Guyana chronicle e paper 06 25 2017

SEE INSIDE

Pumps in operation No. 104954

SUNDAY JUNE 25, 2017

Price: $140

(VAT Inclusive)

–– as authorities battle floods caused by persistent rain

Page 4

Best Advice Page 3

––President says Government taking time with petroleum sector Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder and National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Flatts inspect the pump in Buxton in operation (DPI/GINA photo)

Armed bandits rob Turkeyen family Page 3

Gov’t steps up investment in hinterland education Page 11

These Number 59 Village residents make their way out of their flooded yard on Saturday

Power company eyes big profits

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Georgetown withstands persistent –– cleared alleys, drains, rainfall aided the resistance

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

One of the recently cleared alleyways in South Ruimveldt.

DESPITE persistent downpours over the past few days, the capital city of Georgetown was not inundated.

When the Guyana Chronicle travelled around Georgetown on Saturday, June 24, it was discovered that areas that are usually flooded withstood the heavy rainfall.

Though there were sights of water puddles in the road, no serious damage was seen. Areas such as Festival City, South Ruimveldt, Albouystown, Alexander Village and Queenstown were some of the communities that showed resistance against the rainfall.

Residents of South Ruimveldt expressed their gratitude to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and Government of Guyana (GoG), for working around the clock to ensure that drains and alleys were cleared so that water could recede fast.

An elderly man of South Ruimveldt, who identified himself as Stanley, recalled the days when his area would be flooded “as soon as rain fell.”

“With all of this rain that falling, water would normally be at the door of almost everyone in this community… because of this, persons had to raise their yard so that they can withstand the flooding,” he said.

Stanley believed that the usual phenomenon was averted because of the constant drainage work that is ongoing in the area.

Residents of different communities shared similar sentiments but, some were unsatisfied with the work in their area and See page 3

Best Advice 3

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

–President says Government taking time with petroleum sector

THE Government of Guyana is receiving the best advice on the evolving petroleum sector and negotiations are undertaken “above board.”

This is according to President David Granger, who noted on last week’s edition of the weekly televised programme “The Public’s Interest,” that the recommendations made so far to Cabinet are reasonable.

President Granger was at the time responding to queries on whether the government has systems in place to ensure the country is not cheated.

Noting that moves in the sector are in the interest of best practices, he said that the government was “taking its time” regarding its preparations as the sector develops. He singled out advice the government has been receiving from several

entities, including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) , the Canadians on the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) as well as his Petroleum Advisor .

As regards queries on Exxon in which it was noted that the American oil giant has not honoured court outcomes in other jurisdictions, he said that for a corporation the size of Exxon, “it would not do itself any good to have dealings

Georgetown withstands ...

From page 2

even alleged that they were neglected by the relevant authorities.

A few persons from Alexander Village complained about drains not being attended to adequately by the M&CC. Their contentions were however contradicted by many others from the said village, who said they were pleased with the efforts to control the flood situation in the community.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Chronicle reported on Friday that half of the M&CC’s budget of $240M for drainage has been expended so far, to ensure that floodwaters recede rapidly during the ongoing rainy season.

Town Clerk, Royston King, was reported in the publication as saying, due to persistent downpours over the past few days,

the M&CC has been forced to take action in order to prevent flooding in areas around Georgetown.

“Extensive work is being done in critical areas such as Alexander Village, all the divisions of Ruimveldt, Campbellville and some sections of Queenstown,” said Chief Engineer of M&CC, Colvern Venture, who added that most of their challenges are faced in the southern part of the city because of the prevalence of squatters who hinder their ability to access the canals.

The Council was nevertheless able to deploy employees, who are working to ensure that blockages and waterways are cleared in order to allow water to reach quickly to sluices and pumps, said Venture.

or negotiations which are subjected to international scrutiny.”

The President said that all negotiations with parties on the sector, including Exxon and other oil companies, are being undertaken above board.

He said, “We are getting the best advice on the negotiations” and according to him, “when those are about to be completed, they will be put before Cabinet

“as well as the National Assembly.

Recently, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan reported at a forum on oil and gas , that the Ministry of Finance is currently finalising the draft legislation to govern the establishment and operation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

Minister Jordan stated that the Finance Ministry has received extensive feedback and comments on

the draft document, and an in-house team is examining the feedback with a view to revising the draft SWF provided by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

He said that the main purpose of the Sovereign Wealth Fund is to safeguard against the resource curse, to improve future generational wealth, to achieve fiscal sustainability and increase the country’s national savings.

Armed bandits storm Turkeyen house, rob family FOUR persons were robbed Saturday morning at Area Q Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, by four armed, masked bandits.

Reports indicate that two of the bandits were armed with handguns and the others with a knife and screwdriver respectively. They were all

masked with kerchiefs around their faces.

One of the victims told police that the bandits gained entry into the two-storey building from the lower flat through a window by removing the bolts from an internal grill and prying open the casement window.

The bandits then began to

ransack the home and headed upstairs where the four persons were confronted in separate rooms. They were then assaulted and tied up before the men fetched away their valuables that included cell phones, watches, cash and electronics.

The suspects escaped by using a motor vehicle.

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Pumps in operation

SEVERAL East Coast Demerara (ECD) villages were under water on Saturday and the authorities are urging residents across the country to take precautionary measures as efforts to alleviate flooding

homes flooded.

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, who was present, provided critical updates on the works being undertaken by his ministry, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson (left) listens to the concerns of an affected resident of Vigilance, during a tour of the area on Saturday.

Floodwaters at the Buxton Sideline Dam on the East Coast of Demerara on Saturday.

continue.

Persistent rainfall over the past several days have resulted in an inundation of low–lying areas across the coastland, and on Saturday, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, led a team of engineers, government officials, and media operatives on a visit to the communities of Buxton, Vigilance and connecting villages on the ECD in response to recent heavy rainfalls that have left many

(NDIA).

Frederick Flatts noted that most of the 58 pumps across the coastland were in operation. According to a release from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, a pump would be relocated from the village of Strathspey to Ogle in order to provide relief to residents in Atlanticville, the University of Guyana (UG) area, and Cummings Lodge.

“So, by midnight tonight, they [the residents]

should start to have some relief,” Minister Patterson said.

Minister Patterson told the media that he has requested the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) to re-

visit the area in the coming days to address the concerns of residents. He added that several interventions will be taken by the Government of Guyana (GoG) over time, while more immediate ef-

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--as authorities battle floods caused by persistent rain

forts will be undertaken to provide relief to the residents. These include the distribution of care packs containing sanitation items, to ensure the welfare of residents is addressed.

“We do empathise with the persons who are under water at the moment, and we’ve asked them to take precautions for the next three days because the weather forecast does say that we will have rain,” Patterson said. According to him, the authorities including the NDIA and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) will work its utmost to alleviate the situation.

the water out of the area but pointed out that the structure has been covered with water since Friday morning.

Along the Church of God road in Buxton, several yards were also flooded and persons there noted that the water level is expected to remain high until the rains eases.

At Stratsphey, several homes which are built on the government reserve were also affected by the floodwaters. The homes were built beyond a canal which is used by GuySuCo for drainage and irrigation purposes.

Several communities along the lower ECD, in-

A resident of Buxton wades through the waters near the railway line embankment on Saturday.

A man fetches a young calf which was born minutes before near the public road at Triumph on the East Coast of Demerara. The animal was born close to a flooded section of the village. (Alva Solomon photo)

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

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During the Buxton visit, this newspaper observed that the floodwaters were high in certain areas, including several yards near the Buxton Sideline Dam. Villager, Michael Todd, related that his yard has been under water since Thursday resulting in his entire garden where he plants vegetables being destroyed . He said that the koker near his yard is utilised for channeling

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cluding Success and Better Hope were also under water when the team visited on Saturday.

According to the Hydromet Department, over the next three days, cloudy to overcast conditionswith isolated thunderstorms and intermittent rainfall is forecasted. In addition, inland and coastal areas can expect 20 to 80 millimeters of rainfall.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Danger map reveals health threat zone South America is a hotbed of potential viruses that could be the next major threat to the world’s health, according to “danger maps”.

The EcoHealth Alliance in New York looked at mammals, the viruses they harbour and how they come into contact with people.

It revealed bats carry more potential threats than other mammals.

The researchers hope the knowledge could be used to prevent the next HIV, Ebola or flu.

Some of the most worrying infections have made the jump from animals to people - the world’s largest Ebola outbreak seemed to start in bats, while HIV came from chimpanzees.

The researchers’ challenge

- and it was far from easy - was to predict from where the next could emerge.

They looked at all 586 viruses known to infect 754 species of mammal. This included 188 zoonotic infections - those that have infected both humans and other mammals.

But they also knew some species had been studied in incredible detail while others had been practically ignored.

So the researchers used the information they did know to fill the gaps in their knowledge and estimate which species were harbouring viruses with the potential to infect people.

The study, published in the journal Nature, predicts 17 zoonotic infections in every species of bat and 10 in every species of primate and rodent.

The team then mapped

the ranges of species and the infections they carry to work out where the world’s danger zones are.

ica.

Dr Kevin Olival, one of the researchers, told the BBC News website: “The missing

but the bat signal overwhelms some of the others.

“But I’m not scared of bats, it’s not the bat’s fault.”

The threat from rodents was again global, but with a concentration in South Amer-

hotspots are different for different groups of mammals in different parts of the world,

The researchers hope their maps will help the world prepare for the next infection that

makes the jump.

Dr Olival added: “Our take-home message is these diseases are emerging because of the human impact on the environment. Our answer is minimise our contact with wildlife, including through hunting and habitat destruction.”

James Lloyd-Smith from the University of California, Los Angeles, said: “Although most pandemics are zoonoses, most zoonoses do not cause pandemics. “[The] predictions are best used to prioritise research and viral surveillance efforts, not to drive specific policy decisions.”

The researchers’ next project will look at birds which are another source of zoonotic infections such as avian flu. (BBC News)

age that they say captures his cries from a military prison on the outskirts of Caracas.

“Lilian!” he calls to his wife. “They are torturing me!”

In a press conference earlier the same day, Lilian Tintori

said she has not been able to see him for 19 days and his lawyers have been denied access for 78 days.

News site Ultimas Noticias has responded by publishing photos of the politician, which

they say are from Friday and show him to be “fine”.

López is three years into a 14-year sentence for inciting violence during anti-government protests in 2014.

(BBC News)

Venezuelan father makes plea to President A man whose son was killed during an opposition protest in Venezuela’s capital Caracas has made a personal plea to President Nicolás Maduro.

David Vallenilla’s 22-yearold son, also called David, was shot by military police on Thursday.

Vallenilla says he once worked with the president on Caracas’ transport system, and called on his “former colleague” to clear his son’s name.

The President has said firearms must not be used on protesters.

“I want to speak to my former colleague of the Caracas Metro,” Vallenilla told a group of reporters outside the morgue.

“Nicolás Maduro, you know that we worked together, I’m Supervisor Vallenilla.”

He said he used to be Maduro’s boss, although the past working relationship between them has not yet been confirmed.

President Maduro is a former bus driver, who got involved in trade unions and then national politics, becoming President in 2013 after his predecessor Hugo Chavez died.

“Please, Nicolás, my friend,” Vallenilla said with tears streaming down his face, before calling on the leader to make it clear that his only son “was not a criminal, he was a graduating student”.

“You met him when he was little,” he added.

Earlier in the week, Fabián Urbina, 17, was also shot and killed as security forces and demonstrators clashed in Caracas.

There have been almost daily anti-government protests in Venezuela for over two months as the country’s economic and political crisis has worsened.

Anti-government protesters in Caracas on Friday

More than 70 people have been killed in protest-related violence since 1 April, according to figures released by the chief prosecutor’s office.

On Thursday, Interior Minister Néstor Reverol tweeted to confirm the death of a protester and said a police sergeant had fired an “unauthorised weapon”.

President Maduro, in a press conference on the same

day, said: “I am giving the clear order that you cannot use firearms. I am giving the clear order that you can never shoot in a demonstration, under any conditions.”

A group of demonstrators returned on Friday to the place where Vallenilla was killed, and set some trucks on fire.

Also on Friday, supporters of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo López released foot-

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Editorial

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Allegations of non-consultation CONCERNS expressed by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) over the last two weeks, that as a party it is being left out in governance, and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), to which it belongs, has not met since the coalition entered government (May 2015) have been the proverbial talk of the town.

