Guyana Chronicle E-paper 03-01-2020

1st March, 2020

' No.105926

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‘I’M THE MAN WITH THE PLAN’

President David Granger received a rousing welcome at the coalition’s final rally at D’Urban Park Saturday evening (Delano Williams photo)

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... President details plans for youth, regional and human development …as APNU+AFC closes elections campaign with record crowd

Another Presiding Officer seen campaigning for PPP

…Port Kaituma residents furious

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‘We’ll reprioritise expenditures’ -Ali promises to 'put more money in pockets of citizens’

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

‘I’m the man with the plan’ – President details plans for youth and human development

… as APNU+AFC closes elections campaign with record crowd

By Svetlana Marshall DURING what was described as the largest political rally in Guyana’s history, President David Granger said come Monday, Guyanese must choose between

a Decade of Development and a Decade of Death and Decadence, as he laid out the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) transformational plans that would lead to enhanced

education and infrastructural development and the simultaneous reduction in crime and violence.

At the time, President Granger was addressing a massive sea of green and yellow supporters at D’Urban

Thousands of Guyanese from every nook and cranny turned up at Durban Park for APNU+AFC’s final rally before Monday’s elections

Park on Saturday during the APNU+AFC’s Final Rally before the Monday, March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, for which it will come up against a total of 10 political parties – among them, its main opponent – the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

Amid loud cheers from the thousands of supporters present, President Granger, who is seeking re-election for a second term in office, said he has a vision for Guyana as he touted his proposed ‘Decade of Development.’

During this period that spans from 2020-2029, it is the President’s intention to transform the country into a Digital State, a Petroleum State, a Green State and an Education Nation while addressing, among other things, the country’s housing demands, and simultaneously reducing crime and violence.

Having restored Local Democracy, Law and Order, the APNU+AFC is now offering Guyana a ‘Decade of Development,’ President Granger said while pointing out that the PPP/C had offered a ‘Decade of Death.’

He explained that it was under President Bharrat Jagdeo – the now Opposition Leader – that Guyana experienced the ‘Decade of Death’ that spanned from 2000 to 2010.

During that period, 1,431 murders were recorded.

President Granger noted that prior to Jagdeo’s accession in 1999, Guyana, under the PPP/C Administration, experienced the largest environmental disaster in August 1995 with the Omai Spill. Records show that on

President David Granger called on Guyanese to throw their support behind the APNU+AFC to give effect to the Decade of Development August 19, 1995, an earthen face the wives of the 34 peotailings pond, constructed to ple who died during that contain cyanide, accidentally great flood? The thing is, he breached, and resulted in knew what had to be done more than 400 million gal- with the East Demerara lons of cyanide-laced materi- Conservancy but he wanted al spilled into the Omai River to spend the money on othand subsequently the Esse- er things,” the APNU+AFC quibo River. The damages Presidential Candidate reawere catastrophic with envi- soned.

Citing a report from the ronmental, social, economic and political consequences. United Nations DevelopHe said when Jagdeo took ment Programme (UNDP), office, the situation further President Granger alluded deteriorated. Faced with a to the fact that the flood high crime rate, President caused Guyana 60 per cent of Granger said Guyana expe- its Gross Domestic Product rienced another disaster that (GDP).

He reminded too that it could have been prevented – was under the PPP/C that the great floods of 2005.

The flood resulted in the the East Demerara Sugar death of 34 persons while Estate was closed resulting affecting more than 70,000 in over 5,000 sugar workhouseholds in Georgetown, ers being placed on the bread line. Added to that, Region 4. he said Guyana’s economy was on the decline under CHAMPION Jagdeo despite him being OF DISASTER “How could this man an economist. “In 2000, face the Guyanese people for the first time in seven when he flooded out 70,000 See page 3 households? How could he

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

Another Presiding Officer seen … Port Kaituma campaigning for PPP residents furious

VIGILANT residents of Port Kaituma in the North West District are fuming after a Presiding Officer attached to the Guyana Elections

Commission(GECOM) was spotted campaigning with the Opposition Peoples Progressive Party recently.

A resident told the

Guyana Chronicle that Sheldon Henry is scheduled to work on Elections Day at an area within the Matarkai sub-region called ‘Eyelash’.

This photograph surfaced last evening of the Presiding Officer, Sheldon Henry, at a campaign event hosted by the PPP/C

Persons in the area said Henry was spotted on multiple occasions campaigning for the PPP and they are calling on GECOM to ensure all officials working within the North West District, especially remote areas, are neutral in their mandate. Several days ago, GECOM was forced to fire another Presiding Officer, Jenny shaw, from the Enmore area on the East Coast of Demerara after she was seen campaigning with the PPP. Like all other staff members, the role of the Presiding Officer is crucial to the polling station. He/ she is responsible for the

efficient operation of the Polling Station to which he/she is assigned and ensuring that it functions in an orderly manner at all times.

The official determines task is to determine the six-digit number for the stamp (official mark) in the presence of Polling Day Staff and Polling Agents.

He/she also ensures that the persons other than voters, e.g. Certified Political Party Agents, attending the Polling Station are authorised to enter and are in possession of Identity Cards issued

by GECOM. One of the

Jenny Shaw was fired by GECOM more import roles of the Presiding Officer is that he/she, when called upon, determines whether a person is eligible to vote.

‘I’m the man with the ...

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years, Guyana registered negative growth of -1.4 per cent under that Champion of the Economy. Negative growth – that is how he started his Decade of Decadence with -1.4 per cent decline in the GDP; and in 2003 again -6 per cent growth; in 2005, 1.9 per cent growth,” President Granger pointed out while noting that Jagdeo is not a ‘Champion of the Economy,’ but rather a ‘Champion of Bluff.’

Growing economy Guyana under the APNU+AFC, he boasted, experienced positive economic growth. “Under the APNU+AFC, there has never been a single year in which the economy did not progress. Every year there has been positive growth – 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019. We will continue to grow this economy from 2020 onwards,” he said to loud cheers from the massive crowd of supporters.

Though Jagdeo is constitutionally barred from running for a third term in office, he is the main force behind the PPP/C though Irfaan Ali has been identified as the Presidential Candidate and Mark Phillips, the Prime Ministerial Candidate. According to President Granger, Ali is a “Proxy” Presidential Candidate, who lacks the leadership skills to prudently manage the affairs of the country.

“My brothers and sisters, let not your hearts be troubled,” President Granger told the massive sea of supporters while assuring them that with their overwhelming support, the APNU+AFC will be re-elected to Govern-

ment – a move that would pave the way for the implementation of the Decade of Development.

GOOD LIFE Much to their satisfaction, President Granger told the supporters that the profits from the Petroleum Industry will provide them with ‘the good life,’ but was keen on noting that the bulk of the money will go into the Natural Resources Fund, commonly called the Sovereign Wealth Fund, for the benefit of future generation.

“My sisters and brothers, I am the man with the plan,” President Granger said as the crowd cheered in affirmation.

Presenting them with a number of plans, the APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate detailed his plan for youth empowerment. He said in preparing the nation’s young people to lead the country, his government initiated the Sustainable Livelihood Entrepreneurship Development (SLED) Programme for which 2,488 young men and women have been financially empowered to establish their own businesses.

This programme, he posited, will continue under the APNU+AFC Administration.

SLED is being complemented by the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) Programme and the Guyana Youth Corps, all of which are equipping young people with the skills, knowledge and finance to not only become employable but also to become entrepreneurs.

It was recalled that in 1968, the Guyana Youth Corps was launched to tackle unem-

ployment. The Guyana Youth Corps was subsequently replaced by the Guyana National Service, and though it was strategic in making Guyanese fit and proper for the workforce, Jagdeo, while as President in 2000, dismantled it. However, President Granger, upon taking office, re-established the Guyana Youth Corps. According him, during the Decade of Development, the Guyana Youth Corps will graduate 1,000 young men and women.

His second plan – the Human Development Operational Plan – will ensure every child receives universal primary and secondary education, and once qualified, access to tertiary education. The APNU+AFC, throughout its campaign, promised free tertiary education in keeping with the Constitution of Guyana.

Under this Human Development Operation Programme, the APNU+AFC intends to address the housing needs of the country, and in doing so, will eradicate squatting in the country. “We are going to ensure that there is a roof over the heads of every Guyanese mother and child. We are on a programme to abolish slums, shanti towns and squatter settlements. Our children must grow up in dignity. No more Plastic City…No more Cardboard City,” he told his supporters.

Once re-elected to office, President Granger has pledged to establish a National Squatter Resettlement Commission on March 15 to provide adequate land and housing for those currently living in ‘slums’.

Currently, there are 178 squatting settlements in the country.

It was a grand celebration at Durban Park after President David Granger delivered his final address before Monday’s Elections. The APNU+AFC is predicting a landslide victory. (Photos by Delano Williams) President Granger also made reference to the establishment of a State Land Resettlement Commission which is addressing the needs of former sugar workers, who were displaced as a result of government’s decision to “right size” the sugar industry in its quest to make it viable. At Wales, ex-sugar workers are reaping the benefit. This positive development will continue after March 2, President Granger promised.

The Head of State detailed, too, his plan for regional development. Upon entering office in 2015, President Granger announced the Plan of Action for Regional Development; this plan, he said, will continue. In keeping with his promise to restore Local Democracy, President Granger and his Administration facilitated Local Government Elections, twice in four years; established four capital towns and economically empowered the regional administrations to execute their developmental plans. Added to that, the Guyana Police Force Divisions have been

aligned with the 10 Regional Administrations.

The Regional Action Plan for Public Security was another plan submitted to the people by President Granger.

He said this plan will allow for safer communities at a time when Venezuelan gang – the Syndicatos – remains a cause for serious concern. Plan, he said, is already in place and is working and will continue to work after March 2. “We want to make sure that Guyana is safe for every person, every region” he said as he called on Guyanese to reject Jagdeo’s Decade of Death.

President Granger said his Administration will continue to meet the needs of Indigenous People by bridging the gap between the Coastal and the Hinterland. He said APNU+AFC will continue to roll out the Plan of Action for Hinterland Development.

With no manifesto in place, the Head of State said the PPP/C will continue to lose ground, and come Monday, APNU+AFC will return victorious. He noted that since

1997, the PPP/C has been losing support. Noting that the PPP/C has been in a downward spiral, President Granger pointed out that in 1997, the PPP/C secured 220,000 votes; in 2001, 210,000 votes; in 2006, 182, 000 votes and in 2011, approximately 164,000 votes.

Describing the PPP/C as visionless, President Granger said the PPP/C has brought nothing new to the people of Guyana. He said Ali has been caught red-handed copying the plans of the APNU+AFC. “Have not fear, the rate the PPP has been going, they will not win on Monday, but we have to turn out in our numbers. The PPP Leadership has failed this nation. They have sought to divide our communities rather than unite our communities,” he told his supporters.

The speakers before President Granger, who included Prime Ministerial Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan, predicted a landslide victory for the APNU+AFC come Monday.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

Six medical doctors for national awards …Dr. Fawcett urges selfless service without expecting rewards

By Navendra Seoraj SOMETIMES the key to being rewarded is to work without expecting anything in return, and this is the philosophy of Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Fawcett Jeffrey, one of six medical doctors who were listed as recipients of the Cacique Crown of Honour.

As part of the celebrations for Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary, some 66 persons were named as recipients of national awards. President David Granger had said that the conferring of national awards is recognised as a mechanism provided under the Constitution of Guyana to give due national recognition to outstanding citizens.

“I lived my life making a contribution to healthcare not

with the intention of getting an award or medal, but with the intention of making certain that my patients got the requi-

come better than I am… I think that is the way I saw life, not that I worked towards getting a medal,” said Dr. Jeffrey in an invited comment, on Saturday.

The doctor, who began his journey in the medical field in

which he was honoured to be the recipient of. For the young persons, who might be looking up to Dr. Jeffrey or following

in the profession, was Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, who was also among the six doctors who received the Cacique Crown of Honour.

It was reported that Dr. Singh, was one of two forensic

Harricharan.

His parents were living at Novar, Mahaicony, where the Harricharans reared cattle and

Dr. Dalgleish Joseph

Dr. Cecil Harricharan

site attention and care…I also aimed to impart knowledge to my juniors so that they can be-

Renowned Obstetrician/ Gynaecologist, Dr. Neville Gobin

1985, said he worked selflessly for his patients and for the persons who he had to train to become better doctors. And, in the process of doing this, his efforts were recognised and he was awarded, an award

Sunday, March 01, 2020 –– 8:30hrs

a similar path, he encouraged them to be selfless because if they are selfish, the medical field is not the one for them.

“I would say you have chosen a noble profession…the profession should have people who are chosen to be in the profession and not people who choose the profession because they thought there were gains and positives from it,” he said, adding that persons should be in it for the love of what they do. Among the doctors, who have spent much of their life

Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Fawcett Jeffrey Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh

pathologists in Guyana, and has performed over 25,000 post-mortem examinations.

He had testified in the recent Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Lindo Creek Massacre.

During the COI it was revealed that Dr. Singh was bypassed by the government of the day, in 2008, for the post-mortem examination on the remains of the eight miners killed at Lindo Creek.

Despite the challenges, he remains stationed at GPHC, where he continues to work “efficiently” said health officials. Another awardee, who spent many of his years as a medical profession, was Dr. Dalgleish Joseph. In 2011, Dr. Joseph was among the 159 candidates put forward by the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, ahead of the elections that year.

Joseph was also a former People’s National Congress (PNC) Member of Parliament and Director of the University of Guyana (UG)’s Medical School. Another stalwart in the medical, who was awarded, was Dr. Cecil Harricharan, who, according Kaieteur News, has chalked up 50 years and counting, in the medical field.

According to Kaieteur News, Dr. Harricharan was born Cecil Edgar on March 6, 1929, at Little Abary, Mahaicony, in the home his mother, Joaquin Liliah, used to live before she married his father, the elder

planted rice, but as was the custom, his mother returned to her parents’ home to give birth.

The news report stated that Cecil was born the first of six children, and grew up on the thriving farmlands at Novar.

He enjoyed the farms, milking cows and then dropping off container upon container at the train station in Mahaicony.

The milk would then be taken to Georgetown for sale. He also worked the rice fields at a time when bulls were used to plough the lands.

And, at age 19, the young Harricharan set out for Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Canada, to pursue studies in medicine at the prestigious Dalhousie University. He later graduated with an M.D., C.M degree (Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery).

Over the years he has served as the General Medical Officer at the New Amsterdam Hospital and had served at the Mahaicony Hospital for 17 years. Thereafter, he retired having served the government for 25 years and entered private practice and today still operates a clinic at Middle Street, Georgetown.

The other two doctors who were awarded, are: Dr. Abraham Fung-a-Fatt and Dr. Neville Gobin, who both work for the Woodlands Hospital. Dr. Gobin, who is the Managing Director of the Woodlands Hospital, has been a prominent Obstetrician/Gynecologist for over 40 years.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

Three bodies found inside burnt house (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) Police suspect foul play in the deaths of three people whose remains were found inside a burnt house at Guapo, Point Fortin, following an early morning fire yesterday. The bodies of Seyelles Hannah, 41, her friend Ceslyn Farrell, 69, and Farrell’s son, Patrick, 48, were discovered in the burnt ruins of their home at Petrotrin Quarters, Guapo, at around 8:30 am.

Initially, police responded to a report of fire but when they got there they found the bodies. One looked as if it was lying in a hallway. All three were burnt beyond recognition.

Farrell had been living in the house for more than 40 years but took in Hannah last November after she was thrown out of her home by a male relative.

Apostle Kenneth Ojirika, pastor at the House of Prayer Assembly, also

known as the City of Freedom Church, said he dropped Hannah and Farrell at around 7.30 pm on Thursday after they attended a service at the church. That was the last time they were seen alive.

Ojirika described Farrell as a kind woman who stepped in to help after one of Hannah’s male relatives packed up her belongings and dropped them at the church. He said Hannah had nowhere to go so Farrell decided to take her in.

“When I ask her if everything is okay, she would say everything is fine,” Ojirika recalled.

“When I heard there was a fire I left my home in Arouca and came down.

When we got here we heard that two of them were dead in the house.”

Later on, fire officers confirmed that all three occupants had died. The family’s pet dog was seen carrying out pieces of human bones from the charred house.

Police said based on reports it was possible that all three were killed and then their home set on fire.

A neighbour, Patricia Abraham, said she realised something was wrong when she woke up yesterday morning and didn’t see Ceslyn working in her garden.

She said every morning Ceslyn woke up about 6 am and tended to her plants at the back of her home.

“When I didn’t see her this morning I wondered why. I say neighbs not up this morning. Then I saw Patrick’s car parked in the yard. He normally wakes up early to go to work,” she said.

Abraham said the bedroom curtains were drawn and this was unusual as Hannah normally opened her curtains when she woke up. Hannah had recently secured a job taking care of a child at Cap-de-Ville. She had three children of her own but they were never seen visiting her at Farrell’s home, Abraham

said.

She said she didn’t hear any screams or see signs of any unusual activities at the house on Thursday night.

Farrell’s daughter, Linola, and other relatives were seen weeping as they stood on the track leading to the house but did not speak to the media.

Point Fortin MP Edmund Dillon visited and was seen consoling them.

He later told reporters that he knew the family well and was deeply concerned about the incident.

Asked if he heard the deaths were a triple homicide, Dillon said he is yet to get that information. He declined to comment on the crime situation saying that was a matter for the Minister of National Security.

Councillor for the area Lyndon Harris also expressed condolences to the Farrell family and said the incident had left the entire community in mourning.

Massy makes $167m in profit in first quarter (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) Massy Holdings Ltd has registered a $167 million in profit after tax for the first quarter (Q1) of the 2020 financial year.

In the company’s financial statement, Massy chairman Robert Bermudez said, “Lower effective tax rate (arising from Barbados tax reforms in 2019) produced an even higher increase in profit after tax (PAT) of 13 per cent to $167 million.”

The company also posted third- party revenue of $3.27 billion, two per cent above the prior year’s Q1 third-party revenue.

The group’s profit before tax (PBT) of $250 million was also eight per cent higher than PBT in Q1 prior year. The organisation’s earnings per share (EPS) saw an increase from $1.37 per share in the prior year to $1.57 per share in Q1 of FY 2020, which represents a 15 per cent increase.

Bermudez said, “The group has started to see the benefits of the new portfolio structure announced in its 2019 annual report and annual general meeting. The significant growth in most of the group’s portfolios and lines of business (LoBs) is not a coincidence.”

In the company’s 2019 Annual Report, CEO Gervase Warner explained: “Chairmen and LoB chairmen will focus on priorities for their

businesses and will no longer participate in an executive committee reviewing operations and making group-wide decisions for all units.

“Chairmen and their executives in portfolios will focus attention on the strategy, risks and operations of their respective portfolios to drive stronger engagement with employees and customers to produce exceptional financial results.”

The structural changes, according to Warner, will “help our businesses survive and thrive by being better able to change before a crisis forces us to.”

Warner added the changes will also result in improved cash flow for shareholders and more transparent reporting on the industry portfolios which will provide a closer insight for investors on the performance of the businesses.

“We believe that more transparent reporting beyond what is required by accounting standards will allow our shareholders to make better decisions on their investment in the Massy share,” said Warner.

Bermudez added, “The portfolio structure of the group is providing more autonomy and participation for executives and professionals in the portfolios to drive the success of their businesses as they unleash their creativity and ambition.

“Executives are operating with greater focus and have intensified the time spent with

their leadership teams and staff, focusing on strategy, operations and people.”

In Q1 of 2020, the company’s PBT growth from the integrated retail, motors and machines and gas products portfolios were 10 per cent, 15 per cent and 27 per cent respectively.

However, Bermudez noted that the adoption of IFRS 15 (revenue recognition) and IFRS 16 (leases) had a negative impact on revenue and expenses for the retail business and reduced the PBT improvement for integrated retail to four per cent.

He said that the financial services and the ITC LoBs also reported excellent PBT growth of 38 per cent and 37 per cent respectively. Massy’s portfolios and operating LoBs added $37.6 million of PBT above Q1 2019.

However, the business lines for strategic and other investments saw a decline of $26.1 million owing to loss of income from divested interests in security companies and a reduction in profit from Massy Wood (as client activity declined versus the same period in FY 2019).

Motors and machines and integrated retail portfolios generated strong improvements of 10 per cent and five per cent respectively.

The revenue growth from distribution companies of 10 per cent outperformed the two

per cent revenue improvement from the retail companies.

Bermudez noted that Massy Stores Trinidad was without two stores in Q1 2020, which were operating in Q1 2019, and this resulted in a loss of approximately five per cent

of its revenue in Q1 2020.

“All Massy Stores Revenue lines were negatively affected IFRS 15, which requires loyalty points to be deducted from revenue (loyalty points were previously booked to cost of sales).”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

Vote well and vote wisely AFTER weeks of bringing you the news, views and perspectives from the campaign trail, it is now time to head to the polls and cast that historic vote to determine how Guyana will be governed in the coming five years. From all indications, the campaign has been a bruising one as the contestants left no stone unturned in their quest to occupy the halls of government. Most of the offensive was pitched to supporters as the major contestants sought to protect their respective bases from the enticements of the other side.

But every now and then we heard appeals for crossover votes, especially when they campaigned in Amerindian communities.

In the last analysis it has been a reasonably civil campaign. There were the usual instances of misinformation,

personal abuse from the platform and downright appeals to ethnic feelings. In that regard, the PPP may have been more guilty than others.

But the refusal to engage in prolonged tit for tat prevented any large-scale crisis on that front. We have had cause to use our editorial space to caution a few of the influential leaders for crossing the line. Surely, the integrity of an election depends largely on the capacity of contestants to abide by both the formal and informal rules of engagement.

But when all is said and done, it comes down to tomorrow—the day of reckoning. This publication has devoted much space to calling on citizens to take the vote as seriously as their fore parents did when they laid down their lives to achieve it.

While there are good reasons for Guyanese to be somewhat

despondent with the political process and some of its outcomes, that can never be sufficient reason to surrender the right to vote. We have repeatedly argued in this page that approach is tantamount to political suicide.

Today we take one step further in our line of reasoning. We call on Guyanese to go to the polls tomorrow and use their vote wisely. It is one thing to exercise the vote, but it’s a bigger deal to use it to influence outcomes that bring benefit to self, to family, to community and ultimately to the country. In other words, the vote must be exercised responsibly and strategically.

