Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 09 03 2017

Gov’t to launch COI into land ownership Page 8

Power to the women No. 104847

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

President commits to ending gender inequality here

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Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence (left), Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally (centre) and First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, sharing a light moment at Wednesday’s event to mark International Women’s Day (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Not much delay Pradoville probe thickens Pres. Granger to write Jagdeo on qualities of GECOM chair

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– SOCU hauls in 7 more former PPP officials Page – agency’s advisor defends arrest 4 of Jagdeo, others

Major fire averted at UG …as generator explodes

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Major fire averted at UG …as generator explodes

By Alva Solomon PROMPT response by firefighters on Wednesday morning averted a major disaster at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus after an overheated generator exploded.

According to reports, the generator, which was housed in proximity to the Faculty of Health Sciences, was seen smoking followed by a loud explosion. A concrete structure was destroyed by the mid-morning inferno while a stairwell at the recently renovated faculty building was also damaged.

Reports are that the generator was being used to power an antenna operated by telecommunications company Digicel.

A student at the scene told this newspaper that he was walking downstairs at the faculty when he smelled a pungent scent. He said he later saw smoke and the grass near the generator was burning; an explosion occurred soon after.

Andrew Holder, Officer-in-Charge of Fire Prevention of the Guyana Fire Service, told reporters at the scene that the fire most likely started after the generator overheated. He explained that the tank used for the storage of fuel to power the generator was of poor quality. He said such tanks are usually used for transporting fuel rather than for storage for continuous use.

Holder said that the generator was running for a continuous period of time and after it overheated the plastic material which the storage tanks are made of caught afire. The fire subsequently ran into the generator and an explosion followed.

He could not say if the fire service was consulted as it relates to the set-up of the generator but according to him, he would not have recommended what availed. At the scene, bewildered students stared and discussed the incident as some classes at that section of the campus

The generator which exploded during the blaze

were cancelled during the morning session.

According to the University, Vice-Chancellor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith,

who is traveling on official business, he received a call earlier on Wednesday from the CEO of Digicel Guyana, Kevin Kelly, who

apologised for the damage and the inconvenience caused to the university community by the fire.

The Vice-Chancellor ap-

plauded the professionalism of members of the Guyana Fire Service. The cause of fire is under investigation.

GNNL hails contributions of female employees

By Shauna Jemmott THE Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) has hailed the

contributions and efforts of its women employees as it joins organisations world over in celebration of International Women’s Day

yesterday.

Host of the simple ceremony, Reporter Tamica Garnett pointed out that the company has for the first

Some of the employees of the GNNL at the International Women’s Day celebration (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

time appointed a female member of the Board of Directors, who was selected from among the staff to represent workers.

Forty-seven per cent of the members of the workforce at the company are women, while the company’s Board of Directors (BoD) has a balanced combination of both sexes, Garnett told the women-dominated gathering, as she encouraged the women to “celebrate yourself… you are significant as a woman”.

Member of the Public Procurement Commission and former President of

the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL), Emily Dodson added much more meaning to the GNNL celebration.

She sang the song “Celebration” which was released in 1980 by Kool and the Gang.

She said International Women’s Day (IWD) was dedicated by the United Nations to celebrate the political, economic and social lives of women globally.

It is a time, she said, to reflect on progress made and to make a call for change.

Guyanese women can celebrate as women are in-

volved in practically every sphere in the country’s development.

Only recently, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire were appointed to the post of acting Chancellor and Chief Justice respectively, the first time the top two judicial posts here are held by women.

One third of members of Guyana’s Parliament are women. In sport, Dodson noted that for the first time the Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding Federation (GAFB) has appointed a Turn to page 9 ►

Power to the women 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

President commits to ending gender inequality here

By Ariana Gordon EVEN though Guyana’s fight for equal rights between the sexes has come a long way, President David Granger believes that more can and must be done to fulfill its obligations to the United Nations (UN)-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We have to change our attitude to gender equality.

I do believe we can do so by creating an educated nation, by ensuring every girlchild completes primary and secondary school,” he said Wednesday.

“We can move much further by removing the barriers to gender equality by ensuring that geographical, occupational, political and racial differences are diminished,” he told invitees to an International Women’s Day (IWD) function hosted by the Ministry of Social Protection at the Police Officers Training Centre at Eve Leary.

He believes that women can be empowered in many ways, like being given more opportunity to represent their communities, or be on committees, commissions and councils.

“Guyana is committed to fulfilling its obligations under Sustainable Development Goal #5,” he said. “We can, we must and we will achieve greater gender equality to empower our women and girls.

The struggle for equality and parity continues.”

He said that for starters, Guyana’s approach is to make gender equality a parallel policy of his government.

“Gender equality cannot

be achieved in the absence of a more equal society,” the President said. “Enforcement of legislation to protect women against abuse and to promote greater equality; the disparities between hinterland and coastland and between rural and urban communities for example must be reduced.

“The second front is education. Gender equality can be achieved mainly by ensuring unimpeded access to education; education will open opportunities for women.”

He is also of the opinion that more women in the workforce can help to break the vicious cycle of poverty.

“Poor people produce poor children, and poor children, in turn, produce more poor children,” he reasoned. “It is a vicious cycle of hereditary poverty. The burden of poverty falls heavily on women; the vicious cycle of poverty can be broken in order to create a virtuous cycle of gender equality.”

MORE JOBS And one way of doing that is by creating jobs to ensure that poor women have sustainable incomes, and a chance of exiting that cycle of poverty.

Again, by empowering women, the President said, women can take their rightful role in the political decision-making process. Not only that, he strongly believes that through empowerment, women can continue to assume leadership roles in their communities, and the country as a whole.

Minister of Social Protection, Ms Amna Ally feels the same way as the President does where the importance of gender equality and the

The audience of primarily women paying rapt attention to President Granger’s address (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

positive impact it can have on society is concerned; that by closing gender gaps, poverty and hunger can be reduced.

And again, like President Granger, Minister Ally feels that even though the issue of gender equality has indeed come a long way, both globally and locally, yet women the world over continue to face many challenges in the world of work.

She said her ministry will do whatever it takes to help women become economically independent, in spite of such hindrances as gender-based violence.

“Gender-based violence is a serious problem in Guyana; inequality between men and women is the greatest human challenge we face today,” Minister Ally said, adding that the government remains committed to promoting gender equality, and will work to achieve a country where women and girls are protected against violence, Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and other social ills.

ON THE SAME PAGE First Lady, Mrs Sandra Granger, is on the same page as both the President and Minister Ally where women and development is concerned.

Speaking at a symposium held under the theme, “Women in the Changing World of Work...,” Mrs Granger, who has long been an advocate for women’s rights, said it cannot be denied that there have been advancements over the years; that women have moved well beyond the traditional roles of daughter, wife and mother, cooking, cleaning, caring for the children, farming and so on.

“They have not abandoned those roles, and today, women are visible in almost every sector of society; they play a vital role in the social, economic and political development of our country,” she said, adding: “There is no holding us back.”

Women, she said, make up half of the global labour force and represent 70 per cent of the global consumption

demand and as such must be seen and voices must be heard.

The theme she reminded, calls for equal participation in the work place by 2030 and is coherent with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 4, 5, 7, 10 and 16.

“Women and girls comprise over 50 per cent of the population of Guyana, so we are, in a sense, ideally placed to demand equality,” said the First Lady, who, like her husband, made the point that the key to parity is education.

“Our women and girl-children must be given equal access to education, at all levels, in order to enter the workforce and meaningfully participate in national development,” she said.

“This means that a social net must be established, so that the eldest girl-child in a single-parent household does not have to drop out of school to look after her siblings while her mother goes to work.

“It means that teenage mothers can continue their

schooling while they are pregnant and return to school after delivery to continue their education, without fear of stigma and discrimination. Our teachers and school administrators will need to suspend moral judgment and be trained to deal with these children in a sensitive way,” the First Lady stressed.

She is also of the opinion that women and girl-children must know that they are protected by law from physical and psychological abuse.

“Our entire population; men and women, boys and girls, rural and urban, from the coastland and the hinterland must be made aware that gender-based violence will not be tolerated or trivialised,” she said, adding: “It is a criminal offence; it is no joke to be on the receiving end of such abuse.”

She continued: “Our women and girls who are trafficked for sex work or labour must know that the perpetrators will be brought to justice, and that they will not only be forced to pay compensation to the victims, but will also be jailed for their crime. The victims must also know that they will receive the support they need to overcome their physical and psychological trauma.”

Mrs. Granger also charged all women to continue to speak up for their rights, and demand equality.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Pradoville probe thickens - SOCU hauls in 7 more former PPP officials - agency’s advisor defends arrest of Jagdeo, others

By Ravin Singh SEVEN more top officials of the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government were on Wednesday brought in to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for questioning as investigations continue into the controversial sale of prime ocean front lands at prices below market value.

The seven individuals were; former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Sheik Baksh; former Housing and Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali; former Education Minister, Priya Manickchand; former Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford; former Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee; former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds; and former Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul.

Gopaul, who made his appearance early Wednesday morning at SOCU’s Camp Street headquarters, was questioned on matters related to his Chairmanship of the Board of Directors of

Clement Rohee the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) and head of the Public Service – two positions he held under the PPP. “I was questioned with respect to my role as Permanent Secretary (PS) and as Chairman of NCN board. I was a public servant, I never in my working career, had query with respect to my job. My work has always been transparent and I follow the rules,” Dr. Gopaul told reporters after leaving SOCU’s office.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister (PM) Hinds was questioned about the removal of an NCN transmission tower, which

Irfaan Ali was believed to have been done to facilitate the development of the ocean front lands at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, more commonly known as “Pradoville Two.” Hinds, who held responsibility for aviation while he was PM, justified the removal of the tower, explaining that it was done to facilitate the expansion of the Ogle International Airport [now Eugene F. Correia International Airport]. Should charges be laid against him, he will be represented by Attorney-at-Law Priya Manickchand.

The other five individuals were questioned directly about

Dr. Nanda Gopaul their acquisition of lands at Pradoville Two, which were offered by the then PPP government at prices below market value.

Deafening silence and stoic faces from Ali and Baksh featured in the encounter between them and members of the media, who attempted to solicit comments in relation to their interrogation by SOCU. Westford too, offered nothing more than a smile. Ali will be represented by Attorney-at-Law Devendra Kissoon if charges are laid against him.

But it was former Home Affairs Minister Rohee and former Education Minister Manickchand

Thursday, March 09, 2017 - 03:00 hrs - 14:30 hrs Friday, March 10, 2017 - 04:00 hrs - 14:30 hrs Saturday, March 11, 2017 - 04:30 hrs - 14:30 hrs Sunday, March 12, 2017 - 05:00 hrs - 14:30 hrs Monday, March 13, 2017 - 05:00 hrs

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Priya Manickchan who had much to say to the media.

Rohee, who read a prepared statement from his cellular phone, related that the investigation by SOCU is a “centrally directed dirty war, disguised as a fight against corruption, aimed at political opponents of the APNU+AFC coalition.”

He said that the PPP and its leaders are the targets of this “dirty work” which he accused the coalition government of initiating.

“This dirty work won’t end here. It is aimed at embarrassing persons from different walks of life who have served this country with distinction,” he said, adding that the diplomatic community must take note of these developments.

A beneficiary of a parcel of land which he reportedly paid $1.5M for, Rohee said that a number of questions were put to him in relation to how he acquired the land, how much he paid for it and who was paid for it. He did not reveal to reporters the answers he provided to SOCU. His attorney, former Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, also weighed in, saying that if charges against Rohee germinate, they are going to be challenged in court. He too contended that the investigations are politically motivated and that the criminal justice system must not be used for “political vendetta, vindictiveness and to oppress people.”

Manickchand also fielded questions similar to those posed to Rohee. She said that she an-

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swered them to the best of her ability. The former Government Minister said she told investigators that she applied for a house lot under the national housing programme and was allocated one behind the Sparendaam Police station (Pradoville Two).

“I did not apply for a land at Pradoville. I applied for a land under the National Housing Programme for a government house lot in region four,” she revealed.

Manickchand said she bought the property, built a house, developed the land and eventually sold the property. She did not state the cost at which these were done.

But according to a report, she paid below $3M for the land, which she would eventually develop and sell for $100M. A State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) report into the Pradoville saga also revealed that the former Minister sold her land three years after purchasing it and she did so without written permission from the Central Housing & Planning Authority (CH&PA), thereby breaching the conditions of the agreement for the land. She confirmed that Capital Gains taxes were paid when the house was sold, as is required by law.

The former Minister was keen to note too that she applied for a mortgage which she used to develop the land and build the house at Pradoville. Asked whether she anticipates charges, Manickchand said she is of the “considered view” that nobody can be charged successfully for anything that was not done illegally.

“I don’t believe we’re dealing with a fair and objective assessment of what happened and by that I don’t mean the officers.

I believe this is a big distraction,” she added. However, if such actions are brought against her, Manickchand will be represented

by Attorney-at-Law Jaya Manickchand.

She was not told by SOCU investigators to return to the agency’s headquarters for further questioning.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Talks for removal of NCN tower at Sparendaam began in 2004 - former PM says

By Ravin Singh FORMER Prime Minister (PM), Samuel Hinds, is maintaining that a transmission tower removed from Plantation Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara in 2011, was done to allow for expansion of the then Ogle International Airport and talks of its removal began since 2004.

His comments were made on Wednesday after he was questioned by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on matters related to the removal of the tower. SOCU is currently investigating the development of Pradoville and the issuing of parcels of land to selected individuals under the Peoples’ Progressive party (PPP) government.

It is believed that the transmission tower, which belongs to the state-owned National Communication Network (NCN), was removed by the then govern-

Former Prime Minisster, Samuel Hinds, leaving the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on Wednesday in the company of his lawyer, Priya Manickchand

ment to facilitate development of Pradoville which Ministers and top ranking officials would later benefit from.

Hinds during that time

was Prime Minister and held responsibility for the aviation sector. In his response to SOCU on Wednesday, the former PM said that the tower was removed to facilitate

Pradoville probe thickens ...

