Guyana Chronicle E-paper 3-02-2019

SATURDAY 2nd March, 2019

No.105564

Linden TV gets 08 licence approval PAGE

Gov't orders technical, legal assessment of RUSAL 09 PAGE

Teen charged with rape of schoolgirl 11 PAGE

BOSAI for major expansion … to hire 150 03 Lindeners PAGE

… Min Trotman, South African delegation pleased with company’s operations

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, and a South African delegation led by Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources of South Africa, Godfrey Oliphant were given a tour of BOSAI’s Linden operations on Friday (Adrian Narine photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 2, 2019

Fire flattens Linden Johnson Community Centre

By Naomi Marshall

THE youths of Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden are now wondering how they will get their assignments done after a fire destroyed the Linden Johnson Community Centre.

Orland Rogers, manager of the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym, which is also located at the Linden Johnson Community Centre, said he received a call at about 04:14hrs on Friday, stating that the building was engulfed in flames.

Rogers noted that the cause of the fire is unknown and he is awaiting feedback from the fire service as to what caused it.

Rogers stated that the building was used on a daily basis by youths from various communities such as Victory valley, Blueberry Hill, Silver City and Wismar Housing Scheme to do their school work and assignments. The building was also used to train youths to box.

“It’s a real great loss because there are the

youths interested in boxing who now have no building and no gears. All my gears destroy, waxing gloves, boxing equipment; even the treadmill machine that was donated was destroyed. Then you have the computer lab with about eight computers in there; that was also destroyed,” he added.

Rogers is also asking persons who are willing to give donations of any form to help in the rebuilding of the centre, to contact him on 5926957937 or 592629404.

Chairman of Victory Valley’s Community Development Council, Anthony Roberts, said about $10M have been lost due to the fire and is asking persons with information pertaining to what could have cause the fire to come forward.

“Anybody with information, we are asking them to come and tell us what is going on. We will give them some kind of reward and their information will be confidential,” he stated.

“This is not a one-man thing or a twoman thing, this is a whole community suffering,” Roberts added.

The Linden Johnson Community Centre in flames on Friday morning

Work on Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue takes shape

By Elvin Carl Croker

AS construction on a spanking new Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue road works speedily takes shape, motorists and pedestrians are asked to exercise caution in areas that are under construction.

The Public Infrastructure Ministry in a recent advisory, called on the public to observe all traffic, safety signs and flaggers when traversing sections under construction and to observe the 20km/h speed limit in the construction zones.

Construction works currently ongoing on Sheriff Street include backfilling

of drains on the eastern side from the Rupert Craig Highway to David Street and some Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) works.

The ministry also announced that drainage works from John Smith to Fourth Streets on the eastern side and from Second Street to Durey Lane on the western side, continues.

However, from Mandela Avenue, drainage works behind the Botanical Gardens at the Arapaima culvert have entered its second phase of construction with works on the eastern side.

Manager (ag) at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, spearheading the project, Mark Greene,

informed this publication that while there will be some disruptions, the ministry will make every effort to reduce the inconvenience.

“We want to urge the road users to exercise care, consideration and caution along the roadway, especially in the areas of construction stated in the public notice published some time ago. The public are to look out for the flaggers and obey their instructions at all times,” the project manager said.

He said while the contractor has experienced difficulties in executing the works in a timely manner, the works are approximately 12 per cent complete and is expected to be completed in March of next year.

ACTIVITIES The ministry advised that some of the upcoming activities to the construction involve further works at the Cummings Canal on Sheriff Street.

These, the ministry says, will include the relocation of GWI pipes, patching of Dennis Street and Durey Lane between Middleton Street and Stone Avenue, construction of a detour at Cummings Canal and the stage reconstruction of the bridge at Cummings Canal.

These works are to begin within the next two weeks from 07:00 hrs to

Work in progress on the spanking new Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue road 17:00 hrs.

Additionally, the construction of another Mandela Avenue culvert, located at Homestretch and Mandela Avenues is scheduled to commence within two weeks from 07:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs, daily. The activities include construction of a detour and the staged construction of the culvert.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure goals and intended outcomes in executing the roadway upgrade are to improve road safety, better organise the flow of traffic and simplify traffic movements, enhance the arterial function of the road while maintaining its commercial / industrial make-up, provide adequate drainage for the road corridor and interdependent communities, and extend the design life of the pavement and all roadway structures to a minimum of 20 years from the expected end of

construction.

SCOPE The Sheriff to Mandela road corridor scope of works includes pavement rehabilitation, road safety engineering, traffic and drainage improvement works, construction of bridges, culverts and a pedestrian overhead walkway.

This stretch of road will see the construction of a two-lane roadway with a concrete median portioning the two lanes along Sheriff Street with sidewalks, cycle lanes and parking, while Mandela Avenue will involve expansion of the roadway from a two-lane to a four-lane with a central concrete median, with shared use paths (combined sidewalk and cycle lane).

A roundabout will be constructed at the junction of Sheriff Street and David Street / Railway Embankment Road.

The project which was awarded to Sinohydro Corporation Limited (China) for the sum of G$6.47B (US$31.03M) in December 2017, was made possible through a loan the Government of Guyana received from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the rehabilitation of its transport infrastructure The Sheriff Street to Mandela Avenue Roadway Expansion Project loan LO 2741/ BL- GY: Road Network Upgrade & Expansion Program forms Component 2 (C2) of the reformulated loan programme.

Component One is a housing sector development project to be undertaken by the Ministry of Communities.

The Sheriff Street – Mandela Avenue roadway was constructed in the 1970s by the Ministry of Works, Hydraulics and Supply, now known as the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

BOSAI for major expansion

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 2, 2019

… to hire 150 Lindeners

… Min Trotman, South African delegation pleased with company’s operations Vanessa Braiothwaite

AT a time when bauxite workers attached to RUSAL are embroiled in a bitter industrial dispute with that company, General Manager of the Bosai Minerals Group Guyana (BMGG), Eric Yu, has indicated that the Chinese firm is preparing to undergo massive expansion in operations with the installation of a new #15 rotary kiln and a new #16 rotary drier with its auxiliary facilities.

This, he said, will see 150200 more Lindeners gaining employment, adding to the company’s already 600 workers.

Yu was at the time making a presentation-- at the company’s Linden operations-- to Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and a South African delegation, inclusive of Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources of South Africa, Godfrey Oliphant. Yu noted that Bosai has already started to prepare for the new kilns which will push calcined bauxite pro-

duction and chemical bauxite production. The kiln 15 is an investment of about $US 20M and will produce 170, 000 mts of refractory ‘A’ Grade Super Calcined Bauxite (RASC), per year. The #16 drier and its auxiliary facilities is expected to cost the company $US 3M and will produce 150, 000 mts of Sized Chemical Grade Bauxite (scgb), per year. “With these major expansions, additional long-term employment will be provided for the residents of the community and our Guyanese nation,” Yu said. He reiterated the overall success of the company which raked in $3B U.S in 2018, with productions of the various bauxite ores reaching over 100, 000 tonnes. Some of its main markets are in Europe and North America.

Yu posited that BMGG is one of the main bauxite providers in the world.

While there has not been a significant increase in demand for bauxite across the world, Yu said that with satisfactory increase in demand, coupled with the need

to replace the old kiln #13, the investment is needed, since the kiln often demands heavy maintenance. He also noted that a dust collector will be installed on the new kiln #15, as safeguarding the environment from pollutants, is of major priority to the company. In 2011, the company invested $U.S. 8 million on dust collectors for two kilns, which resulted in a significant decrease in the permeation of dust into the atmosphere.

Minister Trotman and Minister Oliphant, after visiting the Mackenzie plant and the East Montgomery Mines, expressed satisfaction with Bosai’s operations.

Trotman described Bosai as an industrious company as it keeps investing in new plant equipment, while also ensuring that the workers and the residents are not affected by its mining, with the installation of dust collectors. “Government is happy that Bosai, despite its challenges and despite our own difficulties with each other, Bosai continues to mine,” he posited.

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources of South Africa Godfrey Oliphant, planting a tree of friendship at the Bauxite Centennial Arch in Linden. Looking on is Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources of South Africa, Godfrey Oliphant, signing the Declaration of Intent between the two countries at the Watooka Guest House Oliphant for his part said that while mining in Guyana is at its embryonic stage compared to South Africa, which has been practising mining for over a century, South Africa is stricter in mining issues relating to the environment, safety and general methods of mining. He also recommended that more value be added to bauxite mining, since the soil has a greater percentage of overburden and clay, compared to bauxite. He encouraged the leaders to utilise this material for the greater use of building homes with clay bricks, which is only one value-added item that can emerge from the overburden. He said that the mining is not exploited enough and more can be done to add value in this regard.

He is expected to hold

talks with Mayor of Linden Waneka Arrindell, who was part of the team, on how Linden can further benefit from such a project. Currently, there is one company in the mining town, Linden Bricks, which manufactures clay bricks to construct low-income homes.

Minister Trotman said that the visit of Oliphant and team has been extremely beneficial, since the two countries share a lot in common as it relates to the mining sector.

Over the last few days, an interchange of knowledge was done as the team held talks and visited mining operations such as Aurora Gold Mines in Region Seven on Thursday. Oliphant told the media that the plan is to share with Guyana, ways in which the sector can improve its tech-

nology for greater benefits from mining. A Guyana delegation is expected to travel to South Africa soon, to get a first-hand experience of the country’s mining practices.

Minister Trotman and Minister Oliphant also signed a declaration of Intent between the two countries in the fields of mining and mineral policy development, exploration, mineral processing and beneficiation.

The signing was inspired by the two countries’ long-lasting fraternal bonds over the years and realisation of vast potential and experience in its mineral and natural resources endowment. Minister Trotman and Minister Oliphant also planted a tree of friendship at the Bauxite Centennial Arch.

One of the main mines of Bosai located at East Montgomery, was visited by the ministerial delegation

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 2, 2019

Over $70M spent to light up Region 6 in 2018-2019 - MPI

THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI) expended some $70 million dollars as they continued to brighten the lives of residents in the East Berbice areas. This sum was spent on street lights, illuminating almost 90 per cent of the region since the coalition government took office.

According to the Project Coordinator of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s (MoPI) Traffic and Safety Maintenance Department, Kester Hinds, $43.5M was spent between Palmyra to Moleson Creek alone, while

$31M was used up on the East Bank of Berbice area from Stanleytown to Everton.

Previously, areas such as Borlam and Number 19 Village on the Corentyne were “pitch black” at night and known for numerous accidents due to poor visibility. They are now fitted with state of the art LED lights equipped with photocell sensors, much to the delight of residents especially drivers.

Areas such as Alness, Ulverston, Salton and Hogstye, were among the communities that were lit-up for the first time.

For the East Bank area, some nine communities starting from Stanleytown to Everton received lights for the first time, shedding much-needed light on a once dark and seemingly forgotten area of the country.

the nights and drive with ease. But I am overjoyed because areas like 19 and Tarlogie get lights. You see, before, you does be praying to God that you don’t break down or get a puncture there because it dark no hell and

stallation of some 325 lights for 2018 alone in Region Six. In addition, several non-functioning or defective lamps were replaced with more energy efficient LED lights across the entire region.

Six were covered.

Since ascension to office, the coalition government, through the MoPI, has expended massive sums in Region Six as they continue to

Adventure Village heading into Hogstye illuminated with streetlights Alness,East Berbice Corentyne was among the communities lit up for the first time

Speaking with this publication, residents expressed gratitude to the MoPI for the wonderful job done, especially the illumination of the once isolated areas.