Citizens are of course drawn to the ballot box for largely overriding and symbolic reasons. We respect that. But we urge that those must not be the only reasons that determine where and how you ultimately decide to place

that precious vote.

This publication is not in the business of endorsing candidates or parties. As a publicly owned and operated entity we are tasked with staking out a zone of neutrality. Be we reserve the right to summon Guyanese to face the urgent realties which we confront. There is no doubt that our country cries out for mature and visionary leadership—it always has.

But as we enter a new era in our bumpy journey from the shackles of the past, we must set our face sternly against the kind of leadership that constantly seeks to keep us on the brink of explosion.

The bitter lesson of division and conflict is all too fresh in our psyche. It is therefore incumbent upon us to use the greatest political weapon not to weaponise the past, but to clear the way to a worthy future for all sections and

sectors of the country.

So, we stand on the perch of the public space with this megaphone to make one final call to our country women and men to think and act wisely as you step into that sacred space tomorrow. Your decision would not only affect you, but more importantly, it would determine what happens to the angels of tomorrow—the children born and unborn. We must not open ourselves to the curse of the children by squandering the opportunity to set the stage for a new tomorrow unburdened by our not-so-exemplary past.

This is our first oil-andgas vote—that is no simple label. It is pregnant with both symbolic and concrete meaning. This vote could determine whether oil comes to our rescue from the clutches of our sordid post-colonial lot or it leads to a further rise of

the mega rich in our midst.

Your vote tomorrow could determine whether the salt of our piece of earth, the working and non-working poor, gets a decent chance to climb out of their structural predicament. And your vote tomorrow could determine whether our dear country slides back into the high-handed past of dictatorship by the gun, or whether it continues to be a breeding ground for a democracy that is worth loving and defending.

So, go forth tomorrow and bat for the better instincts in us. Summon the wisdom of your gods and your ancestors as you strike a blow for your own liberation from narrow politics and partisan enslavement.

But most of all use your God-given capacity to rise above unreason and give reason a chance. Vote well and vote wisely.

A government worthy of re-election

Dear Editor

THE nation and people of Guyana, are now less than two days away from what is considered its most important national elections, in its entire historical life as an independent nation. The introduction of proportional representation since its introduction in 1964, has become the electoral barometer for parliamentary representation, no other election campaign since, has emitted more social tension and stress, than that which will take place, March 02, 2020.

And since the background of what has obtained, leading up to this groundbreaking constitutional exercise is well known, there will be no repeat here; except to state that there are some observations which should be made as to the mode of campaign.

In the history of the English-speaking Caribbean, there has been no election campaign, conducted by any known contesting political party, particularly an opposition, that has been conducted on the bedrock of absolute lies, lies, and more lies, than the now closing one, by the PPP/C. It has been an exercise which core content has lacked any discernible definition for what is in-

tended to be policies for presentation to constituents for consideration. At best, it has been delivered in blunder and bluster, for there has been no genuine intent in the formulation of what can be concluded as hodgepodge, and outright plagiarism from already delivered policies by the coalition government. Add to the deliberately , orchestrated fake news and misinformation, and the ever recklessness of appeal to race, and we have had the classic dirty political campaign, for its fraudulent attempt at hoodwinking the people, even its own supporters, into believing an opposition party which can only be adjudicated on its disastrous track record of twenty-three years of criminal government; which converted Guyana into a pariah, and the most criminally corrupted in the history of the Caribbean Community(CARICOM).

What is significant about this opposition is that, even its defeat and almost five years in the political wilderness, there has been no discernible change in its public profile, which remains the same as its former tenure – the arrogance of power, inherent of desecration of the Rule of Law; outright discrimination and marginalization of a section of

society, and other venalities which have been repeated ad nauseam. In essence, this is the record against which the PPP/C opposition must be adjudged, and on which citizens will have to decide.

It stands to reason, that such an opposition which had been in the seat of government for over two decades, and which has no moral right to be considered for government, much less the exercise of political power, and being entrusted with the mandate of the people, which it had betrayed, by policies which benefitted and enriched only the selected few, apart from its brutal record of human rights..

For the government, it has been about defending its record of solid achievements, with its numerous examples of socio-economic projects that have been impacting positive changes in the lives of citizens and their communities, across the ten administrative regions. Significantly, theirs have been a campaign, in defence of its national development record, already achieved and undisputed, which has evidenced renewal and transformative changes that have brought quality changes to communities, inclusive of those of PPP/C supporters without fear or favour. Of

great significance, has been the gradual reduction of the mental distance between hinterland and coastland, in bringing the same level of socio-economic development opportunities to a well deserving people and their vast, but underdeveloped geographic space. And this has been through an all-encompassing programme of development which is removing the hinterland from its traditional milieu of enforced servitude and subsistence living to one of sustainable living and development.

Unlike the former regime which programmes of governance were never about Guyana and all its people, and their future course of development – the coalition’s has been inclusive, as it is about all geographic areas, and all their peoples. At best, it is visionary because its proposed policies is now to build on the solid foundation already laid during its first term which will catapult Guyana into the status of a modern developed country.

Of course, the government has a detailed plan, of its announced Decade of Development, which execution will be carried, utilizing the financial resources which will come from the already emergent oil and gas economy. Guyana awaits

a second term, which promises so much. Guyana and its citizens have witnessed a government, which is led by a man, a president who embodies the natural qualities of a leader, par excellence – of high uncompromising integrity, impeccable morality, who believes in the sanctity of the family, respect for women, and upholding the laws of Guyana and the rights of citizens.

It is this man, who has resurrected a country from its knees of suppression by its former regime; restored its dignity civil liberties; instituting governance with programmes for the benefit of all Guyana and its people, giving leadership in the face of its most severe challenges, and whose visionary blueprint for a country which will mean ensuring the GOOD LIFE FOR ALL Based on its record he choice can be easily made whom we should support on March 02.

Regards Mark Da Costa

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

Giftland Chairman offers tips to eliminate post-election worries

ALREADY, our beloved country is on edge over who will win and if there will be violence, the main parties have promised a win and we know that this cannot be, unless the Commission acts decisively and transparently to defuse this situation there will continue to be fear mongering and possibly worst.

I am kindly requesting that the commission consid-

ers the following.

1- At the end of every polling station closing and counts are verified by all parties and the commission, that when station results are completed that they be communicated to your GECOM ICT Room, by the appropriate encoded devices, in this day and age this is not hard to do and can be set up within a day for all polling station with the right staff.

2- That the incoming results are posted on your GECOM website and in your communications room, and these are updated every 30 minutes, by polling station name and numbers.

3- That on completion of all results that a preliminary result is there for all to see so any claims / objections can be reasonable dealt with.

If these simple steps are followed, you will have

eliminated much worries, anxiety, and stress which accompany our elections.

When the actual ballot boxes arrive you can verify these results and declare a winner, and not have the country in suspense, waiting for work that should have been done on day one with proper planning.

Regards, Mr. Roy Beepat

PM sends message of support to sister and brothers of Brahma Kumari Dear Sister Usha, IT is with deep sadness and shock that I watched early this morning at the fire that gutted the Brahma Kumari Centre, which is a short distance away from the Residence of the Prime Minister.

I notified Cabinet today of the occurrence and the destruction of the Brahma Kumari Centre building. His Excellency President David Granger and my colleague Minis-

ters expressed our deepest sympathies at your loss, and encourage you and all other Sisters and Brothers of the Centre to keep the faith as you try to overcome this tragedy.

Kindly let me know in what ways I could be of assistance to you in the re-building efforts.

Your sincere brother, Moses Nagamootoo Prime Minister and First Vice-President

Showtime! Showtime! This is political boxing Dear Editor, THE much-anticipated championship contest between the challenger known in boxing circles as the “Big Bomber”. He is from Leonora training rout of the Uitvlugt University – the infamous Irfaan Ali. Trying to dethrone the current champion and “king” of political boxing in Guyana, David Granger.

This fight is taking place in the “Grand Arena” at the Stabroek Market Square – in Georgetown – South America.

Hundreds of political boxing dignitaries and experts from around the world have assembled here to be part of this historic event.

Among them are renowned Carter Center, the Commonwealth, the OAS and Caricom. Representatives are from USA, UK, Canada and the EU all present to witness this long-awaited contest, that will change the history of political boxing in Guyana for years to come. This fight is over shadowed by Guyana becoming an oil production county – and the stacks are high, billions of US dollars are up for the grab – both camps want to be in charge of this transformative situation.

Freddie Kissoon - How you see this fight ending? “As a student of philosophy, I predict that there will be a winner and a loser.

I don’t see this going the distance. This will be a bruising affair with both fighters doing everything in their power to win. I expect that the bomber will come out throwing some big punches, working on the body of the champion.” Freddie, you are an insider or have contacts – I don’t doubt you. At this point let me bring in Lincoln Lewis a trade unionist, columnist and a fan of political boxing. How do you see this thing playing out tonight? I expect the President and champion to be the classical boxer fighter, using the ring to his advantage, keeping the action to the centre of the ring – moving around to the right and left jabbing and counter punching. The longer this fight goes will be to the President’s advantage. I expect as Freddie said the bomber will be throwing some big shots – trying to end the fight with one blow. I concur with both of you and Kissoon’s pointed analysis.

My concern is that Granger has to be careful and not walk into one of those big shots. His camp must be mindful of what took place in the parliament – that devastating no confident motion. The Charrandass surprise betrayal.

There is a stream of red approaching the direction of the ring they are singing and shouting “We shall overcome” – it is the Ali people. Lincoln that song is the trade unions battle song and red is the workers colour. Yes! Yes! This is what I like about political boxing everything has a context. Now entering the ring in the red corner, wearing red trunks and red overcoat is the challenger the big bomber Irfaan Ali. In his corner is the chief coach Bharat Jagdeo, Gail Teixeira and Lumumba.

A notable absence is the Brigadier. It is rumoured that there is a division in the Ali camp over strategy for the fight. That may explain the “no show” of Mark Phillips. With Jagdeo and Lumumba in charge, we can assume that greater emphasis is being placed on boxing and politics. No military tactics.

There is an ocean of green and yellow approaching the direction of the ring – singing we love Guyana. This looks like an APNU+AFC rally -the flags and the chanting Granger! Granger! They are getting closer to the ring. The officials have to act now to stop them from entering the rig or this will be a major disruption. Now entering the ring in the green and yellow corner is the President and current champion, King of political boxing in Guyana David Granger. Granger! He is wearing green and yellow trunks and green and yellow overcoat. In his corner is chief coach Khemraj Ramjattan, supported by trainers Joe Harmon and Madam Volda Lawrence. This camp looks united. Ramjattan is whispering something to the champion.

The boxers and their handlers are in the centre of the ring receiving final instructions from the referee. The referee for this fight is the famous columnist, Grand Master of propaganda and expert of political boxing – A. A. Fenty. The 10-point scoring rule is in effect and two knockdowns – only the referee can stop the fight. Official scorers are Stabroek News, Kaieteur News and Guyana Chronicle.

Our in house scorer is Keith Branch from the WPAOA/USA. Boxers touch gloves Seconds out. Let's get ready to Rambo! to Rambo! Bang.

Round one: Ali moves out of his corner stalking his opponent. Granger moved to the right then to the left trying to established effective distance. Ali throws two big shots to the direction of the head, the champion moves out of range and counter with a left to the chin and right to the ribs of the challenger. The big

man absorbs those shots, no damage done.

Ali ties Granger up forcing him to the ropes, working the body with a combination of punches – the champion covered up well, no damage done. The referee intervened warned the big bomber to keep his punches above the belt. Ali with a clever move after the referee said break throw a big right to the chest, the champion wobbles – that hurts – like the no-confidence motion. Granger recovers well counter with a jab to Ali's face and a stinging left to the chin knocking his head back. Bang.

That is the end of round one. Let me bring in our in house scorer Keith Branch. How did you score that round? “Both men did what was expected Ali was the initial aggressor throwing some big shots but often missing the mark. That punch to the chest that wobbles the champion –but he failed to follow up and the President recovered well. Granger was the more accurate of the two and threw more punches. I score it 10/8 in favour of the champion.” I concur. Bang.

Round two: It is Granger this time moving forward with two jabs to the face. There is swelling over Ali's eye. The challenger throws left and right to the body, Granger cover-up and counters with a right to the ribs and left to the head. Granger moving to the right and the left move forward with a right to the stomach and a left hook that hit Ali on the arms - no damage was done. Ali retaliates with a right to the body and left to the head, misses its target, but he ties up his man. Referee intervenes – break - the boxers are separated. Two jabs to the face of Ali and left to the ribs. The big man ties up Granger pushing him to the ropes as he works the body with short lefts and rights. The champion covers up well no damage done - Granger with a powerful uppercut to the chin knocking Ali ‘s head back’ he is in trouble – a combination of lefts and rights to the body and head by Granger. Two more lefts to the body by champion. Ali seems unable to respond. Granger pushes Ali to the ropes followed by three jabs to the face and a big right to the body Ali in trouble. Bang. He is saved by the bell. The end of round two.

That was an action-packed round with both boxers throwing everything at each other – Frederick Kissoon, how you see the fight at this stage? “The President is ahead but I would not rule out Ali, he needs to get in more of those big shots.” Lincoln, your views? “This fight can’t go the distance too

much power shots are being thrown. To this point, the President has the upper hand he is counter punching well and his right and left movements are confusing Ali to the point of frustration.” And those hard shots by Granger that nearly sent him to the canvas – save by the bell. Bang.

Round three: Both men came out very watchful as Ali moves forward. Granger moves to the right then to the left using the centre of the ring. Two big shots by the champion got the attention of the big man. He swings with a wild right and Granger moves back – that failed to hit the target. Granger fires two lefts and rights to the body. Ali responds well with a left of his own and pushes the champion to the ropes. Two short blows

by Ali to the body and ribs, Granger covered up well, the referee says break. The action is back to the middle of the ring. Granger with two right hooks to the head and a thunderous left to the stomach Ail buckles! But he held on tying up the champion pushing him to the ropes, where he thinks he has the advantage.

Referee Fenty intervenes in separating the boxers. Granger moves forward with two hard body shots followed up with two right jabs to the face. Ail in desperation throws a big right but Granger was out of range. Moving to the right and left the President with a big shot to Ali’s right eye and left and right combination to the body. Ali is hurt! Granger moves in with an uppercut to the chin and left and right to the body. Another combination of lefts and rights to the head and Ali is down! Referee orders Granger to his corner. One, two, three, four, five – it is all over Jagdeo has thrown in the towel. The referee has reached the count of ten. And the fight came to a sensational end with the President, retaining his crown as King of political boxing in Guyana. David Granger – Granger!

There is no need for me to check to the official scorecards of Stabroek News, Guyana Chronicle and Kaieteur News. Or that of our in house scorer Keith Branch from the WPAOA – USA. The champion ends the show with a knockout. No need to return to the CCJ. Let the celebrations begin. A Grand Rally at the Jubilee Park Regards Tacuma Ogunseye

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

People fear for their housing dreams under PPP/C Administration

Dear Editor,

and shouted at. A young man of East Indian ancestry related how he visited the Minister’s PEOPLE fear what a return of the Peo- office where he was asked, “Wuh de ‘so and ple’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to so’ you want wid house lot. Get yuh mother government would mean for their housing so and so out my office.” As a result of that dream. The fear is real. It is justified. It is encounter, he never returned until the day that understandable. The fear extends across he and I spoke. He had come to see the Hon. race, religion, genders and income levels.

Valerie Patterson-Yearwood.

This is the conclusion that I came to as I A 1990 applicant was actually given an interacted with a cross-section of the people offer and was standing in the line to the cathat visited the Central Housing and Planning shier (the Housing Office, Region 3), when Authority (CHPA), more particularly the the Regional official (now deceased) instructcurrent Minister. ed the cashier “not to accept his money,” addAs Election Day got closer, more and ing, “Leh he go and leh Hoyte give he land.” more people came to the agency, anxiously A 1995 applicant was told to “go to Leonora wanting to “get a piece of land before the on a Sunday morning” with her money tif elections.” Some of them came because she wanted to be allocated. Her story was they were called. Others came because “it corroborated by a younger female who herself is customary that house lots are given out balked at having to “go to Leonora.” at election time” (A normal PPP/C election One young Afro-Guyanese male related gimmick). Whether they came because they that he was the only person of African dewere called or they came of their own accord, scent, among a group of employees from a many of them share the same fearful feeling. government agency. He was the only person That fear is grounded in what they were sub- that “did not get through.” Accompanied by jected to during the tenure of the PPP/C party, his wife, a police woman, they were allocated more so, under Mr. Irfaan Ali as Minster of during Minister Yearwood’s tenure. A teacher Housing and Water.

(Afro-Guyanese) detailed how her husband Many of them have related, what can (Indo-Guyanese, employed with a beverage aptly be described as, “horror stories;” some company) was told by the Minister, “Yuh of which are too sordid to repeat here. They company gah fuh gi you mo money.” I asked tell of being “cursed with Fs and Ss” by the her what did she think the Minister meant?

Minister. Others related of being insulted She explained that her husband was “not

working for enough money to afford a house lot.”

A woman, dressed in Muslim attire, broke down in tears. She recalled that after “waiting all day to see the Minister,” the secretary informed her that the Minister won’t be seeing anyone else. She said that she sat there and watched everyone that “looked like him” go into the office after the secretary’s announcement. People are afraid because they perceive that the PPP/C housing programme favoured the rich and mighty. It has been established that the pricing policy per square foot is lower for the rich and well-connected. It has also been established that a number of low-income areas were left devoid of infrastructure, while those where the high and mighty were allocated received attention. People are afraid because they “know people who get three and four house lots,” while they didn’t even receive one. In 2015/16, an assessment revealed that there were some 28,000 vacant house lots throughout the country. At the same time there were 25,000 active applications waiting to be served.

Many of the vacant lots have been in the possession of the owners for more than 15 years. Many owners “are overseas”. Many of these house lots are up for sale. A senior official from a government agency tells of being offered a house lot. The seller is living on one lot; constructing a house on another

and is offering a third for sale. A caller from Region 6 pleaded for someone to go, so he could point out one businessman who “got more than seven house lots.”

One man is paying rent in excess of $100,000. He enquired about a vacant house lot in his area and was told that the owner is overseas. This house lot has been vacant “forever.” A medial practitioner is being offered an East Coast house lot for $8,000,000. The seller acquired it from CHPA at a cost of $500,000.

Editor, I think that the post by a Facebook user, under the name Rukamlal Motielal speaking about Mr. Ali, captures the feelings of multiplied thousands, “You forget what you [were] doing to poor people at housing ministry.” To those people I say, Fear Not! Vote! Vote for a president who is not only honest, but whose housing policy reads, in part, “land must not be the subject of speculation by a few rich people; it must be the subject of settlement by many poor people.” Vote for a leader who believes that “Every citizen should enjoy the right to housing” and has inscribed that into his policy and housing programme.

Regards Remington Nelson

Sugar Workers should not forget PPP & GAWU as they vote Dear Editor, PLEASE allow me space in your letter column to make an appeal to all, especially sugar workers and their families, who will be casting their votes come 2nd, March 2020.

This is the day that they or we all as voters will have the opportunity to make the wisest decision and by doing so we will know if we voted with our conscience or if we voted to see our country go back into the hands of those who once held it to themselves, families, friends and cronies.

Brothers and sisters, we all have a part to play in ensuring that Guyana continues to move positively forward and that we secure a brighter and better Guyana by voting not because of our race, but because what we saw happened or has been happening since 1992 to the present day. My brothers and sisters in the sugar industry, you would recall that before 1992 Regional and General Elections the PPP and GAWU were by your side fighting that sugar workers and their families needed a better life, better wages, better working conditions, etc. You would all also recall the only ways the PPP and GAWU could have ensured their voices were being heard is by calling strikes and holding massive Labour\May Day rallies that used to be from Bath Settlement Old Well Square to Dhanar Gas Station Square in Cotton Tree Village, Region Five.

Thousands would turn out at those rallies to show their full support and loyalty to the PPP and GAWU and would walk the distance to show their strength in the fight towards a better life. Dr. Jagan and a number of high-ranking PPPites and GAWU executives including our now Prime

Minister Hon Moses Nagamootoo and the late Navin Chandarpal normally took to the stage.

Those were the men who would appeal or should I say beg the workers to stay strong and support the PPP and GAWU whenever they made the call for strikes and for the workers and their families to fully support the PPP to get into government. That was the aim and objective of the PPP and GAWU: to ensure that they used the sugar workers and their families towards winning the 1992 General and Regional Elections.

In 1993 after the PPP gained government, what happened? The rallies were done away with, that was not even a full year after. The PPP since then started to take away several benefits from the sugar workers. GAWU stopped their representatives from calling strikes, because any strike by the workers would be a slap in the face of the PPP government.

Later in the PPP administration they closed down several sugar estates such as Diamond, LBI, Ogle and Lusignan. All this happened under Jagdeo administration. Thousands of Sugar workers became jobless, their lives and their families’ lives were destroyed. Workers were knocked off without being given their severance pay; they had to wait years after before they could have gotten a dollar from the PPP and GAWU, because they were the deciding factors in making the decision to pay or not.

So, the PPP and GAWU know what they were up to by ensuring that the hard working class of sugar workers suffered while they in the PPP and GAWU enjoyed the benefits. Not at one time, that I know of, did GAWU refuse to collect union dues from the workers and the PPP said nothing to

GAWU. We all know why. Brothers and sisters in the sugar industry, this is the same PPP and GAWU that sat and lay in bed planning how to ensure your future and families’ future is dim after they (PPP) knew that they were going to lose the 2015 elections. They had a well planned agenda for you the sugar workers in ensuring that they (PPP) continue to use you by peddling lies and most of all frustrate your heads, so they can play with your brains in having your support.

It was the PPP’s Bharrat Jagdeo administration and GAWU that started to destroy your lives as sugar workers.

They are the ones who invested in the Skeldon Sugar Factory that is now a scrap metal yard or some say white or dead elephant because the PPP had no vision. They could have upgraded the other factories and ensured that all the factories are in good, sound working condition. But no, if they had done that they could not have fooled you the sugar workers and your families to believe in them; rather, they wanted to keep you in the dark and ensure you are kept as PPP slaves, so that when elections come they will have your votes. All along GAWU kept quiet.

It was with the same PPP administration that GAWU once again sat and planned how to make you the sugar workers and your families suffer more badly and they hired one of their cronies in the likes of Raj Singh to run the sugar industry. They offered or should I say instilled upon this man a wealthy or super wealthy package to run the industry. This man was getting millions of dollars monthly as a salary, free air fares, free driver, etc just to sit and say what Bharrat Jagdeo wanted him to say and do.