In a statement issued Tuesday evening, government dismissed what it described as “spurious allegations of political vendetta and harassment” by the opposition maintaining that SOCU is operating independently without any interference or direction. “…government notes SOCU’s meticulous, fair and independent work in investigating this immensely serious matter relating to state assets and looks forward to a thorough and comprehensive investigation and for the law to take its course and justice to be served,” the statement issued by the Department of Public Information read. Government also reaffirmed its stated position that

the assets of the state belong to the people of Guyana and under no circumstances will it condone or overlook any action which resulted in the improper, illegal or unjust distribution of same.

NOT A PPP INVESTIGATION Meanwhile, special advisor to SOCU, Dr. Sam Sittlington, refused to comment on whether charges are likely to be instituted against these persons.

With PPP members initially refusing to be questioned at SOCU’s headquarters, DR. Sittlington explained that under the law the police has the power to arrest someone with-

Cont’ from pg. 4

out a warrant if that person is suspected of committing a misdemeanour.

“Whenever the police require them for an interview and they refuse, then they are breaching that, and the police can come in and arrest them.

The whole point is to bring someone in to gather evidence because you suspect them of committing a criminal offense,” he added.

The PPP, after refusing to meet at SOCU’s headquarters for questioning, said they would prefer to be interrogated at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on Church Street. But according to the advisor, the

development of the Ogle International Airport [now Eugene F. Correia International Airport]. The tower is now located at La Parfaite / Harmonie on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).

“Questions came up in relation to the transmission tower at Sparendaam,” he said, adding that there were documentations, one of them addressed to him in 2004, where formal discussions began for the removal of the tower.

Hinds explained that the PPP government, which ascended to executive office in 1992, was also challenged by the Correia’s who opened a hangar at the then Ogle Airport. He said the Correia’s would say that the government was not doing enough for the private aircraft industry.

Coming out of this, he said, were considerations by the PPP government to develop Ogle Airport into a

municipal and regional airport, and for this to happen, he noted that the tower had to be removed.

However, forensic audit reports into the operations of government holding company - the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) - indicate that, “the removal and relocation of the NCN transmission tower were done to facilitate the housing development of the area [Sparendaam].”

The report pointed out that state funds amounting to $257M were expended on the development of the Sparendaam housing project (Pradoville). NCN was required to pay for the removal of the tower. In 2015 though, head of NICIL under PPP, Winston Brassington, explained that the tower needed to be removed for the government to access European Union (EU) funding for the expansion of the airport.

However, no mention of this was made by former PM Hinds on Wednesday. In the financial report, NICIL maintained that the relocation was done for expansion of the airport, but added that NCN had even made representation for the relocation of the tower for improved transmission.

The Auditor, Anand Goolsaran, pointed out in his report though that with regard to the tower being in the flight path of aircraft operating out of Ogle Airport, there was no reference to this in any of NICIL’s board minutes or in any of the Cabinet’s decisions in relation to the Sparendaam Project.

Further, the report stated that, “It is also not clear to whom NCN made representation for the relocation of the tower since the established procedure is for NCN to request funding via the National Budget to undertake any capital works.”

police are the ones who dictate where they interview suspects, and not the other way round.

“This is a police investigation, this is not a PPP investigation,” he said, adding that all the exhibits and equipment are at SOCU’s headquarters, which would render it implausible for the agency to conduct interviews at other locations.

Dr. Sittlington also refused to comment on allegations by the Opposition Leader that the law enforcement agency was taking “political directives” from the Ministry of the Presi-

dency. He said that SOCU takes directives from the Commissioner of Police.

On Tuesday, SOCU arrested several PPP members including Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo; former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon; and Lisaveta Ramotar, daughter of former President Donald Ramotar, to answer questions related to their acquisition of lands at Pradoville. Former PPP Member and Government Minister, Robert Persaud and private sector executive Ra-

mesh Dookhoo, were also arrested and questioned. Ghansham Singh - son of former Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul - was also made to answer to SOCU although he was not arrested. Marcia Nadir-Sharma, former Company Secretary to the National Industrial Commercial and Investments Limited (NICIL) was also grilled on matters related to that agency.after he was questioned by SOCU on his acquisition of a land at Pradoville Two (Adrian Narine Photo)

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Editor-In-Chief

Nigel Williams Editor

Godfrey Wray

Editorial: 227-5216; 227-5204 guyanachronicle.com Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, in his recent charge to permanent secretaries and upper management officers, called on them to improve their performance. For quite some time the society has been calling for the public service to be restored to a place where efficiency, effectiveness, and courtesy are hallmarks. That the minister is reinforcing this call should be seen as acknowledgment of the public’s call and therefore justifiable.

The realisation of the desires of the government as it relates to the performance of public officers ought to factor in the various issues that contribute to compromising quality delivery of government’s business. From time to time questions are raised as to the political climate within which public servants are asked to operate.

It is not a well-kept secret that at times decisions and the implementation process are filled with personality and partisan political positions. Operating in such a climate can deny public officers giving of their best and upholding professionalism because the atmosphere does not lend itself to these realisations. Non-implementation of some government programmes in many instances is stymied not because of the absence of guidelines and public officers unaware of their roles but hesitance in making decisions. This could be the result of the lack of self-confidence or not wanting to be visited with the wrath of an intemperate minister.

The public service was established to be insulated from such occupational hazard but to deny the prevalence of these features and their impact on compromis-

ing professionalism and integrity of the workers cannot be overlooked. In our society where there exist limited employment opportunities and persons have financial commitments to meet, few will want to walk away or be terminated. In this environment the public servant in the discharge of his/her duty is being caught between a rock and a hard place.

While expectations are held of them, though not unreasonable, should they have a grievance the infrastructures are absent or not allowed to function properly. Public servants need the surety that they are free to function consistent with public service rules and guidelines. And where they are asked to act in conflict with these, should they be disciplined for failing to comply, recourse for justice should be available. This is another way of building

confidence.

It may be opportune as the minister stresses the importance of performance and service that the institutional structures to ensure and protect these, function simultaneously. The 2016 Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service made known the importance of confidence building and effective management to the delivery of public service.

The report noted that key to these are the employer having meaningful engagement with the workers’ representative (i.e. the trade unions) and ensure establishment of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal. Where these and others are absent exhortation will not bring the desired results.

Even as appointed public servants are expected to professionally discharge their duties where a parallel contractual service exists

wnigel10@hotmail.com gnnleditorial@gmail.com

Editorial

alongside them-who would not have gone through the system as they would have and are being treated better- such creates insecurity and compromises professionalism. Another issue often overlooked is that the service takes its cue from the political leadership, which is another aspect of public service. In our society leaders are expected to set the tone through example.

The appointed public servants’ professionalism will only shine when the elected servants’ actions create the space for it to happen. In societies as small as ours, where politics becomes personal and territorial, the lines between the policymakers and executors could become blurred during the day-today execution of duty. It is not unheard of where ministers will immerse themselves

into administrative activities, unmindful that their role is that of policy development, from which the programmes will flow, and the public servant executes.

Recognition by ministers of government that there are distinction of roles and responsibilities between them and appointed public servants, though their activities are intertwined, would allow for each to be given the space and respect the role of the other. An effective public service is key to good governance. Effort by Minister Harmon, while commendable, should not stop at the level of the appointed officers but equally extend to elected officers.

Cultivating a new public service requires holistic approach. The society is capable of doing it.

Ministers should also be bound by the protocols of “respect and courtesy.”

Dear Editor, The Guyana Public Service Union (GSU) notes with interest the assertion attributed to Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, in a section of the media regarding the desirability of members of the public being treated with a certain level of respect and courtesy in their encounters with public service offices and institutions.

Specifically, according to the media report, the Minister of State listed Permanent Secretaries, Heads and Regional Executive Officers of Ministries, Departments

and regions “to ensure that members of the public are treated with more respect and courtesy.”

The GPSU wishes to associate itself with the sentiments of the Minister of State that advocate efficient, pleasing and productive encounters between members of the public and Public Servants as an integral part of the work environment. We believe that “respect” and “courtesy” are obligations on both sides. One might add that apart from those categories of public servants listed in the media report, ministers of government and other high officials should also be

bound by the protocols of “respect and courtesy.” It is no secret that arrogance and dismissiveness sometimes goes hand in glove with high office in some institutions.

That has to change too.

Those considerations apart, it is the view of the GPSU that the treatment afforded members of the public in their engagements with state institutions is bound to be enhanced if a more serious and determined effort is made to create a more convivial environment within those institutions by significantly improving the quality of the facilities available to

both the public and to those who must give service to the public. There are still far too many examples of public offices that are less than properly appointed and which do not afford either public officers or members of the public some basic amenities, including acceptable facilities that enable interaction in an environment of reasonable comfort. Accordingly, even as high officials of government make pronouncements regarding the desirability of professionalism in the treatment of members of the public by public servants, so too must government

recognize its own reciprocal responsibility to provide facilities that cater to the comfort of public servants in their work environment and generally, to upgrade the efficiency of the various services that they deliver.

Anything less would be self-serving. Incidentally, it is timely that the Government of Guyana pronounce with clarity on the situation regarding the public health status of the Camp Street premises housing the offices of the Guyana Revenue Authority. Despite the exhaustive discourses that have arisen out of this worrisome situation, including

the concerns expressed by the Union over its safety and health implications for both GRA employees and members of the public, the Authority has failed, over a protracted period, to accord the Union a briefing on such plans as may exist for remedial action. Given the nature of the issue we regard the Authority’s attitude as downright unacceptable and reflective of the same unacceptable behavior which is being frowned upon.

Regards PATRICK YARDE President, GPSU

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Tremendous scope for GECOM commissioners to be non-partisan

Dear Editor,

GECOM continues to be on the agenda of letter writers, including its Commissioners.

One of the points which has been made in those letters is about the partisan nature of the composition and conduct of the work, of the Commission.

Commissioner Robeson Benn, in his writings, stresses that the provisions of the Constitution intended that the Commission should be bi-partisan. Benn states: “I have several times pointed out to Dr. Surujbally that the Commission was bi-partisan in nature, as a result of the tedious and deliberate formulation of the “Carter Formula” which

was one of the key adoptions in constitutional reform which allowed for a more democratic constitution and freer and fairer election in 1992.”(sic). He further stated that “the nominated commissioners of GECOM have the crucial role of bringing the perspectives, viewpoints and experiences of their nominee, the nominee’s supporters, and those of the wider society ...for consideration, deliberation and resolution to the table at GECOM.” GHK Lall in his writings recognises the goodness of a non-partisan commission but bemoans the fact that our polity and society are steep in partisanship and not ready or disposed to the non-partisan approach.

Lall may well be right. Benn’s partial reference to the constitutional provisions for the establishment of the Commission may well reflect his preference for a bi-partisan commission and a distortion of the intent of the Carter Formula. To wit, his advocacy for the Commission to actively pursue its mandate does not pay any attention to the possibility of the Commissioners conducting themselves in a non-partisan manner, given that there is a provision of the Constitution which he, Benn, ignores, which can facilitate non-partisan behaviour, on the part of the Commissioners.

That provision clearly stipulates that the concerned parties

merely nominate commissioners who are then granted indefinite appointments/ tenure by the President. There is absolutely no provision for the nominees to be removed by the party which nominated them. Therein lies the scope for commissioners to be non-partisan. Their only legal obligation is to uphold the Constitution and there is no provision for their removal by the party from whence they came. They are free to be guided by their own deliberate judgement and in so doing can be non-partisan.

Back to reality, over my 10 years as a Commissioner, no PNCR commissioner has ever demitted office, except for those who demitted by

virtue of death. Conversely, during that period four PPP/C nominated commissioners have demitted office, ostensibly, by way of resignation.

One demitted immediately after the 2011 fiasco, when Boodhoo’s attempted fraud was detected and stopped in its tracks. Another demitted, immediately, after the 2015 elections. Those elections were also the subject of attempted fraud and the PPP/C are still contesting those results. One demitted, clearly, because of ill health and has since died.

The other demitted between 2011 and 2015 after serving for a short lived period. May I conclude that a bi-partisan

approach in the conduct of electoral matters can only be reflective of self-interest and not national interest, as the Constitution would have envisaged. The Carter’s formulation may have taken cognizance of the lack of trust between the main competitors but at the same time provide a widow of opportunity for emergent non-partisan behaviour. Alas, our polity does not even allow for the acknowledgement of that opportunity, much less for its exploitation.

Regards VINCENT ALEXANDER GECOM Commissioner

Surujbally undermining constitution, GECOM Dear Editor, The recent reports in the media on remarks and statements made by the past Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Dr. Steve Surujbally, on his demitting office, raises questions of concern as to whether he deliberately, or mistakenly, is on a mission of undermining the accepted view of the constitutionally determined composition of the body of which he was chairman for fifteen (15) years.

Further, his statements at the press briefing, add to the criticisms of the quality of his stewardship of GECOM. Dr. Surujbally was quoted as stating that “partisan” commissioners were not good for Guyana – a position he has stated at commission meetings on some occasions when he was required to cast his vote when the commission was divided across the table on contentious issues.

The Constitution provides for six commissioners three of which are appointed by the President, acting in his own deliberate judgment, and three appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. The Chairman of GECOM is appointed, according to Article (161) 2, “ The Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or has held office as a judge of a court…or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person.”

I have several times pointed out to Dr. Surujbally that the Commission was bi-partisan in nature, as a result of the tedious and deliberate formulation of

the “Carter Formula” which was one the key adoptions in constitutional reform which allowed for a more democratic constitution and freer and fairer elections in 1992. The resultant makeup of the Commission necessarily took into account the political context of Guyana and the interests of the major national political stakeholders in the constitutional reform process.

Therefore, in my view, Dr. Surujbally’s attacks on commissioners for “partisan” positions or actions in and outside of GECOM are misplaced and, are seemingly following an agenda which is scripted elsewhere adopting the course of which could lead to the bogging down of progress towards holding National Elections in 2020 as constitutionally mandated.

The nominated commissioners of GECOM have the crucial role of bringing the perspectives, viewpoints and experiences of their nominee, the nominee’s supporters, and those of the wider society (inclusive of adversarial positions from the ‘other side’) for consideration, deliberation and resolution to the table at GECOM. And so, one has to ask Dr. Surujbally, who is better placed to officiate at internal elections of their nominating party or grouping than a fair-minded, discerning GECOM commissioner? And who is better at engaging with stakeholder groups in relation to their concerns with respect to the operations of the electoral body? While Commissioners are expected and understood to be reticent, detached, discrete and dispassionate in their engagements,

one cannot ascribe mere “partisanship” to the role and every singled-out activity action of commissioners.

