Guyana Chronicle E-paper 10-01-2018

MONDAY 1st October, 2018

14 bid for sugar estates No.105414

– raise issues of taxation, energy, 03 state of equipment, in meeting with SPU PAGE

Affordable gas and 03 electricity PAGE

–– for all Guyanese when oil and gas production begins, says Greenidge

Female among 29 arrested in 'Operation 14 Restore Order' PAGE

Bush cure: towards 08 regularisation PAGE

The President’s College Steel Band performing at the Botanical Gardens as part of the Ministry of Education schools’ steel band presentation on Sunday (Vishani Ragobeer photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Tourism boost for West Coast Berbice THE road between Belladrum and Paradise villages, West Coast Berbice, which leads to the Atlantic foreshore is to be upgraded and equipped with lights to enable easy access to a strip of beach there.

The area has been touted as an excellent tourism destination and recreational zone.

This pledge was made

by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo during the opening of the Regional Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition (RACE) for Region Five at Paradise, last Friday.

Minister Nagamootoo made the pledge in response to a call for the upgrade of the road by the Region Five Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC), which had launched the beach as a tourism destination in

2015.

The call was made

by CIC President Imran Sacoor during his address to visitors at the exhibition. Sacoor noted that the playground at Paradise had been fenced and equipped with floodlights at the request of residents.

He urged the residents to take proper care and make full use of the enhanced facility and pointed out that the playground was not the only attractive feature at Paradise. On that note, he said the excellent beach on the Atlantic foreshore is another unique feature.

According to Sacoor, the councillors of Profit/ Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) have agreed that upgrading the roadway to the beach and equip-

ping it with streetlights would go a far way in building Paradise into a tourism hot spot.

He then called on Prime Minister Nagamootoo to add to the gifts of Paradise by upgrading the roadway to the beach and equipping it with streetlights to provide easy access all year round.

Nagamootoo later in the evening said that he had discussed the matter with Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, who was in attendance at the exhibition and has been assured that the project will become a reality.

Region Five Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) President Imran Sacoor addressing visitors at the exhibition last Friday

GECOM training going smoothly THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is on track in training temporary field staff for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), having trained some 1,300 persons every week for the past five weeks.

This information was relayed by GECOM’s Public Relations Officer Yolanda Ward, who reminded that the services of some 8,000 persons will be needed on November 12, 2018 to ensure smooth proceedings at polling stations.

The field staff currently being trained include presiding officers; assistant pre-

siding officers; poll clerks; ballot clerks/counting assistants and information clerks.

“It’s going very well.

Every week we’re training at 20 different locations at different parts of the country. We’ve had training already at the East Bank, Georgetown, on the West Bank and West Coast.

We’re on the East Coast today and then we’ll be moving to several locations over the next few weeks, doubling our effort,” Ward said on Sunday.

She stated further, that GECOM is sparing no effort and is going to all lengths to ensure the quality of staff on

Election Day is of the highest standard.

Some of the functions which must be adhered to in the various fields, range from monitoring the ballot box; checking for names on the voter’s list; stamping the official mark on ballot papers and ensuring that the voter’s finger is stained with electoral ink.

“Every participant is going through a full-two day training and everything that is required for them to know to properly man the polling station on Elections Day,” Ward added.

Even as this is ongoing, the Commission is expected to soon make a determination on whether it will be accepting technical assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

On May 10, 2018, the UNDP team met with min-

isters of the government on GECOM’s request, to discuss possible assistance in preparation for the 2018 LGE and the 2020 General Elections in Guyana.

Following little follow up from GECOM Chairman Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, in this regard and his reported reluctance to meet further with the UNDP, questions were raised in the media.

Providing an update on the situation, Ward stated: “The matter is still being discussed at the level of the Commission and there are some… processes that need to be done with the Commission and the UNDP, and so the Commission is working through that process and the final determination by the Commission on the staff assistance, we will formally make an announcement.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Affordable gas and electricity

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–– for all Guyanese when oil and gas production begins, says Greenidge

THE use of natural gas to supply electricity via a 300-megawatt turbine and the production of domestic bottled gas are atop government’s priorities when resources from Guyana’s oil and gas industry come on stream.

This is according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, who was at the times addressing a Town Hall meeting at York College, USA, before an audience of the Guyanese diaspora.

“The biggest problem that Guyana faces today in terms of development on the investment side are the concerns in relation to ensure that energy is provided.

Guyanese households pay more for electricity than any other country in the Caribbean; so an urgent necessity is to use the

resources to bring the charges for electricity to an affordable level,” Greenidge said.

According to Greenidge, if realised, the electricity provided by the natural gas would be even more than what would have been made available with the Amaila Falls hydropower project.

“The first step would be to utilise, as soon as it’s available, gas from Liza 1 for driving a turbine which will supply electricity equivalent to 300 megawatts, [that is] roughly twice the size of the output that would have come from Amaila if it had delivered what it was supposed to deliver,” Greenidge explained “So one early and immediate consequence of the find will be to ensure that power is presented to Guyana at a reasonable rate.

So we’re speaking now of the

laying of pipeline from the vessel that is drilling to the coast; building that pipeline and connecting that pipeline to turbines and eventually replacing the diesel power that [GPL] depends on for the supply of electricity to Georgetown. It would also be used to bottle gas, so that domestic cooking, which is largely done in Guyana with gas, will also be provided from the rig.”

The idea of using natural gas from Guyana’s discovery to generate electricity is a notion that has been in consideration since last year. The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) in an advertisement invited expressions of interest (EoI) for the development and installation of a 50-megawatt (MWs) capacity natural gas-fired power plant Addressing the gathering on

a number of issues, including the plans for Guyana’s oil and gas industry, Greenidge noted that aside from directly using the gas, government is also banking on immediately investing in several infrastructural works across the country.

These include the construction of the Linden/Lethem Road and the new bridge across the Demerara River.

“The purpose of the exercise is to address in the first instance the infrastructural inadequacies of Guyana, first as I say is power. Second would be the transport network. We do have an inadequacy of roads, and bridges associated with roads, in Guyana and that has to be a priority.

The bridge across the Demerara [River], as you know there is an existing floating

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge bridge constructed in 1978; it poses many problems in its operation. So these are among the priorities,” Greenidge related.

14 bid for sugar estates –– raise issues of taxation, energy, state of equipment, in meeting with SPU

By Svetlana Marshall GUYANA’s taxation and energy policies along with the state of equipment within the three sugar estates were among issues placed on the table when the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited’s (NICIL) Special Purpose Unit (SPU) met with approximately 14 bidders recently.

The 14 potential bidders which hail from Trinidad, Canada and Guyana, met with the privatisation team led by Wilfred Baghaloo of PricewaterhouseCoopers (Jamaica) at the Guyana Marriott last Tuesday.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the sale of the three sugar estates – East Demerara, Skeldon and Rose Hall – the

government has agreed to privatise and divest.

SPU Head Colvin Heath-London; NICIL CEO Horace James; and external counsel Devindra Kissoon of London House Chambers were among the officials who attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the potential bidders raised a number of questions, Heath-London said in a statement issued on Sunday.

The questions covered a range of areas, including the regulatory framework in place to facilitate fair competition between the government and private sector in an industry that was predominantly led by the government; taxation benefits and exemptions that the government will provide in the risky

SPU Head Colvin-Heath London

and challenging industry; and the country’s energy policy with respect to the use of new products such as ethanol.

“The tenure or duration of the leases; issues regarding work permits; and the evaluation criteria to be used to select the preferred bidder,” were among other issues reportedly raised.

According to Heath-London, chief among the concerns raised by the potential bidders was the state of the equipment and factories. The potential bidders reportedly questioned whether they are being asked to buy essentially scrap metal.

On the issue of the continuing operations of the factories, Baghaloo told them that, “The government has gone through great pain to have scheduled

reopening of all three (3) factories. The East Demerara Estate operated in the last crop and I understand that Skeldon is now being prepared to reopen in November.

“In respect of Rose Hall, I gather that preparations are being made to open operations in the first quarter of 2019. I fully understand your concerns, re buying a factory that is not a going concern and most importantly, a factory that has been closed for a long period of time.”

On the matter of the evaluation criteria, it was explained that a technical proposal will carry 70 per cent of the score and the remaining 30 per cent will focus on the price and See page 11

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Indonesia mourns as death toll from quake jumps to 832

PALU, Indonesia/Tokyo (Reuters) - THE toll from an earthquake and

tsunami in Indonesia soared to 832 confirmed dead on Sunday, with

authorities fearing the numbers will climb as rescuers grappled to get

aid to outlying communities cut off from communications and help.

Dozens of people were reported to be trapped in the rubble of several hotels and a mall in the city of Palu, on Sulawesi island, which was hit by waves as high as six metrEs (20 feet) following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake on Friday.

A woman was pulled

alive from the debris of the city’s Roa Roa Hotel, where up to 60 people were believed trapped.

Hundreds of people gathered at the wrecked eight-storey Tatura Mall searching for loved ones.

“Grieve for the people of Central Sulawesi, we all grieve together,” President Joko Widodo tweeted late on Sunday.

Most of the confirmed

Monday, October 01, 2018 –– 9:30hrs –– 11:00hrs

deaths were in Palu itself, and authorities are bracing for the toll to climb as connections with outlying areas are restored.

Of particular concern is Donggala, a region of 300,000 people north of Palu and close to the epicentre of the quake, and two other districts, which has been cut off from communications since Friday.

POWERFUL TYPHOON NEARS TOKYO Meanwhile, a powerful typhoon headed toward Tokyo late Sunday night after battering western Japan with heavy rain and strong winds, snarling air and land traffic, causing power outages, and forcing evacuations from areas still recovering from recent typhoons.

Typhoon Trami lost some strength after making landfall near Tanabe City, 450 km (280 miles) southwest of Tokyo, earlier in the evening, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to downgrade it to a “strong” typhoon from an “extremely strong” one.

Kansai International Airport in Osaka, western Japan, which was heavily flooded by a typhoon in early September, said it had closed its runways from 11 a.m.

(0200 GMT) on Sunday until 6 a.m. on Monday.

The airport had only fully reopened on Sept. 21.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Brazilian women lead nationwide protests against far-right candidate

SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Brazil’s major cities on Saturday in women-led protests against farright presidential front-runner Jair Bolsonaro, who flew home after weeks in hospital recovering from a near-fatal stab wound.