Why I say this? Which man or person in the world would run a large

company like Guysuco and didn't know that the company wasn't making a profit? Which man would run should a large company and don't check to know what's the income and expense of the company? Which man would run such a large company and never report the truth to its directors? Where in the world would a company as large as Guysuco would its board of directors sit and never ask for any financial statement? And if they did, then they should have known that the said man is running the company down. Lots more questions can be asked.

But GAWU sat with the PPP and allowed those very questions to go and moreover, allowed their friend who was running the company to do what he wanted and how he wants as long as the PPP administration was in power. This is the very PPP CEO days after the PPP lost the 2015 elections, who dropped a bombshell on the industry and its workers by telling the elected APNU+AFC government that the sugar industry was bankrupt and for it to continue it needs lots of money or else it will have to be closed down in a few days’ time.

People of this great land, especially sugar workers, you all know the truth when the man (CEO) said that to this government and you all know that it was a well-planned strategy in keeping the truth from you about the industry. I fully believed that the PPP and GAWU are the ones that made that plan. There is no doubt.

Brothers and sisters, especially those who will be casting their votes and were sugar workers and those who are still working in the sugar belt, think for yourselves and then vote.

What has the PPP and GAWU done for you since 1992-2015? Where was GAWU when you needed their

representation under the PPP? Why is it the head of GAWU, who has been in the top brass of the PPP for years not letting loose of the leadership of GAWU? Think for yourselves as to who are the ones who caused this downfall of the sugar industry. Think about the days that the other estates were closed under PPP and why GAWU didn't call a strike. Think as to why is it that under this APNU+AFC administration GAWU is demanding you to strike so that you cannot earn to take care of your families, but yet taking out their fair share of union dues, even if you work only two days for the week.

Open your minds and see who are the ones who care for you and who don't, but just wants your vote.

If GAWU and the PPP care so much for you the sugar workers and your families, then why is it that they fooled you for almost 23 years and continuing to do same? When you go in that booth think about those very things and then vote. A vote for the PPP is a vote to destroy Guyana and your lives.

A vote for the PPP is a vote to ensure they bring back the suffering to this land with lies and deception.

Come March 2nd, vote for a party with a vision, vote for a party that has you at heart and, vote for a party that will ensure there is a better life with a better and brighter Guyana for all. Vote for the APNU+AFC and let the progress continue.

Regards Abel Seetaram

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

DAY OF DECISIVE DECISION

TOMORROW, March 2, Guyana goes to the polls in what will be her first national elections since becoming a petro state. The forecasts are that, with a small population and an estimated eight billion barrels of oil, Guyana is poised to be the single richest country in the world.

The stakes therefore are very high. Diverse interests have been at work to undermine our sovereignty, to grab our government, and to control our new-found oil wealth.

For the Guyanese electorate, tomorrow will be a day of decisive decision. Voters will decide whether they would re-elect the incumbent APNU+AFC Coalition Government, or throw their votes behind some other party.

ARITHMETIC OF TURNOUTS Judging from the arithmetic of turnouts at political meetings and rallies, the two main contenders in the 2020 race are the APNU+AFC and the PPP/C. Yesterday, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and I went to Aishalton, one of the villages in the South Rupununi. A large gathering of our Indigenous peoples from several villages journeyed to what turned out to be a mini rally. They were decked out in Coalition colours, and they proudly raised APNU+AFC flags.

This has been the response to the APNU+AFC in all other hinterland areas – in Lethem, Maba-

ruma and Moruca - where, with some justification, the Coalition could claim that it has provided facilities that have changed the lives of the inhabitants for the better.

Since 2015 the Granger Government has delivered, within the limitation of time and resources, and as best as it could, essentials such as land, house lots and houses, potable water, electricity, roads, bridges, airports and air-strips, improved medical and educational facilities, etc.. It has enhanced security and protection of citizens, and expanded broadcasting and telecommunications.

These will certainly convert tomorrow into votes.

The day before, Thursday, women came out in large numbers to rally support for President David Arthur Granger. Most of the attendees were young women. The reason for this support is self-evident. During his first term, President Granger’s government initiated several schemes and projects that benefitted young people, who now have greater access to skills training and gainful employment. He has announced plans for a Decade of Development that will be founded on education. University education will be free, and all outstanding loans, due and payable by graduates, will be forgiven. Ahead, there is a plan to give a cash transfers to parents with children in school.

For kids who are in primary and secondary schools, they have stars in their eyes knowing that they have a paternalistic Presi-

dent. From his birthday gifts President Granger has distributed to the nation’s children buses, boats, bicycles, breakfasts, together with boots, books and book-bags. By so doing, President Granger has facilitated access, attendance and achievements (Triple As) among our pupils and students.

DECISIVE DECISION So, women and youths are going to make a decisive decision tomorrow whether they will reelect this leader, who has placed their concerns and needs at the top of the nation’s development agenda, or whether they will throw their votes behind someone else. They will decide whether to vote for someone they know and could trust, or to gamble on a dark horse, or some other new-comer.

Under our system, the party with the plurality of votes wins the elections; and the leader of the winning list becomes the President and forms the government. Tomorrow the electorate will compare and balance the image of the presidential candidates. It could be a comparison between facts and fakes. And, from revelations brought to the fore during the campaign, voters have a pretty good idea about the candidates, a leading contender in particular, who suffers from a major character deficit.

CORRUPT CABAL When I resigned from the PPP in 2011, I had distanced myself from the “fakes” and the

“frauds” who were parading as leaders of Jagan’s party. The Guyanese people also distanced themselves from the corrupt cabal. That resulted in the PPP/C losing its majority in the National Assembly. Four years later, the PPP/C lost the government. That was its first major defeat after an unbroken period of 19 years in office.

At the May 11, 2015 general and regional elections, the PPP/C lost the government to the combined APNU+AFC, which formed a coalition just two months before those elections. The 2015 election constituted that decisive day when the Guyanese people broke from the single-party tradition to elect a six-party coalition. I have no reason to feel that Guyanese voters would return to one-party rule. The Coalition has vindicated the faith placed in it by the Guyanese people.

In just over four years it has chalked up an amazing scoresheet of socio-economic successes for a first-term government.

It has promoted Guyana in the critical eyes of the world as a stable, orderly and peaceful multi-party democracy. It has restored investors’ confidence.

Buoyed by two successive majority votes in 2011 and 2015, the Coalition

seems to be trotting confidently towards a third win – the Triple Crown – in racehorse jargon.

INCLUSIVE POLITICS This is my 12th elections, and I am not worried about the outcome. I would be worried though if the losers were to see the results only as a defeat, and not as a challenge to rise above partisan, ethnic-driven obsession for power. The post-election agenda must include inclusive politics, and bi-partisan cooperation to achieve in Guyana genuine national unity. Towards that strategic goal, I re-commit myself.

For now, I urge all Guyanese to keep the peace, and to ensure that these elections are credible. They should resist all attempts by elements to buy or suppress their votes. Each vote must be a declaration of the love of our people for Guyana. That is why they have to choose wisely.

La Victoria siempre!

Granger and Ramjattan will win these elections Dear Editor, I saw a letter by "Justice" Charles Ramson in which he, without his big worded diatribe, basically is attacking Napoleon Bonaparte and using that great figure in history to denigrate the Granger administration and predict a victory for the PPP which has his son on their list of electors. Ramson(Sr.) is quite ignorant when it comes to Napoleon who is one of

my heroes in history-he was a product of the French Revolution, the greatest upheaval in history, setting the stage for democratic reforms in Europe; Napolean was a military genius who won most of his battles by using military innovations of maneuver, speed and tactics unmatched at that time(1798 to 1815); his administrative skills and visionary progressive approach led the Napoleonic Codes in Law which still influences the laws of many democracies around the world.

He changed history by the Lousiana Purchase where the USA bought all that land which Napolean approved. Every year at least a new book on Napolean is published on his life and they are mostly positive narratives on the life of this great figure in history. Ramson Sr. is obviously ignorant about Napoleon just as his son is ignorant in attacking the Exxon-Mobil deal and I guess the saying , "like father, like son" is applicable here ,unless for both Ramsons, igno-

rance is bliss. Both will find out on March 2 when Mr. Granger and Mr. Ramjattan win these elections and if I'm wrong , I'll bury my head in the sand and you all will never hear from me again on politics-but I would like the same from the Ramsons, when the PPP loses, which, in my mind, is a certainty.

Yours faithfully, Cheddi (Joey)Jagan(Jr.)

Signs of political maturity and progress Dear Editor AS we prepare to cast our votes on March 2, 2020 Guyanese would do well to remember the instructive saying that “with great power comes great responsibility.”

There is so much fake news, fake social media pages and a plethora of social media trolls trying to shape public opinion and influence the issues voters think about when considering which party to vote for. We have seen the emergence of several new, largely inexperienced and hopeful parties using similar strategies of negative campaigning, fake news, pages and trolls all aimed at convincing Guyanese to vote for them. While the Coalition Government seems to have attracted more Guyanese from all over the country and the most endorsements (from Guyanese at home

and in the Diaspora and, notable personalities in the Caribbean and North America, even as far as Hollywood) of all contesting parties, the four most important societal benefits of a Coalition Government, Coalition politics and a return of an active local government, to me have been overlooked (deliberately or unintentionally) by many. I put forward that these three benefits are: 1. Unlike the prior PPP-led Government, the Coalition Government has not victimized or attempted to suppress any of the new political parties. The absence of political victimization and the fear of this type of vicitimisation have helped all new parties to flourish. This atmosphere also has further enabled many Guyanese especially youth to get involved in politics to help move Guyana forward together. I shudder to think about what would have happened to some of these parties and

persons associated with them had they attempted to criticize the PPP-led Government, much less embarked on forming a political party.

2. Coalition governance and politics have improved citizen focus on Government performance, responsiveness and accountability. This is largely because the Coalition currently comprises six political parties that all accountable to their constituents and all of Guyana. This forces the Coalition to consider diverse and multiple views and recommendations before Cabinet makes decisions, and to ensure development is evident in each region. The Coalition has even disciplined a few of its own representatives, retained know PPP members and supporters in key Government positions, a risk it deemed necessary to reinforce and foster a culture of professionalism (not favourtism) in delivery of public services to Guyanese. During

the entire 23 years of the PPP-led administration, public services deteriorated, hundreds of persons without the requisite experience and qualifications were placed in positions for political purposes.

3. Real freedom of speech and association has returned to Guyana, after years of suppression orchestrated by the PPP-led administration. Whether on social media, print media or in public, persons have openly critiqued the Coalition without any concern of reprisal.

These developments are good for Guyana and a good sign that we are maturing politically. We now need to ensure and demand all political parties safeguard this.

Regards Andrew Small

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

Confessions of an eternal progressive who is voting for President David Granger

I AM an eternal progressive who emerged from the bowels of the University of Guyana students politics. My first meaningful engagement with Guyanese politics came in 2003 when I led the students’ fight for justice for Yohance Douglas. At that time, we were all naïve and over-zealous students dreaming of a progressive society where laws and due process would trump power and entrenched institutional privilege.

Sadly, the realities of intractable Guyanese politics hit us like a ton of bricks.

We never received the justice we marched for under the diabolic rule of the PPP cabal.

Most of us were disheartened and withdrew from public activism. We were resigned in the defeatist fate that the People’s Progressive Party would rule forever as long as ethnic politics prevailed. Friends made contact with me and encouraged me to return to public activism, I consistently declined. I made it known that I do not believe anything would make sense. I was encouraged with the arguments of the ‘shared governance’ chattering classes, but I remained subdued.

THE EMERGENCE OF A PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE My interest in the Guyanese politics was rekindled in 2011 when Robert Corbin announced that he will not return as the presidential candidate of the People’s National Congress and there would be national debates between their presidential candidates.

Disbelief was my sentiment over what I was

reading in the Stabroek News, this development was tantamount to the primaries that are part of American politics. The candidates went directly to the membership of the party in each region and presented their arguments.

During these debates for the top spot of the party, Faith Harding, James Bond, Basil Williams, Carl Greenidge and David Granger exchanged ideas. Candidate David Granger’s knowledge of Guyana and willingness to embrace new ideas and accept constructive critique on the debate stage gave me a clear indication that he was a progressive at heart. He earned the position of presidential candidate through this very progressive and democratic process. We were encouraged and joined the movement to save Guyana from destruction by the PPP. THE TRIUMPH OF COALITION POLITICS In 2011, progressive politics continued its march forward under the aegis of Mr Granger when the Guyana Action Party, the Guyana Association of Local Authorities, the Guyana National Congress, the Guyana People’s Partnership, the Guyana Youth Congress, the Justice for All Party, the National Democratic Front, the National Front Alliance, the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the Working People’s Alliance joined the with the PNC and formed A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). This big tent idea with a diverse ideas and membership could not have been possible without someone at

the helm who was thinking beyond the mundane vicissitudes of Guyanese politics. After the 2011 elections, the results showed that APNU received 139, 678 votes, the People’s Progressive Party attained 166, 340 votes and the Alliance For Change (AFC) acquired 35, 333 votes. This translated into 32 seats of the PPP, 26 seats for APNU and 7 seats for the AFC. A light bulb went off in the heads of progressives. They calculated that if there is the combination of the two opposition parties, the PPP could be defeated. Understandably, the joining of forces that stood at the opposite side of the Guyanese political spectrum for decades was an impossibility for some. I was optimistic because I knew once Mr Granger was leading the negotiations, it would happen and rightly so, it did. The rest is recent Guyanese history.

THE COMPLAINTS At the beginning of 2019, in the postNCM period, some opportunistic men who proclaimed to be progressive forces began a clarion call for a third force. They argued

that the AFC was dead and Guyanese had been betrayed by the promise of change in the 2015 elections. For me, the call against the movement was harried and unjustified after just four years. In addition, they pointed to the lack of progress on issues such as LGBT rights, the decriminalisation of marijuana and constitutional reform. I don’t think they fully grasp the fact that Mr Granger is the first President to exercise political leadership over a coalition of 10 parties in a rapidly transforming society. There is a difference between being a progressive and a reactionary. The point was made that gradualism is best in certain political contexts and political leadership requires careful stewardship.

The leadership displayed by President Granger over the last four years in the most difficult of circumstances has made this eternal progressive anxious to vote for him on Monday.

Understanding Energy

Elections mark a turning point for Guyanese development

THE much-awaited March 2 elections are here. Regardless of which party comes out on top, there’s no doubt that the new government will take the reins at a profoundly important time in Guyana’s history. As many have noted, there will be a lengthy to-do list for our vital oil and gas industry, as Guyana’s status as a major emerging oil producer takes shape.

As many Guyanese know all too well, election season tends to raise the pitch of public debate, even as it lowers the bar for facts and reason. But the critical importance of the policies that will be implemented over the next few years makes it particularly important that Guyanese demand clarity and plans from officials, while keeping a critical eye on stories or claims that try to inflame public opinion.

Just five years ago, news of major offshore oil discoveries changed Guyana’s future forever. ExxonMobil’s announcement, coming after one of their partners had pulled out just a year before, shocked many who had written off the Stabroek Block completely. Today, the company estimates resources of more than 8 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Exploration and appraisal activities are still in the early stages in other blocks and in parts of the pro-

lific Stabroek block.

The looming bonanza raised many initial challenges for a first-time oil producer, some of which have already been addressed. Our local content policy was recently finalised and published after years of work. Guyana has a functional sovereign wealth fund set up to take in oil revenues—the Natural Resources Fund (NRF). The agencies that will regulate the sector initially are in place and are rapidly expanding their capacity and knowledge base with help from groups such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Systems are in place to ensure officials from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) are on board oil-production ships to verify the integrity of the crude-lifting process and the government has already sold and lifted its first tanker of crude oil. But there is still much to be done on revenue management, business regulations, oil marketing and more.

It will take even more work in the long term to create the institutional capabilities and knowledge to support all these programmes. Setting up reasonable and transparent rules and regulations, consistent enforcement mechanisms

and strong anti-corruption measures will be the work of decades, but the foundation needs to be laid now.

The government will also need to find a marketing firm to sell its crude oil. There is already a contract in place to sell the first three lifts to Shell Western Supply and Trading Limited, but a formal arrangement with marketing professionals could help us get consistent buyers and good prices in the long term.

Chatham House expert Valerie Marcel recently laid out several other specific steps the next administration should take, including establishing a specific regulatory body for the oil and gas industry—like the proposed Petroleum Commission. She also noted the importance of building up institutional knowledge at the EPA and other agencies, but noted that overall, strong progress has already been made in many areas. Marcel added that the Ministry of Finance has made good progress laying out the rules for spending and saving oil revenues through mechanisms such as the NRF. Comprehensive plans for how wealth will be saved and spent are critical at this time, especially since revenues will be relatively low during the first few years as companies recoup their initial investments in exploration and development.

This election will also help decide more fundamental questions such as what Guyana wants to do with its oil wealth and how oil money can fit into our development goals. Candidates and parties have suggested social programmes of all kinds ranging from direct cash transfers and free education to lower taxes, improved infrastructure and revitalisation programmes for the sugar estates. With revenues forecasted to be in the US billions annually in just a few short years, there could be sufficient money to fund an incredible range of programmes.

To ensure those investments are both prudent and smart, Guyana will have to be careful. Enacting international best-practice policies for things like how government contracts are awarded and how investment decisions are made, could help us get the most long-term value out of oil revenues.

As Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, said last April, “Well managed oil revenues can have a transformative and sustainable impact on a country’s development…Guyana today has an extraordinary opportunity to reduce poverty and bring long-term benefits to its people.”

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

‘Coalition brought back a sense of hope’ …says Lethem youth leader

By Gabriella Chapman THE APNU+AFC closing rally for the campaign season at D’Urban park attracted a mammoth crowd, causing it to be dubbed ‘the mega rally’.

With the thousands of people who packed the stands and tarmac, they painted the entire facility green and yellow. To welcome the patrons, Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence, entertained the crowd with jokes about the opposition and its leaders.

She reminded them briefly of the development and progress made in Guyana during the APNU+AFC leadership. Listing improved roads, water, lights, schools, health centres, and magistrates’ courts, as some of these developments. She noted that the government is focused on growth in every sector in the country. Following shortly after Minister Lawrence’s welcome remarks, a young Lethem (Region Nine) candidate, Michelle Joseph, reminded those gathered of the development taking place in the hinterland.

Joseph said that she has never seen so many country men and women showing up at a political rally, in her time, and credited this to the leadership of President David Granger. “This is only so because we are truly blessed to have the kind of leadership that brought back a sense of togetherness, a sense of pride in whom we are as Guyanese. And when you look across you can truly see that we are in the spirit of togetherness and we are so proud to be Guyanese.

Most importantly, this kind of leadership brought back a sense of hope,” she said.

Sharing some of the developments that are happening in the hinterland region, Joseph said that her hometown Lethem, the Rupununi and all hinterland communities have seen significant transformation. “If you visited Lethem before you would know it as the dusty little community. Today Lethem has gained its township sta-

tus through His Excellency, David Arthur Granger. And this transformation happened in just four plus years. In the township of Lethem, we now have asphaltic roads; we no longer have to tread along the dusty red laterite. We have lights on every street and every corner,” she said, with much vigour.

The wider hinterland was not left behind, she added; “…There was the introduction of the SLED (Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development) programme. The programme has changed the lives of many young Indigenous men and women, and today many of those persons are proud to call themselves business owners, and are running successful businesses in their communities and that was only possible because of the implementation of SLED.” Noting too that the hinterland people suffered immensely from the lack of information, Joseph said information is vital. “Information is vital and many of the hinterland people received filtered information.

Information they wanted us to hear, information that they wanted us to know. And unfortunately, it was not the real deal. It was old information. Sometimes we have to wait days before we can get a newspaper to read. But today, with the establishment of Internet hubs across the villages, and radio stations in the main districts, we are now properly informed. We are knowledgeable of the things that are happening in and around our country.

The Indigenous Peoples are not left behind,” Joseph said in her address to the hyped crowd of people.

“It is also because of the introduction of Wi-Fi in the various communities, the children at the Rupunini are now seeing better results.

Just recently, we produced a student out of the St. Ignatius Secondary School who passed with 20+ subjects.

Our education system is being enhanced, and with the introduction of the Five B’s, it’s moving. Our children’s lives are being transformed

like never before,” she added. Sharing more on the developments, she explained that Region Nine is faced with two extreme weather conditions; the rainy season and the dry season. The dry season, she said, tends to affect the community the most because when the wells are dried up and the creeks are low, the animals suffer, and their livelihood is strained. Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence

Lethem Youth Leader, Michelle Joseph

National School of Dance entertaining the crowd with their choreographed dance piece

“And this government saw that this needed to change and wells are drilled in villages and communities across the Rupununi, and this government is the government that cares not just for the people on the coast, but for the hinterland people,” Joseph said.

In view of the foregoing, the youth leader encouraged the people to make a sound decision, and allow progress to continue throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.

Adding a sprinkle of culture to the programme, the crowd was entertained intermittently

Berbice Delight performing a dance at the APNU+AFC closing Rally

with performances from the National School of Dance, Stephen Ramphal, Mark Ferdinand, Berbice

Delight, and Cherilyn Maloney. There was also an after show with Farmer Nappy, Christopher Mar-

tin, and Guyanese artistes, Saiku, Mark Batson, Brandon Harding, Vanilla and Kwasi Ace.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

APNU+AFC supporters smell victory

By Gabriella Chapman

TOMORROW is the grand day when the fate of the parties who have been feverishly campaigning to win hearts and votes of the people, will be decided.

The country saw a twomonth long campaign season, with political rallies being held throughout the length and breadth of the country.

On Saturday, the biggest rally of the season was held at D’Urban Park by the coalition party, with thousands of

see even more progress, especially for the youths, our children and grandchildren. And I know we will go to victory and we will win this race,” said Elaine Domingo, who travelled all the way from Berbice.

An inter-racial couple from Blairmont, West Coast Berbice, said that they will forever support the coalition government if its leadership continues to reflect what it has been over the past four years.

The wife, Kavita David, said she is supporting David Granger because “he raised

Blairmont couple, Mark and Kavita David, and their son

Elaine Domingo

Susan Richmond

supporters flocking the tarmac and stands of the mega facility.

