Guyana chronicle e paper 02 18 2017

Cabinet clears $5B to build duplexes Page 9

Gov’t hits back at PSC No. 104827 SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2017

Price: $80

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–– says body set up to issue ‘political statement’ on economy

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Curbing crime Page 2

–– CARICOM Heads agree to do more to curb ‘unacceptable levels’ of crime

President David Granger, who is also Chairman of CARICOM, gesticulates during a media briefing at the conclusion of the two-day Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government (Delano Williams photo)

Only 8-hour parkers to get 50% reduction Page 12

SARA Bill Alleged mastermind going forward in Tain killing Page 3

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… gov’t says Bill was subject to extensive consultations

surrenders

Gov’t hits back at PSC

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 18, 2017

–– says body set up to issue ‘political statement’ on economy

GOVERNMENT on Friday lashed out at the Private Sector Commission (PSC) for what it deems to be a politically motivated statement about the state of the country’s economy earlier this week.

The PSC on Tuesday, said at a meeting with members of the business community, it was noted that there has been a “decline of the economy” thereby affecting investors’ confidence in the country.

“Among the concerns are the crippling new taxes for the mining sector and the institution of Value Added Tax on necessities.” The members of the business community present expressed a lack of confidence in the manner in which the Government is managing the economy. This, they said is reflected in the flight of capital from Guyana and the lack of significant

new investments in the last 2 years. “Real estate values are dwindling, property for sale inventory is on the rise and wealth is eroding rapidly,” the body said while calling on government to create an enabling environment and to engage the business community.

Additionally, the PSC noted that the country cannot continue to improve and sustain growth, if investors’ confidence continues to be eroded. “The trajectory in which the country is heading at the moment does not inspire such confidence,” the statement said.

But the government said it is not surprised by the statement made by the PSC at a time when the country hosted the 28th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM. “The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana notes without any

surprise the statement issued by the Private Sector Commission (PSC), purportedly about the state of Guyana’s economy.

The PSC statement was obviously timed to coincide with Guyana’s hosting of the 28th Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of CARICOM and is a thinly veiled attempt to embarrass and discredit the Coalition Government. “Rather than share in the pride that Guyana is a stable democracy that enjoys full respect for business and security for investment, the PSC yields to its political handlers in attempting to be a spoiler,” a statement from the government said.

Additionally, the government said it finds it “shameful that the PSC has allowed itself to be used as a political stool pigeon to repeat the propagandistic chatter of the opposition and to seek to undermine confidence in

our economy and good governance.”

The strongly worded statement said the credibility of the body as an independent private sector umbrella has eroded as it has stayed quiet during “protracted periods of violent crime sprees, the descent of Guyana into a narco-economy and obscene levels of corruption under the former discredited and corrupt government with which several of its leaders were and continue to be associated.”

The Government said it should not be of surprise that the PSC would not “even grudgingly admit” that since the change in Government in 2015 the government has embarked on a challenging task of restoring confidence in governance and is repairing the country’s “tattered international image.”

The statement also references the 2017 Index of

Curbing crime ––CARICOM Heads agree to do more to curb ‘unacceptable levels’ of crime

By Ravin Singh HEADS of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) have committed to placing greater emphasis on the social determinants of crime in an attempt to curb what the regional bloc describes as “unacceptable levels of crime” in the Caribbean.

This was according to Chairman of CARICOM, President David Granger, on Friday at a news conference, following the conclusion of the 28th Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM held here over the last two days.

According to President Granger, the “unacceptable levels of crime” in the Region engaged the attention of the

15 Heads of Government who participated in the meeting in Georgetown. He explained that a decision was taken to place more emphasis on the social determinants of crime, in an attempt to curb same.

“We have resolved to do more to curb the scourge, including placing greater focus on the social determinants of crime, especially among the youth.”

To support these efforts, he said that Attorneys-General (AGs) in the Region will take action to finalise agreements which are essential to the implementation of the Regional Crime and Security Agenda.

The chairman explained that the regional bloc will be seeking to take full advantage of opportunities for capacity-building to address existing and emerging threats,

Chairman of CARICOM, President David Granger, addressing the media following the conclusion of the 28th Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government which was held in Georgetown, Guyana including those related to cyber-security and Cybercrime, Crime Prevention and Drug Demand Reduction.

The Caribbean Human Development Report (HDR):

Human Development and the Shift to Better Citizen Security report commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has found that high levels of

Economic Freedom which shows that Guyana is climbing the ladder of credibility for reducing corruption and protecting the integrity of the nation in all areas of governance. Guyana has gained 3.1 points to move to 58.5 points and is now at 106, positioned to break into the top 100.

Additionally, the country has moved up 16 places to 124th on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.

This represents a significant improvement from 2015 to 2016, yet there has not even been a fleeting acknowledgement by the PSC. On the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, Guyana has gained an unprecedented 5 points, moving from 29 in 2015 to 34 in 2016. “It is noteworthy that in the last year of the PPP administration, Guyana’s score fell from 30 to 29 between 2014

and 2015, yet the PSC was silent.

It is pathetic that the PSC has mounted on the bandwagon of negative forces that are determined to resist legal and structural changes that are aimed at improving the investment and business environment in Guyana as we continue to show positive signs of development and progress,” the Government said.

Earlier on Friday, during a post-Cabinet press briefing, Cabinet Secretary, Joseph Harmon refused to comment specifically on the statement made by the PSC, but noted that the body does not represent all within the business community.

“The people of Guyana voted for us and at the appropriate time…the people will make a statement,” he said referencing the 2020 General Elections.

violent crime are hindering development in the Caribbean.

The report reveals that 8.5 per cent of the global population resides in Latin America and the Caribbean and yet 27 per cent of the world’s murders take place in the Region.

Countries such as Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago continue to struggle with its crime situation, with the two countries recording 1,192 and 410 homicides respectively in 2015.

The UNDP report was critical of what it termed the hardline “Iron Fisted” policies of Caribbean countries to deal with crime, describing them as “short-sighted policies, which have proven ineffective and, at times, detrimental to the rule of law.”

Agreeing that adherence to the rule of law is one of the key ingredients in maintaining a relatively low crime rate, was Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart, who committed to rendering assistance at a bilateral level to CARICOM states dealing with high crime rates.

Speaking to the media on Thursday evening following the conclusion of CARICOM’s meeting on day one, Stuart explained that Barbados has invested much time and effort in “ensuring that the rule of law and not the rule of fancy or passion prevails” in that country. The Barbados PM contended that his country has been fortunate in not having to deal with the challenge of consistently high crime rates.

He said that Barbados’s detection rate, when crimes have been committed, is very high, and the Royal Police Force of Barbados ensures that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Stuart added that when there are detection rates of 15-20 percent, that undermines confidence in the police force in that country. “We know all of our CARICOM countries have delays in our justice system and that is a mountain we are trying to climb, but it helps people considerably to know, that when crimes are committed, the Police Force can be trusted and that keeps faith alive in the country,” he said.

A recent study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) estimates the direct annual cost of crime and violence in Latin America and the Caribbean at US$261 billion or 3.55 percent of GDP –- roughly what the Region invests on infrastructure and double the average cost for developed countries.

It is also the equivalent income for 30 percent of the poorest population, underscoring the grave development impact violence has on the Region.

The Costs of Crime and Violence: New Evidence, New Revelations in Latin America and the Caribbean is a landmark effort to provide comparable crime costs numbers for 17 countries in the Region, benchmarking them against six developed countries.

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SARA Bill going forward

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 18, 2017

… gov’t says Bill was subject to extensive consultations

FOLLOWING criticism from the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), on the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) Bill, Government on Friday said the Bill was subject to wide consultations and will be debated in the National Assembly.

Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, told reporter during a post Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency that Government is prepared at this point to have the Bill debated in the National Assembly on March 9.

He said consultations were held recently by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, before the legislation was taken to Cabinet for approval and noted the concerns raised during the consultations were taken into consideration. The PSC in a letter to Speaker of the House, Dr. Barton Scotland, admitted that consultations were held on the Bill, but noted that the

Bill, as presented to the National Assembly, represented the original Bill presented during the consultations.

In the missive dated February 6, 2017, the PSC said the recommendations put forward during the consultations were not factored into the tabled Bill and therefore called for the Bill to be taken to a Special Select Committee where its provisions and implications can be thoroughly examined and debated.

“The Private Sector maintains that the provisions of this Bill are in conflict with the rights enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana and constitute a threat to democracy and good governance,” the letter stated. But notwithstanding the PSC’s position Harmon said, “When a matter goes to the Select Committee, it is really giving the public and several organisations another opportunity to comment on it, and we have given them that opportunity.”

He said that it is government’s intention to go ahead with the debating of the legislation and noted that if “at the

end of that (debate) there are issues that have arisen that propel us to go in a certain direction, whether it goes to Select Committee or we pass it as it is, then that is a decision that will be made then.”

The Cabinet Secretary said too that when consultations are afforded, it is the opportune time for all stakeholders to provide their views. “Because you cannot keep legislation moribund just waiting, we have to move this country forward and deal with issues, with persons who have stolen state assets, and we have to have the legal coverage to go after those persons,” he said.

Not to be outdone, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo said SARU was created explicitly to target and intimidate PPP leaders and members, and, as practice has shown, members of the business community, “its objective is [to] vindictive and its practices violate the Guyana Constitution. The State Assets Recovery Bill before the National Assembly intends to enshrine these

violations.”

He asked, “if the APNU/ AFC government was genuine in going after corruption and protecting state assets, why has the SARU taken no action on any of the 26 scandals that have taken place in the 21 months of this government’s term? “If one chooses just a few of these scandals that have been publicly exposed – Durban Park Development Project, the Sussex Street Drug Bond, the multi-million settlements to the financiers of their 2015 electoral campaign, using billions of dollars of tax payers money estimated modestly at over $80B, the silence and inaction of the SARU speaks volumes of its real agenda. Unashamed, this government is prepared to squander and raid the treasury to return the political investment of their electoral financiers.”

However, in defending the need of the bill, SARU in a statement earlier this week said it has discovered an “astounding” scale of corruption here and urged that the States Assets Recovery Bill must be passed swiftly. SARU said

that in accordance with Article 54 (1) (c) of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), each State party must “consider taking such measures as may be necessary to allow confiscation of property without criminal conviction.” In this context, SARU said the Bill is designed to facilitate the recovery of illicitly obtained property through civil processes, with the primary objective of reducing the consequential damaging effects of corruption on sustainable development.

According to the unit, the opinions of any Private Sector Commission or equivalent should be principled, balanced and near impartial.

“Honest business prefers a fair and principled environment. The passage of this Bill will allow the new Agency to direct a laser-like focus on such assets obtained through corruption, the loss of which has frustrated the development of this country.”

SARU said in some areas of corruption, the size of loss speaks for itself. “Before the

change of Government, the nation was losing $28-$35 billion each year through procurement fraud. With regard to illicit capital flight, the nation was losing $90 billion every year. Furthermore, the underground economy caused the nation to lose $188 billion per year. This adds up to a grand total of $306-$313 billion per year, which is a conservative figure, as according to several international agencies, this amount is grossly understated,” SARU said.

The unit asserted that given the purposes of the Bill and the damaging losses to the economy as stated above, it is imperative that the Bill be passed immediately.

“The scale of corruption discovered by SARU, to date, is astounding. The Guyanese population is eager to see the country’s assets recovered and appropriate action taken against the perpetrators of corruption. The SARA Bill is geared toward these purposes,” SARU said in its statement.

Alleged mastermind in Tain killing surrenders THE alleged mastermind in the murder- for-hire plot that killed a domestic worker and mother of four has turned herself in at the Whim Police Station.

Indera Outar, the businesswoman who was wanted for questioning in the execution of Lelawattie Mohamed, surrendered a little after noon in the presence of her Attorney Chandra Sohan.

According to a police source, the woman was interrogated by detectives and pertinent information was retrieved that warranted her detention.

She was subsequently placed under arrest as investigators continue the probe.

According to a source, the woman who owns a Sawmill at Edingburg, East Bank Berbice and who resides at Tain, Corentyne, reportedly admitted to having met one of the suspects charged for the murder at a hotel in New Amsterdam.

On February 7, 2017, two men stormed into the home of Lelawattie Mohamed and executed her in the presence of her son. This

was done under the guise of a robbery; however, the men left without taking anything.

The police however managed to put the pieces together and realised it was a hit and

Lelawattie Mohamed not a robbery. According to investigators, the motive behind the hit is jealousy. It is alleged that the husband of the alleged mastermind was having an affair with the domestic worker. This allegedly made her angry and she ordered the hit on Mohamed. It is believed that Outar was having an affair with a barber and solicited

his help in getting the hitmen.

Subsequently, the police arrested, charged and placed before the courts five persons who were integrally involved in the plot to assassinate Mohamed. The five: Oliver Permaul ,34, a barber and his wife Nazeema Permaul 42, a businesswoman both of Lot 100 Tain Settlement ; Andre James , 26, called “Tatoo man,” of Lot 46 George Street, Rose Hall Town; Rohan Johnson, 39, a carpenter called “Jamaky” of Clarendon, Jamaica and of 107 Second Street, Rose Hall Town; and Shabiki Alert Thompson, 28, commonlaw wife of Johnson and also of 107 Second Street ,Rose Hall Town, appeared before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the Number 51 Magistrates Court on February 15, jointly charged for murder.

Additionally, during the initial investigation, the businesswoman’s husband was also questioned by the police and released. According to reports, Johnson and James were the hired hitmen who reportedly carried out the act

for an agreed sum of $4M, However only $400,000 was handed over to the men, while Alert-Thompson was given the cash by Johnson that was collected. Additionally, Oliver Permaul is said to be the one who solicited the men on behalf of the businesswoman who lives at Tain, while his wife Nazeema Permaul assisted in planning and also acted as an agent, who allegedly handed over the cash to another woman, who then handed over to the “hitmen.”

