region Four, Genevieve Allen, who encouraged the local leaders to be agents of change.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Police get more time to probe Puruni murder

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…‘Rasta Beans’ remains in custody AS police continue their investigation into the murder of 24-year-old pork knocker, Xavier Boyal, who was killed at Puruni Landing last month, the court has granted investigators an extension to keep the 26-year-old suspect for three more days.

The suspect, Deion Evans, also known as ‘Rasta Beans’ was apprehended by ranks at Sulphur Road Backdam, Cuyuni River last Saturday by ranks after he had allegedly cut off his dreadlocks in an attempt to disguise. He is currently in police custody and is expected to be placed before the court soon.

According to an earDeion Evans, also known as ‘Rasta Beans’

Gardener remanded after fracturing spouse’s arm F O RT Y- T W O - Y E A R OLD Troydon Evans, of Lot 214 Mayor and Town Council Scheme, New Amsterdam, Berbice, is alleged to have fractured his spouse’s arm during an altercation on December 8, at the New Amsterdam Public Library.

Reports are that the complainant had sought refuge at the library following Evans’ alleged threats at her place of business a stone’s throw away. Evans appeared before Senior Magistrate Alex Moore on a charge which stated that he unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm on Rhonda McGarrell.

Police Inspector Bernard Browne prosecuting at the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court objected to pre-trial liberty, as the defendant was charged similarly on a previous occasion. In that instance, the virtual complainant had offered no evidence, but Evans was placed on a bond to keep the peace.

Browne said too that on another occasion Evans was convicted and imprisoned after he burnt the face of the

complainant.

Further, the court was told there are several reports lodged at Central Police Station , with respect to the defendant making threats to the virtual complainant, his wife. Following Browne’s disclosure, the magistrate refused bail and remanded Evans to prison until January 18 for police report.

On December 8 the complainant, a vendor outside the St Therese’s Primary School was plying her trade when the defendant

approached and threatened to kill her. As a result, she fled from her stall into the public library, where the defendant pursued her and inflicted several lashes about her body. A visit to the New Amsterdam Hospital revealed that her left arm was fractured.

lier release from the police, Boyal, who was a pork knocker from Waramuri Mission, Moruca River, North West District, was shot and killed on November 11, 2018, at Puruni Landing.

Boyal was reportedly employed by a dredge owner and was working at Rock Creek, Puruni River.

It is alleged that on the day in question, Boyal left Rock Creek along with one of his co-workers, Orlando Marks, and they headed to Junior’s Disco, also located

at Puruni Landing. However, while at the disco, Marks had an altercation with Evans which resulted in him being punched to his face. As a result, Boyal intervened and pushed Evans away.

Marks and Boyal then left the disco and were walking along the Puruni Road on the way to their camp. It is alleged that Evans joined the vehicle of 56-year-old Steve Underwood and instructed him to drive. While Underwood

was driving, Evans pulled out a gun from his pants waist, pointed it towards the windscreen and discharged a round in the direction of Boyal who was walking alongside the Puruni Road. Evans then exited the vehicle and discharged another round at Boyal and made good his escape. Three circular wounds were seen on the deceased body: one above the abdomen, one under the right arm and another to the right upper back.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Renaissance of Georgetown

For many years now the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown had been accused of every failure and administrative sin. The media, both electronic and print, have unceasingly accused City Hall officers of incompetence, corruption, negligence and every other failing. From time to time, reports have been made on the council; the last one being the Justice Kennard Report emanating from the Commission of Inquiry which was recently concluded. The Justice Kennard Report, like all those which preceded his, found little that was praiseworthy at City Hall.

This image of the council sharply contrasts with that of colonial times. The Town Council, in colonial times, was elected by an electorate of property holders and later by persons who paid rents for their dwellings. Those who put themselves forward to serve as councillors were well known and able professionals and businessmen of the ilk of LFS Burnham, Sir Lionel

Luckhoo, and members of the DeFreitas family. Many of these councillors later served with distinction in national politics or in the major business firms in Guyana. Councillors received no salaries or allowances.

It must not be forgotten that in all the councils, a prominent undertaker always served and that may have been the reason that the Le Repentir Cemetery was never neglected. Among such memorable undertakers were Claude Merriman and George DeSebastiani.

The workers of the council were motivated and respected by the citizens. The administrative staff such as the Town Clerk, the City Treasurer and the City Engineer were qualified professionals.

For example, former Town Clerk E.A. Adams was one of the best accountants in the country and his sons were among the most prominent lawyers. To be employed at the Town Hall was one of the most prestigious jobs in the country. So high was the reputation of the council that

whenever they issued bonds, these were much sought after since the council was regarded as financially strong and reliable as the Central Government.

These town councils built a city which was long acclaimed as one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean, The town was clean, welldrained and beautifully planted with various types of trees, some of them flowering like the flamboyant of old Camp Street which was caught in the paintings of Sharples. The Town Hall was always painted and its floors were polished and its auditorium was used as the town’s concert hall where there were Sunday afternoon classical concerts featuring Guyana’s best musicians.

As for the reasons why the council and the city collapsed into the now chaotic conditions, we shall not go since it is more profitable to consider how they could be renewed and help recapture the past glory. The prescription for achieving such renewal is many-faceted and voluminous.

We shall, therefore, confine

ourselves to identifying six activities which are quickly achievable and which will change the image and performance of the council and its workforce.

The first is that the council, the workforce and the citizens must be educated to know that their city was once acclaimed as the most beautiful and well-kept in the Caribbean. We could regain the past we once had if we took focused and positive action. In other words, we should have the morale and the intelligence to know that we could achieve the renewal. In the second place, the Justice Kennard Report and the past reports, like the Burrowes Report, should be used as the agenda or more appropriately, the blueprint for action. In other words, a kind of 5-year development plan should be elicited from these reports and the council and its officers should begin to work on such a plan. The Ministry of Communities must be involved in this process.

Then, the financial administration of the city should

be reviewed and a qualified specialist should be engaged to reorganize and reform the financial administration with the intention to make it more efficient and to make it impossible for any corrupt practice to take place. The outstanding taxes owed the city should be collected since this will end the city’s financial woes. In due course, the city will be re-valued.

The Friends of Georgetown Committee consisting of able, prominent and interested citizens should again be resuscitated. This committee was quite important in the past in providing the council with advisory guidance.

Any new committee, to be successful, will have to be strictly apolitical. When the city of Georgetown was suddenly expanded as far as Turkeyen on the East Coast and Agricola on the East Bank, no administrative or technical support was provided and this partly accounts for the council’s failure. Citizens’ committees should be organized in the various districts; The Subryanville Committee

could provide a good model since it has had some quite fine achievements since it was organized.

The City Engineer’s Department needs to be urgently and completely overhauled and modernized. The major reason why that department is dysfunctional in so many respects is that it is fundamentally a 19th- century office.

Functioning as a 19th-century office opens the door to corruption and inefficiency. Until such time that the office is reformed, it must try to function more efficiently within its present parameters. One such efficiency that could be established is to have specific time frames for various activities such as reviewing and finalizing building plans.

And lastly, the constabulary should seek the help of the Guyana Police Force in reorganising itself. The council is no Augean Stables once work is started with a concerted effort in the areas outlined, a Renaissance of the City Council and the city of Georgetown would begin to materialise.

More money for Guyana with reduction in Liza cost Dear Editor I WAS not surprised to hear about the reports of decreased costs for the Liza-1 project. After all, the initial estimate we were given was just that – an estimate.

Final calculations could have swayed either way but thankfully, they were lower than the initial quote.

Obviously, the real question is what does a lower cost of production mean for Guyana? The obvious answer is that this is good for us because the US$700 million

reduction is US$700 million that does not have to be paid back for the company’s initial investment. That’s more money in our coffers!

The Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) to which our government agreed states that 75% of the revenue earned from production in the initial years will be used to recover the companies’ investment until costs are fully recovered. The remaining 25% is to be split evenly between Guyana and the investing companies. Once costs are fully paid, Guyana

and the consortium split the profit 50/50, after Guyana takes a 2% royalty.

When last we heard, the development cost was estimated to be US$4.4 billion with production set to begin at the Liza-1 well in 2020.

But with the new lower-cost calculations, we also have lower cost recovery, and Guyana will get to split the full profit more quickly. Beyond this project, this news will have a positive impact on future projects. If you are weighing several business ventures -- and one venture in

particular required a lesser investment than the rest, while also yielding equal or greater profit – then you would choose that venture because costs are lower. For foreign investors, Guyana can be that venture; as a lower-cost producer, we offer a prime opportunity for development while still benefiting all parties greatly. And given our extensive reserves, it looks as if we will be able to offer that opportunity for a long, long time.

This information must also be used as leverage in

future agreements. We can now point to the competitive development cost of our reserves and of prior projects to bargain for more favourable terms. Foreign investors love to save money and now we know that our highly porous offshore reserves are an excellent option in that regard. Simply put, the confirmation of lower costs will serve Guyana in the long-run as we establish ourselves as not just an oil-producing state, but a low-cost, oil-producing state. To investors, the dif-

ference between the two is huge. More importantly… the difference is huge for Guyanese! We will be better positioned to weather global oil market fluctuations than most other producers because of our low costs of production. Lower costs mean prospects can remain profitable in nearly any oil-price environment, and not just in coming months or years, but in coming DECADES. Regards Clement Smith

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Ideas to reduce hospital stays for elderly patients who are medically fit for discharge Dear Editor, I READ in the electronic media that the GPHC CEO, Brigadier (Ret’d) George Lewis was complaining “that families continue to dump elderly relatives at GPHC.” Let me be honest. I do not know if that was his choice of words, but that was the headline. I do have concerns with that, since patients are not cargo and the word “dump” when referring to a human being is insensitive, disrespectful and devaluing. Being unwell is stressful enough; being looked at as cargo surely wouldn’t help.

