Guyana Chronicle Epaper 07 24 2017

Wanted man found hiding in barrel Page 2

Shake-up looms No. 104983

MONDAY , JULY 24, 2017

Price: $80

(VAT Inclusive)

–– in administrative structure of GPHC

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ISKCOM celebrates Man killed 51st anniversary at Mabura Trail Page 9

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More power to the ladies

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A section of the gathering at a prayer and appreciation ceremony at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) local headquarters in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown on Sunday (Samuel Maughn photo)

Not so soon ... AG says GBA expectation of conformity with CJ ruling premature

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Crane Housing Scheme teen killed in accident Page 9

Not so soon 2

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 24, 2017

... AG says GBA expectation of conformity with CJ ruling premature

THE Legal Affairs Ministry believes that the Guyana Bar Association’s (GBA) expectation that the President will conform to the recent ruling by Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George-Wiltshire in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) chairman appointment case is premature.

The ministry in a statement said the applicant, Marcel Gaskin, as well as Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo have shown public dissatisfaction and have

signalled their intention to appeal the ruling.

Reacting to the chief justice’s ruling, Gaskin in a statement had said, “in my view, the Honourable Chief Justice went beyond what was asked by me of the court in addressing the proviso to Article 161 (2), which only applies if the Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list.

“This was never an issue for us since the Leader of the Opposition submitted not only one but two lists of persons for nomination as

Chairman of GECOM”.

He argued that Justice George-Wiltshire, by “extending beyond the requirement of my case,” made a “gross error” in ruling that the President is not obliged to select a person from the six names on the list unless he has determined positively that the persons thereon are unacceptable as fit and proper person for appointment.

“This is a non sequitur and creates unnecessary misunderstanding and confusion,” said Gaskin,

Wanted man found hiding in barrel MARLON Jeffrey who escaped from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), was found hiding in a barrel at a house in Brutus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara on Sunday morning.

Also known as “Melvor Jeffery” or “Buck”, he was wanted for escaping from lawful custody at the hospital on July 19, 2017.

At the time of his escape from the hospital, he was nursing a gunshot wound to the back after being shot by police ranks.

Jeffrey was held for possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition and two counts of discharging a gun.

Marlon Jeffrey, aka Police said four per“Bucky” in police sons, inclusive of two fecustody males who were in the house, have been taken into custody.

Prior to escaping from the GPHC, Jeffrey was held for the possession of a firearm and ammunition and two counts of discharging a loaded firearm.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo who noted that “in the circumstances, and despite the Honourable Chief Justice’s otherwise helpful ruling, I have instructed my attorneys to immediately lodge a Notice of Appeal”.

For his part, Jagdeo had said, “… I am informed that in the course of her ruling, the Honourable Chief Justice is interpreted to have said that if the President deems every name on a list as unacceptable, then the proviso to Article 161 applies. If this

report is correct, we respectfully take issue with this aspect of the Chief Justice’s ruling. We maintain most resolutely that the proviso only applies when no list has been submitted. That once a list has been submitted, the proviso has no applicability.”

He said the proviso to Article 162 of the Constitution had not been placed before the court for its interpretation, nor was it part of any of the questions posed to the court, nor was it the subject of any legal submissions, neither from the applicant’s, or the Guyana Bar Association nor his Attorneys-at-Law.

has six weeks to appeal and the case can go all the way to the Caribbean Court of Appeal for a final decision.

The Ministry also referred to Attorney General, Basil Williams SC initial comments on Justice George-Wiltshire’s ruling, saying that her decision confirms it is the President who must determine that the list is acceptable.

The chief justice also confirmed that it is the President, acting in his own deliberate judgment who must determine whether a person is fit and proper, the attorney general has said.

STRANGE “It is therefore rather strange that such a proposition appears to form part of the ruling in the case. I await a copy of the written decision and if that statement is in fact in the written decision, then I will have no alternative but to support any appeal filed

by Marcel Gaskin in the matter.”

The Legal Affairs Ministry questioned given the foregoing statements by both gentlemen whether it would not have been prudent for the Bar Association to call on them to conform with the CJ’s ruling, rather than directing its message to the President who has not expressed any public dissatisfaction with the judgment or stated any intention to appeal it.

Additionally, the Legal Affairs Ministry asserted that in any event, the chief justice’s ruling is not a final binding one as the applicant

NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT “The chief justice also advised that there is no legal requirement for the President to state reasons for rejecting a list, though modern thinking suggests that he should. The chief justice further advised that the President is not obligated to select a person from the six names on the list

Marcel Gaskin

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams unless he has determined positively that the persons thereon are unacceptable as fit and proper persons for appointment.”

The attorney general had said too that the chief justice advised that each person must be considered by the President unless the President provided the Leader of the Opposition with guidelines of who is unacceptable.

President Granger did provide the Leader of the Opposition with a list of criteria for a person to be qualified for the position of chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission.

The Leader of the Opposition did not object to those criteria and submitted a second list. The attorney general said that the President did not have to receive a second list and could have gone ahead and appointed a chairman, having rejected the first list.

Shake-up looms 3

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 24, 2017

–– in administrative structure of GPHC

A SHAKE-UP in the administrative structure at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) can be expected soon now that the inquiry into the $632M drug purchase has been completed, according to a reliable source.

An investigation into the controversial drug purchase by the hospital has revealed and confirmed several breaches, while clearing the name of Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence.

In a recent statement, GPHC’s Board of Directors led by Attorney-at-Law Kesaundra Alves laid the blame

at the feet of the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Allan Johnson, who was in the employ of the corporation earlier in the year when the purchase was made.

According to the board, Johnson should have known better.

The findings have revealed that after a drug shortage was reported at the medical facility, Minister Lawrence met with the management and asked that a plan be devised to alleviate the situation.

Subsequently, a plan of action was developed and presented to the minister by

the GPHC’s finance director.

That plan of action included determining the availability of drugs from the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), the Materials Management Unit (MMU), and local suppliers; obtaining quotations from suppliers; and sending an evaluation report to the National Procurement and Tender Administration (NPTAB) for approval, followed by the award of tender.

However, instead of following the prescribed plan of action to the letter, investigations revealed that Johnson, in his capacity as CEO, wrote

NPTAB seeking approval for the contracts after the corporation had begun receiving pharmaceuticals from the suppliers.

The suppliers at reference were ANSA McAL, from which was sourced $605M worth of pharmaceuticals; the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC), from which was sourced another $20.8M worth; Health2000 $2.9M; and Chirosyn Discovery $2.1M. Upon learning what had happened, the GPHC Board, which conducted the inquiry, said while it was “shocked and disappointed” that the GPHC had breached the law,

there was no information to suggest that the minister had given any instructions to bypass any procurement procedures or laws.

The oversight body went on to state that senior staff of the Finance Department had an “ethical and professional” duty to properly advise the then CEO of what the standard procedure was, since the matter was within their realm of expertise.

“Johnson had been known to trust and depend on his officers to do the right thing, and it is regrettable that they failed him in this instance,” the board said in a statement.

Having said that, howev-

er, the board did not exactly exonerate Johnson, as it went on to say that ultimately, the power was within his judgment and signature, and that “he acted recklessly”.

Further, it was pointed out that after the board was installed and held its first meeting on February 22, 2017, the then CEO failed to mention this matter to the directors.

The board, however, said that GPHC management and staff have been cooperating fully with the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) in their ongoing investigation.

More power to the ladies –– as Commonwealth women’s mentorship scheme gets underway here

FOURTEEN young Guyanese women are expected to benefit from a six-monthlong Commonwealth Women’s Mentorship Scheme that was launched on Friday at the Bel Air Gardens residence of the British High Commissioner.

According to Kezia Campbell, one of the coordinators, the project is essentially inter-generational in nature, in that it targets future female leaders between the ages of 18 and 29, and pairs them with mentors who share the same professional interests, and who hail primarily from Rotary International.

“The aim is really to help those young persons to draw inspiration and receive guidance from our mentors, who are professionals,” Campbell said.

For this project, about 700 applications were received from young women the world over, but only about 10%, the equivalent of 70 applicants, were selected.

The majority of the selectees are from the Caribbean; 14 are Guyanese.

There are also 70 mentors, but just one is Guya-

British High Commissioner Greg Quinn poses with a few of the Guyanese mentees nese. She is Ms Elizabeth Cox of the Rotary Club of Georgetown.

Campbell said that since a good many of the mentees hail from Guyana, it was felt that it was only fitting that the official launch of the scheme should be held here.

As British High Commissioner, Mr Greg Quinn said in his welcome address, “The purpose [of the scheme]

is relatively clear and simple; it’s to empower women, and to empower girls.”

The objectives of the programme, he said, are to provide mentees with guidance, advice and support; to create mutually beneficial relationships between both mentors and mentees; to demonstrate the impact and utility of intergenerational relationships and to share experiences.

He reflected upon his younger days when he, too, benefitted from mentorship, and how the experience helped shape the person he is today.

Vice-Chairperson for Inclusion and Engagement of the Commonwealth Youth Council and Ambassador for Seychelles, Ms Angelique Pouponneau related that the idea of this mentorship

scheme came into fruition one year after it was first advanced at the inaugural Women’s Leader summit.

“It serves to reinforce the idea that we are one Commonwealth family. Women can empower women beyond national boundaries, [and] it reinforces the promotion of gender equality through intergenerational partnership,” she remarked.

Additionally, while this scheme is only in its pilot stage, it has been conceptualised and implemented, and will be analysed by young people.

Moreover, Poupponneau highlighted that this programme provides stark evidence to show that women want mentors for their personal and professional development, with over 700 women applying for the programme.

Before a brief session of networking, the women were edified in some of the fields that women have been involved, and what these 14 mentees will be involved in similarly.

These include overcoming domestic violence, environmental leadership and economic empowerment.

The 13 of the 14 mentees of this programme are: Leanna Kalicharan, Tishana Narine, Elon Alonzo, Leota King, Chevaunne Perreria, Devina Roopnarine, Shabena Kabir, Shivanie Rampersaud, Shaunssey Profitt, Sara Henry, Kadija Murray, Lisa Hussain, Satwanti Baburam.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 24, 2017

Trump open to signing Russia sanctions bill The White House said on Sunday that U.S. President Donald Trump was open to signing legislation toughening sanctions on Russia after Senate and House leaders reached agreement on a bill late last week.

Congressional Democrats said on Saturday they had agreed with Republicans on a deal allowing new sanctions targeting Russia, Iran and North Korea in a bill that would limit any potential effort by Trump to try to lift sanctions against Moscow.