“I am very happy cause now you can see clearly in

Saturday, March 02, 2019

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nobody living there. Now you ain’t gotta worry cause it bright as day” Clifford Durant, a taxi driver, related.

The project commenced in 2018 and rolled over to January 2019 and saw the in-

Hinds continued that while the aim is to place lights in every community the focus has now shifted to the West Coast Berbice and the Essequibo Coast for 2019, since most of the critical areas for Region

try to improve the physical landscape of the entire country. For 2019, a sum of $38.5B was allocated to the MoPI to carry out developmental works throughout the country.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 2, 2019

Oral arguments set for March 12 -- in AG’s challenge to High Court’s decision on no-confidence motion

Attorney General Basil Williams

By Svetlana Marshall ACTING Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, has set March 12, 2019 for the commencement of legal arguments into the two appeal cases filed by Attorney General Basil Williams challenging the High Court’s decision to uphold the no-confidence motion brought against the government.

The date was arrived at during a Case Management Session on Friday by the full bench of the Court of Appeal, which also included Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud.

Strict timelines have been set by the chancellor for written submissions for the two cases – the Attorney General v Christopher Ram and The Leader of the Opposition; and The Attorney General v Speaker of the National Assembly, Leader of the Opposition and Joseph Harmon.

Initially, the attorney general, who appeared in association with the Solicitor General Nigel Hawke, Attorneys-at-Law Maxwell Edwards and Mayo Robertson, had requested 10 days to make his submissions on the basis that he needed to file additional grounds for appeal. However, it was subsequently agreed that his submissions would be made within seven days.

Kamal Ramkaran, the attorney representing Christopher Ram; the Leader of the Opposition’s Legal

Counsel Anil Nandlall, and Joseph Harmon’s lead Attorney Roysdale Forde, would thereafter have a total of three days to submit their replies, paving the way for the oral arguments to be heard on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at 09:00hrs at the Court of Appeal. While Harmon was not a party in the case brought by Christopher Ram in the lower court, his lawyer via an oral application successfully added him as a party in the appeal despite objections from Ramkaran and Nandlall. Notably, while the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Barton Scotland is named as a respondent in the case The Attorney General v Speaker of the National Assembly, Leader of the Opposition and Joseph Harmon, through his Attorney, Senior Counsel Rafiq Khan, he has informed the Appellate Court that he would be accepting its ruling, and as such, no submissions would be made on his behalf.

HEARD CONTEMPORANEOUSLY

Attorney-at-Law Robert Corbin, who appeared on behalf of his client Compton Reid in a separate case challenging the High Court’s ruling on the no-confidence

Attorney Anil Nandlall

motion, expressed concern that the schedule laid out for the cases brought by the attorney general are being heard “contemporaneously” with the applications for the stay of the High Court ruling and Conservatory Order to preserve the status quo of the government.

Corbin pointed out that the applications for the Stay and Conservatory Orders being sought by the attorney general and Compton Reid will be heard by Justice of Appeal Rishi Persaud on March 15 – approximately three days after the substantive matters in the case of the attorney general.

“The Conservatory Orders which have been applied for are scheduled to be heard before your brother on the 15th March and I was wondering whether or not it will be overcrowding the court with seeking to have both matters being addressed at the same time,” Corbin reasoned.

He told the court that he would not wish to have his client’s case - Compton Reid v The Speaker of the National Assembly, Charrandass Persaud, the Attorney General and Leader of the Opposi-

tion – restricted by decisions made in the cases brought by the attorney general.

Corbin argued that the appellants and the respondents ought to be given sufficient time to properly address the court on a matter of significant public importance. “I think that we are pronouncing on a fundamental issue for the future of the republic and important issues of interpretation of our constitution in the future not necessarily to deal only with what people perceive as a crisis at this moment, and to move with undue haste, is because of political imperatives to me, would not be in keeping with the expectation

Attorney Robert Corbin

of this society which ought to plan for the future,” he told the court. Corbin appeared in association with Senior Counsel Rex McKay and Neil Boston.

The chancellor, while clarifying that Reid’s case has not yet come up, reminded the parties present that the court has received two motions from the attorney general and Christopher Ram seeking early hearing of the cases.

Records for the case Compton Reid v The Speaker of the National Assembly, Charrandass Persaud have not been settled.

Once they are, the Appellate Court would send out

notices with the date for a case-management session or submissions. Charrandass Persaud’s Attorney Sanjeev Datadin and the Speaker of the National Assembly were among the persons also present during Friday’s case- management session.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 2, 2019

Addressing mental health issues

M

ENTAL health is generally not understood. It is ill-funded, ill-managed, and dealt with more from a reactionary standpoint. Compounding this situation is the inadequate allocation of resources for the treatment of mental illnesses.

The importance attached to this condition is often seen and felt only by those who are personally affected. Those with mental health concerns or issues are usually seen as a “crazy” group who need to be locked away, ignored or forgotten; and not as functioning or valued members of society.

A general premise is that persons with mental health issues do not initially seek treatment, because, when they start talking about their symptoms/feelings, they are seen as weak; trying to get attention; demon-possessed; or depending on the culture, the family had some affliction, or had committed some evil act that was now coming back to haunt them.

The stigma attached to mental illness results in loved ones of persons with mental health issues overcompensating and attempting to conceal symptoms, because it is more acceptable to pretend those issues do not exist. This is generally done in an effort to blend into society, or be seen as “normal.” In instances, persons with mental health issues are viewed as the “crazy uncle” whom the family feels needs protection from the world; and they behave this way not only because of the stigma attached to the sufferer’s condition, but also to preserve their place in the society or their family’s standing in society.

The result of these variables is that often, when these symptoms are finally confronted, the person’s condition is too advanced to obtain treatment that

would enable them to regain their status as a functioning member of society. This situation is often due to the lack of understanding of the issue, or the intolerance of some members of the treating community, or personal biases which affect the ability to identify and treat symptoms early.

A contributing factor to mental health decompensation is overuse of alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant.

It leads to an increase in depressed mood. If someone who is depressed consumes alcohol, it makes that person more depressed. This in itself can increase the risk of that person cultivating suicidal behaviours, including attempting or actually committing suicide.

Another prevalent factor in the society is that of intolerance to societal change, where some lack the understanding or receptiveness to persons who are getting into serious relationships at an earlier age.

Compounding these factors are relationships with persons from different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, and the lack of adequate coping skills to navigate complex emotional situations.

Some solutions to addressing mental stability outside of the clinical setting can be achieved with familial support, as in educating our youth on the importance of self-worth; life; and empowering this demographic to understand that, even beyond their current struggle, life is worth living. Another important factor is support for various age groups, such as teen/peer support, which allows for avenues to voice thoughts, feelings, struggles, and gain support from each other on how to deal with relationship issues and parents/ family responses to those issues.

In dealing with mental health factors that are

affected by alcohol use, it helps to recognise that one must first understand that the risk of addiction is increased by access to alcohol and inability to differentiate casual use from dependency. Users of this substance often have a false sense of security in thinking that, because it is so easily accessible and is legal to use, the risk of dependency is less. Since it is culturally acceptable to consume alcohol to the point of being intoxicated, the assumption is that the person has a choice to continue this lifestyle.

First, it needs to be recognised that alcohol is a drug, and because it has the ability to cross the blood/brain barrier, it alters perception, judgement and mood. Usually, the alcoholic does not recognise there is a problem until it is often too late.

Support systems such as Alcoholics Anonymous (for the user), Alanon (spousal support) and Alateen (support for the children) are necessary to improve one’s ability to understand, cope with, and obtain sobriety to improve the overall family dynamic, coping mechanisms, and re-integration into society.

Mental health is a societal issue. Its management requires education, acceptance, willingness to support, and receptiveness to including the individuals afflicted with these symptoms, to ensure they are not ostracised. In the absence of the above-stated, it widens the base and increases inability to identify and effectively treat individuals with mental health symptoms.

Medication ought not to be seen as the only treatment option. Equally important is the society’s interaction with, and support for, individuals with complex and life-changing situations.

Mental health for one is mental health for all.

AG raps media house for ‘misleading headlines’ on interim stay

IT is with much displeasure that the Ministry of Legal Affairs refers to several headlines appearing in at least three of the country’s leading newspapers, indicating that Attorney General Basil Williams, SC, MP, was denied an interim stay yesterday.

The attorneys representing the interest of the respective parties were invited to yesterday’s case-management conference to set strict timelines for the hearing and consideration for a stay of the chief justice’s decision issued on 31st January, 2019 and a conservatory order preserving the status quo.

In fact, before the adjournment of this session, The Hon Attorney General, Basil Williams, SC, MP, capitalised on the

opportunity to request an interim stay of the chief justice’s decision, relying solely on the case of Desmond Morian;the AG reminded the court that the then Chancellor Mr. Carl Singh had used his absolute and unfettered discretion and had granted an interim stay in the matter. Mr. Nandlall opposed the attorney general’s application by stating “we have not been heard,he needs to argue for that….I would like to submit my submissions first.”

However, Justice Rishi Persaud politely “informed” that he is not minded to grant an interim stay, since he is working with strict timelines established earlier, so he does not see the need to grant a stay at this time.”

The headlines of these articles are considered wholly misleading, mischievous and are calculated to create undue unrest among the Guyanese people. It’s quite imperative for these media outlets to adopt a more responsible and candid approach when reporting matters of this magnitude. To date, the attorney general has not been able to argue the application for a Stay or Conservatory order, because only the case-management conference was conducted.

Regards Ministry of Legal Affairs

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 2, 2019

Russia needs to rein in RUSAL Another example of deliberate misinformation --for the sake of its global image Dear Editor, THE Guyanese nation and governments since independence have demonstrated an open-handed policy in relation to foreign investments, to facilitate economic and social development. Guyana welcomes companies and business from any country, regardless of that country‘s ideology or governance system.

But our hospitality in this regard is being abused and challenged by the unci vilised industrial relations practices of the Russian bauxite company, RUSAL, owned by Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI).

RUSAL fired 60 workers who were engaged in strike action against the company’s imposition of a one per cent increase in wages, and its management’s refusal to recognise the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) as the workers’ union of choice.

The government was forced to intervene in the interest of the workers, the country‘s labour laws and the constitution. RUSAL’S arrogance and insensitivity continued even after its management officials met with a high-level government team that insisted that the workers be reinstated and the country’s labour

laws and constitution be respected. The company’s management responded in its customary barbaric way, dismissing 30 more workers. No self-respecting nation can fail to take appropriate action against this renegade company and its management.

My earlier letter on RUSAL’S dismissal of the 60 employees was pub lished in the Stabroek News ( Feb 21, 2019) captioned, “It is now a national imperative that gov’t takes a stand in the interest of Rusal workers”; and in the Guyana Chronicle (Feb 22, 2019) captioned, “RUSAL top management must be charged for violating labour laws.” I indicated that my intention was not to politicise this industrial dispute.

However, the new dismissals which occurred after the arrival of a senior official from RUSAL’S parent company, brings into question the industrial relations practices in the Russian Federation and the political culture of that nation.

It is public knowledge that foreign embassies in any country facilitate both the political and economic interest of their countries of origin. In this respect, the Russian Embassy in Guyana is no exception, and must be called to account.