Anyway, that’s not my reason for writing today. My reason for writing is to state that this issue is not new and it is worldwide. The fact is, that this has been happening for decades. It generally peaks during the Christmas season for obvious reasons.

This issue is very old and it would beg the question, why a solution or attempt at a solution has never been proposed?

It was clearly there during the PPP’s 23- year reign, when Mr. Michael Khan was the CEO and it was definitely there during PNC’s 28-year reign.

The fact is that the families wouldn’t change; they clearly haven’t changed over the decades. As a result, it is incumbent that the hospital administration adapts and be innovative. Patient and relative-blaming is not the way forward. I am no hospital administrator, but common sense would make me suggest the following recommendations.

1. What about having a step-down clinical care institution, to which those patients can be transferred once their acute problems have been addressed? That’s less costly and frees up desperately needed and acutely limited hospital beds. Monies are there for costly drug bonds under the PPP, PNC and now APNU+AFC. 2. What about engaging with the families to see where the problems lie? Sometimes it may be just a simple but understandable fear and concern, that they are not equipped to deal with their elderly relatives increased social and clinical needs soon after an acute illness. It may just be that their actions are cries for help for a break from a demanding and mentally stressful duty.

3. What about engaging with the patient? They may have an understanding of their clinical needs and may articulate same?

4. What about providing respite for the families?

Taking care of an elderly relative can be quite costly and mentally demanding.

The government can probably fund respite care for families, caring for elderly relatives, for a limited period for example at the Palms or Uncle Eddy’s Home; even encouraging investors to invest in nursing homes and care homes. The world population is getting older. We need to start thinking of solutions to address this.

5. What about educating the families of the many risks of leaving their elderly relatives in hospital when they need not be there? The

education can take the form of booklets handed out to families on admission of their elderly relatives. This can be reinforced by healthcare professionals. Such risks include, but are not limited to hospital-acquired, deadly infections; increased risk of falls with serious life-threatening injuries, increased confusion, and bed sores among others.

6. What about having a radio and TV campaign to address this issue? The hospital can have televisions and conspicuous posters around the wards; these can provide educational information-including this issue-- that the relatives can view while visiting their loved ones.

7. What about employing “discharge coordinators?”

Their jobs would be basically to go around the wards and gather information on elderly patients who were discharged. Electronic patient records may facilitate this process. They gather this electronic information in their offices and make a list of patients that need to be reviewed. This will make for a more efficient service.

They can then facilitate those discharged by addressing the issues outlined above. It can be argued that these discharge coordinators and consultants should be pre-emptive rather than reactive. The consultants should inform them a few days in advance of potential discharge dates for given patients. This is not definitive, but merely an estimated date of discharge. The discharge coordinators can then start the ball rolling by identifying and addressing problems; so hopefully by the date of

Takuba Road, Meadow Brook, should be made a one-way Dear Editor, I AM writing in connection with the havoc that occurs daily on Takuba Road, Meadow Brook.

Not a day goes by without two vehicles colliding on this very street as it is very narrow and two vehicles cannot pass each other at the said time and drivers pay no heed to this; furthermore, for pedestrians, it is difficult to traverse this road. Editor, I

pray that the relevant authority convert this road to a one-way street; it is a traffic hazard. I brought this situation to the Minister of Public Infrastructure and he has promised to look into the situation. So far, nothing has been done.

Regards Camille Barrow Resident of Takuba Road, Meadow Brook

discharge, there will be no hurdles.

8. What about having discharge teams made up of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, discharge coordinators, etc?

These teams would have the skillsets to address the common problem that may serve as a potential hurdle for timely discharge.

9. What about gathering data on individual consultants’ discharge numbers and also common reasons why patients are not being discharged despite being medical fit for discharge? These data may provide useful information that the hospital can use to develop solution strategies.

This can be combined with data on hospital re-admission rates for given patients,

over a specified period; for example, 90 days since discharged. This would identify failed discharges from which everyone can learn.

10. What about investing and improving primary care?

In my experience, elderly patients’ illnesses rarely come on unexpectedly,they build up gradually; and If addressed in a timely manner in primary care, can negate hospital acute admissions. Finally, it is a fact that acute hospital beds are very expensive and limited. Much more expensive than a day stay at the Marriott’s executive suite. What I’m suggesting are cheaper alternatives, although I am not a qualified hospital administrator.

As a result, I would humbly suggest that Brig-

adier (Ret’d) George Lewis spend less time complaining and relatives blaming and more time developing innovative strategies to address this perennial problem. The evidence is that patients and relatives wouldn’t change if they are not provided a reason to. As a result, it is imperative that the GPHC administration be strategic and think out of the box about solutions and hopefully modify relatives’ behaviours.

Regards Dr. Mark Devonish MBBS MSc MRCP(UK) FRCP(Edin) Consultant, Acute Medicine Nottingham University Hospital UK

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

UG awards long-serving staffers

By Gabriella Chapman

THE University of Guyana (UG) administration on Tuesday evening honoured 39 long-serving staffers for their yeoman contributions to the country’s premier tertiary institution.

The dinner style ceremony at the Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus, themed “Jubilation” was a demonstration of the university’s appreciation for its staffers with over 20 years of service. Eight persons were awarded for 20 years of service, 19 for 25 years, seven for 30 years, four for 35 years and Professor Joycelynne Loncke, who has given 50 years to the university.

UG’s Registrar, Nigel Gravesande said the university is fortunate to have persons who are dedicated and passionate about seeing students achieve their potential.

“Reaching this important service milestone with the University of Guyana, your

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith addresses the awardees

University of Guyana Registrar Nigel Gravesande

loyalty, professionalism, commitment and dedication to the success of UG did not go unnoticed,” Gravesande told the awardees.

He said the 39 staff members have consistently made extraordinary contributions to campus life and the awards are yet another tangible way of UG showing

its profound gratitude.

“All of our organisational achievements and our challenges are being possible because of your individual efforts and team members of your various faculties… recognising the roles you have played in making UG what it is today, your talents, your efforts, your commit-

ments and dedication already would have helped us achieve excellence in many areas,” he said.

Delivering the feature address, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith admonished the awardees to mentor colleagues within their various departments to enable the good work

to grow from strength to strength.

“I want to ask everyone here to commit to ensure that the legacy that you have lived and have been made will be celebrated in the future by enabling others to emulate you. If you don’t already have one, find a mentee,” the vice-chancellor urged.

He added: “In addition to the individual guidance that you provide, you want to be sure that when you’re retired, you can rest assured

that not only did you commit your individual contributions to the existence of the university as it is, but that you helped in the Renaissance Project.” According to Professor Griffith, it is an exciting time for the university.

“You’re part of an enterprise that is now building for better and the excitement for what we are doing on campus is radiating beyond the campus and people want to be part of the rebuilding of this university,” he said.

Carol Smith-Joseph and Harry Gill charged with assaulting each other PEOPLE’s National Congress (PNC) Regional Secretary in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Carol Smith-Joseph and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament

Harry Gill appeared in the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday charged with assaulting each other.

The charge against Smith Joseph was that on Novem-

ber 7 at Fort Wellington, she assaulted Gill so as to cause him actual bodily harm; she pleaded not guilty. Gill, asked to plead to the charge that he assaulted Joseph on

the same date also pleaded not guilty. Joseph was represented by Attorneys-at-Law J a m e s B o n d a n d D a r re n Wade. Gill was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Adrian

Anamayah. Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh before whom they appeared freed them on their own recognizance and fixed February 6, 2019 for trial.

The City Hall CoI report reveals many biases Dear Editor THE report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the operations of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council is in the public domain and copies are circulating like wild fire.

A close-up look at this report revealed many biases.

Mr. Editor, please permit me to respond to one such bias: the recommendation section of the report presented recommendations against two senior officers of the council (Sherry Gerick and Rasheed Kellman ) who were not called to the

commission to answer any particular charges. This I find very disturbing and constitute injustice and an error in laws.

This simply means that the fundamental rights of these officers have been breached. According to the rule of natural justice, every citizen regardless of age, religion or political persuasion has the right to a fair hearing (audi aeteram porten). No person should be judged without the opportunity being presented to him to be heard. The right to a fair hearing dictates that an individual should not be penalised by any decision

affecting his rights and legitimate expectations, unless they have prior notice of the case and fair opportunity to answer the questions and queries relating to the matter.

Therefore, the recommendations against these two officers are recipes for litigation against the Local Government Commission (LGC).

Further, inherent in the CoI’s recommendations is the element of bias. Carol Sooba should not be on the LGC; she should excuse herself from the commission totally. No person should be a judge in a matter, in which he/she has an interest. The

recommendations against the senior officers of the council are fraught with biases and prejudices. It is clear that it was not well thought out and lacks judicial substance. A person who adjudicates on a matter such as the CoI has the responsibility to act in a legitimate manner when making decisions that will affect the lives, rights and interests. It’s evident that this CoI report is an instrument premised on bias and vendettas. The decision made by the Local Government Commission based on the CoI’s recommendations would either build up or utterly destroy that

commission’s life, future and character.