Angered by Bolsonaro’s history of making offensive comments, which includes belittling rape and calling the gender pay gap justified, female protesters used the hash tag #EleNao, or #NotHim, to drum up support for a series of international protests against the former army captain.

Flag-waving protesters flocked to downtown Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo on Saturday afternoon, pouring out of subway trains and into the streets while chanting in unison against a divisive candidate who has led polls for months ahead of the Oct. 7 election, the most polarising in a generation.

Later, as night fell, television images showed protesters starting small fires and banging drums in the centre of Rio. “I could never be friends with someone who supports a

person (like Bolsonaro), who is racist, homophobic and a misogynist,” said Tassia Casseli, who was at the Sao Paulo march.

Bolsonaro nearly died from a stab wound earlier this month and has been confined to Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein hospital ever since. He was discharged on Saturday morning, and flew to Rio, where he has served as a federal congressman for nearly three decades, in the afternoon.

In a telling sign of the divisive nature of the election, videos uploaded to social media from Bolsonaro’s commercial flight back to Rio showed some of his fellow passengers clapping and chanting “Legend” when he boarded, while others booed.

“Finally back home, with my family in the warmth of our home. There is no better feeling! Thank you for all the expressions of affection that I saw on the way back and all over Brazil,” Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter. “A big hug to everyone!”

A former army officer who has voiced admiration for Brazil’s 1964-1985 military dictatorship, Bolsonaro has won

over many with his hard-line stance on crime, unvarnished rhetoric, and a career that has been largely free of corruption accusations.

Yet he has also repelled many others with comments widely considered sexist, misogynist, and homophobic.

Saturday also saw rival rallies in support of the right-winger across the country.

“I never heard him say anything wrong about women,” said Alessandra Sampaio,

39, at a pro-Bolsonaro rally in Rio. “He’s against rape, drugs and in favour of the family. I have two daughters and want the best for them.”

Bolsonaro stirred fresh controversy on Friday night, when he said that he would not accept the result of next month’s election if he loses, adding that he could not “speak for the armed forces commanders.”

Bolsonaro’s relative lack of support among women could spell trouble for a can-

didate who has become investors’ favourite after embracing free-market policies on the campaign trail.

His biggest rival and likely opponent in an expected Oct. 28 runoff is leftist candidate and former Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad.

Haddad is running for the Workers Party, whose jailed founder, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was barred by a corruption conviction. Haddad has surged in recent polls with support

from the working class and voters who cannot stomach Bolsonaro.

According to a recent survey by pollster Ibope, 18 per cent of women plan to vote for Bolsonaro in the Oct. 7 first round, versus 36 percent of men. In an Oct. 28 second round scenario, among those who expressed a preference, women favoured Haddad over Bolsonaro by 47 to 30 percent.

Among men 47 per cent favoured Bolsonaro versus 37 per cent for Haddad.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Active citizenship

A COMMUNITY is the product of citizens who reside within.

What shapes and identifies it is recognition and appreciation of the unique collective culture which includes the way residents do things ; the demographics; established structures and infrastructure; socio-economic status and/preference; and value systems and interaction within the fold. Basically a community is a cohesive unit which is welded together by common strands and respect for each other, inclusive of their diversity.

While there may exist commonalities in communities across the country, there will always be something unique in each village or district. This can be seen from our historical development where citizens, for instance on the Essequibo Coast, tend towards agricultural economic pursuits, Georgetown commerce and service, and Linden technical and mining orientation.

Communities’ growth and development are dependent on the vision, passion and involvement of their citizens, which will inform their conceptualisation and development of programmes and activities for their benefit. The success of any task is dependent on ownership by the people, inclusive of the leadership they identity to realise it. The greater the involvement of

the citizenry in any community in birthing their ideas for their development, the easier these are assimilated, worked upon and vested interest is felt in ensuring success, maintenance, and future development.

The village movement that was birthed out of the post-emancipation period, where a people, to ensure their existence, human dignity and equality pursued, what has arguably remained a potent model for community development in post-slavery societies. The strength of the village movement is still alive. It is the undercurrent/base of an economic model in our tri-sector economy (the cooperative movement) and informed the local government structure which have touched every sector of development in this society and also informed the naming of our country, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

The cooperative spirit identifies a common trend of working together, inclusive of acknowledging and supporting diverse pursuits, for personal and national growth and development. It underpins our motto of ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’ and the value upon which independent Guyana is built. The experiences of the immediate post-emancipation era and that of local government boundary demarcation not only stand out for the villages that

were bought and desire to forge cohesive relations, but notably the spirit, vision, drive and strategy that imbued the people to succeed. And while these experiences happened long ago what ought not to be lost sight of is the innate desire to enjoy the right to self-determination which is timeless and which is the essence of human development.

Among man’s basic desires is one of having a say in determining what happens in his/her life, primarily in the home and immediate surroundings. Imposition by the colonial masters of district commissioners and community development officers, with blueprints of what they considered to be development for communities, violated this. The negative net result was such imposition subdued, and in some cases destroyed, the collective spirit and determination in villages and communities.

Having had these negative experiences, it augurs well when such is used in determining how the future should be treated with. That local government elections will be held next month for the second time after being absent for two decades is a welcome move to continue reigniting the spirit of community by allowing the opportunity for residents to elect their leaders. This is a right that had been de-

nied since 1997. Putting power back in the hands of the people would allow for each and every group the opportunity to commence their programme of rebuilding, based on indigenous resources, needs and visions. This focus also will be consistent with the spirit and intent of local government as enshrined in Article 71 (1) of the Guyana Constitution, which made clear that, “Local government is a vital aspect of democracy and shall be organized, so as to involve as many people as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live.”

Citizens are urged to recognise the importance of local government to their well-being by getting involved and electing leaders who can best work with them in the development of their community.

Ultimately, community development is the responsibility of the people within the community.

That local government is a vehicle that can be used for the attainment of the community’s goals ought to be made maximum use of. Its net positive result for Guyana can realise a greater sense of nationhood through the building of communities based on each community’s unique dreams and aspirations.

Lower East Canje to benefit from water treatment plant

Dear Editor,

RESIDENTS from Betsy Ground, Gangaram and surrounding areas are among the 15,000 customers from some 24 communities in Berbice, Region Six, who will benefit from improved water quality when the Sheet Anchor water treatment plant is completed.

A Kaieteur News article published on September 30, 2018, titled “New Sheet Anchor water treatment plant on schedule,” stated that residents in

these areas are uncertain if the plant will serve them.

GWI rejects this notion outright, as Managing-Director of the utility, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles has said on numerous occasions to both the media and residents, that the residents of Lower East Canje were taken into consideration during the initial planning of the project and will be served by the water treatment facility when it comes on stream in September, 2019.

GWI in a press release

on June 1, 2018 following a site visit, quoted the managing- director as saying, “This is going to be very important in terms of the villages that are going to be the beneficiaries from Number 25 village, down to Gangaram. Gangaram was previously supplied by GuySuCo.” The serving areas (population) that stand to benefit from the water treatment facility include Industry or No. 25; Dun Robin or No. 23; Warren or No. 21; Kendalls or No. 19; Bohemia or No.

17; Susannah or No. 15; Hermitage or No. 13; Treurniet or No. 11; Lewis Manor or No. 9; No. 7; Prospect; Palmyra or No. 4; Cumberland; No. 3; Sheet Anchor; Ordnance Fort Canje; Canefield; Rose Hall; Reliance; Adelphi; Good Banana Land; Little Bleyendaal; No. 10; and Goldstone Hall or No. 11 (Gangaram).

The Sheet Anchor plant represents just one component of a larger project for which a US$31.6M loan was

signed in 2014 by the government and the IDB for a Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure Improvement Programme.

To date, the plant is 34 per cent complete. Providing an update during a recent site visit, Project Manager Richard Persaud explained that fencing of the project is complete, while works are ongoing on the sedimentation tank where the base slab has been poured. The excavation and backfilling for the first and second ground storage tanks

have been completed and the blinding concrete has been poured for one tank.

The project also entails bringing the water from the three wells which serve existing communities to the treatment plant, via a distribution network.

This system will also be extended to serve those areas that were served by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Regards, Leana Bradshaw PRO, GWI

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Linden mayor stands against sexual abuse

Dear Editor,

ON my return from the United States of America, I was greeted with an issue of abuse. This is troubling, but I have full confidence in the ability of our law- enforcement officials to bring a swift and justifiable end.

As your mayor I stand firmly against any such actions in our community, but realise that while these videos are surfacing sporadically, we have a bigger problem of underlying issues that must be stifled out of our community and it can only

be done by identifying and eliminating the causes.

The effects of unemployment, poverty, single-parent households and lack of scholarships for our students continue to play a significant role in these issues.

This is why the mayor and councillors continue to work with local, national and international organisations and the diaspora to bring to the citizens of Linden a brighter future.

I attended the Second Planning Conference for New Horizons, where a women’s Home and Community

Centres will be built in the township. The community centres will be designed to accommodate youths in their community, be it for capacity-building, for education or for social interaction. A computer centre will be part of the area, allowing out-ofschool youths to also be able to further their studies.

The women’s home will be able to assist women and children who have no means of supporting themselves, to have a place to stay, be trained in a skill and be reintegrated into the community.

Twinning of the city of

Newark with the town of Linden, will bring much-needed expansion in the agriculture industry. It will also create a link with Sistercity International, which is an organisation of cities all across the globe that allows small towns to interact with larger and more advanced cities to garner knowledge for development in areas that are needed. This relationship will open the door for investment, creation of jobs and exports and improvement of infrastructure.

Twinning with the city of Stonecrest in Georgia has

already started to yield fruit, as we have been guided with the help of the municipality to access courses online.

Scholarships and training in entrepreneurship, linking of Guyanese businessmen and women in the diaspora with local businesses in Linden for export. Sponsorship to work with children in the schools and a group of passionate Guyanese willing to lend their support to the township of Linden in various areas of expertise.

But we cannot do this alone. We need to work with each other, the school, social

welfare, child protection, chambers of commerce and the Regional Democratic Council.