Guyanese are questioning the kind of advice, or lack thereof, being given to the management of RUSAL and its parent company by Russian diplomats present in Guyana. It is obvious that Rusal’s reckless behaviour is nothing short of a national disgrace for the Russian Federation.

Bearing in mind that the Russia of today is not the USSR that had pro claimed itself the vanguard of workers’ interest at home and abroad, the world still expects that nation and its business enterprises to show respect for workers’ rights, and to do so despite its newfound “love” for capitalism.

The new forces in control of Russia must be conscious that Russian capital is in competition with that of other countries worldwide, and Guyana and the Caribbean is part of that reality.

Rusal, as a representative of Russian capital, with its history of gross disregard for Guyanese workers and laws and contempt for our government, is acting in a manner that is inimical to the interests and image of the Russian Federation.

Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

Gotcha! No dodging this one, Irfaan!

I Dear Editor,

HAVE noticed that Mr. Ali posted a certificate purporting to be a post-graduate certificate in finance from the Anglia Ruskin University in the UK in February of 2018. Out of curiosity, I decided to check out this university to see the programmes being offered. The first point to note is that this university doesn’t offer any online courses. All the courses are full-time, so, if Mr. Ali had completed this programme, he would have had to go to the UK sometime during the year 2017, bearing in mind that a post-graduate certificate takes one year to be completed. But a perusal of the parliamentary Hansard would show that Mr. Ali was present during all the parliamentary sittings for 2017 and 2018. Therefore, the logical question to ask, then, would be: how did Mr. Ali obtain a post-graduate certificate in finance and he didn’t leave Guyana for any considerable period of time? Even if you are a PPP/C supporter, this question will linger in your mind.

The other thing that baffles me is that the Anglia Ruskin University doesn’t offer a post-graduate course in finance; rather, they offer an accounting and finance MSc (Masters).

You can check it out for yourself at https://www.anglia.ac.uk/study/course-search. Where did Mr. Ali get that certificate from? This seems to be academic fraud to me; and academic fraud is a threat to the intellectual integrity on which the advancement of knowledge depends. The world over, academic qualifications are held in high esteem; as such, they are viewed as the reliable and trusted proxy for the knowledge, competencies and skills of the bearer. There seems to be a new trend, with many degree or diploma mills that generate bogus qualifications to clients who have not undergone the purported studies.

Because of the negative impact that this can have on the students in Guyana and the country’s world standing as a whole, I have decided to report this matter to the university. As such, it is presently under investigation by the Anglia Ruskin University.

Regards Shawn Sam

Dear Editor,

D

EMERARAWAVES, in its captioned report, “Granger invites Jagdeo to general elections-related talks” of February 26, described as “controversial”, the “vote among the commissioners...”

One must ask, what was so ‘controversial’ about a process, democratic in its exercise, which has taken place with the unanimous agreement of the commissioners, representing both sides of the political divide - the APNU+AFC coalition and the PPP/C. Moreover, it had the decisive presence and participation of the commission’s chairperson, who initiated such a process.

Editor, it was the PPP/C that cried foul in the after-

math of the 2015 election results, which went against their power-crazed and unreasonable demands. They even denied that they had participated in such an exercise concerning the possibility of house-to-house registration. In fact, it is interesting to note that on the first vote, one of their commissioners abstained, but cast his vote in the second and third rounds.

One could only conclude that he had been severely scolded

by Freedom House, which perhaps forced him to participate as instructed in the other two ballots.

It was quite understood, and automatic, that given the results of the commission’s vote on the three aspects, that it would automatically revert to its 2019 work plan, which would have already been decided by both sides, I believe, since 2018, and

which would definitely have included house-to-house registration, also agreed on prior to the no-confidence vote.

Therefore, it is more than misleading for Demerara Waves to describe the vote as “controversial’’; it is a blatant misrepresentation as well. What is patently clear, in this instance, is the PPP/C seeking to twist/distort the outcome of a vote which they lost; and now DemeraraWaves crawling a mile on its stomach, in reporting the PPP/C’s reaction, as if it had been caused by the commission.

Not surprising, though, since this news site has ever since become a part of the PPP/C strategy of disinformation; just another news site singing for its supper.

Regards Aditya Panday

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Linden TV gets licence approval

By Vanessa Braithwaite

AFTER a long wait of seven years for the issuance of the television station licence for the Linden Broadcasting Network, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) on Friday presented the letter of approval to secretary of the Trust Company of the station, Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira.

It was written to the chairman who is the current sitting Regional Chairman, Renis Morian. Also present at the ceremony was Legal Adviser and Assistant to the Minister of State, Mrs. Geeta Chandan-Edmond.

Presenting the letter was Chairman of the GNBA Mr. Leslie Sobers, who noted that the application has satisfied all the

necessary requirements of the GNBA. Figueira said he received the letter with a spirit of satisfaction, knowing that it is something the residents of Linden fought for with sweat and blood. “This fight lead to a promise by the David Granger administration and now it has been delivered. We are happy and most pleased that our collective fight as a community was not in vain and another promise of His Excellency has been fulfilled,” he posited. He reiterated that the entity is owned by the people of this community and it will be used to the benefit of the people.

“No longer will we be left of out the loop due to not having access to information.

This is a forward ever, backward never approach, this government has made and will continue to do not only for communities like Linden that were marginalised

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 2, 2019

Secretary of the Linden Television Station board Jermaine Figueira receives the letter of approval on behalf of the residents of Linden from the Chairman of the GNBA Leslie Sobers. Looking on is Legal Adviser and Assistant to the Minister of State, Mrs. Geeta Chandan-Edmond. by the PPP/C administration, but for all of Guyana.” The National Communication Network (NCN), has already identified the equipment to be used for the television station and the channel identified is 13.

Last week, Minister of State Joseph Harmon described this development as historical. Presently, Lindeners are benefiting from limited channels received by the National Communications Network (NCN) which provides a weekly news broadcast.

There are now three board of directors

for the station: Morian, Figueira and Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell. Initially, there were 14 directors on the board.

The application for a television station was made after residents complained about the limited and biased content that they were subjected to.

The government signed an agreement to grant the licence, August 21st 2012 after a deadly protest which resulted in the killing of three Lindeners. The expiration date for licence is December 31st 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 2, 2019

Gov’t orders technical, legal assessment of RUSAL

By Vanessa Baithwaite

MINISTER of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, said that he has ordered the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to conduct a technical and legal assessment of all RUSAL operations and is hoping to have that report submitted to him, earliest.

This request comes at a time when RUSAL has declared that it has not been making profits in recent years and will be closing sections of its operations, thus laying off 30 workers to add to the 61 it had fired for striking for better salaries.

After visiting the mines of Bosai Minerals Group Guyana on Friday, Trotman said Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) appears to be a tale of two bauxite companies in the same region. In his comparison, he commended BOSAI for its continuous efforts of investment; he said with the same circumstances and deposits, one company is making strides, while the other is claiming it is unable to make profits and to meet the needs of its workers, for better wages.

While a decision has not been made as to what should be the fate of RUSAL, he said that such a decision has legal and other consequences attached. “We have to look towards what happens to the workers who are affected, should we just take away or shutdown….. We are looking at all the legal and other consequences, either them closing or we closing them, but we just can’t have the status quo continue as usual, ” he said.

The Natural Resources Minister said he is disappointed, distressed and disturbed as to what is taking place in the other end of Region 10 and it has only opened government’s eyes in realising that there is need for better management of resources TIME TO RE-ASSUME CONTROL While not aiming at complete nationalisation,

Trotman said that there is need for the government to re-assume control and have greater stake in its natural resources, as this will enable better management of its mining sector.

“It is time that Guyana takes a second and perhaps a third look at having some stake in its natural resources and its means of operations.” He did agree that there were some bad patches in the past, relative to nationalisation of companies, but this should not deter the government from seriously considering having a greater stake in things. “It is not as though you are nationalising, you are however having a greater say and you may wish to do so in a public/ private partnership or on your own.”

With the visit of the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources of South Africa, Godfrey Oliphant and team, the topic of better management of resources was discussed at length, since South Africa holds a lot of public/ private partnerships in mining. Minister Oliphant said that in South Africa, the Department of Labour is very strict with workers’ rights and companies have to comply with the laws.

There are some very vocal trade unions, he related, and one of the policies in mining is that the workers are also shareholders in the company. “What we are reinforcing is that any company, when they come in they must have local participation in terms of equity and workers must be part of that equity, so that they are not just workers, they are part of creating the wealth and benefiting from it,” he said Up to late Friday workers continued to block the Berbice River, preventing RUSAL barges with bauxite from traversing it, while they await positive word on the situation. One worker related that blocking of the river has been effective.

When asked what is the view of himself and colleagues as it relates to RUSAL exiting the mar-

ket, he said that workers are of the opinion that RUSAL should leave and give the opportunity of mining to another investor who would respect the labour laws and have greater respect for the country, the trade union and workers’ rights.

ANOTHER MEETING Meanwhile, as the management of RUSAL continues to resist every encouragement to reinstate all workers who were recently dismissed, the Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, has invited the company along with the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers’ Union (GB&GWU)) to a meeting scheduled for 09:00hrs on Monday.

Ogle, according to a release from the Labour Department, is optimistic that at Monday’s meeting he would be able to convince management of the Russia-based company that in the interest of all stakeholders normalcy be restored without further delay.

GPSU IN SOLIDARITY As pressure continues to mount on RUSAL, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) said it stands firmly in solidarity with the employees and their union in their struggle for fair and decent pay, and against the employer’s disrespect for the laws of Guyana.

According to the GPSU, the Collective Labour Agreement between the GB&GWU and RUSAL allows for discussions on any policy which will alter the conditions of service for employees. It also enjoins the employer to discuss with the Labour Department of the Ministry of Social Protection, any changes in workers’ conditions of service.

“The Collective Labour Agreement is enshrined in Article 147 (3) of the Constitution of Guyana.

Guyana has also ratified

ILO Convention 98, which deals with Collective Bargaining. Furthermore, the Trade Union Recognition Act of 1997, Section 23-1 states pellucidly that where an employee’s organisation is recognised, management must meet with the employees’ representative in good faith to discuss conditions of service of the employee,” the GPSU stated.

According to the union, Section 23-3 of the said act states that where the employer fails to meet with the employee’s representative, this constitutes an offence, and that for every additional day that they fail to meet, a fine is imposed. RUSAL, in arbitrarily imposing a one (1) per cent increase, changed the conditions of service of the employees and this is blatant disrespect to the employees’, the employees’ representative, and total disregard for the laws of Guyana.

“This flagrant disregard and infringement on work-

ers’ rights lead to their protesting, and RUSAL responded by adding ‘salt to the wounds’ with the dismissal of 61 workers, ejection of employees and their families from their living quarters, and refusal to prepare meals, in an effort to break the workers’ spirit. This is a method used by combatant forces and violates a fundamental international principle of humanitarianism which prohibits the starvation of civilians. The move by RUSAL can be viewed as contempt and disdain towards the workers in their fight for a living wage.

This reprehensive and illegal conduct is in violation of Article 147-2 of Guyana’s constitution, which gives employees the right to strike. The right to strike is also mentioned in ILO Convention 87, a fundamental right of workers and of their organisations and must be protected and respected at all cost!,” the

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman GPSU said.