Piercing through the packed crowd, Guyana Chronicle spoke with a few of the supporters to ascertain their reason for their choice of support.

“First of all, we are looking for progress and good things to happen in this country. We must thank the President for his leadership in these four and a half years, who did a lot that was never done before. We would like him to win again, to

our salaries, he fixed our roads, he made betterment for our children, our live, and we have seen progress, and we are not going to stop it. I know that he will continue with his promises”.

Her husband, Mark David, said: “I’m expecting better schooling for my children, good jobs for our young people. My daughter is out of school and she has her qualifications, so she needs a proper job.... I’m supporting because this government showed that

they’re stepping to progress for me and family.”

“I’m voting for my daughter’s future. Education is key, education sets about a lot of opportunities, and that has always been atop this government’s agenda, so that is why I’m voting for the APNU/AFC coalition. I hope all the promises that they gave us, we will see it being fulfilled,” a mother from Newtown Kitty said.

A young teacher from Mahaicony, Susan Richmond, said “since I was a child growing up, I’ve always known President Bharrat Jagdeo, so now I am expecting some changes. I am a teacher and I am expecting to see a lot more changes in terms of the CPCE, and with the children in school. I want to continue seeing the same progress education wise.”

A dancing, overly excited patron, Ayeshia Marshall, shouted,

‘Be authors of your own future’

“A better life for all Guyanese.”

She said, “I’m happy that since he took over, my salary is raised to where it supposed to be, so I am going to continue to support. And not only that, David Granger has proven to be a man of God, and I’m voting according to the Bible.

The Bible says when the wicked rule, the people will perish, and when the righteous rule, the people will prosper. So prosperity all the way.”

Mezona Calistro, from the Pomeroon, said much has improved in their community.

With the implementation of the Five Bs project, they were gifted with boats and schools are now easily accessible for their children.

Maryann Robin said, “I’m happy to be here this afternoon to support a government that I know has the people’s best interest at heart and I know that he said after elections he will

Annette Nelson and young Tequan

continue the progress in terms of helping all Guyanese education wise, and helping young people get jobs and a whole host of other things, and I trust that he will fulfil those promises.”

The thousands of people could barely be accommodated at the multi-purpose facility

built by the government but they were too distracted with excitement and joy to feel any discomfort.

They were also entertained with a plethora of cultural performances and were given messages of assurance from the party leaders.

Ayeshia Marshall

Maryann Robin

–– Shuman charges at final meeting

WITH a charge for Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples to take responsibility and become the authors of their own future, former Toashao and Presidential candidate for the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lennox Shuman, on Saturday, made his final plea for the Indigenous Peoples support in Monday’s general and regional elections.

As Guyana’s two major political parties held massive closing rallies in Georgetown and on the East Coast Demerara, Shuman told a humble gathering of about 100 people at the St. Cuthbert’s Mission Benab, that the LJP is aiming to put equity in Guyana’s political society.

“When was the last time you saw an Indigenous president? Are we not the first people of this country, so why have we not seen an Indigenous president?” Shuman questioned as he opened his remarks at the public meeting.

LJP is contesting in both the general and regional elections in the minimum six geographical regions, with a focus on those regions known for Indigenous communities.

Aside from Region Four, the party is also on the ballot in Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight and Nine.

The supporters eagerly listened as Shuman spoke about some of his encounters on the campaign trail; ever so often they offered their applause, or supporting comments to encouraging remarks.

Shuman said that should the LJP win a seat in Guyana’s 65-seat parliament, it would be a better balance for the country.

“When the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) wins half the country is upset, when the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) wins half the country is upset. The only way for us all to be happy is to ensure LJP has a seat at that table,” Shuman said.

The governing A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) and the opposition People’s Progressive Party are the two major party’s contesting Monday’s elections.

He added, “As long as there is a PPP there will always be an Indian presidential candidate, as long as there is a PNC there will always be an African Presidential candidate, but it is time that we change that. Time that we open the door for any candidate to walk in.”

Shuman encouraged those gathered to shun the promises of the other major political parties.

“They come into our communities and say we are going to give you $50,000 per child. When they come into the communities, say I don’t want to wait until you win, give me the $50,000 now. All they do is look at Indigenous People as the Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs,” Shuman said, citing a continuous campaign promises by the PPP to give out $50,000 grants per child to parents.

Shuman said what he can promise, should the party be able to garner enough votes, is an independent voice in parliament that speaks to Indigenous Peoples’ issues.

His message resonated with 41-year-old Trevor Dundas, who said he went to school

Presidential Candidate, Lennox Shuman, speaking at the party’s final public meeting. [From left] Seated are overseas-based party supporter Yvonne Flores; TNM Presidential Candidate, Asha Kissoon; and LJP VP, John Flores alongside Shuman.

“From my personal point of view, how he’s speaking there, the other parties are only for themselves, but what about the small fishes,” Dundas said.

Twenty-six-year-old Sheldon Peters, who is passionate about programmes for Indigenous citizens, said he hopes the party wins at least one seat in parliament, which he believes would promote better cooperation.

“LJP is all about the change to bring Guyana unity and help the other political parties work along to help shape Guyana’s future to be better. To represent our nation’s motto,” Peters said.

Peters was among those who took to the stage during the approximately one-and-ahalf-hour meeting.

Shuman was also joined on the stage

by LJP Vice-President John Flores; over-

seas-based supporter Yvonne Flores; and Presidential Candidate of the New Movement, Dr. Asha Kissoon.

LJP and TNM along with A New and United Guyana (ANUG) headed by presidential candidate, Ralph Ramkarran, last month combined their lists of candidates for the elections.

Kissoon, during her remarks, also highlighted the need for Indigenous Peoples to be the author of their own change.

“For too long you have behaved foreign-minded, you want someone to come in from the outside village to fix your village.

Stop waiting for outsiders to come and fix it for you. Do it for yourselves,” she said.

TNM is contesting only the general elections, also in the minimum six regions.

TNM is on the ballot in Regions Three, Four, Five, Six, Eight and 10.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

At APNU+AFC Rosignol rally…

PM Nagamootoo reveals goings-on during last days in PPP/C PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Dr Joey Jagan, son of Former President and PPP leader, Cheddi Jagan, spoke of how the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) strayed to corruption and mismanagement after opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo took over leadership.

Speaking to a massive gathering last week at the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) mini rally in Rosignol, Nagamootoo, a former executive of the PPP/C, shared with the gathering what prevailed in the PPP/C in his last days with the party.

Attempts to get the party to return to being an upright party saw him being ousted from the party. “I was pushed out or kicked out in 2011 when I couldn’t take anymore of seeing people being paid in death squads to murder young people in this country; of seeing leaders in bed with the drug lords; of seeing ministers in government having their visas revoked they couldn’t travel abroad; of looking at our country when nobody wanted to invest in our Guyana,” Nagamootoo expressed.

Nagamootoo also noted the disrespect and ill treatment meted out to many Guyanese in the international arena because of the level to which the PPP/C had taken the country. “Looking at Guyanese trying to hustle a living being prevented from entering Trinidad or being put on a bench in Barbados waiting on a plane to be deported,” Nagamootoo recalled.

A former teacher, journalist and lawyer, Nagamootoo first joined the PPP/C in 1964. He served in various roles through the ranks of the party, first serving as a parliamentarian under the PPP/C from 1992, serving in various government posts under the presidencies of Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, Samuel Hinds and Bharrat Jagdeo during the party’s years in power.

He remained a member of parliament with the party until 2011 when he resigned. He would later that same year join the Alliance For Change (AFC), which would go on to become a component of the governing coalition. Nagamootoo said he

could no longer take what the party was becoming following the 1997 death of the party’s founder Cheddi Jagan, and particularly when the party fell into the hands of former President Jagdeo, who served as president from 1999 – 2011.

“We have seen after the death of Cheddi Jagan, how Baby Judas betrayed our country and our people at the altar of self-interest. I have seen them, I observed them, I opposed them. I tried to make the PPP a reformed party after the death of Cheddi,” Nagamootoo said, under Jagdeo’s leadership when corruption and nepotism abounded.

“I have lived through the Pradoville One and Two and the way they distributed the resources of this country to their friends. When they handed out television and radio licences and contracts to their friends,” There still remains unanswered questions, Nagamootoo said, of how several PPP/C affiliates accrued, including Jagdeo himself.

“How do you account for someone, the president of this country, working for $500,000 per month owning a colonial mansion worth $300 million dollars. Or a minister with a pool house and pool, how do you explain [that to] someone,” Nagamootoo questioned.

Putting the PPP/C back in power would undo much of the development that the country has seen over the past four and a half years under the APNU+AFC’s time in office.

Joey Jagan, meanwhile, noted that when compared, the people within the APNU+AFC government, stand above those who prevailed during the PPP/ C’s time in government. Joey said he has put his full trust in President David Granger’s ability to lead the country to prosperity over the next five years.

“When we compare the basic level of the people Mr. Granger has picked to run this country and who Bharrat Jagdeo picked when he was president there’s no comparison at all. I could judge people by looking and hearing what they have to say, and I have a trust that I have found in Mr Granger. I like Mr Granger and the people that he

PM Moses Nagamootoo

PM Moses Nagamootoo and Joey Jagan embrace during the Rosignol rally

has around him,” Joey said to massive applause.

Joey noted that even as the PPP/C continues to put forth Irfaan Ali as the presidential candidate for the party in the March 2 elections, he is just a front so Jagdeo remains at the helm of the party.

Having served two terms as president, Jagdeo is barred from ever serving as President of Guyana again, a constitu-

tional requirement that Jagdeo himself instituted, notwithstanding challenging the stipulation in court. “We have a man who wants to be president again and has a puppet on top of him. Look at his record, he didn’t lead us anywhere, he did nothing for us. His own people the sugar workers who my father invested heavily in

he did nothing for them,” Joey said.

Under the PPP/C Guyana’s sugar industry, at the time the country’s largest economic activity, saw drastic decline; billions was poured into keeping the estates afloat, as they were making heavy losses when the PPP/C was ousted from government in 2015. The PPP/C is still

to account for what became of the portion of the Euro166.67M ($34.4B) that was given to Guyana between 2006 and 2015, and was expected to go to programmes that mitigated the effects of the declining sugar industry.

As part of the Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol (AMSP), the EU doled out billions of dollars, in various tranches, to the PPP/C government, as adjustment to the 2006 reform of the EU’s sugar regime, which saw the implementation of a phased 36 per cent pricecut for countries that sold sugar to the EU. The money represented a fraction of an entire EURO$1.25B that was dispersed across a number of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries to promote the economic diversification of sugar-dependent areas.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

‘PPP incapable of governing Guyana’ ... Ramjattan says APNU+AFC has unleashed entrepreneurial spirit of Guyanese

By Alva Solomon

PRIME Ministerial Candidate of the APNU+AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, on Saturday, predicted victory for the coalition when Guyanese go to the polls on Monday.

“The APNU+AFC Coalition will beat the opposition People’s Progressive Party into numbness,” Ramjattan told thousands of supporters of the coalition at the multi-party’s final rally on Saturday night.

While noting that under President David Granger, Guyana is on cusp of becoming an education state, Ramjattan told the screaming crowd of supporters that the coalition has a contract with the people of Guyana in the form of its manifesto. “We have given our commitment to you to implement programmes in good governance with decency and integrity,” he said, noting that the populace cannot expect same from the PPP’s presidential candidate, Irfaan Ali. Ramjattan said Guyana is blessed with the oil and gas and this sector of the economy, he noted, will make it the richest country in the Americas and the Caribbean Region. He said government intends to provide affordable shelter and proper amenities to all Guyanese in that regard. “We are going to reduce inequality and improve social protection,” he said, and he noted the next APNU+AFC Government will ensure better-paying jobs are provided for all, especially young people.

He said the type of leaders of the APNU+AFC possesses have ensured that the entrepreneurial spirit of all Guyanese has been unleashed. According to the prime ministerial candidate, the coalition government had created a knowledge-based society and in that regard, he lauded the work of Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes.

As he zoomed in on the leadership of President Granger, Ramjattan said that the President has ensured that Guyana is

on course to win judgement in the border controversy with neighbouring Venezuela. He commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its work as he lauded the work of staff there in the case which is before the International Court of Justice.

Ramjattan told the thousands gathered at the venue that at the first rally hosted by the coalition to kick-start its campaign in January, the crowd was huge. “This is the biggest crowd there has been,” he said, as he noted that the gathering on Saturday night eclipsed that of the coalition’s first campaign rally.

Ramjattan told the sea of green and yellow that since the launch of the multi-party coalition’s campaign, he has travelled to each region across the country and according to him, there is a resounding call for “Don’t stop the progress”, the coalition’s catch-phrase which he coined.

He said the populace has “responded resoundingly” and according to him, the argument has been made that the government has started something brand new and will continue to ensure it develops once re-elected.

He said never before in Guyana’s history, has a government done what APNU+AFC achieved in economic development, restoring security, while advancing the country’s economy. “We have empowered the people,” he said, noting that the coalition was able to ensure that Local Government Elections were held after a 23-year lull under the PPP. “Ours is a government that has transformed the infrastructure across the country,” he added, as he laid out the achievements of the government.

“You can ensure that the journey must not be interrupted and that we must win it by a landslide this time,” Ramjattan told the jubilant Durban Park crowd as he thanked them for partaking in the campaigns. He said that as they prepare to cast their votes, supporters must reject the narrative of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, and Ali. Ramjattan told supporters

Prime Ministerial candidate of the APNU+AFC Coalition, Khemraj Ramjattan, as he addressed the crowd at Durban Park on Saturday night that voting for the APNU+AFC on Monday “is voting for your children’s future.”

He said it is the best choice and the only choice supporters have at hand.

A section of the crowd at the venue. (Delano Williams photos)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

The President and the Book reviews: National Assembly

A review of six books by David Granger ? A good life for all: empowerment, enterprise and economic progress; Democracy and development: Guyana’s path to prosperity; Independence and resilience: Our people’s path to economic progress; The quality of life: Public trust and good governance in Guyana; The common good: Working together to achieve the good life for all; and, Secure borders: Guyana’s borders with Venezuela and Suriname.

The Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana confers on the President the right to address the National Assembly on matters of national importance.

It is a prerogative which was exercised, sparingly, until David Granger’s election as the country’s 9th Executive President.

President Granger has been exceptional in exercising this right to address the National Assembly on no fewer than eight occasions during his first tenure – a record unmatched by any other Executive President. This number would have been greater were not for the dramatic events

of 21st December 2018 in the Assembly when the country was thrown into constitutional controversy.

The President’s collection of six books recounts his addresses to the National Assembly. These, without doubt, are among the finest presentations ever made by a Head of State in the country’s parliamentary history. That fact makes these six books a prized collection. They are rich in policy-making but of much greater value is the precedent which the President set in his regular engagements with the National Assembly.

Democracy and development: Guyana’s path to prosperity, is the title of the President’s inaugural ‘Throne Speech’. It would be normal, in other jurisdictions, for a President, upon assuming office, to address the National Assembly about his country’s plan for the next five years and to detail his Government’s prospective legislative agenda. The President outlines a lively programme in it aimed at defeat-

ing what he has referred to, elsewhere, as the ‘four horsemen of the Guyanese apocalypse’ – crime, disease, ignorance and poverty.

The President lays out an ambitious but attainable agenda. The book is declaratory, rather than expository, for the most part. The book reads, stylistically, like a political manifesto employing, pointedly, expressions such as “Your government will” and “Your government seeks”, etc.

The book disappoints in one glaring respect: it commits the error of avoiding addressing, substantively, race relations and shared governance – two issues which have been viewed as the central to the goals of national unity and national development. The President feels more comfortable, instead, in promising to work “towards achieving national unity and making Guyana ‘One Nation’”.

The President, following his maiden ‘Throne Speech’ made it his duty to address the National Assembly, unfailingly, at the commencement of every Session.

If the ‘Throne Speech’ had a five-year focus, the annual addresses at the commencement of each sitting, allowed him to enunciate his Government’s plans for the coming fiscal year.

Independence and resilience: Our people’s path to economic progress, was the title of his address to mark Guyana’s celebration of its 50th anniversary of Independence in 2016. President Granger, in preparation for the country’s Jubilee year, addressed the National Assembly on 14th January 2016. It is an invaluable research resource which recounts, essentially, the nation’s economic progress since Independence. The book also details the broad steps which his administration proposed to undertake to build a more resilient economy so as insulate it from the threats – international and local, environmental and economic – which put a brake on national development.

President Granger is forward-looking. He did not harp on past mistakes or missteps – including past governments pursuit of an alien ideology. The need to realise the nation’s unfulfilled aspirations were implied, clearly, in his suggestion that it was time for a fresh start and for the redoubling of efforts to reduce poverty. The quality of life: Public trust and

good governance in Guyana, is the text of the President’s address at the commencement of the 43rd Sitting of the 11th Parliament on 13th October 2016. The book’s title expresses its primary focus – improving the quality of life of citizens by increasing public trust between the governed and the Government.

The President launches a broadside against his political rivals, accusing them of turning dreams of a good life at the turn of the millennium into a horrible nightmare which he labelled ‘The Troubles’.

The President, known to be decorous, decent and dignified in his political engage-

ments, revealed a combative side as he attacked the PPPC’s record in office and that party’s legacy of maladministration.

He went on to outline a remarkable plan which he called the ‘green agenda’, aimed at promoting ‘green’ economic sectors, ‘green’ growth and ‘green’ employment. The book introduces President

Granger’s ‘green’ development agenda and the international obligations to be satisfied under that agenda. It addresses, also, developments in the fields of public infrastructure, public services, public security and integrity in public life all of which were deemed integral to ensuring public trust and, consequently, for improving citizens’ quality of life.

The common good: Working together to achieve the good life for all is a virtual mid-term report card of the Government.

President Granger details the his Government’s achievements in his address to the 71st Sitting of the 11th Parliament on the 2nd November 2017. The book is striking for detailing how much the Coalition administration was able to achieve during its first two and one half years in office. The book is noteworthy for the enumeration of an impressive list of accomplishments aimed at improving citizens’ living standards.

The President was able to present evidence of development in every sphere of governance – including foreign relations; natural resource and economic management; agricultural, business, community rural and hinterland development; public infrastructure; public See page 18

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Gov’t commissions $16M water ambulance in Moruca

A $16M river ambulance was commissioned for the Moruca Sub-Region in Barima-Waini last week, the Department of Public Information has reported.

This fulfils a commitment made to ensure a vessel was made available to transport emergencies between the Moruca Sub-Region to Charity. The 30-feet river ambulance is furnished with the necessary equipment to facilitate pregnant mothers and persons who have experienced trauma and other major accidents. At the commissioning ceremony on February 28, in Georgetown, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, acknowledged this as a landmark achievement for the ministry and the people of Region One. She especially noted her satisfaction that

pregnant women can now safely travel from Moruca to Charity. “It is with much joy and great pleasure that the Ministry of Public Health can be able to meet that mandate as set out by his Excellency President David Granger. That the same quality of health services provided on the coast must be the same quality offered to our people in the hinterland or any other part of this country,” the minister stated.

Director of Regional and Clinical Health Services, Dr. Kay Shako, said it is the ministry’s aim “to ensure that healthcare is accessible, acceptable, timely and adequate to meet the needs of the residents within Region One.” She noted that with the availability of the

From Left to right, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence; Deputy Permanent Secretary-Admin MoPH, Shellon Bess, and Permanent Secretary, Collette Adams, cut the ceremonial ribbon to commission the boat while other staff of the ministry watch on

The $16M river ambulance for the Moruca Sub-Region, Barima-Waini

river ambulance, healthcare delivery has been taken to another level and staff of the Kumaka District hospital in Moruca can now execute their functions more effectively. In the second half of 2019, during a visit to the Moruca Sub-Region, the public health minister disclosed that her ministry intends to have three

river ambulances service the communities in Region One. Within the last two years, river ambulances have also been placed at Orealla, Bartica, Linden, Baracara, Kwakwani along with a boat and engine for Santa Mission.

The President and the National ...

From page 17 telecommunications; transparency and accountability; housing; public education; public health and public security.

It was unfortunate that the rich presentation of the President’s address were overshadowed by the distasteful and rowdy protests by the Opposition within the Assembly. The protests caught the Government side of the House by surprise but failed to faze the President.

A good life for all: Empowerment, enterprise and economic progress, is the text of President Granger’s last address to the National Assembly on 18th October 2018 before the dissolution of Parliament on 30th December 2019.

It was a confident and assured presentation. The President could hardly have an inkling then that his Coalition would have faced, and lost, a no-confidence motion two months later.

The address covered the main themes – public education, public health, sanitation, housing, water, social protection, agriculture, youth employment, public security, citizenship and public security. The emerging oil and gas sector, by this time, was seen as having transformative potential and

the President was keen to emphasize his administration’s preparation for first oil. Here was a President at the peak of his game and not expecting the betrayal of two months later.

Secure borders: Guyana’s borders with Venezuela and Suriname is the text of one of two special addresses which the President made to the National Assembly. The book goes beyond recounting the various acts of aggression against Guyana. It dissects the spurious claims – such as the ‘Chavez doctrine’ – and other factors which ignited these acts of provocation.

These presidential addresses set an important precedent in engagements between the President and his country’s National Assembly.

For all the criticisms which have been leveled against the President and his Government over their arithmetical gymnastics and alleged specious challenges to the no-confidence motion, this six-book collection represents indisputable evidence of a leader who has been

highly respectful of parliamentary democracy and who set an exemplary and unsurpassed record of engaging regularly with the National Assembly on matters of national importance.

‘Vote peacefully’

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-PPP/C leaders urge supporters to respect laws on E-Day -Ali promises to ‘reprioritise’ expenditures to reflect needs of people

By Navendra Seoraj AS Guyanese prepare to cast their ballots at the General and Regional Elections, on March 2, 2020, the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has urged its supporters to “vote peacefully” and respect the laws governing the conduct of elections, all while voting “solidly” for the PPP/C. This was among the messages relayed to the thousands of PPP/C supporters who converged at the Lusignan Market Tarmac to show their support for the party, on Saturday. The leadership of the PPP/C encouraged persons to vote peacefully so that the process would not be hindered. And, while the voters will be doing their part, the party also acknowledged the presence of international observers such as the Carter Center, the Organisation of American States (OAS) and European Union (EU), who are here to observe the electoral process and ensure that there is efficiency.

