Guyana Chronicle E-paper 2-27-2019

WEDNESDAY 27th February, 2019

No.105561

Elections consultation

––President to consult with GECOM, opposition leader on readiness for elections

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02&03

–– commits gov't to providing funds for fresh polls

Ally reads riot act to RUSAL

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10

Ramnarine bows out

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17

– requests early retirement after exhausting leave

Former Top Cop David Ramnarine

Granny 21 murderer put away for 100 years Mechanic killed in Vreed-en-Hoop accident 20 PAGE

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Social Protection Minister Amna Ally delivers some strong words to RUSAL during her meeting with top company officials on Tuesday (Delano Williams photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

President to meet opposition leader -- meeting expected to be held March 6

PRESIDENT David Granger has invited Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to meet with him to discuss the readiness and funding for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to conduct new general and regional elections.

The two are expected to meet on Wednesday, March 6, at the Ministry of the Presidency and will also discuss the National Assembly’s constitutional role in the current situation.

In a letter dated February 25, 2019, Minister of State Joseph Harmon made the correspondence on behalf of the President.

“His Excellency the Pres-

ident extends his best wishes and invites you to meet him at 11:00hrs on Wednesday 2019.03.06 at the Ministry of the Presidency, Vlissingen Road,” the letter stated.

“The President wishes to consult with you on the following matters: (1) The National Assembly’s constitutional role in the present situation; and (2) the Guyana Elections Commission’s readiness and requirement for funding to enable it to conduct general and regional elections.”

Harmon also relayed that the President wished to advise the opposition leader that he has written the GECOM chair, retired Justice James

Patterson urging him to initiate arrangements for the conduct of elections and committed to supporting his request for financing the elections.

In a separate correspondence to the media on Tuesday, Harmon noted that the decision was made based on the issues raised by a letter first sent to the President by Patterson.

“The President has always kept himself open and available to consult with the leader of the opposition on matters of national interest.

Now, based on that letter that the elections commission sent to him, the President felt that it was necessary to consult with the leader of

President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at a previous meeting (file photo)

the opposition and so he, in fact, instructed me to write the Leader of the opposition, which I did today,” Harmon said.

At a press conference on February 7, 2019, Jagdeo had

stated that the only conditions under which he would consider an extension of the 90-day period is if the President would announce that preparations for general elections would start and would

decide to move forward with accelerated timelines.

However, it is unknown, at this period, what the President and opposition leader intend to bargain for when they meet.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday February 27, 2019

Elections Consultation

– President to consult with GECOM, opposition leader on readiness for elections – commits gov’t to providing funds for fresh polls

By Lisa Hamilton PRESIDENT David Granger has written to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman (ret’d) Justice James Patterson requesting a meeting on the readiness of the commission to conduct regional and general elections in 2019.

In a letter dated February 25, 2019 and addressed to retired Justice James Patterson, the President also stated that he intends to go to Parliament to secure the necessary funds for holding new general and regional elections.

“I have noted your statement to the effect that the commission does not have the capability to deliver credible general and regional elections within the threemonth time-frame commencing 2018.12.21 and that additional funds, appropriated by the National Assembly, need to be provided,” President Granger said.

His response comes after a letter sent by Patterson to the President on February 21, 2019, in which he made it clear that following the decisions taken at GECOM’s February 19, 2019 statutory

meeting, the commission cannot deliver credible elections within three months’ time and, as a constitutional agency, it would require appropriation of funds from the National Assembly.

“Concerning the delivery of elections, it is useful for me to bring to your attention the following: GECOM had made it known since 2014 that it requires a minimum of approximately six months, commencing from the time of notification within which credible elections can be held. Further, all requisite financial resources would then have been at our disposal and under our control,” the chairman wrote.

He continued that while the specific focus in 2014 was local government elections (LGE) the principal, critical-path process and resource requirements for general and regional elections are similar.

SUGGESTION Patterson told the President that the secretariat had suggested that it may be able to deliver elections in approximately five months if it curtails the period normally allotted for some tasks,

including a reduction in time for Claims and Objections.

However, he added: “It is my view that any arbitrary reduction in time would negatively impact the quality of the output. In light of the provisions of the constitution in this regard; and since it is beyond our logistics capability to facilitate the first option, I respectfully request that the second option available be pursued and that the commission be informed accordingly.”

Regarding finances, Patterson noted that the $3B sum for house-to-house registration had been approved by the National Assembly in 2018 after the need for such was “unanimously approved” by the commission.

Patterson noted that he is also guided by the Finance Ministry’s indication that funds for new elections can only be utilised in accordance with the programme by which the appropriation fund was informed.

This led him to petition: “I shall be grateful if all the necessary actions could be taken to ensure that the necessary funds are placed at our disposal and under our control to facilitate legal

coverage and authority for the expenditures we have to undertake pursuant to the holding of elections.”

President Granger was also made aware that the commission would be continuing on its 2019 work programme which the chairman indicated would include “an electoral list with a qualifying date of April 30, 2019, to be effective from May 1, 2019 through October 31, 2019.”

It would also see a completely new National Register of Registrants (NRR) and an Official List of Electors (OLEs) with a qualifying date of October 31, 2019 to be effective from November 1, 2019 through April 30, 2020.

The two, he specified, would come from the conduct of a house-to-house registration exercise.

RATIONALE “This decision was taken in light of the fact that we have already lost approximately three months while we vigorously and singularly explored to finality, the options for compliance with the current constitutional imperative as our only focus.

If we were to continue in our current state, more time will

SARA moves to repossess Jagdeo’s ‘Pradoville’ properties THE State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) has turned to the High Court to repossess the properties owned by former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, and six other high-ranking officials who had benefitted from the Pradoville Scheme, as it ups the ante against corruption.

Under Jagdeo’s presidency, he along with several high-ranking officials received prime seafront land belonging to the State at prices far below market value.

The current administration has been investigating the suspicious financial transactions.

On Monday, SARA filed eight actions in the High Court in its quest to repossess eight plots of land at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting – common-

ly known as ‟Pradoville Two”. Two of the parcels belong to the former President, now Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, while the others are owned by former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee; former Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh; former Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr. Compton Bourne; Lisaveta Ramotar – daughter of Guyana’s immediate past President, Donald Ramotar; Private Sector Executive, Ramesh Dookhoo and Florrie Loretta Ramnauth.

In the case, The State Assets Recovery Agency v Bharrat Jagdeo, which brings into question the property located at Lot 246 Goedverwagting on the East Coast of Demerara, SARA is seeking an order from the court to prevent the former Presi-

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

dent from disposing of the property.

It also wants the court to set aside the Certificate of Title bearing No. 2010/3432 which was registered on September 2, 2010, and for the land to be transferred to

the State.

“A Civil Recovery Order transferring the property known as Lot 246 Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, also known as Zone: E.C.D, BLOCK III, PARCEL: 246, AREA:1500 Acre,

President David Granger

elapse and no meaningful work will be done.” he explained.

He added: “Given the elapsed time, our secretariat is to produce a new work schedule for approval, which should be geared to deliver the same outcomes in the shortest possible time. Kindly note that preparations for elections can be done simultaneously with this work programme if the requisite financial resources are made available to us.”

Meanwhile, Minister of State Joseph Harmon also

commented on the correspondence made by the President. “…he [the President] noted of course, their concerns that there was not enough or any appropriation made in the 2019 Budget for anything other than houseto-house registration; and that the elections commission was going to proceed with their programme of house-tohouse registration,” Harmon said.

This is the context of the exchange of letters between GECOM and the President, Harmon said.

– similar action taken against several top PPP officials Plantation Goedverwagting; Title No. 2010/3432, to the asset manager or such other person as this honourable court may deem or determine,” page three of the court document states.

In laying the grounds for the case against Jagdeo, SARA, through its Attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes and Ronald Bostwick, stated that the land that forms Plantation Sparendaam and Plantation Goedverwagting was at all material times, State property.

On August 16, 2007, during a Meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Investment Commercial Limited (NICIL), the then Executive Director, Winston Brassington, reported that there were 15 acres of land at Sparendaam which was good for sale. Brassing-

ton, according to the court documents, recommended that the land would be ideal for high-income house lots, town houses or condominiums, however, the lands were sold at extremely low prices.

“At the date of their sale, the aggregate value of the sold parcels of land at the property was $246, 639, 868,” SARA’s attorneys said, while noting that the sum is based on an appraisal report done by Hugo Curtis Dip. Est. Man. (Lon.) Valuatuib Surveyor on November, 28 2017.

While the property has been valued at more than $246M, Jagdeo, while President, paid a mere $9,335,500 to the Central and Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) for the plot of land on September 6, 2010.

TURN TO PAGE 5

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday February 27, 2019

‘Big Market’ clock may never chime again –as repairs proving too costly THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Tuesday announced that the G$8.2M that had been given them by the US Embassy as a grant to help fix the alarm on the Stabroek Market clock has had to be forfeited.

The announcement was made by way of a press statement issued by Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis, stating that the decision to give back the money to their benefactor

was unanimously agreed at Monday’s statutory meeting.

According to Lewis, the grant had been secured through the auspices of former US Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway, since back in 2016, the very year Guyana celebrated its Golden Jubilee, as well as 50 years of diplomatic ties with the US. At the time of the announcement, Ambassador Holloway had been quoted as saying that, the embassy was willing to work with the M&CC on getting the clock back up and running, and that after discussing the matter with his affiliates in the US, the sum of US$41,000, the equivalent of G$8.2M, was approved for the cause through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

The first sum of money that was given the City Treasurer’s Department was a cheque for US$10,000, the equivalent of G$2M at today’s going rate, following which the Council had advertised via the print media for qualified contractors to submit tenders.

Of all the contractors who had responded at the time, one Carlyle Benjamin was shortlisted, since his proposal was deemed the most suitable. The US Embassy had also communicated to the council that they were exploring other options to have the iconic heritage item restored, one of which was having world renowned Smithsonian Institute in the US effect the repairs. But, that idea soon had to be shelved, because the cost to restore the clock was proving to be quite exorbitant; hence the decision to return the money, and only after lengthy discussions were held with embassy representatives.

What is not being said, however, is that the upshot of it all, could very well mean that that’s the last we’ve heard of the iconic ‘Big Market clock,’ as it may never chime again.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

The historic Stabroek Market clock

12:00hrs. - 13:30hrs.

Friday 22, February, 2019

02 03 07 20 22 25 04

K

23, 03, 13 11, 21

6, 2, 2

5, 1, 8

02, 06, 12, 14, 17

22, February, 2019

01 05 15 17 18

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday February 27, 2019

SARA moves to...

FROM PAGE 3

It was noted that the sale stemmed from a March 9, 2010 Cabinet meeting, during which it was decided that the government would create a housing development on the land and for it to be transferred to CH&PA from the National Communications Network (NCN) which was the owner at the time.

UNFAIR “The decision of the Cabinet to allocate and distribute the aforementioned properties at prices which were below the current valuation to a restricted group of persons with significant financial resources, deprived the State and the people of Guyana to lose consideration and or value on the disposal of the State’s assets,” the attorneys stated.

They added: “The purported transfer of the State’s assets to a restricted and limited group of persons of

privilege and considerable financial worth, at values below their assessed market value without any purported benefit to the State, was a disposal of the State’s assets to a selected privileged group at considerable financial and other disadvantages to the State and people of Guyana.”

Notably, the sale occurred under the watch of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali, who at the time was the Minister of Housing and Water, and was directly responsible for the CH&PA. It was noted that though there were and continue to be established procedures guiding the application process and the sale of land, evidence suggests that no applications were received by the CH&PA, no interviews were conducted and no agreements of sale signed in relation to the parcels allotted at Plantation Sparendaam and Plantation

Goedverwagting.

“The Minister of Housing requested Esther Stephen, a staff member of the CH&PA in 2010, to deliver a sealed yellow envelope from the Minister, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, to the Registrar of Lands, Juliet Sattaur….When Esther Stephen went back to the land registry to meet the registrar, the registrar told her that she had to sign for the Certificates of Title and take them back to Minister Ali,” SARA detailed through its attorneys.

UNLAWFUL According to SARA, that passing of the title for Parcel 246 Plantation Goedverwagting from CH&PA to the former president was unlawful.

According to the agency, the action was contrary to and in violation of the provisions of the Land Registry Act to transfer a registered interest without the knowledge and

An aerial view of Jagdeo’s Pradoville Mansion (Kaieteur News photo)

consent of the registered proprietor. This act, SARA is arguing, is one of fraud, dishonesty, and was done with intent to defraud the State.

“That former President Bharrat Jagdeo, a Cabinet member, in benefitting from his own decision when he participated in a Cabinet decision to allocate State

assets to a class of persons, which include himself, was in breach of his constitutional duty to uphold the constitution and to act in the best interest of all the people of Guyana. For reasons inter alia, he was in a position of conflict of interest in which he participated and acted in his own personal interest,”

SARA concluded. Similar cases have been made against the others, and according to SARA, several others will follow shortly.

It said that the initial window for out-of-court settlement for officials and other persons who are in unlawful possession of state assets has closed.

Breakfast programme for Region Five schools THE Breakfast Programme (BP), which is part of the National School Feeding Programme, will be introduced to all nursery schools, and Grades One and Two at the primary level, in Region Five in the next school term.