But moreso, we need you our citizens to become vigilant, be our brother’s keepers. The office of the mayor is open if you have any information relating to any sort of activity. If you notice any act; make contact with us or the Child Protection Agency. Let us help you save a life.

our organisation is vacationing on donor funding. The GWMO refutes this slanderous claim. Our funding is solely for the development of our projects and not for the personal use of our members. We hereby inform the writer and the general public that nine of our members were beneficiaries of various empowerment conferences, fellowships and workshops during the month of September.

Contrary to the malicious allegations, Ms. Alandia Powers of the GWMO’s Mining Committee, was selected to participate in the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute (CIRDI) ASM Fellowship in Yukon and Vancouver, Canada. CIRDI undertakes work with in-country partners to offer education and training for governments and affected populations with the goal of transforming artisanal mining into a safe, secure and sustainable form of economic activity, capable of generating shared local prosperity, fully sponsored by CIRDI. Mrs. Marina Charles was selected as a speaker at the ‘Safe 2018: Third Global Conference on Human Trafficking: Implementing Innovative Solutions.’ She was also a beneficiary of the Training-of-Trainers Programme. Her sponsorship was arranged by Safe Chicago.

Ms. Paula Bastiani and Ms. Karni Paton were both selected from our five members who applied for the

International Conference on Artisanal and Smallscale Mining and Quarrying, (ASM18) in Zambia.

They were exposed to a number of possibilities for women in the mining operations. Our representatives’ training included: conflict financing and illicit financial flows within the mineral supply chain, occupational and community health and safety, gender and youth, human rights, child labour, migration, ASM and the development Nexus, ASM data and statistic, quarry management and productivity. Ms. Bastiani also graced the stage during the aforementioned conference to participate in a panel discussion on women in mining.

Both participants were fully sponsored by the organising agencies.

Ms. Sheffield Douglas, of our Social Services Committee, was selected by Vital Voices to become a fellow on their Global Freedom Exchange. The programme is a multi-faceted, impact-oriented approach to empowering women leaders; specifically, leaders who are at the forefront of global initiatives to prevent and respond to human trafficking.

Ms. Reisa Roberts was selected to participate and present at the 15th International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference in Toledo, Ohio.

Her participation was fully sponsored by the Guyana Industrial Mineral Inc. She was joined by Mrs. Marion

Shepherd, whose travel was sponsored by the United States Embassy in Guyana.

Closing off our outstanding empowerment drive in September 2018, Mrs. Belina Charlie and Mrs. Quyanna Elliott concluded their International Women in Mining Mentorship Programme (IWRMP) in London, England. This programme was geared at creating a network for women in mining amongst other functions. Their main aim is to empower and to promote women in working in resources to navigate industrial challenges and progress their careers offering them the confidence for achievement and leadership to make their mark in the industry. Ms. Charlie self-funded her participation, while Mrs. Elliott was fully sponsored by the Ministry of Natural Resources, by way of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.

Mrs. Elliott’s sponsorship is the sole contribution from government to our organisation.

The writer appears to be an avid observer of our members and has placed special attention on their movements. In light of the baseless, callous statements, we seek to provide the writer with enlightenment; what you are witnessing is an aggressive approach to building the capacity of our members. Simply put, the Guyana Women Miners Organisation has been making unwavering efforts to

empower women who are placed in positions to empower more women. All of successful applicants have emerged victorious through global competitive processes and were chosen based on the work that we have executed and validated. Our local as well as, global participation and representation of the mining industry is a testament to our active role in the mining industry.

In the near future, we will also have members travelling to participate in the Trust Conference, as well as, to receive a prestigious mining award.

Again, not vacations nor are these participations made possible through the misuse of donor funding.

Further, as the writer may be aware, in May 2018 we rescued a young man who was allegedly imprisoned in a pen by his father for 10 years. From May to present we have expended over $1 million funding his rehabilitation. We have given this item top priority over other pressing obligations.

The Executive Committee of the Guyana Women Miners Organisation was constitutionally elected by our general membership.

Our Executive Committee comprises women with a wide range of experiences, skills and knowledge. Our president not only grew up in a family of miners, and played key roles in the management of those operations, but also was former mining operation owner.

Our First Vice-President, Ms. Donna Charles, has a wealth of experience and knowledge in largescale mining; our Second Vice-President, Ms. Joan Williams has in excess of 20 years in the mining industry and our Executive Secretary, Mrs. Marina Charles, has over 30 years of experience in the mining industry.

With these strong women in mining at the head of our executive, we need not expound more on the point that we remain genuinely committed to the development of women in mining.

We welcome the writer to contest during our next elections on November 4, 2018, should she/he be interested in joining us as we aid in the development and protection of our country, Guyana.

In an effort to not be repetitive, we wish to refer the writer to our January 17 2018 response on our accomplishments from 2015 to early 2018.

Being considerate to other writers, we will highlight three of our most recent initiatives/projects.

The GWMO has been distributing generators to hinterland schools with feeding programmes, as well as clinics and health centres facing difficulties with electricity. (to be continued)

Regards, Waneka Arrindel Mayor, Linden

GWMO managers not on overseas gallivant

Dear Editor,

THE Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) is yet again being slandered in the print medium. In January 2018, a similar article was sent to the media under the guise of a member of the GWMO. One article boldly carried the name of the alleged writer who visited both our office and the media house to validate that she did not write nor submit any such letter. The GWMO recognises that the article sought to bring doubt about our credibility and project the image of corruption. While we will not sink to the trenches to dwell on the level of the writer, we simply wish to provide him/her with facts that could have otherwise been requested by visiting our office. It may be beneficial to the writer to note that our office has moved from 106 Brickdam to 57 Robb and Oronoque Streets, Georgetown.

As we had stated in our response to the January article, any financial member of the Guyana Women Miners Organisation is free to visit our office to review our financial statements and audits. We recognise comparing the initial paragraph to the signature that the writer’s standing in the organisation is unclear to her/him. We trust that in the self-healing process, membership status becomes clear.

The writer alleges that

Kind regards, Urica Primus President Guyana Women Miners Organisation

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Bush cure: towards regularisation

By Lisa Hamilton

FOR centuries upon centuries and long before world-renowned scientists or state-of-the-art hospitals, mankind in his aboriginal state, remedied all of his illnesses through the existence of nature’s creations.

Today, there are pills which serve a range of pur-

remedies have fallen into the category of ‘alternative medicine’, alluding to practices which are unproven, disproven or impossible to prove.

In Guyana, both forms of medicine are widely practiced, but due to the absence of a national regulatory authority, those who seek to make a living off alternative medicine are significantly

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings poses from the simple pain relief to the much contentious birth control, even as scientists now join efforts to find a single cure for cancer and AIDS. The likes of pills have come to be known as ‘traditional medicine’; other treatments such as herbal

disadvantaged.

Pay a visit to the wellknown Bourda Market in the capital city, a 20th century structure named after a former plantation owner, and one would indeed see that its outer parts are populated with vendors seated behind stands of various bush rem-

edies.

“We get things like tea bush, cold bush and bitters in various types. Tea bush is like fever, daisy, lemongrass, sweet sage; bitters bush is like pear leaf, zeb grass, corilla and sweet broom.

We get bush for other purposes like sugar (diabetes), [high] pressure and high cholesterol,” rattled off Anjie Mohammed, a young woman who has flawlessly memorised their use.

She proudly told this newspaper that this line of business has been in her family for years and she took interest in it since as a child.

In continuing her plug, she held up for display a bottle of medicine with 21 different bushes combined to remedy the common cold; she recommends it in various dosages to customers.

Later, speaking to the benefits of the herbs, Anjie said: “It’s very good fuh the body, very, very good. My grandmother had a case and she used to take bush and use she aloe and them things and now she get thick and healthy again.”

Another vendor had a host of barks good for menstrual issues and sexual stamina, just to name a few.

The main supplier of the bush herbs to the vendors at the market is a 47-year-old farmer and vendor nicknamed Harry “I mend it, blend it” Beepat.

Beepat has a five-acre farm in North Ruimveldt,

Anjie Mohammed names and identifies the purposes of the various bush remedies she sells at Bourda Market, Georgetown. (Samuel Maughn photo) Georgetown and proudly told this newspaper that he utilises no inorganic fertiliser.

NEED EXPORT MARKET Speaking about the daily running of his business, he said: “It don’t really run how yuh want it run, ‘cause you see, we don’t have export market.

If the government could get export market for us it would be better, because people would be able to benefit.”

When asked their thoughts on the implementation of a regulatory body to vet their herbs prior to sale, most of the bush vendors welcomed the idea, as long as it meant that it would increase public confidence in their trade.

“My advice that they [the government] shouldn’t waste more time, they should have gotten it already,” said Linden Garnett, another vendor who has been in the trade for over 30 years.

The interest of making a living is priority for most bush vendors. However, other individuals such as well-accepted naturopathic specialist Dr. Joseph Haynes, who practises both sides of medicine, believes that more is needed to regulate the sale of bush remedies.

“You just don’t use bush just like that and call it medicine,” he said.

MUST BE CERTIFIED He added that he believes that all persons practising “bush medicine” must be certified, trained and monitored, so that the right dosage, age group and other criteria are considered.

“We don’t know the conditions under which those things are prepared; we don’t know the water that they use to extract from whatever bush they’re using; we don’t know the combination of how many leaves or stems they’re using,” Dr. Haynes pointed out.

However, he was sure

Another bush vendor, proudly arranges her barks with remedies for menstrual issues, sexual stamina and more (Samuel Maughn photo)

to add: “Most of the drugs that are formulated in the world, the base of the drug comes from herbs or natural medicine, so we cannot say that natural medicines don’t work. What we need to say is how much of it needs to be taken or how it’s prepared.

And, do we have regulations in place that would have been tested, certified, proven that this will work for whatever condition you say it’s going to work for?”

Haynes wants to see the resumption of debate in Parliament on the Allied Health Professions Bill - Bill#15 of 2009, which states that professionals must enter a regulatory register and be issued a licence prior to practice.

His intentions were shared by founder and executive director of the Guyana Association for Alternative Medicine Institute (GAAMI), Dr. Iamei Aowmathi, who said that the body had once submitted its own proposals to the Special Select Committee reviewing the bill.

Dr Aowmathi holds a Phd in psychology and a healing practitioner’s diploma in holistic medicine from the school of HP Kollege, Munich, Germany.