Even if it is seen as convenient politics on the WPA’s part to now be speaking about non-consultation, given the recent re-assignment of co-leader Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, and similar claim of non-consultation in the first ministerial appointment, society would find the information hard to ignore. The statement too that some WPA members are mulling the idea of the party withdrawing from the coalition sends a

signal of a sense of rejection or power play. Undeniably, what cannot be ignored is that dissenting views on approaches and governance within the coalition are deserving of attention.

Last Sunday’s editorial dealt with the challenges of coalition politics, looked at it within the context of our political reality, and what are likely to be encountered.

Since the WPA’s press conference last Monday, though it has committed to remain in the coalition and government, it had reiterated its perception and concern about non-consultation. President David Granger has since said that the WPA, like all parties, is important to the coalition and has a presence and input in the government. He also rejected the claims that the party is being sidelined.

In the meantime, it is

encouraging to note that the APNU leadership has committed to meet next month.

The WPA and arguably others would look forward to each member of the partnership being able to ventilate and hopefully resolve their differences. The consent to meeting in itself could signal the commitment of the coalition to work together and more so, govern as a collective.

The Alliance For Change last month established a Special Committee to study the Cummingsburg Accord, with the aim of identifying areas which may require strengthening and updating along with discussions and negotiation with the APNU. The coalition came together because the party felt as a unified force they presented a stronger challenge to the PPP/C and would be

meeting the public’s desire for united government. President Granger during the last Public Interest Programme said the 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE) will aid in determining approval of the government’s performance. Having lost most of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils in 2016, it is reasonable to assume that the President may be thinking that winning is doable, but requires running on a record of achievement.

In coalitions, groups come with various numerical strength and election victories are only secured based on numbers. As the small parties demand respect, including consultation, they too carry corresponding responsibility to expand their membership and support to bring about victory. The last any should want to be

construed is that it is comfortable in its size, riding on the backs of others, and at the same time wanting to dictate and dominate.

Our electoral system is Proportional Representation (PR) as against First-PastThe-Poll, whereby post-election coalitions could be formed, and the numerical support of individual contesting party would have been known. In our PR and pre-coalition system, where the parties have not worked out a percentage formula based on past electorate representation, it allows for making and giving any demands, not necessarily based on public support (i.e. votes) and which elections are about.

It may be useful in the

consultation process and to minimise discontent for the leaders within the coalition examining the feasibility of arriving at a formula that is more evidence-based to what currently exists. The benefit of this can minimise allegation of exclusion and domination.

Ours is a culture in which differences are resolved through dialogue and every government has campaigned about its importance in governing.

Where allegations are being made that when in government political parties/ groups ignore dialogue and in opposition seek it, when it is ensured that irrespective of the political divide or who are involved, Guyanese are better off.

Hold politicians accountable Dear Editor:

THERE was an article in the newspapers that the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) is disappointed that constitutional reform has not proceeded in spite of a promise outlined in the APNU+AFC Manifesto. An area of promise is that “The new Constitution will put the necessary checks and balances in place to consolidate our ethos of liberal democracy. Freedom of speech, reduction of the power of the President and the Bill of Rights will be enshrined in the document. ” How more ridiculous can this statement be.

For starters, freedom of expression is already enshrined in Article 146. The gut-feeling approaches to governance, running for office to represent the people’s interests, and refusing to take the time to become acquainted with the laws, rules, principles and procedures guiding such serious business is disturbing.

We have to start holding

the politicians accountable for the things they say and demand that they provide the evidence to back up the vacuous statements they keep making.

Unless this is done they will continue to make fools of the masses. The Bill of Rights they talk about is only about throwing around nice-sounding terms to mislead the society into thinking that they know what they are talking about.

The United States Constitution has ensconced 10 amendments, aka The Bill of Rights. These are: Freedom of speech; religious freedom; the right to bear arms; protection from soldiers living in your house and conditionality under how they can; no arbitrary search of house; house-searching allowed with proviso; the right to trial; the right to jury in civil cases; reasonable bail and fine and protection from cruel and unusual punishment; rights of individual state to self-determination. It is advised that these amendments were put in place to ensure greater protection of personal liberties and

to give specific prohibitions on government power.

Title 1 in the Guyana Constitution “Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual” ensconced Guyana’s ‘Bill of Rights’ in the undermentioned Articles 138. Protection of the right to life.

149B. Right to pension and gratuity.

139. Protection of the right to personal liberty.

149C Right to participate in decision-making processes of the State.

140. Protection from slavery or forced labour.

149D. Equality of persons before the law.

141. Protection from inhumane treatment.

149E. Equality of status.

142. Protection from deprivation of property.

149F. Equality of women.

143. Protection from arbitrary search and entry.

149G. Indigenous people’s rights 144. Provisions to secure

protection of law.

149H. Right to free education 145. Protection of freedom of conscience.

149I. Right to establish private schools.

146. Protection of freedom of expression.

149J. The environment.

147. Protection of freedom of assembly and association.

150. Provisions for time of war or emergency.

148. Protection of freedom of movement.

151. Reference to tribunal in certain cases.

149. Protection from discrimination on the grounds of race, etc.

152. Saving of existing laws or disciplinary laws.

149A. Right to free choice of employment.

153. Enforcement of protective provisions.

In examining these rights and freedoms (i.e. liberties), the politicians must tell the society what Bill of Rights they have in mind. With what

is existing, what is needed is legislation to deepen and strengthen their protection, including judicial recourse to deal condignly with the politicians who are depriving us of what’s constitutionally enshrined.

Guyana is a republic and its President has executive authority. The president is the Head of State and Head of Government. We must begin talking about these important aspects of our national ethos and arrive at common understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the office holder and people. In a republic, the rights of the majority and minorities are assured.

Article 13, which represents the principal political objective of the society, expressly lays out following the path of “inclusionary democracy” and the rights articles assure the equality and protection of all. Unlike our Caribbean counterparts, Guyanese answer to no external authority; that authority is vested in the people, via the

constitution, to hold elected leaders accountable. We are the final arbiters of our destiny.

The United Nations in its report on proceeding with constitutional reform cautions the importance of a deliberative approach, including public education. That education must begin with those demanding reform, for clearly they are stumbling around in the dark, posing clear and present threat to our rights (liberties) and the nation’s sovereignty.

In order to reform, there must first be understanding of the issues. There cannot be meaningful reform of what is not known, understood, or what is not given a chance to work. The supporting mechanisms must be put in place to make the constitution work. Enough of holding the constitution hostage to egos, ignorance, and compulsion to settle political scores.

LINCOLN LEWIS.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Williams, Bar Association to meet ATTORNEY General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, has agreed to meet with the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) during which time he plans to raise a number of issues.

The AG’s plans were disclosed in a press statement on Saturday. According to that statement, Minister Williams by letter dated June 14, 2017, extended congratulations to the newly elected President, Executives and Committee Members of the GBA. In that letter, the Attorney General accepted the Bar Council’s invitation to a meeting. As head of the Bar, Minister Williams intends to raise a number of concerns including the need for Attorneys-at-law to be supervised by a supervisory authority to ensure compli-

ance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) ACT, Cap. 10:11.

Additionally, he would

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams

try to ascertain whether the membership of the Bar Association should be extended to State Attorneys.

Continuing legal education for Attorneys-at-law in Guyana, and the structure of the bar are among other areas to be covered by the Attorney General.

In the letter to the Association, Minister Williams thanked the association for its willingness, as expressed in their letter to him dated June 2, 2017, to assist and collaborate on the administration of justice.

Attorney Kamal Ramkaran was late May, 2017 elected President of the GBA. In addition to Ramkarran, Senior Counsel, Robin Stoby was elected first Vice-President; Teni Housty, second Vice-President and Devindra Kissoon Treasurer. Other elected officials include: Pauline Chase, Secretary and Faye Barker, Assis-

I have not heard anything from NIS Dear Editor: I RECENTLY migrated to the USA. Before I left Guyana in January, I visited the NIS New Amsterdam Office and requested that it was my desire to continue paying my NIS Contributions (voluntary). Over

the past years of employment, I made the required (752) contributions to the scheme. The N/A employee had me fill a form to continue paying voluntarily and said it has to be sent to GT to be approved and I will hear back from NIS as to how I would be paying.

To date, I have not heard anything from the scheme and I would like to know what is going on.

Months have passed and there have been no payments. Can somebody look into this matter?

LEON SUSERAN

tant Secretary. The committee members are: Rajendra Poonai, Jamela Ali,

Sanjeev Datadin, Mark Waldron, Rexford Jackson and Brenden Glas-

ford. The association’s election was held in the High Court.

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RESTORING INTEGRITY

IT is expected that President David Granger will shortly name a new Commission to help the continuing effort at restoring integrity in public life.

The law provides for the Integrity Commission to comprise a chairperson and not more than four other commissioners, and as Prime Minister with responsibility for Governance, I was requested to recommend persons who qualify to serve.

The persons serving as commissioners themselves are expected to be of good standing and are required to declare their assets to

the President.

UNENVIABLE STIGMA Over the past 10 years, Guyana has carried the unenviable stigma of being ranked the second lowest in the Caribbean on the corruption perception index. For a greater part of that period, Guyana had no Integrity Commission. Since 2009 the Commission was without a Chairman, and by 2012 the Commission had lapsed.

The Integrity Commission Act came into effect on 24th September, 1997, but

it took another two years before the Commission started its work under the chairmanship of Bishop Randolph George, now deceased. It operated out of an office located at State House.

During November, 1999, I made the first declaration of all my assets and income, and that of my wife. I did so, regularly and consistently, until 2014 when I inquired from the Secretary of the Commission whether a new commission had been appointed.

The response was in the negative, which I read into the records of the National Assembly whilst I exposed the notorious fact that our Integrity Commission was both headless and non-functional.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION As there was no Integrity Commission, I didn’t feel obliged to volunteer to a non-existent body, confidential information, such as I had declared under oath over the previous 15 years.

I had started to see how income tax declarations of selected persons were discriminatorily and unlawfully being leaked and otherwise massaged in public. Politicians and public servants had confided that “we in dis together” in the frenzy to damage anyone then perceived to be a dissident.

No wonder that requirements to declare to the Integrity Commission were ignored by other persons in public life, who might have felt no compulsion to do so, with ample justification, and in the absence of a Commission.

The office of the Integrity Commission was shifted to the National Trust building. Later the records were removed and stored in a room at the

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

office of the Ethnic Relations Commission, which was at one time under the leadership of Bishop Juan Edghill. There was only a skeleton staff, substantively a single person.

That could have raised questions as regards the integrity of the declarations.

PHANTOM COMMISSION Today, I am amused that the good Bishop, who had since served as a Government Minister and, now, a Member of Parliament of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is threatening private criminal proceedings against persons in public life who have not made declaration of their incomes and assets to the phantom commission.

Rather than accepting responsibility for strangling the Integrity Commission when in government, the Opposition PPP is resorting to a politically simulated, feigned “holier-than-thou” posture. Last year it had tried, just tried, similar political antics in the National Assembly when it tabled a motion that required all MPs to make public their income tax declarations for a period of 10 years before they took office.

The subtle sting in that mischievous motion is that it was intended to catch MPs other than those who were not required to submit or pay income taxes.

Those persons included Messrs Bharrat Jagdeo and Anil Nandlall who, as President and Attorney General respectively, had enjoyed tax-free incomes.

As proponent of the motion, Mr. Jagdeo was not required to pay income tax, as he had chosen to take his pension, which is above one million monthly plus perks, instead of a parliamentary salary,

which is less.

ETHNIC AND GENDER BALANCE Trying to select persons who would qualify to be commissioners is no simple task. Selection has to taken into consideration not only the professional qualifications of the nominees, but ethnic and gender balance. Many persons who were approached expressed great interest in serving, but some didn’t like the idea of making declaration of their assets, especially those in business and professional private practice.

But the effort at restoring integrity in public life has to go on, and I am grateful to those who stepped forward to do duty for their country. Yet, I suspect that the critics, cynics and oppositionists would take a swing at the commissioners and would try to besmirch their characters.

This is Guyana’s politics at its vintage, one would say dismissively. It is the politics of negativity, of throwing cold water on everything worthwhile, including oil.

I heard the other day the Finance Minister saying that one oil company would be investing US$4 billion in the Guyana oil industry, which will throw wide open the door of business opportunities by triggering demands for local services.

The investment excludes the 2% royalty and a 50:50 profit share payable to Guyana.

Yet, the Opposition Leader is adamant that Guyana would be “worse off” when oil production kicks in.