While the accused were leaving the Number 51 Court, they were overheard shouting they are innocent.

Oliver Permaul, shouted several times he is innocent, “Sawmill pay de money…a woman pay somebody to kill she [Mohamed] and me get accused cause me ah work in front deh …where de justice deh,” he questioned.

The five are expected to return to court on May 4 for their second appearance, while investigators continue to probe the alleged mastermind.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 18, 2017

Pakistan says kills 100 ‘terrorists’ after suicide shrine attack Pakistani security forces killed dozens of suspected militants on Friday, a day after Islamic State claimed a suicide bombing that killed more than 80 worshippers at a Sufi shrine, the biggest in a spate of attacks this week across the country.

The bombing at the famed Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in southern Sindh province was Pakistan’s deadliest attack for two years, killing at least 83 people and highlighting the threat of militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and Islamic State.

The security response was swift.

“Over 100 terrorists have been killed since last night and sizeable apprehensions also made,” the military said in an operations update on Friday evening.

“Terrorists will be targeted ruthlessly, indiscriminately, anywhere and everywhere. No let up,” an armed forces spokesman added in a tweet. With authorities facing angry criticism for failing to tighten security before the shrine bomber struck, analysts warned that the wave of violence pointed to a major escalation in Islamist militants’ attempts to

destabilize the region. “This is a virtual declaration of war against the state of Pakistan,” said Imtiaz Gul, head of the independent Center for Research and Security Studies in Islamabad.

With pressure growing for action, Pakistan demanded that neighboring Afghanistan hand over 76 “terrorists” it said were sheltering over the border. The bombings over five days have hit all four of Pakistan’s provinces and two major cities, shaking a nascent sense that the worst of the country’s militant violence may be in the past. A series of military operations against insurgent groups operating in Pakistan had encouraged hopes that their leaders were scattered.

“But this has led to a degree of complacency within our civil-military leadership that perhaps they have completely destroyed these elements, or broken their back,” Gul said. If so, that impression has been shattered in recent days.

BLOOD AND TEARS At Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, the white marble floor was still stained with blood on Friday, and a pile of shoes and slippers was

A man beats his head as he mourns the death of a relative who was killed in a suicide blast at the tomb of Sufi saint Syed Usman Marwandi, also known as the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine, on Thursday evening in Sehwan Sharif, Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, February 17, 2017.

REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

heaped in the courtyard, many of them belonging to the dead.

Outside, protesters shouted slogans at police, who they said had failed to protect the shrine. “I wish I could have been here and died in the blast last night,” a devastated Ali Hussain told Reuters, sitting on the floor of the shrine.

He said that local Sufis had asked for more security after

a separate bombing this week killed 13 people in the eastern city of Lahore, but said: “No one bothered to secure this place.”

Anwer Ali, 25, rushed to the shrine after he heard the explosion, and described seeing dead bodies and chaos as people fled the scene. “There were threats to the shrine. The Taliban had warned that they will attack here,

but authorities didn’t take it seriously,” Ali said.

Sindh police chief A.D. Khawaja said on Friday that the death toll had reached 83 people with scores more wounded. The attacks have once again raised questions over the influence of Islamic State in Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 190 million people that has tense relations with its neighbors India and Afghanistan. In the past two years, Islamic State has worked to build its “Khorasan province” encompassing Afghanistan and Pakistan, often helped by local radicals.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s foreign policy adviser Sartaj Aziz blamed Jamaat-ur-Ahrar (JuA), a Pakistani Taliban faction that has been linked to Islamic State, for the attack.

Most of the other recent attacks have been claimed by factions of the Pakistani Taliban, which is waging its own fight against the government but whose ranks have also cooperated with and sometimes defected to Islamic State.

That has led some observers to question whether the growing prominence of Islamic State actually represents a new threat - since its fighters were already operating under different names to attack government, army and minority faith targets, among others. However, the increasing

number of attacks claimed by Islamic State has raised pressure on authorities to show they are capable of containing the renewed violence. Islamic State also said it was behind another shrine attack, in southwestern Baluchistan province, that killed at least 52 people last November.

In October, it said it carried out an assault on a police training college, killing 59. The shrine attack has heightened tensions with Afghanistan, after Pakistani officials said some militant leaders took shelter over the border.

The accusation echoes similar criticism from Kabul aimed at Islamabad.

In a telephone call with Afghanistan’s national security adviser, Aziz expressed concern that JuA was operating from Afghanistan and that Kabul had failed to act against them, according to a statement from his office.

On Friday, border crossings were closed and Afghan diplomats were summoned to military headquarters in Islamabad and given a list of 76 “most-wanted terrorists” that Pakistan demanded be captured and handed over, the army said. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Friday condemned the shrine attack on Twitter, calling Islamic State “a common enemy of Afghanistan & Pakistan”. (Reuters)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 18, 2017

CDB projects regional economies to grow by 1.7 per cent this year The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is projecting an average 1.7 per cent growth in its borrowing member countries (BMC) this year, following last year’s performance of a minus 0.9 per cent.

The 2016 figure is in direct contrast to the 0.4 per cent growth experienced in 2015. Addressing the Bank’s annual news conference on Friday, Director of Economics Dr Justin Ram said that the service-oriented economies recorded positive growth in 2016, while the predominant commodity exporters except Guyana, contracted.

“Belize recorded a modest decline, while significant contractions were recorded in

Trinidad and Tobago where that economy declined by five per cent, and Suriname which declined by a further nine per cent,” Ram said.

In his forecast, he noted that growth this year will largely be driven by increased tourism activities, as well as construction mainly related to the tourism industry. He said however, that although the growth projection is better than 2016, it is still below where it needs to be to stimulate employment and reduce the persistently high debt levels.

Ram noted that foreign currency reserves fell below the benchmark levels in some BMCs in 2016. “Last year, Barbados’ foreign currency reserves fell below the equivalent value of the

global benchmark of three months of imports. The Bahamas and Suriname saw improvements, but reserves also remained below the three month threshold. Foreign exchange reserves remained above the threshold in other countries. Trinidad and Tobago continued to accumulate the largest stock of foreign reserves,” he told the news conference.

CDB President, Dr Warren Smith, called for a reversal of the pattern of decline in the region’s economies, saying the BMCs needed to be placed firmly on a path of sustained and inclusive income growth with discernible improvements in living standards. Smith pointed to what he said were “the two most pressing policy imperatives”

Jamaicans urged to use dual methods of contraception to avoid pregnancy The National Family Planning Board Sexual Health Authority (NFPBSHA) is encouraging Jamaicans to use dual methods of contraception for effective protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

NFPBSHA Director, Devon Gabourel, said his organisation has been pushing the message for a while and has chosen to expand its dual method message by using it as the theme for Safer Sex Week 2017.

“This year, we continue to drive our message on dual protection by using the theme, ‘Condom Plus Another Contraceptive Equals Ultimate Protection’, for Safer Sex Week, which is observed annually during the week of Valentine’s Day,” he told the Jamaica Information Service

(JIS) ‘Think Tank’ this week.

He said that dual method use refers to using either a male or female condom at every act of sexual intercourse while also utilising another contraceptive method, such as the pill, the injection, the hormonal implant, or the intrauterine device, commonly known as the IUD. “We know that these contraceptive methods are effective in preventing pregnancies but we must also remember that these methods do not protect against the transmission of HIV and other STDs” he said, adding that the use of the male or female condom along with another contraceptive method will provide the ultimate protection.

According to Gabourel, data from the most recent Reproductive Health Survey revealed that almost half (47 per cent) of the births that oc-

cur in Jamaica are unplanned, mostly among the 15-24 age group. He said that there is also an estimated 29,000 persons currently living with HIV with the highest increase in new infections coming from that same age group.

“This increase is consistent with the onset of sexual behaviour and although the age of consent is 16 years, 15-year-olds have been included in this figure because the national definition of youth begins at age 15 and the facts show that adolescents under the age of 16 are not only having sex but are also getting pregnant and contracting HIV and other STIs,” he noted. According to the survey, the average age of sexual debut among young men in the 15-24 age group is 14 ½ and in young women it is 16. (CMC)

Dr Justin Ram

for the region: offering services that promote efficiency and cross-competitiveness while fostering inclusive growth and protecting vulnerable groups in society, and government activities financed by revenue systems that meet the sufficiency criterion while promoting equity and economic efficiency.

“Regional fiscal performance is, however, caught in a vicious cycle. Because economic growth rates are so low, many Governments are unable to generate the

primary balances needed to correct adverse debt dynamics, so public debt remains unsustainably high.

“Emergency revenue measures implemented to stem fiscal deterioration following the global recession have had a perverse impact on competitiveness, further constraining growth,” he added. The CDB President said that unlike more diversified small states such as Mauritius and Singapore which have weathered recent global shocks well, Carib-

bean economies continue to exhibit the volatility that has kept average growth rates low; unemployment and poverty high; and living standards stagnant.

Ram, meanwhile, believes the Caribbean needs an action plan which better enables it to participate in global supply chains and targeted social development assistance. “But policy makers must be prepared to set the right environment to tackle the obstacles to growth. That is to say the doing business environment including access to financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and labour market reforms, all of which could increase productivity and enhance competitiveness.

“In this endeavour it would be necessary to reform governance structures and institutions to support the new paradigm.

Governments will have to be willing to stabilise their economies through fiscal and debt consolidation, and to develop strong, targeted social development programmes,” he said.

(CMC)

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Editorial

Protecting our democracy

OBSERVATIONS from the various protests and disquiet happening in the society can inform two lines of thinking.

One is that it may give rise to concern or jubilation, depending on political outlook. On the other hand, it lends to thinking that such represent healthy signs in a democracy.

Democracy is not without agitation, expressions, conflicts, challenges and achievements. That these characteristics are being manifested are representations of a democracy that is alive and well. However, in this same healthy environment, where these said characteristics are ignored or suppressed, such can lead to problems. What is happening presently in no way positions Guyana at the crossroads. Where these protests go from here depends largely on the leadership reading and understanding the pulse of the people. The public displays, though being manifested by some groups and individuals, are not new.

Whereas this government may be experiencing frequent protests given its demonstrated respect for freedom of expression and given the suppression of this right for years, citizens will take action to make their views known. At the same time, it cannot be ignored that suppressors of this right would seize any and every opportunity to advance their political agenda.

And given the reality of these dynamics, are important in understanding human relations.

The protest against the parking meters, and the sugar

workers’ protest in front of the Ministry of the Presidency, even as such reflect the right to self-expression, the reasons that have created the need to feel compelled to so express ought not to be ignored. Something is happening in the society and this requires not only feeling the pulse, but attending to the pulse.

However tempting it may be, determined efforts to ignore the people will only escalate situations and then they will reel out of control. It is not unreasonable to expect that when President David Granger, who is Head of Government and State, makes public his views on issues that such serve as policy positions of his Government. What is disconcerting, is when the administrators do not take heed. And here is where City Hall’s unrelenting determination to treat with the parking meters controversy remains in contrast to what the public was told had happened at the meeting with President Granger last Wednesday evening. Guyanese were advised that in discussion with the mayor, the President encouraged engagement via consultation with stakeholders on the way forward. The Alliance For Change felt it necessary to issue a statement on Wednesday, calling on the mayor to retract statements to the deputy mayor during the Council’s meeting on Monday, which adds another dynamic to the issue.

Consultations necessitate stakeholders meeting, sharing ideas, and seeking to arrive at consensus in an

An open letter to Region Two Chairman

Dear Mr Ramdatt

I AM puzzled by your public pronouncement, made via a post on your Facebook page at 22:01 hrs on 2017.02.05. As you are aware, your post states, “The decision to bully vendors along the Anna Regina roadside “to remove” is not one made by the Mayor and the “majority” of Councillors of the Anna Regina Town Council.

No decision to remove vendors was made by the Council at its statutory meeting or at any other forum of the Council. We shall stand strong in support of the vendors and all working-class people!

Acts of dictatorship, as are happening in Georgetown, will not manifest itself here in our peaceful region. There is no space for actors like Royston King here! . . .”

The Facebook post

was quoted in a report in the Guyana Times on 2017.02.07. The newspaper report also stated the following: Ramdatt added that the People’s Progressive Party will stand strong in support with the vendors.

Mr Ramdatt, the minutes of statutory meetings of the council indicate the contrary. The following are indicated by the minutes: 1) On the 7th of April, 2016, it was approved at a statutory meeting that no permanent structure be allowed on the Anna Regina roadside.

2) On the 4th of August, 2016, the council decided at a statutory meeting that it was approved that all permanent structures be removed within seven days. Additionally, the minutes of the meeting of April 7 were adopted without alteration regarding the

relevant matter.

3) On the 1st of September, 2016, the said approval was iterated.

Again, the minutes of the meeting of August 4 were adopted without alteration of the decision.

I therefore require that you clarify: 1) On what basis or authority do you speak for the Anna Regina Town Council (ARTC)?

2) On what authority do you base your interference with the workings of the ARTC? Mr Ramdatt, be informed that you are a public officer who is expected to act within your mandate and authority, in the interest of citizens. Your position of chairman is not a political office, but a public one. While you may, of course, speak in favour of the PPP as a private citizen, by virtue of your office, you represent the

interests of all the citizens of the region.

Therefore, you may be reasonably expected to confine your pronouncements to areas within your ambit. Similarly, one may expect that your actions, utterances and decisions would be guided by the needs of the citizens whom you represent rather than partisan interests.

Chairman, I am of the view that your actions in this matter are unprofessional. I am further of the view that you have trod on a slippery slope in politicising your office.

I urge that you change course and act with professionalism and dignity, within the limits of your authority.

I await your clarification.