This was disclosed by a Ministry of Education (MoE) official, during a recent meeting with regional officials geared at getting the project off the ground.

The breakfast will comprise of cereal, eggs, peanut butter and cheese sandwiches, mixed vegetables and a glass of Milo-flavoured milk with other nutritional elements.

Potential caterers were briefed on how to respond to an Expressions of Interest for providing meals for the programme.

The Expressions of Interest will be placed in the media, and stakeholders

were asked to be on the alert and submit their bids in a timely manner.

Deputy Regional Executive Officer (Administration) Sherwyn Wellington said, the caterers’ contracts will be awarded by the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board (RPTAB) of Region Five.

The regional administration will then acquire funds from the MoE to finance and manage the programme.

The breakfast programme was piloted in Georgetown, Region Four, on the East Coast of Demerara and in Region Three in 2016.

“The breakfast programme is currently pro-

viding breakfast to children, in nearly all the schools in Georgetown on a daily basis, and we are at Yarowkabra on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway. We are halfway through for those children in schools in Re-

gion Three,” the Ministry of Education source said.

The multi-million dollar programme is part of the Coalition Government’s effort to ensure that the nation’s children are fed and properly educated.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday February 27, 2019

Working Together

TOWARDS the end of last year, 2018, outgoing U.S. Ambassador Perry Holloway and Finance Minister Winston Jordan, on different occasions, spoke of constitutional reform.

Ambassador Holloway spoke as a friend of Guyana, but being a diplomat, he prefaced his remarks, or more appropriately his advice or viewpoint, with “If the people and Government of Guyana so wishes[sic].”

Accordingly, no one could accuse him of telling us what to do. He was putting forward some advice from a man of wide experience and great perspicacity; and we are of the opinion that the Guyanese people welcomed his words.

When asked by a journalist what he thought of the race relations climate in Guyana, he reminded the journalist that he was a native of South Carolina, one of the southern States of the United States, “a place which still has racism to this day.” He pointed out that politics seems to be the main area where race relations seem to be heated up and charged.

“Quite frankly”, he said “outside of politics, I don’t notice the same racial conflict and I have seen Indos and Afros readily playing together, working together, doing things together all the time. It seems politics is the only place it gets more charged.”

When asked how he thought the problem could be solved, he replied: “It takes both sides, you’re not going to solve it if only one side wants to solve it. So somehow, the two sides have to figure a way how to come together and work it out. There are some challenges, because your system, the actual constitution, is a winner-takes-all system. So, by default, if you are the winner you take all control. The other side, what do they have?

They have little control, they have only the ability to oppose; they’re the Opposition.

I’m not going to say here that I am an advocate for or against constitutional reform, but if you want to have greater power sharing, which might lead to greater cooperation, then there would need to be some form of reform.”

In other words, the ambassador was hinting at constitutional reform which could lead to greater cooperation and better race relations.

He went on further to say why the major political parties should work together. He pointed out that Minister Jordan had said “2020 will be the mother of all elections,” with each party trying to get into the driver’s seat. This implies that it is imperative that they aspire to work closer together. In Ambassador Holloway’s words “Work more together because you never know who will be in power in 2020. It could be one side or the other. The last elections were won only by 5000 votes, give or take, so work more together.”

Finance Minister Jordan, in his presentation of the recent budget in Parliament, declared that his government was committed to constitutional reform and will accomplish it. The minister went on to point out that resources have been provided for a survey and awareness programme with the University of Guyana. In Minister Jordan’s words: “The survey will seek to assess the current understanding of constitutional reform by the general populace and their expectations.” Mr Jordan went on to speak of the Parliamentary Bi-Partisan Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission Bill. Once this bill is ready for debate and passes into law, it will reflect the evolution of Guyanese democracy.

Both Ambassador Holloway and Minister Jordan have felt with certainty that constitutional reform will help to cultivate warmer socio-ethnic-political relations, ultimately furthering the development of the country

and bringing about greater prosperity. These positions were adumbrated before the no-confidence motion in Parliament and since that motion, the need for constitutional reform has become even clearer.

Actually, the no-confidence vote brought to the fore a number of issues which constitutional reform must address. These would include the question of whether persons with dual nationality should be permitted to sit in Parliament and whether the law disallowing such dual citizens from sitting in Parliament should be repealed. Then there is the question of the control political parties and their leaders should have over members of their parties in Parliament. We have also heard calls for removing the new oil out of the ambit of solely the political parties, since they are national issues transcending politics. Matters of this kind will have to be decided on by those in politics and government; but it would appear to us at this time that both issues should be addressed by all parliamentary parties and the important national NGO’, especially the private sector and the representatives of labour.

To this end, government must be commended for the architecture of the recently passed Natural Resource Fund Bill. Finance Minister Winston Jordan in presenting the bill to the House, had assured that the Public Accountability Oversight Committee catered for in the bill will not feature any representatives from the government nor any ministry nor the opposition side of the House.

“Mr. Speaker, early in this Bill there is a recognition that accountability and transparency must be the hallmark in managing these resources. And no better than a watchdog is an independent council or committee clothed with the necessary legal and other provisions to undertake such oversight. And so, Mr. Speaker, after we passed the definitions and so on, which are important, we have a part

three, a public oversight of the funds which will be done by what is called a public accountability and oversight committee. And this committee has the power in articles 6 1, 2, 3 and 4 to monitor and evaluate the compliance of the government with the provisions of the act, to monitor and evaluate whether the fund has been managed in accordance with the best practices of transparency, good governance and the Santiago Principles,” Jordan said.

He further noted that it also speaks to providing independent assessment for management of the funds, both in terms of utilisation and withdrawal. The committee will also have the power to facilitate its own public consultation and management of the fund, and will depend on funding, not from the national budget, but from the natural resource fund itself.

According to Jordan, the committee will comprise 22 members including representatives from women’s organisations, the Bar Association of Guyana, the Guyana Consumers Association, the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Imitative (GY-EITI), the Guyana Press Association (GPA), the trade unions, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana, the University of Guyana, the private sector and 10 persons from the Regional Democratic Councils around the country.

It is our opinion that the observation

by Ambassador Holloway that politics, and particularly electoral politics, is the factor which awakens racial divisiveness in Guyana, but that in all other respects, the society is fairly integrated, is valid.

And though the major political parties have traditionally dawn their core support from racial groups, it is our opinion that they would sincerely support a constitution which would discourage racial voting.

Is there a move to overthrow the government?

Dear Editor, THE government of the day must be extremely careful with the role GECOM plays with so-called electoral bodies.

There seems to be a sinister role by the so-called international community to remove this democratically elected government from office.

In 1992, agencies such as the Electoral

Foundation for Elections Systems IFES and the Carter Center were used to confuse GECOM’s independence, with Clairmont Lye and the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) as their local support.

These so-called agencies should ask Clairmont Lye why he returned his national award after his EAB had helped the PPP disenfranchise voters in 1992. GECOM this time around should not accept any

financial assistance from these bodies without the blessing of Parliament. This government was removed from office in 1992 by international players under the disguise of free and fair elections.

Its replacement, the PPP, ensured that whoever engaged GECOM had their blessing. Probably that is why Clairmont Lye gave back his national award. Is the West on trial every time a PNC government is

in power? What is their fear, democracy or sovereignty? Just like 1992, the opposition is crying out to the so-called international community and again, GECOM is its main topic.

However, this time around, the rematch will be a mismatch.

Regards, George Williams

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday February 27, 2019

Guyana needs criminal justice reform now!

Dear Editor

LARRY John Adams is a 20-year-old former student of School of the Nations. On February 22, Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly sentenced him to three years in jail, as well as imposed on him a $30,000.00 fine, after pleading guilty to possession of eight ecstasy pills.

The police alleged that Adams possessed the pills for trafficking. Adams in turn told the magistrate the pills were for his own use. In my view, it is the quantity possessed that matters in the totality of circumstances, not the alleged purpose.

Moreover, a seller would likely possess in excess of eight pills. Consequently, charging someone with trafficking requires more evidence than mere possession of the illicit substance.

It must be established that the defendant was involved in the sale, transport or importation of said substance, or intended to sell or deliver it.

Admittedly, I do not know the police’s evidence.

Reportage on the case states that Adams was arrested while riding a motorcycle

in the vicinity of Princes Street when he was stopped by police officers conducting “investigations.” This stop allegedly resulted in a search and his arrest. We do not know if this stop and/ or search was lawful. We do not know if Adams was represented by counsel. All we know is a 20-year-old student was sentenced to three years in jail for riding around Georgetown with eight ecstasy pills.

The sentence could be mandatory in light of his guilty plea, but was avoidable. The magistrate could have entered a not-guilty plea and adjourned the matter for another date, by which time young Adams would have been properly counselled. We don’t know all of the factors-- mitigating or aggravating. Nevertheless, I strongly condemn this sentence. It is draconian, outrageous, unjust and repugnant to the principles of fundamental fairness. It is a textbook case of over-sentencing. It is immoral and wholly disproportionate to the alleged crime. It constitutes excessive punishment and a gross abuse of this young man’s human rights.

All of society must condemn

it!

It is time that we as a society begin rejecting unjust laws and overzealous, inflexible judicial officers whose misuse of power and the law, or misguided judicial philosophy, ruin the lives of our young people. We use our people’s power to end this.

I’m not sure if this magistrate ordered a probation report for this youngster. Such inquiry would have delved into the socio-economic circumstances of his life.

It would have ascertained whether he was a trafficker and why; whether the pills were for entertainment or was a function of acquired behaviour learnt through socialisation.

This is why such cases involving minors should not be adjudicated in regular criminal courts. They should be tried in courts where magistrates are trained in juvenile offenders’ interventions and are mandated to employ various diversion strategies to rehabilitate and remedy underlying conduct. The main objective of juvenile diversion programmes is to avoid or circumvent conviction and a dreaded criminal record, which permanently destroys the lives of our

I have kept a safe, disinterested distance from active politics THE editorial of the Stabroek News of Monday, February 25, 2019, is really a polemic exercise. It challenges the constitutional orthodoxy that drives the engine and operations of GECOM. Your hysterical heading screams this ugly canard: “Democracy at risk.” This advances in aid by inference the untruth that the chairman has been in cahoots with the government commissioners to destabilise the democratic processes by which the commission operates. Not true. For decades, too much to count, I have kept a safe, disinterested distance from active politics.

Mr. Editor, constitutional democracy was not at risk when President Granger ‘handpicked” me as chairman of GECOM. His Excellency acted, as was his right, in his own deliberate judgment and in accordance with the law. So says the Guyana Court of Appeal.

There is yet to be a final pronouncement on this issue, I am advised, by the Caribbean Court of Justice. When it arrives, I trust that we will all abide by its pronouncement. Your unbalanced and maladroit editorial grudgingly admitted that GECOM was well within its rights to act as it did.

Mine is a prayer that the ethnic rumbles which have intruded in the body politic with an ineffable zeal be destroyed and banished forever. Editorials sometimes overstep their enthusiasm and unwittingly land into territory which deprives the body politic of a harvest of hope. Yours is such a one. This may be an uncharacteristic misstep. We applaud the fourth estate for its courage and tenacity it sometimes demonstrates. On this occasion, you have overreached and faltered. The pen, very often, is the master of the sword and can sometimes cause similar mayhem. I will continue to read your editorials as usual.

For the removal of all doubt, be it known that this chairman is a paladin for no one and his deportment in his execution of the Office of Chairman would be defined by the Oath of Office which was taken. The world is looking at Guyana much the same way as a thief “sizes up” treasure. Now is not the time nor season to spawn and exacerbate peccadilloes and gratuitous incivilities.

Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson Chairman Guyana Elections Commission

youth. As a community leader, I have worked with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office for many years on this issue. It has saved the lives of hundreds of Guyanese and Caribbean young people. It is the best in the U.S. I intend to recommend that the attorney general and the director of public prosecutions (DPP) send representatives to observe the Brooklyn DA’s youth diversion programmes. They are phenomenal.

Some 54 per cent of Guyana’s population is below age 40. The median age is 26. We cannot continue destroying the lives of our young people by saddling them with unnecessary and unjust criminal sentences whenever they make mistakes by committing minor offences-- particularly drug offences. Western countries have reversed course and are addressing drug offences involving possession and use, as a health crisis rather than a criminal justice mandate.

It is time that Guyana adopts this sensible approach.

I advocate for the APNU+AFC coalition government of Guyana to immediately commence the process to decriminalise the possession and use of small amounts of narcotics and psychoactive drugs.

Concomitantly, I call for the coalition government to pass a law to expunge all misdemeanour drug convictions from the records of young people and other Guyanese. We have a country to develop, a destiny to mold and generations of young people to educate and train to become leaders. We cannot accomplish our development agenda as a nation by criminalising our youth. They are our future! I pray that one of our kind-hearted, young attorneys will petition the Guyana Court of Appeal to set aside Larry John Adams’ conviction, and set him free.