This month he will speak at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) conference on the State of the Tourism Industry with attention on the benefits of alternative medicine in the Caribbean.

Back in 2009, GAAMI had urged the then Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, to establish GAAMI, along with a board of directors, as the regulatory body which See page 9

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Bush cure: towards ...

From page 8

would provide local “bush doctors” or herbalists with certification to practise their trade.

Now, with a new administration in office, Dr. Aowmathi is again appealing on behalf of the association, which he reminded is accredited by the National Accreditation Council of Guyana.

“We need to know, in our societies, who are the authentic practitioners and that is why we formed the association. We are asking and have been asking practitioners of this type of medicine to register with us and we went a little bit further and we formed, the Guyana

the establishment of a national regulatory authority is still in the “embryonic stage.”

“We have to have a stakeholders’ meeting initially, but it’s still under consideration. It’s something we talked about on policy level. We haven’t accepted it as yet and we’re still doing research, but it has to be regularised,” the minister asserted.

Meanwhile, many locals continue to utilise the large variety of herbs available to treat conditions for both temporary and terminal illnesses.

One year ago, a young woman by the name of “Me-

Black Seed, said to have numerous health benefits and healing properties.

Association for Alternative Medicine Institute, whereby we are making sure that people are trained in these fields of medicine,” he said.

The training ranges from the growth, collection and packaging of herbs, along with practical training from the institute’s clinic, the BAKJA Health Movement, which is the only one in Guyana for treatment with indigenous and traditional medicine.

GAAMI even offers certification training to “bush vendors” through a sixmonth course, which Dr Aowmathi said is not being viewed as essential by most vendors.

“We’ve been offering to the vendors all the time. I have gone down to the Bourda Market, some of them know me, and I have spoken to them and one and two of them have come, but they have stopped coming,” he said.

EMBRYONIC STAGES Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, said

lissa” was diagnosed with brain cancer and now, apart from the prescriptions of her doctors, she has put her faith in a plant well known to the Muslim community as Black Seed.

The plant’s scientific name is Nigella sativa and has historically been used for headache, asthma, arthritis, toothache, nasal congestion, intestinal worms and cancer.

It is easily accessible at some local masjids, Melissa said, stating that she has been using the plant for some two months now.

“I’m much healthier and I’m still alive. A lot of things have changed in my body since I started using it,” she said, detailing that the seeds can be ground and sprinkled on food, boiled, or eaten as is.

Questioned further on her choice to rely on the type of medicine, she stated: “Natural medicine has been used over thousands of years and who am I to say that it won’t work? Before doctors and medications and all these things were created, natural medicine is what our fore-

parents used.”

This is a belief shared by a group that calls itself Medicine From Trees and one of its members Veronica Farias.

Veronica joined the group in 2006, after hearing about it on the radio while at home in her community Kwatamang, North Rupununi.

The group comprises women from different Amerindian communities and sells four categories of products namely oil, soaps, salves and tinctures.

In 1994, the Makushi Research Unit (MRU) examined the medicine used by the group and found some to be medically sound to treat common illnesses.

BOOKLET With the assistance of a UK expert, the unit subsequently compiled a booklet of a list of herbs available and the illnesses they can treat.

“Some of the products that we use, there are so many of them in the book that they did research on.

Like for diarrhoea, diabetes [and] arthritis; there are so many plants that are used for that purpose,” Farias told this newspaper.

Today, one of the group’s most demanded products, kiambe tincture, is used to help women treat early-stage cervical cancer.

“That’s making a great impact on our market, where a lot of people are saying it’s very effective for early-stage cervical cancer. So, we’re sending to Region Two right now and we would send by 100 bottles or so... these are all products that we’re selling that people who know about it keep passing the message to other people saying ‘yes, these products are very effective’,” she said.

However, Farias went on to explain that with no form of regulation in place to certify the products as safe, not all persons are open to trying them out.

“What we are going through right now is that our business is not registered, even though we’ve existed for long. So, we’re in a process where our members are thinking about where we should go, because this business needs to be legalised in terms of selling our products.

We are getting challenges where some of our customers

would ask, ‘how do you test this product’ and we don’t test them [through a general governing body]; we make them based on the research we did,” the woman said.

Medicine From Trees also displays its products in Georgetown at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) and at various exhibitions.

She added that beginning in 2019, despite the absence of a body, Medicine From Trees will work to improve its branding, packaging or anything that can be used to enhance their products.

This may become easier for some suppliers. As Minister Cummings told this newspaper, that along with the establishment of a national regulatory authority would come capacity-building, to ensure that those in the field can do their jobs competently.

As many await this needed change, the practice of herbal medicine remains fundamental to the well-being of many indigenous people living in remote areas without easy access to medical attention in cases of emergency.

Dr. Aowmathi examines the state of a diabetic patient at the BAKJA Health Movement clinic In addition, many elderly natural healings and they are Guyanese place their confi- very good. I directly extract dence in the healing proper- the products from the tree ties of nature, even as they itself, so I know and I trust it. pass on the blueprint to their Many times I would see children and grandchildren medicine on the shelf and I as a means of protection. don’t know where it comes These reasons and more from, but from my experiare why Farias, too, puts her ence, the reason I feel safe trust in the trade. using natural medicine is “It’s our belief that the because it’s all found in our nature God gave us --- the surroundings and we are plants and the things that sur- surrounded by medicine in round us --- He gave us those our community,” she said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Reflections of a week gone by

LAST week was Child Protection Week and many activities were planned in different regions of Guyana to draw the nation’s attention to the plight of children who suffer abuse.

The activities not only highlighted the needs of the developing child, but also helped adults to recognise their role in preventing child abuse, while working with members of their communities to promote child protection.

It is hard to monitor the type of impact that was made on, or left with the public at large, but if through our efforts we were able to protect or save a few children from being abused, then the entire venture was worthwhile. Children should not be brought into this world to suffer and if we want capable adults of the future, we must ensure the best upbringing for our children today.

Last Wednesday morning I took an early-morning visit to the Sophia children’s home to see some of those very same children. It was the day that we were holding a

Child Protection Week rally at the Stabroek Market Square and there was a lot to do that day. However, there are three children, siblings, at the home that I have been meaning to visit for a long time and that day I just had to see them before they left for school.

The first person who caught my attention as I arrived at the home, was a smartly dressed young man whom I have known since he was a boy. He wore neatly ironed trousers, a white shirt and black tie. ‘All ready for work?’ I asked him and he replied ‘No Miss, I’m going Carnegie, I’m doing cooking’. I felt so proud of him; he is getting his life into perspective, I wish him well.

The children were busily getting ready for school, some already had their uniforms on, and some were going to bathe, when one boy approached me, ‘Morning Miss.’ It was another child that I had met long ago when he was two, nearly three years old; ‘Morning’ I said and continued, ‘Look how tall you’ve grown, how old are you now?’ ‘10’ he replied. It seemed like just the other day

(when he was about four to five years old) that he had spent the night with foster parents and early the next morning he said to them, ‘I wan’ go home now.’ To him, the children’s home was his ‘real home,’ in fact, it was the only one he’d ever known. But now aged 10, I am sure he realises that the care centre is not a ‘proper’ home. Then I saw them, the three little ones that I had come to visit, two already, dressed neatly for school and the other in the process. I hugged them tightly and they hugged back. The three little ones and I sat and talked and the youngest, a girl asked, ‘Mummy, (that’s what she calls me and probably other women too) when we come from school, you gan come for we and take we by your place?’ I told her no and I explained why, but promised that we would spend some time together soon, as we had done before.

After asking about a few other young people whom I know, I left the children’s home to start my day’s work.

I needed to relay to you, the reader of this article, what I saw and felt that morning: the fact that there are these delightful children currently living in a children’s home through no fault of their own; and they are holding it down and keeping it real. Day by day they are

striving and getting by , not in the easiest of scenarios, but with the help of the authorities.

Staff members, social workers, CPA officers and some volunteers all do their part; but what the children need most of all are genuine families and devoted people who care about children, enough to foster, mentor or adopt them.

Of course, there is a process that takes place before hand. This involves a police clearance and home assessment, and in the case of adoption, a more detailed procedure is required. I am sure however, that there are people out there in Guyana who can do this for our children from their hearts.

Each year during Child Protection Week, we highlight and emphasise what adults can do to help the nation’s children.

Why not partner with us to help children? To find out more about Mentorship or Foster Care, call 231/8423, or for the Adoption Unit, call 225/ 7450 during working hours. Let us give them a childhood they would always want to remember.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or email childcaregy@gmail.com A Message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection

Guyana, Indonesia sign visa agreement VICE-PRESIDENT and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Retno L.P. Marsudi, met on the margins of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York to sign an agreement between the Governments of Guyana and Indonesia pertaining to visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and service passports.

The agreement was signed on Friday, following a meeting held earlier this year in Georgetown.

According to the agreement, “Nationals of either country, holding valid diplomatic and service passports, shall not be required to obtain a visa for entry into, exit from and stay in the territory or transiting through the borders of the other, for a period not exceeding 30 days.”

Guyana and Indonesia established formal diplomatic relations on August 27, 1999.

Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

From page 3

economics to the country.

Baghaloo noted that government’s objective is to acquire qualified, experienced, competent and well-structured proposals to operate the factories for the foreseeable future.

In response to a request by many of the bidders to extend the deadline beyond September 28, 2018, a new deadline for submissions has been set as October 31, 2018.

“We would have to evaluate the status and options as we get closer to the bid date, but his primary concern was to ensure there was a level playing field, particularly for those who showed interest in the early stage of the privatisation process,” Baghaloo told the potential bidders.

NICIL/SPU had had a meet-andgreet with the prospective investors at the recently renovated SPU LBI staff compound.

THE CONTROVERSIAL $30B BOND Heath-London said the SPU is working feverishly to make sure that all obligations arising out the recently executed $30B bond are met.

This is against the backdrop of con-

cerns raised by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Dr. Harold Davis.

Both Minister Holder and Dr. Davis have expressed concern over the handling of the bond facility, stating that though key in the process, the Agriculture Ministry and GuySuCo are in the dark about the Trust Deed.

But according to Heath-London, the government officials signalled a general disinterest in applying the proceeds of the bond for the capitalisation of GuySuCo, instead appropriating the monies for unauthorised expenses.