Regards, Ronald Bulkan Minister

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 18, 2017

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com

Editorial

atmosphere of mutual respect. City Hall’s rolling out of piecemeal decisions before all are heard will only escalate an already contentious situation. In continuing this strategy, it is reasonable to ask whose benefit is being served, for it certainly cannot be to the benefit of the citizenry, and the President’s policy. There exists the unifying desire that government will function in the interest of all and corruption will cease. The issue here is not whether the people are right or wrong in their perceptions, but, having identified their angst, it helps democracy when actions are taken to address them. Where good sense prevails democracy, in all its glory and shortcomings, is healthy.

The mayor was out of place

Dear Editor,

JUST when you think you have heard it all, and things could not get worse, something even more bizarre comes out of City Hall, the latest being Patricia ChaseGreen seeking to blame Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan, for “taking misinformation to the public on the parking meter contract, and causing ‘civil unrest.’

First of all, someone needs to tell the mayor that peaceful demonstrations and protests that abide by the law, such as the one held by civil society and the Movement Against Parking Meters, do not constitute civil unrest.

Civil unrest is typically defined by law enforcement as a gathering of three or more people, in reaction to an event, with the intention of causing a public disturbance in violation of the law. Civil unrest typically involves damage to property or injury to other people.

The Collins Dictionary defines ‘Civil unrest’ as fighting between different groups of people living in the same country, and losses caused by this fighting are usually not covered by insurance.

The Travel Industry Dictionary defines ‘Civil unrest’ as a loose term to describe anti-government activities as varied as organised protests, rioting, general strikes, arson and looting, and armed insurrection. Sometimes used as a euphemism for civil war.

How could the mayor of a capital city not know simple concepts and meanings like this? To make it worse, Councillor Bostwick called on Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan, to prove why he should not be disciplined.

Martin Luther king Jr once said, ‘Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.’

Best regards Sambu Jacobus

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 18, 2017

Scrap the parking meter contract -- CN Sharma

Dear Editor

THE Justice for All Party, a member of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and by extension a member of the coalition governments in central Government and City Hall, herein records its positions on the controversial parking meter project and the behaviour of the some of the APNU councillors on the City Council.

Regarding the parking meter contract, the JFAP, from all the information it has seen via the media and which it has at its disposal, concludes that the contract was entered into without the due consent of Council

and that the town clerk had no authority, under Chapter 28:01 Section VII, to sign such a contract. The town clerk derives his powers from affirmative motions tabled at the Council. Having been sworn in on April 1, 2016, the current council never passed any motion, prior to May 13, 2016, giving the town clerk the authority to enter any contract for establishing parking meters.

Thus the contract is out of place, “ab initio.”

The JFAP also is of the view that the contract violates Sec. 274 of Chapter 28:01, regarding contracts.

Neither has the JFAP seen and know of any waivers signed by the Minister of

Communities regarding this contract. The JFAP is also very concerned with the terms of the contract. These terms constitute a complete give away of the city and private persons’ parking rights. If these terms have been amended, as the mayor is claiming, when will these amendments be brought to the Council for debate and decision?

The JFAP also condemns the unwarranted attack on the deputy mayor. The deputy mayor, who is also Chairman of the Legal Committee of the City Council, must be commended for bringing the covert actions of the town clerk and the mayor to light. This contract and the

action of some APNU councillors, have clearly brought disrepute to the good name of the APNU+AFC coalition. The JFAP is joining the thousands of voices that are calling for the contract with Smart City Solutions to be investigated with immediate effect.

The JFAP is also calling on the mayor and those APNU councillors who abused the deputy mayor to apologise to the honourable gentleman. The JFAP reaffirms its support for good government, transparency and accountability.

Regards Justice For All Party

Venezuela upholds Lopez prison sentence Venezuela’s Supreme Court has upheld the 14-year jail sentence of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, a day after Donald Trump called for his release.

Mr Lopez was found guilty of inciting violence during protests in 2014 in which 43 people - from both sides of the political divide - were killed.

He has repeatedly said that his sentence was politically motivated. Thursday’s ruling on an appeal by Mr Lopez’s defence makes the conviction final, officials said. “Under this dictatorship, every sentence is null,” said Mr Lopez’s wife, Lilian Tintori, as she arrived in Caracas following a meeting in Washington with Mr Trump. “Trump is with the people of Venezuela,” she added. Before the tweet, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had said that he did not want “problems with Trump”.

However Mr Trump’s remarks raised tensions and Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez accused the US president of interfering in her country’s affairs. Ms Rodriguez wrote on Twitter that she rejected “the meddling and aggression of US President @realDonaldTrump who tries to give orders in our fatherland”.

She also tweeted that Mr Trump had “sided with the boss behind violent acts” while Mr Maduro had proposed “initiating a new era of respectful relations” between the two. Mr Lopez, who leads the Voluntad Popular (Popular Will) party, had earlier claimed through his defence team that there had been serious irregularities in the trial, with the judge hearing 138 witnesses for the prosecution but only one of the 50 witnesses and pieces of evidence submitted by the defence. His supporters insist that he is innocent and say he was jailed on trumped-up, politically-motivated charges. (BBC)

The Greening of Bartica must not be left to chance Dear Editor,

WHEN Bartica was identified by His Excellency, President David Granger, to be Guyana’s first Green Town, it meant that any and every new Green initiative should be modelled first in Bartica.

Bartica is expected to be an example to the rest of the country and the Caribbean as a Green Town. It must be seen as Guyana’s pilot Green Project.

This objective is achievable well within five years, given the small population and few infrastructural changes required of the town when compared to other municipalities. A serious approach to the vision by all stakeholders should have seen 50% of our shortterm goals achieved. It is regrettable that some have not either understood the vision,nor are deliberately forging ahead with selfish ambitions.

For the benefit of the reader, The Greening of Bartica’s short-term goals are as follows:

1. Sustainable Land-use Planning, which takes into consideration cross-cutting issues which are likely to affect water quality, air quality, access to transportation, economic vitality and quality of life, as we pursue the development of our community.

2. A change in policies with respect to infrastructural development, building designs/construction standards and types of materials used, e.g., incorporating green building codes for constructing homes for more energy-efficient homes, our road designs must include but not be limited to sidewalks, cycle-lanes etc.

3. On-going community engagements and education, which are important for awareness, ownership and encourages them to buy into this initiative.

4.Transitioning our power supply to renewable energy and promoting the implementation of energyefficiency measures at all levels.

5. A change in purchasing policies in keeping with

standards for Green Public Procurement, to ensure our purchasing decisions cause minimal damage to the environment, e.g., replacing of Government vehicles in Bartica with fuel-efficient, hybrid vehicles and possibly electric vehicles, and creating an enabling framework so that similar actions can be taken by residents.

6. Maintain close working relations with central Government to craft policies and incentives to promote green investment in Bartica.

7. The creation of green spaces, parks and recreational facilities.

8. The implementation of an Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme.

Most importantly, of all of the above, is sensitisation and stakeholder engagement. An educated populace on our Green programmes will make governance at the local level less burdensome.

Residents will better understand the vision and why we do what we do. The question therefore, is What is greening?

The green economy is

defined as an economy that aims at reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities, and that aims for sustainable development without degrading the environment. In other words, it is the process of transforming from the traditional development model, to one that is more sustainable with people at the centre. For example, when buildings are powered by renewable energy and street or building lamps are led lights, it reduces the energy demand which in turn decreases our dependency on fossil fuel. The burning of fossil fuel emits carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, which is the number one contributor to climate change.

The Greening of Bartica must not be left to chance. It’s a vision that requires the support of all stakeholders, after all, Bartica is just the pilot, a Green Guyana is a Good life for all.

Gifford Marshall Mayor, Bartica

Leopoldo Lopez was jailed in 2014 for inciting violence during mass protests

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 18, 2017

Harmon scoffs at Jagdeo’s threat of criminal charges

GOVERNMENT on Friday dismissed Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s statement that he intends to file legal action against government officials who are perceived by him to be enriching themselves from state resources.

Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said Jagdeo, a former president, ought to be the last person to make such a statement, noting that the opposition leader’s utterances are laughable. He said the coalition government has much to show since it entered office and noted that all has been done in open view.

Jagdeo recently told the media that he is in the process of challenging those officials whom he deems to be enriching themselves off the state’s resources, as well as those who have failed to comply with the Integrity Commission Act. However, Harmon said there are sev-

eral matters engaging the attention of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), for which international assistance is being granted so the administration would be able to approach the court.

“The wheels of justice turn slowly but surely,” Harmon told reporters at a post-cabinet press briefing, while noting that Jagdeo is

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

trying to deflect attention from his era. “There are a number of persons who the leader of the opposition is seeking to deflect attention from. They are the subject of criminal investigations,” he stated.

The Cabinet Secretary citied several reports including the Inter-American Council on Human Rights, which has said that Jagdeo should be held accountable for the many killings that took place during his reign as President. The Council of Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) report was also cited by Harmon, who quoted the report as saying Jagdeo will go down as the President who has done nothing for his country while in office.

“That he could only receive, the lowest of marks from any independent evaluation through his tolerance of crime, racism and dismal social progress,” Harmon added, while noting that with

the many forensic audit reports completed and placed in the hands of SOCU, it is only time before criminal charges could be laid.

He reminded reporters that under Jagdeo’s rule, there was a decline in the amount of money budgeted and spent on education. The actions of the former president he said, have resulted in the under-resourcing of the education sector.

“This is why we have to now get into emergency spending of millions of dollars for the Grade Six examination for Math and English. This is what is happening. This is the result of bad spending that we have to now correct,” the minister said.

Harmon said his government’s allocation of 17.2 per cent of its budget to

education speaks volumes in comparison to Jagdeo’s 6.1 per cent.

“So, when these gentlemen speak of commitment to fight crime, education or health, this is the reality and we are doing as much as we can with limited resources and international help to focus on these issues which affect the Guyanese people,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, he said the audit reports on the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the New Guyana Marketing Corporation, the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Guyana Power and Light (GPL), GO-Invest, Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary/Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ ADA) and others have all

Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon been placed in the hands of SOCU. “Mr Jagdeo should be the last person talking about filing cases against anybody,” Harmon stated, while noting that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is also examining tax breaches which have proven to be significant.

“We will get some activities there as well,” he added.

Gov’t reviewing Ramson’s contract GOVERNMENT is currently reviewing the contract of Commissioner of Information (COI), Charles Ramson (Snr.) SC, Cabinet Secretary and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon announced on Friday.

Harmon told the media that Ramson’s contract is being reviewed, in light of his failure to report on his work to the Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, who has responsibility for his entity. “My understanding from correspondence I have seen is that there has been a serious lack of reporting by the COI on his activities and so the government is at this point reviewing the contract of the COI,” said Harmon.

The Minister of State noted that the COI holds a constitutional office and is required upon request to provide members of the public access to information they would not normally have. In December, the Prime Minister was called upon to provide a breakdown of a multi-million dollar allocation to his office, where he explained to the Committee of Supply that the salaries, gratuity and vacation allowance for the COI amount to $36M. Prime Minister Nagamootoo also disclosed that

Ramson is paid a salary of $1.7M monthly, but has failed to report on his work over the years. “I have written him, he has given no report of his work over the years, and I understand that

Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson SC he has no staff and no office,” the Prime Minister said. In January, the Prime Minister said he is in the process of advising President David Granger on the status of Ramson, who has not submitted a report since he took office in 2013.

But Ramson has maintained that he has done nothing wrong and he is not re-

quired by law to account to the Prime Minister as he is not his boss. He posits that it is the Prime Minister’s responsibility, by virtue of the Access to Information Act, to submit a report to the National Assembly. Ramson, who served as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), believes that the Prime Minister is attempting to “spin” the provisions of the Access to Information Act for his own benefit.

“I don’t have to submit a report to him. He is not my boss. He gotta prepare the report…he admits it in his own thing [the newspaper article] but he is trying to throw the blame on me because he is a spin doctor,” Ramson told Stabroek News in an article dated January 15, 2017 and headlined ‘Is not me falling down on the job, is them’Ramson accuses PM of ducking duties under Access to Info law. He noted that out of courtesy he can provide the report to the Prime Minister but the Act does not expressly state that he must so do.

The Prime Minister has rejected Ramson’s explanation, noting the Latin maxim “nihil fit ex nihilo” which means, out of nothing comes nothing.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 18, 2017

Spanking new Sparendaam Magistrates Court opens

HAVING been closed for almost a year to facilitate the construction of a new building, the Sparendaam Magistrates Court re-opens its doors on Friday.

The old courthouse was demolished to facilitate the construction of a new and improved one. During the construction period, the court sitting was temporarily moved to the Better Hope Community Centre.

The new courthouse will accommodate two courtrooms, which will seat Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul

and another magistrate, who is yet to be named.

The courthouse is fully air-conditioned and has been enhanced to block out the sound of heavy traffic along the Rupert Craig Highway which normally disturbs the proceedings.

Outgoing Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Carl Singh, at the opening, said court hearings will commence on Monday and commended the contractor ENA Construction for a good job done on the building.

The chancellor further

noted that the magistrates who are going to preside at the court are going to be comfortable there and therefore there should be greater production.

Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul, was sworn in as magistrate on August 2, 2012 and has been sitting at the Sparendaam Court since then.

Speaking to the media at Friday’s opening, Magistrate Ally-Seepaul expressed her gratitude for the new courthouse.

“The volume of mat-

Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and outgoing Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Carl Singh, cut the ribbon to formally re-open the Sparendaam Magistrates Court

The new Sparendaam Magistrates Court

ters that has come before the court; there is so much that is being demanded on a day-to-day [basis] from one individual on a daily basis there isn’t much that you can actually get done,”

she noted.

The Sparendaam Magistrates Court handles matters from Mon Repos to Conversation Tree on the East Coast of Demerara.

Also in attendance at

the opening ceremony were Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and other magistrates from the East Coast magisterial district.