The party also encouraged their polling agents to “watch out” and ensure that nothing goes wrong on Elections Day (E-Day). “Your hard work will give us an opportunity to fix things and after March 2, we will be fixing the wrongs and making things right again,” said Presidential Candidate of the PPP/C, Irfaan Ali while addressing the sea of red at Lusignan.

While it is important to maintain peace, he said persons must also ensure that they turn up to vote and by extension “seal the deal” for the PPP/C. The presidential candidate made a commitment to ensuring that there is development and improvement for all Guyanese, if the PPP/C wins the elections.

“In a united voice, let us rise above the fake news and negativity because we have a task to build a better Guyana for every Guyanese… to every supporter of the APNU+AFC, don’t worry, the struggles of the PPP is not only for ourselves, it is for every Guyanese and you are welcome as we move our country forward,” said Ali. In an appeal to supporters of the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change

(APNU+AFC) Ali rolled out a menu of promises which the party intends to deliver if they are elected. Among those measures was the much touted, creation of 50,000 jobs, which, according to Ali, will be created for “all Guyanese.” “We will return the jobs you have lost, restore dignity, build trust and build national unity…we will put money in your pockets...this will be done by removing and reversing the burdens of more than 200 new taxes and licences fees that has extracted $91B from the pockets of the people,” said the presidential candidate.

It was, however, reported on many occasions that the PPP/C had implemented Value Added Tax (VAT), something which the coalition government has reduced from 16 per cent to 14 per cent in four years. Despite this reality, Ali continued by saying that the PPP/C will ensure that the productive sector is “rejuvenated” and positioned to create jobs. This, he said, will be done by giving incentives to businesses and removing taxes. In talking about this promise, he said: “We will work hand-in-hand, with investors in the mining, forestry, bauxite and other

Speaking along the same line, Ali said a PPP/C government would reprioritise expenditure to reflect the needs of the people. This will also take into account revenue from the new oil and gas sector, which the PPP/C promised, will be properly managed. And to ensure that the allocation of government funds is done transparently and with accountability, the PPP/C intends on allocating resources to the Auditor General’s Office to ensure that there is adequate monitoring.

All of this, Ali said,

2…we cannot take these elections for granted because this is about a better Guyana and all of us must have a dream of leading a better Guyana,” said Ali.

Prime Ministerial Candidate of the PPP/C, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips rolls out the party’s plans for development

Presidential Candidate of the PPP/C, Irfaan Ali, addressing the sizeable crowd of supporters at the Lusignan Market Tarmac, on Saturday

Supporters of the PPP/C turned out in their numbers to reinforce their commitment for the party, ahead of the upcoming elections (Adrian Narine photos)

sectors to build a framework which will ensure that there is success, profitability and a productive sector.”

REPRIORITISE

will be done with the intent of creating a “rounded nation,” since focus will also be placed on creating safer communities, addressing mental health, improving

childcare and protection laws, among other things.

He said the PPP/C will not do this alone, but will get assistance through “stronger partnerships” with the United

States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK) and other developed nations.

“All of these will be put in place and will be fixed with your votes on March

TRANSFORMATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Ali’s promises were reinforced by Prime Ministerial Candidate of the PPP/C, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, who said there will be “transformational development” over the next five years if the PPP/C wins the elections. “There will be visionary leadership and I will be there, working with leaders of government to come into your towns and villages and lead the development of Guyana…I will not be a rubber stamp, I will be the number one supporter of the next President of Guyana,” said Phillips, adding that the PPP/C will work hard to make people happy.

He encouraged persons to judge and assess the PPP/C based on promises outlined in the party’s manifesto. In addition to some of the plans outlined by Ali, Phillips said, the manifesto speaks about the PPP/C’s plan to redistribute the $10,000 cash grant, which will be incrementally raised to $50,000 over five years.

Additionally, he said there will also be free education from nursery to tertiary, something which President of Guyana and Presidential Candidate of the APNU+AFC Coalition, David Granger had talked about constantly.

President Granger promised to make this a reality if the coalition wins the elections.

Phillips, however, accused the coalition government of “spreading false hope,” noting that they gave persons a “bitter lie” and not a “better life.” “We will restart development in an even manner throughout Guyana…there is no alternative to the PPP/C,” said Phillips, noting that development will be a possibility in a secure Guyana.

Phillips promised to strengthen the security forces by creating anti-crime and security policies, which will contribute to safer communities. Also speaking at the rally were General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo and Anil Nandlall.

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‘The fighting spirit of the sugar workers is still alive’ … newcomers Datadin, Alleyne rally PPP supporters at Lusignan

By Naomi Parris

SUPPORTERS of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), on Saturday afternoon, showed up in their numbers for the last lap of the race to the general and regional elections slated for Monday, March 02, 2020.

Addressing the gathering at the rally held at Lusignan Public Road, East Coast Demerara, several candidates took to the podium to encourage supporters to come out on Monday morning to cast their ballots. Speaking to the reasonably-large crowd, Elizabeth Alleyne, a candidate on the party’s list, urged supporters to fight against the alleged injustice of the coalition government by coming out in their numbers, the same way they have showed out at previous rallies and public meetings. “I stand here before you one woman but I am not here alone, I am a part of a PPP Civic family.

I want to tell you that the sacrifices that those sugar workers made, their fighting spirt have not died, it is here in all of you the people of

Elizabeth Alleyne makes a passionate appeal to voters

them out….you put your ‘x’ next to the cup,” she stated.

Additionally, Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin, related to supporters that the journey to elections was not an easy one.

Stating that he worked alongside the party’s long-standing member, Anil Nandlall, in the courts, Datadin related that the PPP/C has worked tirelessly and around-the-clock to ensure that its supporters were able to exercise their democratic right. “You have to make sure that you vote, get your sisters, brothers, your family, your friends get them there to vote, this was not an easy fight, March 2 didn’t come about easily, you don’t know the story, since 2018 there was a no-confidence motion in the parliament, since 2018 … We had to get the courts, we had to go to three courts, until the Caribbean Court of Justice, myself and comrade Nandlall were part of

PPP candidate, Attorney Sanjeev Datadin Lusignan…and on March 2, 2020, we will fight with our votes,” Alleyne stated.

Appealing to the younger supporters, Alleyne urged them not to be brainwashed by the A Partnership for Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+ AFC) government and to encourage other youngsters like themselves to come out and vote. Alleyne further urged the supporters to look out for the elderly, disabled supporters on elections day, to ensure that they exercise their democratic right. “Bring out everybody, bring out your family, go and see that the elderly people in your village, make sure they get to vote because that is the only way we know to fight and on March 2, 2020, we will fight the injustice that has meted out by the APNU Government, we will vote

that team we had to get the court to order that they were a caretaker government,” Datadin explained.

In urging supporters to vote, Datadin stated that he wants to see all Guyanese live a prosperous and good life. However, he noted that such cannot be a reality under an APNU+ AFC Administration, hence come Monday, supporters should place their ‘x’ next to the cup.

“I want to see a better country for myself, for my son, for my wife, for my family, but I want to see a better country for you, for your families, your neighbors, for you friends but comrades we can’t see that with an APNU Government, they must go comrades, we can’t survive another APNU government so join me in voting for the next President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali,” he stated.

A section of the crowd at Lusignan (Adrian Narine photos)

Min. Ally meets with the Muslim GWI suspects community of Corriverton sabotage at Yupukari … says well free from saline intrusion THE Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), on Saturday, assured residents of Yupukari, Region Nine, that the water being distributed from the recently-drilled well in the village is free from saline intrusion, but noted that evidence of sabotage to the infrastructure was seen.

The company said that this assurance comes in light of reports from residents, that the water tasted salty.

“As a result, GWI immediately mobilized the contractor responsible for drilling the well and instructed that the water be tested. Following

checks to the system, evidence of suspected vandalism and/or sabatoge to the infrastructure was seen,” the company said.

However, water quality test results returned negative for saline intrusion and it remains safe for consumption, the release said.

“GWI therefore calls on persons to refrain from spreading rumours of a compromised water quality,” the release said.

The company warned that anyone found tampering with its water supply systems will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

CORRIVERTON’s Muslim community was graced by a visit from Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally on Friday.

Minister Ally told those gathered that for communities to contribute to the progress and development of the nation, discussions must be held to address issues and find solutions.

She reminded that in coming into office, His Excellency President David Granger had the foresight to create a ministry of social cohesion so that all Guyanese could play their part in nation-building. “Our presidential candidate [H.E. David Granger] is an honest man, a man with integrity, and a man with the vision for our country,” she said.

Min. Ally reminded of the develop-

ment that was realised in Corriverton under the Coalition Government.

Paved roads, new street lights, and improved drainage and irrigation for the farmers in the area are all enhancements the community has seen under the Granger-led administration, she noted.

“We have been improving communities throughout Guyana. Under [President] David Granger, we do not have red or black villages. We are a government for all of our people.

We want all of our communities to develop.”

The Social Protection Minister assured that Corriverton and other communities across the country will see even more improvements under the Coalition. (DPI)

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Diaspora Engagement Conference…

Find ways to engage diaspora; time not on our side …Head of UG’s School of Entrepreneurship THE University of Guyana, in preparation for the hosting of its second Diaspora Engagement Conference, on Thursday, February 27, hosted a precursor under the theme, `Diaspora and Development in the ‘Education Lecture Theatre at the university campus.

Professor (Prof) Leyland Lucas, Dean, School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) and CoChair of the university’s first forum of a similar nature, in his presentation cautioned those participating in the brainstorming session of the need to move with alacrity in the undertaking.

“Time is not on our side, we must find ways by which we can engage the diaspora so that they can provide us with the competencies and skills that are needed in order to move not only the institutions, but this country, forward,” he said in a candid presentation. Massive investments in education are needed, but those investments must be strategic, he added.

He spoke too of the need to create a diaspora-engagement policy that should be designed to attract and retain valuable skills and knowledge that are critical to this nation’s development. Also, the diaspora-engagement policy must be driven by a national policy on development, which basically is the Green State Development Strategy.

Alluding to the theme which focused on the role of the diaspora in education as it relates to the university, Prof Lucas highlighted some aspect that he said should be understood.

He said that persons in the diaspora did not become part of the system because of a choice to be away from their home, or Guyana. Instead, many are actively engaged in other ways and have remained involved.

Therefore, as the issue

and its engagement with Guyana is being discussed, Prof Lucas said it is important to understand that we [diaspora] are part of an effort to rebuild our country. “We see our position in Guyana as helping to move the country forward, the land of our birth and it is in that context that I would like to focus the conversation,” he told the audience.

According to Prof Lucas, the absence of opportunities and our decisions to become part of the diaspora, resulted in the country’s education system suffering throughout.

“It is not uncommon for us to see underperformance across the board in our student population, simply because they do not value the educational opportunities that are being offered and they simply see this as an opportunity to stop and get ready for some foreign land,” he added.

He urged that there be discussion on what he likened as “brain game,” which he explained comes from the knowledge and skills that are brought back to our society and is also reflected in the lives of those who chose to

as working with those who chose not to leave or did not have the option to leave,” he remarked.

He contended that for benefits from the diaspora re-engagement to be fully realised, the diaspora should

Professor Leyland Lucas, Dean, School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) ( Photos by Adrian Narine )

re-engaging the diaspora.

In noting that unfortunately many of the skills that are needed are absent because of the challenges being faced, the professor is of the view that a new development-engagement policy is needed to attract those absent skills. That blueprint should not only focus on a national or governmental conversation, but also address all levels of the communities.

He suggested that associations such as a village diaspora group and hometown associations should be engaged, to help create a diaspora-engagement policy that can effectively help in the development of this country.

With respect to education, the engagement policy should seek to attract and retain the critical academic skills both at the lower and tertiary levels, because we had lost a significant number

Some of the participants – Some of the participants pay rapt attention with Prof Lucas( extreme right) at the podium

As it relates to education, the professor opined that every society is faced with both outward and inward migration. It is, however, unfortunate that outward migration often sucks the countries of its human capital, a situation that is obvious in Guyana.

stay and not leave.

“Therefore, as members of the diaspora and as we help to educate and impact on the education system in Guyana, we must not see our roles as one of coming and telling people what to do, which would be seen

be thought of on a wider scale. Also, the diaspora should take into consideration that it is part of a Region, the CARICOM Region.

Article 45 of the Treaty of Chaguaramas needs to be taken into consideration when in any discussion relating to

of trained teachers, Prof Lucas said.

Speaking specifically about tertiary education, he contended that ways will have to be found to attract the diaspora, while pointing out that there are instances where some people who possess the

required skills and competencies are not able to travel.

The professor is of the view that exploiting the virtual network effectively, removes national boundaries and narrows the space between those who are at home and those who are abroad and that those methods should be utilized to a greater extent.

He added that while skills are needed, they cannot be utilised at the same time; therefore, the policies that are to be engaged and developed should be strategic.

As we develop new programmes at all levels, it is important that not only the University of Guyana be part of that conversation, but also the Board of Industrial Training (BIT )and the Council for Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET), he said.

Those institutions must be part of the conversation, he reiterated, adding that some of the institutions and programmes could be transformed, as not everyone learns the same way. “And so, we must begin the process of figuring out what are some of the techniques we need to bring to the learning process, in order to ensure that young people can benefit and become effective contributors in this nation.

“If we do not engage actively, we will discover that `the emperor has no clothes.’

We will continue to make every effort to be successful as a country, but we will continually fail because we have not chosen to engage those who are capable of assisting us as we move forward,” Professor Lucas contended.

The first session of the forum also featured presentations by Prof Paloma Mohamed, Deputy Vice-chancellor-PACE University and Chair of UG’s Transitional Management Committee; Pro-Chancellor UG, Brigadier(Ret’d) Joe Singh and Dr Wasir Mohamed.

ERC reiterates call for peaceful, transparent elections

THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has called on all Guyanese to ensure a peaceful, fair and transparent elections on Monday.

According to the ERC, voting is a democratic right which enshrines choice. “As we exercise the right to choose, we must respect the rights of others to do so. In the process, we must also remain cognisant of the need to be tolerant and respectful of each other, now, during and after March 02.”

The commission said elections is historically a sensitive period and all are urged to

work in the best interest of Guyana and Guyanese and not be engaged in activities in any shape or form that are counterproductive to the fostering of harmony and good relations.

“The lessons of history serve as a pertinent reminder of the need for us to collectively chart and embark along a path of togetherness in an effort to lessen tension and to safeguard the welfare of all of our people” the ERC noted.

The commission noted that all are, therefore, encouraged to keep public actions free of intimidation and utterances free of hate, racial and all other forms of incitement.

During this and the subsequent period, the ERC posited that society should demonstrate to itself and individuals, along with others, that while “we will disagree in the process, it is not a reason for hostility through hate, and elections must not be a process that divide us.”

Adding that the ERC is heartened by contesting political parties that have signed the Code of Conduct, the commission urges that despite whatever challenges, the spirit and intent of what was agreed to, is respected by all.

“This we believe is crucial not only to the process of peace but a vital component

in being able to mitigate incidents that occurred during the campaign and which have the potential to repeat themselves.

Let us also strive to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood and to ensure that the will of the Guyanese people is respected following the elections. On behalf of the commissioners and staff of the ERC, I extend best wishes to all involved and remind that peace during and after the process, is in the hands of all of us,” the ERC stated.

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74 families granted residential leases from MMA/ADA THE Mahaica/Mahaicony/ Abary Agricultural Development Association (MMA/ ADA) on Saturday morning, presented land leases to a number of persons and one farming co-operative for residential and farming purposes, respectively.

The presentation was done via a small ceremony in the Boardroom of the minister’s secretariat where Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, made the presentation to some of the recipients.

Present at the ceremony was Judith Greene, Alicea Gordon, Romel Carlos Jagroop, among others.

A representative of the No.5 Rice Farmers Co-operative Society was also there to collect on behalf of the Co-Op. The total

In picture are Minister Holder and his team posing with a few of the thankful recipients

amount of land issued this morning was 716 acres,

of which 5 persons were granted their leases for

residential purposes. However, overall for this batch,

close to 1000 acres have been issued, which include

residential lots for a total of 74 families.

43 homes for Sand Creek under Hinterland Housing project THE Central Housing and Planning Authority, on Friday, handed over the keys to forty-three homes in Sand Creek, Region Nine.

The houses were constructed under the agency’s Sustainable Housing for the Hinterland Programme. Fifty-four-year-old Janet Spencer, one of the beneficiaries, told DPI she will be enjoying better living conditions. “In this new house, I am more comfortable than before because things have improved; for me and my children are comfortable.”

She recalled that living in her old home was very uncomfortable during the rainy season because the thatched roof leaked. “I am satisfied; I never dreamed of having a house like this and I am so happy,” Spencer stated. Audrey Joseph and Bridget Joseph, who are also home beneficiaries, shared similar sentiments. Both women

Chief Executive Office of the CH&PA, Lelon Saul handing over the keys to the beneficiaries of the new homes in Sand Creek, Region Nine

Janet Spencer

shared their relief to be in sturdy structures with proper roofs over their heads. The project also saw the roofs of seven homes being replaced.

CHPA’s Chief Executive Officer, Lelon Saul told the beneficiaries that the mission of the government is to provide sustainable housing for all Guyanese. The president, he reiterated, is committed to bridging the gap between the hinterland and the coast.

The Sustainable Housing for the Hinterland Programme is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank at a cost of $666.5M (US$3.1M). The programme targets 29 communities including satellite villages in Region One and Nine. Sand Creek benefitted from approximately $65M of that sum. (DPI)

One of the homes constructed in Sand Creek, Region Nine

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CARICOM Observers continue pre-election day visits to polling places

The Chief of Mission meets the chair and members of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO)

THE CARICOM Election Observation Mission to Guyana’s March 2 elections continued its work on Saturday with pre-election day visits to various polling districts and attendance at final political rallies.

Chief of Mission, Ms. Cynthia Combie Martyr, is leading a 17-member mission to Monday’s elections. The mission met, during the past

week, with key stakeholders in the elections, including the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), leaders of political parties, and representatives of the private sector and civil society organisations. On Friday night, the mission met with the chair and members of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO).

Members of the mission

will observe Monday’s elections’ day activities, including the opening of polling places and the voting process. At the end of the day, the reports of the observers will be shared during a de-briefing session, and the Chief of Mission will present her preliminary statement outlining the mission’s initial assessment of the electoral process.

Zorg labourer died from fractured spine, blunt trauma -- mother believes her son was murdered AN autopsy conducted on the remains of Arvin Toolsie Mayhilall has revealed that he died as a result of fractured spine and trauma to his head. The autopsy was performed by government pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, on Friday at the Suddie Mortuary.

However, according to the mother of the deceased, Jaiwantie Mayhilall, she believed that her son was murdered and is, therefore, calling for justice. She said based on the post mortem, her son was given a hard hit to the neck and the spine.

The mother of the deceased is clueless about how that happened to her son, knowing he was in high spirits earlier in the day.

She said based on reports she received from villagers in the community of Zorg, her son was imbibing earlier and a male, whom she listed as a suspect, had a fight with another villager. She said she was told that her son had

The deceased, Arvin Toolsie Mayhilall

intervened, and was hit by the man.

She said it was alleged that her son fell on the ground and then was dragged to another location where it will appear as if he fell on his neck.

“I can’t believe how all this happened and no one render assistance to my son.

He is my only son and I need justice. It shows that he has broken his spine and also his neck. How is it possible?

And also the bench they

claimed he fell from is very low. I am trying to get grips of all this,” the saddened mother related.

She said she has been visiting the Suddie Police Station for investigators to hurry up with their investigations. When contact was made with ‘G’-Division commander, Crytal Robinson, she said no one is in custody, noting that an investigation has been launched.

Initial reports suggested that the deceased had fallen from a bench at Zorg on February, 26. He was discovered by residents late in the evening.

Mayhilall was never married and was the only son of Jaiwantie. The mother related that she usually takes care of him since his father passed away years ago. The deceased was described as a “very loving son” but was in the habit of consuming alcohol.

Chief of Mission, Ms. Cynthia Combie Martyr at a polling place on Saturday

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

More Region Nine villages receive new water supply systems THE Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has commissioned new water supply systems in the villages of Karasabai and Meriwau in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).

Over 700 residents of Karasabai in the South Pakaraimas district are now receiving improved and firsttime access to potable water following the commissioning of a G$10M water-supply system which was funded

by GWI and the Regional Democratic Council of Region Nine.

The project was executed

by GWI, Fox Services and Trade, and the Karasabai Village Council. It entailed the drilling of a well to the depth of 100 metres, installation of four kilometers of distribution pipelines, 78 new service connections and the rehabilitation of the previously existing water-supply system.

This new system is also

benefitting the Karasabai nursery and primary schools, secondary department, health centre, doctors', nurses' and teachers' quarters.

It was commissioned on Thursday by Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Sydney Allicock.

Minister Allicock told the residents that the water is not being provided only to persons who support the government, but for all residents.

According to him, government recognises that water is a basic need and one of the most valuable natural resources. He added that with adequate water, the residents will not only be able to have their daily consumption but also be able to use it for other purposes such as watering plants, maintaining livestock and for domestic use.

The minister urged the servicemen within the community who are employed by GWI to further their studies

A resident of Meriwau fills her bottle with the potable water from the community's new well

Minister of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, Sydney Allicock and GWI's Managing Director, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, unveil the plaque to commission the Karasabai water-supply system. Also in the photo are other GWI officials and residents

in the area of water so that they can better protect and preserve their water supply.

Highlighting water as a sector in government’s developmental drive, he took the opportunity to point out that the administration is not only planning and dreaming but it is putting things into practice.

Minister Allicock noted that the government has done, in a short space of time, what no other government in the last 24 years has done.

Managing Director of GWI, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles told the gathering that with the support of the government and the direction of President David Granger, GWI has, over the last four years, been able to drill 48 wells across Guyana.

According to him, the

company has taken up the call by the President to reduce the inequities between the hinterland and the coastland. He added that water is not only singularly important for human health but also for all facets of development in communities across the country.

The managing director alluded to several current developments in the water sector, including the arrival of a new filtration system for Bartica in Region Seven and a well drilling rig for the coastland.

A rig for the hinterland is also on its way to Lethem.

These rigs were purchased with monies provided by the government.

Turning his attention to Karasabai, he related that

there are two servicemen in the community and within the next few weeks, all of the servicemen in the region are going to be equipped with tools and trained to conduct water quality testing monthly.

The head teachers and health workers will also be involved in the water- quality testing.

Dr. Van-West Charles expressed gratitude to the residents and leadership of Karasabai for the support provided to GWI’s team in the execution of the project.