According to the GPSU, this action by RUSAL flies in the face of all decency and shows blatant disrespect for the people and laws of Guyana, more so at a time when the country is celebrating its 49th Republic Anniversary. “The Guyana Public Service Union strongly condemns this action RUSAL and its labour adviser for disrespecting and violating the workers’ rights and breaching the laws of Guyana.

The GPSU calls on the Ministry of Social Protection to enforce the laws immediately by taking the necessary legal action against the employer.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 2, 2019

RUSAL’s BCGI executives invited to Monday meeting with CLO

THE Chief Labour Officer (CLO) has again invited administrators of Russian bauxite firm RUSAL/Bauxite Company of Guyana to meet with the Department of Labour and the union representing the interests of dismissed workers.

The meeting with the department, the bauxite firm and the Guyana Bauxite and General

Workers’ Union (GB&GWU)) is set for 09:00hrs on Monday, March 4, 2019 at the office of the CLO, a release from the Ministry of Social Protection noted.

The ministry said the CLO Charles Ogle is optimistic that at Monday’s meeting he would be able to convince management of the Russian-owned company “that in the interest of all stakehold-

ers normalcy be returned without further delay.”

On Thursday, the local trade union movement held its first in a series of picketing exercises outside the Russian-owned company’s offices in Forshaw Street, Queenstown.

The protest was aimed not only at the company’s current treatment of its employees, but also what the unions contend is a worrying trend of foreign

businesses disregarding local labour laws.

The picketing exercise was a joint exercise between umbrella trade union bodies, the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG). The picketing is expected to continue today, along with another protest at the company’s Upper Berbice Aroaima operations.

In a joint statement, the two bodies cited similar labour breaches by Malaysian-owned Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL), Canadian-owned Guyana Goldfields Inc., and oil and gas sector company, El Dorado Offshore.

“BCGI’s action is not an isolated incident, but rather seems to be a reflex action by foreign enterprises operating locally,” said FITUG Treasurer Seepaul Narine.

Government has since

thrown its support behind the country’s workers and is demanding their reinstatement, so that proper negotiations can take place. The GBGWU is calling for the situation to go to compulsory arbitration.

BCGI on February 18 terminated some 61 workers for going on strike from February 15. Last week, several RUSAL executives held meetings with the Department of Labour and with several government ministers; at the end of those meetings, it was expected that the workers would have been reinstated.

However, in a shocking turn of events, another 30 employees on Monday, February 25th, received letters that they were being laid off.

Oddly, even as the company is firing employees, it is looking to hire new employees, with executives indicating in a meeting last Wednesday

Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle that they were looking to begin a hiring exercise from today.

Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, in her meeting with RUSAL executives on Tuesday, reaffirmed that government will be going the “full length” to see reinstatement of the fired workers.

Ex-police prosecutor charged with bribery in firearm case A FORMER police prosecutor was yesterday (Friday, March 01, 2019) arraigned before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, on three fraud-related charges.

Kerry Bostwick, a 34-year-old resident of Pike Street, Kitty and father of one, pleaded not guilty to all the charges relative to collecting money from the family of Tyrone Kennedy, promising to ‘haul out’ his (Tyrone’s) case.

The first charge alleged that, on January 31, 2017, at East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Bostwick, under false pretence, collected the sum of $100,000 from Tollecia Odel, guaranteeing her that he would see that Tyrone Kennedy’s firearm case was ruled out.

The second charge read that, in December 2016, at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Ex, Police-Prosecutor, Kerry Bostwick Court, Bostwick obtained another sum of $100,000 from Kennedy’s sister, Moreine Kalli, claiming that he would dismiss her brother’s case.

Then later on in January 2017, it was alleged that Bostwick collected the sum of $100,000 from Kennedy’s mother, promising to drop her son’s matter in court.

Between the years 20162017, Bostwick was the prosecutor for Kennedy’s firearm case and offered the family a rewarding package, if they gave him the sum of $300,000.

He was later arrested and the matter was reported. The former police-prosecutor was sent to prison until the case was thoroughly investigated.

He lost his job and awaited his appearance in court.

He was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Bernard Da Silva, George Thomas and Adrian Thompson. An application for bail was filed since Bostwick is the sole provider of his five-year-old son and he has no prior altercations with the law.

Prosecutor Sanj Singh made no objection to bail being granted. Bail was set at a total of $150,000.

Bostwick will make his next appearance in court on March 22, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 2, 2019

Small business CEO refutes corruption claims

CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the Small Business Bureau (SBB), Dr. Lowell Porter, has refuted claims about corruption at the bureau.

The claims were levelled by PPP/C Junior Shadow Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament, Bishop Juan Edghill, in a letter published in several newspapers.

Bishop Edghill had made specific reference to a recent procurement for Partner Training Institutions (PTIs).

Dr. Porter made it clear that in April 2018,

management and staff of the SBB embarked on a process to review the administrative and personnel aspects of the operations, training and development and the delivery of other services. It therefore meant that the training methods and selection of training partners had to be revised.

Dr. Porter indicated that one of the key decisions made, was to categorise the PTIs based on their specific focus areas for various levels of clients. He further noted that the names of three training partners were offered

Sparendaam man gets 30 years for 2015 murder JUSTICE Navindra Singh handed down a 30-year sentence on Kevin Francis on Friday after a 12-member jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

He was charged for the murder on August 5, 2015 of 23-yer-old Akeem Yorrick.

The indictment read to the court alleges that Francis shot and killed Yorrick at Sparendaam.

Francis pleaded with the judge for clemency in handing down his sentence, holding out that he was innocent.

According to the reports, on August 2, 2015, Francis allegedly robbed one Frankie Stelling at his home, and three days later, on August 5, Stelling organised a group of men, one of whom was the deceased, to confront Francis at his home in the Sparendaam Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara.

As the men surrounded his house, Francis came out, gun blazing, and tried to make a run for it through the back of the premises,

and Yorrick was hit in the abdomen.

Yorrick died while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Several witnesses testified during the High Court trial, including the surviving men who had surrounded the house, and the victim of the alleged robbery, Frankie Stelling, who it ws that organised the confrontation.

However, defence attorney, Maxwell McKay, upon cross-examining the witnesses, contended that the men were trying to frame Francis for the murder.

He told the court that one of the men who was part of the group was armed, and fired shots at the accused while he was trying to escape, but missed.

The deceased, one of the witnesses confirmed, was about four feet away from Francis, and McKay concluded that whoever fired the shot, missed the accused, and shot Yorrick instead.

The witnesses denied

Kevin Francis that any of them were armed, and maintained that it was Francis who ran out of the house with a dark brown gun, and fired shots to clear his path to escape.

The jury believed the State’s case, as they returned with a unanimous guilty verdict for Francis.

His mother, who was present in the court room, could not contain herself.

She screamed and wailed on the corridors as her son was being taken away.

The State was represented by Tuanna Hardy and Ceriq Mohamed.

Lingerie thieves remanded

TWO men yesterday (Friday March 1, 2019) appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court for stealing a number of items.

Particulars of the matter read that on February 23, 2019, in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market, Harry Mowanie and Leslie Ferdinand stole 33 brassieres, 10 ladies under-wear and 30

pairs of slippers. These items are worth a total of $391,000, and belonged to Mondale Rogers.

According to reports, the two accused had previously appeared in court for matters relating to theft. They were arrested earlier this year for stealing a vendor’s item left in a box.

The men pleaded guilty to the charge and were sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Teen slapped with rape charge of schoolgirl TEVIN Fraser, an 18-year-old student, was yesterday (Friday, March 01, 2019) arraigned before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The teen was charged for raping a 14-year-old girl whose name was not mentioned. The girl, after the alleged ordeal with Fraser, informed her parents and Fraser was subsequently apprehended.

Fraser and the girl were said to be familiar with each other but never pursued a relationship together.

The court heard that, on March 1, 2019, the defendant, without permission, forced the young girl to have sexual intercourse with him. The defendant was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

Bail was granted at the sum of $150,000.

from the approved list of evaluated training partners, as part of the revised process. The approved list of trainers, the CEO stressed, was introduced prior to his joining the bureau.

On the point of Expressions of Interest (EoI) being cancelled, Dr. Porter noted that there were some administrative issues regarding the EoI and the process; therefore, a decision was taken to cancel the process involving 13 PTIs. He insisted that none of the 13 companies had submitted proposals.

In his letter, Bishop Edghill had also intimated that a document dated November 28, 2018, requesting payment to the three training institutes was sent to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Business. This was done, he claimed, before the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) had approved. This was also repudiated by the CEO, who explained that requests for payments to the PTIs were sent to the Permanent Secretary (PS), Ministry of Business, in her capacity of Chairperson of the Ministerial

Tender Board; the PS had then instructed that a new request be prepared and submitted to the NPTAB. This was done, and the requests were approved by the NPTAB on December 12, 2018.

Additionally, Bishop Edghill had suggested in his letter that the contracts were for training in Region Four, but the companies submitted invoices for training conducted in Regions Five and Six. However, Dr. Porter indicated that approvals were granted for training contracts in Regions Two, Four, Five, Six and Seven. However, no training was conducted in Region Four; there were no invoices submitted for training in that region.

The Small Business Bureau, and, by extension, the Ministry of Business takes allegations of corruption very seriously and therefore recommends that anyone who may have credible information of corruption to convey that information to the relevant authorities, so that appropriate action can be taken.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 2, 2019

Templates of oil contract to be out at some stage –– Dennison says new types of contracts will be designed

TEMPLATES of oil contracts will be released at some stage of Guyana’s preparation for the oiland-gas sector, which is set to begin production in 2020 when ExxonMobil commences production.

This was announced by Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Newell Dennison, during a panel discussion on oiland-gas development in Guyana hosted by Rice University’s Baker Institute, on Tuesday, February 26.

According to Dennison, the Department of Energy is working with Chatham House to improve contract agreements. The Royal Institute of International Affairs, commonly known as Chatham House, is a notfor-profit and non-governmental organisation based in London. Its mission is

to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs.

“Templates will be out at some stage...there are considerations for competitive arrangements to create different domains”, explained Dennison.

Guyana is divided into two petroleum basins named Guyana and Takutu, respectively. The Guyana Basin is further divided into two basins, onshore and offshore.

Unlike the contract template for the Takutu basin, Dennison said the new contracts will not be a “one size fits all,” meaning the country will not remain exclusively in a Public Sharing Agreement (PSA).

In rating the 2016 Petroleum Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited

partner of U.S. oil giant, ExxonMobil, Director of the Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe had said while the agreement may not be excellent, “it is not very poor.”

“Contracts are [placed] on a spectrum and they range from excellent to very poor. What we can say is that the current PSA may not be excellent, but it is not very poor either”, explained Dr. Bynoe.

In that regard, Dennison stated there must be some kind of hybrid arrangement for how the country deals with fiscal issues and in that sense, the new templates will have to incorporate restructuring of the legislation.

“The templates will have less of the talk, because it will remove the complexity which would be found in the legislation instead,” Dennison further

Sophia handing over…

no meeting since formation of committee

DESPITE the formation of a seven-member committee last month to facilitate the handing over of the Sophia community to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), its chairman Akeem Peter said that the body is still to convene its first meeting.

The members are Councillors Clayton Hinds, Dion Younge, Param Persaud, Alfred Mentore, Patricia Chase-Green. with Councillor Eketa Edwards as vice-chairman.

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine, at City Hall’s most recent statutory meeting, asked for an update on the matter, with Councillor Peter responding with the afore-mentioned.