Cabinet clears $5B to build duplexes … youth, low-income earners to benefit

CABINET has approved the construction of 758 housing units in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and 10 at a cost of $5B to provide low-income earners, young people and public-sector families with affordable housing. Each dwelling unit will cost approximately $5.4M. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, told reporters at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday that approximately 1500 persons will be shortlisted for duplexes and town house units. He said the project will start almost immediately and is expected to be completed in 12 months.

“The important distinction that we want to make is that we are not just issuing house lots. We are building homes within communities for the citizens of this

country,” the Minister of State said, while noting that the first batch of recipients will be selected from over 25,000 housing applications currently in the system.

“This is the initial phase and over the next two years, we’d be rolling out housing developments and communities and several other communities of Guyana,” he added, while noting that the Ministry of Communities will elaborate more on the project soon. Meanwhile, he announced that Cabinet has received the 2014 audited report of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and said that the report will be tabled in the National Assembly.

The Guyana Chronicle reported on Friday that the Ministry of Communities will be commencing the construction of approximately 60 duplex apart-

ments in the mining town of Linden. The construction, which would commence by April,will see the provision of apartments going to 120 applicants who have reached the age of 21. According to Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Patterson, priority will be given to state employees, young professionals and middle- income earners.

The price has not yet been set, but the minister revealed that it will be around $5-7 M. The duplexes will be constructed of timber and concrete. There are three sets of duplexes to meet the needs of the various applicants. “We will be having the two flats side by side with a common wall, which will be sound proof and then we will have the duplex on stilt, which means that you can enclose your downstairs

if you want and then the next will be top and bottom enclosed, everybody will have their own yard space, so we are doing timber and we are doing concrete in the same design,” Patterson revealed.

The duplexes will be constructed in Amelia’s Ward and while the area has already been reserved, the ministry will now be moving towards allocation, since cabinet has given approval for same.

An exhibition of the models of the duplexes will be held soon and the minister said that competitive bidding will be done for contractors who have prequalified. She added that the venture will not be a profit-making one for the Government but in fact, the Government will be subsidising the construction of these homes.

Patterson said that she along with her team were prompted to undertake this project, given the demand for turnkey homes not only in Linden, but countrywide, which their research saw approximately 8500 individuals expressing serious interest. “We are looking at density, because where you have one plot of land, you can only put one house to house one family; you can use the same plot of land to put a duplex to house two families, if you have a particular area and initially you could have only put 20 houses, you can now house 40 families instead with the duplexes. It also drives infrastructure cost down, because if you put a road, you can only have let’s say 10 houses on one and 10 on the other; you can now have 20 on one side and 20 on the other,

so it is maximum use of infrastructure cost and thirdly most persons are desirous not for house lots, but for housing units, the demand to build and give them the key, people don’t want the stress of having to build,” the minister said.

The construction will occur simultaneously with the construction of roads, drainage, bridges and the provision of water and electricity. The ministry is also collaborating with financial lending institutions to make the application process for loans easier for successful applicants. A duplex house is a dwelling having apartments with separate entrances for two households.

This includes two-storey houses having a complete apartment on each floor and also side-by-side apartments on a single lot that share a common wall.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 18, 2017

‘Get your act together’ – city vendors hammer mayor at town hall meeting

By Svetlana Marshall CITY vendors on Friday flayed the Mayor and Town Clerk over the poor services being offered at a time when the city officials were canvassing their support for a number of developmental projects.

“Get yall act together,” Maria Bailey told City Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green and the Town Clerk, Royston King, as she highlighted her many concerns before a large gathering during a Town Hall meeting at City Hall on Friday.

Bailey, who has been operating a stall in the Stabroek Bazaar for a number of years, said the Council has been paying keen attention to the operations of businesses along Regent and Robb Streets, but has failed miserably in attending to the needs of vendors in the Stabroek Bazaar. “If you come and see the condition in which we operate in the Bazaar…the place is in a mess…The pipe is in a gutter, the gutter clog up. The toilet was built since 1991 through SIMAP, and not a repair since,” Bailey lamented, while questioning when

last the elected members of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council had visited the area, which is starving for attention. She said that despite failing to address many of the sanitation problems facing the vendors there, Market Revenue Collectors would

that happens any more…In the afternoon you bag-off your garbage, the next day you come and reach it right there,” she complained.

Because of the insanitary conditions at the facility, there is now insect infestation. Bailey said Councillors

According to him, fees were quickly increased from $500 to a $1000 and then a third increase during the festive season of $500. He averages that vendors would pay approximately $50, 000 a year in vending fees.

“It is the very us that are

The Public Hall meeting at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council religiously collect their fees, and failure to make timely payments would attract a late fee penalty.

“When I know this market, they use to come around every two hours with a wheelbarrow and clean up the place, nothing like

need to address the concerns of all the people and not a collective few.

Conway Douglas, another vendor commenting on the vending fees, said it would appear that the fees are on the increase when not much has been done for vendors.

asked to pay more to send our children to private schools if we want better for them. It is the very us that are asked to pay for parking meter. It is the very us who have to pay more for passport, more on light and electricity, and I am begging you people to be considerate,” Douglas pleaded.

The vendor reminded the City Mayor and the Town Clerk of the fact that many established businesses in the main commercial hub pay

meagre taxes on an annual basis. Some of the taxes range from $1,200 to $12, 000 a year.

Turning his attention to the issues surrounding waste-disposal management, Douglas said it is ironic that the Council is claiming that it does not have the manpower to police defaulters, many of which are well established businesses, when it is partnering with Smart City Solutions to provide constables for the monitoring of parking spaces in the city. “These are the things you must consider when you call us friends, we are not stupid, we are powerless but we are not stupid,” he said.

Prior to Douglas’ statement, the City Mayor, ChaseGreen and the Town Clerk had complained of the indiscriminate dumping of garbage which is a health hazard. The city officials had complained that the garbage receptacles provided to vendors are being used for the dumping of industrial waste.

Meanwhile, another vendor told the city officials that it is more than a year since the municipality had promised to rehabilitate the Stabroek wharf, which is in a dilapidated state, and nothing has been done to date. In response to the concerns raised, the City Mayor and Town Clerk committed to addressing many of the issues, in collaboration with

the relevant authorities.

On the developmental front, the Town Clerk told the vendors the Georgetown Mayor and City Council will be carrying out a number of studies to determine the way forward on the construction of a new wing at the Stabroek Market. According to him, that project, about which the vendors along Water Street will soon be consulted, is being used as a pilot initiative, laying the foundation for other similar projects at the other Municipal Markets.

“We believe that there should be substantial investments by the Council, particularly in the Stabroek Market and at Bourda Market, some of the systems there have deteriorated to a state that we are not proud of and we are now in the process of making substantial investments to ensure that we repair and [carry out] development on those markets.”

Mayor Chase-Green, in her address to the people, said despite the many challenges facing the council, she will not buckle under pressure.

“I am the fifth woman Mayor in the city of Georgetown and I have the strength and the stamina to stand up to my responsibilities and to take this city forward,” she said, while appealing for support, particularly from her women folk.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 18, 2017

UG aiming for business school … hosts annual career day

by September

By Zena Henry IN KEEPING with Guyana’s growing economy the University of Guyana (UG), is gearing towards the launch of its first ever business school come September.

The announcement was made on Friday when the university held the launch of another one of its annual

build on their passions, talents and dreams. The content will focus on self-empowerment, the Registrar asserted.

“The intention is that the student must have an opportunity where they create their own business rather than to be employees. So entrepreneurship, business and innovation, it is to nurture that talent.” Gravesande continued that much work was

In the Faculty of Education and Humanity, a Doctorate in Philosophy, English literature, Linguistics, Comparative literature, education and History will be offered.

A Master’s Degree will also be available in the areas of Philosophy, Literature, Linguistics, History, early childhood development and education. The University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor

UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, addressing the audience at the Career Day Career Day events.

University Registrar, Dr. Nigel Gravesande, told a gathering of primary and secondary school students, teachers, private and public company representatives, that the university is embarking on the launch of the business school to offer specially tailored content to the industry.

According to Gravesande, all efforts are being made to open the School of Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which would increase the number of business owners and to improve the professional quality of those persons. It was stated that the school will focus on more than the academic aspect of the subject area; it will encourage students to

placed in the consideration of the business school, noting that imperial research and analysis was placed into the idea. He said it is therefore, “based on the need to transform the Guyanese economy to deal with the opportunities presented as a result of globalization. “ The Registrar also pointed to the upcoming oil sector, stating that the raring of knowledgeable and professional persons in this field will help them to deal with whatever issues they may face in the business arena. Apart from the business school, the attendees were also told that the post-grad programmes to soon come will see the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry providing Master’s Degree in agro-technology and business.

Ivelaw Griffith, in his feature address drove home the idea of creating dreams and going after it. Fitting for the career day occasion, the VC told students that they should always dream big, but urged them that dreams and actions go hand in hand.

“Your success in crossing the educational sea, requires effort; it requires you to dream, but also requires you to do,” the VC stated.

In his three tips for aspiring university students, he told them that they should always strive for excellence by pushing themselves to do better and overcome. He told the students “earn it yourself.”

In that they make the effort to do for themselves rather than depend on others. The VC’s message also pertained to

A section of the gathering at the career day event (Cullen Bess-Nelson photos)

students displaying integrity by earning their stripes rather than depending on others or earning their achievements dishonestly.

The VC promised two lucky students scholarships and other benefits should they make it to the UG. The young ladies had partially

answered questions posed to the audience for a prize of US$500. The VC received resounding applause for his generosity. Several companies also received certificates from the UG for their continuous participation in the school’s annual career day event. It was said that more

than 50 companies participated in the event.

Some of those agencies included the Guyana Power and Light, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Energy Agency, Revenue Authority, and commercial banks among many others.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 18, 2017

Eight-hour parkers to get 50% reduction … parking fee remains at $200 plus VAT per hour

By Telesha Ramnarine

THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has said that it is going right on ahead from Monday to resume the operation of the parking meters in Georgetown with slight adjustments to the rates and implementation structure of the metered parking

Friday inside the studios of the National Communications Network (NCN), Homestretch Avenue, hosted

by M&CC and Smart City Solutions (SCS), it was announced that the slashing in half is meant to benefit only those who are parking for eight hours or more. Thus, the cost per hour remains at $200 plus VAT.

essentially means that motorists may purchase any amount of parking time and then move from any metered parking space to any other metered parking space anywhere in the city for the amount of time purchased on a single parking ticket until its expiry.

Among other changes are that an enforcement grace

adjustment period. During this one-month period, vehicles that are immobilised for non-payment of metered parking fees, will be required to pay only the metered parking fee for the time that they were immobilised and nothing else. (For example, during this one-month period, if a vehicle is immobilised at 10:00 am for not paying fees,

From left are: Public Relations Consultant, Kit Nascimento; Town Clerk, Royston King; Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and SCS Director, Amir Oren. project.

Both Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Town Clerk Royston King had earlier this week indicated in the news that the cost for parking will be cut in half, evidently meaning that the cost to park per hour would have been dropped from $200 an hour plus VAT, to $100 an hour plus VAT. But at a news conference

One of the SCS Directors, Mr Amir Oren, further announced that any motorist paying for four hours of metered parking will automatically be credited with eight hours of metered parking.

Furthermore, rather than paying for a particular space for a particular amount of time, motorists will instead be paying for parking time for their particular cars. This

period of 15 minutes will be introduced, meaning that no clamping will be conducted until at least 15 minutes after expiry of a parking ticket receipt. (For example, a vehicle parked at 1:00 pm,and the driver has purchased one hour of parking, will not be immobilised until 2:15 pm.)

Furthermore, there will be no immobilisation fee penalty for a one-month

and the owner claims the vehicle at 11:00 am, he will be required to pay only $200 plus VAT.) For six months (after expiry of the one-month adjustment period), the immobilisation fee will be reduced by 50 percent or $4000 plus VAT. The fee will be restored to $8000 after the six months.

Among other “special considerations,” are that

businesses may apply for monthly parking permits which may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Businesses may apply for loading/offloading parking regulations, and official taxis and minibuses may purchase metered parking monthly passes for $12,000 per month, plus VAT. Residents may also apply for residential parking permits.

MAJORITY Asked whether he agrees with a public perception that it is only the M&CC that seems interested in implementing parking meters, the town clerk said: “Unless we can have clear evidence that the masses are against this project, then we’ll just really be assuming things.

What I know is that we have been receiving feedback from our stakeholders and people we have been engaging that this project is necessary and that they want it.”

“We have the majority of persons saying they need parking meters on our city streets,” the mayor joined in.

COURT ACTION Explaining why the M&CC will be proceeding with the parking meters from Monday even in the face of a court order asking them to explain their decisions, the mayor said: “My understanding of the matter before the court is one that doesn’t stop us; there’s not an injunction that stops us from operating,” Mayor Patricia Chase-Green told reporters at a press conference on Friday.

Although Town Clerk Royston King could be heard cautioning the mayor not to comment on the issue, he

too added: “Yes, we will go ahead; we will continue to operate the programme.”

The High Court on Thursday had ordered that citizens be exempted from paying fees for parking in the city and from being subject to the resulting penalties until the M&CC can show reason why their decision to implement parking meters should not be quashed.

Chief Justice (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards granted an order nisi of certiorari to quash the decision of the M&CC to implement the parking meters, unless it can show cause why its decision should be maintained.

This matter will be called again on February 27.

The court order also said that it is preventing Town Clerk Royston King from signing and operationalising contracts with Smart City Solutions (SCS) Inc., the company that was granted the concession to implement the new parking system in the city, until the M&CC can show cause against the quashing of the decision.

A group of persons who all share the same convictions regarding the parking meter fiasco, the Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM), is however adamant that the project should be scrapped and that not even a reduction in the rates will suffice.

“We’re not accepting a reduction.