Rickford Burke President Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)

Lerry Adams not a student at ‘Nations’ Dear Editor, I WOULD like to refer to a recent article published on February 22, 2019, captioned, ‘20-Y-0 student jailed for 3 years for Ecstasy pills.’ We would like to clarify that the student referred to in the article, 20-year- old Lerry John Adams, is not a student of School of the Nations.

According to our records, Mr. Adams exited School of the Nations in 2012, after completing Form 1 and was transferred by his parents to another school.

We would appreciate it if this statement can be published to clarify this misinformation.

Many thanks,

Dr. Dexter Phillips Chief Executive Officer

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday February 27, 2019

Soft skills should be integrated into TVET programmes Dear Editor,

I CRAVE your indulgence of allowing me some space within your newspaper to share my views on the Technical Vocational Education

and Training programme in Guyana.

Recently, I noticed the Education Ministry pursuing the development of TVET in various regions. In January, there was a contract- sign-

ing for the design and construction supervision of three TVET facilities in Regions Three, Four and Five.

Earlier this week, a similar engagement for the same purpose was signed for fa-

cilities in Regions One and Seven. Based on reports in the media, these facilities will be better able to deliver training in areas such as Masonry/ Plumbing/Steel Fixing, Electrical Installation, Furniture

Making/Carpentry and Joinery, Garment Making, House Keeping and Graphic Design.

Editor, this is commendable by the Ministry of Education to be injecting funds into developing TVET areas in Guyana. With the skills that will be taught, Guyana can expect the renewal of a workforce of skilled men and women in the aforementioned areas. Some can move on to gaining employment in those fields, while others can become entrepreneurs, opening their own businesses and even becoming contractors and bid for government contracts.

My concern, however, is although we will have a skilled workforce, we must remember that many of the students of these courses may not be the most ‘polished’ bunch, despite their intellectual capabilities.

Some will have sharp edges to their personalities and people skills. I therefore humbly submit, that the Ministry of Education, when implementing these programmes makes provision for subjects that address customer service and care, so that the ‘soft skills’ of students can be developed.

This will allow them to know how to deal with their clients. We must remember that in a lot of cases, these trained young men and women may have to interact with their clients, directly. They will not have the opportunity to hide behind a trained customer service agent as yet, particularly those that will venture out to become entrepreneurs.

Let us imagine for a minute, a young lad, trained as a mason and has to provide an estimate to a client in his community for the concreting of a yard. That freshly minted mason will have to be taught the importance of po-

liteness and professionalism to provide the said estimate and even further, to respect the importance of sticking to deadlines and reporting inability to finish or not finish within given timeframes.

The teaching of soft skills borders on communication skills. These subject areas can teach students various techniques of improving communication between themselves and clients, which will augur well for good customer relations.

This is important, since we are encouraging persons to venture into entrepreneurship and becoming their own ‘bosses.’ It will benefit them since their good service will build their reputation in a positive light, securing for themselves future jobs.

Many people complain about their interaction with tradesmen, particularly saying that they possess no ‘people skills’, that they are ‘rough, rugged, crude and ill-mannered.’ Being able to do the job correctly is good, but customers also want persons to whom they can talk and interact in a friendly manner.

When we implement these programmes, we must think holistically by not just focusing on the main skills, but also developing the individual completely into becoming a rounded Guyanese.

With that said, editor, I repeat my commendation for the Ministry of Education for acknowledging the need for improved TVET services being offered to students. I encourage the education officials and the Minister of Education to continue developing the education sector in Guyana.

We are going in the right direction.

Yours faithfully, Elizabeth Williams

CORRECTION ON Page Three of our Tuesday, February 25, 2019 edition, in the article titled `Political climate influenced by greed for power’, in paragraph three, it was inadvertently stated that on November 15, 2008, instead of, on November 15, 2018, the leader of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Bharrat Jagdeo, filed a no-confidence motion against the three-anda-half year government, claiming “unbelieveable” levels of corruption.

The Guyana Chronicle regrets the error.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Small garbage contractors get extensions

CITY councillors have voted to extend the contracts of smaller garbage contractors until March month-end even as Solid Waste Management Director, Walter Narine, urged them to enter renegotiation with the city’s main collectors.

Puran Brothers Disposal Services and Cevons Waste Management Inc. opted to pull their services late last year, when the City Council racked up more than six months of outstanding balances.

Since then, the City Council hired a number of smaller contractors, and rehired the two main ones to cover works on a smaller scale.

Deputy Mayor, Alfred Mentore, at Monday’s statutory meeting, pointed out that the fact remains that it is the City Council that owes the contractors.

“It’s a breach on our part. We are the ones who caused this dilemma,” he said.

Councillor Gregory Fraser advised that the two main contractors be re-engaged, owing to the fact that the City Council was first in breach. He said business persons will understand what it means to continue working without being paid.

Mayor Ubraj Narine suggested that the smaller contractors be allowed to continue working until March 15, so that the coun-

cil can speak again on the matter when it meets for the next statutory meeting on March 11.

When the matter was put to a vote, a majority of councillors voted in favour of a motion to have the smaller contractors continue to work until the end of March.

Meanwhile, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has written the Attorney General’s Office in its quest to obtain a second opinion regarding the pull-out by the two main garbage contractors.

A response has not yet been received. The first advice received from Lawyer Roger Yearwood was that the contractors – Puran Brothers Disposal Services

and Cevons Waste Management Inc. – breached their contracts with the M&CC by opting to pull their services from the city last November.

Accordingly, the contractors could have instead opted to take the municipality to court instead of withdrawing their services. Both contractors had said that it was not a case where they wanted to stop working, but that their current financial positions did not permit them to continue without pay.

Company representatives had said that they were frustrated by the M&CC’s inability to make timely payments.

“We are at a close breaking point… we had a meeting with the City Council

and they promised to meet again to discuss payments, but it is annoying and frustrating, it is a consistent cycle,” Cevons stated.

The contractors opted to pull their services in August 2017, when the City Council had racked up more than $400M in debt to the two companies. Although the companies had agreed to wait for payments for the years 2015 and 2016, the municipality was not even keeping up with its current balances for 2017.

Government stepped in and paid the contractors all of the outstanding balances and even went further to create a special arrangement to cover services up to the end of that year.

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Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine During that time, the contractors had anticipated that the City Council would have made an effort to contact them on a new system beginning 2018.

However, the identical situation repeated itself in 2018.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Ally reads riot act to RUSAL

SOCIAL Protection Minister Amna Ally on Tuesday told RUSAL executives that government will be going the “full length” to preserve the country’s laws, in view of the company’s firing of another 30 workers on Monday.

As the government continues to lobby for the reinstatement of fired workers, the RUSAL executives are saying that the dismissed employees have to rejoin the company as new employees if they want to work again.

This is even as the company has already begun trying to attract new employees from the Kwakwani area.

Minister Ally, along with Minister responsible for Labour, Keith Scott and Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, on Tuesday meet with RUSAL executive Vladimir Permyakov, and BCGI Personnel Manager, Mikhail Krupenin at her Lamaha and East Streets office.

The Russian pair said they were simply there to

relay the position of their RUSAL principals.

Ally restated that the government is demanding nothing less than the reinstatement of all workers fired by the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), a subsidiary of RUSAL, and for all future negotiations to be done with the workers’ recognised bargaining agent, the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GBGWU).

“We are going to be going to the full length to examine this issue with

regard to operations and with regard to workers at this company. I think that RUSAL’s management is unreasonable, it is unthinkable the positions you have taken on this issue. It is very clear that you do not want an amicable solution to this matter, because you have put on the table issues to us which say take it or leave it; and I believe that this is very, very unreasonable. It is not right for workers to be punished,” Ally affirmed to the two Russians.

Up to last week it had

government ministers. It was understood that the company would reinstate the workers; however, the company is maintaining that they were in their right to fire the first set of workers.

“Those terminated, we terminated them for violation of labour laws of Guyana, for violation [of] their labour contract and I would ask you to check documents before making such a position,” Krupenin told Ally.

Notwithstanding the fact that Guyana’s constitution avails to citizens a freedom

to be discussed with the workers representatives amicably. This government is resolute and will not move one inch from our decisions that we will stand with the workers,” Scott firmly said, He added: “This country has a history of respecting trade union laws. The way you are treating workers is not showing any respect, not only to our laws but to the trade union movement as well. The union is the recognised body and there can be no negotiation whatsoever behind the backs of

Social Protection Minister Amna Ally (right) told RUSAL executives Vladimir Permyakov and BCGI Personnel Manager Mikhail Krupenin (right) that government wants nothing less than the reinstatement of fired workers (Delano Williams photo) been expected that BCGI would be rehiring the some 60 workers who were initially dismissed on February 18 following strike action that began on February 15.

It came as a shock on Monday when an additional 30 employees were issued letters dated February 20, stating that they were being laid off.

This was after the RUSAL executives last week had a meeting with the Department of Labour and then had another subsequent meeting with several

to strike, Krupenin maintains that the contracts of the employees do not provide for them to be absent from work, not even in the case of a strike. He contended that their contracts supersede the law.

POSITION UNCHANGED Scott also added his voice to the situation, saying the government will not be budging an inch on its demands.

“We want the workers reinstated and the issues

the union.”

Permyakov said the company is expected to begin a hiring exercise from this Friday. Minister Ally said she does not understand how the company is firing employees and hiring employees simultaneously.

“You are saying to us that you are requesting new workers. I don’t understand how you can suddenly after dismissing 61 workers, write the other workers giving notice of availability of work. Is that done in any sane way arbitrarily? No consultations?

No discussion? Because you are management you come here and just decide this is what I want and this is what I get? The Government of Guyana is not going to accept that,” Ally said.

She continued: “We have to protect the workers as well as protect your rights. Since the first engagement we said we are not taking any high-handed approach, but we would like matter to be settled amicably.

Are you saying to me there’s no security of tenure for these workers? That you can get up tomorrow morning and decide to dismiss these workers? We are not going to accept that, I am sorry that cannot work my brothers, that cannot work.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Hundreds pay tribute to ‘Pluto’ Martindale

By Frederick Halley

GLOWING tributes were the order of the day as hundreds packed the Wexford Presbyterian Church, Scarborough, Toronto, last Saturday to pay their final respects to Colonel Cecil Edgar “Pluto” Martindale, one of the most decorated military officers to emerge out of Guyana.

The 93-year-old Martindale, credited with being a stalwart member of the Guyana Ex-Soldiers of Canada (GESAC), the Senior Guyanese Friendship Association and the Wexford Presbyterian Church, died on Saturday, February 16 last at the Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, where he was ailing for the past few weeks.

Among those in the congregation were retired Guyanese-born Justice Vibert Lampkin, Guyana’s Consul-General Anyin Choo, executives and members of GESAC, fraternity

a gentleman, comrade, soldier, protector, disciplinarian, a man of great faith, advocate and of great wit.

WORLD’S BEST DAD According to Melanie, “he still stands as the reigning champion of the world as the world’s best dad. He was admired as one of the greatest teachers in life who taught more than what he didn’t say, but by rather of how he lived.”

Retired Justice Lampkin, who delivered the eulogy, said Colonel Martindale lived life to the full and his was a life of service to his community to the very end.

An avid sports enthusiast, Colonel Martindale was also deeply interested in band music and promoted the playing of steelband music in the GDF, and was also instrumental in the early development of hockey.

He also served as President of the Guyana

Mourners at the Wexford Presbyterian Church in Scarborough, Toronto members from the USA and representatives of the Guyana Ex-police Association of Canada (GEPAC).

In a moving tribute, Colonel (ret’d) Carl Morgan described Martindale as a wellbred gentleman, honest, trustworthy, serious-minded, upright, and athletic.

He recalled that Martindale had the honour of commanding the Guard of Honour at Parliament Buildings on the morning of May 26, 1966, when His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent handed over the Instruments of Independence to then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham.

According to Morgan, who served under Martindale, his colleague was considered a martinet by many. “He was a man of sharp wit and he was renowned for always finding a pun for every situation. He had a great sense of humour and was a live wire at mess dinners and other social occasions.

He loved music and corrected bandmasters on many occasions. I think he played the steel pan. On the dance floor he was a master even in his last days.”

GESAC president Gordon Winter, in his tribute, pointed out that he was extremely privileged to have served with Martindale from 1966 until he resigned in 1974.

“He was fair, objective, open-minded, principled and quick-witted among his many attributes.”

Reminiscing on his GESAC colleague, Winter said “Pluto” had an incredible memory and would speak about events that occurred in the 1940s to the present.

Daughter Melanie Seaton disclosed that her father was always kind to others beyond normal logic. She described him as

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Olympic Association (GOA), the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) and as Vice-President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU). He was first the secretary and later became president of the Boys Brigade Council of Guyana.

The Colonel Cecil Martindale Command and Staff School stands as an enduring testimony to the high esteem in which Colonel Martindale was held during his military service.

Colonel Martindale’s military career started in 1948, when he enlisted in the ranks of the British Guiana Volunteer Force (BGVF). In August 1951, he was commissioned in the rank of second lieutenant and was promoted to lieutenant a year later; he then became a captain in November 1955, a major in February 1961, lieutenant-colonel in May, 1967 and Colonel in May 1976.

Prior to embarking on his outstanding military career, Colonel Martindale taught for a few years before joining the Public Service in 1946, serving in the Customs & Excise Department as a customs officer.