And here, I want to categorically deny being on a PPP/C ‘platform” in Essequibo shortly after being appointed a GECOM commissioner. I partook in an outreach by the PPP/C on that coast where I had discussions and took information at private ‘bottom-house’ meetings or at informal encounters at a number of locations where GECOM’S performance was unfailingly severely criticized. Surujbally appears to delight in propagating the fiction of the ‘platform’ which was inaccurately reported in the press.

In any event, it is the Chairman of GECOM who, when put in the sometimes unenviable position of having to cast his vote in determining a matter that is divisive – partisan or notwho has to have the courage and confidence to so do in a manner that is viewed as deliberate, logical and standing the tests of integrity and transparency.

Dr. Surujbally’s casting of his determining vote on the question of the CEO Lowenfield’s application to the courts to pursue the blocking of a hearing of the Ganga Persaud’s Election Petition does not meet nor allows for the standard of transparency and integrity required of an elections commission in any democracy and brings the electoral body to a new historically low point.

Why should GECOM, through its CEO, stand in the way of the constitutionally mandated resort, which is intended to bring comfort on judicial scrutiny and determination, on the question-

ing of electoral integrity?.

It is Guyana’s democratic process, and GECOM, who would be winners, one way or the other when this matter is fully ventilated and determined in the courts and no one should stand in its way…..unless there is something to hide or an attempt is underway to obfuscate what really transpired in 2015 and to delay the 2020 elections!

Dr. Surujbally goes further into bringing his tenure at GECOM into questioning and disrepute. He, perhaps too readily, accords with the Government’s position that a Judge or a person who can be appointed as a Judge is, a priori, according to his interpretation, suited for appointment as GECOM Chairman, if he is “fit and proper.” This construct of Dr. Surujbally would appear to rule his appointment out from the very beginning and appears to be an admission of his ‘squatting’ on the position all these years.

Surujbally tries to adopt an enigmatic posture with respect to the mysterious appearance of fake statements of poll (SOPs) into the count during 2015 elections. He adverts to existing “empirical” data which could point in a certain direction. He noted that police investigations led nowhere and called on the media to exercise more vigilance and to pursue the issue.

The question which naturally arises is why is Surujbally sitting on data, empirical or otherwise, which could help solve this deeply troubling puzzle?

Why should anyone, most of all the Chairman of an Elections Commission, fuel speculations and allow these to run rife with respect to the penetration of the

GECOM system by fake statements of poll? Is it not required of Dr. Surujbally to reveal publically his empirical data to help solve this mystery as an aspect of his stewardship and legacy at GECOM? Is it not within the remit of the Chairman of the Elections Commission to investigate and report fully on this matter?

We should all be prepared to let the chips fall where they may in resolution of this crucial issue.

Guyana is still awaiting reports from GECOM on the 2015 National and Regional Elections and on the 2016 Local Government Elections. Elections Commissions in jurisdictions with which Dr. Surujbally is familiar have published the reports on their elections, petitions or no petitions, shortly after their elections were concluded. Dr. Surujbally has balked at allowing for the 2015 elections report to be done and provided to the commission, the public, and the national stakeholders.

Monthly and annual reports of GECOM are infrequent and generally of poor usability…as are meetings of the Commission. Oversight of the commission is poor with complaints of some commissioners being “embedded” there while others do not have the same access… this against a backdrop of Surujbally refusing to provide common space and facilitation to commissioners to do research or to meet members of the public.

Surujbally has also refused to provide documented information to the commissioners on allegations in the media on financial mismanagement and other irregularities at the institution but has studiedly made

assertions in the media and in an appraisal on the very good performance of the executive in the face of an ongoing audit by the State Auditors of GECOM. Dr. Surujbally’s insistence on not adopting any course of action to have GECOM’s employment practices result in an environment and appearance which satisfactorily reflect Guyana’s ethnicities and multicultural character is a signal failure towards GECOM avoiding charges and perceptions of ethnic bias. The blinkered approach to this problem allows for the continuing shutting out of representative sections of the electorate from participating fully in democratic action and oversight and this in itself impairs our, admittedly, evolving democracy at all levels and in all spheres.

And, lastly, the lack of any perceived urgency in modernizing electoral systems by allowing for the adoption of enhanced biometrics, e-registration and e-tabulation as adjunct to the current system speaks volumes on the ultimate failure of GECOM under Dr. Surujbally. A failure in stewardship and accountability, due to elitist, obdurate, and opportunistic leadership, has resulted in a corrosive atmosphere and the undermining of tried and proven administrative and professional practice, which has continuing negative impacts and portend a future of enormous risk.

We at GECOM cannot continue to fail our country.

ROBESON BENN GECOM, Commissioner

Not much delay 8

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Pres. Granger to write Jagdeo on qualities of GECOM chair

PRESIDENT David Granger is expected to write Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo within a week, outlining the qualities he expects in a nominee for the vacant post of Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

This was disclosed by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, following a second round of meeting between the President and Jagdeo at State House on Wednesday afternoon.

Harmon accompanied the President at the meeting along with Attorney General, Basil Williams, while PPP Member of Parliament, Anil Nandlall was also present.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, Harmon in a brief comment noted that the President will write a letter to the Opposition Leader within a week to further guide his selection process following which Jagdeo is expected to submit his new list.

Minister Harmon also said that while a date for the next engagement with

Attorney General, Mr. Basil Williams; President David Granger and Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, in discussions with Opposition Leader, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo and PPP Member of Parliament, Mr. Anil Nandlall at State House

the Opposition Leader has not been fixed, there is not going to be much delay in concluding the appointment of the new chairperson. According to the release, Harmon disclosed that Jagdeo requested clarification as it relates to the qualities of the persons to be included on the list. He said that the Attorney General provided a clear explanation as to what, according to the Constitution, was “fit and proper”.

“His Excellency did elaborate a little more on that and he identified the

three ‘Is’ which is to say that the person must be a person of integrity, the person must be a person who is independent and the person must be someone who is impartial,” Harmon said.

Jagdeo in a statement Wednesday evening noted that the President admitted that a collaborative exercise between the two would assist in arriving at a consensual candidate, in keeping with Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, the two parties also discussed the appoint-

ment of two judges, who were recommended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to sit in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The issue was raised by the Opposition Leader when he met with the President last week at State House.

“His Excellency indicated to the Leader of the Opposition that he sent a letter to the Acting Chancellor and the Chairman of the JSC asking them to provide some additional information and based upon that he is going to exercise

his judgement,” Harmon noted.

However, the Opposition Leader noted that the JSC has already conducted the requisite inquires to determine the suitability of candidates. He pointed out that once those recommendations are made, the President’s power is very limited under the Constitution.

According to Jagdeo the President is now obliged to make the appointments in spite of reservations which he may have regarding the candidates who have been recommended.

“The Leader of the Opposition pointed out that any request for a performance related report ought not to be confined to the two Judges who have been recommended for elevation, but must apply to all Judges so that they can be a basis for comparison,” the statement noted.

Last week, President Granger invited the Opposition Leader to discuss the appointment of Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards as Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire as Acting Chief Justice. The Opposition has since agreed to the two appointments.

Following the first meeting , Jagdeo noted in a release “the absence of action” in relation to recommendations made to the President last February by the JSC that Justice Rishi Persaud and Justice Dawn Gregory be appointed to the Court of Appeal as well as the appointment of Sandil Kissoon and Damone Younge, both Attorneys-at-Law, be appointed as Puisne Judges.

Gov’t to launch COI into land ownership THE government will soon launch an inquiry to address issues of land allocation, land management and land titling, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, announced on Wednesday.

Harmon said President David Granger is expected to make the announcement within the coming week of the establishment of a Lands Commission. This Commission will be tasked with examining and making recommendations to resolve all the issues and uncertainties surrounding the individual, joint or commonable ownership of lands acquired by freed Africans, and claims of Amerindian land titling and other matters relative to land titling.

The minister made the announcement at an inception workshop of the Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme of

the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification which was hosted by the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission at the Pegasus Hotel, Georgetown.

“It is hoped that all of the issues that have been unresolved over all these years, that we will be able to bring closure to them and resolve these issues in relation to land,” Minister Harmon said. The government is also working towards establishing programmes that will guarantee the sustainable use of lands while ensuring land resources are used for the livelihoods of all the people.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Guyana Reparations Committee, Eric Phillips last year had noted that the committee would provide information to the Government of Guyana (including the Opposition) for their

claim of lands for reparatory justice and social cohesion in Guyana.

He had noted that there are three historical reasons why this claim has legal validity. Firstly, Phillips said history has recorded that enslaved Africans, who arrived in Guyana in mid-17th century and were in Guyana for 100 to 200 years, before the WaiWais and Wapishanas Nations, cleared 15,000 square miles or 18% of Guyana and lost 450,000 lives to genocide during their enslavement.

He said slavery “was and is a crime against humanity (United Nations Durban Declaration) and hence reparatory justice is being sought from the Government of Guyana, the inheritors of the land from the British.

“Justice dictates that if Indigenous Peoples in Guyana can receive land for being

here ‘first’ then Africans who were here before the WaiWais and Wapishanas should be legally entitled to land,” Phillips had said.

Secondly, Phillips noted that enslaved Africans built Guyana, adding that history has also recorded and forgotten that (Guyanese) Africans “had driven back the sea and had cleared, drained and reclaimed 15,000 square miles of forest and swamps. “This is equivalent to 9,000,000 acres of land. In short, all the fields on which the sugar estates are now based were cleared, drained and irrigated by African labour forces. All the plantations now turned villages and cities were built by unpaid African labour. In the process of building these plantations, careful research has shown that Africans installed the following (1) 2,580,000 miles of drainage canals,

trenches and inter-bed drains, (2) 3,500 miles of dams, roads and footpaths, and (3) 2,176 miles of sea and river defense. The Venn Commission also reported that “to build the coastal plantation alone, a value of 100,000,000 tons of earth had to be moved by the hands of African slaves “(without machinery).”

According to Phillips the entire economy of Guyana in 1838, for example, was that created by enslaved Africans whereas our Indigenous brothers and sisters were living nomadic lives.

Justice dictates that Africans should be given lands for clearing 18% of Guyana and providing free labour for over 200 years while indentured servants whom came after them, were paid and given lands.

His third point was that the last 25 years here have

seen foreign firms receive huge swaths of lands at giveaway prices while Africans have received none.

“Any Government or people interested in social cohesion, equity, equal access, economic and social justice… would take immediate steps …to grant lands to Africans for the massive and unparalleled contributions that they have made to Guyana.”

Phillips had also called for the Government to immediately freeze the granting of land leases to anyone, local or foreign, until the reparatory land issue is addressed. He also called on the Amerindian Peoples Association, the National Toshao Council, the Catholic Church and all other religious groups, as well as any other Guyanese who believe in justice, “to support this just cause.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

No more ‘naked rubber stamps’ – moves afoot to fix loopholes in immigration system

Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Winston Felix, receives the report from EU Ambassador, Videtic, as Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, junior Health Minister, Dr Cummings and IOM Regional Coordination Officer for the Caribbean and Chief of Mission to Guyana, Robert Natiello (second from left) looks on

By Navendra Seoraj AFTER being compromised on many occasions, Guyana’s immigration system is set for change that will see it no longer “operating with naked rubber,” Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Winston Felix said.

The archaic system is set to get an upgrade with the European Union (EU) through the International Organisation of Migration (IOM), in partnering with the Government to harden “soft” parts of the immigration structure.

In June 2015, after taking office, the minister through the Department of Citizen-

ship, applied to the IOM to be part of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Human Migration Action Programme, which is funded by the EU. According to the IOM website, since March 2015, the ACP-EU Migration Action Programme has received 15 technical assistance requests from 13 ACP Governments and two regional organisations.

The programme’s aim is to provide technical assistance for visa, counter trafficking, human smuggling, remittances and readmission, among others.

Subsequent to the application by Guyana, the IOM sent one of its consultants,

Patricia Bell, who conducted her investigations into the country’s immigration system and later compiled a report, which was submitted to the minister.

After receiving the report and plan of action from the EU Ambassador to Guyana, Jernej Videtic, Minister Felix announced that this is the first step in Guyana’s move to bring “meaningful” change to its immigration system.

“With the current system, we are encountering foreigners, who present passports with bogus Guyana stamps… how long must we contend with a situation where our system is easily defrauded…

It is our duty to make sure we

protect it from fraud so that genuine travellers will be able to traverse without fear of using a visa,” the Citizenship Minister said.

A recent incident of this nature involved a Chinese national, who was charge on February 7, 2017 with defrauding an immigration officer and forging a Guyanese Business Visa and departure stamp in his passport.

The current system entails, for persons travelling from countries whose passport holders require a visa to enter Guyana, an application must be made to any of Guyana’s missions or consulates and visas will be issued on arrival.

Some of the countries

which require a visa to enter Guyana are Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The recommendations and action plan derived by the IOM will not only benefit Guyana but help to create a simple and more transparent system for persons traveling to Guyana.

E-VISA As outlined by the minister, part of the guidelines and recommendations that are in the report include the need for the establishment of an electronic visa and the enhancement of Guyana’s work (business) visa.

The visa will be electronic, meaning no label or stamp appears on the passport. But, the visa is accessible for viewing by airlines or, at a port, through an electronic system.

These visas were hallmarked as the source for correcting the “many issues” associated with Guyana’s current visa system.

“It will serve us well, given that they will ensure that persons entering Guyana for work are properly screened and vetted… and the recommendations will ensure that the policy is set straight for travellers and airlines,” Minister Felix said.

Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin and junior Public Health Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings also welcomed the plan, saying that it will positively benefit their ministries.

Although the e-visa is a major addition to the im-

migration system, Minister Felix outlined that it will take time to review and change all the immigration policies and implement the recommendations. As such, he said, hopefully, it will be fully introduced by 2020.

But in the interim, the Government with the assistance from the IOM will implement various aspects of the recommendations as they are reviewed and agreed upon by the stakeholders involved.