What we want to see is the feasibility study, the impact study, the due diligence of SCS and the evidence of the tender process that was done to select SCS. If they can’t produce these things, then we’re asking that the contract be revoked,” the MAPM had said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 18, 2017

CDB approved US$306M in loans last year

THE Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) approved USD306M in loans and grants, the highest since the past five years, the bank said on Friday.

And of the countries for which funding was approved, Belize, Saint Lucia and Suriname were the three largest beneficiaries of loans. Dr. William Warren Smith, CDB President, made this announcement during the Bank’s Annual News Conference Friday in Barbados.

Dr. Smith pointed out that, in addition to the grants approved in 2016, the Bank began implementing the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UK CIF). UK CIF is a £300 million grant programme for transformational infrastructure projects in eight Caribbean countries and one British overseas territory, which CDB administers. £16.4M in grants was approved for projects and technical assistance in An-

tigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica and Grenada.

“We reached noteworthy milestones in deepening our strategic partnerships and successfully mobilising financial resources that our BMCs can use to craft appropriate responses to their development challenges,” said Dr. Smith, noting that UK CIF was among the Bank’s partnership highlights in 2016.

Last year, the Bank also signed a Credit Facility Agreement with Agence Française de Développement. It included a USD33 million loan to support sustainable infrastructure projects and a EUR3 mn grant to fund feasibility studies for projects eligible for financing under the credit facility. Also in 2016, CDB entered an arrangement with the Government of Canada for the establishment and administration of a CAD5 million fund to build capacity in the energy sector, The Canadian Support to the Energy Sector in the

Caribbean Fund. These recent partnerships are part of the Bank’s drive to raise appropriately-priced resources mainly for financing projects with a strong focus on climate adaptation, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

During his statement, Dr. Smith highlighted that the Bank became an accredited partner institution of both the Adaptation Fund and the Green Climate Fund in 2016. The Adaptation Fund and the Green Climate Fund have opened new gateways to much-needed grant and or low-cost financing to address climate change vulnerabilities in all of our BMCs ,” Dr. Smith told the media.

The President also confirmed that, in 2016, CDB completed negotiations for the replenishment of the Special Development Fund (SDF), the Bank’s largest pool of concessionary funds. Contributors agreed to an overall pro-

gramme of US$355M for the period 2017-2020, and lowered the SDF interest rate from a range of 2 to 2.5 percent to 1 percent.

The programme approved includes US$45M for Haiti and USD40 mn for the Basic Needs Trust Fund.

This marked the ninth replenishment of the SDF, which helps meet the Caribbean Region’s high-priority development needs.

In his statement, Dr. Smith also reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to drive sustained and inclu-

sive income growth, complemented by improvements in living standards in its BMCs. This, he said, was critical, as economic growth across the Region remains uneven, with fragile recovery expected to continue into 2017. “At the core of our operations is the desire to better the lives of Caribbean people.

That is the context within which we help to design, appraise and evaluate every project we finance,” Smith said.

President of CDB, Dr Warren Smith

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Attorney Sobers heads new GNBA board ATTORNEY-at-Law, Leslie Sobers has been appointed Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary, Joseph Harmon announced on Friday.

Sobers replaces former Chairman, Leonard Craig, who has been at the centre of a dispute with members of the old board.

Speaking at a post Cab-

inet press briefing, Harmon said Sobers will be joined by Scheherazade Ishoof Khan, Dr Rovin Deodat, Jocelyn Josiah, Aretha Campbell and Joel Edmonds. The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is to name its nominee to sit on the board.

The new board will serve for a period of two years from February 1, 2017 to January 31, 2019.

Attorney-at-Law, Leslie Sobers

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 18, 2017

Container scanner to enhance oversight of city wharves THERE will be increased scanning and monitoring of containers being loaded and off-loaded at city wharves with the acquisition of a new container scanner.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, on Friday told reporters that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) would now have additional apparatus to thoroughly check containers that arrive and depart from city wharves.

Cabinet has approved a $34.2M contract, which has been awarded to Massy Technologies Limited, a subsidiary of Massy Group of Companies to provide

the new scanner, as well as to train persons to operate it.

“Now this is a company that (has) already provided, in fact they are the company that provided the scanner, they provided the training and this is an ongoing contract so it is not a new contract,” said Harmon in response to questions posed on the contract.

He noted that government continues to work assiduously to ensure that steps are taken to minimize Guyana as a drug transshipment

point. He said the container scanner will “not only cover just one port, but all of the ports-of-entry and exits in the country, so this is a part of a process of ensuring that we can cover these major activities that’s taking place,” Harmon added.

He noted that with the container scanner, the GRA would be in a better position to maintain control of situations and thereby having more oversight of what enters and leaves the country.

Hotel workers charged for attempting to delete gunplay evidence CITY Magistrate Judy Latchman on Friday placed three employees of Hotel Tower and Club Privilege, located on Main Street, on $700,000 bail each, after they were charged with attempting to obstruct the course of justice by tampering with evidence of a recent shooting.

The General Manager, Keisha Phillips, Andre Rochford, the club’s Manager and Ronald O’Brien, the Technical Manager, all denied the allegation which stated that on Sunday, January 8 at Main Street they attempted to obstruct the course of justice by deleting CCTV footage from a shootout inside the Club.

The trio will return to court on March 7.

According to reports about around 03:00hrs on January 8 there was an exchange of gunshots inside Club Privilege in the Main Street hotel, which resulted in injuries. No one was seriously hurt but management had failed to make the necessary report to the police. It was not until the next day when an injured person provided the police with information that they were made aware of the incident.

Before investigators arrived at the scene, the area had been cleaned; spent shells were picked up and there was no trace of any blood. However, there were visible holes in the wall of the club. Police received reports after one of the victims, who was grazed by a bullet, made an official report.

Reports suggest the victim was taken to the hospital by staff of the Club after sustaining the injury at the Club.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 18, 2017

Schools face off in steel pan contest

QUEEN’S College has added its voice to calls by schools for donations of steel pans as they work feverishly towards preparing for participation in the Republic Bank Mashramani Pan-ORama.

After several weeks of intense practice, the curtain will today come down on preparations for the Minor Steel band Competition and the Small and Large school bands competition, slated for today and Sunday at the Theatre Guild Playhouse and

Queen’s College Headmistress – Mrs Jackie Benn-Ralph the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall respectively.

It’s that long awaited occasion when the pick of the crop will demonstrate their mettle and masterfully display their dexterity on the pans.

So far, there appears to be a stiff fight between Queen’s College and North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, both of whom are intent on running away with the top prizes, but Queen’s College, talented as they are, and with a natural love of playing pans, have been facing a major challenge.

They do not have their own pans and have been constrained by severely limiting their practice sessions.

North Ruimveldt with a winning track record, won first prize in the Steel band Pan-O-Rama last year, while Queen’s College, after one year of pulling out from the competition in 2015, reemerged in 2016 to claim 2nd place for the Road March and Costume Band.

Asked whether they think they’ll be able to win again this year, given the challenge faced, Headmistress of Queen’s College, Mrs Jackie Benn Ralph impulsively replied: “Of course, that is the only reason why we’re getting back in the competition. Our reason for withdrawing was that we needed pans. We haven’t had pans in a number of years, but with the promise of a loan of pans, we are hoping to participate and to maximize our potential,” she said, with an air of confidence.

The headmistress said that Queen’s College withdrew from the Steel band Compe-

tition in 2015, only because they recognised that they needed new steel pans and were not getting them. That state of affairs certainly was not doing the students justice.

“Since then, the Minister of Education, through the National School of Music, loaned the schools some pans and so they were able to participate in 2016, for the 50th anniversary Children’s Road March,” she recalled.

And this year, even though they do not as yet have new pans, thankfully, systems have been put in place to alleviate the problem. The pans are very expensive, she said.

They have to be sourced from Trinidad and will cost over one million dollars.

“Basically, it’s going to be more than 20 pieces and we have to source them in sets - tenor, base and the different areas…” she added. The pans they have at the school now, have long outlived their usefulness.

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE But all is not lost for Queen’s College, since their Overseas Chapter is working feverishly towards the construction of a Centre of Excellence for the institution.

That Centre of Excellence, Ms. Ralph said, will be for the development of Music and the Arts at Queen’s College. They hope to construct a building and to source special instruments and other pieces to enhance their arts programme.

But that too, can be expected to take quite some time.

“We are hopeful that this dream will be realized by 2019 or thereabout – that is, we are hoping to have most of the money by 2019 at which time we will celebrate our 175th anniversary as an institution,” Ms. Ralph stated.

She said funds raised will go towards construction and infrastructure and putting in the music equipment. The intention is that it will not only serve Queen’s College, but the community at large.

The Headmistress said even though they have not been able to raise the kind of money they are looking for, they have managed to raise US $5,000 and that amount is in the control of the Canadian Chapter.

The idea of the Centre of Excellence was the brainchild of Dr. Vibert Cambridge, a past student of Queen’s College. He is hoping to foster the development of Arts with music being at the centre, because he likes music, the Head Mistress said.

Noting that the school is fostering a rounded education, the Head said that at times persons are of the view that students are only involved in academics, “But I must say to you that they are engaged in sports ac-

tivities in the arts and so this year, we will be participating once more with the assistance of the National School of Music in the Republic Bank Pan-O-Rama.”

CALL FOR DONORS

Meanwhile, the headmistress reiterating the importance of having their own pans, said that borrowed pans can never be theirs and will eventually have to be returned.

“We really need pans. It is very important that we have access to new pans I must

reiterate that. We really need those persons within the community such as DIGICEL, GT&T and those [corporate] entities that would normally support schools. We are hoping they would be able to contribute towards the purchase of pans for the school. We would be extremely happy,” she emphasized.

The Centre of Excellence will be constructed at the site on which the old Head Teacher’s building stood, to the left of the main entrance to the QC compound.

QC students during a recent practice session for Sunday’s Steel Band Competition

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 18, 2017

Ministry of Agriculture launches Mash band

LAUNCHING their Mash band yesterday to the upbeat performance of local soca singer, Vanilla, the Ministry of Agriculture says they are ready to “Mash up the place” at next Thursday, February 23, annual Mashramani Costume and Float parade.

The launch took place in the compound of the Hydrometeorological Department on Brickdam, where a few of the buzzing costumes were on display. The band is being launched under the theme, “Enhancing Agriculture for

a Greener Guyana”.

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, called the theme a “fitting one” that “reflects on building a resilient agriculture”.

“We must acknowledge the importance agriculture plays as we use this opportunity to highlight, not only our progress, but to showcase where we are heading as a sector. Agriculture remains an important player in Guyana’s development, and such importance will be depicted in this year’s costumes.”

The MoA band will

be entered in the medium semi-costume category, and over 70 persons are expected to be in the band, which will include a ‘king of the road’ and a female individual.

MoA went with designer, Carol Fraser of Miracle Hands Designs, to bring their concept to life. The yellow and black costumes leave nothing to the imagination as to what they are depicting. But while the costumes will feature bees, Fraser shares that the float will focus more on sustainable energy.

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder (fifth from left), with costume designer, Carol Fraser (third from left) and other MoA staffers with some of the models in the costumes

Orange marmalade to transform Hiowa village THE Ministry of Social Protection will be collaborating with the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) to provide jobs for the residents of Hiowa village. Plans are underway to establish a production facility for orange marmalade in the village.

Hiowa is a small Indigenous community located in Region Nine, with a population of about 400 persons. The residents are mostly involved in farming of citrus crops.

Oranges are usually harvested by the thousands and sold to other villages. The former Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, (now Minister of Social Protection) during a visit in 2016, had proposed the establishment of a unit to produce marmalade – a preserve made from citrus fruits, especially bitter oranges, prepared like jam.

Director of the IAST, Dr Suresh Narine, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the Ministry of Social Protection will be funding the establishment of a facility which will be manufacturing and marketing Director of the Institute of orange marmalade. This Applied Science and Techproject will be coordinat- nology (IAST), Dr Suresh ed and supervised by the Narine, displaying a sample of the orange marmalade IAST. “We were informed by the residents that Hiowa has large numbers of orange trees, and we are currently putting together the final project document in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection [to] construct a facility there to produce orange marmalade. IAST has already formulated the marmalade and has branded, packaged and market-tested the product in advance of the facility being built, so that we can move quickly with it,” Dr Narine said.

Apart from creating employment for villagers, this project will see persons being trained in the manufacturing and marketing fields. This facility should increase economic viability within the community. “The name of the marmalade is ‘The Taste of Hiowa Organic Orange Marmalade’; the bottle reads “Enjoy the taste of Hiowa’s organic oranges sustainably grown on the pristine slopes of the Kanuku Mountains, ripened by the crisp, clean mountain air and fed by crystal-clear springs. Handpicked by the Macushi people of the region, our oranges are gently stirred in traditional, open pans to give you a delicious, robust marmalade,” Dr Narine highlighted.

IAST continues to undertake projects aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of Indigenous farmers and producers in Regions Eight and Nine, with funding from the government. The director stated that the entire geographical location of the Rupununi and high Pakaraimas are themselves a marketing strategy.

When in production, the intent is to have both national and international distribution and in keeping with the model adopted by the IAST, for its successful Rupununi Essence line of cosmetics, 100% of the profits will be reimbursed to the Hiowa community. (GINA)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 18, 2017

Consultations on GuySuCo’s future wrap up

… PPP still to submit proposal, wants economic impact study

THE Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has failed to submit its proposals to the Government for a decision to be made on the future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the sugar industry, even though Government had sought to engage them and other stakeholders, with consultations, starting since late last year.

One of the stakeholder organisations that has been engaged in the process, the Guyana Agricultural and Workers’ Union (GAWU), has submitted its proposal document and this has been adopted by the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).