Similarly, when I shared with the Leader of the Opposition the draft Code of Conduct for Persons in Public Life, he was quickly but intemperately moved to deem it “crap”.

Though he refused to submit any proposals, I took

scraps and pieces from his public pronouncements and tempered and improved sections of the Code which has since been gazetted for inclusion in the Integrity Commission law.

Our Government re-affirms its commitment to strengthening the quality of public office in Guyana. For this we need not only relevant codes and laws, but a reconstituted Integrity Commission to whom persons in public life should declare their assets and incomes, and which should monitor conduct of office-holders to ensure that they do not benefit from disproportionate wealth, or gain personal advantage and advancement from such office.

INSTITUTIONAL LANDSCAPE Our Coalition Government has taken bold steps to change the institutional landscape that had once bred pervasive corruption. There is a concerted campaign on all fronts to:* establish relevant commissions and to professionalise the public service; * vet intake and to weed-out recruits into the law-enforcement agencies who are found to be corrupt; * establish a Procurement Commission and introduce procurement procedures that are fair to all; * recover stolen state assets through civil proceedings; * actively counter illicit narcotics, money-laundering, piracy, smuggling and contraband activities; and * uphold the Rule of Law through robust defence of the doctrine of Separation of Powers.

We are climbing slowly, but surely up the ladder of respect as a clean and decent democracy, a cornerstone of which is the restoration of integrity in public life.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Democracy and Political Change: The logic of Coalition Government

By Dr. David Hinds DESPITE views to the contrary in some circles, there have not been changes in Guyanese and Caribbean politics over the last three decades beginning with the end of the Cold War and the rise of the new period of recolonisation that we call globalisation or neo-liberalism or structural adjustment.

That these changes have not always been apparent to the naked political eye has to do with the simultaneous deepening of traditional aspects of the political culture. For example, despite attempts at promoting democracy and “good governance”, our country and region have not yet transitioned into a truly democratic mode of governance. Some would argue that in many regards our governance culture has become less democratic than it was at the time of independence.

Democracy is not a fixed thing; it is a process. That’s why I speak of the transition to a democratic form of governance. Here in Guyana, more than most of our sister CARICOM countries, we have experienced prolonged, overt assaults on democracy. Under the

PNC (1964-92), the colonial authoritarian state was transformed into a post-colonial authoritarian state that initially masked itself with the rhetoric of anti-imperialism and socialism. It also situated itself within the context of ethnic defence of one half of the society and the Cold War real-politics or communist threat from its main rival, the PPP. It was against this background that the State eventually deteriorated to the point where political assassination of opponents of the regime became a central aspect of the elite political culture. The ruling party declared itself paramount to the State in word and deed.

The convergence of these two developments pushed the country to the political edge and we avoided falling over only because the resistance movement engendered by the assault on democracy managed to survive its many challenges.

Understandably, the end of that phase of authoritarian rule ushered in a sense of relief. After almost three decades of battering, the pro-democracy forces and instincts in the society became tired. We made the mistake of believing that the end of authoritarianism could only lead to democra-

tisation. It was a fatal mistake. The PPP government maintained the authoritarian state, but covered it with a democratic mask and the rhetoric of ethnic balancing.

They transformed the old authoritarian state into what Professor Clive Thomas has dubbed the “criminal state, “in which there was a fusion of organised criminal enterprises with the state. Worse, this criminalization of the state was firmly rooted in the systematic ethnic hegemony ruthlessly pursued by the rulers.

After two decades of that imposition, Guyana was fast collapsing under the weight of almost five decades of systematic dictatorship. Once again, we were rescued just in time—this time by the willingness of political elites to put aside their differences and form coalitions of the willing.

The PPP was electorally overthrown and a coalition government came to power by a slim majority. Again, the country breathed a sigh of relief. But unlike 1992, this time there was not the same level of relaxation by the pro-democracy forces.

There has been a curious convergence of celebration, optimism and skepticism.

But at the level of the State and government , there

has been no discernable shift. After two years, the criminalised State remains firmly in place. Decriminalising the State would require some bold steps by the government. But as I have observed in previous columns, there are political and ethnic obstacles which would have to be navigated.

The most profound development, however, is the tension between the entrenched model of governance and the evolution of partnership government.

Whereas the Westminstergrounded hybrid model of governance arms the president with almost absolute executive power, the notion of Partnership restrains him from acting unilaterally. He is bound by the Cummingsburg Accord to consult with and acquiesce to the AFC before changing any AFC ministers. Put another way, the president has constitutional powers to remove or shift AFC ministers, but there is a political accord that requires him to do so with the complete agreement of the AFC. The Cummingsburg Accord is more than a gentleman’s agreement—it is a political agreement. Should the president use his constitutional power and not consult the AFC, there could

be clear and present political consequences — the government could fall if the AFC decides to withhold its parliamentary support. What we have, then, is a model of government that is inconsistent with the constitutional arrangement.

This brings us to the APNU, which is itself a coalition within a coalition. The APNU is bound by a Charter, but where it differs from the Cummingsburg Accord is the fact that it did not bind the parties to any set allocation of seats in parliament and the Cabinet—it did not speak explicitly to content of government structures and the division of power.

But my reading is that the Charter does imply what the Accord makes explicit.

Speaking at the launch of the APNU on June 15, 2011, the APNU pledged to practise ““a politics of consensus.” Then candidate David Granger said the watchwords of an APNU administration under his leadership would be “co-operation, collaboration and concord.” WPA’s co-leader Dr. Rupert Roopnarine declared that the APNU was superior to previous coalitions because “for the very first time in our history we are in the process of constructing an open partner-

ship.” And Carl Greenidge invoked the following words-- “discussion, consultation and consensus”.

The implication therein is that the President operates under a set of formal rules that discourages prior consultation, but the very nature of coalition arrangements presumes such consultation.

This is the dilemma that played itself out this past week. The WPA, in raising the issue of consultation regarding the Roopnarine, reassignment has perhaps unwittingly introduced the fundamental question of the dissonance between the formal architecture and mode of governance and the logic and imperative of coalition government. How they reconcile the two will depend on a lot of political maturity on both sides. Our politics has changed because of our leaders’ deliberate act of embracing coalition politics, but those leaders are now waking up to the consequences of their actions. We shall see.

More of Dr. Hinds ‘writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr. David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

These people were running big time ‘cow’ with our money

I HAVE been following media reports on the hearings held by the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and my blood boils at what is being revealed.

Government’s business is the people’s business and those entrusted the respon-

sibility, having been given this privilege by the people, are duty bound to conduct the people’s business in a proper manner.

Irfaan Ali and Juan Edghill, ministers during the PPP/C government when the shenanigans were going on,

have the distinction now of over-sighting management of the people’s business from the outside, after putting in place a corrupt machinery to facilitate the siphoning off of our money.

Money that belongs to the State, and by extension

the people, by law is supposed to be passed through and accounted for in the Consolidated Fund. This every law-abiding government would be mindful of and would want to ensure. As Chairman of the PAC, Ali, supported by Edghill given the PAC’s oversight responsibility are discharging their duties.

Outside of the correctness in seeking accountability, the moral rectitude being displayed by the two who were part of the group that put in place the cow-running system, to the unsuspecting they come across as serious guardians of the people’s money and not as villains, a title more befitting the corrupt rampage the society witnessed under their leadership.

Let me make it very clear, I applaud the level of scrutiny and show of intolerance these two are demonstrating as elected representatives. At the same time, it cannot be ignored what they are rightly condemning they should have never put in place in the first instance.

And this is a problem society must move to eradicate.

Double standards, and show of indignation when the shoe is on the other foot, must be met with rejection by us.

Society must recall, in this instance, when the PPP/C government was engaging in financial improprieties and these acts, during the PAC chairmanship of Carl Greenidge, were brought to their attention, they sought to justify their misconduct rather than seek to put systems in place to correct.

The 2015 Auditor General’s Report before the PAC that has seen departmental heads appearing to answer represents a fiscal year shared by the PPP/C and APNU+AFC administrations.

The structures and operatives in managing the state’s accounts in that year were put in place by the PPP/C. For several years, the Auditor General’s Reports has been highlighting the intransigence existing in the

management of the people’s money, including the several bank accounts scattered all over the place, opened at the whims of some high official, who thinks the people’s money is theirs to do as they please. This was primarily done to escape accountability and facilitate shenanigans.

Ensuring money is accounted for through the Consolidated Fund requires parliamentary oversight and approval and this is what it ought to be in our system of government, where Parliament is the nation’s highest decision-making forum.

Alfred King, former Permanent Secretary in the Department of Youth and Culture, was brought before the PAC last week.

It was learnt during this hearing that $106 million from this department was in a separate bank account and not the Consolidated Fund where it belongs. What struck me is the appropriate advice given by Ali that this money should be deposited in the Fund, but when such advice was given to his government they refused to comply, leaving us with the scenario we see today.

They say thief man doesn’t like see he mattie thief man with bag.

King as a public servant could not have facilitated the opening of an account without approval from the political directorates. There was another PAC show of intolerance on the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation that saw Allan Johnson (CEO) being the fall guy for his predecessor’s stewardship, which the PPP/C knew of and ignored. The APNU+AFC failed to bring integrity to this hearing by ensuring the era was put in proper context, and where necessary, require the appearance of the individual.

Note is taken of the APNU+AFC Members indignation of the state of affairs. This indignation is well placed but requires more than seeking to outdo the PPP/C who is seeking to divert at-

tention from their culpability.

Indignation would be well served when systems have been put in place to rectify the anomalies and the nation will not see a repeat in the 2016 Auditor General’s Report. My concern as a citizen and taxpayer is the absence of due diligence and seriousness given to the management of the people’s business, including bringing culprits before the court.

I would have liked to hear also from the government representatives questions being asked of those appearing before the PAC what support systems and technical advice they need to halt the cow-running. It is not good enough to castigate, systems must be put in place to halt malpractices and avoid recurrence.

Corruption was one of the PPP/C’s greatest vile, but when the APNU+AFC doesn’t engage in the requisite acts and actions to stamp it out, what the nation would witness is continuity of a malpractice that has done un-quantifiable harm to our development. The PPP/C has been a master at justifying the shenanigans. The APNU+AFC cannot escape responsibility for the integrity of our financial system from 2016.

These corrupt practices must be purged from the system and the public servants cannot take blame for acts that the politicians would have initiated, their successors continue, or turn a blind eye to.

To the public servants, I urge the developing of testicular fortitude to resist the political operatives instructing you to conduct the nation’s business outside of the legal established standard practices, rules and norms.

Public servants appointed by the Public Service Commission are urged to stand up and remember any injustice committed against you there is recourse to the Public Service Appellate Tribunal which is now established.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Gov’t steps up investment in hinterland education –– as three more Five Bs school buses commissioned

AS the Government continues to place tremendous emphasis on the importance of education, three more buses were handed over under the President’s Five Bs Programme, this time to the communities of Annai and Aishalton in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region.

The Boats, Buses, Bicycles plus breakfast and books (Five Bs) programme is in keeping with President David Granger’s mission to provide equal and equitable opportunities to the children of Guyana.

The 15-seater bus, which was handed over at Aishalton, will be used to transport schoolchildren from Awaruwaunau and the surrounding communities in the South Rupununi. In the North Ru-

to ensure that their children stay in school and go to university and qualify as doctors, lawyers and engineers,” President Granger said.

Over at Aishalton, he said too often children, particularly from rural communities, are forced to drop out of school simply because their parents cannot afford the cost of transportation. There are also instances where children are forced to walk or row in canoes for hours just to get to school. The buses, the President noted, will eradicate the challenges faced by the children of the Rupununi.

“This bus is very important to you, because it will help you to go to school.

It will help you to stay in school. It will help you to maintain your attendance. I don’t want to see any drop-

Bs programme is significantly improving school attendance, as well as easing the financial burden on families.

Meanwhile, Luana Allicock, a student of the Annai Secondary School, expressed appreciation to the Government for the provision of the buses, which she described as a timely intervention.

“Your gift to us could not have come at a better time, since our present Grade 10 class of my school started to raise funds to offset transportation cost for an educational tour to Lethem. Today that class is smiling,” she said.

In order to ensure that more students from the hinterland have an opportunity to pursue tertiary education, Government is looking at a number of measures. Minister of

Residents of Aishalton and surrounding communities turned out in their numbers to meet President David Granger during his visit pununi, one bus will be used by the students of the Bina Hill Institute and the second one will benefit the students attending Annai Secondary School.

In his address to the residents of Annai, President Granger said once every child completes his/her primary, secondary and tertiary education, Guyana’s economic development will occur at a faster pace.