“We will indeed get it in line with international standards and only make changes when change becomes necessary,” said the minister.

Ambassador Videtic was optimistic about the plan-ofaction to improve the system by improving the quality of visa document, immigration services on visa issuance and the visa’s reputation by bringing it up to international standards. He said with migration becoming one of the biggest challenges worldwide, there is much need for a migration system based on better organised, legal migration and well managed mobility of people. Also with a good migration policy, a country will limit or even eradicate the instances of human trafficking.

And with the new immigration system in the pipeline for Guyana, the economy, he said, will have a system which encourages tourism and foreign investment, because with the e-visa in particular, safety and security will be managed with an easily traceable system, which electronically monitors unregulated inflow of foreign citizens.

Taxi driver’s car reportedly hijacked GNNL hails contributions...

IT was a regular Tuesday night for taxi driver, Satrohan Teeraj, until his car was hijacked by three men, armed with a gun, at Frontline Taxi Service base located at University of Guyana (UG) Access Road, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara.

Police said the incident occurred at approximately 20:30hrs when Teeraj was approached by a man who requested a car, and as he was about to enter his silver grey Spacio motorcar, PTT 906 he was hit in the face with a gun.

Teeraj told the police that two other men joined the gunman and they entered his car and drove off with it before he could react. At the time of the incident, only the dispatcher was at the base;

female Secretary with the recent appointment of Stacey Mckinnon to that position, while four of its recognised bodybuilders are women.

Frontline Taxi Service base at UG Road where the alleged hijacking took place on Tuesday night

however he claimed that he did not witness the incident.

Teeraj reported that he was hit to the face with a gun but when the police arrived at the scene, he had no visible injuries and the doctor he visited refuse to

issue a medical certificate.

The taxi driver told sleuths that indeed his car was hijacked and up to press time, the location of the said vehicle remains unknown as police continue their investigations.

GARNETT RECOGNISED She commended Garnett for being the only active female sports reporter seen at major sports events in Guyana, and encouraged her to hold the fort and rise to greater heights.

The attorney also pointed out that Guyana has one of the more progressive of legislations that speak to women and encouraged all women to understand the laws.

“Those laws protect your rights and you should know about them,” she said, and

made a promise to donate a user-friendly composition of laws addressing women’s issues compiled by the GAWL, to the GNNL Library.

“We have come a long way,” she said, “but there is still a lot to be done.”

Statistics show that more women graduate from tertiary institutions than men, and by virtue of this, women are the educated majority in Guyana.

Dodson also hailed the move by Government to review the appointments of Directors of State Boards to ensure women have a more noticeable presence.

She shared the view that it is time the unpaid work that women do in the households be counted for, as

From page 2

they share the burden of a workforce plus manages the affairs of their household.

GNNL Chairman, Imran Khan commended the women employees for increasing production and the product of the company.

“Women are not always recognised and heralded for the work that you do in society,” he said and promised to make work more comfortable and rewarding for women in the employ of the Guyana Chronicle.

General Manager, Moshamie Ramotar reminded the women that they mean much to the GNNL, as she recognised their excellent performance on the job despite having to man their various chores and duties at homes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

28,000 unoccupied house lots under scrutiny – CH&PA moves to address huge backlog of applications

By Navendra Seoraj SOME 28,000 unoccupied house lots, owned by persons across the country, are being scrutinised by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

A senior official of the Authority on Monday shared this information with applicants who enquired about the status of their application for a house lot.

It was explained that there are no available house lots in any part of the country and the CH&PA is looking for ways to create spaces in order to address the backlog of about 25,000 applications.

The senior official indi-

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valarie Adams-Patterson

cated that the lots which are under scrutiny are owned by persons who do not utilise them, did not complete their payments or did not make any payment for the land.

And, if their effort to reclaim some of the lots is a success, the backlog will be addressed “immediately” and persons who have applications in the system from as long as the 1990s will be able to acquire a lot.

Although that might seem to ease the scarcity of house lots, Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valarie Adams-Patterson told the Guyana Chronicle that there will always be a shortage of spaces to accommodate persons.

With the minimum age being changed from 21 years old to 18 years old, more and more applications are being received on a daily basis.

But, an alternative is in

the pipeline, which will see the construction of apartment buildings, duplexes and condominiums across the country.

“We have decided that with the land that we have, we can accommodate more families if we provide housing units instead of a house

lot, especially given that only about 55 per cent of lots allocated has been occupied,” said the minister.

Persons will have an opportunity to see what the duplexes and other buildings at the upcoming Housing Expo in May at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara.

“Whatever barriers there are, we are going

to move them. Whatever policy changes need to be made, we are going to make (them), because we cannot continue to have people filing applications and their applications are not being processed. The bottom line is (that the backlog) has to be cleared, and quickly,” Minister Adams-Patterson emphasised.

Construction of the model houses moving apace

Diamond man on trial for murder of teen A TWELVE member jury was empaneled on Wednesday in the High Court before Justice Navindra Singh for the trial of Christopher Da Silva, who is indicted for the murder of Rayaad Khan called ‘Rayaad Azeem Khan’ on June 28, 2012, at 17th Avenue Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

The State is being represented by prosecutors, Siand Dhurjon and Tuanna Hardy while the defence counsel is Maxwell McKay in association with Mark Waldron.

In his opening, Prosecutor Dhurjon told the court that Da Silva, 23, murdered 17-year-old Khan of 737 Section ‘C’ Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, on June 28, 2012. A post mortem report revealed that Khan died of a single stab wound to the upper right chest which severed his artery and jugular.

The cause of death was given as shock and hemorrhage due to a stab wound. Da Silva has been on remand at the Camp Street Prison since his arrest in 2012.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence and it is the duty of the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he murdered Khan. Several police witnesses testified on Wednesday after which there was a voir dire [a trail within

a trial] to determine the admissibility of evidence in the trial. Detective Lance Corporal, Desmond Johnny, testified that he went to the scene and observed reddish spots which appeared to be blood on the roadway and took 13 photographs which was later tendered and admitted as evidence in the trial.

He added that he found a cap, one side pink slippers and a bunch of keys in the grass on 17th Avenue, Diamond, which were taken to Golden Grove Police Station for safe-keeping. Meanwhile, Detective Inspector, Howard Henry, testified that on June 28, 2012, at about 18:00hrs he went to Golden Grove Police Station to interview a prisoner in relation to a break and enter and larceny which happened in Kitty, Georgetown. While there he was told something by another rank and later identified the accused, who was in the court room as the suspect, who was pointed out to him.

Henry told the court that he put the allegation of murder to Da Saliva and he was cautioned when he said, “He attacked me and I tek a knife and juk he.” According to Henry, Da Silva made the oral statement in the presence of another rank and he was asked whether he want to put that in writing and he

Dead: Rayaad Khan

agreed.

Henry said Da Silva was taken to the CID office where he [Da Silva] elected him to pen his written statement, after which the accused was cautioned and subsequently affixed his signature on same.

At the time of the incident, Da Silva was 17-years-old. According to reports, Khan was going to pick up one of his cousins when he was confronted

by Da Silva and a fight ensued, during which Khan was stabbed and left on the street with a gaping wound.

The fight reportedly started because of a female, who both youths had an interest in at that time. Da Silva was later apprehended by the police. Khan would have celebrated his 18th birthday the day after he was murdered.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Harmon: SOCU doing its work MINISTER of State, Joseph Harmon has reminded that the former administration was the architect of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and the agency is simply doing the work it was created to do.

“It is not something that we created,” Harmon pointed out, when approached by reporters at the Savannah Suite of Pegasus Hotel.

“SOCU was established by the previous administration, it was particularly organised by Dr. [Roger] Luncheon, in reaction or response to our responsibility under the anti-money laundering and countering the financial of terrorism legislation. So they [SOCU] are doing the work that they were created to do.”

On Tuesday, several top officials of the Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP), including Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo and former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon were held by SOCU after they earlier this week refused to come in for questioning over acquisition of prime ocean front lands at “Pradoville 2” for prices

tions from the political directorate”.

However, the Government in a statement denied the claims, insisting that SOCU remains independent.

Labelling the accusation “absurd”, Harmon echoed that the Government has not interfered in the work of the

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

fixed below market value.

Also detained were former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud and General Manager of the Gold Board, Lisaveta Ramotar, who is the daughter of former President Donald Ramotar.

Several other persons, including private sector executive Ramesh Dookhoo, Marcia Nadir-Sharma and

Ghansham Singh–son of former Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul – also showed up at SOCU’s Camp Street office, as they too were wanted for questioning.

They were all released after hours of interrogation.

Jagdeo said the detentions were a matter of “political vendetta” and that “SOCU has been receiving instruc-

Guyana prepares for influx of deportees from US

…efforts underway to help them resettle

By Navendra Seoraj

local immigration officers get the names, GOVERNMENT has do checks and query signaled its intention whether the potential to work with private deportee is a citizen of organisations to assist Guyana and if it is condeportees/involuntary firmed then the person re-migrants settle in is deported.

Guyana.

For instance, in DeThis decision folcember, 2016, a total of lows a projected in20 Guyanese returned crease in the number after being deported of deportees to Guyana by the US Government from the United States following various peof America (US) due riods of incarceration to the tightening of US for a range of criminal immigration policies offences. The men, who

by President Donald returned on a chartered Trump. flight, were handed Minister of Citizenover to Guyanese imship, Winston Felix, migration authorities by when questioned by US law enforcement ofmembers of the media ficers. Guyana ChronWednesday indicated icle was told that the that a “new situation” men served time in US is developing around Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix prisons for offences the world and the govsuch as rape, murder, can deport persons who are ernment needs to effecpossession of firearms, tively manage the situation noncompliant with their im- fraud, drug trafficking and in the event that there is an migration laws…sometimes robbery. we get deportees five times influx of deportees.

The development of Speaking specifically a year.” measures and strategies to However, according to deal with deportees are still about the US, the Minister said, “we have no control Felix, there are regulations in its initial stage but Minover those who are deported, that need to be followed ister Felix confirmed on whenever they feel like they before deportation. He said Turn to page 12 ►

anti-crime unit.

“That’s an absurd suggestion,” replied Harmon to the comment. “I don’t know what he [Bharrat Jagdeo] is talking about, about political vendetta. SOCU is an arm of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and they carry out

their functions under the laws of Guyana. And therefore, it is their duty to carry out their work in a professional manner and I can assure you there has been no intervention on the part of this administration to influence the work of SOCU.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Gone, but memory lives on – Crum-Ewing’s mother yearns for justice

By Shauna Jemmott A WOMAN yearns to feel the hands of her son, holding her in a loving embrace and reassuring her with words that what he feels for her as a mother is more than mere appreciation.

Tears still flow easily down the dark cheeks of

Donna Harcourt, the mother of Courtney Crum-Ewing, the anti-corruption activist who was shot five times as he walked in the upscale community of Diamond, motivating voters to vote in the run-up to the 2015 general elections in Guyana.

Renewed confusion and signs of distress came as she

received news of the freedom of a man in whose home police allegedly found the weapon, which ballistics tests prove was used to discharge five bullets in her son, three penetrating his head, killing him instantly.

He died of hemorrhage and shock as a result of the gunshot wounds. Harcourt Donna Harcourt

on Monday told Guyana Chronicle in a weary tone, “This thing it taking a toll on me and I don’t even want to say how.”

Today, the world, through a United Nations (UN) dedication, commemorates International Women’s Day, celebrating the lives, personalities, accomplishments and experiences of women globally.

Many women who have been lifted professionally find it especially special in the 2017 dedication under the theme, “Be Bold for Change”, which focuses on “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030”.

REFUSED TO BE BROKEN For Crum-Ewing’s mom, she has many questions, but will stand up and refuse to be broken down again by disappointments in the outcome of her son’s murder investigations.

She has become a woman of valour and started her journey to bravery when she took

to the streets in front of the Office of Attorney General, Basil Williams, in her son’s prominent fashion as a lone protestor for the prosecution of the unjust.

That day she was informed that former AG, Anil Nandlall was scheduled to visit Minister Williams and so her intent was to confront the former AG, against whom her son was a lone protestor, after allegations link the former AG in a highly publicised fiasco involving Kaieteur News.

She is now planning to talk with Attorney Nigel Hughes, who represented the interest of Crum-Ewing’s family pro-bono and has called on President David Granger to create a special investigating committee with credible ranks.

Harcourt said she personally has her own suspect in her son’s murder, and for as long as she lives, she will be unshakable in her position in crying for justice for her son.

HEARTBROKEN When Guyana Chronicle approached her for the interview, some of the first words she said after a courteous greeting were, “I am so heartbroken now.”

She has grown tired of her growing pains and the event has already taken its toll. “And I refuse fuh let it tek toll on me all the time.

Whatever gatto be gatto be!”

She came to this decision after the man charged with her son’s murder was set free of the charge.

In September 2016, Regan Anthony Rodrigues, fondly called ‘Grey Boy’ was freed of the charge after Magistrate Judy Latchman, in accepting a no-case submission filed by his Attorney, Adrian Thompson, pointed out that although the gun used in the murder was found at his home, the evidence offered by the prosecution did not implicate him in the actual murder.

Prior to that, on January 11, 2016, Rodrigues was sentenced to three years imprisonment for escaping custody, but was freed of a possession of gun and ammunition charge, which linked him to the shooting of Crum-Ewing.

The mother said another of her sons saw Rodrigues at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court Monday but not as a prisoner. He was walking free.

She said it is especially difficult for her to bear, since Crum-Ewing’s death was unexpected, given the fact that he was in excellent health and was never a criminal.

“If you son loss through sickness is a different thing. If yuh son does be in the bad gang and he finally die, it hurts but it’s a different thing.

But when you see that your child is none of that and because of what he believes and what he doing, another person could just order him dead and nothing come out of it, it’s a whole other thing,” the grieving mother explained.

Guyana prepares for...

Wednesday that there are “private initiatives” being taken to assist involuntary re-migrants in the best possible way.

The Minister said that he recently met with a group which has an interest in assisting deportees and discussed ways in which the Government can work with the group to provide assistance to not only deportees, but persons who were barred from entering Caribbean Islands and sent back to Guyana.