“We support where the legislation is now and will continue working with the House and Senate to put those tough sanctions in place on Russia until the situation in Ukraine is fully resolved and it certainly isn’t right now,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” programme.

A White House official said the administration’s view of the legislation evolved

after changes were made, including the addition of sanctions on North Korea.

The official said the administration “supports the direction the bill is headed, but won’t weigh in conclusively until there is a final piece

going to make that decision shortly,” Scaramucci told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Trump has faced resistance from Republican and Democratic lawmakers for his pledge to pursue warmer relations with Moscow.

His administration has been bogged down by investigations of possible ties between his 2016 campaign and Russia. Trump has said his campaign did not collude with Russia.

With the bill, Republicans

Monday, July 24, 2017 Tuesday, July 25, 2017 Wednesday, July 26, 2017 Thursday, July 27, 2017 Friday, July 28, 2017

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democratic process last year.

Vote Expected on Tuesday The House is expected to vote on the sanctions bill on Tuesday.

The legislation would require the president to sub-

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July 22, 2017

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mit to Congress a report on proposed actions that would “significantly alter” U.S. policy toward Russia, including easing sanctions or returning diplomatic properties in Maryland and New York that former President Barack

Russian President Vladimir Putin

US President Donald Trump

of legislation and no more changes are being made.”

Anthony Scaramucci, Trump’s new communications director, said Trump had not yet decided whether he would sign the bill.

“My guess is ... that he’s

and Democrats are seeking to punish Russia for its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and for meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied any interference in the U.S.

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Obama ordered vacated in December.

Congress would have at least 30 days to hold hearings and then vote to uphold or reject Trump’s proposed changes.

If Trump were to veto the bill, he would run the risk of an embarrassing political setback if Congress were to override his veto.

In recent weeks, Trump administration officials have met with lawmakers to argue against parts of the Senate version of the bill, including the requirement that Trump obtain Congress’ permission before easing sanctions.

The sanctions bill, known as the Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act, was passed by the Senate a month ago but held up in the House of Representatives after Republicans proposed including sanctions on North Korea.

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Lawmakers, including Republican Senator John Thune and Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Sunday the bill had broad bipartisan support.

“I think (it) will pass probably overwhelmingly again in the Senate and with a veto-proof majority,” Thune, a member of the Republican leadership, told “Fox News Sunday.”

In Brussels, the European Union has sounded an alarm about the U.S. moves to step up sanctions on Russia, urging Washington to coordinate with its Group of 7 partners.

The European Commission, the EU executive, will consider its next steps at a meeting on Wednesday in Brussels if Trump signs the bill into law, and is willing to consider retaliation, according to an EU official.

After warning against unilateral U.S. sanctions at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is concerned Congress’ legislation could hit European companies upgrading pipelines in Russia that feed into Ukraine’s gas transit system.

The measures could also target European companies doing legitimate business with Russia in rail transport, financial, shipping and mining, the EU official said.

Any significant EU retaliation would need the support, however, of the EU’s 28 governments and would face resistance from members of the bloc, such as Britain and Hungary, that are reluctant to upset the Trump administration.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 24, 2017

Venezuela congress going ahead despite ‘imperial’ threat: Maduro D E F Y I N G p re s s u re from abroad and at home, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday that a controversial election would go ahead next weekend for a new congress his foes fear will institutionalise dictatorship.

“The imperial right wing believes it can give orders to Venezuela, the only ones who give orders here are the people,” Maduro said in reference to a threat from U.S. President Donald Trump to impose economic sanctions if the vote is not aborted.

“This time next week Venezuelans will vote for a Constituent Assembly,” the leftist leader added in his weekly TV programme.

Venezuela’s oppo sition has been protesting in the streets since

April against the unpopular Maduro whom they accuse of wrecking the OPEC nation’s economy and crushing democracy.

Opponents are boycotting the Constituent Assembly vote, which they see as a farce designed to ensure a majority for a government with minority popular support, and demanding instead conventional free elections including for a new president.

The European Union and major Latin American nations have also stated their opposition to the constituent body, which will have power to rewrite Venezuela’s 1999 constitution and override other institutions.

“We need the support of other democracies to avoid turning into another Cuba,” said Julio Borges, who leads the opposition-led National

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

Assembly legislature that officials say will be replaced by Maduro’s new constituent body.

Opposition leaders are planning a week of protests, including a twoday national strike on Wednesday and Thursday, to try to force Maduro’s hand. He says they are “terrorists” working for

Washington to try to control Venezuela’s oil.

“THEY WON’T TOPPLE ME” More than 100 people have died in four months of anti-government unrest. Hundreds have also been injured and arrested.

Venezuela’s political showdown is playing out

against the backdrop of a crippling economic crisis, with many going hungry and suffering shortages during a fourth year of deep recession.

In his lengthy TV show, Maduro urged the opposition to let Venezuelans vote in peace next Sunday, but also said special election centers would be set up to accommodate those blocked by “fascists” at their local vote point.

Transport would be provided free to maximize turnout, Maduro added, dressed in a red shirt and dancing with his wife to publicity jingles for the Constituent Assembly vote.

“They have not toppled me nor will they topple me,” he said.

Maduro also vowed that members of a new alternative Supreme Court panel appointed by the

opposition in defiance of the government would be imprisoned: “They are all going to jail, one by one.

And all their property and accounts will be frozen.”

One of the 13 opposition appointees, lawyer Angel Zerpa, was arrested by the state intelligence service on Saturday.

Venezuela’s state prosecutor ’s office, whose chief Luisa Ortega has broken with the Maduro government in protest at rights abuses and erosion of democracy, said Zerpa’s whereabouts were unknown and filed for habeas corpus to have him freed.

Earlier on Sunday, Ortega said the Constituent Assembly should have been preceded by a referendum and that 90 percent of Venezuelans opposed it, according to a statement from her office. (Reuters)

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Editorial

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 24, 2017

President’s commitment to GECOM ruling THE Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) issued a statement on Saturday, which should remove any doubt of President David Granger’s commitment to respect the decision handed down by Madam Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire, Senior Counsel, on the interpretation of Article 161 in the Guyana Constitution, which addresses the appointment of Chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

There is no desire to reiterate the different views, responses and actions surrounding the matter. Suffice to say that this issue has generated many conversations and nay it be said has been sucking the oxygen out of the society to address other matters of equal or greater importance. Where there exists any speculation what the President may have meant and how he plans on

proceeding on the matter is now cleared up. This is important not only from the standpoint that the position has to be filled, but also it is the President who is constitutionally charged with the responsibility to be the final determinant on the person he finds acceptable to be appointed chairman.

It cannot be denied that there remains widespread interest in the appointment of a chairman. Former Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally had in November 2016 submitted his resignation and was asked to stay on until a replacement is found, but in February resigned, and since then the position has been vacant.

The vacancy has not only created concern in the society, but also opportunities for political provocateurs to thrive. In neither instance can the views be ignored.

Whereas in the former the recognition that GECOM is

vital to the electoral processes and integrity of the society and its policy-makers should actively be shaping its direction, in the latter instance it creates fuel to cast aspersions which in our society it often matters not that those who accuse are too not free of taint.

Allegations, real or perceived, of rigged elections have haunted this society and created deep political divisions, which in our society translate to racial mistrust and animosity. Where it is being said that the absence of a chairman is a strategy by the Government to engage misconduct similarly, it cannot be ignored that the presence of a chairman in the 1997 General and Regional Elections did not prevent allegations of rigging and the High Court vitiation of those elections.

The 2006 elections saw the Alliance For Change’s parliamentary seat being

wrongly awarded to the PPP/C and there was a sitting chairman. In 2011, were it not for the vigilance of Commissioner Vincent Alexander, there could have likely been a repeat of the 2006 declarations. The 2011 elections, when the votes were properly tallied and awarded, saw the combined opposition securing the legislative majority. In 2015, when the PPP/C lost the General Elections -- i.e. both the legislature and executive -- the party cried foul and said the elections were rigged. For days, its leadership, members and supporters, protested in front of GECOM headquarters calling for Dr. Surujbally’s removal, even though he was Chairman of the 2006 and 2011 elections.

These aforesaid incidents will be skewed, forgotten, justified or conveniently remembered by provocateurs and those who live off

such sentiments. And though these may be learning and less-than-pleasant experiences, the past is enough to serve as prologue of the importance of ensuring that the Carter Center formula -- constitutionally enshrined -- continues to work.

A notable positive from all the experiences surrounding Justice George-Wiltshire’s ruling is that it has now established the guidelines for interpretation and proceeding on the Article under review. This recognition was made clear by President Granger.

A c c o r d i n g l y, t h e MoTP’s statement said, “While the President believes that the Constitution

was crafted the way it was to give preference to the appointment of ‘a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth, or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court, or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge,’ he has never disagreed with [the] acting chief justice’s ruling in that the Constitution clearly states that ‘any other fit and proper person’ can be appointed. President Granger’s comments complement and do not contradict that ruling.”

Better service needed from some International Airlines operating the Guyana route Dear Editor: JUST over a month ago while travelling overseas with a particular airline, I made some observations that the Ministries of Public Infrastructure, Business and Tourism, along with the Civil Aviation Authority, may find interesting and hopefully seek to address.

The airline with which I travelled operated on a scale just below that of an airborne TATA bus, for those of us who can remember when the state provided a public bus service.

The TATAs were large blue and white buses imported from India. Those TATA buses had a long rope connected to some sort of bell. When the rope was pulled, it activated the bell and notified the driv-

er when someone wanted to disembark at the nearest bus stop. Unlike the TATA bus’ bell, the attendant or call buttons on the aircraft I used for travel were non-functional.

I wanted to get the flight attendants’ attention when my seat wasn’t reclining, but the call button just didn’t work.

Two seats ahead of me, a lady with a clearly agitated infant tried the call button but nobody came. She got up with the bawling infant and began a bounce-like jig in the aisle close to her seat for over 10 minutes in her apparent effort to calm the child, while still pressing the call button on her seat’s handle intermittently, but there was no response from the direction where the flight attendants had earlier

retreated.

I know from prior travel experience that flight attendants reservedly ignore such calls if an aircraft is in ascent or descent and the seat belt signs are on. But at the time when I and the lady tried activating our respective call buttons, seat belt signs were off, and the plane was at cruising altitude. I assume that we had both taken telepathic decisions not to take that long walk down the aisle to get the attention we desired. One of the first thoughts that came to my mind about non-functioning call buttons was safety.