An educated population, he posited, encourages innovation, which in turn, drives development. “What we need is a condition in this region where children understand the importance of education and where parents take a vow

outs; not here in Rupununi, not in Barima-Waini, not in the Pomeroon, nowhere,” President Granger said.

Regional Executive Officer of Region Nine, Sherwyn Wellington, described the Five Bs programme as a well thought out initiative, which recognises the fact that education is fundamental to the country’s future. “By investing in the children, we are investing in Guyana’s future… This initiative by the President is making Guyana an educated nation,” he said.

He also informed that 50 percent of the region’s budget goes towards the education sector and added that from all indications, the Five

Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock, said that his ministry is currently in the process of constructing a facility to house hinterland scholarship students and teachers who are attending the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). The facility will accommodate some 125 students.

EMPLOYMENT President Granger said that many young people who are school dropouts are often left with no choice but to seek menial, low-paying jobs and this, in many ways, prevents them from getting out of the

These students look on as President David Granger symbolically commissions one of two school buses, which were donated to the community to transport children to school at Annai. cycle of poverty. He noted that each region is endowed with wealth-creating resources, but for these to be developed, education is key.

“What we want is a generation of young people, who are educated, who can use computers, who can use machines and help themselves to make a good living…

Once you get an education, you would be able to use your science and your skills and your technology to use the very products that are coming out of your region in what is called agro-processing. Anything you produce can be processed and exported,” he said.

Echoing this point, Minister Allicock encouraged residents at Aishalton to start seeing themselves as

citizens with a responsibility to use their resources to contribute to the economic development of their region and the country as a whole.

He said, “We have space, we have land, we have fertility in the land. This is something to celebrate. The very land here could give us acres upon acres of peanuts, mangoes, peppers, fish ponds, beef, sheep, chickens, tourism.

You name it, it’s there, but it all comes down to… education; appropriate education is what the Government is going to help to develop.”

The Toshao of Aishalton Village, Mr. Douglas Casimero, lauded the Government’s efforts at providing training and employment opportunities for the youths of the Rupununi. He disclosed that nine young people have

graduated from a skills training programme facilitated by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally, who coordinates the Five Bs programme, was also present at Friday’s handing-over ceremony. The three buses were provided by the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, which, along with the Regional Democratic Council of Region Nine, will be responsible for maintenance At Aishalton the communities were also presented with agricultural tools, public address systems, television sets for educational purposes, while at Annai the community received agricultural items, including baby chicks for rearing.

These two school buses were handed over at Annai for the Bina Hill Institute and the Annai Secondary School.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

New Wismar-Mackenzie bridge needed –– for full benefit of Linden-Lethem Road, say Region 10 authorities

By Vanessa Braithwaite

REGIONAL authorities of Region 10 are of the opinion that for the new Linden to Lethem road to be of tremendous benefit to residents, a new bridge connecting Wismar to Mackenzie has to be constructed.

The current single-lane bridge is unlikely to facilitate the expected increase in traffic when the new road is completed.

A discussion of this nature was held between Linden stakeholders who recently met with representatives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC). The Lindeners raised the matter of building a new bridge, which had been up for discussion for some time now.

While there has been no definitive decision as to whether the current bridge will be expanded into two

lanes or a new bridge will be built, the project is one that has been drafted in the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) five-year Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD).

Regional Chairman Renis Morian on Friday said that no other official discussion has been done on the subject.

While the RDC’s PARD has outlined the project, he said that it falls under the remit of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI) and no discussions have been held thus far.

“I haven’t heard any discussion about this, it is just unofficial discourse, there was talk about building a new bridge about five years ago but with the new administration, talks got a bit louder,” Morian said.

MoPI Permanent Secretary Geoffrey Vaughn

said nothing pertaining to the bridge is being done right now, even though a feasibility study was being considered.

VARYING VIEWS The Guyana Chronicle understands that stakeholders have held meetings about the new bridge, but there was no consensus since there were varying views about where the bridge should be located and whether the current one should be expanded.

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland alluded to these discussions at the meeting held with the PSC and said that he believed that the bridge should be constructed at a new location, closer to Christianburg, rather than be expanded.

He said this should be done in conjunction with the construction of the new

Linden to Lethem Road, since the current bridge cannot facilitate increase in traffic.

“I believe that it will be a disadvantage knowing that we don’t have the infrastructure coming down there, people won’t drive from Brazil to cross there; they won’t do that and even one truck tried turning around there and turned over. Even if you have three lanes, we have to do a lot more in terms of infrastructure work,” Holland said.

The Linden Mayor added that with the construction of the road, with the first phase from Linden to Mabura to commence soon, Linden should seek the opportunity to expand its horizon and establish itself so as to truly benefit from the road.

“We can have the bridge there to a certain

way (pointing to the new location), expand Linden, open up Linden and it’s not a case where people will just pass through. No! Establish this is where the private sector has a chance to expand,” he posited, while urging the rest of the stakeholders, including the Linden Chamber of Commerce, to have an open mind-set in terms of expansion.

Linden Enterprise Network Chairman Klensil Grenville expressed fear that the road would be built and the town would be in the same economic situation as now, since no steps are being taken in preparation for the road.

“What will happen with that Brazil road is just what is happening right now, with billions of dollars passing through this town and we are not in the position to benefit from anything whatsoever. It will just happen in larger proportions or quantities and it will happen again. We have to move from ideas to initiation and sound planning,” he said.

CONSENSUS Grenville urged the stakeholders to get their acts together and reach a consensus that will be of benefit to the economic breakthrough of the town.

“The time is coming so near and this thing is coming so fast, we will be in the same problem,” he said.

The Linden to Lethem Road Project will see the upgrade of approximately 122.5km of road (inclusive of drainage) between Linden and Mabura Hill, and the construction of a new single or dual-lane fixed bridge across the Essequibo River at the Kurupukari ferry crossing, a distance of approximately 600m.

The MoPI is currently advertising for consultancy

Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian services for a feasibility study and design for both the roads and Kurupukari Crossing.

The objective of the consultancy is to upgrade the most recent feasibility study that was done for the said phase one of the project, which is to be funded by the British government, through its UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) programme.

Meanwhile, motorists in Linden continue to complain about the inconvenience caused by utilising the single-lane bridge, which is controlled by a manual traffic system.

During peak periods, there is always a heavy build-up of traffic even though the bridge spans less than a quarter of a mile. The bridge enables access to both hospitals in the region and during emergency situations, it is deemed a challenge.

It is also regularly closed to facilitate repairs.

The Guyana Chronicle was at the bridge when drivers became irritated over the long wait for the vehicles to cross from one side of the river to the other.

“This is real nonsense.

This is ridiculous to be waiting so long to cross a short bridge and these men really don’t know to control this traffic,” shouted one driver as the others blew their horn as a display of impatience.

13

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Berbicians blame NDCs for floods

By Nafeeza Yahya

RESIDENTS of Number 59 to Number 60 Villages, East Berbice, Corentyne, are blaming the Number 52-74 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) for the almost knee-high flooding in their villages.

The overnight rains resulted in damage to property and loss of livestock, as well as to crops and groceries.

According to residents, a small HDPE tube approximately 2.5 feet in diameter drains water from as far as Number 52 to Number 60 villages into the main drain-

higher than its original position, causing more water to accumulate before it started to drain.

“Me tell them the tubing deh too high and them seh it deh alright that the water gun flow. Them revet the place and me tell them why them nah just put a bridge like what was there before and we won’t get any more flood but them nah listen,” Mohabir said.

He explained that the regional chairman on Saturday gave approval for residents to open the dam as they did last year to allow the water to pass,

quickly, it gun continue to swell. This morning it was only about six inches high, now it reach up to you knee, all me yard fowl them get cramp and dead, me just throw them away,” another resident Hardat Kissoon said.

Rampersaud (only name given), also a resident and mother of three, lamented that the situation is unhealthy, especially for the children who are currently writing end-of-term examinations.

“All body toilet run over in the water, me get lil children and them can’t even come out. All toilet These persons make their way out of their flooded yard

Dasrat Mohabir stands on the dam he was forced to refill age canal.

This tube, the residents explained, was placed too high and was also too small to allow for the free flow of water.

“This place start fuh flood since them put down the tubing and we explain to them that it too small but them seh that the government nah get money to put a bigger one. So when the rainy season start last year, we ask the RDC [Regional Democratic Council] chairman fuh buss the dam and allow the water to run off into the next canal quickly and we didn’t had any flood. Now one night rain and the whole place duck,” Dasrat Mohabir, a resident of Number 59 village said.

He claimed that when the rainy period ended last year, some other residents lifted the tube from its original spot, causing the area to erode.

The erosion was fixed by the NDC and when they replaced the tube, it was placed

but when they started to dig, they were stopped by other residents and NDC officials.

FIGHT “When me go fuh open the dam like last year, them start fuh fight and call in the police and suh. Them seh we can’t open the dam and start fuh fight. When we call back the regional chairman, he change he mouth and said we can’t open the dam anymore; we gotta talk to the NDC. Them mek we full it back or them seh the police gon lock we up.”

Mohabir explained that the NDC chairman is currently out of the district attending to a family emergency and those under his charge are giving residents a hard time.

He and other residents are accusing the NDC representatives of neglecting their interest.

“This water gotta travel all the way from 52 and come here and if it can’t drain

water ah come till me bottom house and the water nah ah go down, it ah rise more cause the drainage trench block up all two side. Them can’t go school, them a write test wha u think gon happen to them,” she asked.

ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME According to Geeta Goolcharran, a cash crop farmer, she lost all her pepper, bora, squash and boulanger, which provide her only source of income and is now contemplating how she will survive this week.

Indrawattie Ramkissoon, a shop owner of Lot 181, Number 59 Village, also complained bitterly. She related that when she woke up Saturday morning, her entire shop was under water.

“Everything flood, me lost soap powder, rice, potato, onion, garlic; over See page 19

14

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

CH&PA touts return of effective zoning, building-legislation enforcement

THE Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is gearing towards the Perseverance Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Demerara becoming a model community that will reintroduce the observance of zoning and other construction rules and guidelines of the State.

This was highlighted when the Ministry of Housing’s CH&PA gave a midyear update on its projects and performance two Mondays ago. It was noted that meaningful steps are being taken to correct the situation by having contractors and home owners observe regulations that maintain the

organisation and safety of the building industry.

CH&PA’s Operations Director, Denise King-Tudor, told the media that the CH&PA has recognised that over the years, observance of specific construction rules has been ignored, leading to the disorganisation of the sector.

She noted that the plan-

CHPA Housing Solutions at Perseverance, EBD ning arm of the CH&PA has been engaging numerous stakeholders, especially authorities at the local level to re-energise them in relation to the enforcement of construction by-laws. Outreaches, she said, were also done with the various local authorities in relation to their awareness in their capacity on how to deal with building applications in planning and development.

“We are also preparing a planning scheme for Perseverance … that planning scheme will address zoning in that area, the implementation of bylaws to guide homeowners and developers with respect to their extending of properties.”

Using the Perseverance area as a pilot project, Tudor said that other housing developments are expected to observe the available legislation

that govern the construction industry.

She said moves were also initiated during the outreaches to review and update planning policies and guidelines, because of the lack of coordination and the fragment-like legislation that currently exists. Tudor opined that different signals are being sent in relation to different issues concerning the industry, so work will be done to harmonise regulations and guidelines.

The issues of zoning and building guidelines remain a tough one for housing authorities, as many do not have the manpower to enforce building laws. This has been the case with the Georgetown Mayor and City Council; for example, where construction within the city has deteriorated as a result of failing to

enforce building rules.

Citizens have complained about residential areas becoming industrial sites for example, because of numerous businesses being established in those locations, some becoming a nuisance to residents.

The Perseverance location however, is part of the Ministry of Housing’s Housing Solutions 2017 and beyond initiative. It was there that the ministry’s first housing exhibition was held weeks ago, with the introduction of duplex houses to Guyanese for the first time.

Apart from single units, 40 more duplexes will be built in Perseverance, along with 20 three- bedroom homes. Two road contracts have also been awarded for the construction of roads in that area.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Metrification plan to be implemented in all 10 regions – GNBS

–– all devices using imperial systems will be seized, destroyed

GUYANA’S adoption of the metric system has started from the top and policy-makers, ministries of government and all government agencies will be working with the 10 administrations regions to implement and enforce this system country-wide.

This was confirmed by Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) Public Relations Officer Lloyd David, who said a large percentage of the countries in the world use the metric system, especially in scientific research, manufacturing and trade.