The mayor asked if the town clerk’s office had dispatched a letter to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) informing that agency about the formation of the committee. Acting Town Clerk Sharon Harry could not recall and said she needed to make a check.

This prompted the mayor to opine that communication was lacking at the administrative level, between the town clerk’s office and the municipalities’ various departments. The committee ‘s formation follows a request by the CH&PA for a formal handing-over date.

At a previous statutory meeting, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Councillor Oscar Clarke, accused the CH&PA of attempting to rush the matter, and cautioned

that there are a number of implications that must be considered. The councillor said the matter should first be considered internally before a date is fixed, and suggested that the sub-committee be formed.

The CH&PA had indicated its desire to hand over Constituencies Five and Six (Cummings Lodge to Sophia) to the M&CC before the end of 2018, but officers at the council had expressed concern over such an announcement due to the City Council’s cashstrapped state.

Former Mayor Chase-Green noted that there are many homes in those areas that do not pay taxes to the council. “But when they are handed over, it is now our responsibility to provide garbage collection, street lights, roads, water,” she said and noted, “Whatever it is that council has that core responsibility for, we will have to provide. How do we get more money for the expenses?”

Currently, the Sophia area is not benefitting from any of the services provided by the M&CC; hence, for years, basic amenities such as water and electricity could not be extended to residents of North Pattensen, North Sophia, Block ‘R’ Extension and other communities.

The CH&PA had proposed to hand over the communities on December 17, 2017, but was unsuccessful in its attempt to do so.

explained.

In addition to developing new contracts, Guyana will also be employing competitive bid rounds which will be open and transparent for those interested.

ExxonMobil’s affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator of the Stabroek Block, holding a 45 per cent interest. Hess Guyana Exploration Limited holds 30 per cent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 per cent interest.

The Canje Block, located offshore Guyana east of the Stabroek Block, is also operated by EEPGL which holds 35 per cent interest, JHI 40 per cent interest and Mid-At-

lantic 25 per cent interest.

The Kaieteur Block, located offshore Guyana to the north and adjacent to the Stabroek and Canje Blocks, is also operated

by EEPGL, which holds 50 per cent interest. Ratio Energy Limited holds 25 per cent interest and Ratio Guyana Limited holds 25 per cent interest.

Tullow Guyana B.V and Eco (Atlantic) Guyana Inc are operators in the Orinduik Block. Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Inc. has a 40 per cent interest in the Orinduik Block, while Tullow Oil has 60 per cent.

Although some of the blocks are occupied, Dennison said there is still room for joint venture activities and new ventures in unallocated areas.

GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison International interest 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.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 2, 2019

Education matters, says NCERD director –– as National Library launches ‘smart skills’ training for young adults

By Elvin Carl Croker

THE National Library on Tuesday launched “Smart Skills Programme”, an initiative aimed at improving functional literacy in the employable age group.

Guided by the theme, “Empowerment through Improved Functional Literacy,” the National Library introduced the pilot phase of the programme.

The National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD), Director Jennifer Cumberbatch addressing the launch, hailed the programme as an excellent initiative.

She said every person should be literate, in that they should be able to read, write, interpret, follow instructions, understand and use printed information in their daily activity.

“Adults, who for a multitude of reasons, did not gain this foundation in their youth and who are now navigating the world without vital literary skills, are often overlooked. As a re-

NCERD Director Jennifer Cumberbatch sult of this they struggle in many areas to understand things like their electronic bills, instructions on a bottle of medication, etc.”

She emphasised that literacy does not only mean the ability to read, but also the ability to think about the information and solve problems. To this end, she said the programme will help them to not only gain, but retain employment.

Cumberbatch emphasised to the gathering that “education matters,” since

it does have a role in crime reduction.

Chief Librarian Emiley King said the National Library must be aware of what needs exist within the community it exists and provide help.

“It was during the second quarter of 2016, during an examination of the libraries’ homework health programme, a decision was made to review and have it operate in a more restructured form,” she said.

Dr. Marcie Thomas, head of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) at NCERD, commended the library for taking the bold, progressive step.

She interpreted ‘small skills’ to mean skills that pertain to the emotional and social intelligence of a person.

The entire “Smart Skills Programme” consists of five modules; however, only three of the modules formed the pilot phase. These modules are The Reading Course for Adults, which

addresses the needs of persons who have gaps in their reading and writing skills; the Recognition and Signing of Names, which caters for persons who may still be using a thumb print as their signature for business and official purposes; and the Filling of Forms Module. The Filling of Forms module helps persons to better understand common terms usually found on forms and provide practice on completing several forms generally used by government departments and businesses in Guyana.

The other two modules, Financial Literacy and Health Literacy, will provide participants with a deeper understanding of money management through a series of interactive exercises: preparing personal and business budgets, using the ATM and shopping smart and giving guidance to strengthen their ability to read and understand basic medical and health information and how to ask questions of health professionals.

This programme targets persons who are employed or seeking employment, but lack basic functional skills, specifically focused on categories of workers such as labourers, sanitation/janitorial workers, porters, housewives, market vendors, young entrepreneurs and unemployed youths.

It seeks to help persons in the 17-35 years age group who need help to effectively apply literacy skills with confidence and to help them have less dependency on others for assistance.

The modules will be delivered by trained facilitators during the pilot phase over the next six months. During this time an assessment and evaluation of the modules and delivery methods will be undertaken to inform any adjustments necessary, before extending the programme to branch libraries and rural centres.

The programme was made possible through a collaborative effort of the National Library Smart

Chief Librarian Emiley King Skills Programme, the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) and support from corporate sponsors.

The library said it would welcome on board other corporate sponsors to ensure sustainability of the programme and invite such agencies to contact the chief librarian on telephone number 226-2690 or at email address, emileyking@yahoo.com for more information.

Young father killed same day child born MOHAMED Arshad Ally, 25, was killed in the street on Friday afternoon after a man, who is his neighbour, suspected to be of unsound mind, plunged an iron bar into his body.

The incident took place at Bennett Dam, Rosignol, West Coast Demerara, moments after the 25-year-old man left his Lot 29 Bennett Dam home to visit his wife.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that Ally was on his way to see his wife, who was admitted to hospital due to

labour pains. The woman gave birth on Friday.

This newspaper understands that the young father, who did not get a chance to see or hold his first child, was killed moments after the child was born.

Ally’s killer has been identified as “Karim”, reportedly a known drug addict.

According to information received, while Karim attacked Ally, persons stood from their respective homes and watched on without attempting to help him.

The family of the dead man said that for years, they were receiving threats from the suspect, who always indicated to them he will kill someone.

The police were informed about the threats but according to relatives, they were told by the police that the suspect is ‘mad’.

The alleged killer was reportedly only recently released from prison.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the community on Friday, the home where the victim lived was secured and

no one was at home. They had gone to the hospital to greet the new born baby and view the body of Ally, which was taken to the said hospital.

Relatives said even after it was confirmed that Ally was dead, they were very reluctant to inform his wife as he had just delivered her baby.

Family members are now questioning the logics of the police in stating that the suspect is an insane man as they spoke of him selling mangoes and coconuts, something they said any sane person would do.

Killed: Mohamed Arshad Ally

Blood stains were evident on the roadway where the man fell and bled before he was picked up and rushed to the hospital.

Ally’s father-in-law said he was heading to New Amsterdam, when he received a call that something had happened to the young man and he immediately returned and when he arrived in the area, he saw his son-in-law lying in a pool of blood.

The suspect is in custody as police continue their investigations.

Mother, son charged for drug possession

A 52-year-old housewife of Land of Canaan and her son were yesterday (Friday, March 01, 2019) brought before Magistrate Leron Daly at the

Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the possession of narcotics.

Edgar Dawson and his mother, Chaustelle Dawson, pleaded not guilty to all the

charges read.

The first charge alleged that on February 25, 2019, at the son’s Lot 173 Charlotte Street home, 132 grams of cannabis were found in their

possession, for the purpose of trafficking.

The second charge read that, on the same day, 23 grams of cocaine were also recovered in their posses-

sion, for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the prosecutor, the drugs were concealed in two separate containers next to a garbage

heap in the said yard.

The duo was granted bail in the sum of $50,000 on each charge and they are expected to return to court on April 5, 2019.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 2, 2019

GTT working on connecting more Guyanese LOCAL telecommunications service provider, GTT, has said that it continues to work to connect more communities across Guyana, particularly areas with new housing schemes.

“Increasing internet penetration in Guyana is something we take seriously in order to bridge the digital divide,” GTT Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Justin Nedd said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Nedd was at the time speaking on the company’s plans for the remainder of 2019 and shared that fostering the creation of spaces was high on GTT’s agenda.

“We’ll be doing that [increasing internet penetration] more in 2019 with our high-speed. Fibre-optic network, as well as our advanced mobile network,”

he said.

GTT’s Blaze, which was launched in 2017, uses the fibre-optic cable network and has been touted as the fastest internet service available in Guyana. More than 60,000 households and businesses are now capable of accessing this, according to Nedd.

In fact, he also shared that following the introduction of Blaze, the company has recorded a 400 per cent increase in internet traffic; more persons are particularly involved in video streaming services, now made more accessible through the provision of faster connection speeds.

Nedd told the Guyana Chronicle that presently, the company is building the connections for Blaze in Herstelling, Perseverance and at an area in Providence. This

is work that will conclude in “a matter of months,” according to Nedd.

“There are all those housing schemes created and thousands of new homes [and] we’re touching those,” he said.

At the press conference he was also questioned as to when the services would be taken to out-of-city areas, specifically, such as Linden.

In response, Nedd said that this would be done “soon.”

Last year, GTT had visited Berbice to look at introducing services in key areas such as Skeldon and Number 76 Village, Corentyne, and New Amsterdam, East Bank Berbice. The company also explored introducing the services in areas such as La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, and the Eccles Young Professionals

Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

However, Nedd also explained to the Guyana Chronicle that cognisance must be taken of the enormous amount of work that goes into fostering these connections.

“Building the stations is one thing, but then there’s also the process of installing the connections in homes and businesses,” he said.

“We do at least 100 connections a day and each one could take up to four hours, so you could just imagine or calculate the number of crews we have got out there.”

The work being done is “not insignificant,” according to Nedd, who also highlighted that the technical crew works seven days a week-- with no days off.

He also indicated that the company also faces some challenges in setting up these networks, that would hinder the progress of the work done. The equipment needed to build the stations are not locally made and sometimes, he said, there may be transportation issues.

The move by the company to connect local communities is separate from the nationwide effort of the government to connect every Guyanese though its ‘eGovernance’ project. However, the government does work alongside GTT to provide these services.

“The Internet penetration rate in Guyana today stands at 305,007 persons.

That means that 39.6 per cent of the current population of this country are using and connected to the

GTT Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Justin Nedd [Samuel Maughn photo] Internet. It might sound low, but it’s over 300,000 persons,” Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes had said in July, 2018.

LIAT continues flying ––CEO

REGIONAL airline, LIAT, is currently engaged in discussions with regional governments to put in place new arrangements, which provide a basis for sharing the burden amongst all the countries currently benefitting from the airline’s services.

This is according to Chief Executive Officer Julie Reifer-Jones, who in a release on Friday responded to a news item which appeared in the Trinidad and Tobago media that the airline had financial resources to keep its operations afloat only for the next

10 days.

Noting that the airline will continue flying across the Region, the CEO reassured passengers that the airline will continue to operate in a safe and efficient manner to provide connectivity and service to the Region.