During his military service, he received several awards, including the Efficiency Decoration, 1962; the Independence Medal, 1966; the Border Defence Medal, 1967; the Military Service Medal, 1972; Military Service Star, 1981; and the Military Efficiency Medal, 1984.

Following a cremation, Colonel Martindale’s ashes will be taken to Guyana. He is survived by his wife Bernice, children, 16 grand-children and 10 great grand-children.

A section of the congregation with the flag-draped casket in the background

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Impetus for ‘green,’ diversified economy –– as Natural Resources Ministry, Conservation International sign key pact

THE Ministry of Natural Resources and Conservation International-Guyana (CI-Guyana) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising their shared commitment to pursue a “green,” diversified economy for Guyana.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and CI-Guyana Senior Technical Director Curtis Bernard, signed the MoU at Cara Lodge in the presence of representatives from both sides.

Noting that the MoU had been in the pipeline for approximately one year, Minister Trotman said it represents another step in the relationship shared between his ministry and CI-Guyana.

“This MoU, which aims towards the enablement of Guyana’s “green” economic growth and development, represents another step in a level of exchange between the Ministry and CI-Guyana that will bode well for progress on a range of natural resources sector development initiatives,” Minister

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman (right) and CI-Guyana Senior Technical Director Curtis Bernard (left), shake hands as they hold a copy of the signed MoU (Delano Williams photo) Trotman said during the simple signing ceremony.

As the government forges ahead with transforming Guyana into a “Green” State, the natural resources minister said it is important for such partnerships as one strengthened on Tuesday.

“As my ministry aims at promoting and supporting the expansion and diversification of the “green” economy, we realise that it is more effective to work together with those who share our common interests relating to the sustainable management of our natural resources and Guyana’s overall sustainable development,” he said.

According to him, both the Natural Resources Ministry and CI-Guyana are cognisant that an ideal green economy is built on the principles of increased human well-being and social equity, and the reduction of ecological scarcities and environmental risks.

While emphasising that the agreement will further strengthen their advanced cooperation, Minister Trotman said his ministry and the government by extension look forward to enhancing the constructive relationship in the interest of exploring, developing and sustaining Guyana’s patrimony, its natural resources and ensuring the “green” economy for all Guyanese.

CI-Guyana senior technical director underscored the importance of safeguarding Guyana’s natural patrimony.

“To secure and sustain development for Guyanese now and in the future, we must secure our natural heritage – the cornerstone of our development and well-being,” he said.

Bernard said for more than two decades, CI-Guyana, through diverse partnerships, has helped to design and implement solutions to secure Guyana’s natural heritage, and the enhanced partnership between CI-Guyana and the Natural Resources Ministry forms part of the overall mission of the conservation body.

RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT Declaring that CI-Guyana is committed to continuing the work, he said “CI-Guyana’s partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the agencies under its purview is critical to ensure that Guyana’s natural resources are exploited responsibly and contributes to growth in the total wealth of Guyana.”

He pointed out that the existing partnership has already resulted in continued op-

eration of Guyana’s state-of-the-art MRVS system, and more recently, working towards responsible mining for Guyana through the El Dorado Gold initiative.

“In more than 30 countries across the world, CI’s passionate local teams work with governments, private sector, civil society and indigenous peoples to secure nature for people. Our work is built on strong, diverse partnerships and sound science,” he reported.

It is the mission and vision of CI-Guyana and the Natural Resources Ministry to contribute to the achievement of the 2025 Vision for Guyana. Currently, CI-Guyana is in the process of designing a model for the management of the water reservoir located on Nappi lands in the Rupununi.

The reservoir was completed in 2017 and commissioned in 2018 in response to the devastating 2015/2016 drought.

The MoU will aid in advancing Guyana’s efforts in meeting international commitments such as the Minamata Convention and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Also, they will pursue responsible mining for Guyana by supporting policy development and programmes such as Guyana’s Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System (MRVS), and will continue to link natural resource management with community development by cultivating a culture focused on the conservation and management of Guyana’s freshwater resources.

Both parties view the monitoring of impact as important and will consult regularly to track the process of the agreed activities. The outputs, outcomes and impacts of the MoU will be reviewed at semi-annual meetings between CI-Guyana and the Natural Resources Ministry. Notably, the MoU has a lifespan of two years with an option for renewal.

The MoU is one of several signed with partners recently to strengthen joint efforts, which contribute to the ministry’s efforts to promote and support responsible exploration and sustainable development of Guyana’s natural resources through effective management, regulation, and oversight of its regulatory agencies. The National Toshaos Council is among organisations that have signed agreements with the ministry.

It is Minister Trotman’s hope that in the not-so-distant future, similar agreements will be signed with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, the Guyana Women Miners Organisation and the National Mining Syndicate.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

ExxonMobil mason facing robbery under arms charge

A 24-year-old of Lot J946 Jackson St. Tucville, was yesterday, (February 26, 2019) brought before Chief Magistrate, Fabayo Azore for robbery under arms.

Junior Murray, an employee of ExxonMobil, is alleged to have robbed Simone Persaud on February

23, 2019, in the vicinity of Anira Street, Queenstown, the sum of $20,000 in cash.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

In his defence Murray said “I was alone, I really don’t know how I was in the company of others. In my pocket I had $23,200

that went missing due to me being intoxicated from partying. I’m the father of two and I’m willing to lodge my passport or even pay back the woman because I’m working and have no need to rob anyone”.

Court prosecutor, Gordon Mansfield objected to

bail being granted on the grounds that, on the day in the question, the virtual complainant was relieved of the cash by Murray. He was then seen by the victim’s son, who rushed to the scene, but nothing was recovered.

The matter was then re-

ported and the defendant was arrested and charged.

Bail was granted in the sum of $100,000, under the agreement that Murray lodges his passport and reports to the station every Friday until the matter is concluded.

He will return to court on March 1, 2019.

The accused: Junior Murray

Mabaruma Man charged with stealing $1.8M worth of phones A 21-year-old resident of Mabaruma, yesterday, (February 26, 2019) appeared before Chief Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court.

It was alleged that Renee De Freitas, between February 20, 2019 and February 21, 2019, at the Kamaka Water Front, in the North West District, broke and entered the store of Andre Gamel, where he stole a quantity of phones.

Among the stolen items were a plum cellphone worth $20,000, a nokia worth $19,000, six Samsung phone

cases valuing $9000, one plum tablet worth $24,000 and 23 Samsung phones worth $1,127,000. The items valued a total of $1,875,000.

The defendant denied the charge when it was read to him.

Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield did not object to bail under the condition that the defendant reports to the Mabaruma Police Station every Friday until the matter is concluded.

De Freitas was granted bail in the sum of $100,000 and will return to the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court on May, 20, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Patterson mulls Guyana, Texas air link

AHEAD of Guyana’s ascension into the oil and gas arena, the country could be air-linked with the “big boys” in the industry at Houston, Texas, where primary focus is on the energy industry, particularly oil.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, mulled the idea of establishing the air link with the oil capital of the US, during a panel discussion on oil-and-gas development in Guyana hosted

by Rice University’s Baker Institute on Tuesday.

“In three years, visitor arrivals have increased tremendously and Houston seems like [a] suitable partner to increase air lift…you want to get to Guyana in the shortest possible time, so the priority should be to establish an air link between Guyana and Houston”, said Minister Patterson.

His notion was supported by Managing-Director of the Caribbean, Schlum-

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson berger, Sean Herrera.

Persons travelling to Guyana would usually have to travel to New York then come or transit another Caribbean country to get here.

The minister noted Guyana, “is prepared for the jump” since the Cheddi Jagan International Airport is being expanded and will be completed in a “couple

of days.” He added, “The runway was expanded to 10,700 feet, which means that Guyana can take any class of commercial airline.”

He also indicated that Guyana is in the process of upgrading to establish its second international airport, Lethem, on the border of Guyana and Brazil.

“We want people to use Guyana as a jumping-off point to get to the north…

We are in the process of upgrading that airport to a regional and international hub”, explained the minister. He further added that Guyana is now 66 per cent compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations.

In the light of Guyana’s advancement and the growing interest in its fortunes, Patterson indicated that consideration for the establishment of a business development counsel in Houston, is underway.

His sentiments were

echoed by Chief Executive Officer of Go-Invest, Owen Verwey.

The interest in Guyana has become overwhelming, he said, noting that Guyana has a great opportunity to start looking at establishing consulate in Houston. The metropolitan area comprises the largest concentration of petrochemical manufacturing in the world, including for synthetic rubber, insecticides, and fertilizers.

International interest

Managing-Director of the Caribbean, Schlumberger, Sean Herrera

in Guyana peaked, after ExxonMobil revealed the country’s oil-and-gas prospects. First production from the offshore Liza field is expected in 2020, and full development could yield 500,000 barrels per day.

With billions of dollars in expected annual oil revenues, Guyana will have the opportunity to spur substantial economic and social development.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

GCCI claims business slow –– after dubious city survey

THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has reported a drop in commercial activities due to “political uncertainty” induced by the vote of no-confidence against the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government.

According to the GCCI, the drop in business was recorded in a survey conducted; however, it is unclear when the survey was conducted, the sample size, and the target group or groups – be it small or medium or large-scale businesses.

It said that the survey was conducted out of concern over the current political climate, and was set out to gauge the effect of the political environment on business performance.

“From the results, 64 per cent of respondents (or about two in every three businesses) experienced some form of decline due to uncertainty over the state of political affairs in Guyana. For those businesses which registered a decline in activity, approximately 85 per cent experienced a 25 to 50 per cent drop in the level of commercial activity.

“The remaining 15 per cent experienced 75 to 100 per cent decline in business. This significant decline in commercial activity is worrying and with the continued state of political uncertainty can result in further decline in economic activity,” GCCI reported.

The GCCI said it is concerned about the effects of the impact of the associated uncertainty on the business community.

“From a national development perspective, the climate of uncertainty does not bode well for investors’ confidence, both local and foreign, as well as business planning, budgeting and other key features of business management and administration. The chamber remains hopeful that an environment which encourages investment prevails,” it said.

It was pointed out that the GCCI has a membership of over 240 business organisations, which include micro to enterprise-type levels located throughout the country and in CARICOM. “We therefore emphasise the need for national leaders to expediently resolve political issues that exist in order to restore and boost investors’ confidence, which would result in Guyana’s economy growing comfortably,” the chamber said.

The opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on December 21 moved a motion against the government, and though it was declared passed by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, the attorney general and private citizen Compton Reid have challenged the motion’s validity on different grounds.

More than a month later, Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire upheld Dr. Scotland’s decision; however, that is now being challenged in the Court of Appeal. Even as the matter is engaging the courts’ attention, the Guyana Elections Commission has indicated that it is unable to facilitate General and Regional Elections by March 21, 2019, and would forge ahead with its 2019 work programme, much to the disappointment of the PPP. According to the constitution, elections must be held within three months of a defeat of a government or at a later date as agreed by two-thirds of the National Assembly.

Attorney General Basil Williams has maintained that the President cannot call an election unless he is advised by GECOM that it is prepared to facilitate free and fair elections.

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Ramnarine bows out – requests early retirement after exhausting leave

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

By Leroy Smith ASSISTANT Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine, who served as the country’s ''top cop'' but was overlooked for the substantive post last August, has written the force requesting early retirement.

Early retirement is afforded to officers who have served more than 20 years in the force. Once early retirement is granted, those persons would be afforded all the benefits and emoluments that would have been given at the time of retirement, age 55.

Since Assistant Commissioner Leslie James was appointed Commissioner of Police and four other Assistant Commissioners of Police: Nigel Hoppie, Paul Williams, Maxine Graham and Lyndon Alves were appointed Deputy Commissioners of Police, Ramnarine has never worked a day under the five who were promoted ahead of him.

Sources alleged that prior to the appointment of the five assistant commissioners of police, Ramnarine had made it clear that he was not prepared to work under any of them if they were promoted ahead of him.

James, Alves, Graham, Williams and Hoppie were all junior to Ramnarine and took commands and instructions from him while he acted as ''top cop'' and served as Assistant Commissioner (Administration) of the Force.

After Leslie James was appointed Commissioner of Police, Ramnarine packed his belongings from his office and left. He was also absent from the swearing-in of James, but did indicate to this publication that he telephoned James and congratulated him and the other deputies.

Since that day, Ramnarine has been off the job on accumulated leave and when that was exhausted, he applied for unpaid leave and his request

was granted. When the last request was exhausted, Ramnarine made the decision to opt for early retirement.

President David Granger, in the months leading up to the appointment of the commissioner of police, said that he was looking for someone who is unbribable.

He again repeated those sentiments at the Guyana Police Force Officers Conference in January of this year.

When contacted on Tuesday, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan confirmed that Ramnarine has requested early retirement.

Ramjattan said Ramnarine wrote the permanent secretary indicating his position.

A LOSS “I think it is a loss, he had a lot of experience; he was extremely good with the press; he could articulate his position very, very soundly and with a lot of passion

and so had a lot of positives and I really had wanted him to stay on, but he made his decision and I respect that,” Ramjattan told the Guyana Chronicle.