What if the passenger who was sitting next to me had started experiencing a heart attack? What if I had noticed a piece of the wing flat fall-

ing off and wanted to get the attendants’ attention without creating undue alarm? What if it were somebody incapacitated wishing some sort of assistance to the restroom?

Eventually, when one of the flight attendants emerged from her hallowed nest some 40 minutes later and I brought the call button occurrences to her attention, she apologised compassionately in a form of English that was clearly her third language, and said that the corresponding alert buzzer for the attendants’ notification was not working.

Wow!!

In all of my international travel experience, it was also the first time that the only in-flight entertainment was the humming of the engines

of the aircraft. The plane was adequately fitted with cabin-type video screens, but they remained blank all through the more than fivehour journey. Local ferries, such as those plying the mighty Essequibo River, provide on-board television entertainment. Most mini-buses and water-taxis carry audio or video entertainment for much shorter periods of travel, but my flight had neither form.

Fortunately, both passengers who sat next to me on the outbound and inbound legs were conversational, and our discourses stole the boredom of our flights. I believe the least that airline could have done was provide some soft instrumental music to offset

the monotony of the flight.

They could have played something nice from local artistes like Dave Martins and the Tradewinds, Eddy Grant, Timeka Marshall, or classics from the Roy Geddes and Police Steel Orchestras. In-flight videos on the Rupununi Rodeo, flora and fauna, Kaieteur National Park, etc could have been sourced from the Department for Public Information, formerly GINA. I trust that the relevant agencies seek to ensure that international airlines serving Guyana do better than what was obtained from the one I used.

Regards, ORETTE CUTTING

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 24, 2017

Self-diagnosis not good -- Minister Lawrence tells health fair

THE Ministry of Public Health is zeroing in on poor health practices in Guyana, according to Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence.

Speaking at the Ministry of Public Health mega health fair on July 22 at the Stabroek Square, Georgetown, Lawrence said efforts will be made to foster healthy lifestyles in all Guyanese.

The health fair featured governmental and non-governmental organisations and targeted vendors and passersby of the very busy area.

Patrons benefited from HIV tests, dental services, blood sugar and pressure tests

A patron receives free dental service at Saturday’s mega health fair held at Stabroek Square

Let’s leave judgment to God

Dear Editor: I READ with sadness and much disappointment, a letter by one Edwin Lynch, in last weekend’s edition of the CS, captioned, ‘Gay Rights’. Lynch went on to justify his reasons being against gay marriage; he went on to mention what he deemed ‘natural’ and ‘unnatural’ behaviours of animals, etc, etc He then urged everyone to “stand up against” the proposal to give the LGBT community (he still refers to this community as ‘homosexuals’) the right to marry. While that has never been a proposal put to the table by both current and past governments, the writer (I do not know if he is a Catholic or not) is way out of line in his diatribe against this community.

What he failed to mention is the love that Mother church urges all to show towards the LGBTs and the opportunities that should and must be available to them, regardless of their sexual orientation, to serve the Lord and participate in the proclamation of the

Gospel. Mr Lynch, please, let’s leave the judgment part to God on Judgement day.

Regards, LEON SUSERAN

in addition to a great degree of health education and other services.

“Our mandate is to ensure that we have a healthy nation,” Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence said.

She explained that there are many services being offered, often for free, that many Guyanese just do not know of, and as a result of this, educating the public is important.

“It is all about bringing health to the people… educating the people,” she stressed, while adding that health is a “two-way street,” where the people themselves need to be conscious and take care of themselves.

“In Guyana, there is much self-diagnosis which leads to many diseases that persons are unaware of,” the minister said, noting that it is important that the ministry, in carrying out its mandate, make education and sensitisation driving

forces behind the event.

In addition to involving stakeholders in the medical field, Lawrence related that the ministry decided to involve other stakeholders such as banks, the Police Force and the Fire Service in an attempt to show how all stakeholders need to be involved in promoting the good life.

The event marks the first of a few medical and educational outreaches that the ministry will be embarking upon. Next month at Parika, the ministry will be offering a large ‘Back-to-School’ medical fair for children and another such fair will be held at Kuru-Kururu on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

There will also be other mini-health fairs, according to the minister, but these larger fairs are to ensure that Guyanese buy in to the ministry’s promotion of a healthy life.

Paradigm shift at City Hall

I READ with great pleasure the response of Debra Lewis, Public Relations Officer, M&CC to my recent letter to the editor in relation to the nightmare I encountered to get refund of bail at City Hall. In her missive under the caption, “We are improving the bail money refund system, “ which was published in the Stabroek News, Friday, July 21, 2017, she thanked me and posited, “ We would like to assure citizens that we are taking the necessary steps to improve the system relating to the refund of bail.” Apparently, the paradigm has shifted. This is

commendable. It is a giant leap in the right direction.

Certainly it will in some way enhance the image of the M&CC and promote greater public confidence in its operations. The perfor-

mance of any organisation that does not respond to well-founded criticism with a willingness to change will be prosaic. Debra Lewis, the PRO for the M&CC, has given credence to that

statement. Thank you PRO. Yours respectfully, CLINTON CONWAY Assistant Commissioner of Police (Rtd)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 24, 2017

Kartabo Primary makes Bartica proud –– records 98 percent pass rate at NGSA

DESPITE their domestic, social and educational circumstances, the pupils of Kartabo Primary School shone at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) with 11-year-old Ryan Williams emerging at the top student.

Williams, an aspiring doctor, secured 478 marks, and though he did not place in the country’s top one per cent or Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) Top 10, it is the first time in more than six years that Kartabo Primary School has achieved such high marks with a 98 per cent pass rate.

Located seven miles from Bartica in the CuyuniMazaruni District, Kartabo Primary School with a student population of approximately 77 students and six teachers, three of which are ‘acting teachers’, prepared 12 pupils for the 2017 NGSA examination.

Of the 12 students, seven students secured marks to attend the region’s top Secondary School – Three Miles Secondary while four others will be attending the Bartica Secondary School come September 2017.

One student did not acquire enough marks to attend a secondary school and would be returning to the multi-grade school to re-sit

the examination come 2018.

In an interview with Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, headteacher of the Kartabo Primary School Lorna Shanks said this year’s high pass rate was as a result of

rolled out in December 2017 with focus on the grade six students.

The programme included the training of teachers in content and methodology, facilitating fortnightly clus-

Ryan Williams and his mother Sonia, pose with his trophy several factors, including the “Emergency Maths Intervention Programme” which was implemented by the Education Ministry late last year.

“The empowerment from that training in three months, the children were able to do their best,” the headteacher posited.

The Emergency Maths Intervention Programme was

ter meetings in all regions, recruitment of mathematics coordinators and monitors, and training of officers and school administrators to supervise the teaching of mathematics.

It also included the preparation and administration of a diagnostic assessment of pupils in the hinterland before training, enhancement of

public relations and parental involvement in the education of children and the acquisition of support materials for students.

Shanks said she and a retired VSO, Ian Scott participated in those training and worked with students tirelessly not only in mathematics but also in the three other core subject areas.

PARENTAL SUPPORT She noted too that many of the children’s parents were very supportive during this period despite being faced with a number of issues.

The Kartabo Primary School is currently being housed in a new building and caters for children at the nursery and primary levels.

With more human and physical resources, the headteacher believes that in the not so distant future, the school will make it into the top one per cent of the country.

“I am optimistic that in the future we will be able to be in that one per cent, it may not be next year but maybe within the next four or five years,” she told Guyana Chronicle.

Already, Shanks and Scott have been working with the eight children who are enlisted to write the 2018

Junior Natural Resources Minister, Simona Broomes, meeting with headteacher of the Kartabo Primary School, Lorna Shanks, during her recent visit to Kartabo NGSA Examination. Turning Kartabo. her attention for the need In a brief interview with for more trained teachers, Guyana Chronicle on SatShanks pointed out that the urday, Minister Broomes three acting teachers are cur- told Guyana Chronicle that rently taking the necessary she is pleased to know that steps to become qualified. measures implemented by “They are working to the Government such as the upgrade their status. They Emergency Maths Intervenwrote CXC this year includ- tion Programme are bearing ing maths and it is my hope fruit. She noted that little that by September 2018, they Williams ought to be apwill be able to attend CPCE plauded for his outstanding [Cyril Potter College of Ed- performance, along with his ucation],” the headteacher colleagues. said.

The minister had also Last week, during an out- visited the village of Batreach to a number of river- avia where there are said ain communities in Region to be an issue of school Seven including Kartabo drop outs. Based on issues Village, Minister within the raised, Minister Broomes Ministry of Natural Resourc- has pledged to make reprees Simona Broomes met with sentation on behalf of the the residents and teachers of concerned residents.

Pan-African intellectuals meet in Ghana –– to discuss, inter alia, cheaper intra-regional travel, trade

By Zena Henry THE Kwame Nkrumah Pan-African Intellectual and Cultural Festival continues to provide a platform for the review and critical re-assessment of urgent tasks necessary to deepen the technical and intellectual skills needed for training the next cadre of thinkers and practitioners in the development of African peoples across the world.

Held from June 25 to July 1 in Ghana and hosted by the Kwame Nkrumah Chair in African Studies at the University of Ghana, the festival, the second to date, saw among those in attendance academics and advocates of Pan-Africanism from the Caribbean and Americas converging for further discussions on creating “a structural transformation of the African World”.

In his academic and research capacity, representing

the Walter Rodney Foundation, Guyana’s own Wazir Mohamed was invited to the African nation to deliver on some of the ideas of Dr. Rodney, and to discuss the global marginalisation of small farmers and the difficulty they face in accessing land.

Mohamed told Guyana Chronicle on Saturday that his presentation dealt with the encroachment of neo-liberals moving forward with an agenda that affects small producers’ access to land, and the issue of land-grabbing, which he said is so familiar to Africa.

Mohamed contends that despite the fact that food production levels are rising in some cases, the operations of small farmers are generally being reduced.

The Kwame Nkrumah Pan-African Intellectual and Cultural Festival saw the attendance of several other Caribbean scholars, among them Barbadian historian and UWI Vice-Chancellor

Dr. Hilary Beckles, who delivered the feature address at the event.

The Caribbean, through the efforts of Dr Beckles, who is the Chair of the Caribbean Community Repara-

ment.

This approach to Europe has the support of African nations, even some African-American organisations that have indicated an interest in being a party in the

Guyana’s Wazir Mohamed at the festival in Ghana.

Seated second right is Samia Nkrumah, daughter of former Ghanaian President, Kwame Nkrumah tions Commission, is leading the way in the reparations bid to seek from Europe various forms of compensation for atrocities caused by the system of African enslave-

claim against Europe.