He noted that the school system had already fully adopted the use of the metric system and the younger generation had a good understanding of its application.

Adding that the system was easy to learn and use because of its decimal nature, David explained that only a few countries still use the imperial system of measurement or a combination of both measuring systems, which will eventually be phased out.

He explained that the GNBS, along with the Ministry of Business, had been urging relevant stakeholders to use the metric system, which is the legal system of measurement in Guyana.

David said all wholesalers and retailers would now have to comply with the implementation of this action plan in order to sell their solid goods in metric quantities.

He said all devices using imperial systems will be seized and destroyed, since

kg of rice One kg is equivalent to two pounds, three ounces.

The tonne is used for measuring very large amounts, for example, truckloads of sand or stone, bulk sugar or rice.

The metrification plan approved by Cabinet was prepared by the Guyana Na-

GNBS Public Relations Officer, Lloyd David the Metric System, which is the legal system of measurement in Guyana, conforms to the Standard International (SI) units including the kilogram that is used to measure mass.

The metric base unit for measuring mass is the kilogram (kg). When the kg is divided by 1000, the result is 1 gram (g) and when it is multiplied by 1000 the result is 1 metric tonne.

Mass (weight): For everyday transactions, especially in the conduct of commerce, there are four commonly used units; the milligram (mg), g, kg and tonne.

Mg is used for measuring very small amounts of substances for example, ingredients in medicines or drugs and some ingredients in recipes.

The g is used for measuring intermediate amounts.

For example, 100g of butter, 250g of cheese.

The kg is used for measuring larger amounts, for example, 1 kg of potatoes, 10 kg of bananas, and 25

Body fished out of East La Penitence trench THE body of a 58-year-old man was fished out of the Freeman Street, East La Penitence trench, Georgetown on Saturday.

The man of no fixed place of abode was identified only as “Matil.”

His body had no marks of violence and he was found in a checkered cap, blue three quartered pants, slippers and a red and white t-shirt.

A walking cane was also found at the scene.

A supervisor attached to a night shelter claimed that Matil was a resident at the said institution but was discharged in 2014.

Residents in the area described the man as a known alcoholic who was unemployed. The body is currently at the Lyken Funeral Parlour awaiting proper identification and post-mortem examination.

tional Bureau of Standards (GNBS) to promote the use of internal systems of units countrywide.

The metric system was first proposed in 1970 and is the decimal-measuring system based on the metre, litre, and gram as units of length, capacity, and weight or mass.

Consumers, are urged to start requesting solid goods such as rice, peas, onions and potatoes in grams and kilograms. These units should also be used to weigh solid hardware items such as nails, putty and glues that are sold by weight. These goods can be easily and accurately

weighed on verified metric devices used in the market place.

Wholesalers and retailers have a significant role to play by packaging and selling their solid goods in metric quantities. Advertise your goods and prepare and display pricelists in metric quantities.

16

Power company eyes big profits

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

–– gov’t expected to save millions of dollars when contract ends in 2019

By Svetlana Marshall POWER Producers and Distribution Incorporated (PPDI) is expected to earn between US$2.7M and US$3.9M in profits when its three-year contract with the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) ends in 2019.

With this forecast, the government is expected to save millions of dollars had it still been utilising the services of Finnish company Wärtsilä.

With effect from January 1, 2017, PPDI took over the operations of Wärtsilä, which had been offering operational and maintenance services to GPL since 1994.

At an extremely cheaper rate, PPDI – a self-sufficient, Guyanese-run company – has been offering the same services to GPL, and is expected to save the Government in excess of US$2M annually.

PPDI is generating the electricity, while GPL is responsible for distribution.

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, PPDI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arron Fraser explained that the new power company is charging GPL a fixed rate

of US$16.87 per megawatt of electricity – US$3.64 less than the fee (US$20.51) Wärtsilä’s had proposed for 2017.

With an estimated production of 650, 000 megawatts of electricity per year, GPL is expected to pay PPDI some US$10.9M or approximately GUY$2.3B per annum, saving GPL US$2.4M. Fraser explained that under Wärtsilä, GPL would have had to pay US$13.3M for 2017.

With an average yearly expenditure of US$9.6M to US$10M, the PPDI CEO said the company’s return is set way below Wärtsilä’s benchmark.

“Overall we are looking at a margin of just about 8-12 per cent return on revenues. It is a lot less than what our competitor (Wärtsilä) would have gotten,” Fraser explained, while noting that PPDI’s lower bound is set at US$2.7M and upper bound, US$3.9M over the three-year period.

NO OUTSOURCING Asked how PPDI is able to produce power at a far cheaper rate than Wärtsilä and still make a

profit, the CEO said the fully staffed company is able to save due to the fact that it has the ability to perform its own overhauls, and as such, there is no need for outsourcing.

Another factor, he said, is the profit margin set by PPDI. “Our returns are much lower than what Wärtsilä wanted. We just ask for 8-12 per cent return, and that is significantly less than what Wärtsilä would have set as a benchmark, so therein lies another factor that allows us to charge a cheaper price.”

It was noted too that PPDI’s budget would fluctuate on the basis of its output.

“The fluctuation is strongly correlated to the amount of maintenances that we do… so for instance, this year we are scheduled to have nine major overhauls, so our expenses this year are going to be just around US$8M. But come next year when we have 13 major overhauls, our expenses are going to be a little higher than that,” Fraser further explained.

Questioned as to whether there was any need for the Government

to inject funds into the company during its initial operation following the exit of Wärtsilä, Fraser responded in the negative.

NO SUBVENTION He said based on the company’s current financial outlook, there will be no need for government subventions, since the company has the ability to meet all of its operational needs.

“We are self-sufficient, and there is no need for any injection from the State,” the CEO stated.

He further added that “in the current arrangement, GPL owns the four power plants” located at Kingston, Vreed-en-Hoop and Garden of Eden, and PPDI manages the operations and maintenance of these plants.

“They pay a rate which is essentially tied to the amount of megawatts we produce… and the revenue generated is used to run the business. In that regard, there was no need for any start-up capital,” said Fraser.

PPDI has a staff size of 135 persons, 90 of whom are technical people. It is headed by a CEO followed by three Deputy CEOs –

This Kingston Power Plant is among the plants managed by the Power Producers and Distribution Inc

PPDI CEO Arron Fraser Finance and Accounting, appointment to the post of Technical, Administration. CEO of PPDI served as the There are also five head of the Wärtsilä Commiddle managers – one pany in Guyana for eight managing each of the four years and nine years before power plants and the fifth that as head of finance for manager oversees the op- the same company. He has erations of the workshop. a total of 17 years of senior Additionally, each plant management experience unis staffed by four shifts of der his belt, and is confident four persons. that his team will be able to deliver under his watch.

EXPERIENCED STAFF “So I have no doubt According to Fraser, that the people who stayed his staff has the requisite with PPDI, who were in experience needed to fulfil Wärtsilä’s employ have the mandate of the compa- the capabilities, they have ny, due to the simple fact the experience and they that many of them played still have the drive. So the critical roles in building answer to the question is the local Wärtsilä oper- yes, we have the technical ations. capability.

“When Wärtsilä came to “I am surrounded Guyana and signed a con- by an excellent team, a tract with GPL, they had no hard-working team with prior experience in operat- really good work ethics. ing and maintaining plants. We truly run a 24-hour Luckily from day one, the operation so it is not becompany in Guyana was yond any of us to come to always run by Guyanese, so the plant at three in the that the experiences of oper- morning to do what is reating and maintaining plants quired. So with a culture originated in Guyana. Guy- like that it is less pressure anese did so well, so much on me personally, because so that some of us were everyone in the organisatransferred to the Caribbean tion understands and apand wider Latin America, preciates their function,” some got even as far as Fin- Fraser added. PPDI is land,” he explained. overlooked by a board Fraser, who prior to his chaired by Mark Bender.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Don’t play catch-up –– First Lady urges youths at inaugural robot exhibition

By Vishani Ragobeer FIRST Lady Sandra Granger has called on local youths not to play “catchup” with the rest of the world at the opening of the inaugural National Robot and Technology Exhibition at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday.

Addressing the exhibition, Mrs. Granger said there is a global emphasis on technology and Guyanese youths should be kept abreast of the developments.

Failure to do so, she said, would result in a society that is always “catching up” and not “getting there.”

“I think the children who have gotten the experience of building robots are finding how enthralling and interesting it can be,” she told the gathering of mostly young people as she expressed elation about the programme.

The exhibition follows the hosting of a series of robotics camps last year by numerous Science, Technology, Engineering and

First Lady Sandra Granger (right), STEM Guyana Coordinator Karen Abrams (second right) and others look at the robot’s movements (Delano Williams Photos) solving real-life problems.

One of the club’s creations, an agriculture-based solution, was geared at helping to address food security.

“We’re hoping to inspire some of the young people.

This young girl controls the robot that is designed by the Buxton Pride STEM team which presents a solution to food security (agriculture) Mathematics (STEM) clubs. ably supported by the First technology and robotics are Pioneer of STEM Guy- Lady and clubs have been critical to global developana and Exhibition Coordi- created in Kuru Kururu, ment in terms of providing nator Karen Abrams, said Buxton, the Bishops’ High solutions for food security, the event was conceptualised School, President’s College, oil and gas, healthcare, eduand implemented as there is Good Hope/Lusignan Learn- cation, the environment and a need to educate and inform ing Centre and the North crime control.

The Buxton Pride STEM Guyanese about the work Ruimveldt Church of the Nazarene robotics team illustrate STEM Guyana has been The exhibiters on Satthrough their robots, the doing.

STEM Guyana has been urday demonstrated how application of technology in

They might not leave here [the robotics exhibition] being experts, but they will at least be curious,” Abrams told the Guyana Chronicle, The team representing Guyana next month on July

14- 19 in Washington D.C. at the Global Robotics Championship, also displayed their robot, what it is capable of so far and interacted with young enthusiasts.

With very little experience, the team had to build a robot using their creativity and will be vying for the win come next month.

Mrs Granger was proud that it has not been an entire year since the youths were first introduced to robotics, but they will nevertheless represent Guyana next month at the world championship.

Abrams said the young folk are learning a myriad of other qualities and values through team activities.

“We’re still three weeks away [from the global competition], our progress is good but there’s still a lot of work to do,” she emphasised.

Diaspora support has been one of the pillars underpinning STEM Guyana activities and Abrams related that more and more local entities and individuals are joining the support team.

“This is truly a public-private, local-diaspora project to help to unleash the world- class potential of Guyanese youth,” she said, adding: This truly serves as a model for the development of other areas.”

Persons at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall marvel at STEM Guyana’s robot. This robot will be going with the national team next month to the inaugural Global Robotics Championships in Washington, USA

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Works start on EBD overpasses WORKS by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to construct three pedestrian overpasses along the East Bank Public Road have started, with contractor S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services, completing the first stage of the construction process. Installing of piles at Houston was ongoing over the weekend, a process that is near completion at the Providence and Diamond locations.

The three communities have been selected for the infrastructural upgrade in the US $364,727 project and the pedestrian overpass is expected to ease traffic congestion along the busy East Bank highway. A US$1M contract award was also announced

recently by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, for the construction of overhead crossings at Peter’s Hall and Eccles, communities also on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) corridor.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI), Desilon Daniels, told the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday that the piles are driven as a foundation support for the three structures, and the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) utility companies are currently working with the ministry to remove utility equipment from the area so the first phase of the project can be completed as

scheduled.

The pedestrian overpasses and fly-over bridges are being constructed as solutions to the trends of traffic jams and other setbacks and dangers along the EBD corridor.

Pedestrian overpasses are usually designed for pedestrians, cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders but not to accommodate vehicular traffic.

Over a week ago, Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, had signalled councillors within the respective constituencies to hold consultations with residents in the communities, to make them aware of the impending works so as to avoid unexpected delays and for a smooth transition.

Traffic congestion on

key roads to Georgetown has been an ongoing problem for years and with an increase in vehicles coming into Guyana the situation had gotten worse, resulting in major delays for workers and school children travelling along the route during peak hours - between 07:00hrs and 09:00hrs and 16:00hrs to 18:30hrs.

The East Bank Demerara road is one of the busiest roadways in Guyana and connects roads to several villages along the way, and the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), the main access for road traffic from the West Demerara to East Demerara , the Capital City, Linden and Guyana’s main international airport – Cheddi Jagan International , at Timehri on the East Bank of Demerara.