When contacted by the Guyana Chronicle, Ramnarine refused to comment on his position, saying “No comment, I am not in public life right now” and discontinued the call.

Ramnarine served the Guyana Police Force as divisional commander for ‘F’ Division and once as ‘C’ Division commander. He also served in the capacity of assistant commissioner of operations and administration before becoming acting commissioner of police.

A few years ago, he was involved in a public battle of words with then Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, after questions were raised about the funds which were allocated to Ramnarine’s ‘F’ Division to cater for meals and other logis-

tics for ranks during General and Regional Elections.

Ever since that fiasco, Ramnarine was overlooked for promotions to deputy commissioner and even the commissioner of police post, while those below him including Leroy Brumell and Seelall Persaud, were promoted ahead of him.

Ramnarine again became the subject of much media attention when he began acting as commissioner of police whenever Seelall Persaud was away from the job. During his tenure, he made several changes within the organisation including reshuffling commanders, dismissing ranks whom he claimed were rouge cops and even promoting a number of junior ranks.

Many of the decisions which Ramnarine made while acting as commissioner of police were reversed by Leslie James when he assumed the post. James also looked at some case files and dis-

Former Top Cop David Ramnarine missed ranks were returned to the job in cases where it was determined that their dismissals were done in a unilateral manner.

Ramnarine also gained much public attention when he openly appeared to have been challenging the judgment, and in some cases, reversing the decisions of former Commissioner Seelall Persaud and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum.

This was evident in statements made when he was called to stand before the commission of inquiry which heard of the blameworthiness of officers and other persons in the handling of an alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Wang Yi meets Caribbean representatives

BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China) -- On February 21, 2019, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing with representatives of the Caribbean side who were here for the seventh round of consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Caribbean countries having diplomatic relations with China.

Wang Yi congratulated on the success of the consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Caribbean countries which have diplomatic relations with China. Wang Yi said that China and the countries in the Caribbean region always respect each other and treat each other as equals. Bilateral relations have become a model of equal co-existence, mutual benefit and win-win results between big and small countries. During the consultations, the two sides reached new important consensus on how to further strengthen China-Latin America relations, which has enhanced mutual trust and also injected new impetus into future mutually beneficial cooperation.

Wang Yi made a-four point proposal on the development of the relations between China and the Caribbean countries.

First, we should jointly uphold the basic norms governing international relations, strengthen solidarity and coordination, earnestly uphold the international system with the United

Nations at its core, and uphold multilateralism based on international rules. Second, we should work together to promote sustainable development. The Chinese side is ready to help the countries in the Caribbean region cope with climate change and other challenges within the framework of South-South cooperation. Third, we should strengthen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. It is hoped that the Caribbean countries will become strong partners in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and enhance their capacity for independent development and accelerate their industrialization process through jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative.

Fourth, we should jointly uphold international and regional peace and stability.

Wang Yi pointed out that the Venezuelan issue is essentially Venezuela’s internal affairs. The Chinese side follows the basic norms governing international relations and adheres to not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. We hope to promote peace talks among all parties to promote the Venezuelan people to solve the issue peacefully through dialogue and consultation within the framework of the constitution, and maintain national stability and development. It is not only in Venezuela’s own interests, but also conforms to the common interests of all countries including the countries in the Caribbean region.

The Commonwealth of Dominica is the rotating coordinator of the Caribbean side. Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Francine Baron of the Commonwealth of Dominica and representatives of the Caribbean side expressed that during this visit, we witnessed China’s great development achievements under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China, and hoped to learn from China’s successful experience.

China is a good friend of the countries in the Caribbean region and has always offered sincere help and support to the countries in the region in their development. Attaching great importance to developing relations with China, the Caribbean side will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China policy. The Belt and Road Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping is visionary and offers major opportunities for countries in the region to enhance connectivity and realize their own development. The Caribbean side is ready to work with the Chinese side to jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative, intensify communication and coordination on climate change and other issues and safeguard the common interests of both sides.

On the Venezuelan issue, the Caribbean countries share similar positions with the Chinese side and are ready to work with the Chinese side to promote peace talks.

China to invest US$45M to protect Potala Palace’s ancient documents LHASA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government will invest 300 million yuan ($44.9 million) in the next 10 years in its greatest efforts of protection and utilization of ancient documents in the Potala Palace, a World Heritage site in Lhasa, southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region.

At present, a total of nearly 40,000 books of precious ancient documents in Chinese, Tibetan, Manchu, Mongolian and Sanskrit are preserved in the Potala Palace, said the management office of the Potala Palace Monday.

“It is stunning to see so many rare ancient documents distinctive in content, versions and artistic value,” said Pedron, an expert from the ancient documents protection center of Tibet.

Local protection workers will take preventable protection and restoration measures and digitize and put on a show of the pre-

cious ancient documents.

Local staff will roll out the digital registration for about 2,800 books of ancient documents in Chinese and Tibetan.

The ancient documents are not only relics but precious historical files that demonstrate and help safeguard a unified China with territorial integrity, said Jorden, vice director of the management office.

“To maintain the diversity of Chinese culture and make it pass on from generation to generation, it is essential for us to protect and make good use of these ancient documents,” said Jorden.

The Potala Palace was built by Tibetan King Songtsa Gambo in the seventh century and was expanded in the 17th century, covering an area of 41 hectares atop a craggy hill in the heart of Lhasa. As one of China’s top tourist destinations, the palace was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Kwakwani women launch empowerment group THE women of Kwakwani, Region 10, (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) are on a mission to empower themselves and other women and have established a women’s group.

The women proudly launched their group earlier this month, with several pieces of a display of beautiful hand-made craft.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Gar-

rido-Lowe, who has direct responsibility for women, children and youth applauded the women, “for possessing such remarkable talents.”

The minister encouraged the women and noted, “It is always good to add more to our household, because we always want to see our children look good, feel good, because naturally we are women and we are the foundation of any home.”

She added that a funda-

mental aspect of growing as a group is a need to bond, look out for, and support each other.

The ‘North Pakaraima Flavours’, a group from Region Eight, gave testimony to the good work the women have been doing. “We have seen these women here significantly contributing to the success of this lucrative initiative, which today sits on the shelves of several supermarkets in Georgetown,” said

one representative.

Minister Garrido-Lowe said 80 per cent of the farmers who supply the factory with organic tomatoes, are women, and their numbers were expanding annually.

The minister urged other women, including men and youths of Kwakwani, to follow suit and participate.

The women signalled their intentions of ensuring the group remains productive.

They have since produced

woven, knitted, crochet and embroidery towels, chair covers, and pillow cases among other handmade items, which will be available at local and regional markets.

Kwakwani residents depend heavily on bauxite mining, logging and cattle rearing as their main economic activities. With the women now establishing what will be a lucrative craft-producing industry, additional revenue will be in circulation.

The minister informed the gathering that the government remains committed to bringing the “Good Life” to all.

She stated that, “Residents weren’t guaranteed a chance for development of self, young people and the community.

Despite being far, the government has committed to meeting you, no matter where you are, so all across the country we have been trying to do that.”

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, engages with the women and their creations Handicraft done by the Kwakwani Women’s Group

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Building codes, rates, the environment –– M&CC, GCCI outline areas of collaboration

CITY building codes, infrastructural development, general rates and the environment are among eight key areas identified for collaboration between City Hall and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

Assistant Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick, in providing an update at the council’s

statutory meeting on Monday, informed councillors that the GCCI has submitted a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to City Hall.

The GCCI earlier this month, also met with the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to discuss the issue of parking meters and other matters affecting the city.

Apart from addressing the issue of the parking meters and establishment of an institutional working relationship between the two parties, the meeting was originally scheduled to discuss the issue of garbage receptacles around the city, and the levying of local authority taxes.

On the issue of parking

City Hall and the GCCI have identified several areas of collaboration meters, the GCCI President Deodat Indar affirmed that the body’s position has not changed from its original call for the revocation of the controversial parking meter contract between the M&CC and Smart City Solutions.

In 2016, President David Granger had recommended the formation of a tripartite committee involving the Private Sector Commission

(PSC), the M&CC and central government. However, the PSC complained that, at that time, the M&CC continued to miss the meetings and the initiative never took off.

Monday’s meeting had in attendance Engineer Colvern Venture, acting City Treasurer John Douglas and GCCI Executive Director Richard Rambarran, among others.

Mechanic killed in Vreed-en-Hoop accident TWENTY-two-year-old mechanic Nial Persaud, who resided at La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WCD), was killed on the spot early Tuesday morning in an accident at Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD. The young man was at the time riding motorcycle CH 7218 along the public road when he collided with the side mirror of a car which was attempting to go to the opposite side of the road.

Guyana Chronicle was told by relatives of the man that he was reportedly heading home when he collided with HC 4991, which was heading in the same direction.

Persaud, who was reportedly not wearing a helmet at the time, suffered injuries to the head and neck.

Reports indicate that the helmet was strapped to his motorcycle.

A statement from the police said the accident occurred at approximately 00:25hrs on the Vreed- enHoop Public Road and involved motorcycle CH 7218 and motorcar HC 4991.

The car was driven by a 44-year-old man. Police said a breathalyser test was done on the driver of the car and no alcohol was found in his system but he was nevertheless detained as the investigations into the accident continue.

In an interview with a cousin of the dead man, it was reportedly that half hour before the accident; the young man’s mother telephoned him to find out if he was heading home as it was getting late.

However, during that conversation, the two had an argument and the young man disconnected the phone on his mother. When she attempted to call him back approximately an hour after, the phone went to voice mail and he never made it home.

On Tuesday morning, as she was communicating with other relatives that Persaud did not come home after work, she received the dreadful news that he died in an accident and that his body was at the morgue.

Nial Persaud reportedly worked at Banks DIH as a mechanic and was described as a loving and very knowledgeable young man.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Granny murderer gets 100 years

JUSTICE Navindra Singh handed a 100-year sentence to Collin Allen, called Colis Williams or ‘Bonus’, after a 12-member jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict yesterday (Tuesday, February 26, 2019), at the Demerara High Court.

The 26-year-old man was charged with the murder of an elderly woman at her Montrose home.

According to the indictment, on August 1, 2015, the accused murdered Danrasie Ganesh called ‘Carmen’, who lived alone, at Lot 121

the accused and identified himself as a police officer, dressed in plain clothes, and requested to take the accused to the crime scene.

The accused, he told the court, replied “Yes, I gon tek you”.

The accused was taken to the crime scene, accompanied by a party of ranks, and he (the accused) pointed to a southern gate and said: “Offica dis is the gate I met the man and we talked before I went into the house.”

Gravesande said that he then noticed a parked silver-grey Spacio, PMM

Collin Allen as he walked out of the courtroom of Justice Navindra Singh Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

On the day in question, Allen allegedly entered the house as if he lived there, and proceeded to murder the 77-year-old woman.

The murder was caught on CCTV cameras that were in the house.

The young man was adamant that the man on camera wasn’t him and he was innocent of the crime committed.

However, it was reported that Allen confessed to the crime when he was detained back in 2015, alleging that he was paid some $700,000 by ‘a man’, to commit the act, and retrieve some documents from the house.

During the trial, former Inspector of Police, Cedric Gravesande, testified that, in 2015, he was the officer-in-charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the Sparendaam Police Station.

The senior officer told the court that on August 22, 2015, he was at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, at about 12:50hrs, when he was handed a `caution statement’ in favour of the accused.

Gravesande said he read the document, approached

4949, and the accused said that it was the same car he was in when he talked to the ‘man’.

The former cop stated that the accused told him that he then picked up a bar and went into the house, and they followed him.

Gravesande said that he made checks in the places pointed out by the accused.

The accused took them back downstairs, where, he said, he met the deceased and dealt her several lashes and she fell unconscious to the floor.

The witness added, that the accused told him that he picked up some documents and handed it to the ‘man’ he had spoken to earlier, then went back into the house and ransacked the lower flat before leaving the place.

During the trial, the footage taken from the CCTV cameras in the house where the elderly woman was murdered, was shown to the court.

Allen held out that the man in the video wasn’t him.

The video of his interrogation was also shown in court, and again, Allen denied that the man in the video was him.

Defence attorney, Ra-

chel Bakker, said that the accused was at his Timehri home at the time of the incident, as was said by his mother during her testimony.

But State Prosecutor, Tuanna Hardy, pointed to the fact that the address given by the mother and the address given by the accused were different.

Hardy also highlighted that the mother of the accused could not say when her son was detained, which suggests that he wasn’t at

her house when he was taken away.

Bakker also argued that her client said he was threatened by a ‘Detective Caesar’, to admit to the crime.

But referencing the video footage of his interrogation, Hardy highlighted that no aggression was used towards Allen to make a confession.

In fact, after the caution statement was read back to him, he agreed to everything that was read.

After three hours in de-

liberation, the jury returned with the unanimous verdict.

The defence attorney refused to prepare a plea of mitigation, and therefore the judge proceeded with the sentencing.

Allen continued to plead his innocence but the judge reminded him of the footage that was shown in court, and said to him: “you shouldn’t see day light because of your actions.”

Starting at a 60-year sentence, Justice Singh added an additional 40 years

for a series of aggravating factors, totalling 100 years imprisonment.