“This has resulted in lenders signalling alarm, especially since GuySuCo ought to be generating sufficient revenue from its operations to offset its dayto-day expenses and debt obligations,” he said.

According to him, NICIL SPU stands ready to fund GuySuCo’s programme. The Syndicated Bond has gained negative attention in the press, the SPU head noted, while assuring that it is in keeping with the functions and obligations of the unit.

“As will be recalled, the National Industrial and Commercial Invest-

ments Limited was mandated to seek financing for the three-estate Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to reposition this very critical corporation into a sustainable and competitive one. The financing was in keeping with government’s stance that the industry, although challenged by several factors, can become profitable once a number of strategic interventions are made. These interventions would be necessary, even as government has started a process, which is well advanced, in seeking investors for the other closed estates. NICIL, after much consultations, managed to bring to the table a number of commercial banks operating locally as well as other financial institutions,” he explained.

According to him, at the end of some very complex and sometimes frustrating negotiations, the SPU managed to convince a number of participants of the viability of GuySuCo. “The $30B syndicated bond would be the largest ever to be reached in Guyana. It is clear evidence of the confidence our financial institutions have reposed in our country, which is transitioning into very exciting times with our

emerging oil and gas industry,” he said.

Heath-London said the SPU and by extension NICIL has taken note of the concerns raised in the press about the transactional costs incurred by the arranger of the bond facility, Republic Bank. “The amount of $116.16M referenced in the article was the transaction cost to arrange the bond facility ‘Arrangers Fees” and included, arrangers, legal, trustee, registration and paying agent fees (Noting RBL Trinidad were the arrangers). Such fees are standard for any transaction of this type and usually ranges between 1 – 2 per cent of amount being raised,” Heath-London explained.

NICIL and the Finance Ministry, he said, were able to negotiate a significantly reduced transaction cost well below the typical costs.

“It is unfortunate that we were not contacted in what could only be considered a storm in a tea cup.

While it is customary for certain commercial terms of a transaction to remain private, we felt the need to respond on this point to ensure that the parties and participants in this bond maintain their confidence in our local capital markets,” he said.

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GMC to showcase Guyana’s products at Caribbean Agri Expo

THE Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) will exhibit Guyana’s products at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture which will be held in Bridgetown, Barbados.

In a recent press briefing, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Nigel Cumberbatch, noted that this will be something big for Guyana as it pertains to the progress that the country has made in the agro-processing industry.

“I think that will be one of the highlights for us because, when you look around the Region and see what agro-processing is done and more often than not, we think that we are really far behind, but we are not in some cases and its good for us to be able to showcase it so persons could see it,” Cumberbatch stated.

The event will be held under the theme, “Caribbean week of agriculture 2018: Strengthening agriculture for a healthier future in the Region.”

The Caribbean Week of Agriculture, which will run during the period October 8 to October 12, is an activity coordinated by the Alliance. The Alliance is made up of The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO); the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation

in Agriculture (IICA); and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The event offers a forum for ministers of agriculture, Caribbean organisations, planners and other major agricultural stakeholders in the public and private sectors of the Caribbean to meet; meet for the purpose of discussing major issues affecting the agricultural sector in the Caribbean Region.

Among the topics to be covered under the official workshops to be led are Development of the Regional Coconut Industry; Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship; The School Feeding Programme; Climate Resilience in the Agriculture and Fisheries Sectors; and Small Ruminants.

According to Cumberbatch, Guyana will be represented by several individuals, including officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and persons relevant to the topics that will be discussed.

“Several activities are slated for that week and for each activity, various individuals from the Ministry of Agriculture and Guyana as a whole will be invited and sponsored,” Cumberbatch said.

Caribbean Week of Agriculture was first held in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Female among 29 arrested in ‘Operation Restore Order’ THE Guyana Police Force early on Sunday conducted two simultaneous operations in Agricola and the general Bourda area where 29 persons were arrested and a number of items confiscated.

The operations, which commenced at 04:45hrs on Sunday morning and lasted until 08:00hrs, saw the arrest of 28 males and one female.

According to sources within the police force, the op-

The four cellphones that were recovered during the police operations eration which was spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner for Operations, Maxine Graham, DSM, was aimed at tapping the hot spots in the division where it is believed that several persons of interest to the police might be hiding and a number of items either stolen or illegally obtained might also be stored.

Senior Superintendent Errol Watts was the commanding officer on the ground who supervised the operations.

Watts is second in command of Operations.

The exercise, dubbed “Operation Restore Order,” saw the arrested persons being fingered in offences ranging from possession of firearm components, cocaine and marijuana possession and robbery under arms.

There were also two motorcycles which were removed by the police during the operation and a number of mobile phones along with other items.

On Sunday, repeated efforts to make contact with Deputy Commissioner Maxine Graham for a comment on the operations were unsuccessful.

The two motorcycles that are suspected to have been stolen

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Bartica Mayor rejects Jagdeo tirades –– as Local Government Elections campaigns heat up A People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Local Government Elections campaign in Bartica, Region Seven has been met with rejection, at least by the Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall.

One day after the PPP public meeting was held, Marshall in a statement said, the former President, now Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Saturday, returned to Bartica – a place that remains scarred by one of the most heinous events to have occurred in Guyana under his presidency – the Bartica Massacre.

He noted that during the meeting, the Opposition Leader “painted a picture of gloom, pitting ‘us’ Opposition Leader against ‘them’ and Bharrat Jagdeo went even further in calling the President ‘useless’.”

According to him, the people of Bartica are up in arms against statements uttered by the former President. “We the people of Bartica reject his continued arrogant tirades,” he said.

He said that under Jagdeo’s presidency, Bartica was managed by a dysfunctional Interim Management Mayor of Bartica Committee (IMC) Gifford Marshall and was denied Local Government participation.

“During the period, the lands in the Five Mile Scheme were sold at exorbitant prices by the PPP administration, without any infrastructure in place,” he pointed out.

Under the present A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government, a new power plant is under construction at Dagg Point, which will provide reliable electricity to Bartica. Marshall boasted too, that the new Transport and Harbours facility which is almost completed, will offer a state- of-the-art port of entry into Bartica.

“Jagdeo arrived at this very facility and walked comfortably to his vehicle parked on the wharf. Before 2015 he would have had to hop, skip and jump,” said the mayor.

He said that while Jagdeo failed to directly address issues in Bartica, the town remains a priority for the people there and when the elections are held on November 12, 2018 they will vote wisely.

“We have evidently moved Bartica forward and will continue to forge ahead,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Cash crop farmer found with Child dies illegal gun, ammunition after flung from roof in US

A 63-year-old cash crop farmer from Berbice is now in police custody after being found with an illegal firearm and ammunition.

The Guyana Police Force in a statement, said an intelligence-led operation led to the discovery of the illegal firearm and ammunition and subsequent arrest of the farmer on Sunday. “At about 13:30hrs acting on information,the police went

The 16 live cartridges that were found along with the unlicensed single-barrel shotgun to the home of a 63-year- conducted a search and found es,” the police explained. old cash crop farmer of #68 an unlicensed single-barrel The suspect is being Village Corentyne, Berbice, shotgun and 16 live cartridg- processed for court.

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy is now dead after being flung from the roof of his home in Brooklyn, New York, by his 20-year-old Guyanese brother.

Dead is Shimron Smith, who was thrown from a seven-storey apartment building by his sibling, Shawn Smith, who has now been charged with second-degree murder.

The incident took place around 3:30am on Saturday at their Nostrand Avenue home in the East Midwood neighbourhood.

Shimron was the youngest of six siblings and was pronounced dead at the scene by the police, who arrived following a 911 call.

According to the Dead: Four-year-old medical examiner, the Shimron Smith boy died from multiple blunt force injuries and his death has been ruled a homicide.

Reports coming from NBC news state that when asked by reporters if he meant to hurt his brother, Shawn had responded “not really” with an apparent grin on his face.

According to the boy’s aunt, Shavon Firth, since relocating Arrested: 20-year-old to the US less than a Shawn Smith year ago Shawn had spent some time in a mental institution.

However, she told the news agency that the young man had been refusing treatment and the guidance of an assigned social worker.

Other reports coming out of the New York Post state that the young man has a history of schizophrenia and calmly confessed to the police when they arrived on the scene.

“I just killed my brother — I took my brother up to the roof and I threw him off,” sources told The Post.

He then reportedly led officers to where Shimron’s body lay in the courtyard.

Shawn’s family told reporters that the young man has been hearing voices that ordered him to do “something bad,” while other sources say that he had been suicidal in the past.

His behaviour prompted several 911 calls in April, when he climbed up to the same roof at Nostrand Avenue and onlookers feared he might jump.

“My heart goes out for the family. I don’t know them but it hurts me right now. I have children, I have grandchildren,” said one emotional neighbour.

The two brothers lived with their Guyanese mother, Odessa Firth, at the time.

Shawn has no prior criminal record or history of violence, police sources say, but was charged with murder on Saturday afternoon.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Aries Talking out an idea stirs up fresh energy today. Plot a course that begins where

you are in the here-and-now, while mentally bookmarking a strategy that’s worked for you in the past. Confidence is given a big boost by the inner knowledge that you’ve claimed victory before, and you can do it again. Simple comforts of food, family, or a favourite hobby can make evening hours divine. Lunar influence grows as night proceeds. What soothes the heart is virtually guaranteed to buoy the spirit.

Taurus A waiting game related to money or possessions may have you on the edge of your seat now, eager to see what happens next. In the meantime, busy-work can help you productively utilize energy that might otherwise be frittered away on worrying or comfort snacking. Cosmic signals of affirmation grow more plentiful as evening approaches. Even if your hunger for certainty isn’t fully sated today, the words of Einstein ring true: Curiosity has its own reason for existing.

Gemini You’re humming along in your element today. An inner attitude that’s liberated

and a little mischievous puts a secret smile in your heart now. With the vigor and vitality of your Gemini charm, you can verbally spar with the very best in conversation, text, or virtually any other form of communication. Stop short of making any promises that seem doomed to be broken from the get-go. However, friendly dueling might shake loose an idea or two that have genuine money-making potential. Connecting all the dots is the first step to prosperity.