The recommendations of the CoI report reveal both imputed and actual biases.

The recommendation against Miss Sherry Gerick is actual bias, since she was not given the opportunity to be heard; the report did not mention a specific malpractice against this officer. Then why is her name in the recommendation section of the report? Was this an accident, or was it a deliberate act to smear the good name of an innocent person, or plot of victimisation or maybe influence of Soobarism.

This leads me to the point that the recommendations are compromised by imputed biases, since a known PPP/C Commissioner, Carol Sooba, has a vested interest in the outcome of this matter. I must conclude that the persons who have crafted the recommendations were either ill-advised or ignorant of the laws of natural justice. It is clear that these lofty recommendations cannot stand up to legal scrutiny and could be rendered void ab intiro.

Regards Mortimer Thomside

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Defaulters warned –– Integrity Commission to take legal action against defiant public officials

By Svetlana Marshall PUBLIC officials who fail to declare their assets and liabilities to the Integrity Commission in accordance with the Integrity Commission Act could see legal action being taken against them.

According to the Integrity Commission Act, Part III – Financial Disclosure, Section 13, a person in public life, not being a member of the commission, is required

of the commission’s Subryanville office by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Wednesday, Doraisami told reporters that while the commission is moving to boost its staff complement to 13

by January, 2019 to include at least five investigators, the failure of public officials to disclose their assets and liabilities remain a major stumbling block.

“The only problem we have is declarants actually not submitting their declarations,” he said, while

task. “If public officers want the commission to secure their integrity, they must submit their declaration to the commission,” he urged in the presence of Prime Minister Nagamootoo.

Prior to the publishing of the list in the local newspapers in November, approximately 300 declarations were made. The number has now moved to 430; however, more than 60 per cent of forms remain outstanding.

Doraisami warned that the next step would be legal

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Integrity Commission Chairman Kumar Doraisami with members and staff of the commission (Adrian Narine photo) to file a declaration with the commission.

The Integrity Commission, according to its Chairman Kumar Doraisami, issued 1,400 declaration forms to the country’s public office holders, but to date only 430 declarations have been made.

Last November, the commission was forced to publish the names of 87 persons in public life who had failed to declare their assets and liabilities as of November 1, 2018. The batch included 41 Members of Parliament.

On the sideline of a tour

explaining that the decision to publish the names of 87 defaulters had spurred some action, but not enough.

Section 19 of the Act states: “Where a person who is required to do so fails to file a declaration in accordance with this Act or to furnish particulars under section 18, the commission or the President, as the case may be, shall publish the fact in the Gazette and in a daily newspaper.”

Doraisami said “it is not too late,” for declarations to be made, as he urged persons in public life to step up to the

recourse, as he slammed Members of Parliament who have thus far failed to lead by example.

“People are getting to understand now that they must follow the law; most of the people who actually made the law haven’t complied with the law, so we had to take the step of publication, and we are looking that if they don’t fully comply within the next two months, we will have to take steps to prosecute them, they must comply with the law,” the chairman stated.

The Integrity Commis-

sion’s Office was relocated to Subryanville last September to cater for an expanding staff, including Doraisami and his supporting Commissioners Rosemary Benjamin-Noble and Rabindranauth Persaud.

They were sworn into office in February 2018, and are assisted by Secretary Amanda Jaisingh.

FILE IT Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who had no difficulties declaring his assets and liabilities before the commission having done so before the publication was made, said he has encouraged government Members of Parliament to file their declarations with the Integrity Commission.

However, he said that the process was “new” and public office holders have not gotten accustomed to the system.

“This Integrity Commission was set up under a law that was brought into existence in 2001; and for nine years, though a commission was established, the commission did not function,” the prime minister explained.

He recalled that it was only in June 2017, the Integrity Commission (Amendment of the Code of Conduct) Order 2017 was gazette by him.

In keeping with the 10 Principles of Public Life – accountability, dignity, diligence, duty, honour, integrity, loyalty, objectivity, responsibility and transparency – the order addressed issues of bribes, discrimination, gifts, conflict of

GAP throws support behind gov’t –– ahead of confidence vote on Friday

THE Guyana Action Party (GAP) has thrown its support behind the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government ahead of Friday’s debate on the No-Confidence Motion brought against the government by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

On Wednesday, GAP expressed its confidence in the APNU+AFC government, noting that the motion before the National Assembly forms part of a “naked and futile quest for power” by the PPP/C. “It is sad to note that the PPP/C became emboldened to make this challenge when His Excellency President David Granger became ill,”

the political party said.

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo had submitted the motion to Parliament Office in mid-November, shortly after it was announced that President Granger was suffering from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; this is a type of cancer and would require constant treatment abroad.

GAP said it was the vision of the President that put the hinterland of Guyana on equal footing with the coastal areas and the President ought to be applauded.

“We are pleased that in a short period of three years that we have been blessed with radio stations in Lethem, Aishalton, Mabaruma, Bartica, Mahdia and Orealla.

This has brought about a

positive wave of true democracy.

“Today, we not only know what is happening in Guyana and the world at large, but we feel that we are now interwoven into the Guyanese fabric,” GAP said in a statement.

Through the Hinterland Entrepreneurial Youth Services (HEYS), the party testified that youths have been afforded life-improvement opportunities. “Many of them now manage their own businesses. We are pleased that further assistance has been given to them in this year’s national budget,” the statement said.

The party also expressed satisfaction with the increase in Old Age Pension which is earmarked for senior citizens. From January 1, 2019, Old Age Pension will be increased from $19,500 to $20,500, making it the fourth

increase in Old Age Pension under the APNU+AFC administration since 2015. In 2015, Old Age Pension was $13,125; however, it has been gradually increased over the last four budgets by 55 per cent.

In throwing its support behind the APNU+AFC administration, GAP also took note of the fact that Indigenous peoples are playing a more active role in the affairs of the nation.

MERITOCRACY “Our toshaos are now elected on the pillar of meritocracy and not on their affiliation to any political party. Our National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) is executing its mandate without undue interference by others. The NTC’s annual conference is managed by the elected leaders and supported by the

interest, use of official influence, handling of classified information, use of public property, sexual misconduct and entertainment.

The expansion of the existing Code of Conduct brought the Act in line with the legislation governing the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which states that employees of these state agencies must declare their assets in accordance with the Schedule II of the State Asset Recovery Act. “We are hoping that members of the public who hold these offices are going to read these principles and know how important it is for us to re-establish integrity in public life. I know public life has taken a beating in Guyana, but there is no need for us to go back to the past and we need to move forward,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said.

However, he admitted that persons may be afraid to disclose their assets over fear of prosecution. “People may not want to declare their assets because they are afraid that they may be investigated, that they may have to establish how they got their wealth, how they got their assets, they may be subjected to scrutiny to look at their earnings as against their holdings, and so people might be cautious that they may be accused of unjust enrichment,” he reasoned.

Notwithstanding that, the prime minister said at this stage that there may be need for the Act to be amended to add investigative and

prosecutorial arms to the commission to give greater effect to its work.

Public officers and positions listed under Schedule 1 of the Commission’s Act are required to disclose their financial assets and liabilities on or before June 30 each year. When a public officer ceases to be a person in public life, he or she should disclose his or her assets and liabilities to the commission within 30 days from the date that individual ceased to be a person in public life, the legislation states.

In the past, the functioning of the Integrity Commission had been a controversial issue, though the previous administration had sworn in members in 1999. Commission Chairman, Bishop Randolph George, resigned in 2006, and was only replaced in February, 2018

by Doraisami.

government,” the party pointed out.

The constitutional holding of Local Government Elections via a fair and transparent process, and the establishment of capital towns have given rise to a new wave of development and independence, GAP said, as it praised the work of the administration.

“Now we can elect our leaders to represent and serve us. With the formation of hinterland towns, a burst of development has begun. Hinterland roads are being improved, Lethem is about to get a four-lane asphaltic road, services such as the acquisition of passports and birth certificates will soon be available to us in the hinterland with the construction of offices to deliver these services,” it pointed out.

From all indications, the party said, transformational projects are on the horizon.

Some of these include a highway from Linden to Lethem; a bridge over the Essequibo River at the Fairview

Crossing. The Lethem airstrip will soon be developed into a modern airport and a modern abattoir is also in the pipeline. GAP is optimistic that these developments will create jobs and opportunities for the present and future generations.

“With 2020 and the coming of oil, we need APNU+AFC under the stewardship of President David Granger to continue to preside, so as to allow all of Guyana- including the hinterland--to continue progressing. Guyana is on an exciting road to becoming a positive model for others to emulate. There certainly is a good life for us on the horizon.

“Within three years the APNU+AFC government has accomplished more positive developments than the PPP in its 23 years in government,” GAP said as it registered its support.

On Tuesday, Cultural Activist Barrington Braithwaite dubbed the move by the PPP/C as “twisted” and “sinister.