Installing of piles at Houston is ongoing

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Berbicians blame ...

From page 13

$200,000 me had to throw away,” she said.

Salima Wahab, a mother of four, pleaded with the Guyana Chronicle to publicise her plight, saying that she is helpless and hopes the authorities can look into the situation.

“My children they home since Thursday. Them can’t walk in that water, it deh till to them knee since then them deh upstairs.

Me ah beg if anybody can help us out, it would be really good, me nah know who fuh turn to,” she said.

The number 52-74 NDC is the largest NDC in the region and is controlled by the Opposition PPP. Residents are calling on central Government to step in and help them, since they believe that they are being neglected by the NDC officials.

“We want the government to act on our behalf and assess the situation. The tub-

Boulanger plants under water at Number 60 Village ing too small, either they put a bigger one and put it lower or they remove it and put revetment across the dam and place a bridge like they had before, so the water can run off quickly. This is only two days of rain and while we understand it was a lot, this would have never happened if the water was allowed to drain faster,” Mohabir said.

Rain on Friday night into Saturday morning has left many communities under water, but late Saturday afternoon the water started to recede as sluices and drainage pumps become operational.

But residents at Number 58-60 villages on the Corentyne are still under considerable amount of water due to slow drainage.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Police WhatsApp groups act as virtual police stations – Ramlakhan

THE GUYANA Police Force (GPF) creation of WhatsApp police -public interface groups has been working exceptionally well, creating an unprecedented information gateway for all contacts within all divisions of the force.

When asked about the

benefits since its creation months ago, Head of the Police Public Relations (PR) Unit, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan said the WhatsApp groups were created to encourage the free flow of information amongst the police and stakeholders.

“Considering the poten-

tial of social media in sharing information and improving police-public interface, WhatsApp groups act as virtual police stations since the non-formal channel of communication enables immediate action,” Superintendent Ramlakhan noted.

He added that this results in an enhanced interaction with the public and also provides police with better local intelligence inputs.

He explained that the six WhatsApp groups are very effective and serve the intended purposes.

“We have seen a more cordial and professional approach by everyone involved in creating a more safe and healthy atmosphere in the various police divisions as never seen before. Fewer complaints are coming from members of the public and the media is more informed

Superintendent, Jairam Ramlakhan and very much supported of works of law enforcement,” the superintendent said.

Ramlakhan said the PR unit on a regular basis organises, coordinates and monitors free air time appearance of all Divisional Commanders and their key officers on television and radio stations in their respective divisions, while members of the public get

an opportunity to ask questions after the officers’ first disclose their crime fighting strategies.

Meanwhile, he explained that the production of fortnightly Newsletters of community relations activities and the monthly Copper magazines also highlights core police activities.

He said these newsletters also include the profiles of all ranks retiring for the current year and the creation of quarterly essays to stimulate and promote the skill of writing amongst police ranks.

The unit also updates their police Facebook and website pages to boost the information and works of the police force.

These WhatsApp groups include: GPF Commanders, Detectives and Traffic Heads; GPF Community Relations and Media Relations Officer; GPF and the Media Team; GPF TV and Radio Programme; GPF and Mayors; GPF and Private Sector Commission and Chambers of Commerce and the GPF Community Policing Groups.

Informant calls for meeting with President, Security Minister AN INFORMANT with evidence into the death of dominoes fanatic, Orin Joseph, who was killed at his South Ruimveldt Park home and business place on April 14, 2013, is calling for a meeting with President David Granger and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, since he alleges there is a cover up within the police force.

The man (whose name has been withheld) told the Guyana Chronicle that years after the murder, he provided the police with additional information and insight pertaining to a suspect who may have been responsible for the murder.

The suspect in question, the informant said, is currently in the Camp Street Prison awaiting trial for another murder, and as such he is questioning why the police authorities are reluctant to re-open the Orin Joseph case.

According to the man, he has been running behind the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and the Police Complaint Authority (CPA) for years, but to no avail.

Joseph, 52, then president of the Blue Bird Dominoes Club, was gunned down in a hail of bullets outside his home just after a dominoes competition had ended.

One of the bullets reportedly hit him in his abdomen, but there were no eyewitnesses to the crime. The jewellery which Joseph was wearing at the time was taken by two men on a motorcycle.

Joseph had briefly exited his yard and was about to park his car under his house when he was attacked by the men who escaped under cover of darkness, as there was a ‘blackout’ in the community.

Meanwhile, a suspect who the police had was detained, was released.

Police officials have also continuously said that with no one around, because the shooting occurred during a ‘blackout’, it has been difficult for investigators to pick up any leads.

Despite the apparent standstill, the man’s widow, Faye, who is the president of the Georgetown Dominoes Federation (GDF), still has hope that the police will bring the perpetrator/s to justice.

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Guyana, USA RAN 15’s ...

Continued from page 26

and their second in the Caribbean after travelling to Trinidad and Tobago in 2013 where they left with the RAN 15s title; winning 26-18.

The Americans will want to exact revenge for their 2014 defeat to Guyana in Atlanta Georgia, in rather dramatic fashion.

The good thing for Guyana is that their squad of players who had beaten the USA are still playing together and had improved in the 15s format.

Guyana is known for its dominance in the game’s shortest format (Sevens), but since their win against the USA in 2014, the GRFU had made a commitment to have their National side pay more emphasis on 15s Rugby.

Since then, the Green Machine have won back-toback South Zone titles, and missed out on winning a second overall RAN 15s title when they went down 32-3 against Mexico last year.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Jeffrey secures first podium finish for Radical Works team

By Stephan Sookram GUYANESE racers abroad continue to fly the Golden Arrowhead high with Kristian Jeffrey picking up his first podium finish under the Radical Factory banner team this weekend at Rockingham motor speedway in the MotorSport Vision Racing Club Championship Radical Challenge.

The Guyanese was on the money this weekend, finishing second in the first race before a racing incident almost sidelined him for the remainder of the round.

Speaking exclusively to Chronicle Sport, Jeffrey said, “There are a lot of quality drivers, especially in the top 10, ranging from ex LMP2 [Le Mans Prototype] Formula 3 champions etc.

So qualifying was vital. We knew we had really good race pace.”

“We qualified 6th, and managed to stay consistent and I worked my way up to Second by the end of the first race. That really boosted my confidence and had me feeling good for the weekend,” he added.

The two-time Caribbean

champion added that his confidence came from having been in the machine for two back-to-back weekends of competition, which meant that he got more understanding of the car.

“Race two I was trying to carry on the momentum.

However, going into turn one I had contact in the rear of my car which caused serious damage and ended the race for me there,” Jeffrey said.

“We barely got the car finished in time for the final race where I started in seventh before feeling some vibrations in the steering, after which I dropped back to 11th. We,however, recovered to finish fifth.”

Summing up the weekend, the Guyanese said “All in all, it was a solid weekend; it was also really nice to share the podium with Stuart Maloney who came 3rd in race 1. I really want to thank my dad, everyone at the radical works team and genuinely everyone that continues to support me in this series.”

Jeffrey heads to Budapest, Hungary for the next set of testing on that country’s Formula 1 accredited track- the Hungaroring.

Guyana, USA RAN 15’s title showdown shifted to July 29

By Rawle Toney

RUGBY fans in Guyana will now have to wait a little longer to witness the highly-anticipated clash between the ‘Green Machine’ and USA South in the Rugby Americas North (RAN) 15’s final.

The historic game and the second meeting between the two countries, initially slated for Saturday July 1, will now be contested on Saturday July 29.

While the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) has been tightlipped with regards to details surrounding the match, a source stated that the USA team asked for more time, since securing flights to Guyana and proper accommodation at short notice had proven to be a challenge.

The move now gives the GRFU enough time to secure a proper venue, with their usual stomping ground at the National Park always being questionable, as the case with their recent game against Trinidad and Tobago which had to be played at a water-logged Saint Stanislaus College ground on Carifesta

Avenue.

Two years ago, Guyana’s National Rugby team, popularly known as the ‘Green Machine’, etched their names in the history books after edging the mighty USA South to claim their maiden Rugby Americas North (RAN) (formerly North American and Caribbean Rugby Association) 15s title with a come-frombehind 30-27 win.

Guyana will have a chance to not only reclaim the title that was won by Mexico last year, but also do something that several teams in RAN have never done; beat the USA twice.

After Guyana outclassed Trinidad and Tobago 24-17 on June 10, they were preparing for a trip to Mexico City to face Mexico who were tipped to beat the Cayman Islands.

However, the game proved how unpredictable sports could be, since the Cayman Islands emerged winners 3917 over the Mexicans, which means that the Americans were crowned RAN’s North Zone champions.

The visit by the USA will mark their first to Guyana

Turn to page 25

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Ronaldo helps Portugal into Confederations Cup semis (REUTERS)-European champions Portugal comfortably dispatched New Zealand 4-0 to reach the Confederations Cup semi-finals on Saturday after Cristiano Ronaldo set them on their way with a penalty.

Portugal’s all-time leading scorer swept the ball home in the 33rd minute, his 75th goal for his country, and Bernardo Silva added the second four minutes later.

A solo effort from Andre Silva, his eighth goal in 11 appearances, in the 80th minute and a stoppage-time goal from substitute Nani completed the scoring.

It was a typically efficient performance from

Portugal who never looked in real danger despite a sluggish start.

However, it was not all good news as Bernardo Silva went off injured at halftime, while a needless and reckless challenge from Pepe, with his side 2-0 up, earned the controversial central defender his second yellow card of the tournament, ruling him out of Wednesday’s semi-final.

“It was an odd game - we were in control, but they started creating problems, and if it had got back to 2-1, it could have got complicated,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos.

New Zealand goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic, who

Cristiano Ronaldo

helped Unterhaching win promotion from the German fourth division last season, kept the score down with a superb second-half display.

The Oceania champi-

Mexico knock out Confederations Cup hosts Russia

Mexico’s Hirving Lozano scores their second goal REUTERS/Darren Staples

(REUTERS)-Mexico winger Hirving Lozano took advantage of an awful mix-up in the Russian defence to score an extraordinary goal which gave his side a 2-1 win and knocked the Confederations Cup hosts out of the tournament on Saturday.

Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev completely mis-read the situation after Hector Herrera sent a looping clearance 80 metres downfield from the edge of the Mexican area seven minutes into the second half.

The ball bounced once about 25 metres from the Russian goal and, as Akinfeev and his defence dallied, Lozano bravely nipped in to head the ball over the goalkeeper from the edge of the area to send the CONCACAF champions into the semi-finals.

Russia had raised the hopes of their fans by taking a first-half lead through Alexander Samedov but were quickly pegged back

by Nestor Araujo’s equaliser on the half hour.

Russia’s early exit from was another setback for next year’s World Cup hosts who also went out of last year’s European Championship at the group stage, when they failed to win a game and were regarded by many as the worst team in the tournament.

Russia’s afternoon was completed in the 68th minute after Yury Zhirkov was sent off for elbowing and they were only saved further embarrassment by the video assistant referee who disallowed a third Mexican goal for offside.

The video replay was also used in the 17th minute after Russian forward Fedor Smolov went down in the box after he appeared to come into contact with Araujo but the referee ruled against a penalty.

Mexico dominated possession early on but Russia went ahead fortuitously when Samedov beat goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa just inside the far post after Mexico had failed to clear a header and midfielder Alek-

sandr Erokhin missed the ball as he was trying to shoot.

Mexico defender Nestor Araujo equalised in the 30th minute with a looping header.

The crowd seemed to sense that Russia had missed their chance and Lozano’s freak equaliser confirmed their worst fears.

Mexico finished second in Group A on seven points, behind Portugal on goal difference. Russia were third with three.

Russia coach Stanislav Cherchisov, a former national team goalkeeper, backed Akinfeev.

“Every goalkeeper is entitled to commit mistakes and it is something you have to live with,” he told reporters. “Life will go on, this is sport and I am convinced he will remain on the national team and make his fans happy.

“Passions are running high so it’s not the time to come to any conclusions,” he added. “I hope the players will use the experience to grow and develop.”

ons were far from disgraced but have now competed in the tournament four times without winning a game and have an overall record of 11 defeats and a draw in 12 matches.

Even so, coach Anthony Hudson was proud of his side, who refused to shut up shop in the second half. “ We k n o w w e ’ v e played some really good football at times. We never stopped. We created chances, we put them under pressure, so we could have got a little more out of this tournament,” he told reporters.

“This team are on the right path, they have got great character, great belief and it’s a young team moving in the right direction.”