Cancer Inner wisdom has a lot to offer through the symbolism of dreams and the power

of intuition. You aren’t content to simply get things done now, you want to live your values by doing the right thing. Your noble attitude says a lot about your heart, especially when the Moon travels into your sign this afternoon. There are those among your everyday companions at home or work who might criticize your pie-in-the-sky thinking today, but your steadfast belief that ideals matter is both practical and inspired. Actions can and do make a difference. Honour your truth.

Leo

You are not one to just follow the crowd for the sake of popularity. Others might be able to get you on-board by presenting solid evidence and a terrific plan, but if the essential pieces are missing you’re happy to go it alone. Charting your own course comes naturally to you, and your independent spirit makes a powerful statement about the kind of leadership you’re proud to exemplify. In the words of entrepreneur par excellence, Coco Chanel, The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.

Virgo

Bigger is not always better. If an overly ambitious idea doesn’t garner a lot of support today, the reason may be simple -- it’s too much. Even your own enthusiasm might wane as obstacles appear or impracticalities become obvious. Luckily, a more manageable project that can be actualized in incremental stages tends to raise the excitement level as each accomplishment leads to the next -- and attracts favourable backing in the process. Redefining your goals gives you a chance to shine.

Libra

Set your imagination free regarding your hopes and dreams today. The creative mind comes up with all sorts of exciting options when not constrained by the word impossible. Share speculations and fantasies with a dear friend or love mate.

Add something new to your Bucket List. By enjoying an unrestrained intellectual romp, you can be more zeroed in than ever about a goal, aspiration, or ambition once the Moon enters your 10th House of Career later in the day. Visualization is empowering when you use it as a tool for manifestation.

Scorpio

You like to be in control of as many factors as possible, it’s true. Therefore, you need to be exceptionally conscientious about the signals sent by body language today. What you’re telling the world with the 90-percent of communication that’s non-verbal is as important as anything you say. Do your best to make sure word and deed align, especially when interacting with a parent, boss, or love interest.

Things progress smoothly when your messages are clear and your intentions are honourable. Authenticity is the secret to your success.

Sagittarius

Someone’s circular reasoning regarding love or business is enough to make your head spin today. Taking a break from the conversation, even briefly, can help you re-establish your personal center. When you return to the interaction ready to make a point, it could be your brutally honest input that sets the perpetually spiralling discourse on a sensible track. But you won’t know that for sure unless you have your say now. Whatever the outcome, there’s great satisfaction in speaking up, and that alone can make the risk worthwhile.

Capricorn

Business, career, or financial realities issue a fair share of demands early today.

By responding with your usual sense of responsibility and keen eye for order, you could make a tough job look easy. No doubt about it, your competence and grace can impress even the steeliest of critics. After the Moon slips into your 7th House of Love, your tune changes distinctly, closely mirroring the relaxed and romantic sentiment expressed by poet Aime Cesaire, Reason, I sacrifice you to the evening breeze.

Aquarius

Joy is in the journey today, especially if you’re visiting someplace for the first time, trying something new, or making a beginners attempt to reach a goal. Valuable gems can be picked up at every step of the way. Good-natured guides are likely at your side if you need them, encouraging a stay-in-the-moment attitude. There’s no hurry to reach a clearly marked destination when playfulness is a reward unto itself. Follow your bliss to find your path.

Pisces

Household affairs may be vulnerable to confusion today, especially if you’re trying to coordinate kids, pets, carpools, or other unpredictable variables. You want whatever is for the greatest good, but that’s tough to identify when components are awhirl. If no clear path can be discerned, push through on instinct and you’ll almost certainly be pleased with the results. Positive intention has formative power. A treat is in order tonight. Make happiness a priority, not an afterthought.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Ronaldo calls rape allegation Fake News

(BBC) - CRISTIANO Ronaldo has dismissed as “fake news” accusations by a US

The Portuguese superstar now plays for Italy’s Juventus woman who alleges she was (£288,000) payment for raped by the Portuguese agreeing never to go public footballer in 2009. with the allegations.

In an Instagram video, Her lawyers are now Ronaldo said: “They want to s e e k i n g t o d e c l a r e t h e promote [themselves] by [us- non-disclosure agreement ing] my name. It’s normal.” void.

Ronaldo’s lawyers say In a statement, Ronaldo’s they will sue Germany’s lawyer Christian Schertz said Der Spiegel magazine, “the reporting in Spiegel is which originally reported blatantly illegal”. the allegations.

He added that he The magazine wrote had been instructed to that Kathryn Mayorga had seek compensation for claimed Ronaldo, 33, raped “moral damages” over her in a hotel room in Las “probably one of the Vegas. most serious violations Ms Mayorga, 34, is re- of personal rights in reported to have filed a rape cent years”. report with Las Vegas police Ronaldo joined Italy’s shortly after the alleged in- Juventus from Real Madrid cident. for £99.2m earlier this year.

In 2010, she reportedly The Portuguese interreached an out-of-court national is regarded as one settlement with Ronal- of the greatest players of do involving a $375,000 all time.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Monday October 01, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Delhi, 1948-49 (2) John Goddard & Lala Amarnath

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who is the first Guyanese to make a Test century against India?

(2) Who is the first Indian to hit a Test century against the WI?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Europe thrashes US to regain Ryder Cup

(BBC) - EUROPE thrashed the United States 17½-10½ to regain the Ryder Cup - prompting wild celebrations, tears and fancy dress at Le Golf National in France.

Open champion Francesco Molinari beat Phil Mickelson to get Europe to the 14½-point winning mark, simultaneously becoming the first European to win five points in one Ryder Cup. The Italian, who was immediately drenched in beer by celebrating fans, said “It means more than winning majors”.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia

secured a victory of his own to surpass Sir Nick Faldo as the Ryder Cup’s leading points scorer with 25½, then choked back tears as he was called a “legend” by teammate Justin Rose.

Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy led ‘thunder clap’ cheers with an exuberant crowd, while Captain Thomas Bjorn embraced each of his “amazing” players.

“Some people say golf is boring,” said Bjorn. “Well, this is certainly not boring.

I’ve experienced a lot of Ryder Cups, but this is the top one.”

Jon Rahm, Ian Poulter, Thorbjorn Olesen, Henrik Stenson and Alex Noren joined Molinari and Gar-

cia in winning singles matches after the Americans, trailing 10-6, had threatened a comeback by

winning 3½ of the first five points on the final day.

Poulter - nicknamed ‘The Postman’ because he ‘always delivers a point’ - found a pillar-box fancy-dress outfit to the delight of the partisan crowd, then led the charge on to the 18th green when Noren holed a 35-foot putt to win the final match.

That spirit has prevailed throughout the European team all week.

They went in to the match as underdogs despite the US not having won in Europe since 1993. The American side boasted 31 major titles, and 11 of their

(REUTERS) - SPANIARD Alejandro Valverde sprinted to a dramatic victory in the men’s road race at the UCI World Championships in Austria on Sunday to finally claim an elusive first title ahead of Frenchman Romain Bardet and Canada’s Michael Woods.

Valverde, who had previously finished on the podium a record six times without winning, edged clear of a four-way sprint for the title to

take the rainbow jersey.

He survived the brutal final climb up Hottinger Holl, a 3.2 km stretch with a maximum gradient of 28 percent, beginning the descent to the finish line with Bardet and Woods for company and Dutchman Tom Dumoulin in hot pursuit.

Dumoulin caught the leading group of three riders with about two kilometres to go, but it was the 38-year-old Valverde who fought through,

launching into his sprint with about 150 metres remaining and holding off a strong challenge from Bardet.

Dumoulin finished in fourth place with Italy’s Gianni Moscon rounding out the top five in Innsbruck.

“It’s incredible, after missing it for so many years.

It’s a victory for the team,” an emotional Valverde said.

The Spaniard is the second-oldest world champion after Dutchman Joop Zoete-

melk won the title in 1985 at the age of 39.

Valverde had twice finished runner-up at the World Championships, in 2003 and 2005, and won bronze in 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

On Saturday, Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen won the women’s road race title, while her compatriot Annemiek van Vleuten won the women’s individual team trial earlier in the week.

Australian Rohan Dennis won the men’s individual time trial on Wednesday.

SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS Flamingo Park 08:20 hrs Pure Logic 08:50 hrs Charter Jet 09:20 hrs Icarus Flight 09:55 hrs Rock A Bye Baby 10:25 hrs Laurent Du Var

12:50 hrs Castletown Quary

Poulter donned a pillar box outfit while celebrating Europe’s victory

Valverde sprints to UCI World Championship title

AMERICAN RACING TIPS Parx Racing Race 1 Little Miss May Race 2 Team and Roses Race 3 Coupella Race 4 Factor It In Race 5 Don’s Escapade Race 6 Party Rock Race 7 Getouttamyway Race 8 I Am The Man Race 9 Our Lunatic IRISH RACING TIPS Roscommon 09:05 hrs Free Ranger 09:35 hrs Moskovite 10:10 hrs Grand Canyon 10:40 hrs Lord In Red 11:15 hrs Cadmium 11:45 hrs Don’t Kick Or Bite 12:20 hrs Gusty Rocky

ENGLISH RACING TIPS Catterick 09:00 hrs Orchid Killer 09:30 hrs French Twist 10:05 hrs Sharja Silk 10:35 hrs Dr Doro 11:10 hrs Albert Boy 11:40 hrs Highway Robber 12:10 hrs Plucky Dip BATH 09:10 hrs Font Vert 09:45 hrs Major Valentine 10:15 hrs Gentle Look 10:50 hrs Lopito 11:20 hrs Secret Potion 11:55 hrs Kirkland Forever 12:30 hrs Unbridled Spirit 13:00 hrs Big Bad Lol KEMPTON 12:45 hrs Formiga 13:15 hrs Spell 13:45 hrs St Peters Basilica 14:15 hrs James Park Woods 14:45 hrs Corrosive 15:15 hrs Podemos 15:35 hrs Pact Of Steel 16:15 hrs Looking For Care

players are in the world’s top 17.

But Le Golf National is a different course to those the Americans are used to playing on - the tight fairways and deep, penal rough, a world away from the vast majority of PGA Tour courses.

Only three of the American dozen had played a competitive round at the home of the French Open before this week, and it showed as the European players, who have played in excess of 200 rounds between them, looked more at ease.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Team orders give Hamilton win in Russia

(BBC) - LEWIS Hamilton took a giant step towards a fifth world championship with victory in the Russian Grand Prix.