According to Felix, these persons return more frequently than those from the US, given that the Ministry has been recording large numbers “every week,” as it relates to deportation from Caribbean countries.

Meanwhile, President David Granger had said that Guyana does not have the capability to handle deportees from the US. He had told journalists during a ‘The Public Interest’ programme that his government needs to work with the US to en-

From page 11

sure that measures are put in place to make Guyana better prepared to handle those who are deported, especially if they are convicted of crimes in the US. “We just want to be better prepared, it’s something that the Ministry of Public Security is aware of and we will have to make sure that we put measures in place to ensure that those persons, those deportees do not perpetuate crimes when they get back here,” the Head of State had said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

International Women’s Day messages

EU takes stand Women have made remarkable for women progress – TSC chair THE European Union said it is standing by women in Europe and around the globe today, as it did at the time of its foundation.

In a message to mark International Women’s Day, the EU recalled that 60 years ago, equality between women and men was embedded in the Rome Treaty as one of the European Union’s fundamental values. At that time, Europe’s commitment to the principle of equal pay for equal work was unique in the world. Since then, the EU has continued to lead and has made visible progress on all fronts. We work tirelessly to defend women’s rights and empower them in the fight against discrimination and gender-based violence.

In 2017, there are more women in work, more women graduating from universities, and more women active in politics or in top positions than ever before. Within the Commission, women represent 55% of the total workforce. And yet, too many women, especially single mothers, are still struggling to reach economic independence.

The rate of women’s employment in the European Union reached an all-time high of 65.5% in 2016 and yet there is still a big difference with the 77% rate of men. Much more must be done both inside and outside of Europe. Women are often among the most vulnerable, in conflicts, in situations

of migration and displacement, and where poverty and climate change hit the hardest.

In addition, there is an exponential growth in the numbers of female victims of trafficking arriving in the EU in the current migration context.

Intolerance against women and misogyny manifest themselves in the public sphere as well as behind the cowardly anonymity of the Internet. Attacks on women’s rights are on the rise. Too many Europeans still think sexual intercourse without consent can be justifiable. Women are also on the frontline of discrimination and violence, especially in conflict areas around the world.

However, women are often also the first ones to seek solutions, to look for resilience in times of challenge and those with a vision for the future of their countries. That is why the EU continues to engage with women’s groups throughout the world, including in the most challenging circumstances.

We will continue to take action both at home and abroad. In particular: through its 2016-2019 Strategic Engagement for Gender Equality, the European Commission tackles inequalities in key areas such as work, pay, decision making and violence. Additionally the European Commission has dedicated 2017 to eradicating all forms of violence against women and girls.

Chairperson of the Teaching Service Commission, Leila Ramson has hailed the strides made by women over the years even as she called on them to remain resilient against forces that threaten their lives and progress.

BELOW IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE MESSAGE On this day, International Women’s Day, I pay tribute to all our women, in Guyana and worldwide who make sacrifices and contribute so much to the wellbeing of their families, communities and their nations. I am a mother, full time wife, charity organiser, social activist and chairperson of the Teaching Service Commission, managing national education issues for over eighteen years. Today, on Women’s International Day, I implore on our women to move forward, unite and remain strong in the conviction that women’s rights are human rights. This is endorsed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states,’ ‘All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms.” These are rights for which you are entitle to live fearlessly and freely–Free of discrimination and gender bias. Women have made remarkable progress and since the last century has seen a great expansion of legal rights and entitlements in the field of education and empowerment. It is important for you to have equal access to edu-

cation, training, science and technology in order for you to elevate and empower yourselves. This is the pathway to your success.

You have the power to achieve greatness and success in your talented field. Never allow poverty or adverse circumstances to shape your destiny. You are in control of that destiny.

Undoubtedly, there have been tremendous strides of progress for women. Today, more women are attending university and attaining the highest pinnacle in the professional world. However, there are forces that threaten to erode those achievements and it is up to us women to stand together in unity and be stronger than ever before for the preservation of those rights for our daughters and granddaughters. Today, on this day, I implore you to continue to educate yourselves spiritually and academically.

Remember that education is the movement from darkness to light. Let us move forward with the vision that progress for women is progress for our nation. A woman is like a tea bag, you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.

Her strength lies in her power of endurance and perseverance and the success of our nation lies in your power.

May God continue to bless each of you as you recognise your purpose that you have been blessed with. Hats off to all the wonderful women out there. “Happy Women’s Day 2017”

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has saluted all the women of Guyana on the occasion of International Women’s Day, saying that women made enormous strides under its rule.

This is a good time to reflect on how far women in Guyana have advanced, thanks to several policy measures taken by the PPP/C administration to empower women during its period in office.

It is no idle boast that under the PPP/C administration women have made enormous strides in every facet of life in particular education and skills training.

Women today enjoy equal rights like men and several legislative actions were taken to protect our women against domestic abuse and sexual harassment. Improvements in health care delivery and maternal

health have impacted positively on the quality of life for the society as a whole but more particularly for our women.

Regrettably, many of the gains scored by the PPP/C administration are now being eroded by the vindictive and short-sighted policies by this current APNU-AFC administration which is already creating distress and stress among women and families who are now reeling under the burden of increases in the cost of living and high unemployment rates. The closure of the Wales Sugar Estate and the impending closure of several other estates will adversely impact on the quality of life of the entire families of which our women are made to suffer the burden of making ends meet.

Women less than one-fifth of senior PPP says women made management great strides under its rule worldwide – ACCA Women still represent only 22% of corporate leaders globally, and a further 33% of firms worldwide have no women in senior management at all, according to Helen Brand, CEO of ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) ACCA. The ACCA, the leading body globally for chartered accountants, uncovered inequality in the working trends of young women in finance careers in an 18,000-strong global survey, ‘Generation Next’.

It found that women are more likely to pursue a long-term career in finance and accounting, with 47% of respondents preferring to stay in the career for more than 5 years compared to 40% of men.

In addition, women are more likely than men to stay with their current employers in their next role, 42% compared to 37%

for men.

By contrast, the survey found that men were more likely to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions, with 84% signalling a desire to start their own business, either as a next career move or later in their careers.

The figure for women was 74%.

“For the inequality these statistics show to become a thing of the past, organisations must build supportive environments and work to eliminate conscious and unconscious bias right across the corporate structure”, Brand said. At present, ACCA has 480,000 students around the world studying hard to become professional accountants. 54% of them are female, a percentage that is growing year-on-year. Almost a quarter of a million women are working towards a professional qualification.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

New ‘commercial waste – garbage trucks fee’ from June 1to be licensed

By Telesha Ramnarine

AS of June 1, all businesses in Georgetown will be subjected to a commercial refuse fee for the removal of commercial waste, Solid Waste Management Director Walter Narine said recently.

In an interview with Chronicle at City Hall, he pointed out how the removal of commercial waste has become “burdensome” to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) owing to the fact that it has to expend more than $1M a week to get the job done.

“They are producing a lot of waste; plastics, styrofoam.

It’s only fitting that they have to pay separately for those collections,” Narine pointed out.

He explained: “Only about two per cent of what they are paying or not paying in rates and taxes goes to garbage collection. This is grossly insufficient. And when you compare the commercial waste to residential, businesses produce far more.”

According to him, the fee will be based on the size of the business, what it produces, and its staff size.

In the past, Narine had urged newly-elected councillors to change this situation by reconsidering the provi-

Walter Narine

sion of free waste collection for businesses. He had insisted that providing such a service to the corporate community is helping to drain the City’s coffers.

“Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean that gives free waste collection for businesses,” he had noted.

He charged that in order for the Solid Waste Management Department to increase its service provision and better its functioning, “feasible plans would have to be devised to increase income for solid waste services.”

In the past, some business people, large and small, hired homeless persons, or socalled ‘junkies’, to dispose of

their waste when the Council could not adequately provide the service.

These ‘junkies’ helped to strew waste about the City, adding to the garbage epidemic that had struck Georgetown.

Narine suggested that these persons should be regulated according to environmental laws and policies.

He believes that those hired to dispose of waste around the City, such as horse cart and push cart men, should be regulated to ensure that they are adhering to proper policies pertaining to the environment.

Persons who are found using ‘junkies’ to dispose of

waste should be disciplined, he suggested.

Meanwhile, Narine said that by June, all garbage trucks working in Georgetown will have to be licensed.

“They (the trucks) are traversing the streets of Georgetown and are free to go anywhere to dispose garbage.

We are trying to standardise it and to license all trucks,” Narine told Guyana Chronicle.

The trucks will have to pay a license fee for the year and the M&CC will look into all trucks in Georgetown while the Ministry of Communities will do it for the outer regions, he informed.

Legal action against delinquent tax payers soon PUBLIC Relations Officer (PRO) at the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Debra Lewis, has said that the municipality will be proceeding to initiate legal action against businesses and corporations that

media, print and electronic media. What is worrying is that in 2015 and 2016, we provided amnesty and many did not make use of it. Some didn’t even bother to inquire of their status,” Lewis said.

tur, Guyana Development Corps, Property Protection Services, Wraylite Engineering Company, and Correia’s Enterprise Limited.

“The owners of several businesses and corporations which are on the delinquent list did not even see it nec-

essary to make use of the facility or to seek an audience with the Georgetown Municipality concerning their status on rates owed,” the M&CC said.

In addition, last year, the Council obtained judgment from the Court against Jai-

karans and Sons, Ashmin Trading Co, CR Jacobs & Sons, Vinelli Industry and Vernon Garraway.

“The action of corporations and big businesses of not paying their rates to the Council is inconsistent with their corporate

social responsibility and a contravention of the City By-Laws. Their actions have affected the delivery of vital services such as drainage works, road repairs, and maintenance of parks, gardens and open spaces,” M&CC said.

City primary schools to help with composting project

Public Relations Officer at the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), Debra Lewis

have defaulted in payment of rates and taxes.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle at City Hall recently, Lewis informed that a number of these businesses have been identified and within a few days’ time, a full list of their names will be published.

“We will put it on social

In 2017, however, she said the M&CC will embark on an “aggressive” campaign against rates defaulters since the Council needs “every single cent” to provide services. In a press release earlier, the M&CC said some of the businesses include Sunglow Industries, Abdul & Sakina Sat-

ALL primary schools in Georgetown will be targeted to assist the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) with the major composting project that was announced earlier this month by the Ministry of Communities.

The M&CC will be converting compost waste to fertiliser – an investment valued at $28M that is expected to generate approximately $87M on an annual basis.

Thus, before the end of the year’s first quarter, the City Council will acquire one thousand waste receptacles to be placed at the various primary schools in an effort to have the waste generated there separated.

“We can take the organic waste and teach them [the students] how to do composting at the school level. Hopefully this will help them to take the information home and do the same thing there,” M&CC Solid Waste Management Director Walter Narine told Chronicle.

According to Narine, the Council

has already approved the project and so it is only now a matter of procuring the requisite equipment so that it can be rolled out by June 1.

“It will take some amount of collaboration with the residents around there; the farmers through the Ministry of Agriculture for them to buy the fertiliser from us. It will be a very cheap cost,” he related.

Narine observed that the ancient method now being pursued by M&CC is environmentally-friendly and one that will create a lot more space at the landfill site. “So it’s only fitting that Guyana should go towards this now,” he offered.

Meanwhile, Narine had earlier said that during the initial phase of the project, the Council will target only the Stabroek and Bourda Markets.

“When we would have examined the two markets, we realised that they generate on a daily basis, 25 metric tonnes of food waste. These are perishable cash crops which

were not sold and the vendors would have discarded and tossed them out,” he explained.

He noted that these are the types of waste that reach the landfill on a daily basis, so the intention is to take 25 tonnes of waste and convert it into municipal compost.

Narine revealed that the compost would then be marketed as manure or fertiliser at a minimal cost to the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), which is one of the primary targets, as well as to cash-crop farmers.

Guyana has been experiencing a plethora of issues in terms of entering the export market with cash crops, one of the reasons being the standard requirement by international trade for crops to be free from pesticides.

“So, if we can utilise the compost, it will benefit the farmers greatly who have aspirations of doing business on the export market,” Narine posited.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Revitalise the bond of sisterhood …women urged at Roundtable discourse

By Zena Henry THE United Nations has themed the 2017 International Women’s Day occasion, “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030.” The organisation has charged the relevant agencies in its member countries to attain gender parity within a set time span.

The Women, Gender and Equality Commission (WGEC) is among several agencies here in Guyana that will take up the enormous task of assisting in the attainment of gender parity by 2030. During an informative Round Table discussion at Carifesta Sports Complex on Tuesday, it was reiterated that several issues remain unaddressed and will thus hinder efforts toward this achievement.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Planning and International Engagement at the University of Guyana, Dr. Barbara Reynolds, in her presentation to a gathering that included First Lady Sandra Granger, government ministers, Non-governmental organisations and mostly civil service women, insisted that among the many things to be done in attaining gender parity by 2030, women will have to revitalise the bond of sisterhood, while encouraging the

growth of men-folk in the process.

Reynolds pointed to several statistics that show a trending decline in the advancement of men. She pointed to schools and institutions, using the University of Guyana where women are being more successful that men and are attaining tertiary education in larger numbers than their male counterparts.

While this may be positive news for the advancement of women, Dr. Reynolds believes this is a negative sign. “The last thing that we want is 50 percent of the

population with their muscle and testosterone, their frustrations, their aggressions uneducated.” She said it was one thing when girls and women were not allowed to be educated, but to allow the growing trend of uneducated boys and men may prove more detrimental. “We need to get our men and boys into schools,” she insisted, “they need to be educated, education is humanising, it is the best socialising factor that we have.”

On the other hand, the question was asked, “What has happened to the sister-

hood.” Reynolds said that women are still found tearing down and fighting each other.

“Lets us wake up and revive the sisterhood. We have race issues, class issues, and all that divides us… but fundamentally we can be sisters together.” Dr. Reynolds pointed to the genuine relationship between women that will enable them to function for their general benefit.

She called on women to also do what she described as “unpacking”. She urged that when women find themselves in a situation they need to “unpack” the issues and factors for a better understanding of their predicament. For example, Reynolds pointed to

Members of the audience at the Roundtable discourse

the increase of women in the security sector because of the shift of men to higher paying jobs. In that vein she opined that in everything done, an understanding of how it affects both men and women must be sought.