Integrity Commission Chairman Kumar Doraisami

‘Own your roles’ 10

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

… Min Bulkan charges new Region Two NDCs’ representatives

MINISTER of Communities Ronald Bulkan has said that the recently held Local Government Elections (LGEs) is another promise kept by the coalition government to restore local democracy and he charged representatives of Region Two to own up to their sa-

On Monday, the minister charged the Region Two Neighbourhood Democratic Council’s chairpersons and deputies to own their roles and collaborate for the betterment of all in their communities. The 2018 LGEs were conducted within the prescribed time frame and

sive nature of the system. He also said the polarisation that occurs during general and regional elections and the resultant ‘winner-takes-all process’ is the polar opposite of the LGEs. He added that the current system of empowerment must be so engraved that any successive

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan along with the Region Two NDC chairpersons and deputies cred roles.

He was at the time addressing the new representatives at their swearing-in ceremony on Monday in Anna Regina. “We kept that promise,” said Minister Bulkan, as he reminded his audience of President’s David Granger’s promise to maintain the LGEs when they are constitutionally due.

were the fourth since independence. Minister Bulkan said the LGEs “were not an exercise in politics, but an opportunity to deepen the local democratic process” across the 670 constituencies.

Describing the occasion as historic, the minister of communities charged the newly sworn-in officials to understand the comprehen-

government must not be able to institute any Interim Management Committee as had happened under the previous administration.

He added that as minister of communities, his job is to lend a helping hand to all officials and ensure that they all cooperate. He promised to ensure that a book outlining the Districts and Local Dem-

ocratic Organs and Councils Acts is given to all elected officials, thereby ensuring that they are cognisant of their roles and responsibilities. The minister quoted from the foreword written by the President in the handbook, urging officials as they go about their vital work: “To own your roles, you are the bedrock of your system; serve out of a sense of commitment… LDOs [Local Democratic Organs] should be representative, inclusive and effective, collaborating to ensure all citizens enjoy a high quality of life.”

He noted that the inaugural National Congress of Local Democratic Organs (NCLDOs) held in July will now be an annual activity; and the officials will have the opportunity to network with all of the other leaders, make suggestions and deepen collaborative ties. The enhanced remuneration packages, he explained, was one of the suggestions arising from the last NCLDO and government will continue working to ensure many more become a reality. In brief remarks, Regional Chairman Region Two Devanand Ramdatt lauded the recently concluded LGEs noting, “We have sustained the action of cooperating in a peaceful way as we go about our business. He added that

President pardons three female inmates for Christmas AS Guyana and the world prepare to celebrate Christmas, President David Granger, as is customary and pursuant to Article 188 (1) (a) of the constitution, has granted pardons to three female prisoners who are all serving sentences at the New Amsterdam Prison.

The Presidential Pardon takes effect today.

The three female inmates to be released are: Ms. Joanna Beckles, who was charged with forgery and sentenced to nine months in prison; Ms. Felicia Henry, who was charged with larceny of cash and was sentenced to 18 months; and Ms. Keysha Gibbs, charged with break and enter and larceny and was sentenced to 36 months

Ms. Joanna Beckles in prison.

Last December the Head of State granted Presidential Pardons to five women who were serving sentences for non-violent, non-narcotic offences. Article 188 (1) (a) of the constitution states that “The President may grant to any person concerned in

Ms. Felicia Henry or convicted of any offence under the laws of Guyana, a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions.”

The conditions outlined in the constitution were met and the Head of State had the requisite consultations with the Minister of Public Security.

It is the President’s wish

Ms. Keysha Gibbs to see mothers at home with their children, especially during the Christmas season and as such, women who are charged with non-violent crimes and meet the requisite conditions are eligible for Presidential Pardons. (Ministry of the Presidency)

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan addressing the Region Two NDCs’ representatives. it is important that the three tiers of government work together with communities, be courteous and serve in the best interest of all the people.

“The tasks that lie ahead are important and once the public’s confidence is built, more can be achieved… We must work cohesively to build our communities and country in 2019 and beyond… Citizens must have an input into decisions which affect them.”

Sworn in were Evergreen/Paradise NDC Chair Lionel Boodhram and Vicechair Olnydia Laurie; Annandale/Riverstown NDC Chair Charran Sarabjeet and Vice-chair Seerojanie Singh; Charity/Urasara

NDC Chair Parash Kishore and Vice-chair Shakti Kellawan; Good Hope/Pomona NDC Chair Andy Ramnarine and Vice-chair Arnold Adams; Moruka/Phoenix Park NDC Chair Sheldon English and Vice- chair Garfield London; Kitty/ Providence NDC Chair Dexter Cameron and Vicechair Esther Raymond; Aberdeen/Zorg-en-Vlugt NDC Chair Jayashtree Persaud and Vice-chair Rohan Budhram Persaud; Nile/ Cozier NDC Chair Narad Persaud and Vice-chair Savitree Tulsiedass. The elected officials take up their posts from January 1, 2019. (DPI)

No charge for Travis Chase

THE police have received legal advice not to charge HGP Nightly News anchor Travis Chase for shooting a Kitty resident to his leg with his licensed firearm after the man allegedly threw bottles at his car.

Chase reportedly shot Jimmy Ramgobin, 28, of Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, in self defence on the night of December 1, 2018 outside his girlfriend’s home on DeAbreu Street, Newtown.

According to the police, Chase alleged that on pulling up in his vehicle with his girlfriend outside her home, he saw Ramgobin loitering there. The newsman reportedly told the police that upon exiting his vehicle and approaching Ramgobin, the latter began hurling bottles at him from a bag he was carrying, causing him to take evasive action by pulling out his firearm and discharging a round at Ramgobin.

However, the police have received advice to charge Jimmy Ramgobin with the offence of “Throwing missiles on a public way to the annoyance or danger of any person.”

He is expected to be placed before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court soon.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Past and present: 40 years of change in the lives of the Chinese people

(XINHUA) -- TEMPERATURES dropping below minus 30 degrees Celsius are common for the winter in the Greater Hinggan Mountains in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province.

But for Cui Bo, the season doesn’t have much difference from summer, at least at home.

Equipped with a heating system, the temperature in her apartment is kept at a comfortable 28 degree Celsius and Cui always walks around wearing a T-shirt.

But the picture was completely different when Cui was young. “In 1985 when I was eight, winter was long and bitter,” Cui says. She and her parents and brother crammed into a 48-square-meter room where the only place they could keep warm was a brick bed heated by fire.

“Life has become so much better over the past few decades,” Cui said.

Her feeling is shared by hundreds of millions of people in China. In 1978, China embarked on the journey of reform and opening-up. The policy has not only lifted the country from poverty to prosperity but also changed the lives of many.

Official statistics show that between 1978 and 2017, China’s gross domestic product has increased from 367.9 billion yuan to 82.7 trillion yuan.

Per capita disposable income increased from 171 yuan in 1978 to 25,974 yuan in 2017, while the rural population under the poverty line decreased by 740 million.

BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS Sixty-year-old Wang Hanming remembers in 1985 when he got married to his wife, all they had was a 30-square-meter house with almost no electric appliances.

He says that in the 1970s, a bicycle, a sewing machine and a watch were the “Three Must Haves” for a betrothal gift.

In the 1980s, they were upgraded to a black and white TV, an ice-box and a washing machine. But he could barely make ends meet.

However, their lives have been moving forward step by step with the developments of China’s economy and improvements of their personal income.

After moving six times, they now live in a three-story house of over 200 square meters. Bai Yang, 33, an interior designer in Beijing, recalls that when she was a child, the most valuable item at home was a 24-inch color TV, costing more than her father’s annual income. Now, she easily bought a 60-inch TV, spending much less than her monthly salary.

The past 40 years have witnessed a remarkable improvement in Chinese people’s housing and living conditions.

In 2017 the per capita floor space of urban residents was 36.9 square meters, up from 6.7 square meters in 1978, and that of rural residents was 46.7 square meters,

was an absolute luxury beyond my imagination,” Li says.

Back in 1970s and 1980s, legions of commuter bicycles were a spectacle on China’s streets and the “kingdom of bicycles” was one of the names foreigners used to refer to China.

Today China is still full of bicycles, but dockless shared bikes backed by e-commerce innovation. At the same time, a car has become a household item and prevails in urban traffic. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China produced 29 million automobiles last year and sold 28.9 million, ranking the first in the world for the ninth year in a row. By the end of 2017, the number of private cars in China had reached 184 million, more than 40 motor vehicles owned for every 100 families.

Li now has his own car. He uses the vehicle to work, to visit friends and relatives and to travel around the country.

For him, life has become much more convenient and diverse with a car.

Now China is investing heavily in high-speed railways, new energy vehicles and self-driving cars, taking the lead in the world’s energy transition and auto technology innovation.

The upper part of this composite photo taken in 1982 shows Yan Hongchang (C rear) and his son Yan Yushan (1st L) posing for a group photo in front of their thatched dwelling at Xiaogang Village, the birthplace of China’s rural reform, in east China’s Anhui Province. Yan Hongchang was among the first 18 farmers to sign the secret agreement to divide communally owned farmland into family plots in 1978. At that time, Xiaogang villagers all lived in thatched houses. The lower part of the combo photo taken by Liu Junxi on Nov. 28, 2018 shows Yan Hongchang (6th L) and his son (4th L) posing for a group photo in front of their residential building in Xiaogang Village. As the villagers become rich, much better houses were built in the village. up from 8.1 square meters in 1978. Poor families were not left behind. From 2008 to 2017, redevelopment of run-down urban areas helped 100 million people move from sub-standard accommodation to new apartments.