In the meantime, more in-depth discussions on the relationship between Africa and western territories holding Africans were held. This

included talks of increased trade and travel between Africa, the Caribbean and American countries.

One thing that was mentioned, Mohamed told the newspaper, was the need to improve travel whereby members of the Caribbean can easily and freely travel to the continent.

As it stands, persons from the Caribbean must go through Europe to get to Africa, despite the two locations being closer geographically.

These issues and many more will be highlighted in the university’s final communique, Mohamed pointed out.

Under the theme, “Global Africa 2063: Education for Reconstruction and Transformation”, the Ghana University wants “to reflect the foundations of Kwame Nkrumah’s intellectual and cultural ideologies of a united Africa”.

Those who had gathered, it was said, examined

and critically investigated the role of African-centred education and knowledge production for shaping the development agenda.

“This approach challenged the destructive and dominant education and knowledge system which supports neo-colonialism.”

The Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, was established by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of the Republic of Ghana and has been noted as the founding institute that focused on Africa and African people.

Over 400 academics, government representatives, former government members, community members, international and local Pan-Africanists, and students of Africa convened in Accra.

Their job, “to debate on the way forward and interrogate the challenges of bringing Global Africa closer with the peoples at differing parts of the planet”.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 24, 2017

ISKCON celebrates 51st anniversary

By Navendra Seoraj

BRIDGING the gap between spirituality and academia is high on the agenda for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) which on Sunday celebrated 51 years of existence and the second anniversary since the construction of their local headquarters in Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara.

Addressing the gathering at the Cummings Lodge temple, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo emphasised the importance of spirituality in enabling a peaceful and focused life.

Most of the other leaders who spoke shared their views on the work of the Hare Krishna movement and stressed the need for spirituality and academ-

ic pursuits to go hand in hand.

Founder of ISKCON Guyana, Deva Das, told the devotees and members of the audience that it is for this reason the building was built close to the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter College of Education.

“They are just a step away and because… the level of study at those institutions is one step away from the world of work and our teachings will be pertinent to them,” said Das. Spirituality is necessary in any profession, he said, noting that it allows persons to have a broad-minded view of things and keep way from social ills.

“By adding this, it will help them reduce the rate of failure, anxiety and other ills that might cause a

lasting effect,” he said.

The building was dubbed the ideal place for learning. The ground floor of the building houses a vegetarian restaurant, a gift shop, bhaktivedanta cultural hall and a state-ofthe-art facility for a mega kitchen.

The second floor has a spacious temple which allows more than 300 devotees to congregate and pray at a beautiful altar.

And the third floor houses a conference room, Vedic library, deluxe guest rooms, a Brahmachari Ashram and student’s dormitory.

Das said since there is a great decline in morality and God consciousness in the population at large, the mission of the centre is to assist all Guyanese in discovering their inner selves and to promote spiritual education, high moral

values and strong personal development.

The temple provides free access to all Vedic literatures, a wide variety of academic resources, and facilities for religious conferences and meetings, among others.

With all of the facilities in place, the temple administrators hope to create a complete Vedic cultural and spiritual house under one roof with workshops, philosophy, lectures, chanting, yoga, meditation, art, music, cuisine, ancient spiritual traditions, personality development, character-building, counselling and most of all God consciousness.

Several business persons and other individuals who made significant contributions to the temple were recognised during the observance on Sunday.

Two arrested in gun, ammo find TWO persons, one being a Caribbean national, who were found in a motor car on the Crabwood Creek Public Road on Sunday morning with an unlicensed .38 revolver and five live matching rounds have been arrested.

They are being processed for court.

Below are the weapon and ammunition found.

Crane Housing Scheme teen killed in accident JOEL Baird, 17, of 285 Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, died in an accident on the Hydronie Public Road, East Bank Essequibo, on Sunday.

An investigation has revealed that motor car PSS 4428, driven by a 23-year-old resident of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, was proceeding west along the southern driveway when Baird allegedly ran across the road from south to north into the path of the vehicle and was struck.

The pedestrian sustained head injuries as a result of the impact. He was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital in an unconscious state, and was pronounced dead on arrival.

The body is presently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

The driver is in custody assisting with the investigation. A breathalyser test was conducted, but no trace of blood alcohol was found.

Bandits beat, rob North Success businessman Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo with the persons honoured for their contributions to the temple and members of the ISKCON Movement (Samuel Maughn photo)

Man killed at Mabura Trail THE police are investigating the murder of Devon Murray, 18, a sawmill operator of 1331 ‘B’ Field, Sophia at 38 Miles, Mabura Trail, Upper Demerara

River on Saturday.

According to a release, the police are hunting a male suspect who allegedly committed the act.

The body of Murray,

which bore a wound to the neck, is currently at the Mackenzie Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

The murder allegedly occurred after the

suspect was said to have made sexual advances to the girlfriend of the deceased at the said location. A cutlass was said to have been used to commit the act.

POLICE are investigating a robbery under arms committed on a 58-year-old businessman of North Success, East Coast Demerara, on Sunday.

Police in a release said the incident occurred around 03:00hrs at the home of the victim and during the process, he was shot.

An investigation has revealed that the victim and his wife arrived home in their motor vehicle (Toyota Rav4 No. PLL1392) and were about to enter their house when they were pounced upon by two males, one with a handgun and the other with a cutlass.

The gunman shot the man and the other lashed him on the head with the cutlass before taking them into their house.

While in the home of the couple, they ransacked the building and took away an undisclosed amount of valuables before making good their escape.

The 58-year-old man was rushed to a private hospital where he was admitted in a stable condition.

Investigations are in progress.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 24, 2017

The types of child abuse

THE World can seem like a complicated place at times, but let us not confuse the issue of child abuse. There are four main types and each of them cannot only harm the development of a child, but can also affect the child’s expected outcome in life.

They are:Psychological/Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse, Neglect, and Sexual Abuse We at the Childcare and Protection Agency are mandated to protect children and to ensure that they are treated in accordance with the law and that their rights are not violated.

Psychological/Emotional abuse (an example): This type of abuse is not immediately apparent and no one can determine the long-lasting and traumatic effect it may have on a child. But when a parent or family member systematically calls a child ‘stupid’ or ‘aunty man,’ or makes fun of a child in any way, this is abuse. Some parents say hurtful things to a child to stimulate a change in behaviour. They may feel quite justified telling a child things like, ‘The child should have been aborted or they are worthless like their absent mother or father.’ But

words can leave lasting scars on a person’s psyche -- sometimes even more so than physical abuse.

Physical abuse (examples): This type of abuse usually follows an inherent pattern passed down from foreparents. It is a typically dictatorial action where a child is beaten mercilessly (sometimes with whatever is handy), because they have done or said something wrong. As a result, the child’s skin would have welts, bruises and even open wounds from the beating and the perpetrator is convinced that this is a punishment that fits the ‘crime,’ or it is

the only way to get his/her point over and motivate behavioural change. Physical abuse can also take place when a parent or family member consistently, cuffs, punches, slaps, shoves, bites, pinches or wrings the ears of a sibling causing undue pain, discomfort and distress.

Physical abuse on this scale is illegal and parents can be prosecuted.

Neglect (examples): When a parent or caregiver leaves a child (or children) alone unsupervised for long periods of time, this is neglect. When parents go out and don’t come back for days, leaving children to fend for themselves or in severe cases even allowing them to beg on the streets for their survival, this is neglect and is punishable by law.

Children need to be under the care and supervision of a trustworthy adult.

While neglect does not sound much like abuse, it is very upsetting to a

child to know that their parent cannot care for them adequately. It makes them feel unwanted and worthless. Thoughts of being rejected and unloved through neglect can affect a child’s confidence and self-esteem and last into adulthood.

Sexual Abuse (examples): Any sexual act perpetrated on a child is sexual abuse. This includes, touching, fondling, stroking and making a child do anything of a sexual nature. Showing pornography to children and/or allowing them to watch sexually explicit movies is abuse. Penetration with an object or any other body part is abuse. Saying inappropriate things about sex to a child or exposing one’s sexual parts to a child is abuse. Forcing children to have sex or allowing them to engage in sex for money is abuse.

Adults can be prosecuted for all these under the Protection of Children Act

2009.

It is sad to say, but in our society and indeed the world, children have been subjected to all of the above and even more unimaginable traumas during their short time on earth. There are some real ‘sick’ adults out there who have no respect for children and some who see them only as commodities to be used for their own deviant pleasures. Now that you have a better idea of what child abuse is, you must not be afraid to report it. Even if you only suspect that a child is being abused, it is your duty to let the Childcare and Protection Agency investigate. Children are not brought into this world to suffer at the hands of thoughtless adults.

If you are concerned about a child you can ring the CPA hotline 2270979 or email childcaregy@gmail.com A Message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 24, 2017

AFC congratulates Team STEMGuyana

THE Alliance For Change (AFC) has congratulated Team STEMGuyana which placed 10th from among 164 countries in the First Global Games in Washington DC, USA. The party in a statement said it salutes the team members, founder Karen Abrams, the team’s patron First Lady Sandra Granger and all those who made the team’s participation possible.

“The nation is proud of your success and achievements and looks forward to greater success and advancements in the future.

Congratulations once again,” the party said.

The STEM Guyana team recently returned home to a warm welcome by the First Lady, Sandra Granger, Director of Sport Christopher Jones, as well as several other Government officials at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, after fierce

competition at the recently concluded First Global Challenge in Washington DC. The young Guyanese team comprising Ryan Benschop (team captain), Anthony Frank, Arianna Mahase, Christopher Nelson, Sahief Poese and Vevekeanand Ramnarace, alongside Team Manager Farnaz Baksh; Coach Ricky Chan; and Public Relations Officer Horace Moseley, placed 10th after battling against 164 other countries from around the globe.

The achievement by the nine-member team is phenomenal, considering that they had only four months to prepare for a competition which was new to them.

Farnaz Baksh, 22, team manager and one of the two lone females on the team, said that part of the team’s success came from observing their environment.

She explained that during

preparation for the competition, they had experienced some difficulties which were solved through engineering techniques used in Guyana for drainage and irrigation.

“One of the main focuses was our pull-up mechanism, which was because of the weight of the bot, it was a little too heavy and then we thought our koker system in Guyana, those doors are way heavier, so what is the gear mechanism behind it so that it lifts all the weight? So some of the students went and inspected it and saw how the gear works and which go where; so it was between turk and speed, so we needed more turk and less speed, so that’s how come we used a larger sprocket and it actually helped us.