Mr. Irfaan Ali, who led the Opposition side in Friday’s meeting, said that the party was not prepared to make its recommendations until the Government had presented a socio-economic study and an economic feasibility study. The Government had provided all documents, which were requested by the unions and opposition, including the Memorandum

Stakeholders at the final consultation at the Ministry of Agriculture boardroom of Understanding signed between Go-Invest and D. Rampersaud and Company Limited (DRCL); GuySuCo’s Business Plan for the period 2017- 2025; Cost of Production for 2010-2025; Head Office component of Cost of Production 20102025; Breakdown of Government Support requirement for years 2017-2025; List of Capital items by year and cost; Projected yields and

tonnes; Projected tillage and replanting by estates; Financial projections and GuySuCo Annual Reports, among others.

It was based on these documents that the unions were in a position to present their proposals. GAWU did indicate that they were constrained by the lack of a socio-economic study but it did, however, submit its proposal to the Government and Min-

ister Ramjattan assured that the document will be taken to Cabinet for examination and deliberation. The proposal document was ratified by NAACIE. In 2016, Cabinet took the decision, at its last sitting of the year, to have the consultations begin at the soonest possible time to ensure that the best interest of all stakeholders will be considered.

Minister Ramjattan, in ac-

cepting the proposals from GAWU at the final meeting held today, said that Cabinet felt that consultation was the best way to go in the interest of all stakeholders.

“I’m glad that we have the option of alternative from a major stakeholder. I am certain that this will be useful for purposes of the Cabinet now making the decisions as to the way forward, because that is what was the entire purpose of having a meeting with the stakeholders. From our end, we knew that there were differences from the trade unions, the workers and the opposition and we decided to be consultative.

We wanted your version, we understand that your version could not have been perfected without socio-economic study and we understand that,” Minister Ramjattan told the unions.

He noted that while the Government will ultimately have to make a decision on the way forward for the industry, it wanted to make sure that the requisite stakeholders were consulted so that the best decision in the interest of all involved, could

have been taken.

“Your view is an extremely important view and now that we have gotten it, we will move on from here,” he said. The government team was led by Vice President Ramjattan and included Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Noel Holder, Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally, Minister of Business, Mr. Dominic Gaskin, Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman and Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Jaipaul Sharma, while the Opposition team was led by Mr. Ali and Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj.

GAWU and NAACIE were represented by their Heads, Mr. Komal Chand and Mr. Kenneth Joseph, respectively, while GuySuCo was represented by its Chief Executive Offficer, Mr. Errol Hanoman and Senior Communications Officer, Ms. Audreyanna Thomas.

Representatives from the various sugar estates including Wales, Albion, Skeldon, Enmore and Uitvlugt were also present.

North Ruimveldt CSEC Night School gets textbooks, laptops boost PRESIDENTIAL Advisor on Youth Empowerment, Mr Aubrey Norton, on Friday presented a quantity of textbooks and officially handed over 25 laptops to the North Ruimveldt Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Night School Programme in Festival City, North Ruimveldt.

The presentation of the laptops was done in collaboration with the e-Government Agency, which created Information Technology spaces within the Festival City Youth and Parent Organisation (FCYPO), where the classes are normally held.

The agency is conducting a similar exercise in the night schools at Soesdyke and Sophia, where 25 Internet-ready laptops each will also be installed. The Ministry of Education donated the textbooks.

Norton said three pilot night schools were started, in North Ruimveldt, Soesdyke and Sophia, to bridge the education gaps revealed in a 2015 survey.

The survey found that a large number of youths had not had the opportunity to write the CSEC examination. Others had not obtained passes in five

subjects and several of them had failed to obtain passes in the two core subjects, Mathematics and English Language.

The pilots started in May 2016 and will run until May 2017.

“The programme has been fairly successful. We have not had high rates of dropouts and we have a number of students enrolled to do [the exam]. It is with that in mind and recognising the importance of Information Technology to the process we made contact with the e-Government [Agency] and they agreed that they can assist with computers [and] internet connection… Then in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, we got the books that the students need to use to ensure that they are successful,” Mr. Norton said.

A total of 78 students have registered for the 2017 CSEC examination: 37 at Soesdyke, 27 at North Ruimveldt and eight at Sophia. In his charge to the students, Mr Norton encouraged them to stay the course and to capitalise on the opportunities being provided for them to augment their education.

“We hope that you make the best use of the resources, treat it

Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment, Mr Aubrey Norton (centre), presents a textbook to one of the beneficiaries of the night school programme, as representatives of the e-Government Agency also assist in the handing over of books and laptops.

as your property,” he said.

Norton also expressed gratitude to the FCYPO for providing the space for the programme. “One of the things [that] we are doing is ensure that these night schools are managed by the youth organisations so that the young people of the community can develop leadership and management skills and can manage their own programmes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Clarence

Garraway, Manager-Enterprise Solutions, Ministry of Public Telecommunications, e-Government Agency said the agency is looking forward to continued collaboration with Mr Norton and his team and the Ministry of Education to ensure the advancement of the programme. “We are happy to provide, not only laptops, but Internet connectivity to the night schools in this pilot programme. It is in keep-

ing with e-Government’s own action plan moving forward to not only increase the reach of education in Guyana, but also to provide the means of enabling jobs to be created… with this night school… when you, the students, increase your level of education, you’ll be better equipped to walk into the workplace and to sustain yourself as well as to contribute towards the economy of Guyana,” he said.

In an invited comment, Ms Marquesas Primo, a student enrolled in the North Ruimveldt programme, lauded its benefits. “I find it very beneficial not only for students, who wrote CXC and didn’t [get] good grades, but for students, who didn’t write and [those] like myself, who want to add a few other subjects,” she said, adding that the donation of computers “was very good… I find a lot of students want to do EDPM [Electronic Document Preparation and Management] and every job you go for these days, you have to be computer literate, so it will be very beneficial for the school and the students.”

Leroy Adolphus, Co-ordinator of the Sophia Night School; Mr Ian Smith, Coordinator of the Soesdyke Night School and Ms Denise Miller, Coordinator of the North Ruimveldt CSEC Night School Programme; Ms Adeti DeJesus, of the Office of the Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment and students enrolled at the three schools also attended the presentation ceremony.

(MOTP)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 18, 2017

Barticians remember massacre victims

MINISTER of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, said the Bartica Massacre did not divide the people of Bartica but has made them stronger.

He made the remarks while delivering the feature address at a Memorial Service on Friday at the Monument of Hope in Bartica in memory of the 12 Guyanese who were mercilessly killed at the hands of a criminal gang on Febru-

ic night, he said, residents should find comfort in the fact that justice has been served.

“While you reflect on the lives lost, you must find some solace in the fact that justice has prevailed in the courts.

Late last year, two of the gang members responsible for the mass killing – Clebert Reece and Michael Caesar were sentenced to 420 and 1080 years in jail respectively.

“Earlier this month, two

continue with all hands on deck.

In addition to the Social Cohesion Minister, the people of Bartica were embraced by the Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, in their time of reflection. Region Seven Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford, the Mayor, Gifford Marshall, the Deputy Mayor, Kamal Persaud and Commander of ‘F’ Division, Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budram, in

Scores attended the Memorial Service ary 17, 2008. “This horrific incident has only made you stronger as a community and shows that you can rise above adversity. I am sure that it has also allowed you to have a greater appreciation for relationships and loved ones and (it) has taught you to be more understanding and tolerant,” the Social Cohesion Minister said.

In reflecting on that trag-

more gang men – Mark Royden Williams and Dennis Williams were sentenced to death by hanging. This will not bring back your loved ones, but surely it comforts you to see that those gunmen are being held culpable for their inhumane actions,” he said.

Minister Norton said since 2008, Bartica has made significant strides – a progress which would be allowed to

addition to the relatives and friends of the deceased, were among those who attended the ceremony which was organised by the Bartica Mayor and Town Council at the St. John the Baptist Primary.

The Mayor, in delivering brief remarks, said Bartica must never forget February 17, 2008, emphasising that it is their duty and commitment to honour every year those men

whose lives were snuffed out.

Marshall said residents of Bartica must unite like never before and live as one in love.

“Bartica must model qualities and traits that are admirable.

Violence against citizens, families and children must never be condoned. In this ninth year we can be at peace knowing justice was served,” the Mayor said.

He added: “The question is: Can we forgive those who unleashed that brutal assault on our Town? It’s a process, let it begin today. Barticians let’s continue to support the families and friends of the deceased.”

Local leader, Elizabeth Moonsammy, in remembrance of those who died, said, “darkness might have engulfed us, but over the last nine years, the light has surely returned and growing even brighter.

We will never forget; we will keep the memories alive and most importantly we will never allow this to happen in our community ever again.”

Those who lost their lives were Bartica residents Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian and Irving Ferreira; policemen stationed at the Bartica Police Station, Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne; Deonarine Singh of Wakenaam; Ronald Gomes of Kuru Kururu; Ashraf Khan of Middlesex, Essequibo; Abdool Yasseen, Errol Thomas of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Baldeo Singh of Montrose, East Coast Demerara.

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton, laying a wreath at the Monument of Hope, in memory of the 12 Guyanese who were killed during the Bartica Massacre

Gov’t must act now to rescue Baramita THE Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) says the administration must act now to pull back the slide in human and social standards in Baramita, Region One, North West District.

In a statement on Friday, the GHRA said ministerial initiatives set in motion since July 2015, following submission of confidential reports on Baramita by the organisation and other sources to the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs (MoIA), lacked the decisiveness and overall coordination to address the fundamental problems facing the community.

In particular, the penetration of the community by external interests has decisively undermined the capacity of the Village Council to protect

the rights and welfare of the indigenous community, the GHRA said in the statement.

It added, a more comprehensive strategy under the tripartite leadership of the broader indigenous community, the MoIA and civil society is required to insulate the community from the malignant influences which are fuelling a process of ethnocide.

“The intertwined weight of mining and a dominant religious grouping constitute the most potent negative influences. Being more complex and difficult to confront, they attract less attention than exploitation, alcoholism, suicide and sexual violence.

Another under-reported dimension of the problem is the fact that both of these influences are dominated by mixed-race members of the

community, while the majority of the Carib population live in ramshackle, dilapidated dwellings in isolated settlements.”

According to the rights group, the strength of economic and religious interests with a stake in maintaining the status quo in Baramita, places the problem beyond resolution by civic organisations alone – indigenous or otherwise. “The multi-layered intervention recommended above requires the backing of the State, exercising its responsibility to protect as set out in Art.2 of the ILO Convention 169 on The Rights of Indigenous & Tribal Peoples. The Responsibility to Protect may be invoked to enforce a range of protective measures to address emergency/urgent

actions; humanitarian interventions; restoring authority; protection of human rights; conflict resolution; suspending contracts; controlling access; and to promote integrity of the natural environment.”

The GHRA said collective leadership should be exercised to protect against the tendency for individual agency interests displacing the needs of the intended beneficiaries. Most importantly, a collective intervention should involve the Government, through relevant ministries, the national indigenous community, in particular other Carib-speaking communities, the National Toshaos Counci and other relevant civil society bodies. Equally important, ownership of the rehabilitative process should be progressively exercised

by the Baramita community.

The substance such a process might adopt was addressed in the recently issued GHRA 71-pages Report “Impact of Mining: Survival Strategies for Interior Communities in Guyana” in terms of a response suited to communities generally, in which little remains but economic, social and environmental devastation as a result of gold-mining, the GHRA said. It added that the Report notes that “The sense of helplessness, lack of control and uncertainty of status felt by inhabitants of townships, settlements and indigenous communities…is akin to the aftermath of an epidemic or a hurricane” (p.62).

The main recommendation of the Report is that each community undertake

a process of developing a Community Life Plan for itself. Such an exercise will assist the community to develop a sense of itself and to assess what is compatible and not compatible with community-oriented, rather than individual-oriented development processes. Moreover, such an exercise will assist the community to arrive at a place where it can assess, among other things, what they want and do not want from mining and take the necessary policy and legal decisions to protect that vision.

Without a framework of this nature, communities remain vulnerable to a multiplicity of short-term development projects from a wide spectrum of un-coordinated agencies.

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GT, ECD confirm teams for MRMVDC O-50 clash BOTH Georgetown and East Coast Demerara have confirmed their respective Over-50 teams for the Mon Repos Market Vendors Development Committee (MRMVDC) One-Day Softball Cricket extravaganza.

The one-day tournament is billed for today at the Lusignan Community Centre ground.

The highly anticipated 20 overs a-side game will be the curtain-raiser, which will

Kishan Sarwan

commence at 14:00hrs.

Thereafter the Masters, Male and Female Open games will commence.

So far, ten Masters teams have indicated their willingness to participate in the 10 overs a-side competition that has an entrance fee of $20 000 per team.

Te a m s c a n c o n t a c t MRMVDC chairman, Kishan Sarwan on 648-9772 or cricket co-ordinator Seeraj Bhimsain on 647-2840.

The Georgetown Over50 team will come from: Ricky Deonarain, Ryan Singh, Ramesh Sunich, Laurie Singh, Richard Persaud, Mahendra Hardyal, Wayne Jones, Lakeram Singh, Divekanand Ramsaywack, Ramchand Ragbeer, Imtiaz Mohammed, Colin Greaves, Daram Persaud, Peter Persaud, Danny Mohanram, Lnace Adams and Ramjit Singh (manager)

East Coast Demerara Over-50 team reads; Eion Abel, David Harper, Vinod Lall, Walack Joseph, Kennard Luke, Hakeem Majid, Satro Seeraj, Lakeram Barleow, Raymond Karim, Vijay Baljit, Jaggarnauth Singh, Ishwer Parsram, R. Ramchand, Hemanchal Mangra, Jailall Deodatt, Sheik Mohamed and Ramesh Parsram (manager/player).

CONCACAF to mull joint World Cup bid … Trump wall no obstacle (REUTERS) CONCACAF will discuss a possible joint bid for the 2026 World Cup and the governing body’s president said on Thursday a planned wall along the U.S.-Mexico border would not present an obstacle to co-hosting the event.