He also thanked the Board of Directors of GWI, the company’s corporate management team and its Region Nine staff who contributed to the successful completion of the system.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

Essequibo motorcyclist died of multiple injuries -- autopsy

AN autopsy on the remains of 35-yearold Suresh Arjune called “Vishal” of Lot 3 Adventure Public Road, Region Two, revealed that he died as a result of multiple injuries received from the accident in which he was involved on Mash Day. The autopsy was conducted on Friday

by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh at the Suddie Mortuary. According to commander of ‘G’ Division, Crystal Robinson, the file was sent to the DPP for advice, but noted that the driver was charged for driving under the influence.

According to information reaching the Guyana Chronicle, the accident occurred around 20:50hrs on Mash Day on the Adventure Public Road. It involved motor car bearing registration PMM 2260 and motorcycle CJ 4350. Information revealed that the car was driven by a 27-year-old who was highly intoxicated at the time.

The car was proceeding south along the eastern carriageway of the road when it was alleged by the driver that while he was negotiating a left bend, the motorcyclist was proceeding in the opposite direction at a fast rate of speed without lights and collided with the left side front

Deceased: Suresh Arjune

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More Region Nine villages ...

GWI's Executive Director of Hinterland Services, Ramchand Jailal, in his remarks, explained that a team from Karasabai, some three years ago, visited GWI in Georgetown and expressed the need for potable water since they were experiencing a shortage.

A visit was made to the community and inspections were done as well as discussions had with its residents.

It was found that the previous existing wells-- one drilled and one hand dug-- could not produce all of the water that the community needed. From thereon, plans progressed for the drilling of a new well which could adequately supply the community.

Toshao of Karasabai, Shaun Kartright, said he is seeing development in his community that they had never seen before. He pointed out that each household is now receiving water; a far cry from the previous situation of water shortages.

Meanwhile, GWI, last Friday, ventured to Meriwau in the South Central District, approximately one and a half hours from Lethem, to commission the community’s new water-supply system.

The system was constructed at a total cost of approximately G$13M and was funded by GWI and executed by the company in close collaboration with the Meriwau Village Council. It entailed the drilling of a well to the depth of 150 meters, plumbing works, installation of 1.3 kilometers of pipelines as well as the installation of several individual service connections.

As a result, over 100 residents,

…US envoy

The mangled car which was involved in the accident

portion of his vehicle.

As a result of the impact, the cyclist fell onto the road surface and sustained severe injuries to his head and other parts of the body. He was then picked up an

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including a village office, church and health post, are now receiving improved and first-time access to potable water.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Dr. VanWest Charles said the project is one of the manifestations and a fulfillment of the direction given by the President to bridge the inequality gap.

He stressed that the good life is for all, regardless of which political party residents support. Hence, when GWI visited to assess the needs of the community, the company’s officials did not look to see which residents had the flags belonging to any particular political party.

The managing-director pointed out that the good life speaks to where persons live, work and study, so GWI is not only focusing on water access for schools and health facilities, but also directly into persons’ homes.

The company’s head of hinterland services said that the residents of Meriwau can drink the water provided by the new well. This is a significant improvement, considering that a few years ago it was found that the community had a hand-dug well which was almost dry and the water was also at risk of contamination.

Jailal encouraged the residents to maintain the infrastructure and care for it as he thanked the community for supporting the GWI team in the execution of the project. He also expressed appreciation to the managing-director for his leadership and guidance.

‘I encourage all parties to respect the outcome’

unconscious state and died soon after.

Arjune was an employee attached to Banks DIH Limited and was a father of one. The police are investigating the accident.

UNITED STATES Ambassador to Guyana, Carol Ann Lynch, said there is great interest in Washington for free and fair elections here and she urged all parties to accept the results.

In a terse statement on Saturday, Lynch said all eyes are on Guyana this week. “I just returned from the worldwide U.S. Ambassador’s conference in Washington and there is great interest in free, fair and peaceful Guyanese elections on March 2.”

“I encourage all registered voters to exercise their franchise in a peaceful manner and to allow others to do the same. Good luck to all the parties. After the people of Guyana have spoken, the United States stands ready to work with the next democratically elected administration, and I encourage all parties to respect the outcome,” the ambassador said.

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Ministry of the Presidency condemns Ram for malicious letter THE Ministry of the Presidency has condemned what it described as deliberately false and misleading comments contained in a letter penned by Christopher Ram and published in the February 23, 2020 editions of the Stabroek News and the Kaieteur News.

The ministry believes that the letter is perfectly timed to malign the good character of

President David Granger and to bring the policies implemented by this government within the last five years, into disrepute. The ministry said too that it is not surprised that Mr. Ram would pen this missive as his political motives are well-known. However, it is concerned that Ram would peddle misinformation to foment race hate, during this elections period.

In a statement, the ministry strongly rejects Mr. Ram’s claim that President Granger has “demonstrated a tendency towards narrow ethno-centric policies.” All of the policies implemented post-2015 have been for the benefit of all Guyanese regardless race, political affiliation or geographical location.

The President has sought to ensure equitable access to

all public services. To state otherwise is outrageous. The ministry cautions Mr. Ram that as a public figure, it is irresponsible of him to make and disseminate such reckless statements.

Ram’s claim too, that the President “has retained all the Afro-Guyanese Permanent Secretaries inherited from its predecessor” is fair.

The President did inherit a Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram

number of senior officers from the previous administration and, in keeping with the coalition’s promise not to retrench workers when it assumed office, retained most of them, who continue to serve in the Public Service to date.

The allegation that the President has, however, “[removed] almost all the rest” resulting in “Indo-Guyanese …barely represented among PSs and in the public service as a whole” is patently false. In most of the ministries, the permanent secretaries are traditional, senior public servants who have worked in the Public Service for many years. They were given promotions because of the skill and institutional knowledge that they possess.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Ram chose to look at their race as opposed to their qualifications and expertise. The ministry therefore, maintains that there has been no Indo-Guyanese purge from the Public Service under this administration and Mr. Ram has failed to provide any evidence to the contrary.

The ministry asserts also, that if Mr. Ram were to be honest and to recall correctly, the number of Afro-Guyanese in senior posts during the previous administration, he would see clearly that there is no room for comparison. Further, Mr. Ram’s claim that the President has displayed contempt for the Constitution of Guyana is also erroneous. The Ministry contends that every decision taken by the Head of State has been within the parameters of the Constitution. Mr. Ram has failed to provide evidence to support this allegation, which may indicate that his false statements could be the result of his incorrect understanding of the provisions therein.

Additionally, Mr. Ram’s flippant references to the Public Education and Transport Service (PETS) formerly known as the Boats, Buses and Bicycles plus Breakfast and Books programme, reflects his own poor under-

standing of the benefits of the programme to the children and their parents. The President’s decision to make these provisions for school children, was based on evidence gathered from the Ministry of Education which revealed that truancy and absenteeism was not due to parental neglect, but poverty. Ram’s assertions too that there has been an increase in public spending during this campaign season are unfounded. President Granger remains the Head of State until another President is sworn in and he is therefore, entitled to the use of all state-operated vehicles to transport him in and around the country. Similarly, the ministers of the government are still holders of public office during this campaign season, and they too are entitled to use the state-operated vehicles to transport them to conduct their duties. Mr. Ram has again failed to provide any evidence to support his claims.

President Granger created the Department of Social Cohesion soon after assuming office in May 2015, to foster unity in the society by ensuring respect for citizens’ religious beliefs, ethnic identities and cultural practices. He has sought to ensure Guyana becomes a society where there is equal opportunity and benefits for all.

The Ministry of the Presidency therefore condemns Mr. Ram’s thinly-veiled attempt to create animosity and foster distrust against the Head of State and amongst the populace, through his malicious letter. The ministry urges all right-thinking Guyanese to consider for themselves the facts. It cautions the public also, against falling prey to the assertions of those persons seeking to create divisions and unrest within the society. (Ministry of the Presidency)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

Amnesty for UG graduates still repaying student loans

–– President Granger promises

ADDED to his government’s commitment to providing free education at the university level, President David Granger, on Friday, said that graduates currently paying off their student loans to the University of Guyana (UG) can look forward to an amnesty in his new government.

Proceeds from the oil and gas industry have already been earmarked to ensure free education from nursery to university all across Guyana. The decision to grant a reprieve for UG students in this regard is another promise in the government’s plan for the “good life.” The Head of State said while the repayment of loans is a legal obligation, his cabinet will soon deliberate on the proposal.

“Some paper will be brought before the cabinet to grant an amnesty so that they will enjoy the benefits of free education so that they will not have to pay the money for which they are indebted. This project that we are embarking on depends on the flow of revenue from the petroleum industry,” he said, during an interview on the 94.1’s “Hot Seat” radio show on Friday.

Referring to his government’s policy for free university education, the President said that the move will allow for “brain gain” rather than “brain drain.” According to the Head of State, qualified Guyanese are already making their way back home. There is no doubt, too that the economic changes already taking place because of the oil sector, will cause a reverse in the brain drain experienced in the past.

“I don’t have a choice but to give free education to allow my government to train scientists, technologists, engineers, mathematicians to develop this country and the best way to do that is by giving them free education.

People will be able to get better-paying jobs right here in Guyana. Guyana is the fastest-developing country in the English-speaking Caribbean. I am not afraid of free education. It is something that is enshrined in the Constitution. It’s not an invention, it is embedded in the Constitution.”

President Granger said that the government will ensure that everyone enjoys the full benefits of nursery,

Man in pain after fight over bar stool A MAN was shot twice after an argument over a seat on a stool turned deadly in the wee hours of Friday morning at the popular Blue Martini Club at Lamaha and De Abreu Streets, Newtown, Georgetown.

Injured is Neil Dutchin, 51, of North Road, Bourda, Georgetown. He was admitted at a private city hospital and his condition is listed as critical.

Reports indicate that Dutchin was at the bar drinking alcoholic beverages with a friend who is a construction worker. They were sitting at the bar.

Dutchin reportedly left to use the washroom facilities and returned shortly after to find the suspect sitting in his seat.

He then informed the man that he was seated on the stool previously and it was still being utilised.

This resulted in an argument that escalated and the suspect left the bar. After Dutchin sat and resumed his conversation with his friend, the suspect returned with an armed accomplice.

The men confronted Dutchin and another argument ensued during which Dutchin was shot twice-- once to the right side abdomen and once to the upper left thigh.

The attackers then fled the bar and boarded a waiting vehicle that sped away.

Dutchin was picked up in a bloodied state and rushed to the hospital where he was admitted. He underwent a surgery to remove the bullet from his abdomen.

Police later visited the scene but no spent shell was found; however, a broken number plate matching the one on the getaway car was recovered.

primary and secondary education. He noted that the provision of free education existed in Guyana for more than 40 years before the opposition took office in 1992.

Meanwhile, the Head of State also defended his government’s performance over the past four years, stating that it is enough to see the coalition retaining office on March 2. He said the APNU+AFC is the only party that has presented a manifesto that lays out its plan for the next ten years. “The APNU+AFC is the party with the

vision, the party with the manifesto, we are the party that will take Guyana over the next 10 years to ensure that development touches every Guyanese citizen. We are the party that looks after the future, looks after your children.

We are the party that will safely handle petroleum revenue, make our country safe, build happy families and ensure that Guyana joins the developed countries of the world.” (DPI)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

NICIL’s CEO reaches out to stabbed teen

-- lends financial assistance CHIEF Executive Officer acting of NICIL, Colvin Heath-London, has come forward to lend what has been described as critically important financial assistance to the stabbed Linden teen, Shashamani Williams and her family.

It was revealed that the project dubbed Hands of Change, involves different organisations that band together to do projects annually.

As such, the primary organisation, Linden Youth Vison’s Founder Dexton Copeland, said after the group encountered severe challenges because some persons who had made commitments failed to honour them, they sought some more support.

This, he said, was to complete the house within the time that they have set.

He related that his group reached out to the NICIL

acting CEO who immediately agreed to provide the required support.

“What I can tell you is that his financial support is very significant as it has helped us in a very long way, as we were seeking to complete this home timely so that the young lady and her family could return to a much more comfortable home,” he said.

The founder of the NGO related that the family was Founder of Linden Youth Vison, Dexton Copeland, stands in the centre as Shashamani’s father Maynard Williams and mother of the young lady who stabbed her, Nichelle Fable, share a light moment.

housed at a hotel in Linden after being discharged from hospital, while the three-bedroom home was being completed.

“We understand the challenges and the fact that we wanted to bring her to a better environment with her parents and other siblings; so we were working very hard to compete it timely but at a very high standard,” Copeland said.

He admitted that despite the view by many that the project was ideal and an excellent one, there were difficulties in securing the additional funds needed.

As such, they reached out to Heath-London after some residents made the suggestions to contact him for help.

“We were very happy with his commitment to help and impressed in how quickly he delivered on his commitment as he ensured that we secured the items immediately,” the young leader said.

He stressed that the NGO received assistance from several persons, noting that it has helped to ensure that the spirit of giving back and volunteerism is reinforced in the community.

The Linden Youth Vision

Founder said the young lady’s parents, who have been

Still hurting, Maynard Williams expressed his gratitude to NICIL’s Colvin Heath-London

accused of being involved the incident, have also been playing their part in a meaningful way.

He disclosed that both the mother and father of the stabber have personally apologised to the parents of the teen, giving their commitment that they are prepared to offer some form of compensation for the injuries caused.

PEACEFUL RESOLUTION “While the DPP has not made a determination on

whether charges will be laid against the young lady who stabbed her, the parents are assisting in whatever way possible and what is very pleasing is that both sides are seeking to resolve their differences in a very peaceful and amicable manner,” Copeland said.

He continued: “It’s no secret that the father of the stabbed teen is evidently upset and disturbed by the stabbing of his daughter, but equally so is the mother of the two accused, as she has admitted and revealed to us that she is stunned by her daughter’s action as she still hasn’t come to grips with the reality that her daughter could have been responsible for the loss of life of another teen. We as a group are working with both sides to help bring about some healing, some forgiveness and some understanding that differences can still be settled without the police intervention.”

Copeland pointed out that the assistance that has been received from the NICIL acting CEO was used to take care of the ceiling, roof, and doors, noting that he has TURN TO PAGE

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

NICIL garners over US$1.1B in investment value for 2020 THE National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has been able to mobilise USD$1.1B in investment for Guyana in 2020.

In a press release on Saturday, members of the Board of NICIL pointed out that the government holding company garnered the US$1.1B in investment value for the country for 2020, thus being the most active sector/agency within the country. They said further that NICIL is on the way to unleashing its full investment potential capacity.

According to the release, members of the Board said that the investments secured through a multitude of investment projects, payment of fees and other investment-related costs will help spur “significant economic growth and development” nationwide. This, they stressed, will continue to aid with significant national development.

“We have seen massive inflow of investment value coming and this was primarily possible through the prudent and excellent negotiations that were executed under our young and vibrant management team,” Board Director, Dr. Grantley Waldron, said.

The members of the board pointed out that since the appointment of Colvin Heath-London to hold the reins of NICIL two years ago, the CEO has been on a sustained push to lure lucrative investments into the country. “So far, he has been successful. …he has been able to attract some of the top investments that this country has seen in its history within this sector. Heath-London has, however, promised to increase the momentum since increasing numbers of local and international investors have signaled their intention to do business here,” the release said.

“The Board continues to be marvelled by the level of investments

coming in, while we are impressed with the number of persons who seek to do business here,” members of the Board noted.

They said that NICIL continues to demonstrate that as the government’s holding company, that it is executing its agenda and mandate professionally, thus ensuring that Guyanese at all levels benefit significantly from the various levels of investments, as we are seeing various types of investments, which augur well for Guyana and Guyanese,” they added.

The members of the Board stressed that with investment value being pegged at USD$1.1B in less than one year, it will boost other sectors declaring, that it’s not oil and gas that is leading the economy.

They related that it is unprecedented for NICIL or any other investment entity in Guyana, and so far, surpasses even oil and gas projected earnings.

They added that some 3000

NICIL’s CEO reaches out to ... committed to providing further assistance directly and indirectly to ensuring that the young lady is supported on her road to full recovery.

The young Linden businessman said that they are pleased with the overall response of many persons. He said the family is extremely pleased with the outpouring

of love and concern that has been shown thus far to them.

He declared that while many persons contributed in some way or the other, it was the contribution of Heath-London which was regarded as the largest, stressing that his contribution alone was very large.

“Heath-London helped in a major way as his contribu-

tion surpassed that of every other person and was really significant. We do not collect monies from anyone for any of our project as all, we would collect are the materials and whenever someone wants to give financially, we would ask them to give materials instead,” he said.

He continued: “We are very happy with Colvin’s

plus jobs are being created, thus resulting in the general public having access to more money, which ultimately will redound in increased business among other sectors. Grantley said that much more is planned and NICIL will champion the cause of investments and social responsibility.

Meanwhile, Heath-London said that he remains humbled to be heading a diligent, committed and dedicated team that has been working assiduously to ensure that they secure significant, quality investments for the country. “The investors who have been expressing interest are not only foreigners, as we have Guyanese at home and abroad who also have interest and are serious about investing,” he said.

He continued: “There is no question or doubt that NICIL will be keeping the economic wheel of this country turning as it continues to ensure that Guyana garners significant economic investment. Some FROM PAGE

help and is pleased that he has committed to continue lending valuable support and assistance to aid her in her full recovery attempts.

years ago, this would have been unheard of but thankfully, owing to a number of factors, investors are clamoring to come to Guyana and through NICIL we are ensuring that the right systems are put in place to receive their investments,” the NICIL head said.

He pointed out that among the revenues that NICIL has secured over the past year are the US$3M from Bosai; US$10.M from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and a significant amount from several other investors from deals to build hotels, condominiums, restaurants and the specialty hospital project among others.

“There are more investments that we will continue to generate through NICIL for this country and I can assure you that it will continue to increase tremendously,” Heath-London projected.

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He has also reassured us that whatever assistance that we may need further that he is committed and dedicated in ensuring that

we secure it.”

Copeland disclosed that the project was completed to the tune of just over $1M.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE, March 1, 2020

Join the march to continued progress

By Melina Harris THE “mother of all elections” is finally here. It seemed like the campaigns and rallies have been going on for ages but March 2, 2020 is finally upon us. I would be remiss to say that I have not felt the effects of this elections season because, until recently, I had been rather apolitical. I must confess that whilst living in the UK I voted on perhaps only one occasion. My rea-

sons were that I did not feel as though the system was created to benefit me so, my form of protest was to abstain from politics and obviously elections and voting. However, since moving back to Guyana, I have to admit that I have been caught up in the fanfare.

I came back to Guyana because I intuitively felt that the wheel of fortune had begun to turn in favour of Guyanese. I felt that under this progressive

government I would be able to play a role in Guyana’s development for the better. I saw quite clearly that there had been a paradigm shift or that one is still underway. I strongly believed that once Guyanese relationship ended with the previous government, we were able to assess the relationship objectively and saw that it had not been beneficial to us. I believed that the current administration, which narrowly defeated the previous administration

that enjoyed a 23- year tenure in office, had Guyanese best interests at heart. I also believed that Guyanese had become unsatisfied with stagnation, corruption and the “cowboy country” that Guyana had become. In May 2015, Guyanese sent a clear signal that it was time to move forward with progress and nation-building.

I remain convinced that the current A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU + AFC) coa-

lition government has started on the process of proper nation-building. This much is evident by the long list of developments that have taken place in Guyana since their election to office in 2015. Although Guyana recently celebrated its 50th Republic Anniversary, progress over the years has been slow and often times, non-existent.

It still astounds my mind that a country like Guyana that is so bountiful and rich in resources could at the same time be so poverty-stricken. I have constantly asked what happened to the bauxite money, the rice money, the gold money and the sugar money. Surely a country as resource wealthy as Guyana should have been much further along the developmental timeline.

The short answer to my question above is greed and corruption. For a very long time Guyanese have been robbed by those they chose, and I use that word lightly, to elect to office.

There are innumerable scandals to list where enormous sums of money have been “invested” or spent with little to no results or return on investment. Then there are the instances where the money has just disappeared.

The country was being robbed blindly whilst a small percentage of Guyanese became scandalously wealthy. The previous government was responsible for this decline in progress along with those citizens who benefited from their actions.

When I first got back here, I spent a lot of time observing Guyanese attitude toward the current administration. On the one hand, folks were happy for a change. They wanted to see different faces who were all about Guyana and helping Guyanese move forward together towards a good life.

On the other hand, there were those who were frustrated that money was not flowing as much as it was during the time of the previous administration.

Many were frustrated that the “narco-state” that Guyana had become was no longer as fruitful as it once had been. I was confused. This group seemed to care nothing about the wanton disregard for the value of human life, human suffering and human progress. They preferred the “free-for-all” administration. They preferred the “cowboy nation” because money was easier to obtain then. They preferred that the rule of law be dictated by those who saw themselves as powerful and above the law.

Guyanese relationship with their government has changed over the last few years, but the shift in culture is still underway. Another thing I observed was that many disenfranchised citizens often blamed the government for all aspects of their lives not going well. Let me say this: so my message of hope is that on this momentous day, Guyanese take ownership of their lives and destiny. Hope, for me, does not mean wishing that the desired outcome will manifest without the proper work being done. Hope means doing everything in my ability to bring about the desired outcome I wish to see. I encourage all against inaction and complacency, because we cannot afford to go back to the dark days from whence we came. I truly believe that we have only just begun to see the potential that this great young nation has. Let us not invest in pipe dreams and false promises. Let us stand unified, shoulder to shoulder, all ages, races, religions, colours and creeds. Guyana is moving forward and I hope all Guyanese see that they must be a part of the forward movement.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

International Karate-Do Organisation Chelsea earn late draw at establishes Academy in Guyana Bournemouth, West Ham relieved

By Ian Chadband LONDON, England (Reuters) - Chelsea’s erratic week ended with another

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Bournemouth, Britain - Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso scores their second goal. (REUTERS/Peter Nicho) topsy-turvy affair as they eked out a dramatic 2-2 Premier League draw at struggling Bournemouth yesterday thanks to a double from their goal-hungry defender Marcos Alonso.

The Spanish full back headed home from a rebound with the predatory instinct of a poacher five minutes for time to ensure Chelsea avoided a second miserable defeat in five days following their humbling Champions League home loss to Bayern Munich.