She said that LIAT “is in a challenging financial situation,” and that the airline has been flying through the Region with support from its principal shareholders, those being the Governments of Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Dominica.

Reifer-Jones noted, however, that the airline has also

been operating to destinations where there has been no support from governments and authorities to ensure that critical connectivity remains.

Reifer-Jones noted that all stakeholders, whether labour, suppliers or financiers, will be called upon to make adjustments aimed at achieving a viable airline operation.

The airline has already been working to improve its on-time performance, and she indicated that 83% of the airline’s flights were on time in 2018.

LIAT is currently undergoing a restructuring exercise; this is expected to improve the airline’s opera-

LIAT’s ATR-72 aircraft tions, as the company moves to build a sustainable model, the entity said on Friday.

LIAT currently op-

erates 491 flights weekly across its network of 15 destinations, using its modern fleet of ATR 42

and ATR 72 aircraft which land and depart within a regional network of 15 destinations.

GPHC probe into death of three children completed –– Min. Lawrence promises statement IT has been reported that the internal probe at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) into the deaths of three young children who were receiving treatment for leukaemia has been completed.

This was reported in the Thursday edition of the Stabroek News, which also noted that this information was provided by an undisclosed source who is close to the investigation.

Seven-year-old Curwayne Edwards succumbed on January 14; Roshani Seegobin, three, died on January 18 and Sharezer Mendonca, six, passed away on January 24. The trio succumbed after an alleged adverse reaction to medication

which was administered to them as part of the treatment for leukaemia-- a cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues.

It was indicated that the cause of the three deaths was not due to the medication administered. Earlier information reported by the Guyana Chronicle had indicated that preliminary reports noted that it was not the medication used that was bad, but it was that the medication was administered incorrectly.

The Stabroek News also reported that the findings of the investigation have been sent to the Ministry of Public Health.

On Friday, when the Guyana Chronicle approached Minister of Public Health,

Volda Lawrence, she declined to confirm the reports received by that newspaper, and instead highlighted that an official statement would be issued shortly.

In the wake of the first two deaths, the GPHC had confirmed that an investigation was launched. After the death of Mendonca, Minister Lawrence explained that an “all-round” probe was being conducted.

The investigation at the GPHC was being spearheaded by the hospital’s Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr. Fawcett Jeffrey; the investigation team comprised support personnel from PAHO, members from the paediatric department of the hospital and the GPHC’s Deputy CEO, Elizabeth Gonsalves.

Following the death of the third child, Mendonca, a family member told this newspaper that the young girl’s body was given to the wrong family, resulting in an unauthorised autopsy. The family subsequently performed another autopsy, since they had related that they did not trust the GPHC. Furthermore, the aunt of Mendonca, Azeena Bakraj, indicated that the family--through their lawyers—had requested the young girl’s medical records. On Friday, she shared that those have not yet been provided, even though two requests have been made.

She also indicated that the hospital has not informed her family that the investigations into the children’s deaths have been completed.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, March 2, 2019

GRDB seeking advice from foreign affairs on Jamaica rice shipment

By Navendra Seoraj

THE Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has sought the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enquire about some 70 metric tonnes of White “Cinderella” rice, seized by the Jamaican Industries,

Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry.

General Manager of the GRDB, Nizam Hassan, said the Jamaican authorities have been tightlipped on the issue, so the board hopes that the foreign affairs ministry would be able to iron out the situation.

“We have approached the ministry to seek their assistance through their channels…we need assistance in getting additional information as to what the issue is and what transpired,” said the general manager during a press conference on Tuesday, February 26.

The GRDB also reached out to the buyer, who has not responded to any of the questions which were asked about the rice which is still in Jamaica.

“We have been checking with the supplier and he said none of his buyers had any problems with the rice, and

General Manager of GRDB, Nizam Hassan it was even sent back to the shipping line intact and with no problems”, noted Hassan.

He added that the Jamaica Government is reluctant to divulge any further information to the GRDB. Although the rice shipment was confiscated by the Jamaican authorities, the supplier was paid in full for his rice Reports had surfaced that 70 metric tonnes of White Cinderella rice, valued at approximately US$4.6 million,

was confiscated by Jamaica’s Industries, Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, due to its poor quality.

According to the reports, a series of inspections carried out revealed that the grains had signs of mould, clumping, discoloration and moisture, resulting in the detention of the rice by a food storage inspector.

According to a recent report from the Department of Public Information (DPI), Deputy General Manager of the GRDB, Allison Peters, said the certificate for testing of any rice was accredited by the Jamaican National Agency for Accreditation (JNAAC) and it was the fourth year that the board had been accredited by that body.

She pointed out that before rice leaves Guyana, it is put through rigorous testing, both at the central laboratory and before being loaded for export.

However, in transportation and subsequent storage of the product, the GRDB has no control over how the rice is handled.

Haags Bosch Cell 2 construction goes to ‘Jagmohan Hardware’ –– main city contractors not happy, challenge bid process TWO of Georgetown’s main garbage contractors, Puran Brothers Disposal Services and Cevons Waste Management Inc., are disappointed that the companies were not hired for construction works at the Haags Bosch sanitary landfill site.

Manager of Puran’s, Kaleshwar Puran, told the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday that the two companies decided to embark on a joint venture to have the works done, but were later informed that they would not get the project. Since the companies met all of the requirements needed for the construction of Cell # Two at the said landfill site, Puran said the two companies have decided to challenge the outcome of the bidding process.

He pointed out that the works were instead handed to S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services, whose bid was higher than that submitted under the joint venture by Puran’s and Cevons.

The Ministry of Communities wrote to the two companies, advising them that their bid for the project was evaluated and found to be non-responsive. The ministry had received funding from the Government of Guyana for management of solid waste, and intended to utilise part of the funding for construction of the cell.

Following the ministry’s correspondence, Puran said the company wrote to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, Chairman of the Procurement Commission Carol Corbin and Berkeley Wickham from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.

The companies are contending that they are unable to understand the reasons behind the awarding of the contract to S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services. They are requesting an urgent review of the process.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 2, 2019

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 2, 2019

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday, March 2, 2019)

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

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: Allan Lamb-710 runs (HS: 75, Manchester, 1984) Chris Gayle (135), Jason Roy (123), Joe Root (102)

(1)

(2)

TODAY’S QUIZ: When and where did England win an ODI in the West Indies for the first time?

What were Sheldon Cottrell’s bowling figures in the second ODI of the current WI/ENG series?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 2, 2019

Raval, Latham help New Zealand take control SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH 1st innings Tamim Iqbal c Kane Williamson b Colin de Grandhomme 126 Shadman Islam b Trent Boult

24 Mominul Haque c BJ Watling b Neil Wagner 12 Mohammad Mithun c Tom Latham b Neil Wagner

8 Soumya Sarkar c BJ Watling b Tim Southee 1 Mahmudullah c Trent Boult b Neil Wagner 22 Liton Das c Trent Boult b Neil Wagner 29 Mehedi Hasan c Henry Nicholls b Neil Wagner

10 Abu Jayed c BJ Watling b Tim Southee 2 Khaled Ahmed b Tim Southee 0 Extras:

0 Total: (all out, 59.2 overs)

234 Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-121, 3-147, 4-149, 5-180, 6-207, 7-217, 8-226, 9-234.

Bowling: Trent Boult 13-1-62-1, Tim Southee 14-276-3, Colin de Grandhomme 11-0-39-1, Neil Wagner 16.2-4-47-5, Todd Astle 5-1-10-0, NEW ZEALAND 1st innings Jeet Raval c Khaled Ahmed b Mahmudullah 132 Tom Latham c Mohammad Mithun b Soumya Sarkar 161 Kane Williamson not out

93 Ross Taylor lbw Soumya Sarkar 4 Henry Nicholls b Mehedi Hasan

53 Neil Wagner not out

1 Extras: (lb-5, nb-1, w-1)

7 Total: (four wkts, 118.0 overs)

451 Fall of wickets: 1-254, 2-333, 3-349, 4-449.

Bowling: Abu Jayed 23-4-65-0 Ebadat Hossain 21-4-77-0, Khaled Ahmed 22-6-84-0 (nb-1), Soumya Sarkar 19-1-57-2 (w-1), Mehedi Hasan 31-2-149-1, Mahmudullah 1-0-3-1, Mominul Haque 1-0-11-0.

(REUTERS) - OPENER Jeet Raval struck his maiden Test century, while Tom Latham posted his third 150-plus score in three matches, as New Zealand seized total control of the first Test against Bangladesh in Hamilton yesterday.

The hosts were 451-4 at stumps on the second day at Seddon Park with captain Kane Williamson on 93 and nightwatchman Neil Wagner

one not out, having built an imposing 217-run first-innings lead.

Bangladesh had been dismissed in the final session on Thursday for 234, with Tamim Iqbal scoring an aggressive 126. Wagner was the pick of New Zealand’s bowlers with 5-47.

Raval and Latham had resumed yesterday on 86-0 and continued to grind down the Bangladeshi bowlers through the morning session.

The 30-year-old Raval, who had scored seven half-centuries and begun to face questions as to when he would pass three figures, answered the doubters with successive boundaries off Ebadat Hossain about 15 minutes before lunch.

The lefthander watched the ball skim across the surface to the midwicket fence and broke into a small smile and raised his bat to the crowd and his team mates.

His fellow lefthander, who was dropped by Soumya Sarkar on nought on Thursday, had to wait until after lunch to bring up his ninth century when he top-edged down to fine leg for his 12th boundary.

It continued a superb run of form for the 25-year-old, who was dismissed for 161 and has scored 611 runs in his four Test innings at home this summer at an average of 203. He also had scores of 264 not out and 176 against Sri Lanka last December.

Raval and Latham put on 254 for the first wicket, the third-highest opening partnership for New Zealand against any opposition.

Williamson brought up his 30th Test half-century with a punch to deep point for a single in the final session and appeared to be on course to join Raval and Latham with a century.

The surprising dismissal of Henry Nicholls, who did not play at an arm

Federer one win away from a 100th ATP singles title (BBC)- ROGER Federer is one win away from a 100th ATP singles title after a semi-final victory over Borna Coric at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Federer in the Australian Open last 16 in January.

A win will make Federer the second male player to win 100 singles titles after

Federer is one win away from a 100th ATP singles title

Federer, 37, showed his best form of the tournament in easing to a 6-2 6-2 win over the 22-year-old Croat.

He now faces Greece's

American Jimmy Connors, who won 109.

"Tsitsipas is tough to play, tough to beat," said Federer. "He showed me

that at the Australian Open, how hard he is. Maybe the final is a little bit of a revenge match.

"Reaching 100 titles we're still far from it. I'm just going to try to focus and play good tennis," Ts i t s i p a s re c o v e re d from a set and 3-1 down to get past Frenchman Gael Monfils 4-6 7-6(4) 7-6(4), a win which will propel the 20-year-old into the world's top 10 for the first time in his career.

"The whole match changed out of nowhere," Tsitsipas said.

"I've improved since last year. Beating the big guys, big players, players that have been in the top 10, it means a lot."

ball from Mehedy Hasan Miraz and was bowled for 53, shortly before stumps, however, saw Williamson avoid any risk to push on but he looks well set for his 20th century today.