And since the 18th CPC National Congress, China has allocated 162.5 billion yuan in subsidies for renovating the sub-standard housing of 16.59 million rural households, and helping tens of millions of rural households

move into proper accommodation from dilapidated houses built of such materials as beaten earth, timber and bark.

FROM BICYCLE KINGDOM TO LARGEST AUTO MARKET For 67-year-old Li Fu, the change in transport in the past four decades has impressed him the most.

“When I was young, riding bicycle was the most common and fashionable method of transportation. A private car

EMBRACING THE WORLD In the 1970s and 1980s, books written by Sanmao, a female writer from China’s Taiwan region, were among the bestsellers at the time.

Her vivid and exotic travel writing depicting her life and adventures in Europe and Africa offered a glimpse of what the outside world was like, winning the hearts of hundreds of thousands of readers in the Chinese mainland. Now, except for turning to books, Chinese people have plenty of ways to enjoy and explore the world. Liu Yu said that when she was young, traveling abroad sounded as remote as traveling to Mars. Now she has studied in France, has a French husband and returned to Shanghai to open a French restaurant.

Nearly 610,000 Chinese students attended schools and colleges overseas in 2017, and China remains the world’s largest supplier of international students. Outbound tourism market is also growing. In 2017, Chinese citizens made 130 million outbound journeys, an annual increase of 7 percent, official figures show. Since China opened its door to the world 40 years ago, its people have been able to embrace various cultures, as well as keep pace with the latest trends and benefits from science and technology development.

The past 40 years have meant a lot to China and the Chinese people. In return, every Chinese person has played their part.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Guyanese man nabbed in NY for double murder

A GUYANESE man was on Tuesday captured in New York City after he was suspected of killing his teenage daughter and a second woman last week in Henrico County.

New York police and officers with a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force arrested Abdool Z. Zaman without incident shortly after 7 a.m. Tuesday in Queens, N.Y., the authorities said.

Zaman, 39, was identified as a suspect after Thursday’s

slaying of his daughter, Vanessa Zaman, and Leona Samlall. The two 18-year-old women were shot and left to die at midday Thursday at the Oakmeade Apartments in the 200-block of Airport Place in the Highland Springs area.

Officers were summoned to the scene about 12:15 p.m.

Zaman faces charges of second-degree murder. Police have not assigned a motive for the killings or explained what prompted the alleged encounter between Abdool

Zaman, of Orlando, Fla., and the two victims at the apartment complex in Highland Springs.

Investigators believe the two women had been staying with Samlall’s mother and stepfather in an apartment in the 300-block of Airport Place, one block from where they were shot. Authorities said the family has told them that Samlall’s stepfather is the brother of Abdool Zaman, but investigators have not confirmed the relationship.

No one answered the door Tuesday evening at the apartment where the victims were believed to have been staying. A neighbour said the family is now in New York and that Samlall’s mother declined to speak with a reporter by phone.

Many questions remained unanswered Tuesday. Samlall once attended Highland Springs High School, but she dropped out in the fall of 2016. Henrico police confirmed she had been on a

missing-persons list for the past two years, but they did not say Tuesday where they believe she was during that time.

Vanessa Zaman’s mother, Saveeta Barnes, shared words of sorrow about her daughter’s death on social media.

“The loss of a child is like losing your inner soul,” Barnes posted on Instagram.

“My daughter was my life and nothing will ever be the same. Always in my heart my baby girl.”

“My heart is torn into a million pieces,” Barnes wrote in another post. “I cannot bring myself to accept the reality of losing my love, my child, my firstborn, my everything. I wish I could rewind time my baby, I will see you soon. Mommy loves you to infinity and beyond my “lilo,” my lovee. Rest in peace my love, rest in peace.”

Barnes could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor said Tuesday it was unclear when Abdool Zaman will be back in the county to face the second-degree murder charges in court.

“As we continue to investigate the matter and collect evidence and information, we will reassess the matter as to whether we think other charges are appropriate,” Taylor said.

It was unclear Tuesday whether Zaman has an attor-

Abdool Zaman has been charged with the murder of his daughter and another woman, both 18. ney representing him.

Kevin Connolly, a supervisory inspector for the U.S. Marshals Service who oversees the Richmond area’s Fugitive Task Force, said Tuesday’s arrest was made after close cooperation with Henrico homicide detectives.

The FBI also has assisted in the investigation, he said.

“The Henrico detectives were following every lead,” Connolly said Tuesday. “We were happy to assist them to help bring justice to the family.”

Connolly said Abdool Zaman originally is from Guyana in South America and his last known address was in Orlando, Florida.

Since last week, investigators had been chasing leads in Orlando, New York and Connecticut in their search for the suspect. (www.richmond.com)

Machine operator dies from stab wounds – autopsy

AN autopsy conducted on the remains of Sherwin Melville, 23, of Capoey Lake Top, Region Two, by Government pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh has revealed that he died from stab wounds to the neck.

The police in ‘G’ Division (Essequibo Coast-Essequibo Islands) are hunting a 19-year-old labourer of Swan, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, whose name was given as “Ralph.”

Melville was allegedly murdered early Monday morning by the total stranger.

According to wife of the deceased, Joyce Melville, her husband was imbibing with relatives but left to buy cigarettes when he came into contact with Ralph.

She said the two men started to drink and her husband later took the teen to his home (Melville’s home) to sleep, a decision she was

Dead: Sherwin Melville uncomfortable with.

Joyce said she subsequently told her husband that she and her two-month-old baby will be sleeping at a nearby relative. She then left her husband and the stranger in the house but decided to check on him early in the morning.

It was then she discovered him lying motionless on the floor with his throat slashed and his pockets flapped open.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Police to learn tribal languages –– Detective Sergeant Rodwell Sarabo is 2018 Best Cop

RANKS of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) stationed in interior locations and those who will be posted there will receive Amerindian language training, Commissioner of Police Leslie James said.

The Top Cop made this disclosure during the GPF Christmas Award Ceremony held at the Tactical Services Unit Drill Square, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

“Upon completion, those ranks, of which a few have already been dispatched, will be sent to our frontier division where they will be interacting with members of those communities,” he said.

Speaking directly to the awardees, the Commissioner of Police said the occasion was in keeping with the tradition of the Guyana Police Force of honouring its ranks for their exemplary conduct.

Adding that trophies and incentives are always given to persons who have done exceptionally well, the Top Cop said $18.6M was allocated to award 2,357 outstanding law enforcement officers.

“We have these awards twice per year, in July and at the end of the year. These awards in a general way seek to build moral, motivation and in 2018 we have had our fair share of issues but through the collective effort, we are able to surmount all of those issues,” Commissioner James said.

Seated left to right: Crime Chief Lnydon Alves, Deputy Commissioner Maxine Graham, Commissioner of Police Leslie James, Deputy Commissioner Paul Williams and Assistant Commissioner Nigel Hoppie with top officers of the GPF, along with some of the awardees

Through interactions with counterparts in the UK, the Top Cop said recommendations that were made are being implemented.

“At the moment, we have commenced implementing three broad pillars, training, infrastructure and much emphasis on our human resource management,” James said.

This year, some 31 ranks recently graduated from the University of Guyana in diploma, degree and master’s programmes.

Commissioner James commended those ranks and noted that their elevation was in keeping with the GPF training initiatives.

Further, he said the Force’s social crime prevention programme has been heightened in all police divisions, along with continued engagements with the cops and faith network. James also noted that the Major Crimes Unit will now also have a special victims unit.

Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant Rodwell Sarrabo was named Best Cop of 2018. He attributed his success to hard work, dedication and sleepless nights to which he was given the support of his family and parents. Additionally, Detective Sergeant Keith Conway was awarded the runner-up prize.

Awards were also given to community policing groups, rural constables, divisional officers and sportsmen and women of the year.

Top Cop Leslie James flanked by ‘Best Cop’ Detective Sergeant Rodwell Sarabo (left) and runner-up Detective Sergeant Keith Conway

16

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

17

18

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Advertise in Guyana Chronicle Classified Ads. For All Your Classified and Space Ads. Call 225-4475.

19

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Mohamed’s Enterprise commits to GFF ExxonMobil Futsal tournament

By Rawle Toney

MOHAMED’S Enterprise, through its proprietor Nazar Mohamed, yesterday, became the latest corporate entity to support the December 27–30 GFF/ExxonMobil International Futsal tournament, which will be played at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Mohamed’s Enterprise

handed over trophies and replicas along with an undisclosed sum to the organisers, the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).

The tournament, a first in Guyana, will see Trinidad and Tobago’s Morvant Caledonia United headline the list of teams from overseas.

ZV All-Stars from Suriname and a Brazilian side from the

Bale hat-trick leads Real Madrid into Club World Cup final

By Alexander Cornwell

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Japan’s Kashima Antlers 3-1 on Wednesday to book a spot in the Club World Cup Final.

European champions Real will play host side Al Ain FC in Saturday’s final in Abu Dhabi as they bid to win the title for the third year in a row.

Kashima almost made a dream start inside two minutes with a close-range shot from Serginho that was saved by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Bale opened the scoring in the 44th minute with a left-foot strike into the bottom corner of the net after playing a one-two with Marcelo.

Bale struck his second in the 53rd minute, taking advantage of a defensive mix-up that left the Kashima goal wide open, and the Wales forward made it 3-0 to the Spanish side two minutes

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later with a left-foot shot into the top corner.