In all six matches, we got out 20 points because of studying the koker system here in Guyana,” she had said.

Startup Grind to host ‘another exciting meet’ weekend AFTER successfully hosting four Fireside Chat and Networking forums, Startup Grind Georgetown will be hosting another exciting networking forum in the form of a social next Saturday.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Startup Grind Georgetown Research and Professional Development Coordinator Rosanna Ferreira said the event is aimed at bringing together entrepreneurs and even investors from various fields.

“We want everyone to come and be a part of this movement. If you are a well-established entrepreneur, come share your experience with us,” Ferreira said.

“If you are an upcoming entrepreneur, come and learn from the experiences of others.

Despite your specialty, I am sure there will be an opportunity for you to network,” she added.

The event will be held at WeOwn Space in South Ruimveldt from 17:00hrs next Saturday, and among those expected to be present are entrepreneurs, ICT specialists, investors and private sector representatives.

Startup Grind would have started with their first event in March of this year with the past speakers being Eldon Marks, Norma Daniels, Sonia Noel, and Rosh Khan, who motivated their audience with their stories of both success and failures.

“Over the last past four months, Startup Grind George-

Startup Grind Georgetown’s Rosanna Ferreira and Nevin Johnson town created a platform for independent start-up commusuccessful entrepreneurs in nity, actively educating, inspirvarious fields to share their ing, and connecting 1,000,000 life stories with budding entre- entrepreneurs in over 200 preneurs. These inspirational cities. stories have had positive inIt nurtures start-up ecosysfluences on the lives of many. tems in 98 countries through And we cannot forget the net- events, media, and partnerworking aspect of the events, ships with organisations such which remains a critical ele- as Google for Entrepreneurs. ment of the entire movement,” The cornerstone of its globthe coordinator explained. al community are monthly Startup Grind’s aim is to events featuring successful lohave fireside chats, whereby cal founders, innovators, edupersons can come and be able cators and investors who share to network with each other. lessons learned on the road to According to Nevin John- building great companies. son, the Chapter’s Information Founded in Silicon Valley, Analyst, the organisation’s Startup Grind has now hosted core value is for them to give 5,000 fireside chats since its first, take last and to make founding in 2010. friends. Startup Grind’s priTo date, Startup Grind mary goal is to raise aware- has helped millions of enness about entrepreneurship trepreneurs find mentoropportunities within the local ship, connect to partners and environment. hires, pursue funding, and Startup Grind is the largest reach new users.

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First Lady Sandra Granger (third from right) as she joins in the celebration with the STEMGuyana team

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 24, 2017

‘I haven’t given up on Lethem’ –– says businessman whose $200M building recently collapsed

By Alva Solomon

WHILE his hopes were dashed by the collapse of the building in which he planned to house his operations, Lethem businessman Frank Satnarine is not giving up on his investment dreams in the Rupununi.

Several days ago, the man’s two-flat concrete building came crashing down during a stormy night at the border town.

Satnarine told the Guyana Chronicle that the building, which was

built since 2012 at a cost exceeding $200M, was insured for a sum far less than the cost of construction.

He said that the bank is still to assess the situation, but in the meantime, he will wait out the rest of 2017 before he once again embarks on his ambitious plans for the area.

Satnarine said that in 2009, he left the Coastland for the Rupununi and commenced working on his plans of setting up a business in the area. He said that he applied to the

Before-and-after images of the building which collapsed authorities, and was granted permission to build on a plot of land at the commercial area in the town.

He’d initially planned to open a haberdashery store, he said, but with the influx of businesses owned by the Chinese, he resorted to “Plan B”, which was to invest in agro-processing and water purification.

Satnarine noted that since Lethem imports drinking water from neighbouring Brazil, his plan also entailed setting up a water purification plant so he could distill water and resell it.

He said that the region has “great potential” for agro-processing, and as such, he embarked on plans to open a processing facility. “Initially, it was supposed to be a type of one-stop shop, but I changed plans soon after,” Satnarine said, adding: “In fact, in September the plans were to start off.”

But in spite of all that’s happened, the businessman said, he’s not about to give up on Lethem, as what he has in mind is for the benefit of many people.

“Lethem has a lot of scope for industrialisation,” Satnarine said, adding that peanut-processing is one area he has plans of expending time and energy on.

He said he recently took part in a programme at Radio Lethem, and he was encouraging farmers to “go back to the land”, noting that he envisages a partnership with peanut farmers.

He said that he applied to the Guyana Land and Survey Commission (GL&SC) and was granted permission to plant on several acres of land. “I have a cashew nut plantation in mind,” the businessman said, adding that he wants to start with 10,000 plants, and as time goes by, he will expand the idea.

He said that at least 20 persons would benefit directly from the investment, while the farmers would be the indirect beneficiaries of the venture.

As regards the collapsed building, Satnarine said that he was in Georgetown when it happened, and that it was fortunate that the two workers who were left to mind it had gone to buy food.

What is most unfortunate, he said, is that among the things he lost was the equipment to set up the water purification plant.

Satnarine said he will be assessing the entire situation in the coming months and in 2018 he foresees his venture coming into fruition. “I haven’t given up on the investment,” he said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 24, 2017

Continued from Sunday

AG’s submission in ‘GECOM chairperson’ court case

THE applicant made an application for Declaratory Orders on: a) Whether the list of persons for appointment as Chairman of the Elections Commission required to be submitted by the Leader of the Opposition under article 161(2) must include a judge, a former judge or a person qualified as a judge. b) Whether the President is required under the Constitution to state reasons for deeming each of the six names on the list submitted by the President as unacceptable. c) Whether the President is obliged to select a person from the six names on the list unless he has determined positively that the persons thereon are unacceptable as a fit and proper person for appointment. d) Whether a finding of fact by the President that any one or more persons is not a fit and proper person renders the entire list as unacceptable.

QUESTION A Construing Article 161(1), (2), (3) and (4) utilizing various canons of construction The court is reminded that a constitution is no ordinary statute. It is the source of legislative and executive authority. It determines how the country is to be governed and how legislation is to be enacted.

It defines the powers of the different organs of state, including Parliament, the executive, and the courts as well as the fundamental rights of every person which must be respected in exercising such powers: State v Makwanyane and Another - [1995] 1 LRC 269.

It is submitted that the duty of the court is not to re-write the constitution but to interpret what is already stated in the constitution clearly. The words themselves best declare the intention of the framers. “ It is therefore submitted that the court should be cautious in applying cas-

es from other countries which do not have similar provisions to that of our constitution.

Each constitution must be construed according to the intent of the Parliament which passed the act. Hence the provisions of another constitution cannot be applied blindly to our constitution and the wide discretion which the framers have given to the President of Guyana. Only Parliament can change what is there, certainly not the court. Up to now Parliament has not made any changes.

LITERAL RULE In interpreting Acts of Parliament, Tindal CJ in the Sussex Peerage Case (1844) 11 Cl & Fin 85 posited, “... the only rule for the construction of Acts of Parliament is, that they should be construed according to the intent of the Parliament which passed the Act. If the words of the statute are in themselves precise and unambiguous, then no more can be necessary than to expound those words in their natural and ordinary sense. The words themselves alone do, in such case, best declare the intention of the lawgiver.”

Maxwell on the interpretation of statutes 11th edition page 1 further emphasises this point by stating that “A statute is the will of the legislature and the fundamental rule of interpretation to which all others are subordinate… (and it) is to be expounded according to the intent of them that made it.”

A cardinal rule of construction of statues is that words and phrases assume their ordinary and natural meaning. Under Article 161 (2) the following persons are considered qualified for appointment to the post of Chairman: (1) persons who hold office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court

having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court; (2) persons who have held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court; (3) persons who are qualified to be appointed as any such judge; and (4) any other fit and proper person.

The relevant section contains four categories of individuals worthy of candidature for the office of Chairmanship of the elections commission, namely: 1. A “… Judge of a Court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth.”

2. Judge of “a Court of Appeals having jurisdiction from any such court.”

3. A Judge who is qualified to be as any such Judge.

4. “Any other fit and proper person” – and here lies the conundrum Clearly there is a pecking order of choice of the Chairman. The word “Judge” is the common denominator in all categories except the fourth. Category four is the lowest common denominator in the menu of the first three choices.

The President must exercise his preference in consonance with the order of priority as stipulated by the section. It is a travesty of reason and the construction of statutes to begin his selection with a search in category four – the lowest common denominator.

A dictum of Cave J in the case of Pratt v South East Railway [1897] 1 QB 718 at 721 has this to say: “Doubtless, no form of words have ever yet been framed by human ingenuity with regard to which some ingenious counsel would not suggest a difficulty.“ These conditions have clearly been stipulated under the provisions in the Constitution. Where the President is unable to find any candidate from the mandatory two options,

above, by the use of “or” in the beginning of the last six lines of sub article (2), he can use his discretion to determine who is fit and proper person qualified to be appointed the Chairman of the Elections Commission.

Ceteris paribus rule It is this fourth category that the canon of construction known as the ‘ceteris paribus rule’ of interpretation kicks in. Literally the Latin term means “and such like.” The court can also be guided by this canon of construction. Hence any other fit and proper person can be interpreted to mean and ‘such like person’ as a judge, former judge or a person qualified to be a judge.

Noscitur a sociis Under the doctrine of the separation of powers,

the role of Judges is not to make law (role of Legislature) but to interpret the law. They cannot add to or subtract from Constitutional or legislative provisions before them. In discharging their obligations Judges can employ established canons of construction for example: - Noscitur a sociis and ejusdem generis rules. Note the latter principle was discussed at length in the First Named Respondent’s previous submissions herein.

Noscitur a sociis- This rule is commonly referred to as the “context rule”, in that it states that words derive their colour from the words which surround them.

Applying this rule, a general word must take its context or “colour” from the surrounding words

Attorney General Basil Williams with which it is used. The word or words must be interpreted in light of the context being used.

(To be continued)

Fire hydrant, not water main THE Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has clarified that a Stabroek News photo captioned “Blankenburg water main” published on July 22, 2017, was actually a broken fire hydrant which has since been fixed.

The breakage was unearthed by road contractors under the road expansion project around 17:00hrs on Friday, July 21, 2017 (the scheduled delivery time for the treatment plant).

GWI in a release said it mobilised, assessed the problem, relocated the blown out component of the hydrant and reinstalled a temporary solution to reduce wastage.

This was completed at 19:00hrs on the day in question and a more permanent solution will be implemented to prevent a recurrence, GWI said.