Chelsea’s chances of ensuring they will be in Europe’s top tournament next season, though, did suffer a setback after Bournemouth responded to Alonso’s first-half goal with two in three second-half minutes from Jefferson Lerma and Josh King.

Yet Alonso, who also scored in the Blues’ big win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, notched the leveller that meant fourth-placed Chelsea moved to 45 points, five behind thirdplaced Leicester City.

Liverpool, who lead the league on 79 points, were playing in the day’s late match at Watford.

For Bournemouth, though, there could only be frustration at seeing a comeback victory snatched away on an afternoon when fellow strugglers West Ham United leapt out of the bottom

three with a 3-1 win over Southampton.

A few thousand Hammers’ fans marched outside the London Stadium before the game, protesting at the club’s owners, but their mood was lightened as Jarrod Bowen, the 22 million-pound ($28 million) January signing, marked his full debut with a fine goal.

Southampton teenager Michael Obafemi equalised but the Hammers’ supremacy was underlined when Sebastien Haller and Michail Antonio scored the goals that propelled West Ham to 16th on 27 points, ahead of Bournemouth on goal difference.

Brighton & Hove Albion are still in a precarious 15th position as former England manager Roy Hodgson celebrated his 100th Premier League match in charge of Crystal Palace with a 1-0 win at the home of their old rivals.

Jordan Ayew’s 70th-minute winner, conjured up against the run of play, left Brighton pondering serious difficulties as they face a daunting fixture list for the rest of the season.

Newcastle United could get sucked into the relegation zone too, if their strike force remains as blunt as it did in the 0-0 draw at home to Burnley, the fourth successive game in which they have failed to score.

WORLD governing Karate body, the International Karate-Do Organisation that is headquartered in Miami, Florida has just established a traditional Shotokan Karate Academy in Guyana, called the IKO Academy of Guyana.

The International Karate Organisation which is headed by American Eighth Dan Black Belt Shihan Adrian Ellis, a seven-time United States National champion, World champion, gold medallist in the Goodwill Games, and an Inductee into the Hall of Fame and who has been involved in martial arts for over 40 years, has taken the decision to found a karate academy in Guyana to propagate the goals of Master Funakoshi, the father of modern karate.

This new and recently launched martial arts entity here in Guyana is headed by Seventh Dan Black Belt Shihan Jeffrey Wong, who is its Chief Instructor and Chairman. He brings to the academy 50 years of experience in Shotokan Karate-do.

The IKO Academy of Guyana, which is endeavouring to properly develop a very special martial arts culture throughout the length and breadth of Guyana, has placed a lot of importance and emphasis on its academy and

programmes being internationally affiliated, accredited and recognized; so that karatekas in Guyana who attend this institution could be assured of receiving a high quality of training, and its belt rankings recognised not just in Guyana or the Caribbean, but indeed throughout the world.

Apart from being directly representative of the International Karate-Do Organisation in Guyana, the IKO Academy of Guyana is also officially affiliated to and accredited by the World Karate Martial Arts Organisation (WKMO), which is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland and which has a membership base in over 100 countries in the world.

Vice-president of the International Karate-Do Organisation in Guyana, with responsibilities for Marketing/National Brand Identity Development, Waynewright Orderson, has disclosed to Chronicle Sport that among the benefits to be gained by members of the IKO Academy of Guyana, would be participation in creditable World Cup tournaments, and authentic Continental and World Championships held all over the globe, along with technical seminars, referee and judge courses held in Europe, Asia, North America and other continents.

Regional Four-day cricket

Permaul’s match-haul of 15 for 77 propels Jaguars to three-day win FLORENCE HALL, Jamaica (CMC) – Veteran leftarm spinner Veerasammy Permaul wrecked Jamaica Scorpions with a career-best 15-wicket match-haul, as Guyana Jaguars pulled off a seven-wicket victory inside three days here yesterday.

On a dramatic day at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium when 16 wickets clattered, the 30-year-old Permaul finished with 15 for 77 to propel Jaguars to their third win in six matches in the Regional Four-Day Championship.

No such finish was envisaged when rain wiped out nearly the entire morning session, allowing just two overs.

After lunch, fast bowler Marquino Mindley (3-68) snatched two of the last three Jaguars wickets to fall for 17 runs as the visitors were bowled out for 304 after resuming the morning on 287 for six.

However, Permaul then scythed through the Scorpions second innings to claim a career-best innings haul of eight for 18, to spectacularly topple the hosts for a meagre 111 in quick time.

Again, there was no hint of the carnage to come when captain John Campbell blasted 66 off 77 deliveries in an opening stand of 75 with Alwyn Williams (18).

But once Permaul

bowled Williams, the floodgates opened and Scorpions stunningly lost 10 wickets for 36 runs.

Set 24 for victory late in the day, off-spinner Jamie Merchant claimed three for eight to take some of the shine off Jaguars’ win before they eventually stumbled home.

Left-hander Campbell, on the hunt for form following a string of low scores, dominated the Jaguars bowling with six fours as Scorpions looked to erase their first innings deficit of 88 runs.

The turning point came, however, when Williams missed a swing at Permaul’s second delivery and lost his

leg-stump and with 10 runs added, Jermaine Blackwood (6) holed out to long on off Permaul.

Off the very next delivery, left-hander Paul Palmer missed a defensive stroke and was bowled first ball by Permaul and when Campbell edged a drive at the same bowler and was caught by captain Leon Johnson moving low to his left at first slip, Scorpions were reeling on 94 for four at tea.

Permaul then continued his dismantling of the Scorpions innings after tea as the last six wickets went down for 17 runs for the home team to be all out for 111.

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Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) 21 runs (2/19) (2) Daniel Vettori, Stephen Fleming, Brendan Mc Cullum & Ross Taylor

Today’s Quiz:

(1) What was the result of the recent WI/SL ODI series?

(2) Who was declared Man of the Series?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

43

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

Jamieson takes five as Kiwis rock India in Christchurch CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (Reuters) - Seamer Kyle Jamieson took five for 45 as New Zealand dismissed India for 242 after tea on day one of the second and final Test yesterday before consolidating their advantage by reaching the close of play on 63-0.

Playing only his second Test after making his debut in the 10-wicket victory in Wellington last week, the tall right-armer wreaked havoc in India’s lower order as the tourists lost their last five wickets for 45 runs after the second break.

Jamieson, enjoying some of the luck that had evaded him earlier in the day, claimed four of those wickets after starting with Cheteshwar Pujara, who had threatened to guide the tourists to a more than competitive total.

Pujara, picking his shots with the care of a player, who knew how important his innings would be, ground out a 25th Test half-century and enjoyed a partnership of 81 with Hanuma Vihari that had India looking comfortable at 194-4 just before tea.

Vihari gloved behind for 55 to bring up the break, however, and Pujara was gone for 54 two overs after the resumption when he abandoned his circumspection and skied an attempted hook that wicketkeeper BJ Watling took with ease.

“It was a wrong time to get out, obviously, just before tea,” Vihari told reporters. “I was batting positively; I thought I played one shot too many.

“But that’s the name of the game, sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t.”

Jamieson then removed Rishabh Pant, Umesh Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja in short order and left Trent Boult to mop up the final wicket by bowling Mohammed Shami for 12.

“It’s a pretty special feeling,” Jamieson said after carrying the ball off the field.

“I think as a bowling unit we did so well and I was lucky

trapped plumb in front by Tim Southee for three from the first ball he faced after lunch to take his tally to a paltry 24 from his three innings in the series.

New Zealand openers Tom Latham, who was unbeaten on 27, and Tom Blundell (29 not out) successfully negotiated 23 overs until stumps and will resume today looking to cut deep into India’s 179-run lead.

Scoreboard

New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson celebrates his five wickets in the second Test at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. (REUTERS)/Martin Hunter). to grab a few. At one stage I thought they were probably going to get a few more. The wicket wasn’t doing quite as much as it did in Wellington, so to keep them to 240 was pretty good.”

The day started poorly for the tourists when New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and sent his fivepronged seam attack out to bowl on a green track.

Opener Prithvi Shaw provided the first bright moments of the day for the Indian supporters with a quick-fire half-century in the rain-delayed first session that presented a stark contrast to what was to come from Pujara.

Jamieson dismissed the 20-year-old caught behind for 54, though, and his opening partner Mayank Agarwal (7) was also sent back before the first break.

Skipper Virat Kohli’s batting woes continued as he was

INDIA 1st innings Prithvi Shaw c Tom Latham b Kyle Jamieson 54 Mayank Agarwal lbw Trent Boult 7 Cheteshwar Pujara c BJ Watling b Kyle Jamieson 54 Virat Kohli lbw Tim Southee 3 Ajinkya Rahane c Ross Taylor b Tim Southee 7 Hanuma Vihari c BJ Watling b Neil Wagner 55 Rishabh Pant b Kyle Jamieson 12 Ravindra Jadeja c Trent Boult b Kyle Jamieson 9 Umesh Yadav c BJ Watling b Kyle Jamieson 0 Mohammed Shami b Trent Boult 16 Jasprit Bumrah not out 10 Extras: (b-4, lb-6, w-5) 15 Total: (all out, 63.0 overs) 242 Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-80, 3-85, 4-113, 5-194, 6-197, 7-207, 8-207, 9-216.

Bowling: Tim Southee 13-5-38-2, Trent Boult 17-2-89-2, Colin de Grandhomme 9-2-31-0, Kyle Jamieson 14-3-45-5 (w-1), Neil Wagner 10-2-29-1.

NEW ZEALAND 1st innings Tom Latham not out 27 Tom Blundell not out 29 Extras: (b-4, lb-3) 7 Total: (no wkt, 23.0 overs) 63-0 Bowling: Jasprit Bumrah 7-1-19-0, Umesh Yadav 8-1-20-0, Mohammed Shami 7-1-17-0, Ravindra Jadeja 1-1-0-0.

Klaasen maiden ton helps Proteas defeat Aussies in first ODI AUSTRALIA have suffered a shock loss to a depleted South African side in the first ODI in Paarl, meaning they can’t afford another slip-up if they are to win the three-match series.

Facing a Proteas team without key batsmen Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der

Africa’s western cape.

Steve Smith top-scored with 76 in reply, but Australia’s re-cast middle order, including D’Arcy Short at No.7, was left with too much to do and they fell 74 runs short.

The two teams will now head to Bloemfontein for the second match on Wednes-

Heinrich Klaasen hits maiden ODI century to power South Africa to comprehensive win in the ODI series opener Dussen (both rested) and injured quick Kagiso Rabada, Australia’s star pace attack was no match for unheralded right-hander Heinrich Klaasen, who scored his maiden international century, as the Proteas tallied 291-7 in scorching heat in the winelands region of South

day before the series concludes in Potchefstroom next Saturday.

While the T20 leg of this tour was undoubtedly the main focus for the Australians given the T20 World Cup is just eight months away, a loss to an undermanned opponent

would be frustrating for coach Justin Langer as his side begin the long build towards the next 50-over World Cup in 2023.

For all of Australia’s good work in one-day cricket last year, when they shook off an unprecedented form slump to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in the UK, they have now lost five of their past six games and – incredibly – nine of their past 10 against the Proteas, a streak that stretches back to their 5-0 whitewash here in 2016.

The Proteas fielded two debutants as well as just five members of their squad from last year’s World Cup and appeared, on paper at least, to be firm underdogs against a full-strength Australian side.

And the match appeared to be following the script when Mitchell Starc struck with the very first ball, the left-armer producing a trademark in-swinger that trapped opener Janneman Malan in front of his stumps, the right-hander becoming the first debutant in ODI history to be dismissed from the opening delivery of the game. To cap off an unfortunate day for the luckless Malan, he was forced to leave the field late in the

match with what appeared to be a left hamstring injury.

A score of 0-1 soon became 48-3 when Klaasen, who averaged just 22 with the bat in ODIs before yesterday, came to the middle and turned the match in his side’s favour.

The 28-year-old shared a 149-run partnership with David Miller (64 from 70 balls) for the fifth wicket before pushing on to just his second three-figure score in 74 List A games, finishing unbeaten on 123 from 114 balls.

Starc (2-59) and the returning Josh Hazlewood (1-63) both copped some punishment having made early breakthroughs, while Australia’s fifth-bowling option – a combination of Short’s wrist-spin and Mitchell Marsh’s medium pace – conceded 70 runs from 10 overs.

South Africa’s total could well have exceeded 300 if not for the impressive work of Pat Cummins, who finished with 3-45 and produced a superb run out late in the innings, while Adam Zampa (0-48 from 10 overs) also bowled tightly.

Lungi Ngidi then removed Aaron Finch and David Warner inside the opening 10 overs to give the 10 000-strong local crowd belief that an upset was on

the cards.

An 84-run stand between Smith and Marnus Labuschagne (41 from 51 balls) ate into the runs required, but the loss of both players and Marsh before the 35th over left the lower order with too much to do.

Ngidi was the pick of

the home side’s bowlers, taking 3-30 from eight overs, while spinners Keshav Maharaj (1-48 from 10) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2-45 from 10) ensured the required run rate stayed well above six runs an over for most of the chase.

(Cricket.comau)

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA innings Janneman Malan lbw Mitchell Starc 0 Quinton de Kock c Alex Carey b Josh Hazlewood 15 Temba Bavuma b Pat Cummins 26 Kyle Verreynne c Mitchell Marsh b Pat Cummins 48 Heinrich Klaasen not out 123 David Miller c Alex Carey b Pat Cummins 64 Andile Phehlukwayo run-out Pat Cummins 0 Keshav Maharaj b Mitchell Starc 2 Anrich Nortje not out 1 Extras: (b-1, lb-5, w-6) 12 Total: (seven wkts, 50.0 overs) 291 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-33, 3-48, 4-126, 5-275, 6-275, 7-286.

Bowling: Mitchell Starc 10-0-59-2 (w-1), Josh Hazlewood 100-63-1 (w-2), Pat Cummins 10-0-45-3 (w-2), Mitchell Marsh 5-0-35-0, D’Arcy Short 5-0-35-0, Adam Zampa 10-0-48-0.

AUSTRALIA innings David Warner c Kyle Verreynne b Lungi Ngidi 25 Aaron Finch c Quinton de Kock b Lungi Ngidi 10 Steven Smith lbw Anrich Nortje 76 Marnus Labuschagne c Lungi Ngidi b Keshav Maharaj 41 Mitchell Marsh b Lungi Ngidi 16 Alex Carey c Kyle Verreynne b Tabraiz Shamsi 5 D’Arcy Short stp. Quinton de Kock b Tabraiz Shamsi 18 Mitchell Starc run out Quinton de Kock 5 Pat Cummins c Kyle Verreynne b Andile Phehlukwayo 6 Adam Zampa not out 7 Josh Hazlewood b Anrich Nortje 1 Extras: (lb-3, w-4) 7 Total: (all out, 45.1 overs) 217 Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-49, 3-133, 4-174, 5-174, 6-195, 7-203, 8-207, 9-211.

Bowling: Keshav Maharaj 10-0-48-1, Anrich Nortje 7.1 0-392, Lungi Ngidi 8-0-30-3 (w-2), Andile Phehlukwayo 10-0-52- 1 (w-1), Tabraiz Shamsi 10-0-45-2 (w-1).

44

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

Liverpool’s dream run ends in 3-0 thrashing at Watford

LONDON, England (Reuters) - Liverpool’s unbeaten run of success in this season’s Premier League was ended in unfathomable fashion yesterday as struggling Watford hammered the European champions 3-0 at their ecstatic Vicarage Road stadium.

Ismaila Sarr inspired the extraordinary upset, stunning off-key Liverpool with two goals in six second-half minutes before setting up captain Troy Deeney with a third for the team who had started the day one from bottom, 55 points behind the runaway leaders.

Liverpool’s first league defeat of the season in their 28th match meant the end

of their hopes of going the whole league campaign unbeaten, as the new ‘Invincibles’. It also concluded their run of 44 league matches without defeat stretching back to January 2019.

It also came on the evening when they were expected to surpass champions Manchester City by creating a new English top-flight record of 19 successive league victories.

The setback will doubtless not stop Juergen Klopp’s men going on to lift their first English title for 30 years as they still remain 22 points ahead of their nearest pursuers, yet their season’s aura of domestic invincibility was

Watford’s Ismaila Sarr scores their first goal in the Premier League v Liverpool at Vicarage Road, Watford, Britain yesterday. (REUTERS/David Klein) quite demolished.

Liverpool had previously dropped only two points in the league this season their draw at Manchester

Women’s Twenty20 World Cup

New Zealand survive Bangladesh scare, India continue winning run MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) - New Zealand bowlers Hayley Jensen and Leigh Kasperek picked up three wickets each to help White Ferns defend a low score to beat Bangladesh by 17 runs in the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup yesterday and stay in the hunt for the semi-finals from Group A. Playing her first match in the tournament, medium pacer Ritu Moni took a career-best 4-18 to help Bangladesh bundle their opponents out for 91 but their batsmen faltered in the modest chase and were skittled out for 74.

In the day’s second match in Melbourne, India continued their winning run with

alongside India from the group.

Off-spinner Kasperek knew New Zealand’s batting needs to come good against the hosts and defending champions Australia if they are to progress.

“They’ll probably be a little bit disappointed in how they’ve gone but they’ve been hitting well in training and we’re lucky we’ve got the number one and number two batters in the world,” Kasperek said.

“You want your big players to step up in big games, so hopefully they can do that against Australia on Monday.

Bangladesh captain Salma Khatun also

United in October - but from the start, Watford attacked them with a vigour that belied their struggles in the league.

Watford, who had not won any of their previous five league games, quickly looked the more likely to break the deadlock in the first half with Gerard Deulofeu proving Liverpool’s main tormentor before he had to be taken off by stretcher with a knee injury.

Yet it was only when the Senegalese winger Sarr struck twice just before the hour mark that the Hornets dared to dream.

First, he poked home from close range after Liverpool had failed to deal with a throw-in and then, after Will Hughes had set up an attack with a neat back heel, he powered forward and lifted the ball

over the advancing Alisson.

Sarr then completed his fairytale day by latching on to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s poor back pass and setting up Deeney, although he did miss a good chance to complete his hat-trick.

Liverpool never gave up and Adam Lallana hit the post with one thumping drive but, for the first time in the league this season, they had been thoroughly outplayed, as Klopp acknowledged with his generous on-field congratulations to his opponents.

For Watford, these were crucial points, as Nigel Pearson’s men moved out of the bottom three on goal difference into 17th place.

Back-to-the-wall West Indies Women dangerous - England captain NATALIE Sciver believes West Indies’ indifferent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign makes them a dangerous prospect for England to face in Sydney.

Sciver’s side know a win at the Showground would almost certainly put them into the semi-finals, marking a significant comeback since their opening defeat to South Africa in Perth.

But the all-rounder feels a tough test is in store when they face the 2016 champions

“I thought Danni did that well against Pakistan and tried to get a few away. She got some luck, which is helpful when you’re feeling a bit out of form.

“I’m hoping that between now and tomorrow she can rethink or just take her mind off it.”

For West Indies, meanwhile, there’s no room for anything less than clinical cricket.

Women’s T20 were World Cup champions just four years ago and expectation follows Taylor’s charges at every turn but

England captain Natalie Sciver believes West Indies’ indifferent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign makes them a dangerous prospect to face in Sydney today.

New Zealand’s players celebrate after defeating Bangladesh in the Women’s T20 World Cup, at Junction Oval in Melbourne, yesterday. (Photo: Quinn Rooney/ Getty Images) a seven-wicket victory over South Asian neighbours Sri Lanka to seal top spot in the group with their fourth victory from as many matches.

Left-armer Radha Yadav spun a web around the Sri Lankan batters with a match-winning bowling performance of 4-23 to restrict their opponents to 113 for nine.

Hard-hitting Indian opener Shafali Verma then smashed 47 off 34 balls to help her side chase down the target with 32 balls to spare. The 16-year-old hit seven fours and one six in her knock.

While Sri Lanka failed to defend their score, New Zealand’s effort made sure it was the lowest total successfully defended in the tournament.

New Zealand’s victory effectively set up a quarter-final against trans-Tasman rivals Australia on Monday, with the winners to advance

returned impressive bowling figures of 3-7 and did the early damage to remove New Zealand openers Sophie Devine and Rachel Priest, who top-scored for her side with 25.

In reply, Bangladesh also kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were not helped by the run-outs of Fargana Hoque and Ritu Moni.

Nigar Sultana Joty top-scored for Bangladesh with an innings of 21, during which she also had to retire hurt after being hit on the face while attempting a sweep shot.

Jensen finished with figures of 3-11 with her medium pace while Kasperek finished Bangladesh’s innings in the final over by dismissing Joty to pick up 3-23.

“That was really a poor performance from us,” said Ritu. “We need to play regular cricket series with the top-ranked teams, as that is the best way to help us improve.”

today, despite Stafanie Taylor’s side failing to hit their straps Down Under - edging out Thailand before losing to Pakistan.

England themselves have been far from perfect, particularly with openers Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt struggling for form, prompting Sciver to rein in expectations of a comfortable victory.

“I think the pressure of these two games has brought out the best in us,” she said. “We’ve had two pretty clinical performances and put things right that we didn’t do well against South Africa.

“You don’t know what you’ll get from West Indies on the day. The two games they’ve had probably make them more dangerous. We’ll have to be on our game.

“It’s a tight turnaround; I’m not sure how much training we’ll be doing. We’ll have a review meeting so we know what we need to know about their batters and bowlers ahead of the game.

“It’s hard when batters have a run when they don’t get as many runs as they want to, really. It’s hard to keep putting yourself out there and keep going for the shots that are your strengths.

they have flattered to deceive with two farfrom-perfect performances to date.

Victories over both England and South Africa are likely if they are to reach the last four, but belief is still evident for a team that know they have plenty more to offer.

“It’s about putting partnerships together, believing in themselves and being able to handle the situation as it comes,” said coach Gus Logie.

“Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin – these are the people you expect to do well.

The captain has been getting scores, but we just haven’t got big scores to put pressure on the opposition.

“It’s do-or-die. The players know that if you win you can go through, but lose and you go home. The onus is upon everyone to dig deeper and produce the performances which they know they can.

“They have done well against England and South Africa in past World Cups; they know they can beat them.

“There’s nothing in the stars that say we can’t make the semi-finals so we have to believe we can.

“The approach will have to be positive and that’s what we’re looking at.”