Bale has now scored six goals in the tournament, trailing only his former team mate Cristiano Ronaldo who has netted seven.

“He (Bale) played a superb match,” Real coach Santiago Solari told reporters. “He has shown what he is, and what he can do.”

Bale was substituted in the 60th minute only for his replacement, Asensio to be forced off 14 minutes later due to injury.

“I hope it is not a serious problem with him because it is very that important all the players are fit,” Solari said. “It is a pity that he had to leave the pitch today.”

Asian champions Kashima grabbed a consolation goal in the 78th minute through Shoma Doi. Kashima, third in the J-League, will meet South American champions River Plate in the third-place playoff earlier on Saturday.

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state of Sau Paulo will also participate.

While in Guyana, the teams will collide with a Guyana Select side, along with a team from Linden, East Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara and West Demerara football associations.

Mohamed, a long-time supporter of Kashif and Shanghai Organisation - a Medal of Service award-

ee – stated, “We’re always happy to support Kashif and Shanghai. We have been (doing so) over 30 years or longer and we’re always happy for that.”

Dion Inniss, a member of the Wayne Forde-led Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Executive Committee, pointed out that Mohamed’s support to the sport of football has been impressive, calling him

a “very reliable and consistent partner of football and we’re receiving this donation of trophies and a monetary injection towards the tournament; but I think what is really being demonstrated is that you’re (Mohamed’s) are investing in the youths of Guyana to ensure that they stay out of trouble and have something productive to do.”

“I mean, the chances of

them becoming professional footballers are very slim, but what you’re doing is ensuring that they channel their energies in a very productive way. We’re thankful for that,” Innis said.

The winning team will pocket $1.2M, while second- through fourth-place will go home with $600 000, $300 000 and $100 000 respectively.

20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Rain washes away chance of result in NZ on final day

By Greg Stutchbury WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuters) - Rain washed out the fifth and final day’s play of the first Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka yesterday after the visitors had virtually assured themselves of a draw with a battling second-innings performance on the fourth day.

Kusal Mendis was 141 not out and former captain Angelo Mathews on 120 with their side 287 for three in their second innings, still nine runs shy of New Zealand’s mammoth first innings of 578.

Bad weather had been forecast to interrupt most of yesterday’s final day and light rain delayed the start of play for 90 minutes until 12:30hrs (2330 GMT).

The visitors resumed on 259 for three and Mendis and Mathews were rarely troubled before a light shower forced them from the field just ahead of the scheduled lunch break at 13:30hrs.

A southerly change during lunch, however, brought heavy show-

ers across the ground and umpires Rod Tucker and Michael Gough had little option but to abandon play just before 16:00hrs.

New Zealand had dominated the first three days of the match, dismissing Sri Lanka for 282 early on the second day, then batted themselves into a match-winning position with Tom Latham’s unbeaten 264 driving them to their big total.

Tim Southee and Trent Boult reduced the visitors to 13 for three in their second innings late on the third day before Mathews and Mendis stonewalled New Zealand’s pursuit for victory.

The pair batted throughout the entire fourth day, the first time a wicket had not fallen on a complete day’s play in Test cricket in more than a decade.

The draw ensures that New Zealand can no longer move to second in the world Test rankings at the conclusion of the two-match series.

The second game begins on December 26 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Kusal Mendis (141*) and Angelo Mathews (120*) saw off the 12 overs of play possible in the day without any damage.

SCOREBOARD

The YWCC has also topped their zone in the NBS second division cricket competition now in progress. He thanked the players for their

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Manchester United have turned to former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to steady the ship until the end of the season, confirming the Norwegian as caretaker manager in the wake of Jose Mourinho’s sacking on Tuesday.

Solskjaer, who leaves his role as manager of Norwegian club Molde, will be joined by Mike Phelan as assistant manager. Phelan previously carried out that role under former United boss Alex Ferguson for five seasons before leaving in 2013.

United parted company with Mourinho with the club in sixth spot in the Premier League having made their worst start to a season for 28 years, culminating in a limp 3-1 loss to bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

SRI LANKA 1st innings NEW ZEALAND 1st innings 578 SRI LANKA 2nd inningso/n 259 for 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 141 Angelo Mathews not out

120 EXTRAS: (lb-2, nb-3, w-8) 13 Total: (115.0 overs) 287-3 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-10, 3-13.

Bowling: Tim Southee 25-8-52-2, Trent Boult 25-4-62-1, Neil Wagner 23-4-100-0 (w-4, nb-2), Colin de Grandhomme 13-424-0 (nb-1), Ajaz Patel 28-10-46-0, Jeet Raval 1-0-1-0.

YWCC gets help from Mahaish Ramoutar THE recently resuscitated Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) is making rapid strides to return to its former glory.

In an effort to raise funds, Mahaish Ramotar of Flat Rate Reality, Queens, New York provided cash to his former cricket club.

On a recent visit to Guyana, Ramoutar said that he is happy to give back to the club he played for as a kid and has fond memories of those days.

He also mentioned that he was one of the first set of cricketers when the club was formed under Orin Archer’s leadership and he is very happy to see its growth over the years. It has produced some fine cricketers with the latest being West Indies newest batting sensation, Shimron Hetmyer.

Ramoutar pledged to garner more help for the club from former players and persons from the Cumberland area and who are now residing in the USA. In response, former national player and coach, Hubern Evans, thanked Ramoutar for his kind contribution.

Evans boasted that since the resuscitation, the club participated in three first division competitions run by the BCB and booked a place in the final of all three - a significant achievement.

Solskjaer handed caretaker manager role by Manchester United

commitment and the hunger they have displayed so far.

In closing, Evans called on former club members and other community-minded cit-

izens to come on board and support the club. He also encouraged parents to come to the ground and bring along their kids to play cricket.

Mahaish Ramoutar with white shirt and dark shades hands over cash to Kwesi Maltay in the presence of Paul Wintz and coach Hubern Evans.

Manchester United have turned to former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to steady the ship until the end of the season.

The appointment of Solskjaer to inject some life into United in some ways mirrors his playing career at the club where he scored 126 goals between 1996 and 2007, often as an impact sub.

His most memorable contribution came in the 1999 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich when he netted a stoppage-time winner.

“Manchester United is in my heart and it’s brilliant to be coming back in this role,” the 45-year-old former Cardiff City manager, said in a statement.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the very talented squad we have, the staff and everyone at the club.”

Coincidentally Solskjaer’s first task will be to try and guide United to a much-needed three points away at Cardiff - the club who were relegated from the top flight on his watch in 2014 - on Saturday.

CLUB LEGEND “Ole is a club legend with huge experience, both on the pitch and in coach-

ing roles,” United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said. “His history at Manchester United means he lives and breathes the culture here and everyone at the club is delighted to have him and Mike Phelan back.

“We are confident they will unite the players and the fans as we head into the second half of the season.”

Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna, both part of Mourinho’s backroom staff, will be retained at the club to work under Solskjaer, who won six Premier League titles and two FA Cups to go along with the 1999 Champions League triumph at United.

Molde said that their manager’s ‘temporary’ departure to United was an endorsement of the team’s success.

“The fact that Manchester United asked to borrow Molde’s manager is in itself a happening, and a vote of confidence in both Ole Gunnar and in Molde FC,” the Norwegian club, who begin their new season in March, said in a statement.

“We’re happy to lend them Ole Gunnar and wish both him and the club success,” it added.

First team coach Erling Moe will take temporary charge of Molde, who finished second in the league last season.

Following the loss to league leaders Liverpool, Manchester United (26 points) are 19 points adrift of their rivals after 17 matches and 11 behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as the early favourite to take over as United’s permanent boss next season and the Argentine did little to quell speculation during a news conference on Tuesday.

Like always in football nobody can guarantee anything. What’s going to happen in the summer? What is going to happen tomorrow?

Nobody knows, The most important thing is to enjoy the journey,” Pochettino told reporters.

The 46-year-old Pochettino, who joined Tottenham from Southampton in 2014, has guided the London club to three consecutive top-three finishes in the Premier League but is yet to win a trophy.

However, his attacking style and youth development are traits that were synonymous with the dominant United sides under Ferguson but largely absent since the Scot retired in 2013.

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League

Two playing days to go and #1 spot not yet confirmed; Timehri Panthers tipped WITH two days remaining in the Third Edition of the East Bank Football Association/ Ralph Green-sponsored Under-11 League, there is still not yet a clear winner of this 12-team tournament.

Following the 8th day of play Tuesday at the Diamond Community Centre ground, Grove Hi Tech ended their 11game campaign with their ninth win and an unbeaten record after recording 2-0 win over Samatta Point/Kaneville.

Netting for the winners who ended their campaign on 29 points were their leading scorers, Jevon Pluck (10 goals) in the 20th minute and Jamal Cordis (14 goals) in the 24th minute; Samatta Point/Kaneville putting up a sterling performance but lost.

The day saw four walkovers awarded. The other matches produced wins for Swan Football Club who defeated Samatta Point/Kaneville 6-0; but in their second match of the day, Swan suffered their first defeat of the league when they went down to Timehri Panthers, 2-3.