Earlier this year, GWI rehabilitated over 400 fire hydrants in Georgetown alone and is in the process of rehabilitating more hydrants in other parts of the country, as the company seeks to ensure they are all operable countrywide.

“If you would like to report an inoperable fire hydrant in your area, you can contact GWI’s Customer Call Centre on 227-8701/03/04 or e-mail

customercallcentre@gwi. gy For updates, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @guyanawaterinc,” the release concluded.

Children playing in the water gushing from the broken fire hydrant in this Stabroek News photo

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday July 24, 2017

Achieving zero hunger requires transforming rural economies

–– UN High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development

THE pace of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development must be accelerated, a high-level United Nations meeting stressed in its final declaration last Wednesday.

The Ministerial Declaration of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development noted that “putting the furthest behind first” means taking action to address the root causes of poverty. The Declaration also highlights poverty as a main cause of hunger.

Almost 80 per cent of the world’s poor live in rural areas where people depend on agriculture, fisheries or forestry as their main source of income and food. Tackling poverty and hunger requires recognizing that food and nutrition security and rural livelihoods, including those of family farmers, fishers and pastoralists as well as indigenous communities, are intrinsically linked.

“We can only achieve Zero Hunger if we transform the rural economy, put smallholders at the centre and invest in sustainable agriculture and food systems,” said Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General, Climate and Natural Resources, delivering a joint statement on behalf of the United Nations Rome-based agencies FAO, IFAD and WFP during the Forum’s thematic review of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG2).

She noted that after years of decline, hunger is on the rise again according to preliminary UN estimates, warning that protracted crises, conflict and extreme weather events such as drought linked to climate change threatens to reverse progress made in the fight against food insecurity.

FAO stresses that achieving Zero Hunger (Sustainable Development Goal 2) requires ensuring people are able to access sufficient nourishing food, sustaining the planet’s natural resources including safeguarding biodiversity, and increasing in a sustainable way the agricultural productivity.

FAO together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have urged for increase of investments including in both social protection programmes and pro-poor productive activities to defeat hunger and extreme poverty by 2030.

In this context, the Ministerial Declaration recognises that “increased responsible investments are needed to enhance capacity for sustainable agricultural productivity” including those aimed at “climate adaptation and mitigation measures”. It also pointed to the need for “coherent policies and accountable institutions that respect tenure rights and prioritize women’s empowerment and gender equality”.

Serving as a panellist during the Forum’s session on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Semedo presented the Global Action Programme (GAP) as a framework to accelerate action to ensure food security and nutrition in SIDS. “SIDS have fragile natural environments and are particularly threatened by natural disasters and climate change. With limited arable land, they have a high dependence on food imports.” She stressed that overcoming the food security and nutrition challenges facing the SIDS requires multiple and coordinated actions.

In the thematic review of SDG14, FAO in recognition of the vital role of oceans in food security, nutrition as well as regulation of climate change and economic development, stressed the need to rebuild fisheries and prioritise small-scale artisanal fisheries The High-Level Political Forum involved nearly 2,500 participants, including ministers and other representatives from government, the UN system, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders.

It is held annually to review progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 24, 2017

Digicel’s schools Football Tournament

’Multi’ blast Mahdia 5-0 to reach quarter-finals

By Rawle Toney CHRISTIANBURG/Wismar Secondary School easily brushed aside Mahdia Secondary 5-0 yesterday at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground to advance to the quarterfinals of this year’s Digicel Schools Football Tournament.

Jehu Regis netted a double, while Kevin Dare, Jernel Williams and Randy Pickering scored a goal each for the Lindeners who will now play Buxton Youth Developers on Tuesday.

The four-time champions were barely made to sweat in a game they completely dominated for 90 minutes.

Pickering, just two minutes into the contest, collected a through-ball from Omar Brewley and the player who was left with just the Mahdia goalkeeper to beat, did so easily and slotted

home the game’s first goal.

The school popularly known as Multi could’ve ballooned the scoreline if they had only converted half of their chances.

Brewley, a usual goal-getter for the side was guilty of squandering several chances.

However, despite their effort, ‘Multi’ only had a onegoal cushion heading into the second half.

Mahdia Secondary didn’t had a chance to get a shot off in the first half and that drought would continue, since the Linden’s side defence, marshaled by Dare, was rock-solid.

Brewley then setup Regis in the 58th minute for his first of two goals after he unselfishly released the lanky forward with a beat pass in the 18-yards area.

Six minutes later (64th minute), Brewley would find Regis again to push the score

3 -0 as Multi ran riot on the boys from Region 7.

Mahdia seemed hapless against the tournaments most decorated team and they would watch their keeper pull the ball from the back of the net after Williams, in the 73rd minute, was left unmarked on a play where the defence was broken down.

Dare’s goal in the 85th minute was the icing on the cake for the game that was one-sided from the opening whistle.

The Christianburg Wismar Secondary had played in every final of the Digicel Schools Football Tournamen, losing in the inaugural tournament and last year to Chase Academy.

H o w e v e r, t h e t e a m vowed to return to the finals of this year’s tournament and return the trophy to Linden where they believe it belongs.

Thomas leads 1-3 Jamaica finish at 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games 400M METRE hurdler Johnelle Thomas led a one three finish in the event for Jamaica at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas on Sunday.

The result increased Jamaica’s overall medal tally at the event to seven, which includes two gold, two silvers and three bronze medals.

Thomas lived up to expectations after entering the final with the fastest time and finished well clear

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of second place Sharelle Samuel of Canada after stopping the clock at 59.40.

Her compatriot Terice Steen failed to dip below the one minute barrier, but ensured Jamaica had another place on the podium after finishing third in 1.00.68.

Fifteen-year-old Saint Kitts and Nevis athlete Aliah Vanterpool finished last 1.06.96.

In other events Trinidad and Tobago’s Tyriq Horsford claimed a silver medal in the

boys javelin after registering a mark of 69.43. The event was won by Australia’s Neil Van Janse who had the field well-beaten with his throw of 74.19.

His compatriot Louis Sullivan took third place with a mark of 66.23. The Australians were also triumphant in the 4x100m mixed relays after finishing in 43.19 ahead of second place Jamaica (43.62) and the Bahamas (43.83).

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20

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 24, 2017

American Spieth holds off Kuchar to win British Open SOUTHPORT, England (Reuters) - Jordan Spieth survived a roller-coaster final round at the British Open to claim his third major title after beating fellow American Matt Kuchar by three strokes in a thrilling duel at Royal Birkdale on Sunday.

Spieth carded a one-under-par final round of 69 to finish on 12-under for the

tournament but, after three days of consistent golf by the American, it was a remarkable day of highs and lows for the 23-year-old.

The Texan, who won the U.S Masters and U.S. Open in 2015, joined Jack Nicklaus as one of only two players to win three legs of the career grand slam before turning 24. Tiger Woods was 24 when he won his third different major.

Spieth began the day with a three-stroke lead but saw that evaporate on the front nine, where he made four bogeys and a birdie to enter the turn sharing the lead with Kuchar on eight-under, before he steadied himself and surged to victory.

Clutching the Claret Jug awarded to the winner, Spieth, the youngest American USA’s Jordan Spieth celebrates with The Claret Jug after winning The Open Championship

to win the British Open and the youngest from any country since a 22-year-old Seve Ballesteros in 1979, said his victory was “a dream come true”.

“I drank some wine from the Claret Jug when Zach Johnson won it two years ago and people said that was bad luck. I started to believe them too after nine holes today,” he added.

He was forced to take a penalty stroke after deeming the ball unplayable and, after a lengthy series of deliberations, he played his second

shot from the edge of the practice range next to the television trucks.

Spieth scrambled to make a creditable bogey out of the par-four hole but that still handed the lead to 39-year-old Kuchar, who was playing the more solid golf as the wind rose and temperature fell.

However, the sight of his rival alone at the top of the leaderboard appeared to click a switch in Spieth who responded with a birdie on the par-three 14th, where he was close to a hole-in-one.

When that (birdie) putt

went in was my first vocal appreciation of the day.

And I knew that we had momentum on our side and we were tied.

“All of a sudden I felt and believed that I could win that golf tournament, when 30 minutes prior and really the entire day after the fourth hole I didn’t feel that way,” he said.

He then brilliantly sank a 45-yard putt to eagle the par-five 15th and followed that with birdies on the 16th and 17th to banish any thought of a repeat of his U.S. Masters meltdown last year.

As he received the trophy Spieth paid tribute to compatriot Kuchar, saying he had enjoyed the battle and describing him as a great champion and class act.

“I believe Matt Kuchar will win a major championship. And I believe that he’ll do it sometime soon.

He’s a great champion and he’s such a great person,” Spieth said of his rival, who had been given underdog backing from the Birkdale crowd.

ACA warns pay deal may not be struck in time for Ashes MELBOURNE (Reuters) The Australian cricketers’ union has told players a pay deal may not be struck with the national board before the home “summer of cricket”, which includes the lucrative and highly anticipated Ashes series.

The long-running pay dispute has already scuppered an Australia A tour to South Africa and left upcoming tours of Bangladesh and India in doubt.

The Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) said it had presented a new “Terms Sheet” to Cricket Australia but warned players that a new collective bargaining agreement, known as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), would take time to complete.

“If there is agreement, the next step would be the more intensive MOU and contract drafting period,” Nicholson said in excerpts of the email published by Fairfax.

“Given past experience and the massive detail involved, this would take some time and still may not be completed with time enough to meet the needs of fans, sponsors and broadcasters invested in the upcoming tours and the summer of cricket.”

Australia’s home summer kicks off with the first match of the five-test Ashes series against England in Brisbane from Nov. 23.

Around 230 players have

been effectively unemployed since the previous five-year MOU expired at the end of last month.

Local media reported on Friday that a week of talks between the union and CA had collapsed but the board said they expected them to resume early this week.

“Cricket Australia will not comment on details of the negotiation but are surprised

a 20-year-old model, under which players get a fixed percentage of revenue, should be jettisoned.

Cricket Australia believes the revenue-share model is unfit for modern times and is starving grassroots cricket of funding, while players say it has underpinned the game’s growth and prosperity over the past 20 years.

Hassan Ali

and perplexed at the current situation given progress is being made on a range of issues,” the board said.

“We have been in constant communication with the ACA this week and are expecting further meetings on the negotiation to resume early next week, and aside from hearsay through the media have had no formal advice on their position.”

The major sticking point in the dispute is Cricket Australia’s insistence that

The ACA said it had made a number of concessions to CA in its ‘Terms Sheet’, including accepting “CA’s lower end revenue scenarios” as the basis for allocating pay along with lowering players’ revenue share to allow for a new ‘Grassroots Investment Fund’.But the union added that CA had dismissed “a number of fundamentals” in the Terms Sheet and that it was seeking further clarification from the board.