45

SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

UG females win Forbes Burnham windball cricket title

UNIVERSITY of Guyana Trojans female cricket team stormed to victory in the Forbes Burnham Foundation/National Sports Commission/Al Sport and Tour Promotions ‘Hit it for 50’ School Windball Cricket competition recently at the National Gymnasium.

The Trojans were always favourites in the competition as they kept winning games in the round-robin battle.

The fifth and decisive win was against Camille’s Academy.

UG batted first and scored 146-0 in their six overs. Keisha Fraser stormed to a match-high 87 after she

UG captain receives the championship trophy from chairman of the Forbes Burnham Foundation, Vincent Alexander. Also in photo is AL Sport official R. Gordon. exploded with 10 sixes of the competition, Akaze 42.

Most Valuable Player Thompson, supported with In their turn in the mid-

dle, Camille’s Academy were restricted to 105-1. S. Raghoo led the attack with 52, while Tamika Simon supported with 30.

Camille’s Academy had won against Cummings Lodge Secondary in another clash. Cummings Lodge batted first and reached 74-2 with E. Mentore scoring 38, while Camille’s Academy replied with 76-2 after Simons had hit 34.

In the male division, the New Central High lost twice. They went down to the Business School and Cummings Lodge Secondary.

Against Business School,

they batted first and scored 89-4 with Deonarine Tiwari hitting 32, but hardball cricketer Ezekiel Wilson took 3-14. In reply, another of the Business School’s established cricketers Jeffrey Blair struck 62 to lead the side to 92-0.

In the other clash, New Central High batted first and tallied 91-1. Again it was Tiwari who led the attack. His 60 propelled the school to 91-1, but Josh Alves struck 58 to lift Cummings Lodge to 95-2.

The tournament is set to resume on Wednesday with the knockout stage of the male competition.

Motivated Windies seeking to avoid whitewash KANDY, Sri Lanka (CMC) – West Indies will attempt to avoid their second straight whitewash on Sri Lankan soil when they take on the hosts in today’s final One-Day International.

Five years ago, the Caribbean side were swept 3-0 with the decisive third victory also coming here in the central Sri Lankan city.

And though the visitors have already conceded the three-match series following defeats in Colombo and Hambantota, head coach Phil Simmons does not anticipate any problems motivating West Indies for the finale.

“My players have no problems being motivated,” Simmons told a media con-

ference ahead of the encounter at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

“So whatever happened in the last two games does not hinder the motivation of the players.

“We didn’t turn up for the (last) game. We didn’t bowl well and dropped too many catches. And in the batting we didn’t put an innings together chasing 340-odd.

“I think it was one of those days where all three facets of the game went wrong but all we can do is: continue to work as we have been working hard before so we can correct it (today].”

Searching for their first-ever series win in Sri Lanka, West Indies suf-

fered disappointment in the opening game when they went down by one wicket defending 289, in a contest that ended in the last over.

The second defeat was far more comprehensive, however, West Indies crashing to a heavy 161-run loss last Wednesday, in pursuit of 346.

Despite those results, Simmons said they were aspects of both games which had been encouraging for West Indies and which they needed to now build on.

“From the first game, definitely the way we fought back after (conceding) 78 off the first 10 overs and in the second one, the way that we bowled in the first 10 overs,” Simmons explained.

“So if we can put the two of them together (for Sunday), then we can get a complete 50 overs.

“I think batting-wise, we batted well in the first one-dayer where we put partnerships together. (In the) second one we didn’t do any of that.”

West Indies were let down my loose fielding especially in the last game, highlighted by captain Kieron Pollard putting down Kusal Mendis on two, and the right-hander cashing in to register his second ODI hundred.

Simmons said the fielding was an area which the Windies had given much attention in recent times.

“It is something we are

working extremely hard on and we’re trying to get everyone to enjoy the day in the field so that’s where we’re going to change things.”

SQUADS: SRI LANKA – Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Niroshan Dickwella, Avishka Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shehan Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Isuru Udana.

WEST INDIES – Kieron Pollard (captain), Fabian Allen, Sunil Ambris, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons shares a light moment with journalists during yesterday’s media conference.

King, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.

DaSilva leads Red Force fightback after Cornwall’s five for 29 BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Joshua DaSilva was propping up Trinidad and Tobago Red Force following another batting collapse, as their sixth round encounter against Leeward Islands Hurricanes headed for an intriguing finish on Sunday’s final day.

At the close of the penultimate day at Warner Park, Red Force were struggling on 94 for six in their second innings – a lead of only 130 runs – after Test off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall threatened to destroy the innings with a lethal spell of five for 29.

DaSilva was unbeaten on 45, an innings that has so far consumed 80 balls

and nearly 1-¾ hours and included five fours and a six.

With Red Force in dire straits on 28 for five, DaSilva combined with Imran Khan (29) to put on an invaluable 53 for the sixth wicket.

Khan struck three fours in a 54-ball knock before succumbing in the fifth over before the close, which was taken early due to showers.

Hurricanes had earlier been dismissed for 251 to concede a first innings lead of 36, after resuming from their overnight 147 for five.

Left-hander Amir Jangoo, unbeaten

on 72 overnight, fell for 90 while the tail wagged through Nino Henry’s 34 and Jeremiah Louis’s 29.

Trinidadian Jangoo faced 238 balls in nearly five hours at the crease and struck eight fours and two sixes while Henry’s knock was a breezy one, containing five fours and a six and coming from 54 balls.

Crucially, Jangoo extended his sixth wicket stand with Jaison Peters (21) to 63 before he was the last of three wickets to fall for 31 runs, holing out to mid-on off left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (2-52) at 193 for eight.

Henry and Louis then frustrated Red

Force in a 53-run, ninth wicket stand before leg-spinner Imran Khan claimed both to finish with four for 67.

Armed with a slender lead, Red Force were quickly undermined by Cornwall who removed Jeremy Solozano (5), captain Yannick Ottley (5) and Isaiah Rajah (7) all courtesy of lbw decisions, as the innings slumped to 19 for three.

Cornwall then grabbed two wickets in one over with Red Force on 28, having Khary Pierre caught at short leg by Jangoo for three and then removing Jason Mohammed first ball to a catch at slip by Terrance Warde.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

Lady Jags coach not fixated on creating history at U-20 Women’s Championship … Guyana to tackle Cayman Islands today

By Rawle Toney LADY Jags will take on Cayman Islands today at the Estadio Panamericano stadium in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic, in the CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship Round-of-16 action, from 19:00hrs.

But while even reaching the tournament’s knockout stage is a historic achievement itself, head coach Dr Ivan Joseph is least concerned about making history, telling Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview that “we’re not thinking about making history, what we think about is the present and how do we prepare for this opponent.”

“We’re not even thinking about the next game until the current game is done, and so while it’s nice to say that we’re creating history, the reality of it is that we’re playing for each other and we’re trying to make sure that we’re playing for in the moment,” the usually candid Joseph explained.

Playing in the tournament’s group stage, the Lady Jags’ only defeat came from defending champions Mexico, where they were beaten 3-0. The loss saw them finish second in Group D behind the Mexicans.

Cayman Islands, on the other hand, narrowly made it out of their group which also featured Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti

and St Kitts and Nevis.

In their first game against Haiti, Cayman Islands went down 8-0, followed by a 2-0 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago and they then edged St Kitts & Nevis 3-2 in their final Group H game.

Guyana, playing in Group D, eased past Nicaragua 3-1, downed Puerto Rico 2-1, before closing out against Mexico.

“We’re in a strong position of success and we’re happy with where we are, but we’re not contented, so we have lots of work still yet to do, but the best is yet to come,” the Canada-based coach said.

Meanwhile, commenting on what he wants the outcome of their successful run in the tournament to bring to the forefront of the sport in Guyana, Dr Joseph reasoned that he hopes to see elevation of the women’s arm of the game.

“It’s hard to see the men’s game at the level that it is and see all the money that is spent on that programme. We have got to now re-ignite of women’s senior national team with some young U-20s in there, to continue the momentum, which will continue to push us forward,” said Dr Joseph.

A win for Guyana today will see them playing the winners between Group H winners Haiti, and theBarbados in the quarter-finals.

McKinnon returned as president of GSSF RYAN McKinnon was returned as president of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF), following last Friday’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Grand Coastal Inn. McKinnon delivered opening remarks and renewed his commitment to safety in the sport and affirmed the foundation’s shift to community work as well as sports.

dation’s treasurer, Ray Beharry, to the membership and this was duly adopted at the AGM. The External Audit of the Financial Statement was duly conducted and issued by Auditor, Mr Harryram Parmesar, from the Parmesar Audit Firm. Another significant aspect of the AGM was the two motions which were unanimously carried.

The newly elected Board of Directors of the GSSF 2020-2022. From left, Imam Baksh, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, David Dharry, Ryan McKinnon, Dr Pravesh Harry, Dallas Thomas, Ray Beharry and Andrew Phang.

Missing from photo is Captain Gary Sahai.

He reflected on 2019 as being another good year and congratulated GSSF and thanked all members for their continued support in promoting sport shooting and expressed the hope to continue building the sport and to focus on safety.

Secretary of the Foundation and former GSSF president, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, delivered a comprehensive report on the 2019 activities of the GSSF including affiliation to local and international bodies.

She touched on key topics such as general firearm safety, increased membership growth, continuous monthly training courses, the various sport shooting disciplines currently encompassed, donations made, general outreach to supporting agencies, shooting range access, support programmes and the ongoing development of the sport of shooting in Guyana.

The Report of the External Auditors, along with the Financial Statement of the GSSF, was presented by the Foun-

The Returning Officer appointed Captain Roul Bhudu, duly declared the board and positions therein vacant and commenced elections for a new Board of Directors of the GSSF. Following the transparent electoral process, the members listed below were duly elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation for the term 2020 to 2022 as announced and ratified by the Returning Officer, Bhudu.

Members of the Board of Directors for the period 2020-2022 are: President Ryan McKinnon, Vice-President David Dharry, Secretary Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, Treasurer Ray Beharry, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Andrew Phang, Chairman (Steel Challenge) Dallas Thomas, Chairman (Practical Shooting) Imam Baksh, Chairman (Trapshooting) Pravesh Harry, Internal Auditor Captain Gary Sahai.

FLASHBACK! Action between Guyana and Nicaragua during the Group stages of the CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship in the Dominican Republic

Mayers, Roach put Pride in sight of victory BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Left-hander Kyle Mayers continued his run-spree with an unbeaten half-century as Barbados Pride dominated Windward Islands Volcanoes to install themselves as favourites for a convincing win on today’s final day.

The 27-year-old hit an aggressive unbeaten 62 off 43 balls as the hosts, resuming Saturday’s penultimate day of the sixth round fixture at Kensington Oval on six without loss, declared their second innings on 239 for four.

Opener Shayne Moseley struck 60, Justin Greaves stroked an unbeaten 53 while Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite chipped in with 49.

Set 399 for victory, Volcanoes slumped to 37 for three courtesy a double strike from Test seamer Kemar Roach (2-21) before recovering to reach 73 without further loss.

Alick Athanaze, a ‘concussion substitute’ for the injured Desron Maloney, was unbeaten on 21 and was involved in an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 36 with Devon Smith (16 not out).

Volcanoes require a further 325 runs for victory with seven wickets remaining.

Starting the day with a lead of 165 runs, Pride rammed home their advantage through a series of solid partnerships.

First, Moseley and Brathwaite extended their opening partnership to 114, carrying the hosts to lunch on 99 to ensure Volcanoes went without success in the first session.

Moseley counted eight fours off 111 deliveries in 141 minutes while Brathwaite hit five fours off 90 balls in 156 minutes.

Captain Kavem Hodge (2-44) got the breakthrough when he trapped Moseley lbw with his left-arm spin and then bowled Test batsman Shamar Brooks in the same over without scoring.

And when fast bowler Ray Jordan removed Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich (2), Pride had lost four wickets for 21 runs to be 135 for four.

Mayers, however, who struck a career-best hundred in the first innings, took charge for Pride in an unbroken 104run partnership with Greaves.

Playing in his usual positive style, Mayers crunched three fours and four sixes while Greaves faced 78 balls and counted three fours and two fours in just over an hour-and-a-half at the crease.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE March 1, 2020

UEFA gift is symbolic of GFF’s International Relations Strategy

- Forde

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde, has called the commissioning of the two buses, gifted to his federation by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), symbolic of their International Relations Strategy, which he noted continues to bode well for the reputation of Guyana as a football nation.

A partnership, which was only recently formalised between GFF and UEFA, has ticked off its first major achievement with Guyana benefitting from the donation of two minibuses through the UEFA Assist Programme.

The UEFA Assist Programme, which was set up in 2017, provides support for the other confederations and their member associations in four specific areas – capacity-building (football and operations), development of youth football, infrastructure projects and helping UEFA’s member associations to create cooperation programmes with associations from outside of Europe.

GFF president Wayne Forde joins members of the Federation’s executive committee and technical staff for a photo opportunity following the commissioning of the two minibuses from UEFA. At the commissioning ceremony on Friday afternoon at the GFF headquarters in Section K, Campbellville, key officials spoke of initiative and how significant it is to the development of local football.

“These strategic partnerships are essential to our quest to acquire badly-needed football development resources along with technical and administration capacity,” Forde told the gathering of reporters and other football officials.

According to GFF president, the “buses were donated by UEFA, and I am so humbled and grateful for

this kind gesture. I would therefore like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr Aleksander Ceferin – President of UEFA, for his generous contribution to the Development of Guyana’s Football.

I wish to also thank Ms Eva Pasquier and Mr Howard McIntosh for working closely with me over the past year to consolidate the bilateral partnership between the GFF and UEFA.” Forde pointed out that the buses will contribute to significant savings to the operation of the GFF’s Academy Training Centre (ATC) programme,

which will allow the federation to fully implement the next phases of their ground-breaking National Youth Development Structure.

Head of UEFA’s International Relations, Eva Pasquier, noted that the “UEFA Assist programme is proud to support the GFF in their continuous effort to develop football in the country.

When we learnt that there are young players walking for hours to play the game and then they walk back, the provision of the minibuses is just a perfect thing to do bringing people and football

together.”

Howard McIntosh, One CONCACAF and Caribbean Project Senior Manager, reasoned that the confederation’s governing body was “proud to facilitate any collaborative efforts in the Region to assist in the development of the beautiful game. This gift will help GFF to continue its many programmes which have yielded success for GFF and Guyana.”

Contributing to the development of football has long been one of UEFA’s central objectives. UEFA Assist aims to increase solidarity and enhance football

development to tackle the needs of national associations and confederations outside Europe.

Over the years, UEFA has demonstrated its commitment to reinforcing relationships with other confederations by providing ad hoc support and signing memorandums of understanding with all five of its sister confederations.

UEFA Assist institutionalises this ongoing support of other associations and confederations in terms of knowledge-sharing and football development.

The main scope of UEFA Assist is essentially to share knowledge and best practices to help UEFA’s sister confederations to develop and strengthen football within their respective territories. UEFA Assist is designed to provide practical assistance and offer support through development activities.

Capacity-building (operations and football), Development of Youth football, Infrastructure and UEFA member association support are listed as the four pillars of the programme, with each providing specific support to member associations and confederations worldwide.

Demerara crowned 2020 GCB/RUBiS U-17 Inter-county champions … Berbice thrash U-15s at Everest ground NATIONAL Youth player Mavindra Dindyal batted Demerara to the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/RUBiS Inter-county U-17 title, following a competitive final round match against Essequibo at the GCC ground, Bourda yesterday.

Demerara who entered the

final round with 18.5 points, 10.1 more than the number 2-placed Berbice, posted 168 in 41.2 overs, batting first and had a mixed performance with Dindyal following up his MVP performance in the last match, with a well-constructed 40 off 45 with 4 fours and a six.

The Windies youth bats-

man was the lone batting star for his team, as a few others managed to chip in with bits-and-pieces contributions as spinner Ryan Atkinson returned 3-33 with skipper Aryan Persaud also grabbed 3 wickets.

The combined efforts of Persaud and Atkinson ensured

2020 GCB/RUBiS U-17 Inter-county champions Demerara

that the Demerara batsmen, apart from stylish Dindyal, who is in a class of his own; never got off to the required start.

Cashing in on a gettable total was never that easy for Essequibo, who were mowed down for 134 runs in 45.5 overs, after struggling all innings. Ronaldo Scouten, who did well with the

Mavindra Dindyal accepts his award from GCB Junior Chairman of Selectors Nazimul Drepaul. ball in the last round, was the primary scorer for his team with a brisk 34 0ff 30 balls with four massive sixes.

No other batsman managed to reach 20 before or after Scouten launched his brutal onslaught in the middle overs. With a low target to defend and a dismal outing by their opponents, Demerara, thanks mainly to Rudranauth Kissoon’s guile (4-25), helped keep his team in the hunt.

The second match at the Everest ground had a bit of action also, as Berbice surged to an 8-wicket win over their opponents the Select U-15.

The young side were kept to

97 after battling for 40.3 overs, with Nicholas Shoepersaud the top-scorer with 27.

Honours went to all-rounder Leon Cecil, who spun his way to magical figures of 6-14 from 9.3 overs while junior national all-rounder Johnathan Rampersaud chipped in with 3-29 from 10 overs.

Berbice openers Mahendra Gopilal stroked 54 off 53 deliveries with 8 fours to set the tone while Hemendra Gordyal struck an unbeaten 30 to see his team over the ropes with ease; ending on 98-2 from 21.4 overs. (Clifton Ross)

Annandale Secondary clobber East Ruimveldt 10-2 as Milo schools football continues

Action on day five of the Milo schools football tournament was a goal-scoring fest. (Adrian Narine photo)

IT was a goal-scoring phenomenon as the Milo schools U-18 football tournament continued yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

The day started off tamely with St Joseph High scoring a routine 1-0 victory over their South Ruimveldt counterparts. Kahlil Gittens’ 36th minute strike gave the Woolford Avenue-based side the lead before Jaleim Cox’s 43rd minute goal sealed the deal.

The South Ruimveldt side tried a comeback, started by Godfrey Weekes in the 46th but time elapsed on them.

The second game of the afternoon, however, was a goal-fest for Annandale Secondary who thrashed East Ruimveldt 10-2.

From the beginning, Annnadale Secondary were intent on showing their scoring prowess and Tiquan Taylor in the 7th ensured that.

Omari Glasgow then brought the heat, scoring the first of his hat-trick goals in the 16th minute; East Ruimveldt responding through Ezekiel Waldron in the 18th to take the score to 2-1.

Jerome Harrigan made the score 3-1 in the 24th, with Tyrice Dennis’ 29th minute goal granting Annandale the three-goal lead.

East scored again through Keion

Lennox ‘Too Sharp’ Allen to fight for WBA Super Middleweight title on April 11

By Rawle Toney GUYANA’S Lennox ‘Too Sharp’ Allen on April 11 will clash with Cuban David Morrell Jr, for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Middleweight title, at the Minneapolis Armory.

The 35-year-old Allen, the country’s highest ranked/rated fighter on the international scenes, vaunts a perfect ring-record of 22 wins, 14 of which came by way of TKO, as well as one draw from his 23 outings.

His latest win, a unanimous decision victory over Derrick Webster, saw him claim the WBA’s Gold title at the Super Middleweight division last year.

Allen, in an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport, said that he’s in perfect shape for the up-coming fight, which represents everything he has been working for in his entire career.

Lennox ‘Too Sharp’ Allen wins WBA Super Middleweight ‘Gold’ world title, following his Unanimous Decision-win over Derrick Webster “This is my first fight in 2020, and I’m trying to make it a good one. People always ask, ‘how important is this fight to you?’ Every fight at this level is important. I’m here trying to make my name one of the biggest names in the 168-division and hopefully, I open a lot of eyes this year and April 11 is going to be the first step in accomplishing what I want in the

International Karate-Do Organisation See story establishes Academy in Guyana on page 42

Marques in the 35th but Annandale just turned up the heat.

Glasgow completed his brace in the 41st with Rickey Deputron scoring two minutes later to make the score 6-2.

Glasgow completed his hat-trick in the 55th, with Colin Henriques adding in the 56th, Dennis completing his brace in the 58th and Harrigan doing the same in the 62nd.

The final game of the day ended in twoall stalemate between Lodge Secondary and Carmel Secondary with the former producing a come-from-behind salvage.

Lonsdale Amsterdam had given Carmel the lead in the 42nd and then doubled in the 50th but Lodge had Osafo Jackson in the 52nd and Curt Edwards’ 65th erase both efforts in a fight to the finish.

Matches will continue today with St John’s College opening the day against Golden Grove Secondary at 12:00hrs.

Bishops’ High will face Tucville from 13:45hrs with Queenstown and New Central High doing battle in the last game of the day The tournament is also being supported by the Ministry of Public Health under its ‘Stop Gender-Based Violence’ campaign.

(Super Middleweight) division,” Allen said from his base in Brooklyn, New York.

Asked about his preparation for the fight, the unbeaten Guyanese fighter said that he’s in perfect condition, telling Chronicle Sport that “camp is going great …we’re at eight weeks. I never stop training, so I’ve been training way before we finalised this fight, so I’ve been two steps ahead. I’ve been working hard, camp is going great as I said, I’m injury-free, so I’m just ready to fight!”

Morrell Jr is the WBA’s No. 3-ranked Super Middleweight contender. A native of Cuba now fighting out of Minneapolis, Morrell recently joined the pro ranks after winning 130 of 132 amateur bouts.

Morrell turned pro last August with a blowout win over Yendris Rodriguez Valdez at the Armory. He recently signed a long-term contract with Warriors Boxing of South Florida and Russia-based Ural Promotions.

Morrell’s manager, legendary promoter Luis DeCubas, was full of praises for the Cuban, calling him “a dynamic young gun, who is going to be a superstar in our sport”.

“Morrell’s amateur record is stunning. To tell you the truth, in the ring he reminds me of a young Sugar Ray Robinson, who fittingly fought at the Armory in his prime. Minnesota boxing fans are in for a treat to see the start of a ring career we expect to soar,” DeCubas said.

The Allen/Morell fight will be on the same card as the Jamal ‘Shango’ James (26-1, 12 KOs) versus Thomas Dulorme (25-3-1, 16 KOs) bout for the WBA Welterweight title.

The bouts will be the headline events for a Premier Boxing Champions card on Fox.

Regional Four-day cricket Permaul’s

match-haul of 15 for 77 propels Jaguars to three-day win

See story on page 42 Some of the members of the International Karate-Do Organisation Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul dismantled Jamaica Scorpions with a career-best match-haul of 15 for 77.

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020