Victor Montagliani, speaking to Reuters by telephone hours after FIFA said it would encourage co-hosting for the 2026 World Cup, said a three-way bid with the United States, Mexico and Canada was one option but did not rule out games in Central America or the Caribbean.

For Montagliani, head of the governing body for soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean, FIFA’s welcoming of joint bids and the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams from 32 in 2026 meant a multinational bid made sense.

“Especially with 48 teams

and the increased infrastructure that is required, not so much from a stadium standpoint but training facilities, hotels and all the other things, having the opportunity with three or more countries that are geographically close, it would be reasonable,” said Montagliani.

“Probably in short order, here in CONCACAF, we will sit at a table and see how we are going to move forward.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said earlier on Thursday the organisation would encourage applications to cohost the 2026 World Cup and that the event could be split between up to four countries.

Montagliani, when asked if an expanded tournament featuring 80 games meant there was also a possibility for some group stage games to be held in Central America or the Caribbean, said anything is possible.

“You have to look at the economics as well, weigh in the cost-benefit, but I think the possibilities are endless, to be honest with you, when you have that many games,” Montagliani said. “You can’t close the door on any opportunities.”

The 2018 World Cup will be in Russia while Qatar hosts the tournament in 2022.

The CONCACAF region is widely viewed as favourite to host the 2026 tournament given FIFA rules that restrict Europe and Asia from hosting again so quickly.

The United States hosted the 1994 World Cup while Mexico hosted in 1970 and 1986. Canada has never hosted the tournament but successfully hosted the Women’s World Cup in 2015.

U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati has said his federation has yet to decide whether to bid alone for 2026 or jointly with Canada and/or

Victor Montagliani, head of CONCACAF Mexico.

Montagliani said he did not believe that a controversial border wall to stem illegal immigration, which was one of U.S. President Donald Trump’s biggest campaign promises, would have any negative impact on a bid from the region.

“Not withstanding some of the politics that is occurring in this part of the world, Trump has been pretty consistent in his support of global events

and sport throughout his career as a businessman. I am not sure I would see that necessarily changing now that he is a president,” said Montagliani.

“It is important, if we are going to do something like this, that we get it right from a football and administration end before we start worrying about anything above that.

But I am also confident that a World Cup, the only thing of its kind would, no pun intended, trump politics.”

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 18, 2017

Imran Tahir spins Proteas to comfortable victory IMRAN Tahir took his maiden T20 international five-wicket haul as South Africa beat New Zealand by 78 runs in the one-off encounter in Auckland.

The Proteas posted 185-6 from their 20 overs, Hashim Amla top-scoring with 62, before bowling New Zealand all out for 107 in the 15th over.

Chris Morris’ two wickets in two balls started the Black Caps’ struggles while Andile Phehlukwayo also chipped in with three wickets before Tahir rounded things off with two in an over.

Trent Boult (2-8) was the standout bowler for the home side, picking up the key wicket of Quinton de Kock (0) in a miserly four-over spell.

from 16) helped the visitors to an extremely competitive total.

It was then left to the bowlers to complete the job and they began well,

Imran Tahir takes his maiden T20 international five-wicket haul.

However, a second wicket stand of 87 between Amla and Faf du Plessis (36) provided South Africa with a more than useful platform and cameos from AB de Villiers (26 from 17 balls) and JP Duminy (29

Former T&T, Manchester United star Dwight Yorke denied entry into U.S. DWIGHT Yorke has reportedly been denied entry into the U.S,. because of an Iranian stamp on his passport.

According to media reports by the Mirror, the Sun and Metro, the former Manchester United footballer was denied entry to the U.S. yesterday morning.

A tweet from former Sky Sports presenter, now with BeIN Sport, Richard Keys, alleges that Yorke was turned back because he has a stamp in his passport showing he

countries (Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen).

The legality of the ban has since been put in question with a federal judge putting a stay on the executive order.

There is currently a court battle over whether or not the ban will be re-instated.

Yorke is Trinidad and Tobago’s most successful footballer, earning notoriety as a dangerous striker and later midfielder, who plied his trade for Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn

Dwight Yorke has visited Iran.

Yorke was travelling after completing a stint with BeIN Sport, who covered his former Manchester team in a Europa league game against Asse. United had won the game 3-0 thanks to a Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick.

U.S. president Donald Trump had thrown travel to the United States into chaos after signing an executive order placing a travel ban on persons coming from seven

Rovers, Birmingham City, Sydney, and Sunderland.

The former Manchester United star travels regularly as both a TV analyst and as a Manchester United ambassador.

Yorke made over 70 appearances for the T&T national team. At Manchester United, where he played from 1998 to 2002, he has the enviable record of scoring 52 goals in 96 appearances. (Sports Max)

Morris (2-10) removing debutant Glenn Phillips (5) and Colin Munro (0) in the third over.

Williamson (13) fell to Phehlukwayo (3-19) and

when Tahir dismissed Tom Bruce (33) and Luke Ronchi (0) in consecutive balls, New Zealand were 60-6.

The wickets continued to tumble but Tim

Southee (20 from 6 balls) showed some brief resistance, hitting three sixes, before he was the final wicket to fall; bowled by Tahir. (Sky Sports)

28

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 18, 2017

Struggles continue for Gayle as Kings lose (CMC) - Chris Gayle’s run of low scores in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) continued on Thursday, as his Karachi Kings suffered a seven-run defeat to Sunil Narine’s Lahore Qalanders.

Chasing a challenging 180 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Kings came up short at 172 for eight, with the veteran left-hander mustering just five while his West Indies teammate Kieron Pollard also failed, scoring just eight, as King suffered a major batting meltdown.

39, showed any resistance in a 101-run, third-wicket stand which pulled Kings around from 21 for two in the fourth over.

Once the partnership was broken, however, Kings slumped again with six wickets tumbling for just 46 runs down the stretch.

Off-spinner Narine, who opened the bowling, finished with two for 32 from his four overs. He also accounted for Pollard, deceived and bowled between bat and pad in the 17th over.

Earlier, Qalanders rattled up 179 for eight off their 20

Chris Gayle Gayle now has 17 runs from three innings in the tournament.

Only Sri Lankan star Kumar Sangakkara, with 65 off 45 balls and Pakistani Shoaib Malik, with a 30-ball

overs after being sent in, with Fakhar Zaman top-scoring with 56.

Narine smashed a four and a six in scoring 13 from six deliveries as he opened his shoulders late on.

South Africa Racing Tips Turffontein 08:25 hrs Cheat The Cheater 09:00 hrs Rose Of Soweto 09:35 hrs Snowdonia 10:10 hrs Patchit Up Baby 10:45 hrs Baracah 11:20 hrs Ilitshe

Ascot 09:15 hrs Acting Lass 09:50 hrs Label Des Obeaux 10:25 hrs Go Conquer 11:00 hrs Templeross 11:35 hrs Cue Card 12:10 hrs Fortunate George 12:45 hrs Storm Patrol

Kenilworth 08:45 hrs Desert Lark 09:20 hrs Kapteinspandiseile 09:55 hrs Rubyana 10:30 hrs Friendly Tibbs 11:10 hrs Joiners Arms 11:45 hrs Sylvanite

Haydock 09:30 hrs Most Celebrated 10:05 hrs Desert Cry 10:40 hrs Call To Order 11:15 hrs Blaklion 11:50 hrs The Worlds End 12:20 hrs Aqua Dude 12:55 hrs Wonderful Charm

English Racing Tips Lingfield 09:10 hrs Flight Of Fantasy 09:45 hrs Borough Boy 10:20 hrs Verne Castle 10:55 hrs Final 11:30 hrs Poyle Vinny 12:05 hrs Mercers 12:40 hrs Frivolous Prince

Irish Racing Tips Gowan Park 09:20 hrs Jett 10:30 hrs Definite Ruby 11:05 hrs Jezki 11:40 hrs Dandy Mag 12:15 hrs Wishnoor 12:50 hrs Blixt

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 18, 2017

Motivated chess player Sheriffa Ali striving for a Grand Master title

By Tamica Garnett DRIVEN by her determination, 17-year-old Sheriffa Ali stands out in many ways in Guyana’s chess arena.

The former St Joseph High student is currently Guyana’s only Women Candidate Master (WCM) and while she is not the first, she is the youngest, and with just a FIDE rating of 1 411.

But that’s still a far cry from where Ali is headed.

The aspiring doctor is aiming for that ultimate Grand Master (GM) title, which she anticipates will be in the very near future.

“I want to be a Grandmaster (GM) before I’m 30 years old,” she stated.

But it won’t come easy for Ali. Of the 1 541 GM currently in the world,

only 33 are women, so it’s going to be quite a challenge. But the challenge is what Ali loves most about playing chess.

“I am a very competitive person and I love that … chess challenges me,” Ali said.

And while chess itself is a challenge, finding the time to train is another uphill task for Ali when she was a student.

“It was a bit challenging since chess requires keen attention and intense studying, but because of my passion for the game it didn’t affect me much.

I made time to practise.”

But the challenge is not all that she loves about this strategic game that tests one’s mental skills.

“Chess has helped me on a personal level as well. It taught me how to

A smiling Sheriffa Ali at the Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Sheriffa Ali deep in concentration during one of her matches at last year’s Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.

be patient in many aspects of my life and also boosts my planning, management and evaluation skills.

“Chess promotes brain growth, increases problem-solving skills, teaches you planning, and improves your memory. The game can be really helpful to your school and personal life, since it assists with many aspects,” Ali stated.

Ali achieved her first FIDE rating after performing favourably at the World Chess Federation (FIDE) 42 Chess Olympiad last September.

At her first international tournament, Ali secured

four wins and three draws to earn 5.5 points.

That gave Ali exactly the 55% success rate that she needed to secure her WCM title.

Outside of specific matches, the female chess players actually need to attain a FIDE rating of 2000 before they could get the title. In essence, Ali’s win helped fast-track her climb in the FIDE rankings table.

With little opportunities for external exposure, Ali tries the make the best of what she can, with whatever tournaments she can attend. However,

unlike other competitive areas, chess has the advantage of being able to compete with players across the world via electronic means.

Since playing her first game back in 2007, Ali has played in a number of national tournaments, and has been a repeating fixture on Guyana’s Inter-Guiana Games since 2011.

In 2014 she also took part in the Loper Klasse Open Rapid tournament in Suriname where she secured the first place in the Knight category.

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 18, 2017

Sri Lanka sneak home at the MCG THERE was a grandstand finish at the MCG yesterday, as Sri Lanka overcame a late wobble to beat Australia by five wickets.

Sri Lanka claimed a dramatic final-ball victory over Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to move 1-0 up in their threematch Twenty20 international series.

The tourists initially looked set to triumph comfortably yesterday after Dilshan Munaweera (44) and Asela Gunaratne (52) put them ahead of the required rate in pursuit of 169.

However, Gunaratne and Milinda Siriwardana (15) fell in quick succession to Ashton Turner - one of three

Australia debutants - in the 18th over and Sri Lanka still needed half a dozen runs when Andrew Tye (0-32) was called upon to bowl the final set of six.

That target was reduced to three from two balls amid increasing tension, but Chamara Kapugedera (10 not out) scrambled two from the penultimate delivery before cracking Tye through the covers for a boundary that sealed a five-wicket win and delighted a sizeable contingent of Sri Lanka fans.

There was little sign of the drama to follow when Munaweera and Gunaratne guided Sri Lanka into a position of strength.

After skipper Upul Tha-

ing at regular intervals thereafter, as Lasith Malinga (2-29 from four) and Seekkuge Prasanna (0-23 from four) shone.

(Sports Max)

with Finch (43), but seamer Billy Stanlake conceded 42 from three wicket-less overs.

The hosts were unable to fully capitalise on their solid start, Sri Lanka strik-

ranga had fallen to Pat Cummins for a duck in the first over of the chase, Munaweera shared 74 with Niroshan Dickwella (30) for the second

wicket.

Dickwella and Munaweera fell in successive overs from Adam Zampa (226 from four), but the spinner was denied a third wicket when Australia captain Aaron Finch failed to take a difficult chance leaping to his left at short midwicket, reprieving Gunaratne on 11.

Gunaratne took advantage of his let-off, bringing up a maiden T20I fifty from 34 balls with his seventh four, and Sri Lanka were able to get over the line despite their late wobble.

Turner’s fellow Australia debutants enjoyed contrasting fortunes. Michael Klinger impressed by contributing 38 to an opening stand of 76

job and I have to accept that, but I have to behave with my values.”

Wenger, who has been in charge of Arsenal since 1996, said: “We let everyone judge and criticise, we have to deal with that. We have to bounce back, that is what life is about.

“Even if I go, Arsenal will not win every single game in the future. It is not like before I arrived Arsenal had won five times in the European Cup. “What is important is that the club makes the right decision for the future. I care about this club and its future and it is very important the club is in safe hands.

“The main emotion is

everyone has a big disappointment. We have to regroup and refocus on the next game, and to take care of the consequences a disappointing result can have on everyone’s spirit.

“We have to focus on the real problems and they are the way we play football, not my future.

“It is always important not to look for wrong excuses in life.”

Arsenal have not won the Premier League since 2004, with FA Cups in 2005, 2014 and 2015 the only major silverware Wenger has secured since.

However, he has consistently qualified for the lucrative Champions League

and the club has continued to grow financially, despite the pressures of building a new stadium.

The Gunners reached the knockout stage of Europe’s elite club competition for a 14th year in a row this season, but the last-16 first-leg thrashing at German champions Bayern leaves them with little hope of progressing.

The performance, coupled with earlier damaging league defeats by Chelsea and Watford, prompted several former Arsenal players - some of whom played under Wenger - to suggest his time was up.