Another presenter, Chairman of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Roman Catholic Church in Guyana, Lawrence Latchmansingh, from a man’s perspective, highlighted numerous ways in which women are being objectified by men, the media and several other regimes for profit. He provided statistics that showed that a large percent of Guyanese support violence against women based on what she would have done wrong; whether she had been unfaithful or failed to do house chores. He also pointed out how under- represented women are in the local political arena after providing telling figures out of the local parties.

Honour was brought to the two new females now heading the judiciary system.

However a picture highlighting a room filled with men choosing who fill those vacancies, got loud gasps from the gathering.

One of Latchmansingh’s recommendations in attaining gender parity was the development of a platform to actively defend women against objectification and men who are determined to hold on to power over women.

First Lady Sandra Granger congratulated all women on their contributions to society. As one against human trafficking, and an advocate for the education of young girls and women, and maternal advancement, are some of the areas the First Lady would like to see addressed. “I believe that with behavioural change, determination and serious concerted action we can become a healthier, more educated, more confident and productive society. We can then achieve gender parity in not too distant future,” the First Lady said. She added that women need to recognise and address the social and economic factors limiting easy access to education for the development of women and girls in Guyana.

Mrs. Granger said that in order for gender parity to become a reality several steps are required. “Our entire population must be educated to understand the long-term implications of gender disparity. We must be bold for change.

We must speak up and speak out against injustice.

A comprehensive country-wide campaign should be launched to socialise our women and men, girls and boys, so that they recognise and desist from behaviours, which harm us individually, collectively, socially and economically,” Mrs. Granger said.

Beauty queen challenging gender roles …promoting women empowerment SINCE being crowned Mrs. India Guyana in September, 2016, Samantha Singh has used her platform to further her advocacy of women’s rights and empowerment, and says that her work in this area will extend beyond her reign, as these are issues that she is passionate about.

Samantha has been working with several charities and NGOs in the form of donations and outreaches, and though her activity log may seem quiet to most, she ensures that she has been active. “Much of my work is done without media attention because to me, charity is from the heart, not in front of the cameras, but my work will continue, in fact I have a lot of plans that I believe can help empower Guyanese women,” Samantha said.

The reigning Mrs. India said that empowering women is not about titles, but it is about having the vision to create a legacy, to not only set goals but to work toward achieving them regardless of their position.

She added that she hopes that as women strive toward achieving equality, that they stay focused and united, as this is the only way it can be done. “I just hope we as women can stick to the plan and support the cause because as women we may all be different but we have similar stories that can help to inspire or even change each other’s lives. What enticed me about holding the title as Mrs. India Guyana was that it not only celebrates the Indian woman but also women who are married yet independent, and this helps to give a platform that can

change the narrative that women can have families and husbands and still make a difference,” she said.

But it is indeed gratifying to see the strides that women have made in achieving equality over the years, Samantha said, and these strides have helped to change the definition of traditional gender roles. “Today, we have a voice; we have access to education, we can be bosses building empires. We couldn’t have made it this far without the women who tirelessly fought for a place at the head table.

We broke a lot of stereotypes but I believe we still have a long fight ahead of us,” she said.

Samantha, who herself is the owner of ‘Cellular Plus’, an authorised Digicel Dealer which has several branches, is proud to be

one of those women bosses.

What is more, she believes that it is moves like these that are also helping to shape the image of the modern, Indo-Guyanese woman. “More and more, we are breaking the barrier from being the silent housewife, forbidden from any form of education, just being the bearer of children. Now we have jobs, we own businesses, we have our Masters, we are wearing suits and holding positions that were once foreign to the “traditional Indian woman”, and women on the whole can also attest to these changes in stereotypes,” she said.

Looking forward, Samantha wishes to see specific milestones achieved for women in Guyana; these milestones will signal that the country is moving in the right direction with regard to women’s rights. “I want to hear women being called Leaders, not “women leaders”, I’d like to see

Samantha Singh, Mrs India Guyana 2016

Guyana have its first female President, I want to see more women uniting in the continued fight for the rights of

every girl child. I want to see more women rise up from the oppression that society has placed on us. I want to see women staying true to their values and trusting their abilities and I want to see more women as bosses of their empires,” she said.

The key is for women to envision what it really means to be a 21st century women, Samantha says, keeping in mind the tenets of being bold, being modern and speaking up for our rights. “Every woman must believe in herself and her abilities; don’t tread on familiar territories. And know that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” she said. Samantha believes that once women stand up for themselves, then nothing can hold them back.

Samantha is also currently working on her first workshop titled “Fight like a Girl” which will focus on confidence building and self-defense.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Women in the Military …and the “changing world of work”

By Jasmaine Payne AMONG the highest forms of demonstration of patriotism is the provision of service to one’s country through serving in the military. The military has remained a male-dominated establishment throughout its history and the role of women in the military, particularly in combat, has been one surrounding much debate. Globally, it is only as recent as the 1970s that women have begun to serve active duty in all of the military branches.

Much like other countries, women have made strides within the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), since the establishment of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) in 1967. The recruitment of women in the GDF occurred out of a need for the army to fill the gap created following the deployment of a large number of male ranks to protect Guyana’s territory which was threatened as a result of Venezuela’s seizure of Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River in 1966. In the 50 years since the establishment of the WAC,women have moved from limited positions to flying aircraft and military ships, serving at border locations, tactical patrols and undertaking other “male dominated” roles.

WOMEN IN THE GUYANA DEFENCE FORCE Retired Col. Christine King speaks highly of the opportunities afforded to women in the GDF during her years of service and of the changing roles of women within the army over the years. King, who retired from the GDF in 2005, described her experience as “mixed”, but attests that it was generally enjoyable.

“As a young woman,I admired the Women’s Army Corps and I thought that if I joined I could also make a difference with the women in the force,” she said. “I think like anything else, you can’t expect everything to be perfect. It’s a work environment, so there might have been experiences that

were not good ones but I think the good ones outweighed the experiences I was not happy about.”

The WAC was a decade old by the time King joined the force in 1977, but even then, she said that the number of women in the army was still relatively small in comparison to the males, and the roles they occupied were mostly clerical and administrative. “There were a few female soldiers scattered throughout the force,mostly in catering, in the office, switchboard operators, waitresses,” she

Tech Sgt Stacey Lauterbach during her deployment in the US Air Force in Bagram, Afghanistan, 2009

Col. Christine King served as Commanding Officer of the Women’s Army Corps while in the GDF

said. She remembered that there were also a very small number of women occupying non-traditional roles such as drivers and pilots.

Among those, she names Cheryl Moore and Beverly Drakes (two of the first female pilots in the GDF) as well as Barbara Adams (the first female helicopter pilot) as women who challenged gender roles in the army at the time.

King, herself, took the course of administrative work within the army, serving as Personal Assistant to then Col. Ulric Pilgrim and Brigadier David Granger during their respective posts as Commander of the GDF. King’s service was broken due to time taken to study in 1986 at the University of Guyana, where she earned a Degree in Sociology,and then in 1990 when she read for her Masters in Social Work at the Dalhousie Uni-

versity in Nova Scotia, Canada. Upon her return to Guyana, King lectured at the University of Guyana for four years, but returned to the GDF as a Major. Over the years,King served as Base Commander for Base Ayangana and Commanding Officer of the Women’s Army Corps,among other roles. While overseeing the work of the WAC,she felt it was important to address the needs of women in the army, and this led to her holding quarterly seminars with members of the WAC. “A lot of social issues would be dealt with, from parenting issues, to issues of domestic violence, to even current affairs,” she said. “It was important to address topics that were relative to women that shouldn’t be kept in the dark, because they needed to know what was going on around them, and it would help to build their self-esteem.”

By the time she left the GDF in 2005, King said that she had been privileged to witness many improvements in the roles of women in the GDF. “By that time, more women got the opportunity to go to University, some had the opportunity to do training abroad and many other opportunities had opened up for them,” she said. And while she does not believe there is much of a barrier for upward

movement for women in the GDF, she still wishes to see a female Chief-of-Staff sometime in the future, but she is aware that women are not fully exposed to the type of training that would take them to the levels that would allow them to achieve that height. “If you have a woman with the desire to do it and she has the grit and determination to do it she should be allowed. But in our society women just feel they should go to a point and just stay there and not move forward,because they feel it’s a man’s job. But there might be some woman who feels she can do it, but it is left to the powers that be to make that a reality,” she said.

GUYANESE WOMEN IN THE MILITARY ABROAD NOTWITHSTANDING, Guyanese women have played integral roles in the military abroad as well and form part of 165,000 women who are enlisted and active in the US armed services (15 percent of the US military).

After receiving permanent resident status in the United States, 37-year-old Stacey Lauterbauch began looking for a progressive career; one that would work well in helping to contribute to a sturdy foundation for her family. “I was married and had an infant son… the

Air Force posed the more attractive service of choice because it provided me with an opportunity to return to school and support my family,” Lauterbach said.

The young Guyanese could have shied away from what would have been an intimidating situation, and she admits that she knew the task was a big one, but in the end it was her dedication to putting in hard work that paid off. “I was always enthusiastic and dedicated to my mission and goals. I embraced all my duties and completed my tasks with attention to detail,” she said.

It was these talents that led to her being recognised on many occasions throughout her career, which also led to earlier promotion above her peers. “In a way, I demanded respect. And I used my Guyanese upbringing to never take anything for granted, so that promoted my work ethic and others recognised it,” she said. She found that this way of operation worked for her, and that her superiors respected her opinions as a result. “The US military supports equal opportunity and personally I have not experienced adverse reactions being a woman,” she said.

Nevertheless, Lauterbach admits that there remain positions within the military that are male specific, but that slowly, op-

portunities are opening up for women to hold jobs in these areas. Male dominated positions in the Air Force include Pararescue, Tactical Air Control, Special Tactics, Combat Rescue, Combat Control and Special Operations Weather. “The focus is shifting slowly in other branches of the military to allow women to be appointed to combat oriented jobs.

There are still jobs which are male specific, but if females prove that they can do these jobs then they should be allowed,” she said.

In her nine years since joining the US Airforce, Lauterbach, now a Technical Sargeant, has been exposed to many memorable experiences, including a six month deployment to Afghanistan in 2009 during the US War. “I didn’t experience any gory stuff, but we were attacked twice while I was there and there were constant explosions. It was scary at first but then it became part of the norm,” she said. It was during these times that she found it the hardest to be away from her husband and son, but she said that the experience strengthened her as a woman and she was able to become part of the Air Force family with the other soldiers deployed there.

During her stint, she has also encountered several other Caribbean women who, she said, are occupying senior positions within the military. “I have met women from Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and other Caribbean Islands.

We always have a common bond and it is always refreshing to meet someone from “home”,” she said.

“The military is based on hard work, excelling at your job, volunteerism, fitness, professional development and many more admirable traits, and every day women are demonstrating all these qualities which are allowing them to be promoted to high ranks,” she said.

Above all, she admits that she is proud to be a woman in the military and to be contributing in any way to the changing roles of women in the world.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 9, 2017

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Windies attempting to ... be very valuable. Pakistan is ahead of us (in the oneday rankings) as well so we just need to pick up points there,” Holder told reporters here yesterday.

“We haven’t worked it out mathematically but we know the importance of every game especially playing a side that is higher-ranked than we. We’ve got England now, Pakistan afterward, then we have India later down in the year and then we also have one-dayers in England.

“Those are all teams that are ranked higher than we.

The magnitude of the situation is for us to win these games against higher-ranked sides and I think once we do that, we’ll definitely qualify for the World Cup.” In both previous games, West Indies found themselves with chances to turn the results their way, but lacked the killer instinct.

Chasing 297 in the opener, they were 190 for four in the 39th over but threw away their last six wickets for 61 runs, to surrender meekly.

Then, in last Sunday’s encounter, England plunged

Jason Mohammed to 124 for six at the half-way individual brilliance from stage in pursuit of 226 but players like Jason MohamWest Indies proved sloppy in med and Jonathan Carter, the field, and Joe Root (90 not Shannon’s (Gabriel) been out) and Chris Woakes (68 not pretty good – (Devendra) out) capitalised, engineering an unbroken stand of 102 for the seventh wicket to frustrate the hosts.

Holder said despite the two disappointing performances, the Windies had (REUTERS) - Barcelona remained upbeat and were became the first team in optimistic about turning their Champions League histofortunes around. ry to overturn a four-goal “The guys are in good deficit in a knockout tie, spirits. Everybody wants to make their mark here. as a stoppage-time goal by Obviously we’ve had two Sergio Roberto completed games and we’ve had some an extraordinary 6-1 victory over Paris St Germain yesterday.

Edinson Cavani looked to have wrecked Barcelona’s dreams by volleying in an away goal to make the score 3-1 but two late strikes from support as he plans to put a whipping on his opponents.

Neymar set up a thrilling “The plan is to go up finale before Roberto scored there and destroy all the to seal a 6-5 aggregate win competition in my class, for the Spanish side. all my opponents,” Wilson Barcelona began to told Chronicle Sport, addbelieve in the impossible ing that he is confident of dream of clawing back coming out on top. their shock 4-0 loss from He continued, “I haven’t the first leg when Luis Sudone much, anything much to the car preparation-wise, arez headed over the line the car always works well in the third minute and a and it’s just to service, enLayvin Kurzawa own goal sure everything is good to go gave them further hope for Sunday.” before the break.

Adding to the hype that Lionel Messi’s penalty filled the air, the Berbician five minutes into the second has picked out the champiperiod had the Nou Camp on on of the 13-second bracket their feet but Cavani’s strike Imran Khan as one of the major contenders for the in the 62nd was a sucker March 19 event. punch to Barca’s ambitions “It’s my friend but he from which Luis Enrique’s already knows that on the side took a while to recover. day, the best man will win.

A curled free kick from We are friends and we know Neymar in the 88th minute each other but we never met gave them hope and the up in the same group before Brazilian converted a penalty and I think this time we are before substitute Roberto going to meet up.”

Meanwhile, Suriname slid in to knock the ball has been confirmed as bebeyond Kevin Trapp from a ing a part of the season chipped free kick and send opening Drag Race meet, Barca through to the last billed for March 19 at the eight.