Hamilton benefited from

team orders as Mercedes told his team-mate Valtteri Bottas to let him by at half distance to protect against rival Sebastian Vettel.

But Hamilton had to

Bit awkward: Hamilton places his hand on his team-mate following the team orders, a famous gesture of dominance in politics pass Vettel on track to get into a position to benefit from the orders after being passed at the pit stops.

The Briton is now 50 points ahead in the title race with a maximum 125 still available in the remaining five races.

For a short time around the pit stops, it appeared as if Vettel might have got himself in a position to claw back some championship points on Hamilton.

Bottas led away from pole position, and the Finn’s slipstream enabled a slow-starting Hamilton to fend off Vettel’s attack into the first corner.

They circulated in grid order until the first pit stop when Mercedes’ plans began to go awry.

Bottas stopped first, on lap 12, with Vettel following a lap later.

Hamilton started setting fastest sector times and initially looked as if he might leapfrog Bottas into the lead.

But he then hit traffic, having to lap the Williams of Sergey Sirotkin as he headed for the pits on lap 14, and that made him vulnerable to Vettel.

The Ferrari was alongside the Mercedes as Hamilton emerged from the pits, taking the position third on the track but a de facto second - as they headed into the first corner.

Hamilton was not happy, asking over the radio: “Guys, how did that happen?”

But he was not to be de-

nied, and immediately began to attack Vettel.

Starting lap 16, Hamilton was right behind the Ferrari and the German was bordering on illegality with his defence from the Mercedes driver’s on the inside.

Hamilton ducked to the outside, to get a better line through Turn Two, followed Vettel closely through the long, flat-out Turn Three and dived for the inside into Turn Four, where Vettel abandoned the aggressive defence he had employed just before.

Hamilton complained over the radio that Vettel had illegally moved twice in defence down the straight, and his driving was investigated, only for the stewards to decide to

take no further action.

Hamilton was now running third, behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen - driving a brilliant race from a backrow starting position on a different strategy with a long first stint - and Bottas.

With Verstappen in front, Bottas was not able to stretch his advantage and he, Hamilton and Vettel were running line astern.

Hamilton was struggling with his tyres, which were developing small blisters, and Mercedes were worried about Vettel being right behind him.

So Bottas was ordered to move out of the way at Turn 13 on lap 25, and Hamilton assumed second place.

Harper helps Regal Masters to softball win

AN all-round performance from former Guyana first-class batsman, David Harper, propelled Regal Masters to a three-wicket win over Fisherman Masters when the Over-45 division of the Back to Eden, Permaul’s Trading, Khan’s Trading and Trophy Stall softball competition continued yesterday at the GNIC Sports Complex ground.

Harper took two wickets for 15

runs to help restrict the East Coast team to 161-8 in their allotted 20 overs. Tyrone Sanasie led the attack with 3-29, while Mohendra Arjune nabbed 2-5.

Danny Thomas and Stanley Mohabir were the main scorers for the Fisherman Masters.

Thomas struck two fours and two sixes in his score of 42, while Mohabir hit three sixes and two fours in his 34.

In reply, Regal Masters reached 164-7 in 19 overs with Eric Thomas leading the charge with 42. He smacked three sixes and two fours in his stay at the crease. Harper added 33 runs (2x4s, 2x6s), while Saheed Mohamed supported with 32 (5x4s).

Mohabir and Thomas were also the chief wicket takers.

The former grabbed 3-26 while Tomas finished with 2-18.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Jaguars depart for Super50 glory

WITHOUT a regional 50-over cricket title since 2005, Guyana’s senior team, the Guyana Jaguars, departed these shores yesterday for Trinidad and Tobago.

The team is set to compete in Group A of the Cricket West Indies Super50, starting on Wednesday.

To achieve another milestone, the senior selection panel announced the squad with no real surprises, with the left-handed Leon Johnson once again at the helm.

The squad is fully cognisant of the hard work that is needed to lift the trophy that has

been eluding them over a decade now. Prior to 2005, Guyana reigned supreme in 1980, 1983, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2003.

The six Franchises will once again be joined by the Combined Campuses and College (CCC) Marooners and the USA, with Canada and West Indies B completing the ten teams.

Forty-two matches will be played before the final on Sunday, October 28 at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, as the tournament hosts the region’s biggest cricket rivalries over an action-packed 26 days.

Group A will also fea-

Chanderpaul Hemraj will join the West Indies team in India after playing three Super50 games for the Guyana Jaguars.

ture Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Canada, West Indies B and Guyana Jaguars while Group B comprises Barbados Pride, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Jamaica Scorpions, Combined Campuses and Colleges and United States.

The Guyana Jaguars 14-man squad includes, Johnson, Anthony Bramble-Vice Captain, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Raymon Reifer, Sherfane Rutherford, Christopher Barnwell, Romario Shepherd, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Ramaal Lewis, Ricardo Adams, Trevon Griffith

and Clinton Pestano.

The coach is Esuan Crandon and manager/ assistant coach is Rayon Griffith. They will also be accompanied by physiotherapist, Neil Barry.

Ronaldo Ali mohamed and Kemol Savory are on stand-by and will join the team when selected players will depart to fulfil their duties on the Windies tour to India. Chronicle Sport was informed that Hemraj is one of those players who will join the West Indies team in India after playing three Super50 games for the Jaguars.

Windward Islands are the defending Super50 champions.

‘Fat’ Wayne Andries remembered as a fierce competitor

By Joe Chapman

player with ‘belly’ who gave it his all”.

Cadogan, who is based in the United states TRIBUTES are flowing in following the said “I remember when he was reprepassing of former national shooting guard senting Wismar Pistons and then as he Wayne Andries who was known as ‘Fat progressed, we used to know who was the Wayne” and Bouncer to the basketball starting five for Linden and I was assigned community. to mark him in Linden/ Georgetown enAndries died on Saturday after a brief counters, as he was called Mr. Shot Put,’ fight with cancer in the United States where But one of Cadogan’s fondest memories, he migrated with his family in 1996. he recalled, was when playing in the NaSince his passing, several former national tional Club Basketball championship in players and coaches have paid tributes to this the 1990s, Andries dropped a record 57 outstanding player who first played for the points game against the Pacesetters, but Wismar Pistons basketball club of Linden the lone consolation was that Pacesetters before donning national colours. came away with a double overtime victory.

Robert Byass, the former national cen- Former national women’s coach, Linden tre who formed the Wismar Pistons with ‘Sancho’ Alphonso said “I visited him in the Andries and Lloyd Ross in 1989, said he hospital on Thursday and had a reality check. was saddened when he visited his friend Kinda put life in perspective.” last week in hospital. He said he had known Looking back, he said of Andries: ”AcWayne as a very serious player who looked tually...I have never seen a player close to out for his players and would do anything Wayne before or after his time. I have to to represent their cause. mention those signature shots from way Former national player and coach, Ab- downtown, rainbow threes that characdulla Hamid, who was one of the four Lin- terised him. He was probably the roughest den players who played their first Caricom player I have ever seen locally (the only Championship with Andries at the Jamai- other player in that conversation is Alwyn ca-held 1991 CBC championships, extended Wilson) that under achieved due to his his deepest condolences to the family of one nonchalant approach to the game. Yet he of the best players ever to come out of the was good enough to leave his mark. Backmining town. to-back 50 plus points at the sportshall in Hamid said ‘Fat Wayne’ was a player a national club championship, never done who would push you to the limit of your before or after.” abilities. Hamid noted: “The things we marAlphonso also recalled that Andries was vel at with Steph Curry now is what we had in his opinion “the best local player on show seen executed by ‘Fat Wayne’ back then against the German semi pro team. Subject to in the early 1990s, as he knew shots down correction, I think he had scores of 18 and 19 from just inside the half of his opponents. when almost everybody else, Dayne Kendall Andries was known as ‘Bouncer’ for his was the other exception, seemed intimidated aggression and former national coach by the 7-footers. Andries led a dominant and player during Andries heydays, Rob- Wismar Pistons team in the 90s up to when ert Cadogan, remembers his opponent he migrated. and playmate at the senior national levFormer FIBA referee and national el as “an aggressive, serious, vociferous player, Cecil Chin, was moved by Andries

Former national basketball captain, Brusche at left and former national coach, John Davidson second left, former national captain Auric Tappin stooping at left, among other former players after visiting their friend ‘Fat’ Wayne in hospital last week. passing, noting:“Wayne was one of a string of players (guard) who possessed the skills and attitude of an intelligent basketball player. He played at every level with a passion that gave selectors no choice but to be elevated to wear the national uniform which, I must say, with a quality degree of pride.”

Chin continued “Watching him deliver for his team in Linden tournaments were usually challenging, but when it came to the big clash--Linden vs Georgetown-- here is where his passion for winning became obvious.

He continued, “Playing alongside his teammates, including Auric Tappin many

times, he outshone all on the floor for both teams. I conclude by saying he was not on the ‘national’ for very long, but during the time he made his presence felt. He, in my opinion, is worthy of being mentioned alongside the outstanding guards of his time, the likes of Mark Agard, Auric Tappin, Lugard Mohan, Cecil Melville; just to name a few.”

“My condolences to his family, and the fraternity of Linden thank you for the opportunity of being able to make a contribution to a stalwart of the game we all love. It is a pity that we only mention these hallmark achievements of our players when they pass on,” Chin concluded.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Guyana wins first team match of World Chess Olympiad

TEAM Guyana won their first team match of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad being held in Batumi, Georgia.

Guyana, heading into round 6 and in need of a match win, dominated their games against their African opponents from Rwanda.

Game of the round would go to Glenford Corlette, who from early in the opening stage due to a closed centre, launched an attack against his opponent’s castled king position.

Two pawns (h+g) with the Queen, Rook and a Knight were enough to worry the opponent which resulted in some inaccuracies from A Niyibizi who is higher rated.

To finish things off, Corlette sac his Queen, promoted 2 pawns to two

new Queens and threaten mate in one which forced his opponent to topple his king.

Another good game was CM Taffin Khan who played with the black pieces against CM M. Murara.

With intent to play the London System with the white pieces, CM Murara made some inaccuracies with his move order which Taffin was quick to counter.

However, this game saw classical Taffin sacrificing one of his Bishop to create a storming three (3) passed pawns on the Queen side.