Portugal topped Group A with seven points from three games, ahead of Mexico on goal difference after the CONCACAF champions beat hosts Russia 2-1. New Zealand finished bottom of the group after losing all three games.

Ronaldo had already headed against the crossbar before firing Portugal ahead after Danilo went tumbling under a challenge from two defenders and the referee

pointed to the spot without asking for a video replay.

Bernardo Silva turned Eliseu’s low cross into the net four minutes later, although he suffered a knock on the ankle in the process.

Marinovic made impressive saves to deny Ronaldo, Andre Silva and Nani but was powerless stop Andre Silva when he collected the ball on the halfway line, ran at two defenders who backed off, and fired his shot into the far corner.

Nani completed the scoring with his 25th international goal.

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SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Women’s World Cup...

India shock England in opener after four run-outs ENGLAND were stunned on the opening day of the Women’s World Cup, losing by 35 runs to India in Derby.

Openers Smriti Mandhana (90) and Punam Raut (86) took advantage of some poor England bowling, before Mithali Raj (71) lifted India to 281-3.

England stumbled to 67-3 in reply and though Fran Wilson made 81, she was run out brilliantly by Ekta Bisht and the hosts were bowled out for 246.

England next play on Tuesday, against Pakistan in Leicester.

That will represent a good opportunity to register a first victory, in an eight-team tournament where each side play each other before the semi-finals.

However, an England defeat in that game, or the matches against Sri Lanka and South Africa that follow, would be a huge setback, with sterner tests against

Australia, New Zealand and West Indies to follow.

The Kiwis began their campaign with a routine nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka.

On this evidence, England will have to improve if they are to end a global trophy drought that dates back to 2009.

intent with the bat, more discipline with the ball and some electricity in the field.

On an overcast morning, England looked to have gained an advantage by bowling first, but Mandhana and Raut, who was dropped three times, seized the initiative.

England struggled with

England’s Heather Knight becomes the first of four England players needlessly run out as India won the sides’ opening World Cup match by 35 runs.

Photograph: Nigel French/PA

They came unstuck against an inspired India side who are two places below them in the world rankings, in fourth, but showed more

the bat as India took pace off the ball, playing ineffective sweeps until the hitting of Wilson and Katherine Brunt provided belated hope.

Wilson, in only her seventh one-day international, may not have been playing but for Lauren Winfield being ruled out with a wrist injury.

She joined Knight to rebuild after the England top order failed - among them Sarah Taylor, returning to an international cricket after a year away with an anxiety-related issue, who made 22.

It was Knight who first raised the tempo, hitting two straight sixes before attempting a run to bowler Kaur and failing to beat the direct hit.

When Wilson was joined

by Brunt, they continued to show more willingness to hit the ball, building a stand of 62 in only seven overs.

Sixty-eight runs were needed from the final nine overs, but Brunt was run out by Deepti Sharma’s direct hit from point, then Wilson fell to bowler Bisht’s incredible flick back on to the non-striker’s stumps and the game was up. (BBC Sport)

Huddleston, Bates star in crushing NZ win NEW Zealand had never lost to Sri Lanka in nine previous ODI meetings.

They had bowled Sri Lanka out for under 150 in eight of those games.

For a while on Saturday in Bristol, they may have wondered if the tide had turned. Chamari Atapattu and Chamari Polgampola put together 92 for the second wicket as Sri Lanka progressed serenely to 141 for 1.

Then, a moment of brilliance on the field from Suzie Bates -- a tumbling catch low to her left to see off half-centurion Atapattu -triggered an alarming slide.

Sri Lanka lost eight wickets for 46 runs and eventually huffed and puffed to 188 for 9. It was inadequate against a power-packed batting line-up.

Starring with the ball was Holly Huddleston, the medium-pacer, whose use of the crease, angles and subtle changes in pace fetched her a five-wicket haul -- her third in ODIs -- on World Cup debut.

“To start off like that was obviously a dream come true,” she said. “I just wanted one or two [wickets]. I would’ve been happy with that and then they just kept coming which was

awesome.”

Huddleston did not play a single game for New Zealand between September 2014 and October 2016 and she took a little time out to explain how

to do to get back into the team?’ and fitness was one of them and I worked really hard on my fitness and then I wanted to play more cricket, so I went to Middlesex last

Suzie Bates powered on to her eighth ODI century in Brsistol as New Zealand ran down the target in 37.4 overs and opened their tournament with a nine-wicket win ©ICC

she had worked her way back to international cricket.

“Being dropped was obviously hard to take. But I kind of looked at myself and said, ‘okay, what do I need

year and this year and having more game time and having Sanjay Patel, who was the coach; he really just brought the enthusiasm back to my bowling which has obviously

sparked my return back to the White Ferns.”

After her bowlers had set up a small chase, Bates blasted a century during the course of an unbroken second-wicket stand of 170 with Amy Satterthwaite as New Zealand cruised to an emphatic nine-wicket win in the 38th over.

Apart from being lacklustre with the ball, Sri Lanka were poor in the field, with wicketkeeper Prasadini Weerakkody reprieving Bates on 65 off Shashikala Siriwardena. Inoka Ranaweera, the captain, employed as many as seven bowlers; only Sripali Weerakkody managed to come back with something of note, stifling two in-form batsmen briefly with her mix of seam-up and fast offspin to finish with figures of 6-017-0.

While Huddleston was the pick of New Zealand’s bowlers, the 16-year-old Amelia Kerr was equally impressive with her loopy legspin. The degree of control she maintained, even when Atapattu and Polgampola was going strong, shone through on a flat deck where the batsmen had no hesitation in hitting through the line.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 schedule JUNE 24, Sat: New Zealand Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 1st Match County Ground, Bristol England Women vs India Women, 2nd Match County Ground, Derby June 25, Sun: Pakistan Women vs South Africa Women, 3rd MatchGrace Road, Leicester June 26, Mon: Australia Women vs West Indies Women, 4th MatchThe Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton Jun 27, Tue: England Women vs Pakistan Women, 5th MatchGrace Road, Leicester June 28, Wed: South Africa Women vs New Zealand Women, 6th MatchCounty Ground, Derby June 29, Thu: West Indies Women vs India Women, 7th MatchThe Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton Sri Lanka Women vs Australia Women, 8th MatchCounty Ground, Bristol JULY 02, Sun: England Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 9th MatchThe Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton Australia Women vs New Zealand Women, 10th MatchCounty Ground, Bristol India Women vs Pakistan Women, 11th MatchCounty Ground, Derby South Africa Women vs West Indies Women, 12th MatchGrace Road, Leicester July 05, Wed: England Women vs South Africa Women, 13th MatchCounty Ground, Bristol Sri Lanka Women vs India Women, 14th MatchCounty Ground, Derby Pakistan Women vs Australia Women, 15th MatchGrace Road, Leicester July 06, Thu: New Zealand Women vs West Indies Women, 16th MatchThe Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton Jul 08, Sat: New Zealand Women vs Pakistan Women, 17th MatchThe Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton South Africa Women vs India Women, 18th MatchGrace Road, Leicester July 09, Sun: England Women vs Australia Women, 19th MatchCounty Ground, Bristol West Indies Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 20th MatchCounty Ground, Derby July 11, Tue: West Indies Women vs Pakistan Women, 21st MatchGrace Road, Leicester July 12, Wed: Sri Lanka Women vs South Africa Women, 22nd MatchThe Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton Australia Women vs India Women, 23rd MatchCounty Ground, Bristol England Women vs New Zealand Women, 24th MatchCounty Ground, Derby July 15, Sat: South Africa Women vs Australia Women, 25th MatchThe Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton England Women vs West Indies Women, 26th MatchCounty Ground, Bristol India Women vs New Zealand Women, 27th MatchCounty Ground, Derby Pakistan Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 28th MatchGrace Road, Leicester July 18, Tue: TBC vs TBC, 1st Semi-Final, County Ground, Bristol Jul 20, Thu: TBC vs TBC, 2nd Semi-Final, County Ground, Derby Jul 23, Sun: TBC vs TBC, Final, Lord’s, London

29

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Voice of cricket Henry Blofeld to retire after WI three-Test series

FOR decades he has been the voice of cricket, the man whose avuncular tones have heralded the arrival of the Test Match season for everyone who loves the sound of leather on willow.

But Henry Blofeld, the long serving commentator for BBC Radio 4’s Test Match Special, says his style of commentary - with his perambulations about pigeons, tea and passing buses - is now regarded as “out of kilter” with that of his younger colleagues.

Announcing his retirement yesterday, after nearly 50 years in the job, he told The Daily Telegraph it was time for an “old fart” like him to hang up his microphone.

Blowers - as he is known to his fans - said: “I’m sure my style is a bit out of step now. Commentary evolves, like the rest of life. I think the new comers feel I’m a bit out of kilter with them. They do

it their way and when I come and sit down I like to describe things. It’s different.”

down the pub’ style of younger colleagues such as Michael Vaughan and Phil Tuffnell.

my age saying ‘Things ain’t what they used to be’ and when you start saying that it’s time to

Members of the BBC Radio Test Match Special team including Henry Blofeld (left) and Jonathan Agnew Credit: Rebecca Naden/PA Wire

In recent years Blofeld’s plummy tones have stood in contrast with the ‘bloke

NSC/Arthur Chung memorial football tournament

Pouderoyen to face Den Amstel, Uitvlugt takes on Eagles today The National Sports Commission (NSC) in collaboration with the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) will today stage a football tournament in memory of Guyana’s first president, the late Arthur Chung.

The tournament will see four teams vying for top honours with the opening game bringing together Pouderoyen and Den Amstel in the first semi-final from 15:00hrs.

Game two will see Uitvlugt Warriors taking on Eagles United of Stewartville.

Both matches will be played at the Leonara Track facility’s football field as will the final and third place play-off.

The Leonara facility is just a few villages away from where the former President was born on January 10, 1918. He died on June 23, 2008.

Arthur Chung served as president of Guyana from 1970 to 1980 and would be remembered during what is anticipated to be an exciting tournament.

Both semi-final matches will be played for 40 minutes with two equal halves of 20 minutes.

The two losers will then contest the third place playoff and that match will last for 60 minutes while the final between the two winners of the semi finals will go for 80 minutes.

In the semi-final matches,if the team are locked on goals at the end of regulation time, they will then go into penalty shoot-out with both teams having three kicks each.

For the final, if at the end of regulation time the score is tied, each team will be allowed five free kicks in order to determine the winner.

But in characteristically self-deprecating style he said: “It’s the age old thing of people

go. We’re all getting on.”

Fans complained that Blofeld’s appearances on Test

Match Special became rarer after 2006 and yesterday he admitted he would have liked to have featured more frequently.

“From my own selfish point of view it would have been nicer not to have just done it occasionally, to have done it without the gaps,” he said. “To have a more consistent team working is an advantage because you get a rhythm for the summer and that’s been broken to a certain extent with lots of new commentators. Because they’ve got a lot of new people to call on they have to use them.”

In a moving statement issued on his own website Blofeld, now aged 77, said: “All good things come to an end. In all honesty, at the age of almost 78, although I am still rather keener than mustard, I find it harder work than I once did. The one thing I don’t want to do more than anything, is for

my incompetence to let TMS down.”

He added: “Listeners will now be relieved to know that their chances of being told the right name of the fielders at third man and fine leg have greatly increased.”

Blofeld also said he now looked forward to rejoining the ranks of ordinary cricket fans, able to enjoy the game for its own sake without fear of making a blooper on air.

“I shall be able to come to the cricket without worrying about who is lurking down at third man. I shall also be able to have a drink without feeling I am being politically incorrect. And hallelujah to that!” he said.

Blofeld will take the microphone for the final time when England host West Indies on 7 September, after commentating next month on England’s first two Tests against South Africa.

(Telegraph)

Ford steps down as Sri Lanka coach before Zimbabwe series

(REUTERS)-Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford has stepped down after 15 months in his second stint with the team, the cricket board announced on Saturday.

and twenty20 series wins over Australia but Sri Lanka’s performance this year has been inconsistent with the team suffering their first ever test loss to Bangladesh and a whitewash

Thilanga Sumathipala said in a statement.

“This was a decision arrived at mutually after careful consideration and deliberation...we are indeed sorry to see him go. We wish him the very best in where his path lies.”

Ford previously worked with English county club Surrey and was the director of cricket at Kent.

“It’s been a privilege to work with these talented young men over the past 15

months. Their passion for the sport is inspiring, as is indeed this nation’s,” Ford said.