South Dakota Circuit.

Bishoo and Ashley (Nurse) as well,” Holder pointed out.

“I don’t think the spirits are daunted in the dressing room; I think everybody’s heads are held high. I just try to keep everyone in good spirits and everybody is in good spirits. We have a good vibe on and off the field. It’s just a situation for us to execute.

“We’ve also let ourselves down in the field in terms of dropping catches and being a bit sloppy in the field so that’s obviously an area we have paid some attention to, and I think once we hold those half chances, games can be a lot different for us.”

Last October, West Indies were swept by Pakistan in a

Continued from back page similar three-match series in United Arab Emirates. The following month, they struggled in Zimbabwe during the Tri-Nations Series involving the hosts and Sri Lanka, missing out on the final after winning just one of four games.

Holder said across both the batting and bowling departments, there was obviously a need for more consistency from his players.

“I’ve preached in the dressing room we need consistency. The only way you can be consistent is if you get an opportunity to play …,” he explained.

“I just think it is important that we do a lot better at the top of our innings when

Barca complete incredible comeback to sink PSG

Wilson aiming for dominance in 13-second class

By Stephan Sookram

THERE aren’t a lot of drag-racers more enthusiastic than Marlon Wilson and fans will have a chance to see him ply his trade on Sunday, March 19, when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club hosts its Reaction Part One meet.

Wilson, who drives all the way from Berbice in his Toyota NZE street car for most racing events, is calling on all his fans along the way to come out and show their

we bat. We haven’t really gotten a good start in this tournament as yet.

“I thought the bowling in the last game was a lot better than the first game. We got down to the last 10 overs and did a lot better and that’s all due down to the context of the game but I thought we fought really hard and had attacking options in the last game. We set attacking fields and we got wickets; so for me we may just need to string that collective game together and take it all the way.”

West Indies have brought fast bowler Miguel Cummins into the 13-man squad as a replacement for injured speedster Shannon Gabriel.

Barcelona’s Luis Suarez celebrates after the game.

(Reuters/Albert Gea Livepic) An electric atmosphere danger zone and it bounced gripped the Nou Camp off the swinging leg of Kurbefore kick-off after Su- zawa and into the far corner.

PSG riled Barca suparez and Luis Enrique had said they truly believed a comeback was on and the players caught the wave of optimism by swarming South Africa Racing Tips all over PSG from the first Vaal whistle.

08:50 hrs Forest Fox 09:30 hrs Freely Forever Trapp struggled to cope 10:05 hrs Dream Leader with the early pressure and 10:40 hrs Might As Well flapped at a high ball, allowArab Emirates Racing Tips ing Suarez to jump ahead of Meydan him and force the ball over 10:30 hrs Syncopation 11:05 hrs Prepared the line.

11:40 hrs Vivernus PSG had a penalty ap12:15 hrs Raven’s Corner peal turned down when 12:50 hrs Shawaahid 13:25 hrs Aslan Julian Draxler’s low cross 14:00 hrs Street Act struck Javier MascheraEnglish Racing Tips no’s arm but it was one of Wincanton few forays forward from 09:50 hrs Homers Odyssey PSG in the first half as 10:20 hrs Catchin Time 10:55 hrs Dawson City Barca did all the attacking.

11:30 hrs Multiculture The Catalans owed their 12:05 hrs Coole Cody second to another piece of 12:40 hrs Knight Ofthe Realm 13:10 hrs Dark Invader slack defending, however, as Iniesta nudged his way past Southwell 10:10 hrs Major Tom Marquinhos in the area to 10:45 hrs Stomachion knock the ball back into the 11:20 hrs Bounty Pursuit

porters by coming back on to the pitch after the break a few minutes late but the Nou Camp were soon celebrating a third as Messi powered a penalty past Trapp after Neymar had been tripped by Thomas Meunier.

Cavani hit the post but made amends by smashing a loose ball home, although he should have added another but was denied by the feet of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

At the time it did not look to be a crucial miss but Barca had other ideas, scoring three times in six minutes to complete an incredible comeback.

11:55 hrs Sir Billy Wtight 12:30 hrs Secret Salvage 13:05 hrs Pick Of Any 13:35 hrs Go George Go Carlisle 10:35 hrs Ryalex 11:10 hrs Johanos 11:45 hrs Grove Silver 12:55 hrs Loch Ba Irish Racing Tips Thurles 09:55 hrs Knockraha 10:25 hrs Knockraha Boss 11:00 hrs White Lilac 11:35 hrs Rock On Barney 12:10 hrs Freeway Space 12:45 hrs Raz De Maree 13:15 hrs Isodon American Racing Tips Gulfstream Park Race 1 Well Blessed Race 2 Proud Enough Race 3 Dancin in the Heat Race 4 Steel Sky Race 5 Arcature Race 6 Horner Man Race 7 Coors Lute Race 8 Fuerza

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Elgar anchors South Africa with unbeaten 128 on opening day (REUTERS) - Dean Elgar made the most of being dropped early in his innings to score his seventh Test century and anchor South Africa’s 229 for four at the close of play on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Dunedin yesterday.

The left-handed opener, who was spilt down the leg side by wicketkeeper BJ Watling on 36 shortly after lunch, brought up his century from 197 balls with his 20th boundary.

The 29-year-old finished on 128 not out and also combined with captain Faf

du Plessis (52) for a 126-run partnership that resurrected his side’s innings after they had slumped to 22-3 in a difficult first session of the three-match series.

Temba Bavuma, who joined Elgar before tea when du Plessis was dismissed, was on 38 not out at the close. du Plessis was caught in the deep by Trent Boult off all-rounder Jimmy Neesham three balls after he had a leg-before decision overturned on review.

The Proteas were rocked by the loss of three early wickets when left-

arm seamer Neil Wagner claimed two victims in one over following du Plessis’s late decision to bat after winning the toss. du Plessis finally opted against bowling first when he noticed that New Zealand had dropped pace spearhead Tim Southee to play two spinners in Jeetan Patel and Mitchell Santner.

The visitors had been under pressure when they resumed after lunch on 63-3 and New Zealand could have driven home their advantage had Watling held on when Elgar got a thick edge in the second over of

Dean Elgar’s seventh Test century resuscitates the South Africa innings on the opening day in Dunedin. the session.

New Zealand had seized the early advantage when skipper Kane Williamson introduced Patel in the sixth over, with the off-spinner proving difficult to get away as he extracted bounce and turn off the pitch.

Paceman Boult then got a delivery to swing back into right-handed opener Stephen Cook, who offered no shot and was given out lbw for three to leave the hosts 10-1 in the ninth over.

Williamson then reintroduced Wagner and he struck immediately to remove the dangerous Hashim Amla for one.

Four balls later, he had JP Duminy caught at first slip by Ross Taylor, also for one, from a rising delivery that brushed a glove to leave the visitors in dire trouble.

Following the first Test, the teams will head to Wellington before concluding the series in Hamilton.

SCOREBOARD SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings S. Cook lbw b Boult 3 D. Elgar not out 128 H. Amla b Wagner 1 J. Duminy c Taylor b Wagner 1 F. du Plessis c Boult b Neesham 52 T. Bavuma not out 38 Extras: (b-4, lb-1, w-1) 6 Total: (for 4 wickets, 90 overs) 229 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-20, 3-22, 4-148.

Bowling: T. Boult 22-10-44-1 (w-1), N. Wagner 20-4-59-2, J. Patel 24-9-60-0, M. Santner 18-5-32-0, J. Neesham 6-2-29-1.

Ireland beaten by Afghanistan in T20 opener in India

IRELAND started the three-match T20 series against Afghanistan with a six-wicket defeat in India yesterday.

Opener Stuart Thompson hit 56 while Gary Wilson (41 n.o.) and captain William Porterfield (39) added valuable runs as Ireland made 165-5 in Greater Noida.

It was not enough with Samiullah Shenwari (56) and Mohammad Shahzad (47) helping the Afghans to 171-4 with two overs to spare.

The sides meet again in the second T20 at the same

venue tomorrow.

Ireland suffered an early blow when opener Paul Stirling was dismissed for a duck and with just one run on the board.

Thompson and Porterfield steadied the innings before Wilson helped the Irish to a competitive total.

Shahzad and Najeeb Tarakai (27) put on an opening stand of 51 as Afghanistan cruised to their victory target.

Afghan spinner Amir Hamza (2-23) was the only bowler to take more than one wicket on a day when the bat

dominated.

“We fell a little bit short of potentially a very big score. We could have added another 15 and gotten up to the 180 we were looking for,” said Porterfield.

“As well as we played I thought we just came up short with the ball. We didn’t quite execute things as well as we would have liked.”

The loss of paceman Boyd Rankin for the T20s, because of a back problem, was another setback for the Irish yesterday.

Rankin is expected to return for the five ODIs against Afghanistan, starting on March 15.

(BBC Sport)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Mendis falls short of maiden double century (REUTERS) - Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis fell agonisingly short of a maiden double-century but his career-best 194 propelled the hosts to 494 all out against Bangladesh in the first innings of the first Test yesterday.

In reply, the tourists finished day two on 133-2, still 361 runs behind, at the Galle International Stadium.

Bangladesh’s Soumya Sarkar, who raised 118 runs with fellow opener Tamim Iqbal (57), was batting on 66 at stumps with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim on one at the other end.

Mendis, resuming on his overnight score of 166, eclipsed his previous best of 176 when he attempted a hook shot off Subhasis Roy and Mustafizur Rahman caught the top-edge, but not before the fielder trod on the boundary rope.

Mendis smacked Mehedi Hasan Miraz for his fourth sixth to race to 192 but fell to the off-spinner when Tamim took a brilliant catch in the deep.

Realising momentum was taking him across the rope after taking the catch, Tamim

Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella added a brisk 110 for the fifth wicket. lobbed the ball back into play and returned to pouch it, ending Mendis’ 285-ball Bowling: M. Rahman 25-5-68-2 SRI LANKA 1st innings knock which also included 19 (nb-1), T. Ahmed 21-3-77-1 (nb(Overnight 321-4) boundaries.

2, w-2), S. Roy 24-4-103-1 (nb-2, D. Karunaratne b M. Hasan 30 w-1, M. Hasan 22-1-113-4, S. Al U. Tharanga b Roy 4 Mendis added 110 runs Hasan 32.1-5-100-1, S. Sarkar K. Mendis c Iqbal b M. Hasan 194 with Niroshan Dickwella 3-0-9-0 (w-1), Mahmudullah D. Chandimal c M. Hasan 2-0-10-0. b M. Rahman 5 whose fluent 75 off 76 balls A. Gunaratne b Ahmed 85 included six boundaries and BANGLADESH 1st innings N. Dickwella c Mahmudullah b M. Hasan 75 T. Iqbal run-out (Dickwella) 57 a six.

S. Sarkar not out 66 D. Perera lbw b M. Hasan 51 Down the order, Dilru7 R. Herath c Sarkar b M. Rahman 14 M. Haque lbw b D. Perera M. Rahim not out 1 S. Lakmal run-out 8 wan Perera scored 51 before Extras: (lb-1 w-1) 2 L. Sandakan c M. Hasan the hosts were all out an hour Total: (for 2 wickets, 46 overs) 133 b Al Hasan 5 L. Kumara not out 0 Fall of wickets: 1-118, 2-127. after the lunch break.

Extras: (b-4, lb-10, nb-5, w-4) 23 Bowling: S. Lakmal 5-0-15-0, Mehedi was the pick of Total: (all out, 129.1 overs) 494 L. Kumara 7-0-38-0 (w-1), D. Perera 13-3-32-1, R. Herath 11Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-60, 3-92, the Bangladesh bowlers, 4-288, 5-398, 6-432, 7-457, 8-480, 1-30-0, L. Sandakan 10-5-17-0. claiming 4-113.

9-494.

Zouks rebranded St Lucia Stars for new CPL campaign CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) – St Lucia Zouks have undergone a name change for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League season, with the franchise now rebranded St Lucia Stars.

Franchise owner Jay Pandya, whose Philadelphia-based Royal Sports Club purchased the Castries-based outfit last October, said the new name would reflect all the characteristics of the idyllic Caribbean country.

“We wanted the identity to represent St Lucia and anyone who supports the team associates with the traits of being St

and the cheer of the St Lucian people.

Captain Darren Sammy said St Lucia Stars would be aiming in the upcoming season to reflect all the changes embodied in the franchise name.

“We definitely want to live up to what the logo represents and play like stars as we look to win the CPL this season,” the former West Indies captain said.

“Hopefully, this change will bring in good luck for us. To be ‘Born Lucian’ means we take pride in what we do and we do it wholeheartedly. And we want this

SCOREBOARD

Darren Sammy will lead St Lucia Stars.

Lucian,” Pandya said.

“When we were making the decision to bring this change and we were looking for inspiration, we just had to look within and bring out the spirit of St Lucia. They are stars in every night and proud to be Born Lucians.”

The new logo of the franchise has been designed to reflect “a new bold and vibrant identity” and is comprised of three different elements – the iconic Piton Mountains, the colours of the St Lucia flag

to resonate with our fans and make them feel proud.”

Zouks had one of their best seasons last year when they reached the playoffs for the first time in the four-year history of the competition.

They managed to attract the likes of Australians Mike Hussey and Shane Watson, along with South Africa David Miller, and proved one of the more entertaining sides.

The competition this year runs from August 1 to September 9.

SHOAIB Shaw was yesterday named to skipper the Demerara squad for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-County Under-15 tournament, which bowls off on Tuesday.

He would lead a team of talented players including Mohindra Dindyal, Chad Shivrattan, Edmond Pearson, Andre Seepersaud, Daniel Mootoo, Mark Ra-

manand (wicketkeeper), Chanderpaul Ramraj, Trevon Charles, Negusa Walters, Devanand Khemraj, Ryan Persaud, Ushardeva Balgobin and Brandon Jaikarran.

The coach is Dhanpaul, while the team manager is Latchman Yadram.

All players are asked to assemble at Ogle ground on Saturday, March 11 at 13:00hrs for training.