Jeet Raval pulls one on the way to his maiden Test century v New Zealand, 1st Test, Hamilton, 2nd day, yesterday. (Getty Images)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 2, 2019

Gayle warns teams not to take Windies lightly (CMC) – VETERAN Chris Gayle has warned opposing teams not to take West Indies lightly, despite their underdogs status heading into the ICC World Cup later this year.

The Caribbean side are ranked ninth in the world and have already been written off by pundits but Gayle said that once they played their natural

brand of cricket, they could make a mark at the May 30 to July 14 showpiece in England.

“The World Cup is always going to be a pressure tournament and no one is looking at us as favourites so we shouldn’t put ourselves under strenuous pressure,” he told reporters.

“We should just go out there and play according to

how we know to play which is the Caribbean style of cricket and eventually teams will fear us and respect us.”

Gayle announced his intentions to be part of the World Cup squad prior to the start of the ongoing England one-day series and has all but sewn up his spot, with two exhilarating hundreds and a half-century in his

three innings.

His 162 in Wednesday’s fourth match was his 25th ODI hundred and took him past the 10 000-run mark in the shorter format. He is only the second West Indies batsman, behind Brian Lara to achieve the feat.

“I just have to work on the body and then maybe you can see a bit more of Chris Gayle but to get to such a milestone is a great feeling,” he noted.

“I’ve done it in T20 cricket and now in 50-overs cricket, it’s a fantastic achieve-

West Indies opener Chris Gayle

The 39-year-old Gayle, who also announced he would retire following the World Cup, said reaching the landmark had been a satisfying accomplishment, but stressed he needed to stay in shape in order to be at his best in coming months.

ment from the point of view of my career. Hopefully I can carry on and get more runs and you never know, things (can) change quickly in the next couple of months.”

He added: “I’ve been playing a lot of T20 cricket so it was always going to be a bit

difficult coming back into 50-overs cricket but eventually the body gets accustomed again.”

England set West Indies a massive 419 to win the fourth ODI in Grenada and thanks to Gayle’s fireworks, the Windies only just came up short by 29 runs, bowled out for 389 with two overs remaining.

“I thought it was a great game. To be able to get 160 – it was a fantastic knock – and it’s a great feeling to get to another milestone by scoring another century,” he said.

“There are a lot of positives to still take out of the game even though we lost by 29 runs. There are just some simple areas we can look at and see where we went wrong.

That key middle over where (Shimron) Hetmyer and (Darren) Bravo got out – I thought that over actually changed the game.”

He added: “I think this was one of the most entertaining games I’ve played in, to be honest. I don’t know how many sixes were hit … but it was a fantastic game of cricket.”

WI eyeing redemption against England (ESPNCricinfo) - It worked out all right in the end for Grenada’s cricket faithful, as their first taste of international action for four years was reduced from a two-match festival of cricket to one single afternoon of six-smoking carnage.

After Monday’s rain had given way to Wednesday’s clear skies, it was as though the England and West Indies batsmen had been unleashed from the dressing room via slingshots.

Both teams tore into the bowling with a world-record 46 sixes in 98 overs of action - 24 for England, 22 for West Indies; 14 for Chris Gayle, 12 for Jos Buttler, whose innings of 150 from 77 balls was one of the most staggering onslaughts ever witnessed on the world stage.

And the upshot is a series which England now have within their grasp.

They lead 2-1 with just the decider in St Lucia to come, and while everything between now and the end of May pales, compared to the challenge that awaits at this summer’s World Cup, there are bragging rights aplenty available in this

final contest.

England, for starters, would really rather like a piece of silverware to take home from the Caribbean, given how quickly their hopes in the Test series were detonated by Jason Holder and his cohorts. But there’s also that thorny question of “momentum” - a nebulous concept at the best of times, and one that most teams are happy to play up or down, as it suits them.

Nevertheless, with India breathing down England’s necks ahead of their own ODI series against Australia, a West Indies win could open the door for a new No.1 team to be anointed going into the World Cup. Perhaps that might reduce some of the hometeam pressure on Eoin Morgan’s men, but to judge by their approach throughout their renaissance run of form since 2015, they are dead-set on hitting the front and staying there in every contest they play.

All things being equal, England start as favourites - as well they might, given the run of form they’ve been on in the 50-over format in recent years - but

this contest will surely be decided, as with each of the other three so far, by the team who hold their nerve for longest in what looks likely to be another daunting run-chase.

England did remarkably well to chase 361 in the opening match in Barbados, eventually easing to their target with eight balls and five wickets to spare. But two days later, they tumbled off the tightrope in dramatic fashion, losing their last six wickets for 35 runs in pursuit of 290.

West Indies fell away even more quickly in Grenada, losing their last four wickets in five deliveries from Adil Rashid, but by that stage they had 389 on the board, more than any team in history to have been bowled out inside their 50 overs - which just goes to show, none of these games is over until it is over.

And even the beleaguered bowlers on both teams can produce match-turning moments in the blink of an eye. But don’t blink too often … when 46 sixes are raining into the stands, it’s not wise to take your eyes off the action for a second.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 2, 2019

Team Guyana looking to end CJKAT on high … Rounds 5, 6 billed for this weekend

By Stephan Sookram ROUNDS five and six of the Caribbean Junior Karting Academy Trophy

(CJKAT) get going today in Barbados and Team Guyana will approach both optimistically.

The team, which com-

prises Paige Mendonca, Nathan Rahaman, Jeremy Ten-Pow, Rayden Persaud and Zach Persaud, landed in Barbados yesterday morning

Rayden Persaud (G26) trails Jeremy Ten-Pow (G61) during rounds 3 & 4.

Barbados, Guyana and Windward Islands refuse challengers’ presentation request to members BASSETERRE, St. Kitts Presidential hopeful Ricky Skerritt said there is a need to modernise the governance structures of Cricket West Indies (CWI) in light of blatant attempts at a political shut-out, as he and Dr Kishore Shallow bid to unseat incumbents Dave Cameron and Emmanuel Nanthan as president and vice-president.

Skerritt said this has become even more apparent, after he and Dr Shallow were blocked from presenting their ideas for reform of the game in the Caribbean to a number of territorial boards in the lead-up to the nomination process.

“We wrote directly to the presidents and the boards, asking only for the opportunity to present our plan for change,” he said.

“We did not ask for their support or for a nomination.”

“Three boards – Barbados, Guyana and Windward

Islands – wrote back in a matter of days, all turning down our request, almost in tandem.” Skerritt said: “In the case of Guyana, we noted that they had chosen to nominate Dave even before the nomination process was open.”

“The three presidents confirmed their unwavering support for the incumbents and very respectfully said no thanks to our request to present.”

CWI confirmed, last Monday, February 25, the nominations for Cameron and current vice-president Emmanuel Nanthan as well as Skerritt and Shallow. The regional governing body also announced that four of the six territorial boards, whose combined 12 votes decide the hierarchy of the organisation, had nominated Cameron and Nanthan.

Such a move is unprecedented in the history of the governance of West Indies cricket and Dr Shallow said it leads to much speculation

that Cameron and Nanthan have used the nomination process in a show of political power in order to scare off supporters of Skerritt and himself.

“This type of blind, unrelenting support without even exploring leadership options or alternative ideas contradicts the democratic process and is probably not reflective of the majority base of members whom they represent,” Dr Shallow said.

“Cricket leaders should seek more information from the base and should explore new strategies in order to push the game at the local and regional levels forward.”

Skerritt and Dr Shallow have announced a 10-point, Cricket First plan.

It includes strategies for enhancing stakeholder relations, modernising the game and introducing term limits for the positions of president and vice-president in the hope of fortifying the governance structure.

and began work yesterday afternoon.

Guyana’s highest-placed competitor at the inaugural Championships, Rayden Persaud, is seventh after rounds three and four last month.

Rayden, who had positive results last time out with one seventh-place and two fifthplace finishes on the Saturday, returned the following day and placed 10th, 8th, 7th and 6th respectively to complete the weekend.

He currently sits on 125 points, three ahead of Barbados’ Kayleigh Catwell (122), as they head into the final two rounds.

Barbadian Adam Mallalieu leads the charge with 295 points, ahead of his countryman Calem Maloney (292) and Jamaican Ryan Chisholm (209).

The Jamaican duo of Zander Williams and Tommi Gore are fourth and fifth respectively with 186 and 182 points. Adam Marshall (132 points) is just ahead of Rayden.

Nathan Rahaman is the second highest-placed Guyanese at 8th with 91 points after that weekend, surpassing Jeremy Ten-Pow who is now 9th.

Nathan’s weekend included some enterprising

drives with a sixth, tenth, ninth and an eighth-place finish on Sunday, coupled with eighth, ninth, DNF and tenth place finishes.

Ten-Pow, on the other hand, had a torrid weekend, getting a best result of seventh place on Saturday. Sunday did not yield the results he was hoping for with his highest being 8th.

Zachary Persaud also had an improved performance, moving up to 10th after some consistent driving as he continues on his 125cc path.

Paige Mendonca also had some impressive drives as she sits 11th in the standings.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 2, 2019

GABBFF AGM set for tomorrow … Marks up for re-election

THE Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation’s (GABBFF) Annual General Meeting and Elections will take place tomorrow at Giftland Mall Administration Building, on the southern side at Plantation Pattensen, Turkeyen from 11:00hrs.

Interested persons who wish to vote can register before or on the day of the elections and the affiliate membership fee is G$1 000.

The six executive posts up for contention are President, Vice-President, Trea-

GABBFF president Coel Marks

surer, General Secretary, Assistant Treasurer and the Organising Secretary.

There are also six Committee Members’ spots.

Coel Marks who is the current president will be going up for re-election, while Keavon Bess, a former president, Videsh Sookram, a former Organising Secretary, and Yannick Grimes will be his rivals.

Delegates will now be required to cast a ballot.

This is a change from the previous format of voting, which was done by a show of hands.

Cameron hails outstanding Becca (CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dave Cameron has hailed the outstanding late Jamaican cricket journalist Tony Becca as a “champion” whose body of work was virtually unparalleled.

Becca passed away Thursday in his native Jamaica at age 78, following a brief illness.

“West Indies cricket has lost a champion who spent his distinguished career chronicling the ups and downs of the sport he loved so much. Tony Becca has always made an effort to be fair in his writings about West Indies Cricket,” Cameron said in a statement. “ To n y B e c c a l i v e d through the glorious years when West Indian bowlers swept all before them and gifted Caribbean batsmen

battered the opposing bowlers. Driven by the glory his eyes had seen as the Windies juggernaut tore through world cricket in the 1970s and 1980s, Tony also agonised as our fortunes dipped and he lashed out at administrators and players alike.

will be difficult to replicate. CWI, along with other groups across the Caribbean region and in the USA Diaspora, have paid tribute to him because of his work.”

Becca was a former editor of the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, who covered

CWI president Dave Cameron

“For over four decades he helped this region understand the game. His body of work is one which

West Indies cricket extensively across the globe for nearly half a century.

In 2005, he was induct-

ed into the Crick­et Hall of Fame in Hart­ford, Con­ necti­cut, for his contribution to the development of the sport in the United States.

Cameron said while he did not always agree with Becca, he had always respected his views on the game.

“Tony and I did not see eye-to-eye on everything but his criticism was always well reasoned, courteous and respectful,” he said.

“He would lay down the odd googly, of course, to keep things interesting, but I always respected his views, drawn from the depth and width of his experience covering the sport.

“He had a good innings and his mark will long be remembered on the cricket pitches of the West Indies and beyond.”