“I wish Sri Lanka Cricket and the boys the very best, and I must offer a word of advice to the young men – Always believe in yourself, believe in your team, and play from your heart.”

Sri Lanka host Zimbabwe in a five-match one day international series starting on Friday.

Guyana Beverage Co. Tampico 60-mile cycle road race set for July 3 Graham Ford

South African Ford, who first coached Sri Lanka between 2012 and 2014, rejoined the team in February last year, signing a contract until the 2019 World Cup. The 56-year-old led the team to memorable Test

in South Africa.

They could not make the semi-finals of this month’s Champions Trophy either.

“We have to thank Fordy for his invaluable contribution to Sri Lanka Cricket,” board president

WITH the 2017 Guyana cycling season in full swing and the return to Guyana of the country’s overseas based wheelsmen, the Guyana Beverage Company sponsored 60-mile cycle road race under the Tampico Brand promises much excitement.

The event is being organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club of Berbice and will be held on July 3 in the Ancient County of Berbice and is open to all local cyclists.

The participants will pedal off from outside the Guyana Beverage Company office located at Palmyra, East Berbice and proceed to the Number 51 Village Police Station before returning to the place of origin for the finish.

30

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Lawyers claim CEO statements set back resolution of Bravo, CWI matter BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Lawyers for estranged Test batsman Darren Bravo believe a resolution between the player and Cricket West Indies (CWI) could have already been reached were it not for ill-advised statements made by new CWI chief executive, Johnny Grave.

Donna Symmonds and Leslie Haynes QC said “significant progress” had been made in negotiations with CWI over the impasse and they believed an agreement was close to being hammered out.

However, instead of responding to a proposal on the one sticking point remaining, Englishman Grave gave an interview to noted cricket website, Cricinfo, which both lawyers argued scuppered any chance of a resolution then.

“We had embarked on a process and as far as we were concerned, we thought that the process was working and going very well,”

Symmonds told Massy Insurance’s Line and Length Network.

“We had initial consultations on the article date of the contract between Darren and [Cricket West Indies] regarding the Zimbabwe 2016 tour, and we had made significant progress, we thought.

“Then … an offer was made by the incoming CEO and it seemed again that we were right on the path of coming to some agreement.

We had looked at drafts … I think everyone is very aware that it was agreed that certain statements would be made by the president and certain statements by Darren.”

She continued: “We had agreed the draft of the texts, all sort of things and with regards to the tweet, Darren had agreed to do certain things as well.

“But the sticking point was one other matter and we had made a suggestion as to how that could be resolved

and we’ve had no response.”

Haynes added: “Instead we had a statement being made to Cricinfo, a statement made by the present CEO Mr Johnny Grave, which was in our view incorrect and which

Cricinfo which in our view set things back.”

Left-hander Bravo was sent home ahead of the Tri-Nations Series in Zimbabwe last November after labelling CWI president Dave

Cricket West Indies CEO, Johnny Grave.

set things back.

“Quite frankly we were shocked when we read it because we were in the middle of negotiations, there was only one issue remaining and here it is Mr Grave is going to give an interview to

Cameron “a big idiot” in a Twitter rant.

The Trinidadian has since been barred from selection until he removes the tweet and apologises, neither of which he has done to date.

In an April interview,

Grave said Bravo’s decision to seek damages from CWI for loss of earnings had frustrated CWI’s attempts to seek a resolution to the impasse as they had been under the impression an agreement had been reached.

“I thought everything was agreed with his legal advisers,” Grave was quoted as saying.

“We didn’t want this to play out publicly but yes, it is true, his attorney is asking for damages and West Indies supporters deserve an explanation as to why he is not in the squad in Jamaica [for the first Test against Pakistan].”

Haynes also criticised public utterances on the matter from CWI Dave Cameron, who as recently as last week said Bravo would remained barred from selection unless the offending tweet was removed.

“We have not spoken to the press since this incident has occurred and yet every week or thereabouts, we

see statements being made by the president,” Haynes pointed out.

“In fact, the last statement made by the president appeared in the papers [a few days ago] stating because you are a senior player, that does not make you eligible for an A contract.

“Who is the president talking about? We interpreted it that he was talking about Darren.”

With time ticking away on Bravo’s return to international cricket, the noted lawyer said they were now exploring another option presented by CWI for ending the standoff.

“Darren’s contract provides a procedure to settle these matters and now Cricket West Indies has suggested another procedure which we are presently reviewing but we have to ensure that the alternative procedure suggested by Cricket West Indies does not operate to the detriment of our client,” Haynes stressed.

Saeedwar and Sheriffa Ali to represent Mr. Physique Guyana Emmerson Guyana at CAC Chess Championship Campbell receives support from GCS Saeedwar Ali

Sheriffa Ali

GUYANA will be represented at the prestigious Central American and Caribbean Under-20 Chess Championship in Barbados, according to the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF).

Junior Chess Champion Saeedwar Ali and Sheriffa Ali, the top male

and female players in Guyana, will match skills with their counterparts from Suriname, Trinidad, Belize and Barbados from June 22 – 29 in the Land of the Flying Fish.

Their participation was made possible with sponsorship from the National Sports Commission

and GCF President, James Bond.

Before departing Guyana, Saeed and Sheriffa paid a courtesy call on the Director of Sport, Mr. Christopher Jones, who congratulated them on their participation and challenged them to bring home gold.

SPORTS journalist and bodybuilding fanatic, Emmerson Campbell recently received financial support from the Guyana Committee of Service (GCS) to assist with his participation at the Sports World Classic 2017 Invitational in Trinidad and Tobago.

The organization which was founded last year to help secure sponsorship for local athletes to compete Regionally and Internationally is the brainchild of Leslie Black who said the organization is happy to assist Campbell and wishes him well.

According to Black, the entity was formed last year after Guyana’s lightweight professional boxing champion, Clive Atwell suffered severe head injuries during a boxing match at the Giftland Mall and had to seek overseas medical treatment and was in need of financial assistance.

Hence, Black approached a number of business persons and got their support and thereafter, GCS was

Mr. Physique’ Emmerson Campbell (left) accepts the sponsorship cheque from GCS committee member, Avril Black.

born.

Black noted that sponsorship is of paramount importance for athletes to succeed and the GCS will

continue to assist.

He called on corporate Guyana to give back to sports since it can boost a nation tremendously.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Sunday June 25, 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) Hardik Pandya-10 sixes (IND) (2) Safraz Ahmed-9 catches (PAK) Today’s Quiz: (1) Who top-scored in the ICC Champions final 2017?

(2) Who had the best figures in the ICC Champions Trophy

final 2017?

ANSWERS IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

31

SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 25, 2017

Weather could play decisive Seventeen goals scored on role in today’s second ODI opening night of Bartica leg Guinness Greatest of the Streets football

Ground-staff engage in mop-up operations during last Friday’s rain-affected opening ODI. (Photo courtesy CWI Media) PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Rain could once again play a decisive role in the second One-Day International of the fivematch series between West Indies and India set to bowl off here Sunday.

The forecast has predict-

ed overnight showers along with heavy rain and possible thundershowers on Sunday, putting in doubt the prospect of a full 50-overs aside contest at Queen’s Park Oval.

Friday’s opener at the venue was cut short af-

ter just over 39 overs of the first innings, as heavy rain wrecked the game and forced a no-result.

Both players and officials will therefore be keeping an eye on the weather as they look to kickstart a series which holds huge value for

West Indies especially.

The hosts are chasing valuable ratings points to enhance their position in the ICC One-Day International rankings, in order to qualify automatically for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019.

SEVENTEEN goals were scored on the opening night of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets Football Tournament’s opening night of the Bartica leg.

In the first game, Almanac Kings needed a 2-1 penalty result to decide their fate against Times Square after being tied earlier at two goals apiece.

Almanac had Don Lam and Ricardo Perreira on target in the 3rd and 5th minute and looked on course for the win but King’s Cyprian Collison (12th) and Rondell Calender (23rd) turned the tides.

Game two also required penalties to adjudge Campbellville 2-1 winners over Street Kings.

Street kings had Elijah Fraser (5th) and Shameer Mentore (15th) on target as Campbellville recovered and drew level through Kelvin Isaacs (20th) and Marvin Bamfield (26th).

Game three was smooth sailing for River View who overcame Lotto Arcade 3-1, thanks to strikes from Romario Lake (7th), Steven Edwards (15th) and Andel Norton (30th), while the losers had Mclean Pickett on target in the 25th Roderick Hamilton (18th) and Mark Boyce (33rd) ensured that Police overcame Beacon One Love 2-1 in game four with Randy Adams scoring the losing side’s only goal.

Plantain Slice’s only goal from Shawn Dash was enough to give them a 1-0 win over Young Guns in game five, while All Stars had the same scoreline win against Beacon Die Hard, thanks to Ryan Scott in the 28th.

The winner will advance to represent the mining community in the grand finals billed for next month, featuring the top zone teams from Georgetown, East Coast Demerara, Linden, Berbice West Demerara/East Bank Demerara.

‘Big Guns’ arrive for GCF’s National Road Centrobasket U-17 Championship team resume training today Race championships slated for today THE arrival in Guyana of some of the country’s leading cyclists two days ago has sent tongues wagging as the Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) National Road Race Championships is slated for today and choosing a winner would be a difficult task.

Shaquille Agard, Hamza Eastman, Andrew Hicks and Geron Williams all arrived in Guyana two days ago and will join the other U.S. based Guyanese, Paul DeNobrega and Raynauth `Obeahman’ Jeffrey, as well as French Guiana based Orville Hinds and Michael Anthony, f o r t o d a y ’s 1 0 3 - m i l e event which wheels off at 08:00hrs from Homestretch Avenue.

These overseas based riders will be joined by over 20 locally based riders who, over the past

Hamza Eastman

two to three months, have been showing tremendous form.

The defending champion of the event is Con-

tinental cyclist, Geron Williams, who also rides for Team Foundation of the United States.As was mentioned recently, it is left to be seen if Williams will be able to acclimatise for today’s event, as is the case with the other overseas based cyclists who arrived just two days ago.

DeNobrega and Jeffrey returned home more than one week ago and so they should have already acclimatised for today’s grueling event which this year will cover a greater distance than in previous years.

The overseas based riders will be coming up against a host of riders who have been in good nick recently, such as: Jamal John, Walter Grant-Stuart, Alonzo Ambrose, Mario King, and Romello Crawford.

WITH less than a month left to properly prepare for Guyana’s inaugural showing at the FIBA Centrobasket U-17 tournament, the Lugard Mohan-coached team will resume training today at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Team Manager Junior Hercules told Chronicle Sport that Mohan will be working with a shortlisted team of 14, while two players residing in the US will be joining the squad shortly.

Following today’s session, according to the GABF, training sessions will continue from July 1-10, after which the team will be encamped from July 14-24, prior to their departure for the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, July 25.

Guyana were placed in Group ‘A’ of the tournament and will open their campaign against the Bahamas on July 26, followed by a clash with Puerto Rico on Thursday July 27, and then close off their group-play against Mexico on July 28.

According to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the competition system of the tournament consists of two phases.

In the Group phase, the eight participating teams (Bahamas, Dominican Republic,

Lugard Mohan

Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) will be divided into two equal groups.

Teams will play in a round-robin format for three days. The top two teams from each group will advance to the next phase, where the first-placed team of Group A will oppose the second-placed team in Group B and vice versa.

The winners of the semi-finals will advance to the ‘gold medal match’, while the losers will play for the

bronze of the continental event.

The top three teams from the tournament will qualify for the FIBA U-18 Americas Championship 2018, to be played in St Catharines, Canada, June 11-17, 2018.

Guyana qualified for the 2017 FIBA Centrobasket U-17 championship by finishing behind the Bahamas at last year’s Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) U-16 tournament which was hosted at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Weather could play See decisive role in page 30 today’s second ODI

Jeffrey secures first podium finish for Radical Works team See page 26

Kristian Jeffrey on the charge during this weekend’s Radical Challenge in Rockingham.

Kristian Jeffrey (left) is all smiles in his first podium finish in the Radical Challenge.

Guyana, USA RAN 15’s title showdown shifted to July 29 See page 26

The ‘ Machine’ celebrating their 24 – 17 win over T&T to retain their RAN 15’s South Zone title. (Delano Williams Photo) Printed and Published by Guyana National Newspapers Limi ted, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. Telephone 2 2 6- 3243-9 (General); Editorial: 2 2 7- 5204, 2 2 7- 5216. Fax:2 2 7- 5208

SUNDAY CHRONICLE, JUNE 25, 2017