Just the day before his verdict and sentencing, the accused said to his weeping mother outside of the court room, “Don’t worry ma, your son coming home. I would never kill nobody mama.”

When his sentence was handed down, he took it calmly, bowed his head, and walked out of the court with the escorting officers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Appellate court to hear application for conservatory order on Thursday

ON Thursday, the Court of Appeal is expected to hear arguments pertaining to the conservatory order being sought by Attorney General Basil Williams to preserve the status quo of the government, and his request for an interim stay to freeze the January 31 decision of the High Court with regard to the no-confidence motion.

Justice Rishi Persaud is expected to hear the arguments. The matter came up last

Wednesday before Justice Persaud; however, arguments were not put, because it was observed that the Notice of Appeal and summons were not properly filed.

The Attorney General’s Chambers had subsequently explained that a Notice of Appeal was initially filed on February 5, 2019, on behalf of the attorney general challenging the chief justice’s ruling on January 31st, 2019 in the case of Christopher Ram v The

Attorney General and Opposition Leader, and the Attorney General v The Speaker of the National Assembly and Leader of the Opposition.

When the records of the appeal were being settled on February 15, it was observed that there were some clerical errors and the judge was subsequently informed. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s name was “inadvertently omitted” from the rubric of the initial Notice of Appeal.

“At this juncture, the state solicitor committed to amend the omission on the rubric and it was agreed by all the parties present that the Notice of Appeal would be amended, to now reflect the inclusion of the leader of the opposition and served on all parties. All parties noted that it was a mere inadvertent clerical error and should not adversely affect the hearing of the matter,” the attorney general said in a statement.

“As was instructed, the state solicitor

amended the Notice of Appeal in accordance with Order 2 rule 6 (1) (b) and this was filed and served on Monday, February 18th, 2019, ahead of Wednesday’s hearing before Justice of Appeal, Mr. Rishi Persaud,” he added.

Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire on January 31 upheld the decision of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, that the no-confidence motion against the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government was validly passed by a one-seat majority.

According to the constitution, following a successful vote of no-confidence, General and Regional Elections must be held within three months, or at a later time as agreed by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly.

Government is hoping to stay the decision of the High Court until a final determination on the matter.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Bail for officers on robbery charge TWO serving members of the Guyana Police Force found themselves on the wrong side of the law on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for allegedly robbing a Brazilian at gunpoint.

Constable Sherwayne Spiers, 21, of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, and Constable Daniel Kellman, 25, of Constabulary Compound, Mackenzie, Linden, were charged jointly.

Particulars of the charge alleged that, on February 20, 2019, at the Takutu International Bridge, Central Lethem, Spiers and Kellman, while being armed with weapons, robbed Ronaldo Ferreira of a $38,000 BLU cellphone and 20 Brazilian Real equivalent to GYD $1,200.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the charge while their lawyer, Jerome Khan, made an application for his clients to be released on their own recognisance (self-bail).

“Why must these fine young men ruin their careers for an old beat up cellphone and 20 Real,” Khan told the court, as he revealed that Spiers has been a member of the force for over two years while Kellman Sherwayne Spiers has over seven years of service.

Khan contended that, on February 20, 2019, the two officers were stationed at the Lethem Police Station and were conducting duties at the Takutu International Bridge.

The attorney explained that the bridge area is known for being the breeding ground for many criminal activiDaniel Kellman ties, including the feared Sindicato gang.

Khan cited that his clients saw Ferreira while he was crossing the bridge and stopped him to conduct a search.

The officers, the attorney said, found a quantity of cannabis in Ferreira’s possession. However, there was miscommunication between the two ranks and Ferreira due to him not speaking English.

The attorney noted that Ferreira was arrested but escaped while being taken to the Lethem Police Station.

Police Prosecutor, Gordon Mansfield, objected to the two defendants being released on bail and noted that the lawyer’s claims contradicted the evidence available to the police According to Mansfield, Spiers and Kellman, on the day in question, were each posted at fixed points at the Lethem Municipal Compound with their service weapons.

However, the two officers left their post and went 300 metres away, to the Takutu Bridge where they saw Ferreira.

Mansfield contended that the two officers pointed their service weapons at Ferreira and ordered him to lie on the bridge while they robbed him. The two officers made good their escape and Ferreira reported the matter to the Lethem Police Station.

While at the station, Spiers and Kellman were pointed out by Ferreira and searched. The stolen articles were recovered in their possession.

The chief magistrate, after considering the arguments of the lawyer and the prosecutor, released the two officers on $100,000 bail each, with the condition that they report to the Lethem Police Station every Friday.

The matter was transferred to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for March 5, 2019.

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Newcastle edge away from danger, Leicester end slump

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Newcastle United put more daylight between themselves and the Premier League’s relegation places but Cardiff City remained stuck in the mire and Brighton and Hove Albion’s slump continued on a busy night at the bottom on Tuesday.

Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle side claimed a fourth successive home win as they beat Burnley 2-0 — a result which ended the visitors’ eight-match unbeaten streak in the league.

Fabian Schar and Sean Longstaff both scored before halftime as Newcastle moved up to 13th, seven points above the drop zone.

“We still have to keep winning games and do what we are doing already, continue to do the same great performance like today with great team spirit,” Benitez said.

Gylfi Sigurdsson became the highest-scoring Icelandic player in Premier League history with two goals in Everton’s 3-0 win at Cardiff who have conceded eight times in two home games.

Sigurdsson began the night level on 55 goals with former Chelsea player Eidur Gudjohnsen but moved ahead on his own with two clinical strikes to deflate the struggling Welsh side.

While Everton’s win, after three consecutive losses, lifted them to ninth, Cardiff remain one point and one place above the bottom three and will drop below the dreaded line if 18th-placed Southampton avoid defeat at home to Fulham today.

Leicester City’s newly-appointed manager Brendan Rodgers was at the King Power Stadium, hours after being confirmed as Claude Puel’s successor, and he would have been impressed with his side’s first-half display in a 2-1 win over Brighton.

Demarai Gray put the hosts ahead and Jamie Vardy made it 2-0 after the break but Brighton hit back through Davy Propper.

‘DIFFICULT PERIOD’ Glenn Murray blazed over a glorious chance to equalise for

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Brighton when the score was 1-0 and manager Chris Hughton admitted his side are in a sticky patch.

“We weren’t going to go through the season without having a difficult period and it’s still in our hands,” he said.

“We have a good opportunity at home to Huddersfield on Saturday to start picking up points.”

Leicester, who were under the command of Mike Stowell and Adam Sadler on Tuesday, had picked up only one point from the previous 18 available — a run that ended Puel’s tenure.

“I spoke to them about the incoming manager and just said we had to concentrate on the game,” Stowell, who will hand over the reins to Rodgers on Wednesday, said.

“We’ve got a great environment here with good staff and good owners so it’ll be a good place for Brendan.”

While Leicester look safe in 11th spot, Chris Hughton’s Brighton side are only three points above Southampton after a run of seven league games without a victory.

Huddersfield Town are almost certainly doomed to relegation but they finally had something to smile about as they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 to end a 14-game winless run.

S t e v e M o u n i e ’s s t o p page-time goal earned Jan Siewert his first victory as manager and sparked joyous scenes.

“You can’t believe how much they suffered when they are not winning,” Siewert, whose side are still 11 points behind 17th-placed Cardiff, said. “They deserved everything from the game. They left their hearts on the pitch.

“I will have one beer tonight — maybe two. But we have a game on Saturday and there is still something possible.”

The focus shifts to the title race today when leaders Liverpool host Watford and in-form Manchester City, who are one point behind, host West Ham United.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

NAMILCO/GFF unveil National U-17 Intra-Association tournament

AS part of its five-year strategic developmental partnership, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the National Milling Company (NAMILCO), yesterday unveiled the second annual Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra-Association tournament, set to kick off in March.

Scheduled to end in late

July with the National Inter-Association Playoffs, the tournament which will feature teams from the nine Regional Member Associations (RMAs), will coincide with the Milling Company’s 50th anniversary this year.

Participating teams will come from the nine RMAs, namely Bartica, Berbice, East Bank Demerara,

East Demerara, Essequibo/ Pomeroon, Georgetown, Rupununi, Upper Demerara and West Demerara.

At the official launch at NAMILCO’s head office at Agricola, high-ranking officials of the two entities spoke of the impact the tournament has had on Guyana’s football development, and their expectations of the signature 2019

event.

Managing Director of NAMILCO, Bert Sukhai, said the company, which has been in existence since 1969, is committed to the development of football in Guyana, and that was aptly demonstrated by the signing of a five-year, multi-million dollar sponsorship package with the GFF in 2016.

“NAMILCO is here longterm and when we make a commitment we keep it. I want to wish you guys (GFF) well, in terms of your planning and ensuring it is executed properly, down to the lowest level. You have to be on top of things to keep it going. All your RMAs have to be fully alert to what their responsibilities are and what we expect of them,” Sukhai commented.

Competitions Director of the GFF, Ian Alves, said

the effect of this single tournament on the performance of the national teams, at the youth level in international football since its commencement, has been “immeasurable.”

He reflected that the inaugural competition in 2018 “was successfully conducted” with a total of 514 games, involving teams from all corners of Guyana, producing 1,033 goals.

Alves posited that the tournament “contributed significantly to youth development and youth playing football in Guyana.”

Technical Director of the GFF, Ian Greenwood, added that the tournament has taken on added significance this year, pointing out that, “This year we have the World Cup Qualifiers coming up in May, and because Guyana Under-17 is now ranked 18th in CON-

CACAF, which is a massive jump up from what it was, we’ve been pushed into the final round, so in May, we will play Haiti, Honduras and El Salvador. Obviously, it’s a very tough group, but it shows the work we’ve been doing at the Under-17 level, to ensure we’ve been ranked 18th”.

GFF president Wayne Forde, in extending congratulations and best wishes to the management and staff of NAMILCO on their Golden Jubilee, said the Federation is pleased to play a part in observing the occasion.

“I think it is fitting that football is taking centre stage on such an auspicious occasion for this company, and it speaks to company’s values as it relates to the reinvestment into our most important asset, and that is our human asset,” Forde said.

Eyes on Russell as Windies chase victory in 100th ODI ST GEORGE’s, Grenada, (CMC) – Boosted by the return of all-rounder Andre Russell, West Indies will continue their quest for their first series win in five years when they face England in a now pivotal fourth One-Day International here today.

The two teams shared the doubleheader in Bridgetown last week before rain dashed any hopes of action in the third match at the Grenada National Stadium on Monday.

With only two games remaining, today’s match now proves critical, with the winner ensuring at least a share of the series.

The contest will have some historic significance as the 100th ODI between the two teams, and captain Jason Holder said they would be going all out to make the occasion a winning one.

“Hopefully if the weather stays away we should get a complete game … and obviously our objective is to win the game,” Holder told reporters here Tuesday.

“I’ve been told it’s the hundredth ODI between West Indies and England so there’s something special around it as well, so I guess all the guys are looking forward to it and hopefully we can start this game well and get some momentum going into the last one.”

Russell has been flown in to replace experienced seamer Kemar Roach who has been forced out of the series with a back injury.

The 30-year-old’s presence adds a certain x-factor to the Windies lineup, with

his ability to pulverise attacks with his aggressive lower order batting.

He has not played ODIs since limping out of the Bangladesh series last July after the first match, but Holder said he was focussed and up for the challenge of playing the world number one side.

“He’s in a good frame of mind. I’ve had a few good chats with him and he’s really looking forward to getting back on the field for West Indies,” Holder said.

“The last ODI he played for us was against Bangladesh and it wasn’t the best of occasions for him in terms of him not being able to fulfil his true potential in terms of his game.

“But he’s looking forward to this challenge ahead and obviously England is a good cricket side and have been playing some really good cricket so he will want to do the best he can against the best team in the world.”

Russell’s arrival brings Carlos Brathwaite’s place in the side under scrutiny, especially with returns of one wicket, and scores of 13 and three in the two completed ODIs so far.

That apart, West Indies are expected to undergo little change for today’s game, with most of the top order firing and the bowling stacking up well in their 26-run victory in the second ODI last Friday.

Holder pointed to the return of veteran Chris Gayle and the immediate impact of left-arm speedster Sheldon Cottrell as good signs for the unit.

“I still think we’re tinkering around with the best combinations but it’s a good thing having some experience in the dressing room especially with the young talent that we have,” he explained.

“It’s great to see a guy like Chris coming back into the team. He’s got the most runs in the series so far and then young guys like (Shimron) Hetmyer coming to the fore and continuing his good form, and Shai Hope as well so I think it is a great mix.

“It’s also good to see a guy like Sheldon Cottrell come in for his first game after not being selected in the initial squad, and coming in and having the impact that he has had, is tremendous for us. I just think it is a good energy that we have right now in the group and hopefully we can continue to build on the side.”

SQUADS: WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, John Campbell, Ashley Nurse, Carlos Brathwaite, Nicholas Pooran, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas.