ECCCC, Busta SC hunting back-to-back wins ENMORE Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) and Enterprise Busta Sports Club will look to continue from where they left off last week, when the East Coast Cricket Committee, SPR Enterprise 40-over cricket competition continues tomorrow with eight games.

ECCCC will host Strathavon Sports Club A team, while Busta SC will play Golden Achievers SC

at their Enterprise ground.

Last Sunday Enmore CCCC defeated Golden Achievers SC by seven wickets through a half-century from Amir Khan.

Golden Achievers batted first, but were restricted for 113 with Ranjeet Hiralall and Satesh Jainarine taking three wickets each. ECCCC then reached their target in the 17th over with Khan finishing with an unbeaten 54. Yuvraj Dyal added 24

unbeaten runs.

For Enterprise Busta SC, who also hosted their opponents Beehive Sports Club, victory was achieved by nine wickets.

Beehive SC were bowled out for 86 in 26 overs after C. Singh took 4-9. EBSC in reply lost a single wicket in their chase as Vivian Albert struck an unbeaten 38 and V. Persaud 28.

In the other clashes

tomorrow, Lusignan will host Fairfield SC, Better Hope Sixers will challenge Cane Grove New Gen SC at the Better Hope ground, Lusignan East and Mahaica Cavaliers will battle at the Fairfield ground, Ogle will host Lusignan B, Paradise SC will tackle Beehive SC at Cane Grove and at the Strathavon ground, Strathavon SC B team will challenge LBI SC.

Renewed!

Pepsi reaffirms support for youth boxing in Guyana AFTER seven years of continued support, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) under their Pepsi brand renewed their partnership with the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) yesterday at their DSL Cash and Carry location on Back Road, East Ruimveldt.

Speaking at the press conference, GBA head honcho, Steve Ninvalle, said that he was pleased with the continued sponsorship which has made a significant impact on youth development “Through this partnership, we at GBA have been able to organise the Mike Parris Pepsi Junior tournament for seven years, the likes of Keevin ‘Lightning’ Allicock was discovered at that tournament, along with a whole host of other young talented boxers.”

Ninvalle revealed that it has been the “longest sponsorship deal with any entity. For seven years running we have had the privilege of having Pepsi on our side and we have always tried to ensure that the tournaments are something the sponsors could be proud of.”

The GBA boss also expressed optimism of

bettering last year’s total of 12 U-16 tournaments.

He also noted that Guyana will be going all out to retain the Caribbean Schoolboys & Juniors ‘Nuff Cuff’ title.

Meanwhile, GBA’s Technical Director, Terrence Pool, thanked DDL for “staying the course and assisting GBA in a truly valuable way”. He highlighted that “a lot of emphasis is being placed on our nursery of boxers; we want to continue to grow. DDL must continue to have confidence in the youth system”.

Poole also let slip that a ‘Pepsi Elite’ Boxing tournament is in the making.

DDl’s Larry Wills confirmed his company’s support saying, “We will continue to do so in years to come and we look forward to the partnership. DDL is all about encouraging development among the youths of this country, thus our support at the grassroots level.”

Meanwhile, GBA’s second competition of 2019 will begin tomorrow at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis gym in Albouystown from 13:00hrs.

GFF Elite League ... and it was agreed that, for the most part, every club will contest at least one match each week, and the current season of the league will be conducted over a period of nine weeks.

Western Tigers FC was unavoidably absent. Notwithstanding Santos FC and Police FC were present and decisions were agreed upon and we look forward with enthusiasm for a grand start to the league on March 15.”

As a leadup to the League and with the increased schedule of competitions expected during the year, a training session on competitions management and venue preparation inclusive of pitch-marking will be held tomorrow for representatives of Regional Member Associations (RMAs).

This session is geared towards improved capacity of the RMAs to host and manage competitions at all levels.

It will cater specifi-

FROM PAGE 31 ←

cally to the Competitions Manager and Venue Coordinator of each RMA and is expected to have 30 participants. The session will be held from 09:00hrs to 15:00hrs at GFF’s National Training Centre, Providence.

The GFF Elite League is the highest form of competitive football played in Guyana and according to the Rules and Regulations of Season 4, the 10 clubs “will play one round of football, resulting in the club acquiring the most points being declared the winner.”

Match Days will feature mostly double-headers at stipulated venues on Fridays and Sundays with a few Match Days being scheduled for Saturdays, and the overall League Champion Club will be awarded an automatic qualifying spot at the CONCACAF/Caribbean Shield Championships.”

The League is scheduled to conclude in June.

Detailed fixtures will be made available soon.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Saturday, March 2, 2019

Late wicket flurry for Pride as Jaguars take total control

By Rajiv Bisnauth THE Guyana Jaguars entered the ninth round Cricket West Indies Regional Four-day encounter against Barbados Pride facing a must-win situation, and after two days of competitive cricket they earned supremacy.

The four-time defending champions wrestled total control at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence for the second day in succession.

Faced with a first-innings deficit of 125 runs Barbados closed yesterday on 228 for six, a second-innings lead of just 103 runs with four wickets remaining.

Pride’s battle was spearheaded through half-century from Shayne Moseley (64), Jonathan Carter (47), Shamarh Brooks (44), and an unbeaten 28 from Tevyn Walcott, but after a fluctuating day, the reality was that it entirely belonged to the hosts.

Jaguars bowlers were outstanding with left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer claiming 2-18, left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (2-56), off-spinner Ramaal Lewis (1-63), and medium pacer Sherfane Rutherford (1-34).

When play started Reifer who was unbeaten on 33 overnight further solidified his already dominant form, to remain unbeaten on 52 but

Jaguars added just 39 runs to their overnight score before they were bowled out 49 minutes before lunch for 201.

Resuming at 162-7, a lead of 86 runs with three wickets in hand, the home team lost Romario Shepherd in the fifth over of the day, leg-before-wicket to Marquino Mindley (2-35), after just scoring nine.

ner Jomel Warrican (1-27) while Permaul was dismissed off a return catch to Carter, who finished with figures of 4-52.

Faced with an uphill task, and a batting lineup reshuffled at the top, where Brooks accompanied Rashidi Boucher, the tourists reached the interval at 19 without loss.

Upon resumption, Ruth-

looked like they were playing on a different pitch from what they played on earlier.

After being in control for most of the session, the second-wicket stand of 74 runs was broken eventually.

The right-handed Brooks struck six boundaries in his 101-ball knock before he was bowled by Permaul, at 93-2.

At the other end, the

a 60-run partnership but a flurry of wickets after tea saw the duo dismissed in quick succession to spinners Lewis and Permaul respectively.

Moseley faced 120 balls, counting 11 boundaries while Carter struck seven fours in his 72-ball knock.

Things went further downhill for the visitors as

Reifer, who returned for his second spell, bowled Shamar Springer (6) and then trapped Aaron Jones leg-before for 15, at 205-6.

Walcott and Warrican then shared an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 23 runs at the close.

Play resumes at 10:00hrs today.

SCOREBOARD

GUYANA JAGUARS 1st innings (o/n 162-7) T. Chanderpaul c Walcott b Carter 19 C. Hemraj b Cummins 9 V. Singh c Walcott b Carter 33 L. Johnson c Walcott b Cummins 1 C. Barnwell c Warrican b Carter 2 A. Bramble lbw b Mindley 23 R. Reifer not out 52 S. Rutherford c Carter b Springer 15 R. Shepherd Mindley 9 R. Lewis c Holder B Warrican 11 V. Permaul c & b Carter 4 Extras: (lb-9, nb-9, penalty 5) 23 Total: (all out; 77 overs) 201 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-68, 3-73, 4-76, 5-78, 6-104, 7-140, 8-170, 9-191.

Bowling: Cummins 17-0-51-2, Mindley 14-3-35-2, Springer 8-5-11-1, Carter 22-3-52-4, Warrican 11-2-27-1, Holder 5-1-11-0.

Jonathan Carter made a fighting 47.

However, the left-handed Reifer was firm at the other end to pose his 14th first-class fifty but soon after, the hosts lost their remaining two wickets in a rush.

Lewis, playing his second game at this level, was removed by left-arm spin-

Shayne Moseley collects runs on the

leg-side during his innings. erford made the breakthrough when he left-handed Moseley conbowled Boucher for 14 but tinued to score freely, and Brooks and Moseley then in company with Carter dominated proceedings to overhauled the deficit beguide their team close to fore reaching his half-centhe deficit. tury off 89 balls with nine The pair pilled on the runs boundaries. with such ease that it almost The pair took control with

BARBADOS PRIDE 2nd innings R. Boucher b Rutherford 14 S. Brooks b Permaul 44 S. Mosely lbw b Lewis 64 J. Carter c Chanderpaul b Permaul 47 A. Jones lbw b Reifer 15 S. Springer b Reifer 6 T. Walcott not out 28 J. Warrican not out 3 Extras: (b-3, lb-4) 7 Total: (for six wickets; 71 overs) 228 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-93, 3-163, 4-177, 5-192, 6-205.

Bowling: Shepherd 10-1-41-0, Reifer 9-4-18-2, Lewis 20-3-631, Rutherford 9-2-34-1, Permaul 22-6-56-2, Barnwell 1-0-9-0.

More Milo action on this weekend GFF Elite League set for March 15 TWO more days of high intensity action in the Milo Schools Football tournament is on this weekend at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Commencing today, three matches will be played starting at noon.

In the first of the triple-header, Charlestown

Secondary will oppose Tutorial High while Uitvlugt Secondary will go toe-to-toe with Golden Grove from 13:45hrs.

Friendship Secondary and St John’s College clash at 15:30hrs in the final game of the day.

Three more games are scheduled for tomorrow when Vergenoegen and

Tucville meet at noon.

From 13:45hrs, Christianburg/Wismar Secondary clash with Ann’s Grove while at 15:30hrs, St Cuthbert’s Mission take on Cummings Lodge.

The tournament is sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health through their ‘Stop Gender-based Violence’ campaign.

Club representatives during the meeting held to discuss the Elite League Season 4 Rules and Regulations and Fixtures

Milo schools football tournament continues tomorrow.

THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League Season 4 is scheduled to commence on Friday, March 15, 2019 even as preparations intensify to ensure the efficient operation of the new season.

This was announced today by GFF’s Competitions

Director, Ian Alves, following a consultation with the Elite Clubs yesterday, including representatives from the two newest additions; Santos FC and Police FC, who entered the League following an Elite League promotion playoff, held in February 9 & 10, 2019.

According to Alves, T h u r s d a y ’s m e e t i n g sought to discuss the proposed fixtures and amendments to the Rules of Season 4: “As a result of a consensus, adjustments were made to the rules TURN TO PAGE 30

→

Renewed!

DDL’s Larry Wills (left) hands over the partnership package to GBA president Steve Ninvalle, while Technical Director Terrence Poole looks on. (Delano Williams photo)

Pepsi reaffirms support for youth boxing in Guyana 30 Page

WI eyeing redemption against England Page

28

Late wicket flurry for Pride as Jaguars take total control Page

31

Veerasammy Permaul about to celebrate with teammates after he removed Jonathan Carter

Team Guyana looking to end CJKAT on high

Chris Gayle launches a six. (Associated Press)

Rounds 5 and 6 of the Caribbean Junior Karting Academy Trophy (CJKAT) gets going today in Barbados.

(Stephan Sookram photos)

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‌ Rounds 5, 6 billed for this weekend Page

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SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019