Taffin’s last tactical move pawn to c2 forked Rd1 and Kb1 was enough to pull off a brilliant win.

Rising talent CM Anthony Drayton made it his second win in a

row when he tactically outplayed his African opponent, F. Mutabazi with the Guicco Piano.

It was sacrifices, forks, pins, double attacks all throughout this sharp game. However, CM Drayton proved his tactical arsenal was better when he sac to stop from castling, then finished it off with a brilliant king side attack.

Loris Nathoo will gain some confidence from this game after he managed to obtain a draw by threefold repetition against the slightly higher rated Urwin Murara.

Meanwhile, in the women’s section, veterans--national female champion WFM Maria Varona Thomas and WCM Sheriffa Ali --secured convincing wins for Guyana.

First WFM Thomas

Sicilian proved to be too much for Asha Kondo who is unrated and threw her pieces away. WFM Thomas accepted these gifts then ruined the castled king side to checkmate her opponent.

WCM Sheriffa Ali checkmated her opponent after a 59-move long e4 game. On the other hand, young lasses Nellisha Johnson and Sasha Shariff, on their first outing to an Olympiad, lost both of their games to Z. Ebrahim and C. Alapati respectively.

The men team currently stands at 142 from 24 games with 6 points while the women team stands at 130 with 6 points from 24 games as well. With 5 more rounds to go, the Guyanese contingents will be looking to finish strongly and accumulate as much wins as possible.

Ambris pleads case for test spot

(ESPNCRICINFO) - SUNIL Ambris made an unbeaten 114 off 98 balls to give the West Indians first-innings honours in their two-day warm-up game against the Indian Board President’s XI in Vadodara. Ambris, who had also hit a hundred against India A at Beckenham in July, continued his impressive form to press his case for a place in the XI when West Indies take on India in the first Test in Rajkot from October 4.

The top three - Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell and Shai Hope - and Shane Dowrich pitched in with useful contributions too, helping their side take a six-run lead after the hosts had declared on 360 for 6 at the end of the first day.

Shimron Hetmyer (7) and Roston Chase (5) were the only frontline West Indian batsmen to be dismissed for single-digit scores.

Brathwaite (52 off 78 balls, 9x4) and wicketkeeper-batsman Dowrich (65 off 69, 9x4, 1x6) made half-centuries, before Ambris, who came in at No. 7, took charge. He raised his first fifty off 60 balls and then accelerated to his second off only 35 balls. All told, he hit 17 fours and five sixes. When Jomel Warrican fell, the West Indians were 279 for 7, still 81 runs behind, but Ambris and Sherman Lewis, who is uncapped in Test cricket, moved the West Indians into the lead with an unbroken 87-run stand in 13.3 overs, of which Lewis contributed only 8.

The Indian spinners-- left-armer Saurabh Kumar and offspinner Jalaj Saxena-- toiled away for 50 overs, conceding 221 runs between them while taking three wickets.

Madhya Pradesh seamer Avesh Khan was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, finishing with 4 for 60 in 17 overs.

Second WI ODI could be moved from Indore Scoreboard

(ESPNCRIFINFO) - THE second ODI between India and West Indies, scheduled for October 24, could be shifted away from Indore.

This is the potential outcome of a tussle over complimentary ticket allocation between the BCCI and the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA).

The disagreement concerns the Holkar Stadium’s pavilion block, which according to the MPCA, has a capacity of “close to 7200 seats”.

By the state association’s reading of the BCCI’s new constitution, the provision of complimentary

tickets cannot exceed 10% “of each category” - which in the pavilion block’s case would be 720.

The MPCA, however, has alleged that the BCCI asked for “about 1300” complimentary tickets in the pavilion block, “for various sections of BCCI stakeholders like sponsors, teams, BCCI members, BCCI sub-committee etc.”

“The managing committee of MPCA has decided that it is not possible to organise the second ODI between India and West Indies in Indore if BCCI doesn’t back down from its demand of complimentary tickets. We

have intimated BCCI,’’ MCA joint-secretary Milind Kanmadikar told PTI on Sunday.

According to the MPCA, the BCCI has repeatedly delayed responding to its requests for clarification of the issue, and has therefore left it with too little time to organise the match, and with no option but to step away from hosting it.

“In the end, we clarify once again that our intent was always to organise the match and we were forced to land in a situation where the time left henceforth for the match would have resulted in

several circumstantial difficulties for which the host Association would have been unfairly held responsible,” the MPCA’s statement said. “Such big risk is not worth in view of the inordinate delay on [the] part of BCCI on extending clarification and fair decision making.

“The unilateral, arbitrary, mysterious and leisurely decision making and working of BCCI has caused such huge loss to Association and the local cricket fans of our State.”

The BCCI is yet to respond to ESPNcricinfo’s request for a statement on the issue.

PRESIDENT’S XI 1st Innings 360-6 decl.

WEST INDIES 1st Innings 366-7 K Brathwaite ret. hurt 52 K Powell ret. hurt 44 S Hope c wkp Patel b Saurabh Kumar 36 S Hetmyer b Avesh Khan 7 R Chase lbw b Avesh Khan 5 S Dowrich b Saxena 65 S Ambris not out 114 J Hamilton lbw b Avesh Khan 23 K Paul lbw b Avesh Khan 0 J Warrican c Bawne b Saurabh Kumar 9 S Lewis not out 8 Extras (lb1, w2) 3 TOTAL (7 wkts, 89 overs) 366 Did not bat: S Gabriel, D Bishoo.

Fall of wickets: 1-105, 2-111, 3-210, 4-214, 5-264, 6-264, 7-279.

Bowling: Krishna 11-1-39-0, Avesh Khan 17-5-60-4, Porel 9-3-31-0, Thampi 2-0-14-0, Kumar 29-4-126-2, Saxena 21-0-95-1.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, October 1, 2018

Dethroned!

Missigher upsets Forde to win maiden COURTS 10K title

IT was not business as usual at the office for Cleveland Forde, Guyana’s leading distance athlete, and for the first time in the eight-year-old COURTS 10K road race, the man known as the ‘little Kenyan’ did not cross the finish line first, thanks to a sensational run by Winston Missigher.

With $100,000 on the line, Missigher out-sprinted Forde to cross the line in a time of 33 minutes and 29 seconds.

Forde, the five-time winner had to settle for second place (33:30), while 2016 winner, Cleveland Thomas (34:13) was third. Jonathan Fagundes (35:09), Odwin Tudor (35:34) and Tyshon Bentick (35:44) rounded out the top six.

When the race started in front of COURTS’ Main Street office, it was Thomas and Fagundes who were setting the pace with the rest of the eventual top five following.

The pair (Thomas and Fagundes) kept their lead up until the 6k mark until Fagundes dropped back and stayed with the pack which included the eventual winner and Forde.

Thomas’ solo run continued until approximately 3k from the finish line where Missigher and Forde began to take the race by storm.

As the three runners entered the eastern carriageway from Lamaha Street, Missigher seized the lead and never relinquished it as Forde followed to the line. Traditionally, Forde would change gears about 600m from the line to claim victory, but on this day, Missigher up the ante at about 700m from the finish as Forde was caught off guard.

Forde desperately tried to secure his seventh Court’s 10k title, but Missigher had just enough left in the tank to hold him off by the tick of the clock.

“No excuses, the better man wins every time and the better man today was Missigher, that’s why he won today,” the 33-year-old Forde told reporters after losing for the first time.

Forde said like anyone else, he will be gunning for the win when he next competes on the road.

The South American 10k series starts later this month in Suriname and he will be looking to bounce back. For now, the spoils and the praises go to Missigher.

“I always wanted to win this race,” an elated Missigher noted, adding “I’ve won many races, but this is the one I always wanted and I’m also happy to win it and beat Cleveland.”

The winners of the open male and female categories pocketed $100,000 each, while the immediate runners-up took home $80,000, $60,000, $40,000, $20,000 and $10,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, Kezra Murray, Ashanti Scott, Leyanna Charles, Maria Urquhart, Shaunsel Adams and Latoya Perreira were the top six finishers in the female open category.

A Golden mile for youths along with a 3K event for staff members was also staged yesterday as part of Court’s 25 years anniversary celebrations.

FINALLY! Winston Missigher crosses the finish line ahead of Cleveland Forde, much to the delight of his jubilant supporters. (Samuel Maughn photo)

Caribbean Table Tennis Championships –– Franklin, Edghill and Lowe cop singles bronze

GUYANA’S national men’s champion, Christopher Franklin, along with Chelsea Edghill and Trenace Lowe captured individual bronze medals in the singles category of the 60th edition of the Caribbean Table Tennis Federation (CTTF) Senior Championships.

The event concluded on Saturday evening in Jamaica.

The trio added to Guyana’s medal and trophy haul with creditable performances.

They battled to reach the semi-finals of the championship but were all defeated at that stage.

Franklin was sent packing by Samuel Galvez of The Dominican Republic in a five setter (9 -11, 10-12,

9-11, 5-11) to end his surprise run which landed him a well-deserved bronze medal.

Meanwhile, Edghill lost to Eva Brito of The Dominican Republic in straight sets of 9-11, 3-11, 6-11 and 2-11, as she collected her second bronze of the championship to go along with her women’s

under-21 gold medal.

The Dominicans continued to kill Guyana’s dreams with eventual winner of the female competition, Yasiris Ortiz, defeating Trenace Lowe in the other semi-final by a narrow 3-4 margin.

Ortiz took the first set 114, before Lowe struck back to

win the second 14-12.

Ortiz then collected the next two set 11-5, 11-4, as Lowe took to it three games apiece by winning the 5th and 6th sets 11-8, 11-5, before she missed out on a shot at gold by dropping the close final set 11-13 to the eventual champion.

Team Guyana poses with their medals and trophy haul at the conclusion of the 60th CRTTF Senior Championships in Jamaica.

Dethroned!

Missigher upsets Forde to win maiden COURTS 10K title

Ambris pleads case for test spot see story on page 25

see story on page 27 Sunil Ambris raises his bat on reaching fifty (WICB Media)

Caribbean Table Tennis Championships See Page 27

Winston Missigher celebrates his maiden COURTS 10K win

–– Franklin, Edghill and Lowe cop singles bronze

Jaguars depart for Super50 glory

See Page 25

The Guyana Jaguars squad and management team prior to their departure from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2018