Former Gunners captain Martin Keown described the defeat as Wenger’s “lowest

point”, while ex-defender Lee Dixon said: “This team is getting no response from him. I’ve never seen him like that.”

In the Premier League, they are 10 points adrift of leaders Chelsea. After the Blues beat them 3-1 on February 4, ex-England defender Danny Mills said Arsenal “have settled for fourth again”.

Earlier, former striker Ian Wright, who scored 185 goals for the club between 1991 and 1998, said he believed Wenger’s time as Arsenal boss was “coming to the end”, although the Frenchman later denied giving any indication of his future plans. (BBC Sport)

CAS confirms Carter appeal

“Nesta Carter seeks to set aside the challenged decision in order for the Jamaican team to be reinstated as gold medallists.

“A CAS arbitration procedure is in progress. First, the parties will exchange written submissions and a panel of three arbitrators

will be constituted. The panel will then issue directions with respect to the holding of a hearing.

“Following the hearing, the panel will deliberate and at a later date, it will issue a decision in the form of an arbitral award.” (Sports Max)

Asela Gunaratne continues his good form in international cricket. © Getty Images

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA innings A. Finch c Malinga b Gunaratne 43 M. Klinger c Malinga b Sandakan 38 T. Head c Prasanna b Malinga 31 M. Henriques c Kapugedera b Bandara 17 A. Turner c Prasanna b Malinga 18 J. Faulkner not out 14 T. Paine run-out 0 P. Cummins not out 0 Extras: (b-1, lb-1, w-4, nb-1) 7 Total: (6 wickets; 20 overs) 168 Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-86, 3-116, 4-153, 5-153, 6-162 Bowling: Malinga 4-0-29-2, Kulasekara 4-0-38-0, Bandara 3-035-1, Prasanna 4-0-23-0, Sandakan 4-0-30, Gunaratne 1-0-11-1.

SRI LANKA innings N. Dickwella c Klinger b Zampa 30 W. Tharanga c Paine b Cummins 0 E. Munaweera c Finch b Zampa 44 D. Gunaratne stp. Paine b Turner 52 T. Siriwardana lbw b Turner 15 C. Kapugedera not out 10 S. Prasanna not out 8 Extras: (b-1, lb-3, w-9) 13 Total: (5 wickets; 20 overs) 172 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-79, 3-91, 4-151, 5-152.

Bowling: Cummins 4-0-29-1, Stanlake 3-0-42-0, Faulkner 4-0-27-0, Tye 3-0-32-0, Zampa 4-0-26-2, Turner 2-0-12-2.

Arsenal boss says he will manage next season ARSENE Wenger says he will definitely be managing next season, whether at Arsenal “or somewhere else”.

Wenger, 67, was speaking at the end of one of the most turbulent weeks of his two-decade tenure as Gunners boss.

After Wednesday’s 5-1 Champions League defeat

by Bayern Munich, several ex-players said they believed his time in charge was coming to an end.

The Frenchman’s contract expires at the end of this season and he said he would decide on a new deal in March or April.

“No matter what happens I will manage for another season. Whether it’s here or

NESTA Carter has appealed the decision that saw his Jamaican sprint relay team stripped of their gold medals from Beijing 2008.

Nesta Carter has appealed against the doping charge which meant that he, Usain Bolt and the rest of Jamaica’s 2008 Olympic sprint relay team were stripped of their gold medals.

Jamaica’s 4x100 metre squad had to hand back their medals after Carter was found guilty of doping following re-analysis of a Beijing sample.

Arsene Wenger somewhere else, that is for sure,” Wenger said yesterday.

“If I said March or April it is because I didn’t know.

I do not want to come back on that.

“I am used to the criticism. I think in life it’s important to do what you think is right and all the rest is judgement. I am in a public

Nesta Carter

Carter participated in Jamaica’s heat and the final as they broke the world record en route to the top step of the podium in China, but his sample taken before the medal race was found to contain banned substance methylhexaneamine.

Yesterday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed Carter had appealed the decision that saw Jamaica disqualified.

A CAS statement read: “The Jamaican sprinter Nesta Carter has filed an appeal at the Court

of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the decision issued by the IOC Disciplinary panel on January 25, 2017 in which he was found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

“A consequence of such finding was the disqualification of Nesta Carter and the other members of the Jamaican team from the men’s 4x100m relay at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in which they had achieved the gold medal.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Saturday February 18, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: - 7 centuries - Shiv Chanderpaul-101 Today’s Quiz: - Who scored most runs in CWI/Nagicor Super 50, 2017 but did not feature in the semi-finals?

- Who took most wickets but did not play in any of the semi-finals?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday, February 18, 2017

GAWA National Trials R&R International billed for tomorrow cycling on today

THE Guyana Amateur Weightlifting Association (GAWA) will be staging a national trial tomorrow at the Michael Parris Fitness Centre, National Park, Georgetown, commencing at 10:00hrs.

The trial is being held in order to select the athletes who will represent Guyana at the Manuel Suarez Weightlifting tournament, scheduled for March 20-26, 2017 in Havana, Cuba.

Lifters from various gyms

Flashback! Lifter Jonathan Ford snatched 70kg in Barbados last November.

across the country are expected to compete for a place on the team.

The Manuel Suarez tournament is a high calibre event within the Pan-American Circuit.

It also carries an educational forum, where the latest sport science research and coaching techniques are divulged to all participants.

The event is set for a 15:00hrs start, with weighin scheduled for two hours earlier.

Modern Optical VIIs action returns this weekend

THIS year’s cycling season is set to continue today with the 26th annual R&R International-sponsored 11-race programme at the inner circuit of the National Park and gets under way at 09:00hrs.

The day’s activities, which are being organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, will see, Team Evolution’s Michael Anthony look to successfully defend the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race.

Anthony clocked one hour 15 minutes 16.62 seconds in 2016, but will face stiff competition in his defence of the title.

When action pedals off this morning, riders will compete in various categories, including Junior/Juveniles, BMX age groups, Veterans, Mountain Bikes and Seniors.

The other category winners last year were Andrew

Michael Anthony Hicks in the Junior/Juveniles, Warren McKay in the Veterans, Nicholas Alphonso in the Mountain Bikes and Zamal Khan in the BMX 12-14 Boys and Girls.

Representatives of R&R International have been invited to witness the races and assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion.

GCB/DMLAS/MoE/NSSCL

St Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary continue winning streak

Rugby action will be back in the National Park with the inaugural Modern Optical Services VIIs tournament.

COMPETITIVE Rugby action will return to the National Park this weekend, with the inaugural Modern Optical Services VIIs tournament.

Under the auspices

of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), the tournament is set for tomorrow.

In the male category, the Guyana Defense Force, Pepsi Hornets, Yamaha Caribs Police

Falcons along, with one guest team will com pete.

On the distaff side, two teams: namely A & B will go head-to-head.

The event will commence at 11:30hrs.

The event is seen as continuous training for the Guyana team that will be participating in the Cathy Pacific/ HSBC Hong Kong 7s scheduled for April 7-9, 2017.

ST CUTHBERT’S Mission Secondary continued their winning streak when they defeated the East Bank Demerara Zone champions Diamond Secondary, to secure the Upper Demerara/ East Bank District title in the GCB/National Secondary Schools Cricket League.

Playing at the Bayroc ground in Upper Demerara, St Cuthbert’s Mission bowlers once again went about their task in an assertive and professional manner, unsettling their opponents for 111 in 19.4 overs.

Romario Persaud and Joel Craig, scored 19 runs apiece. Bowling for St Cuthbert’s Mission, Zak Ferreira grabbed 4-28, Mark Clenkian 2-22, and Paul Henry 2-10.

St Cuthbert’s Mission struggled in reply, reaching their target with two wickets to spare off 19.4 overs. Zak Ferreira, turned in a good allround performance by hitting 32 which included four fours and a six while Elroy Dundas made 24.

Bowling for Diamond Secondary Joel Craig managed to grab the best bowling figures for his team, 4-25,

while Mavindra Dindyal took 3-23.

St Cuthbert’s Mission will now face the winner of the West Demerara District on February 24 at the Metenmeer-Zorg ground on the West Coast Demerara.

Saraswat Secondary and West Demerara Secondary will clash on February 21 at the Meten-meer-Zorg ground to battle for the West Demerara District Trophy and for a place to meet St Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary.

On Monday, Chase Academy will meet Charlestown Secondary to determine the Georgetown District champions.

Mahaicony/East Coast District champions, Mahaicony Secondary, and IBE will play on February 21 to determine the Mahaicony/ East Coast District winners.

The match between East Bank Essequibo Zone champions, Parika/Salem and Leguan Secondary, who were scheduled to play yesterday in Leguan, was washed out without a ball being bowled.

The match is rescheduled to February 22.

St Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary continue winning streak

See 1 3 page

‘The ball is in our field now’ says FIFA director on Forward Programme

By Stephan Sookram

AFRICA and the Caribbean FIFA’s director Véron Mosengo-Omba, who holds responsibility for development, has confirmed the receipt of documents pertaining to the Guyana Football Federation’s Forward Programme, formerly called the Goal Project.

The director, who was present for a joint press conference yesterday morning at the GFF headquarters, confirmed that GFF is awaiting the ‘Notice to Proceed’ from the world governing body. He contended that word should be forthcoming soon.

“On the GFF’s side, they have done everything; documentation and costs; everything that they needed to do and all the documents and requirements that we (FIFA) need to have; GFF has done it and sent it. The ball is in our field now.”

“My presence here in Guyana, particularly in the GFF house of football is to encourage this team, who have started a good job to continue this way, and FIFA will stay with them to support them in this good job,” the FIFA director said.

He noted, however, that the world body is in a period of transition to put all things in order and ensure equality among those member states which were often

overlooked.

The FIFA director stated that over time, the paperwork has become rigorous to try and root out corruption, adding that it is not a barrier, but rather measures of accountability and transparency.

Meanwhile, president of the GFF, Wayne Forde, contended that once this is received, a three-month time span has been predicted by the contractors for the pitch.

“The contractor (from Greenfields) indicated to us in his last visit about a week ago, that he can have the pitch finished in a little over three months. That in itself is an encouragement,” Forde said.

He added, “We don’t have a timeline on things like the fence and the stands, but the pitch is the priority right now. We want to have that pitch done because we can play immediately after it is rolled out.”

“The Providence facility will be the home not only for the GFF, but the entire football family,” the GFF boss said, adding that the ultimate longterm goal is to ensure that each association has one high-quality playing venue.

The project is being constructed under the FIFA-preferred installers Greenfields, a company which according to its website is “committed to produc-

(From left): GFF vice-president retired Col. Bruce Lovell, president Wayne Forde, FIFA’s Director of Africa and the Caribbean Véron Mosengo-Omba, and vice-president Rawlston Adams following yesterday’s press briefing. (Adrian Narine photo) ing the most innovative and technologically advanced synthetic turf systems in the world”.

They have constructed

SUPER50…

Energised Powell ready for Pride clash

(CMC) – Exciting all-rounder Rovman Powell has given the assurance Jamaica Scorpions will be ready for their clash with Barbados Pride in today’s final of the Regional Super50.

The 23-year-old was one of the stars for his side as they clobbered two-time reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in Wednesday’s first semi-final by 292 runs, to surge into the championship game.

“We are focusing on what we have control over and how we as a team play and once we play good enough cricket – each and everyone in the team come to the party – I think Jamaica Scorpions have a very good chance of lifting the title,” the West Indies player said.

“It’s just for us now to regroup and come again. There’s not a lot a time before the final so it’s always important

All-rounder Rovman Powell hits out during his 95 against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in Wednesday’s first semi-final. (Photo courtesy WICB Media)

to keep that competitive edge about us going into the final.”

Powell produced a manof-the-match performance, slamming a scintillating 95 to help Scorpions amass a regional record 434 for four off their 50 overs at Coolidge Cricket Ground.

Though opener Chadwick Walton (117) and Jermaine Blackwood (108 not out) struck maiden centuries, it was Powell’s astonishing exhibition of hitting that took Scorpions past 400.

He faced just 45 deliveries and belted six fours and nine sixes, in an entertaining 163run third-wicket partnership with Blackwood.

“I couldn’t ask for a better game. I think the team played well and the team gave me the (support) to come out and execute what I did. So all kudos go to the team,” he pointed out.

“It wasn’t easy. We came

facilities all across the world including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Colombia and El Salvador. up against a lot of experienced bowlers in the Trinidad unit but the platform was laid for a person like me with a little bit of power and I think I did my talent and my team justice.

“What I did was take a few balls first (before) I got going and after I got going, I could expand and go big.”

Powell then returned with his varied medium pace to snatch five for 36 and complete a brilliant all-round performance, as Red Force crashed for just 142.

The haul was his maiden five-wicket effort in 50-overs competition and he said he had made use of a wicket which played to his strengths.

“To be honest, the wicket suited me,” he noted.

“It was not the fastest wicket and once the wicket isn’t fast, medium pacers who bowl a lot of cutters and use their fingers on the ball can get a lot of assistance because it’s not a fast wicket so some of the balls will grip and some will slide through.

“It was a matter of coming out here and executing.”

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MoPH/Milo Schools U-18 Football

Flashback! Action last week in the MoPH/Milo schools U-18 Football tournament. (Stephan Sookram photo)

Four more games carded for today SCHOOLS football action will return to the Ministry of Education ground today, with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and Milo-sponsored schools Under-18 football competition.

Following the opening round last week, Richard Ishmael Secondary will take on Brickdam in this week’s opening fixture, while Christ Church Secondary and Cummings Lodge Secondary will square off in the second

game.

In game three of the day South Ruimveldt will play Queenstown, while Sir Leon Lessons will play Carmel Secondary in the afternoon’s last fixture.

In the 32-team competition the winners will cart of $500 000, second-placers $300 000, third-placers $200 000 and fourth-placers $100 000 in projects for their respective schools as well as individual prizes.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2017