21

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 24, 2017

Froome claims fourth Tour de France title

By Julien Pretot

PARIS (Reuters) - Chris Froome put on a near-perfect performance to claim his fourth Tour de France and move within one title of cycling’s greatest on Sunday as Team Sky tightened their grip on the classic race.

The Briton suffered a few wobbles throughout the 3,540km race but was always in control over the three weeks thanks to his high-calibre team mates who sheltered him when it mattered in the mountains, leaving the lanky rider to make the difference in the time trials that book-ended the 104th edition.

Sky, who have the biggest budget of the peloton, have now snatched five of the last six titles and came within a whisker of placing two riders on the podium as Spain’s Mikel Landa missed out on the top three by one second.

Froome is now one title behind all-time greats Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spain’s Miguel Indurain and French duo Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault.

He is the first to win three

consecutive titles since Indurain, who prevailed from 1991-95.

The disgraced Lance Armstrong’s seven titles since then have been erased from the record book.

have spent three weeks thinking about this moment, it’s just so rewarding every time.

“Each win has been so unique, such a different battle and this will be remembered as the closest and most hard-

ter both riders lost time to Froome in Saturday’s final time trial.

Sky’s team principal Dave Brailsford said there was no reason Froome could not add to his tally and become the

Chris Froome seals his fourth title after Dylan Groenewegen wins on Champs-Elysees

“I’m speechless, it’s amazing,” Froome said after getting off his bike and hugging his wife Michelle and son Kellan.

“The Champs Elysees never disappoints, there is something magical when you

fought.”

Colombian Rigoberto Uran finished second overall, 54 seconds behind, and France’s Romain Bardet, runner-up last year, was third, 2:20 off the pace af-

most successful rider in the race’s history.

“I think Chris can go on, there is no reason to think that he can’t,” he said.

“Physically he has got what it takes and I don’t think

that’s going to diminish in the next year or so.”

Sunday’s largely processional stage from Montgeron -- where the first Tour started in 1903 -- to the Champs Elysees in Paris was won by Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen in a bunch sprint.

The 103-km ride was the occasion for Froome to sip rose Champagne with his team mates as the real racing began only when the peloton, who went through the Grand Palais, reached the Champs Elysees and the sprinters wound it up.

Froome’s victory was the first one achieved with a gap of less than a minute and while there was no repeat of last year when he had to run up Mont Ventoux without a bike, he did have mechanical scares that his rivals failed to exploit.

Slowed Down In the ninth stage, they slowed down for him after Fabio Aru attacked near the top of the final climb with Froome waiting for assistance.

A week later his main rivals did not go for the throat when the Briton broke a spoke in his rear wheel and found himself trailing by 45 seconds.

He also lacked his usual dominance in the climbs and was beaten in a brutal uphill finish in Peyragudes as the 26-year-old Bardet won the stage to fuel hopes of a first home champion since 1985.

Froome always had the safety net of Saturday’s 22.2km sprint around the streets of Marseille where Bardet cracked and almost lost his podium place.

France had a great Tour with five stage wins, including a double by Warren Barguil, who won the polka dot jersey for the mountains classification, reviving memories of Richard Virenque.

Australian Michael Matthews’s versatility earned him the green jersey for the points classification, helped by the fact that world champion Peter Sagan was kicked out of the race for causing a crash that ended Mark Cavendish’s race.

Germany’s Marcel Kittel won five stages but crashed a few days before the finish.

Britain’s Simon Yates won the white jersey for the best under-25 rider after finishing seventh overall, one year after his twin brother Adam achieved the same feat.

CONCACAF Gold Cup

ACA warns pay deal may not be struck in time for Ashes Dempsey equals Donovan record in MELBOURNE (Reuters) The Australian cricketers’ union has told players a pay deal may not be struck with the national board before the home “summer of cricket”, which includes the lucrative and highly anticipated Ashes series.

The long-running pay dispute has already scuppered an Australia A tour to South Africa and left upcoming tours of Bangladesh and India in doubt.

The Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) said it had presented a new “Terms Sheet” to Cricket Australia but warned players that a new collective bargaining agreement, known as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), would take time to complete.

“If there is agreement, the next step would be the more intensive MOU and contract drafting period,” Alistair Nicholson said in excerpts of the email published by Fairfax.

“Given past experience and the massive detail involved, this would take some time and still may not be completed with time enough to meet the needs of fans, sponsors and broadcasters invested in the upcoming tours and the summer of cricket.”

Australia’s home summer kicks off with the first match of the five-test Ashes series against England in Brisbane from Nov. 23.

Around 230 players have been effectively unemployed since the previous five-year MOU expired at the end of last month.

Alistair Nicholson

Local media reported on Friday that a week of talks between the union and CA had collapsed but the board said they expected them to resume early this week.

“Cricket Australia will not comment on details of the negotiation but are surprised and perplexed at the current situation given progress is being made on a range of issues,” the board said.

“We have been in constant communication with the ACA this week and are expecting further meetings on the negotiation to resume early next week, and aside from hearsay through the media have had no formal advice on their position.”

The major sticking point in the dispute is Cricket Australia’s insistence that a 20-year-old model, under which players get a fixed percentage of revenue, should be jettisoned.

Cricket Australia believes the revenue-share model is unfit for modern times and is starving grass-roots cricket of funding, while players say it has underpinned the game’s growth and prosperity over the past 20 years.

The ACA said it had made a number of concessions to CA in its ‘Terms Sheet’, including accepting “CA’s lower end revenue scenarios” as the basis for allocating pay along with lowering players’ revenue share to allow for a new ‘Grassroots Investment Fund’.But the union added that CA had dismissed “a number of fundamentals” in the Terms Sheet and that it was seeking further clarification from the board.

in USA 2-1 win over Costa Rica

USA reached the CONCACAF Gold Cup final as Clint Dempsey equalled the nation’s goalscoring record in a 2-0 win against Costa Rica.

Clint Dempsey scored a record-equalling goal to help the United States reach the CONCACAF Gold Cup final after a 2-0 win over Costa Rica.

they will face either Mexico or Jamaica on Wednesday.

Dempsey was dropped to the bench for the clash as Arena made five changes to the team that beat El Salvador 2-0 in the quarter-finals.

Eric Lichaj, Justin Morrow, Matt Hedges and Gyasi Zardes also made way, with Jorge Villafana, Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, Kellyn Acosta

Clint Dempsey celebrates his record-tying 57th international goal in Saturday’s Gold Cup semi-final.

Photograph: Larry W Smith/EPA.

Dempsey set up Jozy Altidore for the game’s opening goal in the 72nd minute at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday.

His clever 25-yard freekick then saw him draw level with Landon Donovan on a record 57 goals for USA. Bruce Arena’s men were deserved winners as they reached the decider, in which

and Jordan Morris starting.

Costa Rica were unchanged from the team that edged past Panama 1-0 in the quarter-finals.

USA almost made the perfect start as Altidore and Morris exchanged passes, the latter hitting the post just seconds into the clash.

The tournament hosts had their second chance in the 15th minute, but Altidore

decided to pass the ball back into the middle of the box instead of taking a shot himself.

Acosta then hit a right-footed shot high and wide to the right.

Marco Urena tried to put Costa Rica on the board in the 37th minute after streaking down the middle of the field, but his shot was blocked by a charging Tim Howard.

USA continued to look the more likely and they almost struck seven minutes into the second half.

With Costa Rica goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton off his line, an incoming cross for Altidore was too high, and Darlington Nagbe was unable to capitalise afterwards.

But USA would finally take the lead in the 72nd minute, thanks to Dempsey and Altidore.

Dempsey did brilliantly to find space before releasing Altidore, who finished well in a one-on-one with Pemberton.

Vi c t o r y w a s s e a l e d through the record-equalling goal from Dempsey, the forward smartly placing a free-kick under a jumping wall and into the bottom corner to send USA into the final.

22

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 24, 2017

ICC Women’s World Cup

England beat India by nine runs in thrilling final at Lord’s ENGLAND completed a stunning fightback to beat India by nine runs and win the Women’s World Cup at an ecstatic Lord’s.

Chasing 229, India looked set for victory at 191-3, but Anya Shrubsole

World Cup final - as India were bowled out for 219 with eight balls unused.

Even as Shrubsole was in the middle of a stunning spell of 5-11 in 19 deliveries, India were within touching distance of the

were raised when Jenny Gunn dropped a sitter at mid-off to reprieve Poonam Yadav.

But Shrubsole bowled Rajeshwari Gayakwad next ball to spark joyous scenes on the pitch and among the

England’s player of the match Anya Shrubsole celebrates taking the wicket of India’s Jhulan Goswami as her six for 46 secured the troph for EnglandAFP/Getty

pinned Punam Raut lbw for 86 to spark a collapse of seven wickets for 28 runs.

The seamer finished with 6-46 - the best figures in a

highest successful chase in a World Cup final and a first major trophy.

Fears that England may have missed their chance

majority of fans in a sell-out crowd.

Natalie Sciver made 51 and Sarah Taylor 45 in England’s 228-7, which proved

enough for a fourth World Cup crown.

It ended a wait for a global trophy that went back to 2009 and vindicated the approach of coach Mark Robinson, who dispensed with former captain Charlotte Edwards after defeat in the semi-finals of the 2016 World Twenty20.

India needed only 33 from 39 balls with five wickets in hand, but Shrubsole, charging in from the Pavilion End, was irresistible.

She removed the dangerous Veda Krishnamurthy, who top-edged a swipe to Sciver, bowled Jhulan Goswami and ran out Shikha Pandey from point.

Deepti Sharma spooned to Sciver at mid-wicket as Shrubsole completed the first five-wicket haul in a World Cup final and, after Gunn’s error, Shrubsole cleaned up Gayakwad to seal victory in style.

(BBC Sport)

LABA executives meet at MSC pavilion today

THE Linden Amateur Basketball Assocaition’s (LABA) executive committee will today be holding a meeting to look at its immediate plans for the game in Linden at the Mackenzie Sports Club pavilion starting at 18.30hrs.

Secretary of LABA, Joseph Chapman said the meeting will deal with upcoming tournaments to be staged and the training of officials and referees which has attracted the association’s attention.

One of the key considerations will be for a LABA Open League championship for which they are seeking collaboration with the MSC Management Committee and should begin in August and other age category club championships.