ENGLAND – Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

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Olivier signs with Yorkshire, angering South Africa bosses “We find it extremely disappointing that Duanne has taken this step after all the opportunities we have given him,” CSA Chief Executive Thabang Moroe

South Africa’s Duanne Olivier celebrates bowling out Azhar Ali. (REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo)

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Fast bowler Duanne Olivier has turned down a two-year national team contract with South Africa to sign a deal with Yorkshire that will most likely put an end to his international career just as it was starting to blossom.

The 26-year-old will play for Yorkshire for the next three seasons on a Kolpak deal, which allows South Africans to be registered as locally based players in Britain but also prevents them from playing for their home country.

Kolpak refers to a European Court of Justice ruling allowing some non-European Union players to play in the EU. Such deals will most likely not be possible in cricket after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.

Olivier’s move has angered Cricket South Africa (CSA), as he was the star performer for his country in their 3-0 home Test series whitewash of Pakistan

earlier in the season and has 48 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of 19.25, putting him 19th on the International Cricket Council’s Test bowler rankings.

He was also recently added to the country’s OneDay International squad that puts him in line for World Cup selection.

“I would be lying if I said this wasn’t a difficult decision to make,” Olivier told Yorkshire’s website (yorkshireccc.com).

“It’s giving up playing for my country with no guarantees of playing international cricket again.

“But at the end of the day, I needed to be true to myself. I’ve only got this one chance to see where my talent can take me, and Yorkshire just felt right to me.”

Cricket South Africa said it was bad news for the global game that a player clearly on the rise has turned their back on international cricket to play the county circuit.

said in a statement.

“This is not good news for the global game either that a player who has just broken into the top 20 on the ICC Test match bowling

rankings for the first time should opt effectively to bring down the curtain on his international career in favour of playing only in domestic leagues.”

Olivier played for Derbyshire in the County Championship Division Two last year, taking 31 wickets in seven matches at an average of 27.48.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

No. 73 Young Warriors win UCCA Trophy Stall U19 competition A H A L F - C E N T U RY from Niraj Singh undermined a century from Stephan Norah, to hand No. 73 Young Warriors a one-wicket victory over Scottsburg United, in the final of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) Trophy Stall U19 50-over cricket competition, on Saturday last.

In the championship clash of the six-team competition, at the Number 72 Cut and Load ground, Scottsburg United won the toss and batted first.

Norah was ruthless as he carved out 119 runs to lead his team to a respectable 258, before they were bowled out in 48 overs.

The middle order batsman hit 14 fours and six maximums in his innings.

Support came from Akram Ally who scored 31 (3X4s, 1X6) and Chandar Bhudram with 19.

Leading the attack for the eventual winners were off spinners Raul Jabar and Afseer Hussain, who finished with 3-38 and 2-54, respectively, and eventual MVP of the tournament, medium pacer, Sarwan Chetnarine, whose two scalps carried him to 19 wickets in the competition. Chetnarine also tallied 152 runs, inclusive of his 26 (2X4s, 2X6s) in the chase.

It was Singh, who or-

chestrated the attack in the middle. The youngster, batting at three, scored 70 runs (eight fours), while opener Vettorie Lathman—the tournament’s leading runs scorer (170 runs), supported with 30 (5X4s).

Norah returned with the ball to grab 2-39. Rudy Jamalodeen and Daniel Persaud also finished with two wickets each for the second place finishers.

At the presentation ceremony, after the clash, the outstanding performers were rewarded, including Cut and Load’s off spinner Seiraj Chatterpaul, who finished with a tournament high 20 wickets.

The UCCA U19 winners Number 73. Young Warriors celebrate.

Cornelius slams unbeaten century to clinch victory for Balkissoon’s XI BALKISSOON’s XI, Reliance Hustlers and Bacchus XI were all victorious last Sunday in the latest round of the Central Essequibo sponsored T20 tournament.

At the Reliance ground, Balkissoon’s XI was masterfully led by a brilliant unbeaten century from Leon Cornelius chasing a formidable total against Rebel’s XI. After winning the toss and batting, the Rebels began an assault with robust batting all the way through their innings, led by Captain Thomas Chan.

Chan belted 60, including 5x4s and 4x6s, while Brian Singh stroked 42 (7x4s) as they amassed 197-2 from their 20 overs. Not daunted by the score, Balkissoon’s XI in reply was indebted to Cornelius’ single-handed heroics.

His elegant stroke-play was combined by his ability to clear the boundary repeatedly, as he counted 11 sweetly-timed boundaries and cleared the ropes six times, on his way to a

remarkable unbeaten 107.

Balkissoon’s XI eventually reached 198-4 from 19 overs for a memorable win. Earlier at the same venue, Reliance Hustlers

Leon Cornelius earned a 9 wicket win against Reliance Sports Club.

Three wickets each from Trevis Simon 3-14 from 4 overs and Cecil Shivambar 3-19 from

3 overs routed Reliance Sports for 78 in 17 overs.

In reply, former national Under-17 batsman Rovendra Parasram, wasted little time in clobbering 45 from just 22 deliveries, with 5x6s and 2x4s, as the Hustlers raced to 78-1 in 6 overs. Meanwhile, at the Bacchus ground in Affiance, the host clipped the wings of Ravens for a 4 wicket victory. Ravens mustered 122 all-out in 19 overs, to which Imam Bacchus Bulls reached 124-6 in 17 overs.

The competition will continue on Sunday with Reliance Hustlers vs. Cotton Field Strikers and Ravens vs. Reliance Sports Club being played at the Reliance ground.

At the Imam Bacchus ground, the host will challenge Queenstown S.C while at the Affiance Number 1 ground; the host will battle Balkissoon’s XI. Ten teams are competing in the competition with the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs. (Elroy Stephney)

Cummins says he still has work to do PAT Cummins is Australia’s single most important cricketer, boasting the Midas touch with ball and bat plus a capacity to deliver his best in clutch moments.

But the superstar feels he still has plenty to learn ahead of the World Cup. Cummins’ stocks continue to rise at a remarkable rate, with the latest match-winning performance coming when he hit the winning runs in Australia’s tour-opening Twenty20 win over India that went down to the last ball.

The express paceman excelled in good times and bad for Australia during their home summer, with jokes that he should become Prime Minister already out of date.

Teammates have given Cummins new nicknames of ‘No.1’ and ‘AB’ after he recently claimed top spot in the International Cricket Council’s Test bowling charts and pocketed the Allan Border Medal.

Cummins is expected to top Cricket Australia’s contract list for this year, having played a key role in the side’s bid for redemp-

tion after the Cape Town scandal last year.

The 25-year-old admits he is full of confidence but, currently shouldering an even bigger burden than usual given both Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are injured, is quick to add he has “lots to learn”.

Pat Cummins “I haven’t played too much white-ball cricket this summer so I’m keen for that challenge,” Cummins said ahead of the second T20 in Bengaluru.

“It’s a totally different challenge to the red ball, which might swing around a bit more.

“Trying to take white-ball wick-

ets and death bowling is something I haven’t done too much of lately.

“But I couldn’t be happier with how I’m placed ... really happy with how my game is going at the moment. So many different things have fallen into place, including a bit of luck.”

Cummins and Jhye Richardson needed to score 14 runs off the final over in Vizag, a huge task given they both hadn’t faced a delivery at that stage and India had all the momentum.

But they got the job done to hand the Aussies a 1-0 series lead.

“You want to be in the moments where you can win a game,” “You hear a lot of players say it and I’m no different; terribly nervous watching them go about their business, but when you’re out in the field you know you’re in control.

“Sometimes when the game feels like it’s almost lost, that’s when you feel like you can relax and you’ve got nothing to lose. “(We) just ran hard and it worked out in the end.” (Cricket. com.au)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

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Ming’s, Caribbean Containers Inc. and Bakewell - back RHTYSC 2019, list of programmes GUYANA’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, plans for 2019, to continue to attract support from corporate Guyana.

The club has set itself a target of 700 activities for 2019, under a number of sub-headings including sports, cricket development, coaching, community development, education, charity, youth development, climate change among others.

The latest donors to come on board were Ming’s Products Services, Bakewell and Caribbean Containers Inc. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster revealed that the 10 cricket teams of the club, its O-35 group and management, hope to surpass the target of 700 activities by 23rd December, 2019, when they host the 5th Edition of the Rose Hall Town Christmas Village.

Meanwhile, Colin Ming of Ming’s Product Services donated a large amount of balls towards the RHTYSC Cricket Developmental Programme. The RHTYSC, in 2018, totally dominated cricket in the Ancient County, by winning 13 titles and being runners-up in three others.

Additionally, 17 of its members represented Guyana or Jamaica at the Regional level. Foster stated that the balls would be used for matches at the junior levels and also for practise sessions in the afternoon.

Caribbean Containers Inc. made a financial contribution towards the club’s highly successful `Say No/Say Yes Cam-

paign’ which targets 60,000 youths in Berbice. The club, in 2019, will under this campaign organise school children rallies, educational competitions in schools, sporting events, youth inspiration forums and provide assistance to the less fortunate students, among others.

Bakewell, a long time sponsor of the Club donated financially towards the purchasing of a case of trophies for the 29th Annual Award Ceremony which will be held on April 28.

Bakewell also contributed financially towards the 20th Edition of the RHTYSC Annual Youth Review Magazine.

The 40-page magazine will highlight the work of the club in 2018, profiles of several outstanding members and have articles of interest for youths on a wide range of topics, including Climate Change, Importance of Education, HIV/ AIDS and the Importance of Discipline.

Over 80 club members, retired teachers, Law Enforcement officers, Teachers of the Year and students will be honoured during the Awards Ceremony. A total of $2M worth of trophies, medals and prizes will be handed out.

At the simple ceremony, Assistant Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu, expressed gratitude to Ms Patricia Bacchus of Caribbean Containers Inc., Rajin Ganga of Bakewell and Colin Ming of Ming’s Products Services.

Never say never - Cook not ruling out Test return

Moeen to miss T20s against Windies

Alastair Cook

FORMER England Test captain Alastair Cook has refused to completely rule out a comeback should Joe Root’s side need him.

Cook called time on his stellar career after his 161st Test in September, the opener ending in style with a fine 147 in a thumping 118-run win over India at the Oval.

Since he stepped away England have struggled for stability at the top of the order – with Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings and Joe Denly all failing to impress on a consistent basis during recent tours of Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

With a home Ashes series looming later in 2019, some have suggested England may try and tempt Cook back to the international scene to aid their hopes of regaining the urn.

And while not ruling out the possibility, Cook has no regrets about bowing out in 2018.

“You can never say no totally, because you don’t know what will happen in the future,” Cook told Sky Sports after collecting his knighthood at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

“I had an amazing 12 years and had times and experiences which I could never repeat.

“The way I finished at The Oval was special, that will be my memory of wearing the three lions more times than I ever thought I would.

“That cap will stay in the drawer but I will look back with great memories of it. I can look back smiling with no regrets.”

LONDON, (CMC) – Off-spinning all-rounder, Moeen Ali, will join Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler on the sidelines for the threematch Twenty20 series against West Indies, after being granted time off.

The 31-year-old, a key member of the England squad in all formats, featured in all three Tests and both One-Day Internationals of the ongoing series.

He has been replaced by fast bowling all-rounder, Sam Curran, who played in the two opening Test against the Windies with limited success.

The 20-year-old is yet to make his T20 debut for England.

Rest for the trio comes ahead of their campaign in

the lucrative Indian Premier League which bowls off March 23.

Moeen will turn out for

Bornique Jordan Meredith of Ming’s hands over the cricket balls to RHTYSC CEO, Hilbert Foster

Royal Challengers Bangalore while Stokes and Buttler will feature for Rajasthan Royals.

Curran will be making his

England all-rounder Moeen Ali.

IPL debut in the upcoming season after being signed by Kings XI Punjab.

O p e n e r J a s o n R o y, current a part of the ODI series, will also miss the Windies T20s as he is set to return home for the birth of his first child.

England face West Indies in the opening T20I in St Lucia on March 5 before heading to St Kitts for the final two matches on March 8 and 10.

SQUAD – Eoin Morgan (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, David Willey, Mark Wood, Sam Curran.

Windies ready to spring World Cup surprise, say coaches

By George Dobell in Grenada

WEST Indies can cause a shock - and perhaps even win - the World Cup, according to the England and West Indies coaches.

While West Indies’ recent record is not promising - they have not won a bilateral ODI series since 2014, have won only two of their last seven completed ODIs and are currently ranked No. 9 in the world - the coaches of both sides in the current series in the Caribbean believe they are a fast-improving, dangerous side who could beat “anyone on their day”.

“I know the right West Indies combination with a fully focussed side can beat anyone on their day,” Richard Pybus, West Indies’ in-

terim coach, said. “I wasn’t at the World Cup qualifiers but, with the group of guys we have now, we feel confident could take down anyone on their day.”

Windies interim coach Richard pybus

Key to West Indies’ improved confidence is the return of several high-profile play-

ers. Darren Bravo returned in December, Chris Gayle returned for this series - and has responded with a century and half-century - while Andre Russell is expected to return for the fourth ODI in Grenada today.. As a result, West Indies look as if they have the firepower to damage more opponents.

“The West Indies have been playing some decent cricket over the last 18 months,” Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, agreed.