Swan’s leading scorer, Anderson Webber (16 goals) netted a hat-trick to lead his team to victory with strikes in the 10th, 14th and 25th minutes. Ezekiel Reid touched in double (6th and 8th) while their sixth goal was an own

goal compliments of Dominique Layne on the stroke of full time.

struck back when their captain and the league’s leading scorer Omar Sam scored the first of

Walkovers were awarded to Diamond Upsetters, Friendship All Stars, Diamond United and Agricola Red Triangle as a result of the no-show of Herstelling Raiders, Kuru Kururu Warriors and Mocha Champs.

The penultimate day of action is set for today at the same venue when four matches would be contested.

Diamond Upsetters will come up against Timehri Panthers from 09:00hrs to be followed by Herstelling Raiders against Samatta Point/ Kaneville at 09:45hrs. Agricola Red Triangle will face

ing his team’s eighth win in 9 outings when he banged in his 21st goal of the league in the 29th minute.

Omar Sam (left) and Jaden Tasher Anderson Webber

Friendship All Stars from 10:30hrs with the final match between Mocha Champs and Kuru Kururu Warriors.

Saturday would be the final day of play with three matches scheduled; Diamond United will take on Samatta Point/Kaneville in the opening game from 09:00hrs, Timehri Panthers will close out against Friendship All Stars from 09:45hrs with the final match of the league between Swan FC and Agricola Red Triangle from 10:30hrs.

The presentation of prizes would follow the final match.

Latest Points Standings

Jevon Pluck (right) and Jamal Cordis

In the penultimate match of the day, Swan took the lead through Anderson Webber who found the back of the net when he beat goalkeeper Shamar Williams in the 10th minute but two minutes later, Timehri

his double.

Jaden Tasher then handed Timehri the lead in the 22nd minute only for Ezekiel Reid to strike back two minutes later for Swan to tie the match, 2-2.

Sam did the honours of secur-

#

TEAM

P

W

L

D

GF

GA

GD

Pts.

1.

Grove Hi Tech

11

9

0

2

33

6

+27

29

2.

Swan FC

10

8

1

1

33

8

+28

25

3.

Timehri Panthers

9

8

1

0

43

11

+32

24

4.

Agricola Red Triangle

9

7

1

1

34

6

+28

22

5.

Diamond Upsetters

10

6

3

1

16

10

+6

19

6.

Diamond United

10

3

5

2

13

19

-6

11

7.

Samatta Point KV

9

3

5

1

6

31

-25

10

8.

Mocha Champs

10

3

6

0

16

15

+1

9

9.

Friendship All Stars

9

2

5

2

11

22

-11

8

10.

Kuru Kururu Warriors

10

2

8

0

5

25

-20

6

11.

Herstelling Raiders

10

2

8

0

8

38

-30

6

12.

Hauraruni Eagles

11

1

10

0

4

31

-27

3

S&L makes donation to Net Rockers Football Club Mourinho says he has a future in football after United sacking

THE S&L Electrical Agency of Georgetown has made a timely, undisclosed cash donation to the Net Rockers Football Club of Linden, who are currently participating in the 6th annual GT Beer Christmas football championship, being staged by the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

The donation was made to the Net Rockers Football Club coach, Eon ‘Axeman’ Wills, by owner of the S & L Electrical Store, Ms Pemberton.

Net Rockers won their opening game defeating Silver Shattas 4-0 and need another win tomorrow night when they face Blueberry Hill to secure a final-four berth.

The coach noted that “S&L has been a longtime committed sponsor of Net Rockers and “extends gratitude for the continued support and contribution towards the club”.

Proprietrix of S&L Electrical Agency, Ms Pemberton (left), hands over cheque to coach of Net Rockers FC, Eon Wills.

(REUTERS) - Jose Mourinho said yesterday that he still had a future in football following his sacking as Manchester United manager, but he would not talk about his departure out of the “deepest respect” for his former colleagues.

United sacked Mourinho on Tuesday after suffering their worst start to a season for 28 years and replaced him with former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer until the end of the current Premier League campaign.

“Manchester United has a future without me and I have a future without United,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.

“Why should I be sharing more now, even with the supporters, any of my feelings?

It’s over. That’s the way I’ve always been.

“I’ve been critical of managers that leave clubs and speak about what’s happened and who’s to blame. That’s not me.

I just want to finish like it happened yesterday and I’d like to say it’s game over. I hope you media respect this way for me to be.

“Until I get back to football I have my right to live my normal life. That’s what I want to do. United is the past.”

Mourinho, who replaced

Dutchman Louis van Gaal in May 2016, won the Europa League and League Cup in his first season.

He then guided United to second place in the Premier League and the FA Cup final, where they were beaten by Chelsea, in his second.

Jose Mourinho

Yet his third season was riddled with problems both on and off the pitch, including the breakdown of his relationship with record-signing Paul Pogba, before United pulled the plug with the team sitting sixth in the league.

Mourinho’s final game in charge was a 3-1 defeat at bitter rivals Liverpool on Sunday.

However, the former Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real

Madrid boss said he would retain positive memories of his time at Old Trafford and not focus on what went wrong.

“I keep the good things and I don’t speak about anything that happened in the club. We could speak about so many good things, not as good, but that’s not me. It’s finished.”

Mourinho later added in a statement issued to British media that he had the “deepest respect” for his former colleagues after 2-1/2 years in charge of United.

“I have been immensely proud to wear the badge of Manchester United since the first day I arrived, and I believe all United supporters recognise this,” he said.

“I know that you’re all aware of my professional principles. Each time a chapter is closed I show my deepest respect and I don’t make any comments about my former colleagues.

“I have worked with some wonderful people and I believe that some will be my friends for life.”

United’s next game is at Cardiff City on Saturday, where Solskjaer was manager for nine months in 2014.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Australia back to winning ways but tough Tests lie ahead

MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - Australia’s victory over India in Perth may have been the catharsis the team and country needed after this year’s ball-tampering scandal and run of losses, but much of the discussion after the game has been about bad behaviour.

Tim Paine’s side dismissed India for 140 on Tuesday to wrap up a 146-run victory at Perth Stadium, their first Test win since March - before the team’s universe imploded with a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

The scandal not only caused global vilification but resulted in the suspensions of captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner until next year.

Coach Darren Lehmann also stood down, while Cricket Australia’s administration had a major overhaul with chairman David Peever and chief executive James Sutherland both

departing.

A wide-ranging review of the organisation’s culture said it was perceived by stakeholders to be “arrogant” and “controlling”, while a “win without counting costs” mentality had seeped through into bad behaviour on the pitch.

While the ‘sledging’

that had become part of the Australian game was less aggressive than in the past, the match in Perth was punctuated with outbursts and confrontations from both sides, with umpire Chris Gaffney admonishing Paine and his Indian counterpart Virat Kohli.

Reports of a personal attack on Paine by Kohli also surfaced, but the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) vehemently denied them after the Test, labelling them “baseless”.

“These claims were based on hearsay and the BCCI would like to bring into no-

Australia completed a levelling series win in Perth

Hi-Stars, Topp XX win U-13 and U-16 titles respectively THIS year’s Kayo’s Academy and Rickland Hutson Leadership Youth Challenge Fiesta was won by Hi Stars who captured the Under-13 competition and Topp XX came out on top in the Under-16 tournament, staged last Saturday at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Hi Stars, led by Shamiah Samuels, edged Topp XX to capture the Under-13 final after they had beaten Blueberry Hill 1-0 to advance in the championship game. Topp XX, on the

other hand, got the better of Rickland Hutson Leadership Academy also by a 1-0 score to reach the final.

In the Under-16 championship, Topp XX went through via a bye; but Milerock the defending champions in both competitions beat Hutson Academy 3-0.

Topp XX prevailed in the final over Milerock 4-1 on penalties after they played to a 0-0 stalemate in regulation time.

Rickland Hutson Leadership Academy’s lone female player in the tournament, Jamina

Gentle, received a trophy, while their goalkeeper in the Under-16 segment, Alvin Andries, was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper.

H u t s o n ’s L e a d e r s h i p

Academy also carted off the Most Disciplined Award and their coach Rawle ‘Jughead’ Huntley was named Best Coach.

tice that no such words were spoken on the field by the Indian captain,” the organisation said in a statement.

“The BCCI got a clarification from the team management about the incident and would like to classify the reports as baseless.”

Paine himself did not escape scrutiny, picked up on stump microphone questioning India batsman Murali Vijay as to whether he liked Kohli as a person.

The Australian victory, however, could provide a boost for the final two matches of the series, especially since vast tracts of empty seats at both Adelaide and Perth did little to resolve questions about whether the nation’s fans have quite forgiven the organisation or team for years of bad behaviour.

Paine’s side remain unchanged for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and final game in Sydney from January 3 when India will con-

Hetmyer will be the ‘man’ for Windies – Devon Smith WINDIES middle-order batsman, Shimron Hetmyer, despite not having the most consistent time with the bat since his international debut, has certainly turned some heads and impressed people, including former regional team batsman, Dwayne Smith.

Under-13 champions Hi-Stars

Shimron Hetmyer Under-16 champions Topp XX

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Friday November 30, 2018)

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

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: WI won by 4 wickets Shai Hope (WI)

(1) (2)

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

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

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

Lone female player in the tournament Jamina Gentle

tinue their quest for a first series victory in Australia.

And the Australians can expect a backlash from the top-ranked Test side in the world, according to former captain Ricky Ponting.

“There’s no doubt with one win a bit of belief comes but they can’t just rock up in Melbourne and expect India are going to play like they did here,” Ponting told Cricket Australia’s website.