Chapman said the meeting will be chaired by LABA president, Lawrence Simon, and all members of the executive are invited to attend and that it should last for two hours.

Coe cannot guarantee clean World Athletics championships IAAF president Lord Coe says he cannot guarantee next month’s World Athletics Championships will be drug free.

Russia’s athletics federation is banned from the event in London, having been suspended by the sport’s global governing body in 2015 amid allegations of state-sponsored doping.

Tallawahs sold to Worldwide Sport Management Group

BUSINESS has begun to boom for the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after another franchise has come in for the backing of a major player.

The Jamaica Tallawahs, the only multiple winners of the CPL, are now to be taken over by Worldwide Sports Management Group.

The Tallawahs, the defending champions of the competition, are set to begin the defence of their title on August 5 with backers who have also agreed to host and market international cricket.

That agreement means Worldwide Sports will provide capital improvements and technology enhancements to make the Lauderhill, Florida facility where games in the CPL will be played this season, a world-class plugand-play stadium.

Krishna Persaud, founder and president of

Worldwide Sports, took the opportunity of the announcement to wish the Tallawahs all the best in the upcoming season.

sition a reality, and I wish our Mighty Strong Tallawah Team all the best in the upcoming 2017 competition,” said Persaud.CEO of the

be a long one.

“We are delighted to welcome Kris Persaud and Worldwide Sports Management Group to the Hero

IAAF president Sebastian Coe

“It’s a very utopian view, people will always seek to cheat,” said Coe, speaking on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show.

Coe, however, added the system for detecting cheats “is a lot safer”.

“We have the technology that allows us to be very much more specific about what we are looking for,” he said.

“I would love to tell you that we will have a drug-free sport in future. Everything we are doing is engaged in trying to achieve that but we know a few people will cheat.

“What we do have in place now is an independent athlete integrity unit, we have independent sanctioning and discipline and we will be able to be a lot tougher and speed up the process.”

Russia was barred from international athletics after last year’s McLaren report claimed more than 1,000 athletes benefited from a state-sponsored doping programme between 2011 and 2015.

Coe said in April he was “disappointed” by the lack of progress made by Russia in anti-doping reforms. (BBC Sport).

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (MONDAY JULY 24, 2017) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL-Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Defending CPL champions Jamaica Tallawahs.

“I would like to especially thank the previous owners and the Hero CPL Team for all of their assistance in making the Tallawahs acqui-

CPL, Damien O’Donohoe, welcomed the new business, saying he hoped the relationship between his organisation and Worldwide Sports would

CPL family and look forward to a long and fruitful working relationship with them in both Jamaica and the USA,” he said.

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Rangana Herath-11 wickets (2) James Anderson-7 wickets Today’s Quiz: (1) Who were the semi-finalists of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017?

(2) Who were the losing semi-finalist in match one?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

23

GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday, July 24, 2017

Lynn to undergo shoulder surgery

Digicel Schools Football 2017…

Annai defeat Bush Lot Secondary 5-2 in Regional playoffs

By Stephan Sookram ANNAI Secondary School showed their tenacity yesterday as they disposed of Bush Lot Secondary 5-2 to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the 2017 edition of the Digicel Schools Football tournament.

Expected to be a tight fixture at the Ministry of Education ground, it proved its worth with the scores closely contested at half time.

Orville Daniels opened the scoring for the eventual winners just seconds into the game and sent the crowd in an uproar which sounded until they advanced their lead in the 11th minute through Nadison Daniels.

It seemed smooth sailing for the Annai team at this point as the two-goal advantage meant that they were through to the next round. However, Bush Lot had other ideas, specifically Ntini August who

opened their account in the 20th.

Annai had been caught sleeping but avenged this t h ro u g h Te r r y G o r d o n (38th) and suddenly they had their advantage back.

But it seemed that Bush Lot were determined to slim that margin and possible try to abolish it all together as Tyrone Miller struck just before the whistle in the first-half.

When the whistle sounded to signal the half, it was 3-2

in favour of Annai who were now in some trouble with Bush Lot looking to produce a comeback.

However, that was all over in the second half, as a backto-back strike from the leaders would put the game out of the jurisdiction of Bush Lot. Orville and Naidison both struck within three minutes of each other (72nd and 75th) to ensure that the game was well set and decided long before the final whistle.

Yadram, Royal hand Young Windies opening win

HARARE, Zimbabwe, (CMC) – Bhaskar Yadram extended his fine run of form with another half-century as West Indies Under-19s made a winning start to their three-match Youth One-Day International series against Zimbabwe Under-19s with a 39-run victory here Sunday.

The 17-year-old righthander top-scored with a fine Man-of-the-Match 68 as the Caribbean side mustered 211 for eight off their 50 overs, after being sent in.

Captain Emmanuel Stewart chipped in with 34, Joshua Bishop got 32 while Alick Athanaze struck 31 not out.

Left-arm spinner Tinotenda Jakachira claimed three for 27 off eight overs while Frank Mwaita ended with two for 37.

In reply, Zimbabwe were held to 172 off 44.1 overs with left-arm spinner Jeavor Royal picking up three for 20 and fast bowler Darren Nedd, two for 25.

Skipper Liam Roche top-scored with 54, Ryan Murray got 40 and Jayden Schadendorf, 26, but Zimbabwe never recovered from a position of 10 for three in the fourth over.

Earlier, the Young Wind-

ies stumbled early on, losing both openers Keagan Simmons (12) and Joshua Persaud (15) cheaply to slip to 31 for two in the 12th over.

Two partnerships then boosted the Windies innings.

Yadram, who faced 85 deliveries and struck six fours and two sixes, put on 83 for the third wicket with Stewart who counted three fours in a 53-ball knock.

and a six in a breezy 29ball knock while Athanaze consumed 47 deliveries and notched a single four.

Left-arm pacer Javier Spencer then gave the Windies a bright start by removing Gregory Dollar without scoring off the fourth ball of the innings with a single run on the board.

Three balls later in the next over, Nedd knocked over

tacked with nine fours in a 41-ball innings, posted 56 for the fourth wicket with Dion Myers who made 16, as the hosts fought back.

When both perished in successive deliveries in the 15 th over, Roche anchored two stands – 39 for the sixth wicket with Schadendorf and 32 for the seventh wicket with Wesley Madhevere (11) – in a bid to revive the innings.

Chris Lynn walked off clutching his shoulder after an awkward fall. (BCCi)

…to miss T20 leagues in West Indies and Bangladesh AUSTRALIA batsman Chris Lynn will have surgery on his troublesome left shoulder on Monday, according to a report in the Courier Mail.

As a consequence, he is likely to be out of action till the end of the year, the paper reported, missing the T20 leagues in the West Indies and Bangladesh, and Australia’s proposed ODI tour of India in September-October.

“I have been battling through each tournament and umming and arr-ing at training but the time has come to get it done,’’ Lynn told the paper. “I was getting sorer and sorer after training. I am pretty confident I will be back for the Big Bash.

“I was supposed to play in the Caribbean Premier League on Wednesday so I have had to give them the bad news. I will cost myself a bit [having to sacrifice the T20 contracts], but physically and mentally it will mean a lot to get it done.”

Lynn injured the same shoulder for the third time in less than two years during this year’s IPL, and missed a month of that tournament and later Australia’s Champions Trophy campaign as a result. He said he was not sure if surgery could fix all the issues he has had with the shoulder, but would be grateful to have any significant improvement. (ESPN Cricinfo).

LTTC summer camp today at MHS auditorium

Bhaskar Yadram … struck a Man-of-the-Match 68.

Both were casualties when four wickets tumbled for 42 runs but Bishop and Athanaze put on a lively run-a-ball 48 for the seventh wicket to rally the innings.

Bishop struck three fours

Marshall Takodza for one with one run added to the total and then accounted for Milton Shumba for eight in his next over, to leave Zimbabwe in tatters.

Murray, who counter-at-

Roche faced 86 balls and struck four boundaries to lead the revival but Royal sliced through the lower order to trigger a collapse as the last four wickets fell for 35 runs.

THE Linden Table Tennis Committee (LTTC) will hold its third annual table tennis summer camp under the theme ‘Building The Future’ at the Mackenzie High School (MHS) auditorium.

According to Secretary of the TTTC, Shavin Green, the camp is from July 24 to August 4 between 9.00hrs to 12.00hrs and caters for children between the ages of 5 and 16 years.

He said that both boys and girls are invited and

contact can be made with either himself or Maurice, who along with Howard James, are the three International Table Tennis Fed clinics.

Some forty-five children are being targeted for this summer’s clinics and the Department of Education in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/ Berbice) and the National Sports Commission have thrown their support behind this year’s programme. (Joe Chapman).

Annai defeat Bush Lot Secondary 5-2 in Regional playoffs See

Page 23

England beat India by nine runs in thrilling final at Lord’s

See Page 22

England players pose with the trophy after winning the ICC Women’s World Cup cricket final between England and India at Lord’s cricket ground in London on Sunday.... (See Story on Page 22)

See Page 19

Keevin Allicock

Guyana’s Keevin Allicock settles for silver at Commonwealth Youth Games

GUYANA’s flyweight amateur boxer, Keevin Allicock’s dream run at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in The Bahamas came to an end yesterday as he was outboxed by England’s James David in their flyweight (52Kg) final.

After securing two convincing wins to reach yesterday’s final, Allicock, one of the more promising flyweight boxers in Guyana and by extension the Caribbean, had to settle for the silver medal as the 16-yearold English youth won by a convincing 5-0 scoreline to claim the gold medal.

Earlier in the competi-

tion, Allicock won his first bout against Kian Bittles of England by a 4-1 margin in their 52Kg quarter final contest, then went on to score a 5-0 victory over Canada’s Jordan Mathieu on Friday.

However, yesterday, he could not get past David who, according to reports, outboxed his Guyanese counterpart.

The other Guyanese boxer at the Games was Caribbean Development lightweight boxing champion, Christopher Moore, who won on the opening day by defeating Dimitris Christofi of Cyprus in their 60Kg contest . Team

coach Sebert Blake described the victory as a convincing one as Moore took early control of the fight.

After that fight it was felt that once Moore retains his form, he could end up on the podium And the Guyanese (Moore) lived up to expectations as the following day he defeated Austraila’s Mark Steven Borg to advance to the quarter-final where he lost by a 5-0 decision to England’s Charles Frankham on Saturday evening.

Caption: Flyweight amateur boxer, Keevin Allicock, had to settle for Silver.

Goalscorers: (LR) Jehu Regis, Kevin Dare, Jernel Williams and Randy Pickering.

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MONDAY, JULY 24, 2017