“With the size of their batters and the way some of them hit the ball they can be a chance of winning that World Cup.” While he was unable to confirm whether Gayle had done enough to cement his place as opener at the World Cup, Pybus did say he had

made a “very resounding case” and defended his somewhat careful starts in each of the first two ODIs.

“I can’t speak on behalf of the selectors but I think Chris has put forward a very resounding case,” Pybus said.

“He’s just class really. It’s always great having guys in your side who are a bit scary for the opposition who know full well what they can deliver.

“In those first two games, Chris was getting a feel for a spongy wicket batting first.

It can be a game of two halves in Barbados. He was playing himself through.

But, as we have all seen in T20, he can attack that first powerplay brutally. On good wickets he’ll be going hard pretty early.” (ESPN Cricinfo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Milo U18 Schools Football tournament…

Queen’s College steam-roll North Ruimveldt 6-3

Referee banned for life for manipulating matches

This Adrian Narine photo, captures the fierceness of one of the on-going Milo Schools Football tournament

QUEEN’S COLLEGE registered a 6-3 drubbing of North Ruimveldt as action in the Milo Schools Football tournament continued on Monday.

The Thomas Lands-based side stuck six goals past their North Ruimveldt opponents, with a brace from Ronniel Lord (6 and 36) leading the charge.

There were single strikes from Diarra Thomas (16th), Ravaldo Verreira (28th) and Harrell Dosantos (27th), as well as an own goal.

North’s three scorers were Orlando Dickie 19th, Henry Elcock (23rd) and Shaquan Favorite (6th).

In the earlier game, Bishops’ High and St Stanislaus College drew at 1-1.

Malachi Richards 20th minute strike for Bishops was cancelled out by St Stanislaus’ Josiah King in the 58th.

The tournament is also sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health under its `Stop Gender- based Violence’campaign.

ICC ban Sri Lanka’s batting great Jayasuriya for two years REUTERS) - Sri Lanka batting great Sanath Jayasuriya has been banned from all cricket for two years after breaching two counts of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code, the world governing body said on Tuesday.

The ICC said the former captain had refused to cooperate with any investigation conducted by its anti-corruption unit (ACU) under Article 2.4.6 of the anti-corruption code.

It added in a statement that the 49-year-old had also been sanctioned for trying to conceal, destroy or tamper with evidence that

Sri Lanka batting great Sanath Jayasuriya

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

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ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: Gordon Greenidge-958 runs (HS: 98*, Sydney, 1979-80) Arnos Vale, St. Vincent, 1981 TODAY’S QUIZ: What is the highest individual score made by a WI batsman in an ODI in a losing cause?

How many ODIs WI Courtney Walsh played against England? How many wickets he took?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

could be crucial to anti-corruption investigation under Article 2.4.7 of the code.

“This conviction under the code demonstrates the importance of participants in cricket cooperating with investigations,” ICC General Manager Alex Marshall said.

“Compelling participants to cooperate under the code is a vital weapon in our efforts to rid our sport of corrup-

tors.”

Jayasuriya played 110 tests, scoring 6,973 runs with 14 hundreds before his retirement from test cricket in 2007.

But it was in the shorter form of the game that he stamped his name on cricket. In a formidable opening partnership with wicketkeeper-batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana, Jayasuriya was a key member of Sri Lanka’s breakthrough 50over World Cup triumph in 1996.

In all, Jayasuriya scored 13,428 runs in 444 one-day internationals.

In January, the ICC granted Sri Lankan cricketers a 15-day amnesty to report previously undisclosed information relating to corruption in the sport.

“I am very grateful to those who participated in the amnesty and as a result of the information shared we now have a much clearer picture of the situation in Sri Lanka and our investigations are continuing,” Marshall added.

Tanzania referee Oden Charles Mbaga

ZURICH (Reuters) - Referee Oden Charles Mbaga from Tanzania has been banned for life and fined 200,000 Swiss francs (150,962 pounds) for accepting bribes to manipulate football matches, soccer’s governing body FIFA said on Tuesday.

FIFA said in a statement that its ethics committee had found Mbaga guilty of accepting bribes in violation of the FIFA code of ethics following an investigation opened in July.

In a subsequent email to Reuters, FIFA said that Mbaga “accepted bribes to manipulate several national and international matches between 2009 and 2012.” It did not give any further details over which matches were involved.

Mbaga told Reuters in Dar es Salaam that he was questioned by FIFA in 2010 but had not heard anything from them since and knew nothing about match-fixing.

“This is a shocking news to me. I don’t know anything about me being banned to participate football activities for life. I really don’t know this,” he said.

“I know FIFA was doing an investigation and the last time they came to interview me about the issue was in 2010. I told them openly that I don’t know anything about match-fixing and I have never heard anything from them since then.

“For now, I cannot say anything as I don’t have clear information.”

FIFA described Mbaga as a “referee affiliated to the Tanzanian Football Federation.”

The ban excludes him from “from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level,” the statement added.

Match-fixing is often organised by betting syndicates who bribe players or officials to manipulate matches and make money by correctly gambling on the result.

Last month, former international referee Ibrahim Chaibou from Niger was banned for life and fined 200,000 Swiss francs after being found guilty of taking bribes.

FIFA did not give any further details on that case.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, February 27, 2019

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GCB/Dave West Indian Imports U-15 cricket…

Ramnauth, bowlers set up easy win for Berbice

- Demerara also victorious

By Rajiv Bisnauth DEFENDING champions Berbice, rebounded from their first round defeat in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-sponsored Dave West Indian Imports Inter-County Under-15 50over tournament, to whip a miserable Essequibo team by 257 runs yesterday at Lusignan.

After sufferring a shock 55-run defeat to Demerara on Monday, at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, the Berbicians produced a clinical all-round effort to put their title defence back on track.

The defending champions first set the pace for the dominant victory with opener, 13-year-old Rampertab Ramnauth, hitting an unbeaten 147, justifying the captain’s decision to bat first after he won the toss.

Ramnauth’s innings took the Berbicians to a formidable 290-3. Thereafter, their bowlers led by their spinners created the damage.

Off-spinner Matthew Pottaya followed up his 4-27 against Demerara, to finished with 3-12. He received support from left-arm spinner Bhaskar Dhani (2-9), off-spinner Salim Khna (2-6), and medium pacer Deroop (1-10).

The Essequibians’ lack of fight with the bat has continued, and the phone number-like

scorecard will once again haunt the team.

However, the poor form of the County’s performances at all levels, is again a matter for urgent attention. The Essequibians eventually folded for just 33 in 22.3 overs.

When play started under bright sunshine and a sprinkle of die-hard cricket fans, Ramnauth, the Port Mourant Cricket Club member batted throughout the innings. His confident innings inclusive 10 boundaries provided the foundation.

The Port Mourant Secondary School, Third Form student, first shared 98 runs for the first-wicket with Avishkar Persaud (28), before he added 147 for the second-wicket with Tameshwar Mahadeo, the 14-year-old Albion player, who made a composed 54.

Christopher Deroop made eight, while Kevin Samuels was unbeaten on four. Gvion Arokium (2-33) and Gladewin (1-44), were the successful bowlers for Essequibo.

At the half way stage, Essequibo needed a big effort from their batsmen if they have any chance of overhauling the winning target, but that never materialised.

They never really had a shot at chasing down the target, after they kept losing wickets right from the start.

The miserable performances have once

RHTYSC congratulates Hilbert Foster on being awarded Medal of Service IN release to the media, the management and members of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTYSC) congratulated Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, on being named in the National Awards list announced recently by the Guyana Government.

Hilbert Foster Foster will be receiving the Medal of Service for his outstanding service to youth development, sports and making positive differences in the lives of others.

Foster, at the tender age of 21 years, founded the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club in 1990. The club which started as a mere cricketing one, has over the last 21 years, grown into Guyana’s leading youth and sports club with an unmatched list of activities and achievements.

The RHTYSC is the only youth and sports organisation in the history of Guyana to have received a National Award, and every year, has organised over 700 events under a wide range of activities.

“Our Secretary/CEO has touched and changed the lives of countless youths on the cricket field, in other sporting disciplines, in the educational sectors and spearheading Guyana’s largest NGO’s Say No/Say Yes Programme. Over the years, under his elder brother’s presidency, he

transformed Berbice Cricket and is currently doing so again in his capacity as President”.

The release continued; “Since his election as BCB President last year, he has single-handedly raised over $12M for the development of the game, organised over 35 tournaments (the most in Berbice history) and has spearheaded the rebirth of Berbice Cricket, after a long period of it being dormant.

The township now enjoys a modern sports facility, all weather court, the 175th Anniversary Monument, a paved tarmac at the Rose Hall Town Primary School, a Children Playfield, among others due to Foster’s hard work.

He also led the restoration of his former school, the Lower Corentyne Secondary, while spearheading the distribution of tens of millions of dollars, worth of educational kits, sporting gears, cycles, clothing, medical assistance, footwear, stationery and food hampers”.

Berbicians can easily associate popular programmes like Rose Hall Town Christmas Village, Republic Bank Summer Camp, Ansa Mcal Award of Excellence, Scotia Bank Children Mash Parade, Busta Champion of Champions, Patron’s Fund, Region 6 Mother of the Year, Walter Nero Father of the Year, Focus on Youth and Sports Television Programme, Youth Information Booklet and Tribute to Teachers with the Hilbert Foster brand.

“All of us at the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club are very proud of our Secretary/ CEO and of the fact that the Government of Guyana has recognized his unselfish and committed dedication to the development of Guyana. We would also like to acknowledge the support he has received from his friends, family and sponsors of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS,” the release concluded.

more questioned the lack of a proper cricket structure in the Cinderella County, and more so the administrators, as well as the coaching staff.

Meanwhile, Demerara registered their second consecutive victory, beating the President’s X1 by 168 runs at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

Scores in the match: Demerara 270-7; Jadan Campbell 81, Man-of-the-Match; Zachary Jodah 53 not out; Movindra Dindyal 41 and 21 from Alvin Mohabir.

Bowling for President X1, Sachin Balgobin, Panav Ramnarine, Nityanand Mathura, Sanjay Algoo, Nicholas Sheoprashad and Anthony Khan collected one wicket each.

In reply, President’s X1 were bowled out for 102 in 42.3 overs. France top scored with 34, while Anthony Khan and Sanjay Algoo chipped in with 10 and 13 runs respectively.

Bowling for Demerara, Jodah picked up 3 for 23 while Dhanesh Persaud assisted with 2-9.

The third and final round will be played tomorrow with Demerara facing Essequibo at Everest while President’s X1 take on Berbice at the Lusignan ground.

The top two teams will meet in the final on Saturday at the GCC ground, Bourda.

Rampertab Ramnauth hit an unbeaten 147.

France captures ‘Handicap’ category at Forbes Burnham Memorial Table Tennis COLIN France,a former National table tennis champion and current coach, rolled back the years on Sunday, at the National Gymnasium, to capture the “Handicap” category of the 2019 Forbes Burnham Memorial Table Tennis competition.

France began the final match with a -4 handicap, and fought hard to defeat Roger McClenon in straight sets of 11-8, 11-9 and 11-9, to capture the 2019 crown.

Earlier in the day, the eventual champion passed a stern test by Devon Richmond in the semi-finals, which went the distance with France taking the match 3-2, after surging his way back from being a set down at 1-2.

The scores in the semi-final were 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7

and 11-7.

Enroute to the final, Mc Clenon got past Remy Taitt 14-12, 8-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8

to set up the clash with France.

The competition will come to a close on Friday with the conclusion of the

‘C’ class, ‘B’ class and under – 21 categories, which reached the round of 16 on Sunday.

Former National Table Tennis Champion Colin France (centre, right) collects his trophy from a member of the Burnham Foundation.

GCC teams maintain winning streak in GHB First Division Hockey League ON Sunday last, the GCC hockey clubs reigned supreme on home turf, to register wins in the ongoing Guyana Hockey Board’s (GHB) First Division Outdoor League at GCC. In the two matches that were played, GCC Vintage defeated the national developmental team, Supernova 3 -1 in the first encounter.

The match was equal at 1-1 at the half, with Orson Ferguson netting for GCC in the fourth minute, while Hilmar Chester equalised for the juniors eight minutes after.

However, Orland Semple netted twice in the second half to leave the score on 3-1 after the final whistle, to hand Vintage the win.

The final match between Old Fort and Bounty GCC was a one-sided affair, with the latter

dominating the game, and which was reflected in the 7-0 score line.

GCC only scored once after the first 30 minutes, courtesy of

Part of the action last Sunday

Meshach Sergeant’s field goal.

The second half, however, saw six goals netted with Alan Fernandes, Mark Sergeant, Ka-

reem McKenzie, Kevin Spencer, Meshach and Devin Hooper, all grabbing a goal apiece to seal maximum points.

NAMILCO/GFF unveil National U-17 Intra-Association tournament Page

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Putting football first! From left: Ian Greenwood, Ian Alves, Wayne Forde, Bert Sukhai, Fitzroy McLeod and Ralf Hemsing. (Avenash Ramzan/Newsroom photo)

Eyes on Russell 30

Page

as Windies

chase victory in 100th ODI

All-rounder Andre Russell (centre) drafted into the Windies ODI squad.

Referee banned for life for manipulating matches → 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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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2019