Ramadhin misses ton as Anna Regina Secondary Demerara select U-15 advance in Schools Cricket League inter-county squad PLAYING in brilliant sunshine and enjoying a lightning fast outfield at the picturesque Imam Bacchus Sports Complex ground, Anna Regina Secondary School, led by captain Boomesh Ramdahin’s 99, recorded an emphatic 76run victory against Leguan Secondary on Tuesday.

As a result they advance to play West Demerara Secondary School in the semi-finals of the National Secondary Schools Cricket League tomorrow at the same venue.

The competition is collaboration between the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the Ministry of Education.

Winning the toss and batting first, Anna Regina Secondary posted a challenging 206-6 in their allotted 30 overs due mainly to an impressive innings of 99 from captain Boomesh Ramdahin which was decorated by 12x4s and 2x6s.

He narrowly missed becoming the first batsman to record two centuries in

the tournament after his majestic 102 against Aurora Secondary in a preliminary match.

He received firm support from national Under-15 batsmen Sheldon Charles’ 31 laced with 4 fours and Lance Robert’s 30 (5x4). The opposition’s most successful bowlers were Javol Sahoy’s 2-13 from 2 overs and Mark Rankin with 2-23 from his allotted 6 overs.

In reply, Leguan Secondary were bowled out for a meagre 130 in 23

overs as Sheldon Charles, Badesh Parsotam, Esho Persaud and Sevord Bess all claimed two wickets each.

Cameos from Lockesh Raghubir 22 studded with 4 fours and Shevon Trim’s 21 (3x4) briefly threatened Anna Regina Secondary’s advance into the final-four playoffs.

Skipper Boomesh Ramdahin was later adjudged man-of-the-match as he received a trophy for his superlative innings from ECB Secretary and National Youth Selector Autto Christiani. (Elroy Stephney)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

GBA hosts successful Mashramani tournament

Director of Sport Christopher Jones poses with the respective winners after the presentation.

CB/DMLAS/MoE/NSSCL Combine Elite Phase …

Bharrat, Jagdeo and Fordyce star in Mahaicony Combine’s big win

By Rajiv Bisnauth

LED by two spells of decisive medium pace bowling from Omprakash Bharrat and Kapeshwar Jagdeo, along with an unbeaten half-century from Windell Fordyce, Mahaicony Combine easily disposed of Mahaica Combine by 160 runs when play in the Combine Elite Phase continued yesterday at the Fairfield Community Centre ground.

Set 178 for victory, Mahaica Combine were blown away for 17 in 9.1 overs, with Bharrat claiming 4-2 off four overs, including a hat-trick, while Jagdeo had 3-4 in his spell of two overs.

None of the Mahaica Combine batsmen offered any meaningful resistance in a complete batting shutdown.

Chatterpaul Durga, Shoaib Shaw and Fordyce also contributed to the wicket column.

Earlier the game was reduced to 40 overs aside after the Mahaica Combine arrived late at the venue.

But when play eventually commenced, Fordyce made a patient unbeaten 68 to anchor a shaky Mahaicony Combine after they decided to bat first after winning the toss.

The Mahaicony Combine lost opener Bharrat (3), in the second over when he was bowled by Cordel Martins, but the left-handed

Windell Fordyce Fordyce then joined Shaw and put together 57 for the second-wicket.

However, the dismissal of Shaw (9) started a collapse in which eight wickets fell for 48 runs. Off-spinner Sudesh David was the chief destroyer during that peri-

od, claiming 4-48 from his eight overs.

Fordyce, who played a marathon innings, batted for 107 balls, hitting seven fours and a six, but more importantly he shared three excellent partnerships, which saw them pose a challenging total.

The Mahaicony Secondary School’s fourth form student was particularly watchful, and his composure allowed him to share 37 for the ninth wicket with Joshua Tappin, who made 15, and 39 for the final wicket, with Alistair Bovel (7), to the back-end of the innings.

Martins was the other most successful bowler, with 2-28. Meanwhile, a selective Mahaica-Mahaicony Combine District team was selected soon after the game. They will compete with the East Coast Demerara District team tomorrow at the same venue.

Omprakash Bharrat (right) and Kapeshwar Jagdeo share seven wickets between them.

AFTER attracting the country’s leading male and female badminton players, the Guyana Badminton Association last weekend completed the annual Mashramani Badminton tournament at the National Gymnasium.

The tournament was played in two segments - Open for men and ladies and age group for juniors.

The Open Ladies division was won by Priyanna Ramdhani, who beat Greer Jackson in the final.

Jonathon Mangra won the Open Men’s singles after a win over Nicholas Ali. Kayla Jordon took top honours in the Under-11 Girls’ Singles, with Haily Choo-a-Fat placing second and Gianna Ramnarine

third.

Jonathan Debidin was the Under-11 Boys’ Singles champion, with Avinash Ramnarine taking the runner-up spot, and Jared Bird and Nikhil Sookraj sharing third.

Lesha Singh took the Under-13 Girls’ Singles title from Sasha Singh, while third place was shared by Lathika Kandayel and Elese Sangster.

Andrew Debidin was the top Under-13 Boys’ player, while Vikash Mootoo was second best and Matthew Beharry third.

In the Under-15 Girls’ Singles, Crystal Permaul was the overall champion.

The tournament was exclusively sponsored by the National Sports Commission (NSC).

ICC decide against taking action on Smith or Kohli

(REUTERS) - Australia captain Steve Smith and his India counterpart Virat Kohli have escaped any charges after a controversial Decision Review System (DRS) incident in this week’s Bengaluru Test, the International Cricket Council said on yesterday.

Steve Smith Kohli accused Smith of ‘crossing the line’ on Tuesday when he was given out leg-before-wicket but looked towards the players’ area in the stands as he mulled over whether to ask for a review of the umpire’s decision using DRS. Players are not allowed to seek direction on reviews apart from conferring with the non-striker.

Neither team can make more than two unsuccessful review requests per 80 overs.

Smith said it was a oneoff incident caused by “brain fade” but Kohli countered that it was not the first time it had happened and that he

Virat Kohli The third Test between had complained to the match the teams starts in Ranchi officials.

“In relation to Steve on March 16 with the series Smith and Virat Kohli, the level at 1-1.

“Ahead of (the third ICC has considered both incidents in the context of Test), the match referee this match and concluded will bring both captains it will be taking no further together to remind them of action against either player,” their responsibilities to the the governing body said in a game,” ICC chief executive David Richardson said. statement.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Thursday March 09, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 52 ODIs (2) Alzarri Joseph & Rovman Powell Today’s Quiz: (1) Who is England’s most capped ODI player overall?

(2) How many ODI centuries Viv Richards scored

against England?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Thursday, March 9, 2017

Harding elected new DCC president AFTER months of internal backbiting, the members of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) on Monday evening elected a new executive, with Patrick Harding replacing the long-serving Alfred Mentore as the new president.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the elections were held at the club’s Queenstown pavilion.

Mentore, who decided not to seek re-election, clearly indicated that he will support the next president and executive in the transition period.

Former West Indies all-rounder Roger Harper

and Lawrence Smith were elected the first and second vice-presidents respectively.

Reginald Brotherson is the new club secretary, while Ruth Howard is the treasurer.

Kirk Douglas is the assistant secretary/treasurer and Dennis Squires the Club captain.

The Indoor Club captain and Public Relations Officer positions have been taken up

by Troy Halley and Adam Harris respectively.

Paul Wintz, Dexter George, Gladwin Brandis, Dionne Cush, and Mahendra Jaikarran make up the rest of the executive.

Members of the new DCC executive

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Mohamed’s Enterprise on board with GMR&SC Reaction pregnant with first child T H R E E - T I M E Wo r l d 100-metre champion ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce will not be in London this summer to defend her 100-metre title as she is pregnant with her first child.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is one of the most successful female sprinters in history.

Her manager Bruce James confirmed to SportsMax.TV that the two-time Olympic 100-metre champion will be a mother later this year.

“She is quite pregnant,” James said in response to queries from Sportsmax.TV Wednesday.

The 30-year-old sprinter also confirmed her condition on social media yesterday. “All my focus heading into training for my 2017 season was on getting healthy and putting myself in the best possible fitness to successfully defend my title in London 2017,” she posted on her Facebook page.

“But life is filled with many blessings with God. So here I am thinking about being the greatest mother I can be with my biggest blessing and the promise God made me. Moving forward on this journey, I look forward to seeing you all in 2018 when

I return to competition on the tracks and around the world.”

Sportsmax.TV had been informed that in recent weeks that the sprint icon had been periodically absent from training.

James confirmed that the pregnancy was partially responsible but that it was part of an overall plan to resolve the issues with an injured big toe and her pursuit of further Olympic glory at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

“We decided since we are doing the toe thing, we might as well do everything at one time,” James said emphasising that Fraser-Pryce will not be available for Jamaica’s team to the 2017 IAAF World Athletic Championships in London in August.

“That physically can’t happen,” he said.

Fraser-Pryce is one of the most successful female sprinters in history. She won consecutive Olympic 100-metre titles in 2008 and 2012. She failed in her bid to win three consecutive titles when she competed in Rio in 2016 due mainly to Sesamoiditis of her big toe.

She won bronze.

She is also a three-time World Champion in the 100m – 2009, 2013, and 2015.

She also won the 200m world title in Moscow 2013 when she became the first female sprinter to win the sprint treble – 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.

She is the second member of Jamaica’s famous 1-22 finish at the 2008 Olympic Games venturing into motherhood. Silver medallist Sherone Simpson gave birth to a daughter in late 2016.

M O H A M E D ’ S E n t e rprise has joined the list of sponsors for the upcoming Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) March 19 ‘Reaction’ Drag Meet at the South Dakota Circuit.

On hand to receive the donation, GMR&SC official Desrie Lee, thanked the company for the kindly gesture ahead of the highly anticipated event, since it will go a long way in helping to provide fans with the

best possible atmosphere on race-day.

GMR&SC president Ramez Mohamed has stated that they are expecting a big tournament since the drivers are fascinated with the new system in place and are eager to race.

Up to $50 000 will be at stake for the fastest bus with free runs beginning from 09:00hrs followed by qualifying at 10:00hrs and the knock-out rounds from 11:00hrs.

GMR&SC official Desrie Lee collects the cheque from Mohamed’s Enterprise representative Udoh Kanu.

St Joseph and SHC Scalpels undefeated in Smalta hockey IN a major upset last Friday at St Stanislaus College, GCC Warriors overpowered Marian Academy in one of the hottest Girls’ Under-14 games of the night.

Despite leading the game 3-1 at one point Marian Academy failed to defend their lead ending the game 4-6. The GCC Warriors’ dynamic duo, Kirsten Gomes and Alana Cheung, both scored hat-tricks during the match guaranteeing them a tie for this week’s Smalta’s female top scorers of the day.

SHC Sensations were able to secure 3 additional points after thrashing Hikers 7-0 which now tie them with Marian Academy for second place in the current standings. SHC Silencers continue to lead the group undefeated and will meet Marian Academy tomorrow at St Joseph High School.

In the Boys’ division, St Joseph and SHC Scalpels maintain their lead on the points table as they continue undefeated after Friday night’s games.

SHC Samurai were able to defend an early lead against SHC Scorchers to defeat them 2-1, removing the Scorchers from

a three-way tie with St Joseph and SHC Scalpels in points.

HHC Garnett Street’s Baraka Garnett, one of the brothers who gave this team their name, is the Smalta’s male top scorer of the day scoring 3 goals in

his team’s defeat of GCC War Dogs 8-1.

The league has already seen some significant improvement in players’ skills since its start earlier last month. It is a very promising

endeavour for the future of hockey in schools and for future national teams.

Games will continue tomorrow at St Joseph High School from 16:00hrs to 19:00hrs.

Young Vladimir Woodroffe of the GCC Thunderbolts controls the ball against St Joseph.

Harding elected new DCC president on tory See s e 27 pag

Final ODI at Kensington Oval today

Windies attempting to avoid second straight series whitewash BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Back-to-back defeats to England last weekend have left West Indies facing a second straight series whitewash - a fate they will earnestly attempt to avoid - when they contest the final One-Day International at Kensington Oval here today.

The Caribbean side slumped to a 45-run loss in the opening game at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium last Thursday and two days

later lost by four wickets in the second encounter at the same venue.

But even though the threematch series has already been decided, captain Jason Holder urged his side to stay focused on securing a victory especially with West Indies urgently needing to bolster their ranking in order to earn automatic qualification for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. “A win here obviously would

Turn to page 23

Elite Leaders’ semi-final set for Victoria tomorrow

Planning strategy? Chairman of selectors Courtney Browne, skipper Jason Holder and head coach , Stuart Law deliberate during a training session at Kensington Oval, yesterday. (Photo by WICB Media/ Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography)

THE match to determine who will confront the Army in the GFF/STAG Elite League Leaders’ final has been rescheduled for tomorrow evening at the Victoria ground on the East Coast of Demerara.

The match-up between Fruta Conquerors and Devcon Victoria Kings, which was originally scheduled for today, will kick off at 19:00hrs and will be preceded by the semi-finals of the inaugural National Women’s League.

The first semifinal is fixed for 16:00hrs and will bring together Rupununi’s Paiwomack FC against Fruta Conquerors, after which the Army will tackle St Ignatius also of Region Nine.

The extra day’s preparation will give both sides time to be more matchready for the clash and the right to oppose the unbeaten Army for the first prize worth $1.5M. The final on Sunday will be played at the GDF ground.

Russell could face extended ban Wilson aiming for dominance in 13-second class KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters) - West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell is facing the prospect of an extension to his oneyear ban for a doping whereabouts rule violation.

Jamaica’s anti-doping commission (JADCO) is pushing for the maximum two-year suspension to be imposed on the 28-year-old Russell, who was banned in January for one year.

JADCO chief executive Carey Brown told Reuters yesterday that his organisation had filed an appeal with Jamaica’s five-member anti-doping Appeals Tribunal. “(JADCO) has appealed,” Brown said.

Russell, a two-time

Twenty20 World Cup winner, was revealed to have committed the violation a year ago after registering three filing failures in 2015. That constituted a failed drugs test under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.

Marlon and his orange Toyota NZE (left) takes on an Austin Mini. (Sean Charles photo) Andre Russell

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See sto ry o page 23 n

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017