“If you think about the MCG and SCG, they are (venues with) conditions that will suit the Indians more than Adelaide and Perth.

“The Aussie boys will have their work cut out.

“But as long as they play the brand of cricket they know that they can play - and I think they showed that (with) some great aggression this week - I hope that continues for the next couple of weeks.

If they can do that then I think they’re going to be hard to beat.”

From the first time I saw him I thought he had tremendous talent,” said Smith, a former Windies and Barbados opening batsman.

H e t m y e r, a l r e a d y ranked the number 51 Test batsman in the world, made his debut for the Windies at Sabina Park in Kingston against Pakistan in 2017.

Since then he has averaged just 29.70 with a highest score of 93 in Tests.

His average is higher in

ODIs at 37,9 with a highest score of 127, but still, the lefthander is not anywhere the immense talent he shows.

In fact, in T20Is, where his attacking personality should flourish most, Hetmyer only manages and average of 14 and a half.

Smith believes very minor adjustments are needed for those averages to go up.

“He just needs to be wiser about his shot selection, especially in Test cricket,” said Smith.

That aggression, Smith seems to suggest, is something that has been missing from West Indian cricket and he, for one, would like to see more of it.

“I like the aggressive, attacking way he goes about his cricket. This is so West Indian and we can’t take the West Indian out of our West Indians. We just need to keep them going and give them the right backing and stuff like that,” he said.

With those ingredients, Smith believes Hetmyer will be one of the best players in a Windies jersey for years to come.

“He’s someone, who for me, is going to be one of the top cricketers for the West Indies,” said Smith. (Sportsmax)

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, December 20, 2018

Petra records successful year … GUYOIL School league; ExxonMobil U-14 were high points

WITH 2018 winding down, the Petra organisation has recorded another successful year, according to co-director Troy Mendonca.

The co-director was speaking yesterday when the organisation unveiled additional lights, a Honda lawn mower and a Stihl brush cutter at the Ministry of Education ground.

“We understand the importance of a very good facility and also we understand the challenges that facilities, that sports in general face, in this country with limited resources,” he said.

“The vision that we have for the ground is a facility, which can accommodate 500 persons, with proper washroom facilities, proper changing-room facilities and proper playing surfaces that are open generally to sports.”

He noted that Petra is currently looking towards getting a stand rebuilt for the development and that come next year, there will be significant progress towards this.

CLOSER COLLABORATION WITH GFF The Petra organisers spoke highly of their collaboration with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and, moving ahead, they aim to make that closer in 2019.

“The GFF has its chal-

lenges and one of the areas that we want to address is the issue of coaching, because a lot of times most schools use their Physical Education teacher and that is challenging.”

“From a footballing aspect, we would really want to go after some kind of funding for coaches to be

THREE of the country’s sought-after cricketing talents - Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford and Keemo Paul - were snapped up at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction on Tuesday.

Paul was also bought by the Delhi Capitals for US$70 000 (G$14,639,800).

The young Guyanese are definitely on the rise in world cricket, more so in the game’s shortest format and their latest achievement is a testimony of their hard work and dedication to the

Keemo Paul

The trio are now dubbed the ‘million dollar boys’ after the 21-year-old Hetmyer was drafted by Royal Challengers Bangalore at a price of US$588 000 (G$122,974,322), joining T20 stars Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

All-rounder Rutherford will head to Delhi Capitals, having been bought for US$280 000 (GY$58,559,201), while

association or federation to actually run football at all these levels. When you look at what happens in other countries, clubs and associations or affiliates play their part and not the governing body in terms of actual execution of tournaments.”

He noted that they are in discussion with other

The Petra organisation yesterday unveiled more lights, a brush cutter and a lawn mower as part of its thrust to develop the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

It’s a special feeling to be a part of the IPL - Paul

By Rajiv Bisnauth

assigned to schools with the assistance of the GFF.” He noted that the body has been in talks with the federation to allow schools in the sub-associations and federations to be more vibrant; adding that corporate Guyana has a part to play there.

“It is difficult for any

sport.

However, Paul, who has represented Guyana, West Indies and Guyana Amazon Warriors, said, “It’s a special feeling to be a part of the IPL. It was always a goal I set myself; to someday play in the IPL. It’s a dream year for me especially since my childhood dream of playing for the West Indies came through this year.

“Playing for West Indies is where my heart will always be but this is a big opportunity and I feel humble to have been given the opportunity,” Paul told Chronicle Sport yesterday.

He added, “It came as a surprise, I was looking at the auction and was excited that Sherfane (Rutherford) and Shimron (Hettie) got bought. We were all in one room looking at the draft, and then I left my room to eat dinner and that’s when my name came up and I heard loud banging on my door. When I opened it was Hettie and Sherfane jumping and hugging me because Delhi had bid for me”.

Paul, the 20-year-old feels the IPL will be a learning curve for him.

“I am expecting to learn a lot. The league will provide me with good exposure. Playing with and against experienced players will boost my confidence. I want to gain as much experience as possible from the coaches and senior players in international cricket for I’m still young in my international career.

“It will be a confidence-builder and a big learning experience for me, and I’m looking forward to it,” Paul concluded.

‘interest groups to share advice on making things more vibrant.

“One of the areas that we really need to get correct is the timings in terms of preparations of teams in terms of engagements of the teams for different tournaments and we really want to see that transition from Under-11 to Under-14 to Under-18.”

HIGH POINTS FOR 2018 “I can’t remember in my entire life or even as a footballer when we’ve had a league football competition at the school level and really, we would want to have the 12 best teams in the country compete in that tournament.”

All that glitters is not gold, Mendonca opined, adding that the logistics behind the tournament was one which featured several back and forth discussions.

Mendonca said, “Another highpoint was being able to host the Boys and Girls tournament (with the help of ExxonMobil) which is a gap that we have been trying to bridge over the last couple of years - U-11 and U-18.”

Naming rights part of JCA Sabina Park plans

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – A possible name change is among a raft of changes which the historic cricket stadium Sabina Park could undergo, if the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) follow through on its ambitious 10-year redevelopment plan.

The JCA are mulling over the acquisition of naming rights similar to what is done internationally and are also plotting some infrastructural changes like the addition of a sports lounge, an accommodation facility and a jogging track on the perimeter of the venue.

“We have given consideration – only given consideration as there’s no direction yet – can we rename Sabina Park?” the Gleaner newspaper here quoted JCA communications and marketing manager Garth Williams as saying.

“For example, you have the American Airlines Arena where the Miami Heat play (in the NBA),

you have the AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys (in the NFL). Can we look at something like that around Sabina Park?

How then do we provide commercial value for those entities who seek to partner with us in that particular kind of way? We believe we are sitting on a gold mine there at Sabina Park.”

Sabina Park is one of the Caribbean’s oldest cricket venues, having staged its first Test almost 90 years ago. Located in the country’s capital, Kingston, there have been discussions by authorities on how best to monetise the venue, beyond only cricket.

Investment in the infrastructural changes could only up to JA$25M but the JCA projects this could result in annual revenue of up to $50M – well over the current $2M to $4M. “We already have the space.

What it needs now are some mi-

Test venue Sabina Park could undergo possible name change.

nor renovations and then to put the marketing behind it to attract people into the space,” Williams explained about the project.

“This is to ensure that we have all the necessary amenities.

We had already come with a certain number of things. We have good, secure parking; we’re accessible. So it’s really more around what we do in the space.

“With this figure, we can get things running and it also includes the marketing around it. It’s not all the capital expenditure to install the fittings that we need, but also to really pump funds into getting the space popularised.”

The accommodation facility, the Sabina Inn, will be a three-star product aimed at boosting the accommodation capacity at the venue. Further, there are also plans to install replay screens.

It is hoped that Sabina’s enhancement will run parallel with the development of the area so that the city benefits as a whole.

“It’s not that Sabina will just be an oasis, so to speak, and then around it is just terrible,” said Williams.

“Once the municipality is providing that designation, there come with it certain types of benefits.

But also, with this increase in activities, you will find, as well, that the community is welcome to participate, but it will also find jobs.

“Cricket matches provide temporary employment relief, but once you have us establish that entertainment zone, then that relief is no longer temporary. It is extensive.”

Boxing pride of West Ruimveldt rewarded

(In photograph above, Ninvalle presents the rewards to the new pride of West Ruimveldt, Abiola (left), and 14-year-old Alisha.

CARIBBEAN Boxing Championship gold medallists Abiola and Alesha Jackman were yesterday rewarded for their excellent performances during the four-day event.

Both sisters won by stoppages in their respective finals. The 16-year-old Abiola was adjudged the Female Best Boxer of the tournament.

Yesterday, Guyana Boxing Association (GBA)

president Steve Ninvalle surprised the siblings by arriving at their Self Help Square, West Ruimveldt residence to present both with new boxing gloves, jerseys and financial assistance.

Bale hat-trick leads Real Mohamed’s Enterprise commits to GFF ExxonMobil Futsal tournament Madrid into Club World Cup final Page

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Mohamed’s Enterprise proprietor Nazar Mohamed hands an undisclosed sum and trophies to GFF Executive Committee Member Dion Innis and Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major.

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Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale scores their third goal to complete his hat-trick (REUTERS/Andrew Boyers)

It’s a special feeling to be a part of the IPL - Paul ► Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018